The Asian Star_May09_2015

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www.theasianstar.com tar.com Vol Vol 14 14 Issue Issue 15 14 Saturday, Saturday, May May 9, 2, 2015 2015 Peach and Tomatoe Salad

Tel: 604-591-5423 Salman Khan

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Bollywood’s Shiamak Davar accused of sexually abusing dancers

Check Inside for Details

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wo former dance students allege one of India’s biggest celebrities, Shiamak Davar, is a sexually abusive and controlling leader of a sect called VRRP Spiritual Learning group, according to two lawsuits filed in B.C. Supreme Court. Shiamak, 53, teaches dance in six countries and has sold millions of albums. His choreography has gone from Bollywood to Hollywood blockbusters such as Mission Impossible 4. He’s rubbed shoulders with everyone from Bollywood stars like Shilpa Shetty to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and B.C. Premier Christy Clark. Percy Shroff, 40, and Jimmy Mistry, 33, both of North Vancou-

Shiamak Davar (behind) with former follower Percy Shroff.

ver, say they endured years of unwanted sexual touching at the hands of Shiamak, who they say abused his authority as their spiri-

tual leader to control all aspects of their lives. “I used to believe that his word was god.… I just wanted to please him,” said Shroff. He claims the star, known simply as Shiamak, began grooming him for sexual exploitation when he was 16, and he is suing now to protect his young son. Denies all allegations In a written response to the lawsuits, Shiamak claims the allegations are not true and that the two former dancers are trying to ruin “his character, reputation and affiliated organizations.” Shiamak, who splits his time between Mumbai and North Vancouver, says Story continued on page 6

High Court suspends Salman Khan’s 5 year jail sentence

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he high court in Mumbai has suspended Bollywood star Salman Khan’s sentence for a 2002 hitand-run conviction, pending his appeal. Khan was convicted on Wednesday by a lower court of culpable homicide. The court sentenced the actor to five years in prison for killing Noor Ullah Khan by driving over him as he slept on a

pavement. Four others were injured. Many expected Khan to be jailed on Friday but the court extended bail. A final appeal hearing is due in July. During his trial, Khan argued his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving, under the influence of alcohol. Within hours of his conviction on Wednesday, Khan approached the high

court and was given interim bail for two days, meaning he stayed out of prison. The actor - who had faced a possible 10year jail term - then went home, where a number of Bollywood stars have since met him. In the high court, Khan’s lawyers argued that the prosecution had not See story on page 7

Orange Crush

Rachel Notley’s BC connection

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he new Premier of Alberta Rachel Notley has connections to the BC NDP. She was an advisor to the Attorney General of BC during the 1990s when BC NDP was in power here. She was advising the then NDP Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh on issues related to benefits for same sex couples. She also has deep NDP roots - both in Alberta and BC. Supporters had spoken of the 51-yearold Notley as the next party leader as far back as 2008, when she entered politics by winning the constituency of Edmonton-Strathcona. Some call it the fulfillment of a destiny that began

dreadfully on the snowy night of Oct. 19, 1984. Her father, Grant Notley, who was provincial NDP leader, died in a plane crash in northern Alberta while heading home from Edmonton. He was popular on both sides of the aisle, famous for his principled and at times quixotic fight for social justice. His old constituency has since been renamed DunveganCentral Peace-Notley. His daughter was 20 at the time, but her political indoctrination was already part of her DNA. Even as a child, growing up in

Fairview, she marched in demonstrations with her mother Sandra. See more on Alberta’s Orange Crush on pages 3 & 12

Rachel Notley

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Local

Liberals & Tories join forces to pass controversial Bill C-51

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onservative and Liberal MPs joined forces Wednesday to vote in favour of the dramatic, disputed overhaul of Canada’s national security laws. Bill C-51 now moves to the Senate for an expected ex-

peditious passage into law. The 183-96 Commons’ third-reading vote was anti-climactic. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau had pledged support from the outset for what he saw as a flawed piece of lawmaking. The Opposition NDP and Green Party denounced it in its en-

tirety. John Ivison: Tories’ behaviour during anti-terror bill hearings borderline anti-democratic Even in the darkest days of the Second World War, Winston Churchill addressed the

House of Commons with the latest news, good or bad, and never shrank from a vote of censure. “I am,” he used to say, “a servant of the House of Commons.” The great Tory leader would probably be appalled by Canada’s Conservatives, who appear to believe the acronym MP stands for Masters of Parliament, given the way they treat its institutions like whipped dogs. Attempts at amending the bill were largely unsuccessful: four mostly minor changes were agreed to in the Commons. A Senate committee studying the legislation is unlikely to recommend further formal amendments. Upper House changes would require sending the bill back to the Commons for re-approval, delaying the government’s plan to get the bill through Parliament by the start of the summer recess. However, the committee is expected to make written “observations” about ways to improve the bill. If the full Senate accepts these, the government Continued on page 3

Kathmandu’s living goddess survives quake

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hen a devastating quake hit Nepal last week, a nine-yearold girl worshipped as a living goddess was preparing to receive devotees at her home in the heart of Kathmandu’s Durbar Square. As the earth shook, the ancient temples and statues that packed the square collapsed, sending a massive cloud of rubble and dust into the air. But the home of the living goddess, or Kumari (pictured), escaped with just a few cracks. “She protected us,” said Durga Shakya, the 55-year-old caretaker of the Kumari house, who like all her entourage is from the Newar community indigenous to the Kathmandu valley. “Look around, the Kumari home is intact. There is a little crack on the other side, but otherwise nothing has happened,” she told AFP in Kathmandu. “Even inside, nothing has fallen down, everything is fine.” The Kumari, a pre-pubescent Newar girl, lives in isolation in her small palace and emerges only on feast days when she is paraded through Kathmandu in ceremonial dress. The popular tradition combines elements of Hinduism and Buddhism and selection criteria are strict. Priests say that to become a Kumari, a girl must have a number of specific physical attributes including an unblemished body, a chest like a lion and thighs like a deer. Even if they fulfil all the physical requirements, aspiring Kumaris must then prove their bravery by not crying at the sight of a sacrificed buffalo. Kamal Tara Shakya, a 48-year-old Newar woman who looks after the young girl in her palace, said she appeared unafraid when the quake hit.

Orange Crush

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t’s a massive shock that turns Canadian politics on its head. The NDP has won a majority government in Alberta. “I think we might have made a little bit of history tonight,� leader Rachel Notley told her supporters Tuesday night. “Friends, I believe, that change has finally come to Alberta. New people, new ideas and a fresh start for our great province.� The Wildrose Party will be the province’s Official Opposition, and party leader Brian Jean has been elected in his riding of Fort McMurray-Conklin. The long-governing PC Party dropped to third place. The outgoing premier Jim Prentice told his supporters late Tuesday that he had resigned as party leader and had resigned his seat. “My contribution to public life is now at an end,� Prentice said. The NDP won just over 41 per cent of the popular vote, the Wildrose got 24 per cent and the PCs were at about

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NDP wins historic election in Alberta 28 per cent — roughly what was reported by many pollsters in the run-up to the election. Meanwhile NDP Leader Rachel Notley will be Alberta’s next premier. Her campaign has been said to have “shades of Jack Layton.� The NDP’s previous best showing in Alberta was back in 1986 when the party took 16 seats, but by 1993 the party was shut out of the legislature. Alberta is traditionally Canada’s most conservative province, but anger at the long-governing Progressive Conservative Party seems to have spurred an orange wave that has swept over most parts of the province. A party has to win 44 seats to get a majority. The NDP won 53 ridings. Jim Prentice called the election in April with 70 out of the 87 seats in the legislature.

Her father Grant Notley was the provincial NDP leader from 1968 until he was It was touted as a coronation for Prentice, killed in a plane crash in 1984. After Brian once a Conservative MP recruited to fix the Mason resigned as NDP leader last year, party’s woes following the resignation of Notley easily defeated her Alison Redford. He opponents, NDP MLA Dahad asked Albertans vid Eggen and candidate Rod to give him a manLoyola, winning 70 per cent date after bringing in of the vote. The NDP won the a “bad-news� budget majority of Calgary’s ridings when the election — areas where the PCs were was called. supposed to hold onto power. But over the camThere is a tie in one Calgary paign, there was a riding -- Calgary-Glenmore shift in momentum. -- between the PCs and the It became a threeNDP. The NDP also swept way horse race bethe provincial capital and has Rachel Not tween the PCs, Willey made gains in rural northern drose and NDP. Alberta.

Liberals & Tories join forces to pass controversial Bill C-51 From page 2 must respond in writing to each within 180 days. One key observation is expected to call for a way to formally monitor a new power in the bill allowing federal spies to seek judicial warrants to knowingly break the law or breach the Charter of Rights in order to disrupt suspected threats to national security. Prime Minister Stephen Harper packaged the incendiary bill around October’s terror attacks in Ottawa and Quebec and is expected to merchandise one of his government’s defining pieces of legislation on the fall federal election trail. The omnibus bill expands the mandate and power of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), criminalizes promoting and advocating terrorism, and requires airlines to help stop extremists from flying to overseas battle zones.

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EDITORIAL

First step in dealing with gang warfare is to remove the ineffective Mayor Hepner & her Surrey First Council

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his town needs a new Sherriff – and new deputies. In other words, Mayor Linda Hepner (who doesn’t want to be the sheriff) and her Surrey First Council have approved inadequate in dealing with crime and gang shootings in Surrey. Time for “I am not the Sherriff ” Hepner and her Surrey First dominated Surrey City Council to resign. Shootings have become a daily occurrence in Surrey and Mayor Hepner and her RCMP deputies have no inkling of how to protect the tax paying citizens of Surrey. Sure, the city will jump on you if you don’t pay your property tax or secondary suite fees. But it is totally hamstrung when it comes to dealing with crime. Why? First, because Hepner and her Surrey First colleagues have no idea on how to deal with this problem. And, secondly, the shootings and crimes are not taking in South Surrey where the majority of the elected Councilors live. Violent crime in Surrey in the first four months of 2015 has increased compared to the same period last year, And shootings – well they are as common as Vancouver Canucks losses. The good people of Surrey can’t go on for another four years (until the next election) dodging bullets and gangsters. It is time for Surrey to elect or appoint a new “sheriff ” and deputies to replace Hepner and her Council. People with vision and ideas on how to eliminate drug gang warfare on our streets.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Shruti Prakash Joshi Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema..604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi..............604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur..........778-708-0481 Amritpal S. Grewal.....778-251-0306 Dal Sanghera.............604-591-5423 Parminder Dhillon.......604-591-5423 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Contributing writers: Akash Sablok Kamila Singh Jay Bains Photographer: Chandra Bodalia

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6 L Saturday, May 9, 2015 Story from Page 1...

LOCAL

Bollywood’s Shiamak Davar accused of sexually abusing dancers

he is the “custodian” of VRRP, not its leader, and that if the two men believed he was their spiritual guru, that was their personal view. But in the claim, Mistry says Shiamak was their spiritual guru. “In India, your guru, your teacher, goes way up there in respect, almost, if not more than your parents, so you don’t think he can do anything wrong,” he says of the man he once believed received messages directly from God. VRRP follows the teachings of Khorsheed Bhavnagari, who wrote The Laws of the Spirit World, in which she claimed her two dead sons communicated with her. Shiamak says he also does what’s called “auto writing” to receive messages from spirits. Members do what they are told, says lawsuit Shroff alleges in his claim that Shiamak uses those messages to control VRRP members. “You have to do what you are told,” he says, explaining why he complied when he was 17, with a request to visit Shiamak in Mumbai. “He started kissing my neck, then he told me to lie down on top of him, and he told me to grind my crotch into his crotch,” says

Shroff, who claims he told Shiamak he would never do that again. The lawsuit claims Shiamak punished him, claiming his soul would not progress spiritually if he didn’t submit. Shroff claims he lost roles in dance performances, and was left behind on an outof-town performance. “He was just publicly humiliating me … because I wasn’t giving him what he wanted … which was reciprocating to sexual acts,” claims Shroff, who says he moved from Mumbai to North Vancouver to help Shiamak run the VRRP after Bhavnagari died in 2007. Shiamak says he “has never had inappropriate sexual relations” with any dancer in his company or used his spirituality to manipulate, control or threaten anyone. Alleged rules of spiritual group The lawsuit claims VRRP members in Canada must reside between 17th and 22nd Street near Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver, because the group believes the area was safe from an imminent apocalypse. Shroff says he was told when to marry and

have a child, and that Shiamak then ordered him to tell his wife he was gay, claiming he was conveying a message from one of Bhavnagari’s dead sons. Shroff says he complied and they separated, though he claims Shiamak ordered them to stay married. Premier Christy Clark (left) and Shiamak Davar share a laugh on The claim says stage while holding trophies during an event in Vancouver in January Shiamak warned 2013 to announce that the Times of India Film Awards. Shroff that choosing to be group. “I really got sucked in to that at that gay would “destroy his son’s spiritual mission point in time, and also it started to get more on earth,” but Shiamak denies that, and says physical,” he says, adding that Shiamak often members are free to live their lives as they kissed him on the mouth, once gave him a choose. Worried about son still in group hickey and made unwanted sexual advances. “It was a very scary situation for me, be- Shiamak says there was never any sexual or cause you think it’s the spirit souls in the physical interaction between him and Mistry. world talking through him,” says Shroff, who Sex with students alleged Shroff claims he is now openly gay and requesting a court or- confronted Shiamak about having sex with der to prohibit Shiamak from having contact young dance and spiritual students. “I said with his son. He shares custody with his ex- Shiamak, you need to stop because ... these wife, who is still in the group. “I am extreme- are your dance and spiritual students who ly worried that … my son will be touched the come to you for advice.” He claims Shiasame way I was as he grows older.…. that he mak said the students “had more to lose by ZLOO EH LQÁXHQFHG E\ WKH UDGLFDO SKLORVRSKLHV speaking out about it,” but Shiamak says that [of VRRP],” he says. Mistry says he was conversation never happened. Shroff and 18 when Shiamak invited a few male dancers Mistry are claiming damages for psychologito watch TV in his bedroom, wearing only cal injuries. “Going up against him is like gohis underwear, according to the claim. “It ing up against a prophet,” says Shroff about got to the point of him grabbing my hand, his decision to sue. “I am not doing this out putting it on his genitalia … while another of revenge, I am doing this to help my son” he dancer would kiss him or touch him,” says says. None of the plaintiffs allegations have Mistry, who soon joined Shiamak’s spiritual been proven and Shiamak has asked the court to dismiss both lawsuits, with costs.

LOCAL

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Story from Page 1...

High Court suspends Salman Khan’s 5 year jail sentence been able to prove his guilt, that a key witness had been ignored and that the actor had been given a harsh sentence because of his celebrity status. Correspondents say Friday’s ruling will be a huge relief for the actor whose sentencing had divided Indians. A prosecution lawyer told reporters that as a convict, Khan would need the court’s permission to travel abroad. A large number of fans gathered outside Salman Khan’s home on Friday After the high court suspended Khan’s sentence, fans celebrated outside him home There were celebrations in other parts of India - fans are seen here in the western city of Ahmedabad While Khan’s friends and colleagues in Bollywood and many fans have

the court. One, Gorang Kundu, attempted to kill himself by consuming poison. Reports said Kundu had earlier distributed OHDĂ HWV LQ ZKLFK KH RIIHUHG WR EH MDLOHG LQ SODFH of the actor. He was taken away by the police. The high court’s decision has also been criticized extensively and many Indians have taken to social media sites to express their unhappiness. Late on the night of 28 September 2002, Khan’s Toyota Land Cruiser hit the American Express bakery in the Bandra area of Mumbai, authorities say. Trial court judge DW Deshpande, who found him guilty on the charge of culpable homicide, said in his 240-page ruling that the actor “didn’t visit hospital to meet injured, provide aidâ€?. He said Khan “could have visited cops immediately if he did no wrongâ€?. Justice after 13 years? September 2002: SalPDQ .KDQ¡V FDU UXQV RYHU Ă€YH people sleeping on a Mumbai street, killing a homeless man and injuring four others October 2002: Khan charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder - arrested but granted bail May 2003: Court rejects his plea to drop culpable homicide charge June 2003: Bombay high Salman Khan after the court verdit court drops culpable homicide spoken out in his support, others called for charge; actor is then tried for rash and neglihim to be treated like any other citizen of the gent driving October 2007: Prime witness, a country who had committed a crime. constable who served in his security detail, dies On Friday, Khan fans celebrated outside his March 2015: Khan tells the court he was not home - many were seen distributing sweets, drunk and his driver was behind the wheel VHWWLQJ RII Ă€UHFUDFNHUV GDQFLQJ DQG VLQJLQJ LQ 0D\ .KDQ IRXQG JXLOW\ JLYHQ D Ă€YH his support. Many fans also gathered outside year jail sentence

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LOCAL

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South Asian man jailed for a year in 1994 sexual assault case

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Surrey man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 15-yearold in 1994 has been sentenced to just over a year in prison. Shalendra Kumar Sharma also pleaded guilty to three thefts – one in 2001 and two in 2011 – as well as assault causing bodily harm related to a 2011 incident. All of the offences took place in Burnaby and all of the victims were sex-trade workers. Sharma, 46, was initially charged in February 2012 with four sexual assaults, as well four counts of confinement, one of kidnapping and two of uttering threats. According to court documents, the sex assault he admitted to involved a teenage female from a troubled background who was soliciting in Vancouver. Sharma approached her in his car, they made an arrangement for

paid sex and she got in his vehicle. Part way through their interaction, she decided she didn’t want to continue. Sharma said he’d drive her home, but stopped his car beShalendra Sharma hind a gas station and forced himself on her. He told the teen not to tell anyone and dropped her off at a Surrey restaurant. In the three subsequent thefts to which he pleaded guilty, Sharma had sexual relations with three different women, then drove away with their purses and personal belongings in the car. The final incident, which occurred in December 2012, involved a 32-year-old woman who

worked in the sex trade to support her drug addiction. She got in Sharma’s car after the two had made a cash-for-sex agreement, but Sharma became angry when the woman wanted to be paid in advance. The two got out of the car – the woman with a window scraper and Sharma with a steering wheel lock. Sharma chased her and struck her with the lock, fracturing her wrist. In his reasons for sentence last month, which were posted online this week, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Terence Schultes said it was obvious the teen’s sexual assault was the most serious of the offences. “On the spectrum of different ways of committing sexual assaults, forced sexual intercourse is among the most intrusive kinds of behaviour captured by that offence,� said Schultes. He said mitigating factors in sen-

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Surrey shooting: 3 hospitalized as police surround home

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hree people ended up in hospital and three others were escorted out of a home by po-

lice, following reports of shots fired in Surrey, B.C., on Friday morning. The incident began at approximately 5:50 a.m. PT when residents in the 10400 block of 128 Street reported hearing gunshots, glass breaking, and yelling. Police and paramedics responded and found a man in his 20s with gunshot wounds, said Sgt. Dale Carr. The man was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

tencing Sharma included his being assessed at a low-to-moderate risk to re-offend and his lack of a prior criminal record. Aggravating factors included the vulnerability of the victims and the persistence of Sharma’s behaviour over a lengthy period of time. “Society has to express its collective condemnation of violence towards and exploitation of sex-trade workers,� said Schultes. “It is also important to send a message to any who might be inclined to act in this way towards vulnerable victims that they can expect to receive significant sentences.� However, he said, Sharma shows good prospect of rehabilitation and appears motivated to seek treatment. The judge sentenced Sharma to 11 months for the sex assault, one month for the assault causing bodily harm and five days each for the three thefts. His sentence will be followed by three years probation and he must register as a sex offender.

Around the same time a man and woman, both in their mid-20s, arrived at hospital, suffering from non-life threatening wounds. Traffic in the area was blocked for several hours while a police emergency response team surrounded a home in the area. Shortly before 8 a.m., police entered the home and escorted two young women and a young man away. All three injured persons are known to police, but police do not think the incident is linked to an ongoing street-level drug war in Surrey, said Carr.

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Man known to police escapes spray of bullets in latest Surrey shooting

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he latest shooting brings the number to more than two dozen such incidents since early March There was more gunfire in Surrey Thursday morning, as a young man escaped unharmed after he was shot at in a car. The latest shooting brings the number to more than two dozen such incidents since early March. RCMP say shortly before 2:30 a.m., police received several 911 calls about shots being fired in the area of 68th Avenue, between 124th Street and 121st Street. Witnesses reported that a gold coloured car pulled up beside a vehicle stopped on the

road. Then someone in the gold car fired shots at the parked vehicle. The driver of the parked car, a man in his 20s, was uninjured. He then drove westbound on 68th Avenue with the gold car in pursuit. He lost control at an intersection and struck a post. The shooters then fired more rounds at the car. The young man escaped unharmed on foot. He is known to police. Mounties are seeking witnesses, and ask that anyone who may have seen this incident to call 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers.

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LOCAL

Staff and members of Vancity Credit Union celebrating at the South Asian membership appreciation night in Surrey last weekend.

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ancity Credit Union celebrated their relationship with the South Asian community by organizing a dinner for their South Asian clients at Mirage Banquet Hall in Surrey recently. A large number of people showed up at the dinner in which apart from entertainment, speeches and great food there were a large number of door prizes as well. Mr. Jodh Dhaliwal, director Indo-Canadian affairs thanked the community for their continued support to the Credit Union and promised to give back to the community through their many community giving initiatives. The key note speaker at the event was philanthropist John Volken, founder of the John Volken Academy, an addictions treatment facility in Surrey. Dave Mann, President of real estate development company Isle of Mann also spoke on the occasion.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 L 11

Omar Khadr, free on bail, asks Canada for a ‘second chance’

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said. “I’ve noticed that a lot of people are manipulated by not being educated.â€?. “I can just say that I’m sorry for the pain that I might [have] caused the families of the victims,â€? he said. “There is nothing I can do about the past but ... I can do something about the future.â€? Khadr said he hopes to one day work in the health-care field. “I’ve experienced pain, so I think I can empathize with people who are going through that.â€? He said he plans to pursue an education to that end. “I have a lot of learning to do,â€? he said. “A lot of basic skills I need to learn. I’m excited to start my life. I can’t change the past. All I can do is work on the present and the future.â€? Lawyer protective Before the interview, the media got a stern warning to be respectHarper not backing down on Omar ful from defence lawyer Dennis Khadr: He ‘pled guilty to very grave Edney. “I’ve had a long day,â€? he crimes, including murder’ said. “And I don’t mind going Prime Minister Stephen Harper sounded an unreback into that house. Omar is gopentant note Friday about his Conservative government’s failed efforts to keep former Guantanamo Bay ing to say a few words. You can also ask him certain questions. prisoner Omar Khadr behind bars. “Mr. Khadr, as we all know, pled guilty to very grave But if the questions become too crimes, including murder,â€? Harper told a news confer- intrusive, then I’ll shut it down. ence as he offered his thoughts and prayers to the This is Omar’s first time out in family members of U.S. Sgt. Christopher Speer. society since the age of 15.â€? After “Our government’s priority in these matters is al- answering an array of questions ZD\V WR PDNH VXUH ÂżUVW DQG IRUHPRVW ZH NHHS LQ about his past and his plans for mind the protection and security of the Canadian popthe future, Khadr ended his inulation.â€? Harper refused to say anything further, citing terview by once again thanking the fact the matter remains before the courts. Edney for working tirelessly on his behalf. “I really appreciate training jacket. “And the Canadian public, so him working for that last 11 years. I’m surfar, has been way better than I anticipated. prised he’s not sick of me yet.â€? “Wait till you get your bill,â€? Edney said, “I would like to thank the Canadian public for trusting me, and giving me a chance. I and both client and lawyer laughed. Omar will prove to them that I’m more than what Khadr walks out of Edmonton police headthey thought of me. I’ll prove to them that quarters with his lawyer Dennis Edney. Khadr has spent the last 13 years in prison, I’m a good person.â€? Khadr spoke to the media gathered outside his lawyer’s house most recently serving time at the Bowden near downtown Edmonton, just hours after Institution, south of Red Deer, Alta. He was captured in Afghanistan when he he was released on bail by an Alberta judge. Asked what he would say to Prime Minister was 15 years old after a firefight with U.S. Stephen Harper, whose government worked soldiers. He was accused of throwing a grefor years to keep him from being transferred nade that killed an American soldier. In a plea deal that would include him beto Canada, then to keep him behind bars, he said: “I going to have to disappoint him. I’m ing repatriated to Canada, Khadr pleaded guilty on Oct. 25, 2010, to murder in violabetter than the person he thinks I am.â€? Earlier in the day, the 28-year-old con- tion of the laws of war, attempted murder in victed war criminal was granted bail in an violation of the laws of war, conspiracy, and Edmonton court while he appeals his con- two counts of providing material support victions in the United States. The decision to for terrorism and spying. He was returned give him bail was made by Alberta Court of to Canada on Sept. 29, 2012, to serve the reAppeal Justice Myra Bielby, who shot down a mainder of his sentence. Born in Toronto, bid by the Harper government to have Khadr Khadr was the youngest prisoner at Guantaremain behind bars. ‘I’m excited to start my namo Bay, and the last Western citizen to be held at the detention camp. ‘I’m proud of life.’— Omar Khadr after his release Khadr apologized for his actions as a who he is,’ lawyer says After his client went teenager and offered advice to young people back inside the house on Thursday, his lawwho might consider joining jihad against the yer lingered behind to speak about his own West. “Don’t let emotions control you,â€? he quest for justice in this case. here is nothing I can do about the past but ‌ I can do something about the future,’ he tells media In his first chance to speak to the Canadian public, Omar Khadr said he has renounced violent extremism and hopes others will not follow the path he took as a 15-year-old. For more than a decade Khadr has been little more than a name and an aging photograph to millions of Canadians who have followed his story. Today, in a smiling and personable manner, he thanked the courts for releasing him on bail and expressed gratitude to his lawyers for working so hard on his behalf. “Freedom is way better than I thought,â€? said Khadr, casually dressed in a black Hugo Boss

Khadr (right) walks out of Edmonton police headquarters with his lawyer Dennis Edney.

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12 L Saturday, May 9, 2015

Rogers axes OMNI news programs, 110 jobs gone Punjabi News on Omni TV, as we know it, is no more.

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ogers Media Inc. said Thursday it’s cutting 110 jobs from its television operations, mainly at its Omni multicultural stations, as it replaces traditional newscasts with interactive current affairs shows. The subsidiary of Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B) said it will no

longer produce Omni newscasts starting on Monday, laying off production staff and reporters. The changes come as the broadcaster shakes up its programming across Omni stations in an effort to merge the multicultural brand’s operations with its City stations. Omni currently airs local news in Cantonese, Italian, Mandarin and Punjabi.

Vancouver Yellow Cabs first taxis in Canada to get free Wi-Fi

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nternet addicts will soon be able to surf the web from the back seat of Vancouver’s Yellow Cabs. The company partnered with Telus to offer complementary Wi-Fi to paying customers in its 350 taxis, making it the first fleet in the country to include the service for no additional cost.

In a statement, company president Kulwant Sahota said fares will not go up as a result of the new technology. Passengers will not need passwords to use the network, which apparently will not collect any personal information. People will be able to connect no matter what mobile provider they use.

Ten people arrested inside Chilliwack problem house

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hilliwack RCMP have arrested ten people inside a home that neighbours say is the scene of constant criminal activity. Officers raided the home on Rotary Street on a drug bust. “We’ve had to put cameras up here because our neighbourhood has come to be an extreme living zone,” said neighbour Nicole Iezzi earlier this week. “There’s really absolutely no reason for our neighbourhood to disintegrate in this manner.” While several of the people arrested have been released, four remained in custody tonight. The owner of the home, Denvar Van Rooi, says that he had reported his concerns about drugs to police. “I reported it to police, and apparently they didn’t tell me how they were going to conduct business. Off to jail went some of

them, this was a relief,” he said tonight. “It’s drug related, it’s people that I rented to that took in squatters and that had drug problems and casino problems and it was compounded.” Asked why it took so long for action to be taken, he said his hands were tied. “A landlord has no right to restrict a tenant’s access to the place, and I couldn’t very well go into people’s pockets to see what you’re bringing into the property and what you’re bringing out,” he said, adding that he was unaware of many specifics because he lived in Mission. “Unless it was brought from my attention from one tenant to another, there was way no for me to know that somebody had a drug problem to begin with. I can’t mindread, nor I can go into someone’s pockets. It’s out of my jurisdiction.”

B.C. pipelines debate remains unchanged after NDP win in Alberta

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he new NDP majority government in Alberta will have little bearing on pipeline dynamics in British Columbia, politicians and experts say. Alberta’s Premier-elect, Rachel Notley, has been publically opposed to Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline, saying the project “is not likely to succeed and the Alberta government should focus its efforts on things that are more likely to get results.” Despite the NDP’s greater emphasis on social license, relations with First Nations and the environment, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark said her talks with the Alberta government won’t be different than those of the previous regime. “When I get a chance to sit down with [Notley], I want to talk to her about the five conditions [for B.C.’s approval of pipeline projects],” Clark told media on Wednesday. “Because if Albertans want these projects to obtain social license, the only way to do that is all those conditions need to be met.” Specifically, Clark said proposed pipe-

lines projects – including Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, which Notley supports – have yet to satisfy the B.C. that its coastal waters are adequately protected. “The one condition that is farthest away from being met is marine response,” said Clark. “British Columbians want to protect our coast. They want to protect our water and that’s going to require some work.” Clark did express an interest in working together with Notley on climate change and improving partnerships with First Nations. B.C.’s environment critic, NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, said Notley’s election is “good news for British Columbians who don’t’ want to see our coast at risk.” University of British Columbia associate professor Kevin Hanna, who researches environment and resource policy, said Northern Gateway was a pipedream even without the NDP’s rise in Alberta. “There is just no support for it in British Columbia, it has no legs,” he said. “It’s wasn’t going anywhere. Could an NDP government be the final nail in the coffin? Maybe.

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Two of Surrey RCMP’s ‘most wanted’ auto crime offenders arrested

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Kalpana Chawla Foundation award ceremony

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wo of four men named by Surrey RCMP last week as their “most wanted” car thief suspects are now in custody. Matthew Sidney Soper, 29, and Alexander Rene Jelasco, 18, were arrested this week.

and-enter tools, possession of a weapon and breach of undertaking. On Tuesday (May 5), Jelasco commented on The Leader’s website, saying, “Pretty funny that I one of those guys haha.” On Wednesday, he posted on his Facebook page that he planned to turn himself in on Monday, estimating he’d be in jail until November or December. “F**k it’s gunna suck beWhile Matthew Soper and Alexander Jelasco (First and second from ing locked up for left) have been arrested, Richard Mantler (Third from left) and Zak months ... At lest it ain’t years .. Do Haight (Fourth from left) are still wanted by Surrey RCMP. your time don’t let time do you,” he wrote. Two other men, 44-year-old Richard James Police arrested Jelasco Wednesday night. Mantler and Zak David Haight, 28, remain at Mantler is wanted for two counts of breach of large. Police say all four have a history of sus- undertaking, breach of probation and assault. pected auto-related offences and have out- Haight is wanted for obstructing a police ofstanding warrants for their arrest. Soper was ficer, driving while prohibited and driving wanted for breach of probation, possession while suspended. Anyone who has informaof stolen property over $5,000, dangerous tion about the whereabouts of Mantler or operation of a motor vehicle, driving while Haight are asked to contact the Surrey RCMP prohibited and identity theft. Jelasco was at 604-599-0502, or if you wish to remain wanted for two counts of possession of stolen anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800property under $5,000, possession of break- 222-8477 (TIPS) or go to www.solvecrime.ca

Transit plebiscite voter turnout nearing 40% Voter turnout for the region’s plebiscite on transit funding is approaching 40 per cent, according to Elections B.C. More than 600,000 ballots have been received by the office, about 3.8 per cent of the 1.56 registered voters in Metro Vancouver, according to its weekly ballot returns update. Voting in the plebiscite began March 16 and closes at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 29. Eligible voters are being asked to support a 0.5 per cent Congestion Improvement sales tax, to fund the region’s portion of a proposed 10-year, $7.5 billion

transit plan. That plan, pitched by Metro Vancouver mayors, includes a subway line along Broadway in Vancouver, light rapid transit lines in Surrey, a replacement for the Pattullo Bridge and region-wide road and public transit improvements. Of the ballots screened by Elections B.C. to date, the City of Vancouver has a voter turnout of 37.9 per cent, while Surrey’s is 29.9 per cent. The Village of Belcarra has the highest turnout, 48 per cent, so far.

Surrey violence leads to another community outreach event

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oughly 100 people gathered in Surrey on Tuesday to come up with ways to fight backagainst the spate of drug-related violence in the city. People jotted down ideas, trying to figure out solutions for reaching young people who are most at-risk of becoming involved in gun and drug violence. Police say there is a gang turf war on the streets of Surrey that has spilled into Delta and resulted in 22 shootings and one homicide in six weeks. “A lot of East Indian parents are so involved in work and unfortunately the problem with

that is they’re so involved in trying to make a good living for their children that they don’t have the time to be involved in their children’s life,” says one Surrey parent Ruby Deol. Surrey teen Jayden Grewal says there is a lot of peer pressure to try drugs and sell them. “People keep on telling you to sell drugs, to try them. It’s really hard ... as you’re talking to the older kids, you find out they’ve tried that stuff and [there is] a lot of peer pressure.” The organizer of the event, Meera Gill, says more needs to be done to keep youth out of gangs.

Janta Sewak Society and the Akali Singh Sikh Society held the annual Kalpana Chawla Foundation award ceremony by presenting appreciation award certificates on May 3. The annual Peace Ward was presented to Kehar Singh Dharmat and family. (Photo: Chandra Bodalia)

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Victoria follows Vancouver in taking on federal gov’t by drafting its own pot-shop bylaws

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Acupressurist Dr Kamwaljit S. Suchdeva provides free service every second Sunday at the Akali Singh Sikh Gurdawara. He is pictured here helping a community member in need. (Photo: Chandra Bodalia)

ictoria has become the latest British Columbia city to draft new bylaws for medical marijuana dispensaries, as Vancouver considers a plan to regulate illegal pot shops. City council in the province’s capital voted Thursday to ask staff to draft business licensing and zoning regulations, which could impose fees and new rules on security, record keeping and selling to minors. Mayor Lisa Helps said she thought it was a “good sign” when Victoria Police Insp. Scott McGregor told council at the meeting that the department doesn’t object to regulation. “We have a very effective and dedicated police force who are (focused on) organized crime and hard drugs,” she said. “They don’t have time and energy to be running around busting 18-year-olds selling marijuana across the counter.”

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose has called on Vancouver to halt its plan to regulate pot shops. In letters to the city, she wrote there is no “grey zone” when it comes to medical marijuana, that selling it across the counter is illegal and that police must enforce the law. But Helps said there is a grey area and that police have said they’ve tried to bust shops suspected of selling pot but the courts have tossed the charges. “There’s a fundamental disconnect between federal legislation and what the courts are willing to prosecute. And so, municipalities are left to plug the holes with our arguably ineffective and not-strong-enough tools.” The city has jurisdiction to regulate land use, but not the selling of products. However, Helps said she hopes that stricter record-keeping requirements will limit the flow of illegally grown marijuana into the stores.

Father confesses on Facebook that he killed his daughter and wife

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father has posted a chilling confession on social media to murdering his wife and daughter, believed to be the victims of a house fire and homicide Thursday night in Rosedale, east of Chilliwack. Homicide detectives are not providing any details at this time, other than to confirm that the house fire on Llanberis Way is suspicious. However, a father from Chilliwack, Randy Janzen says, in a Facebook post, that he shot his daughter Emily Janzen (pictured) because she suffered from terrible migraines and depression that caused her great pain. He goes on to say that he then shot his wife Laurel because “a mother should never have (to) hear the news her baby has died.” In the Facebook post Janzen also makes a reference to killing his sister, Shelly. He writes that he has “great remorse” for his actions, and that his family is in heaven and pain free. A tribute to Jenzen was also posted on Facebook by the Chilliwack School of Performing Arts. “Today we celebrate the incomparable Emily Janzen. A former student and instructor, forever a part of our CSOPA family,” the post read on Friday. “We will fondly remember her bright smile, beautiful voice and amazing spirit. She will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to all her family and friends.” Kim Mallory, who took Emily’s headshots for her acting career, said the community is reeling, and that Emily was a “bright, lovely and extremely talented young woman.” She said Emily was a jazz singer and had posted many videos on YouTube of herself singing. Lynda Anderson, who lives across the street from the Janzen home, said she heard a noise, went outside and saw five police cars. “Then the SWAT team came in with assault rifles and they barricaded themselves next door,” Anderson said “They had bull horns and kept yelling at him to come out.” Anderson said she heard five “pop pop” noises and then later the ERT members shot two smoke bombs, in through an upstairs window and one through the living room window. Soon after that a fire started and the blaze gutted the home. Anderson was told to leave around 7:30 p.m. by police but by

LOCAL

Senior dies after being struck by car An 84-year-old man is dead after being struck while out walking near a Surrey elementary school Thursday morning. Surrey RCMP say they received a report of a possible hit-and-run in the 6900-block of 142 Street at about 11 a.m. May 7. When police arrived, said Sgt. Dale Carr, they found a man in “severe medical distress.” The senior was transported to hospital, where he died from his injuries. While the driver initially left the scene, said Carr, they returned shortly after, having realized they’d struck someone. He said it appeared the driver was reversing when the man was hit. The car was seized and the driver is cooperating with the investigation. Excessive speed is not considered to be a factor in what police are calling a tragic “accident.” Anyone who witnessed the incident and hasn’t spoken to police is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.

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Trudeau’s Liberals in a quandary over support from a Chinese fugitive and his family members by 10 to12 young Liberals he federal Liberals are discussing ways of how to distance themselves from support and connections with family members of an alleged fugivtive from China. The current president of the Young Liberals of BC (YLC-BC) is Linda Ching, who is the daughter of Michael Ching (also known as Mo Yeung Ching), a prominent Vancouver developer wanted in Beijing under the name of Muyang Cheng for alleged graft and corruption. Lawyers for Ching, 45, have denied all the allegations. Linda Ching’s presidency has allegedly been an issue since around February, according to some party insiders. However, the recent spotlight

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Linda Ching, president of the Young Liberal Party of Canada in B.C., with federal party leader Justin Trudeau.

on her father has accelerated the need to replace her. A meeting was held last weekend of young Liberals to discuss how to replace her. The meeting, held in Richmond, was attended

and allegedly also one senior executive of the Liberal Party of Canada in B.C. In addition to her current role as president of the YLC-BC, Ching is also the president of TruYouths United, a politically active “Chinese youth volunteer group” that she “helped establish,” according to online bios. Corporate records show she is one of five directors. One of the other listed directors shares an address with Raymond Chan, the former Richmond Liberal MP and cabinet minister, who is reportedly a close friend of Michael Ching.

Accused murderer charged with robbing four banks

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convicted murderer who escaped prison is now accused of robbing six banks, four in Langley and two in Surrey while being on the lam. Shawn Merrick, 43, (pictured) went missing from the minimum security Mission prison on March 31. Since his escape, he has been charged with six bank robberies, the most recent one at CIBC in Aldergrove on Monday, May 4. Police say he robbed a pair of banks in Surrey on April 17 and then went to Langley where he is charged with robbing the Royal Bank at Willowbrook Mall and the TD Canada Trust in Walnut Grove. Crown has also approved charges against Merrick for robbing the Royal Bank in Aldergrove on April 24. A Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued. In a rare move, the Canadian Bankers Association has also offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of Merrick. Merrick was serving time for the “brutal” killing of Shelley Lynn DeVoe in the fall of 2006. The body of DeVoe, a 44-year-old Whalley mother of two, was found on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam that year. Merrick has more than 50 convictions. He was sentenced to five years for robbing more than a dozen banks, including four in Langley, between 2006 and 2007. Police say Merrick poses a serious threat to people’s safety. Do not approach him; call 911 if you see him. Merrick is 5’8” tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of a skull on the left side of his chest and a dragon on his right upper arm. He also has a burn scar on his right forearm.

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16 L Saturday, May 9, 2015

Convictions upheld for three men who murdered Maple Ridge’s Jassi Sidhu in India

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he Indian Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of three men in the murder of B.C. woman Jassi Sidhu even as the fate of the alleged masterminds of the so-called “honour killing” remain in Canada. The decision, which means the three men will continue to serve life-imprisonment terms, was greeted with mixed emotions by Sidhu’s husband, Sukhwinder “Mithu” Singh. “I am happy that the persons who killed my wife in cold blood will remain behind bars for life,” Singh said. “But my struggle for justice continues (until) the persons who hired these contract killers face punishment.” Singh named Jassi’s mother and uncle, Malkiat Kaur Sidhu and Surjit Badesha, both of Maple Ridge, as complicit in his wife’s death. “I

want to come face-to-face with my motherin-law and ask her if love was such a crime that she got her own daughter killed,” said Singh, who has not remarried. Both Sidhu and Badesha remain in Canada as they appeal the extradition orders handed down last May in B.C. Supreme Court. Jassi, 25, was kidnapped on June 8, 2000 in the Punjab province. Her body was found the next day in a canal, stabbed, her throat slit. During the extradition hearing, court heard testimony the Maple Ridge woman incurred the wrath of her mother and uncle after she defied their wishes and secretly married Singh, a poor rickshaw driver she had met during a visit to India. Her family had planned an arranged marriage for Jassi to a wealthy businessman.

Jassi Sidhu (right)Sukhwinder Mithu (left).

The judge found both Sidhu and Badesha had strong motives to kill Jassi. Crown presented evidence of more than 250 telephone calls between Badesha and some of

the men convicted in her death. The convicted killers as Ashwani Kumar, Anil Kumar, and Joginder Singh, a police officer.

Lawsuit seeks forfeiture of three Vancouver homes owned by Sanghera family

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he B.C. government wants to seize three Vancouver homes it says have been used by the Sanghera crime group as a base for criminal activities including drug trafficking and storage of firearms. In a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court, the provincial director of civil forfeiture is also seeking an order giving the director the ability to sell the properties on East 63rd Avenue and keep the money arising from the sales after payment of the mortgages. The director notes in his lawsuit that in 2007, a large number of shootings believed to be linked to violent gang conflicts occurred throughout the Lower Mainland, over half of them in southeastern Vancouver. In October 2008, the Vancouver police formed a task force to investigate drug trafficking groups in or around the South Slope area, including members of the Sanghera group, who were primary suspects in most of the shootings in 2007, according to the lawsuit. Members of the crime group, including its alleged leader Udham Sanghera and other members of his family, were arrested and charged with firearms offences. Sanghera and his co-accused, Gordon Taylor, had their charges stayed in 2011 for reasons not explained by the Crown. But Sanghera’s son, Boby Sanghera, and Boby Sanghera’s cousins Navid and Savdip Sanghera, were later convicted of a number of firearms offences. Two other co-accused, Charanjit Rangi and Jaspreet Virk, were acquitted in the same case. The lawsuit outlines a series of crimes dating back to 2003 that the director alleges have been linked to the houses. For example, it says that in 2003 Udham Sanghera and his family resided at 1238 East 63rd Ave., one of the homes being sought for forfeiture. The suit alleges that a home at 1226 East 63rd was used as a marijuana grow-op, and after the grow-op was dismantled by police in September 2003, the premises was used as a drug house. It alleges the property at 1238 East 63rd is the central base from which the crime group’s drug trafficking and large fencing operation for stolen property is run and directed by Udham and Boby Sanghera. A search warrant executed in February 2004 at the homes at 1226 and 1238 East 63rd resulted in the seizure of 56 grams of cocaine, $2,000 in cash and a large amount of stolen property, including brand new car rims and tires, expensive power tools and sporting goods. In October 2006, police responded to a report of shots fired at the 1238 property. About 22 rounds of ammunition were fired into the front of the home. In October 2008, police seized ammunition, two sawed-off rifle butt stocks and a loaded pistol magazine from the garage at the 1238 property. Two weeks later an unsuccessful attempt on the life of Boby Sanghera was made in front of the 1238 home.

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Few would have survived the pressure cooker bombs going off at the BC Legislature grounds

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he prosecution of a Surrey couple accused of planting pressure-cooker bombs at the Victoria legislature ended Tuesday with a bang! B.C. Supreme Court jurors sat transfixed watching a video of quarter-inch sheets of plywood being peppered with shrapnel and blown to pieces by five pounds of C-4 plastic explosives. By Hollywood standards, it was more cartoon than blockbuster. “It’s almost like a Wile E. Coyote thing,” Crown prosecutor Peter Eccles quipped as the fuse burned down on a second test — a pot packed with smokeless powder. Ironically, it smoked for a moment and then flew a few metres into the air with more of whimper than a boom, leaving the pot bent, the lid several metres away and unburnt powder scattered across the ground. Still, in spite of the tests of improvised explosive devices built by police, defence lawyers established neither of the pressure cookers modified and delivered by the supposed Boston Marathon-bombing copycats was capable of detonating C-4. As for their plan to distil homemade explosive material

Record number of Indian-origin MPs elected to UK parliament

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record number of 10 Indian-origin candidates including Keith Vaz, Priti Patel and Infosys cofounder Narayana Murthy’s son-in-law were elected to the British parliament on Friday Prominent Labour candidates like long-serving MPs Keith Vaz (Leicester East) and Virendra Sharma (Ealing Southall) have won their respective seats, as they have a special connect with a largely Indian-origin electorate in their constituencies. Ruling Conservatives’ Indian-origin stalwart, British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Indian diaspora champion Priti Patel also retained her Witham seat with a 41.5 per cent majority, winning 27,123 seats. Opposition Labour’s Valerie Vaz also retained her Walsall South seat and Seema Malhotra won a her south west London seat comfortably. The Infosys cofounder Narayana Murthy’s son-in-law Rishi Sunak, was contesting from the Tory safe seat of Richmond (Yorks) in the north of England and bagged 27,744 votes. With his nearest opponent, Matthew Cooke of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), at a mere 8,194, his win marks an impressive 51.4 per cent majority to become a first-time MP in the House of Commons. “I grew up watching my parents serve our local community with dedication. My dad is a NHS (National Health Service) family GP and my mum ran her own local chemist shop,” Sunak said. Other Indian-origin winners include Alok Sharma (Reading West), Shailesh Vara (Cambridgeshire Northwest), another junior minister who has been an MP since 2005. First-timer Suella Fernandes (Fareham) for the Conservatives and a Labour novice Lisa Nandy (Wigan). The overall tally of 10 Indian-origin MPs in the British parliament breaks the previous 2010 general election record of eight. Phir ek baar, Cameron sarkar, tweets Modi But it was not all smooth sailing for Indian-origin Tory candidates, with Paul Uppal losing by a narrow margin to Labour. In the same Wolverhampton region, brother-sister duo Arun and Suria Photay also failed to make their first-time mark. There were a total of 59 Indian-origin candidates in the fray from the Tories (17), Labour (14), Liberal Democrats (14), Green Party (4), United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) (3), independents (2)

commit murder and mayhem on Canada Day in 2013. Their trial, which began Feb. 2 with opening statements, has been shortened by an agreement between the Crown and defence allowing some evidence to be entered by admission, eliminating the need for several witnesses. For that matter, witnesses were all but dispensed with by the prosecution, which spent the last months playing in their place nearly 100 In this artist’s sketch, John Nuttall and Amanda Korody or so hours of surveillance appear in court in Vancouver. recordings made during the from cow manure, that was pooh-poohed by elaborate five-month sting that snared the specialist RCMP Const. Peter Cucheran. He defendants. The jury has watched the RCMP agreed that if leaching precursor chemicals manipulate the pair through various scripted from dung were possible at all, it was a “com- scenarios featuring discussions of potential plicated” and “lengthy” procedure. attacks, a holiday in the Okanagan, the buildJohn Nuttall, 40, and his wife Amanda ing of pressure-cooker devices, the planting Korody, 31, have pleaded not guilty to four of inert bombs in Victoria and their arrest. charges related to an alleged terrorist plot to It has been a veritable video binge for ju-

rors. A shoe-in for Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, the six-foot-five Nuttall wore two outfits — a leather jacket, Surrey T-shirt, army pants and Palestinian kaffiyeh, or the natty conservative suit-shirt-and-tie combo the Mounties bought him so he could look respectable. Throughout the footage, the petite, timid and nearly always ill Korody appeared primarily in a hijab or niqab and an abaya. She was apparently throwing up daily, consuming Gravol like candy and fearing a return of a cancer for which she had previous surgery. The couple had converted to Islam in 2011 after drifting through Satanism, witchcraft and a cult that believed aliens were coming to take them to meet God. Both recovering alcoholics and heroin addicts, they were consuming methadone eking out a living in a Metro Vancouver basement suite on social assistance. The RCMP stoked their jihadist beliefs, bought them food because they were broke and hungry, having spent their welfare, and helped them obtain materiél. Never have Subway, Panago and Tim Hortons enjoyed such product placement.

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Calgary house sales drop 22% in April

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he number of houses sold in Calgary in April fell by 22 per cent from the previous year, as declining opportunities for work and falling consumer confidence hit hard. Calgary house sales in the first three months of 2015 dropped by 33 per cent. At the same time, there was a flood of new listings as Calgarians tried to sell properties before the impact of low oil prices took hold. Those conditions are creating a buyer’s market, according to the Calgary Real Estate Board. “With fewer buyers making purchase decisions and improved selection for resale, new home and rental property, sellers have been either adjusting their expectations on price or delaying their plans about when to list their home,” CREB president Corinne Lyall said in a news release. The number of new listings eased to 3,064 units in April, down 18 per cent from the previous year, but the number of sales was 1,957 units, down 22 per cent from last year.

That’s about 15 per cent lower than would usually be seen in April, with the spring house-buying season is underway. The sales decline has started to have an impact on prices, with the benchmark for detached homes falling 0.7 per cent for the month to $510,200, still 1.9 per cent higher than in April 2014. Particularly hard to sell were higherpriced homes, with far more on the market than buyers interested in them, CREB said. “This does not come as a surprise as many of the job losses in recent months have occurred in the higher paying sectors,” said CREB chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie. Apartment prices recorded a monthly sales decline of 0.7 per cent and an annual decline of 0.2 per cent. The number of apartments sold is down by 33 per cent from last year. At the end of March, the median price for a Calgary apartment was $265,000. Edmonton’s market also quiet Three hours north, Edmonton’s housing

market is also slow, but not quite as slow as Calgary’s. In the first three months of the year, 4,896 homes were sold, a drop of 16 per cent from the same period in 2014. The average home price was two per cent higher at $370,997. The average home price went up between March and April, as more homes were sold month over month.

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Ontario house prices may be 25% overvalued due to condo threat

verage house prices across Ontario could be overvalued by as much as 25 per cent in part because of an

oversupply of condominiums in Toronto, ratings agency Fitch warned Wednesday. According to Fitch, a glut of condos could be a threat to the economy and a drag on future price gains. There are currently 80,000 condominiums being built in the province, the vast majority concentrated in downtown Toronto. That’s 50 per

cent higher than the level seen four years ago, when the current condo building boom was beginning. “The significant boost to supply implied by this construction overhang could present a problem for continued price growth, with the market potentially becoming oversaturated,” Fitch director Stefan Hilts said. “As a large number of units come on line, prices may soften, which could reverberate throughout the Canadian economy.”

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REAL ESTATE / FINANCE

House prices rise in Spring selling season

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anadian resale home prices were up 4.7 per cent across Canada in March, according to Teranet, with only two cities – Winnipeg and Ottawa-Gatineau — reporting a drop in prices compared to March 2014. The Teranet housing index showed

son, with the months between March and May traditionally seeing the largest number of home sales. This spring consumers are benefiting from low mortgage rates and competition for the mortgage business. Last week, Meridien, Ontario’s largest credit uniton, offered an 18-month fixed term mortgage rate of 1.49 per cent, the lowest in living memory. Variable rate mortgages start at around 1.95 per cent, according to RateSpy At the end of March, BMO dropped its fixed five-year rate to 2.79 per cent, prompting TD Bank to match those terms and kicking off a rate war among the big banks. Cheaper mortgages But cheaper mortgages may be helping to boost home prices, especially in markets with tight supply such as Toronto, Vancouver and Hamil-

prices rose an average of 0.3 per cent in the month, with eight of the 11 metropolitan areas surveyed marking rising prices. The figures mark the strong beginning to the spring house-buying sea-

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ton, which lead in year over year price rises for resale homes. In Hamilton, prices were up 8.4 per cent, in Toronto, 7.6 per cent, and in Vancouver, 5.3 per cent. Even Calgary house prices are 4.4 per cent higher than a year ago and up 0.2 per cent on the month, despite layoffs in the oil patch which had driven prices down earlier in the year. However, price acceleration in Calgary has decelerated from the nine per cent average seen last year.

City Annual increase Month to month Halifax Quebec Montreal Toronto Hamilton Ottawa-Gatineau Winnipeg Edmonton Calgary Vancouver Victoria

1.1% 1.5% 0.2% 7.6% 8.4% -0.9% -1.0% 4.7% 4.4% 5.3% 3.3%

1.2% 1.5% 0.7% 0.3% -0.3% -0.3% 0.2% 0.4% 0.2% 0.3% -0.3%

More

declines

ahead

TD Bank analyst Admir Kolaj said the deceleration in home price growth seen in the last four months has ebbed, in part because of lower rates. But he expects prices will continue to moderate later in the year. “While price growth in Calgary and Edmonton have remained in positive territory, we still expect home prices in commodity-dependent housing markets such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador to decline by three to severn per cent over the course of 2015,” he said in a note to investors. Meanwhile, prices in Ontario and British Columbia should stay strong, he said. The wild card is what the Bank of Canada does with interest rates — if there is another rate cut, that could mean even lower mortgage rates and even more Canadians rushing to get into the market while mortgages are cheap.

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Ranbir Kapoor pledges support for Salman Khan

Ali Zafar wins ‘Most Stylish Import’ award second time in a row

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li Zafar does it again: our dashing singer-actor has won the ‘Most Stylish Import’ award at Hindustan Times Delhi’s Most Stylish 2015. Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit presented him the award. Ali also recently bagged the ‘Most Stylish Import’ award at the Hindustan Times Style Awards in March.

The star was chosen for his hip, signature sense of style. In an acknowledgment to his roots, Ali sported his old 1999 look for the ceremony. A man of many talents, Ali took to stage and played his guitar for the audience while Priyanka Chopra stood by him, looking visibly awed. Ali has received multiple awards in the past for his good looks and sense of

style. In 2013, he had been crowned the ‘World’s Sexiest Asian Man’ and stood at number three in the category in 2014. Also read: Ali Zafar’s Urain Gay: A song for Peshawar Ali made a name for himself in Bollywood after he played the comical role of Ali Hasan in Tere Bin Laden. The actor is also involved in various social projects and recently dedicated a song ‘Urain Gay’ to the victims of Peshawar attack on December 16.

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LOCAL

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Conservatives follow Liberal example in using EI surplus as a slush fund

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emember two decades ago, when surpluses in the employment insurance fund started giving the Chrétien government billions in extra revenue to repay debt, cut taxes or fund other things? For two years only — just until 2017 — those days are back. And how convenient: it’s just enough to nudge Joe Oliver’s books into the black in time for this year’s election. The last recession dipped the EI account balance into the red, accumulating a deficit of $9.2 billion by 2011. But as of 2015, that’s paid off. A rate freeze by former finance minister Jim Flaherty in 2013 — ostensibly to protect employees and employers from more rate increases — is keeping contributions higher than necessary to maintain that balance. That translates into an extra $2.7 billion for 2015-16. Without it, Stephen Harper wouldn’t have his balanced budget. Next year, it’ll be worth $1.4 billion extra. Then starting in 2017, contribution rates will be based on a seven-year “break-even” formula. Premiums will drop to a level that keeps the account in balance, not surplus. The overall goal? More transparent rates. And

an end to multibillion-dollar dipping into EI funds to finance the ambitions of future governments. But first, a final windfall. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business was among those “screaming and yelling” about payroll tax unfairness. But president Dan Kelly says that while his members want lower premiums, they understand you need surplus years to balance out deficits. “I am generally supportive of the government’s approach,” Kelly said, “and I say that with a bit of a heavy heart, because this year and next, because of this new formula, rates are not coming down as much as they could come down, and so the economy is missing out on that benefit.” “Right now, the EI surplus is subsidizing the books of the government of Canada, I think that’s a fair statement,” Kelly said. But by that logic, in bad times the government subsidized the EI account. “That’s why we haven’t been lighting our hair on fire on this,” he said, emphasizing that consistent rates are what counts. Kelly said his group asked for a chart in the budget to track the EI account over time. (And sure enough, there is one.)

Rules tighten for doctors who prescribe medical marijuana

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octors who prescribe medical marijuana to their patients are being directed by their regulatory body to follow a new professional standard that may reduce legal access to the drug. The standard approved May 1st by the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons sets out detailed requirements doctors should follow if they authorize a patient to receive pot from a federally licensed commercial producer. Except in rare cases, it says, patients under age 25 shouldn’t get pot at all, nor should

those with psychosis or substance abuse disorders, cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. And medical marijuana should only be prescribed with the consent of a doctor who has an ongoing “treating relationship” with the patient. Doctors of B.C. president Dr. Bill Cavers said he hopes that condition weeds out speedy pot authorizations from physicians who specialize in them, sometimes online via Skype. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for a person to walk into a clinic for the first

Duffy billed taxpayers $698 in expenses for a trip to a dog show he Crown in the Mike Duffy trial went to the dogs on Tuesday, but the suspended senator’s lawyer suggested that the prosecution was barking up the wrong tree. The prosecutor contends that Duffy billed $698 in expenses for a trip he took with his wife to a dog show in Peterborough, Ont., in July 2010 to buy a Kerry blue terrier. Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses he claimed as a senator and later repaid with money provided by the prime minister’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright. According to Duffy’s expense claims, he and his wife travelled to Peterborough in July 2010 on “public business,” for what he said were meetings with local officials to discuss “broadcasting issues.” His personal diary said that he and his wife drove to Peterborough on July 2 and spent the night at a Super 8 motel; the next morning, they had coffee with then Tory MP Dean Del Mastro and his wife. Louise Lang, secretary of the Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Canada, testified on Tuesday by phone that she was involved in organizing the show that year. Although she was busy attending to her duties, she said her husband

introduced her to Duffy, who was there with his wife. Lang said her meeting with Duffy was brief, lasting about a minute. She also testified that a Kerry blue terrier breeder from New Brunswick was at the show the same time as Duffy. But Duffy’s lawyer Donald Bayne questioned Lang’s memory of the events of that day. Lang admitted that when she was interviewed about the issue by the RCMP in 2013, she couldn’t recall the exact year she had met Duffy. She also said she told the RCMP that she couldn’t remember if Duffy’s wife was there with him. “I asked my husband and he said she was there,” Lang said. “Has it not been explained to you that you should give us the evidence of what you know and not what others have told you?” Bayne asked. Bayne later asked Lang if she had told police that Duffy had picked up a dog at the show. “I was under the impression that he was there to pick up a dog,” she said, adding that she told the RCMP that he picked up a dog from the New Brunswick breeder. But Bayne said that Duffy never purchased a dog at the show, but instead purchased a dog from the New Brunswick breeder in that province in January 2011.

time ever and then walk out with a doctor’s signature with no follow-up or ongoing therapeutic relationship,” he said. “Any physician providing a signature or access to marijuana for medical usage should know their patients.” Cavers acknowledged approval will be “more difficult” for would-be medical pot users who don’t have a family doctor, but he said some walk-in clinics do offer ongoing care for patients. He said he supports the new standard. “There need to be guidelines otherwise it’s a free-for-all with a substance that we know has had some deleterious effects in some people.” Cavers said the federal

government has put added responsibility on doctors by requiring an authorization that amounts to a prescription for pot instead of the old system of merely confirming a patient had an eligible condition. He said most B.C. doctors don’t want to prescribe pot without much more evidence of its benefits and how it can be safely and effectively used – as with any other pharmaceutical. “It is the responsibility of Health Canada, I think, to come in and actually clarify this,” Cavers said. “Physicians are crying out for more investigation to find out whether marijuana is an effective substance

T

NATIONAL

Justin Trudeau plan taxes top 1% to cut taxes, boost benefits for middle class

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single, more generous, monthly, tax-free “Canada child benefit.” The Conservatives’ income-splitting tax credit would be scrapped. generous child benefits and an The near doubling of the across-the-board income tax cut for tax-free savings account the middle class. Under the Liberal contribution limits anproposal announced Monday: The nounced in the federal bud22-per-cent tax rate for anyone with get would be cancelled. a taxable annual income between “We can do more for the $44,701 and $89,401 would be cut people who need it, by doto 20.5 per cent. A new tax brack- Liberal leader would ing less for the people who scrap Conservatives’ et of 33 per cent would be imposed income-splitting credit don’t,” Trudeau said at a on those with taxable incomes over to boost monthly campaign-style event at a FKLOG EHQH¿W $200,000 a year. The current top family restaurant in nearbracket of 29 per cent would continue to by Aylmer, Que. According to the Libapply to those earning between $138,586 erals, all families with kids under 18 and and $200,000. The Conservatives’ new- an annual income below $150,000, or 90 ly enriched universal child care benefit per cent of families,would receive more would be replaced by rolling together under Trudeau’s plan than they do under two other existing child benefits into a Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s. ustin Trudeau has unveiled the Liberal alternative to the Harper government’s economic plan: hike taxes for the wealthiest one per cent to pay for more

Saturday, May 9, 2015 L 21

Duffy trip on taxpayer dime wasn’t on Senate business, MP says

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hen the Conservative member of Parliament for Kelowna had Mike Duffy speak in his riding in 2009, he was doing it for the Conservative party, the MP testified at Duffy’s criminal trial Thursday morning. Ron Cannan, a Tory backbencher, was as vehement about it as Vancouver Island MP John Duncan had been on Wednesday, testifying about a different part of the same swing through British Columbia that the now-suspended senator took. Taxpayers picked up the costs of his plane tickets and those of his wife Heather. “It was a party activity. Definitely partisan in nature,” Cannan testified about the event at Kelowna’s Delta hotel, on a Saturday afternoon in June. Unlike other visits from Tory ministers or other grandees, Duffy’s had no purpose other than to rally the troops of the Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative Electoral District As-

sociation, Cannan testified. No meeting with a local industry association and no government announcement, the usual reasons an outsider might come to the riding. “They come for an event and if they’re staying overnight, we might try to schedule an event, a breakfast or whatever we can,” he said. Duffy came just for the speech at a $50-a-head party affair. The riding association paid for his hotel room and breakfast, Cannan said. Duffy’s diary, entered as evidence in the trial, doesn’t indicate he did anything in Kelowna other than have lunch with Cannan and appear at the fundraiser. Heather Duffy went on a wine tour. Duffy is facing 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, mostly related to how he spent Senate money. Among them are allegations he spent his Senate travel allowance improperly, including on trips that were personal or partisan, even if they occasionally had superficial elements of legitimate Senate business.

Auditor General’s Senate review finds ‘a few Senators with big issues’: sources

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uditor General Michael Ferguson has issued final audit letters to 117 current and former senators, including five to 10 whose expense claims are being flagged for egregious patterns of behaviour. Ferguson, who has been conducting a review of all senators’ expenses over the past two years, has found “a few people with big issues.” Ferguson will release his final results in the first week of June — and the RCMP are watching the results closely. No decision has been made about whether senators who have the most serious expense issues will be identified in the auditor general’s report. Conservative senators and those who were appointed as Liberals have been bracing for the results of the audit ever since investigations were launched by the RCMP into the

spending habits of suspended Senator Mike Duffy and three of his Senate colleagues: suspended senators Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin and retired senator Mac Harb. Duffy is currently on trial facing 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Duffy has pleaded not guilty and his lawyer has attempted to portray his spending habits as typical of what occurred among those appointed to the Red Chamber. Letters sent to senators Ferguson sent out letters to all the senators whose spending has been divided into three general categories: the five to 10 senators exhibiting a pattern of troublesome expensing; those with some ad-

Report shows Vancouver Rent Bank continues to prevent homelessness

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ollowing a successful three-year pilot project to assist low-income renters in crisis, Mayor Gregor Robertson is highlighting the success of the Vancouver Rent Bank. Council will vote next week on a grant of $99,200 to contribute to the program’s operations for two more years. “In a city where 52% of households rent their homes, far too many families know what it’s like to face an unexpected crisis and stay afloat in paying the rent,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “The Vancouver Rent Bank has proven itself as a remarkably successful

tool to help low-income renters keep their homes in times of incredible difficulty. It’s a program that prevents homelessness and provides housing stability for families in need, and I look forward to supporting it again next week at City Council.” The Vancouver Rent Bank is a multi-partner initiative jointly funded by the City of Vancouver and a variety of community partners.

ministrative problems; and approximately 40 senators who were cleared. A one-page letter sent to those who were cleared informs them that their expenses will not be part of the auditor general’s report. The letter was signed by Ferguson. Ferguson wouldn’t comment on the content of the letters and declined to offer specifics about the upcoming report, say-

ing only that it will be presented in June and have the results of the Senate expenses audit. “Then it goes to the Senate, for them to make the decision about what to do with what we found,” he said. The process took around two years rather than the 18 months expected to complete the process.

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JOBS

Matrimonial

willing to travel all over the lower mainland and from Squamish to Hope. We also have opportunities in Edmonton, Alberta. Minimum qualification for these positions are completion of secondary school and BST Justice Training of BC. Past experience is preferred but we are willing to train candidates who show eagerness to learn. For more information please visit our website at www.transworldsecurity.ca. Please email you resume to hr@ transworldsecurity.ca. ------------------------------------Retail Sales Supervisor (6211); Saim’s Communication Inc.,Surrey, British Columbia, (6211); Salary: $17:50/Hourly; Positions Available: 2; Type: FullTime; Minimum Education: High School; ,Description : Assign sales workers to duties and prepare work schedules, Authorize payments by cheque and the return ofmerchandise , Sell merchandise to customers, Resolve problems that arise, such as customercomplaints and supply shortages, t .BJOUBJO TQFDJöFE JOWFOUPSZ and ordermerchandise, Prepare reports regarding sales volumes, merchandising and personnel matters, Hire and train or arrange for the training of new sales staff, Ensure proper tagging, packing and displaying of products, Travel upto four different sites daily and/or weekly as required,

Seeking a suitable match for Ravidasia Sikh Boy, 30 / 5’10”, Living in Canada, B.Tech. Please send your biodata and pics at aman.shine@gmail. com or contact +1 306 461 3131.

Resolve disputes related to customers and employees, Get daily reports from employees and

submit report to head office, Meeting with management and employees when required, Responsible to manage repair department for products. Language Requirement:English is a must. Speaking other languages such as urdu or punjabi would be an asset.Apply by email: saimscomm@yahoo.ca ----------------------------Administrative Assistant (1241)Saim’s Communication Inc., Surrey, British Columbia, NOC : Secretaries (Except Legal and Medical) (1241), Salary: $21.00/ Hourly, Positions Available: 1, Type: Full-Time, Minimum Education: Diploma, Description :Prepare, key in, edit

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

Hair Stylists Required 2 Hair Stylists reqd. Sal:$13.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yr exp. or certification reqd., FT/PT Duties: Suggest hair style compatible with client’s physical features. Determine style from client’s instructions. Cut, trim, taper, curl, wave, perm & style hair. Apply bleach, tints, dyes or rinses to color, frost or streak hair. Analyze hair & scalp condition to advise & provide basic or beauty care treatment. Clean & style wigs & hair pieces. Lang: English.

Location: #11- 8430 128th Street Surrey, BC V3W 4G3. Contact: Sandeep from Basra Hair & Beauty Salon at basra_ salon@yahoo.ca or fax at (604)365-8861

COMMUNITY Vancouver- Starting 1st May 2015, PICS Vancouver Settlement Services RIÂżFH ZLOO EH RIIHULQJ VHUYLFHV LQ 7Dgalog Language to serve the Filipino community in Vancouver. 7KH YROXQWHHU EDVHG VHUYLFHV ZLOO EH SURYLGHG WZLFH D ZHHN DQG ZLOO DSSO\ WR HYHU\ FOLHQW ZKR ZLVKHV WR PDNH use of these services. The services RIIHUHG ZLOO IRFXV RQ D IXOO UDQJH RI support services including orientation, training, guidance, mentoring, YROXQWHHULQJ DQG VHUYLFH EULGJLQJ among others. For more information contact 6XNKZLQGHU *RVDO 9DQFRXYHU 6HWWOHPHQW RIÂżFH DW ------------------------------------------------9,6+:$ <2*$6+5$0 All are Welcome All Day Free Community Event Sunday, April 19, 2015 67 6XUUH\ %& Schedule DP WR DP 6KXEK 0DQJDO Inauguration DP WR DP <RJD $VDQDV DP WR SP 6ZDGK\D\D 5HĂ€HFWLRQ RQ <RJD LQ PRGHUQ OLIH E\ 'U 3UHHWL 0LVUD SP WR SP *\DQ <RJD 0HGLWDWLRQ OHG E\ 6ZDPLML 'U 6DW\D 3UDNDVK EDVHG RQ *LWD 3DWDQMDOL <RJD 6XWUD Yogavashishtha and YogoupaniVKDG IROORZHG E\ 7KRXJKWV RI *XHVW 6SHDNHUV 03 0/$ 2WKHUV 4 pm to 6 pm : Yoga Dance, Yoga *DPHV <RJD 9HJHWDULDQ $\XUYHGLF Health secrets SP WR SP %KDNWL <RJD ZLWK 0XVLF DP WR DP <RJLF %UHDNIDVW 12 pm to 2 pm: Yogic Lunch SP WR SP <RJLF 'LQQHU For Information Please Call : 3DXO .DORWL Ravi Khosla: 604-301-0360 'U 3UHHWL 0LVUD For VISHWA’s Recent Events and Activities Watch: KWWSV ZZZ \RXWXEH FRP ZDWFK"Y W&KI:G -E KWWSV ZZZ \RXWXEH FRP ZDWFK"Y W,H7RV(MV Regards, Dr Preeti Misra Co-ordinator, VISHWA ZZZ VZDPLVDW\DSUDNDVK RUJ --------------------------------------------7LFNHWV RQ VDOH QRZ IRU WKH 6XUUH\ International Children’s Festival For immediate release: April 14, 2015 6XUUH\ %& Âą 7LFNHWV IRU WKH WK DQnual Surrey International Children’s Festival go on sale today at 12 noon DW WKH 6XUUH\ $UWV &HQWUH ER[ RIÂżFH 7KLV \HDUÂśV IHVWLYDO LV EHLQJ KHOG 0D\ Âą ZLWK VHYHQ WLFNHWHG KHDGline performances over three days. 7LFNHWV DUH HDFK $ 6DWXUGD\ Âł$OO $FFHVV 3DVV´ LV DOVR DYDLODEOH IRU ZKLFK DOORZV IXOO DFFHVV WR DOO SHUIRUPDQFHV VXEMHFW WR VKRZ DYDLODELOLW\ DQG DOO DUWV DFWLYLWLHV RQ VLWH Entrance to the festival is free, as are many community performances and art activities. The Surrey International Children’s )HVWLYDO H[SRVHV FKLOGUHQ WR WKH DUWV LQ D IXQ DQG LQWHUDFWLYH ZD\ 7KLV year’s line-up ranges from preschool performances for children as young DV PRQWKV WR LQWHUPHGLDWH VKRZV

for older children, aged 9 and up. International and national performancHV LQFOXGH 0XVLF ZLWK 0DUQLH DQG 7KH Secret Life of Walter Manny from BC DQG 0DQLWRED FLUFXV SHUIRUPHUV 7KH 6WUHHW &LUFXV )HVWLYDO JRHUV ZLOO DOVR have the once-in-a-lifetime opportuniW\ WR H[SHULHQFH D WUDGLWLRQDO SXSSHW theatre performance from Vietnam’s *ROGHQ 'UDJRQ :DWHU 3XSSHW 7KHatre. This unique type of storytelling performance features ancient music, GDQFH DQG VRQJ ¹ DOO RQ ZDWHU 3XUFKDVH WLFNHWV RQOLQH DW ZZZ VXUUH\ FD FKLOGUHQVIHVWLYDO RU E\ FDOOLQJ WKH %R[ 2I¿FH DW &KHFN WKH ZHEVLWH IRU IXOO IHVWLYDO programming information. -30For event details contact: Maria Danysh Festival Organizer Surrey International Children’s Festival 604.501.5064 mdanysh@surrey.ca ----------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Cruise

to Panama Canal 2015 Meeting of Families on April 5th 2015 at 2.00 pm. Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey is organizing a 19 days cruise to Panama Canal and a tour to Orlando Attractions USA from April 15th 2015 to May 8th 2015. The meeting of all the families ( 52 members ) who have already registered for the cruise has been arranged for April 5th 2015 at 2.00 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. Since the day of departure is coming close, hence the meeting has been arranged to know each other and to discuss some important issues regarding the tour, the Excursions, the bus arrangement from the Temple and the group photograph for the life long memory etc.. It may take about an hour, tea and light snacks will be served after the meeting. Please contact Surendra Handa Cruise and Tour Organizer Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information. ---------------------------------The Indo-Africa Charitable Society (IACS)

Saturday, May 9, 2015 L 23 is holding its 4th Annual Mothers Day Fundraising Gala Event on Friday, May 8th, 2015 at 6:30 pm. The Fundraising Gala allows us to continue our Medical Mission efforts in India and Uganda as well as support our local community by serving lunches to Homeless lunches twice a month in Vancouver East End. IACS primary objective is to relieve poverty in developing nations by means of promoting, providing and supporting public health, safe drinking water and advancement of education. For last 8 years we have hosted significant number of medical camps in India and in Uganda, and have made arrangements for provision safe & clean water in number of village schools in India. Our medical camps are largely staffed by volunteer Medical professionals a well as non-medical volunteers from Canada, UK and USA and host countries. Apart from our work overseas we also provide, food and other assistance to homeless and less privileged in Greater Vancouver. For last 3 years we have been serving homeless once month.

24 L Saturday, May 9, 2015

Business / Finance

Bank of Canada overhauls rules to shield financial system from future crises

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anada’s central bank is overhauling its rules to keep financial markets operating, incorporating lessons from the 2008 crisis, Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Wilkins said Tuesday. The changes range from allowing private investors to buy more new government bonds to denying bailout funding to institutions that don’t have so-called living wills, Wilkins said in a speech in Montreal. New rules imposed after a financial crisis that cost the global economy US$10 trillion, including demands that taxpayers aren’t on the hook for future problems, have made trading more difficult and expensive, Wilkins said. “Weighed against the cost of another cri-

sis, it’s a small price to pay,” said Wilkins, who led a committee on global market liquidity that wrote new rules on capital requirements. Her speech didn’t touch on current monetary policy and she said the moves have no impact on how the policy rate is set. Those pressures are also being seen in Canada, which had the soundest banks through the crisis according to the World Economic Forum, underpinning one of the fastest recoveries in the Group of Seven. The changes unveiled today will help avoid trading freezes that destroyed some global banks and halted Canada’s own $32 billion market for asset-backed commercial paper, the senior deputy said.

Canada lost 20,000 jobs in April

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anada’s economy shed almost 20,000 jobs in April as a small uptick in full-time work was more than offset by a large drop in parttime jobs. Statistics Canada reported Friday that the unemployment rate stayed steady at 6.8 per cent. The loss of 19,700 jobs was worse than the 5,000 that a consensus of economists was expecting, according to Bloomberg. The economy dumped more than 66,000 part-time jobs during the month. That more than offset a gain of 44,000 full-time jobs. Major retails chains Target and Future Shop closed their doors during the month, and a large number of those positions would have been of the part-time variety. The trade sector, which includes

retail jobs, lost more than 20,000 jobs during the month by itself. The weak April jobs numbers come on the heels of a March in which the economy unexpectedly created more than 28,000 jobs, Statistics Canada says. Regional numbers Energy-rich Alberta added 12,500 net jobs last month — even though the province’s natural resources sector lost 3,500 positions at a time of lower oil prices. The province’s sector had 17,200 fewer jobs compared to a year ago, down 9.5 per cent, but its unemployment rate stayed at 5.5 per cent. The data also showed that British Columbia lost 28,700 net jobs last month and saw its unemployment rate rise to 6.3 per cent, up from 5.8 per cent the month before.

Stephen Harper won’t allow ‘permanent underclass’ of temporary foreign workers

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rime Minister Stephen Harper vowed Friday that Canada will not have an immigration system where foreign workers are in Canada over the long term without having the same rights as Canadians. During a joint press conference Friday on Parliament Hill with visiting Philippine President Benigno Aquino, a Filipino journalist asked about recent changes to the temporary foreign worker program, which have hurt nannies and other caregivers from that country in particular. Thousands have had to to leave jobs with Canadian families and return home after their visas expired. The new rules impose a four-year limit on temporary

foreign workers and there is a backlog of permanent residency applications that makes it difficult for caregivers to stay longer. Harper said his government wants to make sure that immigrants were not filling jobs that Canadians could do. “Just as importantly, we’re making sure that when people come to this country to work and to work longterm, they have the ability to move towards being permanent citizens of this country,” he said. “This country is not going to have a policy, as long as I’m prime minister, where we will have a permanent underclass of ... people who are so-called temporary, but here forever, with no rights of citizenship and no rights of mobility.

Supply not meeting demand in Vancouver’s red-hot real-estate market

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uyers continued to snatch up homes in Metro Vancouver last month, and realtors are warning that the region’s real estate demand is outpacing the supply. The number of all types of residential property sales last month was up 37 per cent over April 2014 to 4,179, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. Meanwhile, the number of new listings was down 0.9 per cent compared to a year earlier. The benchmark price for a typical detached home was $1.079 million in April, up 12.5 per cent over April 2014. “The supply of homes for sale today in

the region is not meeting the demand we’re seeing from homebuyers. This is putting upward pressure on prices, particularly in the detached home market,” Darcy McLeod, the real estate board’s president, said in a news release. “It’s a competitive and fast-moving market today that is tilted in favour of home sellers.” Including condos and town houses, a total of 12,436 Greater Vancouver homes were listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service in April, down 0.5 per cent from March’s numbers and 19.8 per cent from April 2014.

Business / Finance

April house sales surge 37% in Vancouver, 17% in Toronto

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anada’s two hottest housing markets got hotter in April, with the number of sales in Toronto up 17 per cent from last year and Vancouver sales surging 37 per cent. The Toronto Real Estate Board reported 11,303 house sales in the Greater Toronto Area in April, and a five per cent surge in new listings as buyers decided to test the market. The average selling price rose 10 per cent year over year to $635,932, with a detached single-family home in the 416 area code region selling for an average of $1,056,114. Residential property sales in Metro Vancouver reached 4,179, compared to the 3,050 sales in April 2014, and up 2.9 per cent from March, which also saw record sales numbers. Few new listings in Vancouver The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says people are not looking to sell their homes, with listings falling 19 per cent since last year. Supply is especially tight in Metro Vancou-

ver, where the average selling price of a detached home rose 12.5 per cent to $1,078,900. “The supply of homes for sale today in the region is not meeting the demand we’re seeing from homebuyers. This is putting upward pressure on prices, particularly in the detached home market,” REBGV president Darcy McLeod said in a news release. The composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver rose 8.5 per cent to $673,000. A study of the Toronto and Vancouver markets by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation last week found both overvalued, but said there was little risk of a crash in prices because of high demand. Low interest rates continue to lure buyers into the market and there is little new supply, except in the Toronto condo market, where sales are flatter. The average price of a resale condo in Toronto is $407,612, a 5.8 per cent increase from last year.

BC’s Health ministry to boot 46 pharmacies from drug plan

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he B.C. government intends to effectively shut down as many as 46 Lower Mainland pharmacies by excluding them from the PharmaCare program in the wake of a review that flagged various abuses. Letters have gone out to the pharmacies giving them three weeks to argue why they shouldn’t be denied the ability to bill the publicly funded drug plan effective next month. There have been past allegations of kickbacks paid by methadone-dispensing pharmacies to retain addicted patients, among other concerns about their practices. Health ministry officials aren’t releasing specifics or the locations of the pharmacies involved. “Many of these pharmacies are dispensing methadone,” Health Minister Terry Lake confirmed. A regulatory change that took effect in December now allows the ministry to refuse to do business with pharmacies with a history of problematic business and billing practices, and forces them to disclose their ownership, management and track record. “Until now, it could be hard for the ministry to cancel the enrolment of a pharmacy taking advantage of patients or breaking PharmaCare’s billing rules,” Lake said. Recent audits of pharmacies have turned up hundreds of thousands of dollars in billing irregularities. The ministry says some pharmacies improperly filed drug information for patients into the province’s prescription-tracking network, potentially risking their health, while others gave false information on their

enrolment applications. A health ministry spokesperson would not release specifics or the locations of the 46 targeted pharmacies, but said some are being excluded for problems unrelated to methadone. The 20 highest billing methadone pharmacies in B.C. include four each in Surrey and Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, five elsewhere in Vancouver, three in Abbotsford, two in Victoria and one each in Nanaimo and Kamloops. Together they were paid more than $12 million from the PharmaCare program to supply methadone in 2013, according to a provincial review of the methadone maintenance program completed in January. The review found methadone costs covered by PharmaCare have climbed by an average of 7.6 per cent a year since 2001 to nearly $44 million, making it the program’s second-highest drug cost. More than 15,000 drug addicts received PharmaCare-funded methadone in 2013 – about 5,200 in Vancouver, 3,400 in Surrey, 1,200 in Burnaby, 1,000 each in Abbotsford and Greater Victoria, and another 2,000 split between Coquitlam, New Westminster and Nanaimo. The review notes the ministry has for more than a decade dealt with methadone dispensing problems, including the offering of inducements to patients and improper billing. “There appear to be significant concerns relating to the safety, acceptability, equity and efficiency of the [program],” the review found.

Telus Corp posts strong results; adds 37,000 postpaid subscribers

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he train that is Telus Corp. keeps chugging along, as the telco kicked off its fiscal year with a bang, posting strong results in both wireless and wireline. The Vancouver-based company recorded a 11.5 per cent rise in its adjusted net income to $427 million from $383 million during the same three months in 2014 ended March 31. Analysts had been expecting an adjusted net income of $408.2 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Operating revenue rose 4.6 per cent in the period to $3.03 billion, also beating the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion.

During the quarter, Telus returned $400 million to its investors: $244 million paid in dividends and $156 million spent on share purchases. It announced a two-cent hike to its dividend to 42 cents per share, the ninth increase since May 2011. Shares of Telus rose 1.9 per cent Thursday to $42.80 in Toronto. Notably, the monthly postpaid attrition rate declined eight basis points year-overyear to 0.91 per cent, an achievement analysts at RBC Capital Markets called “impressive.” Chief executive officer Joe Natale credits this feat, as he always does, to Telus’s employees and their “customer-first approach” to business.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 L 25

26 L Saturday, May 9, 2015

PUNJAB

Missing Punjabis’ issue raised in LS by Congress

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he Congress raised in the Lok Sabha the issue regarding 39 Indians, mostly from Punjab, missing in Iraq since June last year. MP from Ludhiana Ravneet Bittu said the Centre needed to come clean on what the truth of the missing Indians was. “Since June 11 last year, 39 Indians have been missing in Iraq after they were kidnapped from Mosul by ISIS. The last they spoke to their families was on June 11, 2014. There has been no news ever since. The families of these people are now on dharna and fast at Jantar Mantar. They must be given the truth,” Bittu said in Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha. Bittu also asked the Centre why the families of missing Indians were not being allowed to meet Harjit Masih, from Gurdaspur, who escaped from ISIS custody.

Protests continue across Punjab over the assault and murder of girl

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idespread protests continued across the district on Wednesday, eight days after 13-year-old Arshdeep Kaur was killed allegedly after being molested and pushed off a moving bus by its staff. The bus belonged to Orbit Aviations Private Limited, a company owned by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and his family members. The activists of Punjab Students Union gathered at the main square of Moga city outside the bus stand and staged a dharna against the SAD-BJP government. They demanded registration of a criminal case against Sukhbir and his family members and cancellation of permits of all buses owned by them.

US organization undertakes drive to promote Sikh identity

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eeking support for a national media awareness initiative on Sikhism and Sikh identity, the National Sikh Campaign (NSC) has embarked on a fundraising drive in the US. In the first major fundraising event at Chicago, 200 Sikhs gathered and $34,000 was collected. As per a release issued here, the NSC team also visited the Sikh Religious Society of Palatine Gurdwara and Illinois Sikh Community Centre on Sunday and addressed the community. NSC representatives presented a detailed plan to create awareness about Sikhism and Sikh identity through the media in the US. The media plan has been advised and created by AKPD, President Obama’s media company.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 L

L Saturday, May 9, 2015

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129 27,139

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SEARCH OUR INVENTORY AT BCFORD.CA AND VISIT YOUR BC FORD STORE. Vehicle(s) may be shown with optional equipment. Dealer may sell or lease for less. Limited time offers. Offers only valid at participating dealers. Retail offers may be cancelled or changed at any time without notice. See your Ford Dealer for complete details or call the Ford Customer Relationship Centre at 1-800-565-3673. For factory orders, a customer may either take advantage of eligible raincheckable Ford retail customer promotional incentives/offers available at the time of vehicle factory order or time of vehicle delivery, but not both or combinations thereof. Retail offers not combinable with any CPA/GPC or Daily Rental incentives, the Commercial UpďŹ t Program or the Commercial Fleet Incentive Program (CFIP).‥‥ Until June 30, 2015, receive $750/ $1,000/ $1,250/ $1,500/ $1,750/ $2,000/ $2,750/ $3,500/ $4,500/ $5,250/ $6,000/ $11,000/ $11,250/ $12,250 in Manufacturer Rebate (Delivery Allowances) with the purchase or lease of a new 2015 Explorer/ 2015: Taurus SE, Expedition, Transit Connect/ 2015 C-MAX/ 2015: Flex, F-250 Gas Engine, F-350 to F-450 (excluding Chassis Cabs) Gas Engine/ 2015 Edge/ 2015: Taurus (excluding SE), E-Series Cutaway, Transit Van/Wagon, Transit Cutaway/Chassis Cab, F-350 to F-550 Chassis Cabs/ 2014: Edge, F-150 Regular Cab XL 4X2 (Value Leader)/ 2015: F-150 Regular Cab (excluding XL 4X2), F-250 Diesel Engine, F-350 to F-450 (excluding Chassis Cabs) Diesel Engine/ 2014: Focus Sedan, Focus ST, Focus BEV, 2015: F-150 SuperCab and SuperCrew/ 2014 Focus Hatch (excluding S, ST and BEV)/ 2014 Flex/ 2014: F-150 SuperCrew 5.0L, F-150 Super Crew 4x4 non-5.0L, F-150 Super Crew 4x4 XLT 300A/ 2014 F-150 Regular Cab (excluding XL 4X2)/ 2014 F-150 SuperCab -- all stripped chassis, cutaway body, F-150 Raptor and Medium Truck models excluded. Manufacturer Rebate is not combinable with CPA, GPC, CFIP, Daily Rental Allowance and A/X/Z/D/F-Plan programs. Delivery allowances are not combinable with any eet consumer incentives. †Until June 30, 2015, receive 0% APR purchase ďŹ nancing on new 2014 Edge and 2015 Mustang (excluding 50th Anniversary, Shelby GT350), Flex, Escape, and F-350 to F-550 (Chassis Cabs) models for up to 60 months, and 2015 Focus, Fiesta, Fusion, Taurus, F-250, and F-350 to F-450 (excluding Chassis Cabs) models for up to 72 months to qualiďŹ ed retail customers, on approved credit (OAC) from Ford Credit. Not all buyers will qualify for the lowest interest rate. Example: $25,000 purchase ďŹ nanced at 0% APR for 36/60/72 months, monthly payment is $694.44/ $416.66/ $347.22, cost of borrowing is $0 or APR of 0% and total to be repaid is $25,000. Down payment on purchase ďŹ nancing offers may be required based on approved credit from Ford Credit. **Until June 30, 2015, lease a new 2015 Focus SE 4DR Automatic /2015 Escape SE FWD with 2.5L engine/2015 F-150 SuperCrew XLT 4x4 3.5L with 300A Engine and get as low as 0%/0%/0% lease annual percentage rate (APR) ďŹ nancing for up to 48/48/24 months on approved credit (OAC) from Ford Credit. Not all buyers will qualify for the lowest APR payment. Lease a vehicle with a value of $22,114/$27,939/$43,749 at 0%/0%/0% APR for up to 48/48/24 months with $1,195/$1,195/$2,275 down or equivalent trade in, monthly payment is $215/$280/$349. Comparison payments are for reference purposes only and are calculated as follows: the monthly payment is annualized (multiplied by 12) and then divided by the comparison period (26 for bi-weekly, 52 for weekly and 365 for daily). For example ($215 X 12) / 26 bi-weekly periods = $99.)/($280 X 12) / 26 bi-weekly periods = $129.)/($349 X 12) / 26 bi-weekly periods = $161.) total lease obligation is $11,515/$14,635/$10,651 and optional buyout is $9,067/$11,734/$23,624. Offer includes $0/$0/$4,500 in manufacturer rebates, $800/$750/$1,500 Ford Credit Lease Cash, and $1,665/$1,750/$1,800 freight and air tax but exclude variable charges of license, fuel ďŹ ll charge, insurance, dealer PDI (if applicable), registration, PPSA, administration fees and charges, any environmental charges or fees, and all applicable taxes. Taxes payable on full amount of lease ďŹ nancing price after Ford Credit Lease Cash and manufacturer rebate deducted . Additional payments required for PPSA, registration, security deposit, NSF fees (where applicable), excess wear and tear, and late fees. Some conditions and mileage restrictions of 64,000km/64,000km/40,000km for 48/48/24 months apply. Excess kilometrage charges are 12¢per km for Fiesta, Focus, C-Max, Fusion and Escape; 16¢per km for E-Series, Mustang, Taurus, Taurus-X, Edge, Flex, Explorer, F-Series, MKS, MKX, MKZ, MKT and Transit Connect; 20¢per km for Expedition and Navigator, plus applicable taxes. Excess kilometrage charges subject to change, see your local dealer for details. All prices are based on Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price.*Until April 30,2015, purchase a new 2015 Focus SE 4DR Automatic/2015 Focus Titanium/2015 Escape SE FWD with 2.5L engine/2015 Escape Titanium/2015 F-150 SuperCrew XLT 4x4 3.5L with 300A Engine/2015 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4x4 for $21,397/$27,914/$27,139/$34,089/$35,771/$50,099 after manufacturer rebates of $0/$0/$0/$0/$4,500/$4,500 is deducted. Taxes payable on full amount of purchase price after total manufacturer rebate has been deducted. 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INDIA

Four female athletes attempt suicide over alleged harassment in Kerala, 1 dead

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15-year-old sportsperson died dergoing training at the Water Sports Centre early on Thursday and three oth- of the SAI at nearby Punnamada. Relatives of the athletes alleged that ers, all undergoing the girls were being physitraining at Water Sports Cencally and mentally tortured tre of Sports Authority of India by some seniors. However, here have been hospitalized, the hostel warden denied the after they ate a poisonous fruit charges and said they came in an apparent suicide pact to know about the condition following alleged harassment of the girls only when they by seniors. The girls are susfainted. “None in the hostel pected to have consumed the fruit, locally called ‘Othalanga’, A young girl athlete died tortured them�, she said. Angry relatives of the girl and three others were in a at around 3 PM on Wednesday inside the SAI women’s hostel. serious condition after they who died said that unless an consumed poisonous fruit inquiry is ordered immediThey were rushed to a hospital ately and the guilty brought around 7 PM after they fainted and later taken to Alapuzha Medical College, where one to book, they would block the national highof them died, police said. The girls were un- way and not perform the last rites of their ward.

Congress slams BJP govt for ‘tarnishing’ India’s image

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he Congress has accused the Narendra Modi government with tarnishing India’s image by saying that the location of Dawood Ibrahim was not known, even when successive governments have maintained that the underworld don lived in Pakistan. Opposition parties sought a statement from the Home Minister on the issue, to which the government. Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the enquiry in 1993 Bombay blasts had established that Dawood was the culprit. In the

last 20-22 years, he said, the stand of the successive governments, whether that of “Atal or the Congress� or any other party had been that Dawood lives in Pakistan. “Our intelligence agencies know about his location. We expect the same (stand) from this government. We regret this (that government doesn’t know Dawood’s location). It has maligned the country’s image,� he said. Maintaining that India has given proof to Pakistan of Dawood’s involvement, Azad demanded a statement from the Home Minister.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 L 29

GST Bill approved, paves way for uniform tax regime

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he BJP government today crossed its first milestone on the road to economic reforms with the Lok Sabha passing a historic Bill to subsume all existing central and state taxes under a single goods and services tax (GST) with a potential to reduce corruption and boost trade. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second) Amendment Bill 2014, popularly called the GST Act, was required to be passed with the majority of the total membership of the House — more than 272 votes in a 542-member House — and the majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting. It was carried with 352 votes in favour and 37 against with the principal Opposition Congress walking out before the vote, signalling a tough road ahead for GST in the RS where the BJP is heavily outnumbered. The Bill that was passed to-

day includes eight government amendments moved by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who described GST as a system of indirect tax with the least harassment and evasion. Allaying fears of the Congress, AIADMK, Shiv Sena and CPM that states would lose taxes in the new system, Jaitley urged MPs to shed their “fear of the unknown� saying he didn’t foresee states losing revenue. “With this law, the country — one-sixth of the world’s population — will become a common market. Besides being the destination tax, GST would involve uniform taxation throughout India; seamless transfer of goods and services; fillip to trade and end of tax on tax,� Jaitley said as PM Narendra Modi gave the voting on his government’s first major constitutional amendment Bill a miss as did ministers Sushma Swaraj, Smriti Irani and Venkaiah Naidu, much to Opposition’s angst.

!" #!$ % & '$ ( & ) $ ( & * + ,* "

30 L Saturday, May 9, 2015

Salman Khan sentencing

Why are Bollywood stars defending a hit and run driver?

A

Salman have said that he’s generous and has a huge heart. I believe that’s true. But sadly that doesn’t change what he did 13 years ago,” she says. Agarwal also points to the length of the case - the incident happened in 2002 - and

fter a Bollywood star was sentenced to five years in jail for running over and killing a homeless man with his car, why did other Bollywood celebrities leap to defend him? Late one September night, Salman Khan’s car ploughed into a bakery and ran into five people sleeping in the street - killing one homeless man. In the 13 years since, he’s protested his innocence, but on Wednesday a judge found him guilty of culpable homicide and sent him to jail for five years. The actor’s name soon Salman Khan is embraced by his father Salim Khan became one of the biggest as he leaves his house for the court hearing topics trending on social media. Many were pleased that justice was says Khan’s reputation has been somewhat done in the case, but several prominent Twit- rehabilitated in the meantime. “He seems ter users in fact defended the Bollywood star. to have become a changed man - he’s not as Abhijeet, a famous singer, said: “footpath r brash as he used to be, and he hasn’t really not meant 4 sleeping, not driver’s or alcohol’s gotten into any serious trouble for a long fault.” Farah Khan Ali, a jewellery design- time,” Agarwal says, noting that the star set er married to a star DJ who has more than 650,000 Twitter followers, commented along the same lines: “No one should be sleeping on the road or footpath. It is dangerous to do that just like it is dangerous to cross tracks.” There was a fierce reaction to these and other celebrity comments online. “I will drive over your loved ones!” tweeted Pooja Sinha Roy. “Let’s see how u feel about that!” After hundreds of other critical comments, Farah Khan Ali defended herself: “I never said that Salman was faultless. I said 5 yrs is very harsh punishment ... Salman is genuinely a very good human being and he made a mistake.” Khan arriving in court on Wednesday Malini Agarwal, a celebrity blogger who goes by the name MissMalini, says that while some were supporting the actor just to get attention (the hashtag #WeLoveSalmanKhan has about 1,000 tweets) many of Khan’s defenders are also his friends. “People who know

For victims, compensation means more than conviction

“C

ompensation matters more than conviction,” say the victims of the 2002 hit-and-run case in which Bollywood star Salman Khan has been sentenced to five years in jail. Abdullah Rauf Shaikh, who lost a leg in the accident, said, “Nobody came to visit me in the last 13 years. I am forced to do petty jobs to support my family and face a lot of problems.” “However, I have no hard feelings for him (Salman). I still watch his movies,” he said, adding they were not pressured by anyone. “Compensation matters more than conviction, my health and work suffered,” Shaikh said. “If Salman is punished, I will not be benefited in any way as neither my leg will heal nor my problems would go away. Instead if they compensate us, then we do not have any problem,” he said, recalling that he was 22 years old when he lost his leg in the incident. The wife of Nurullah Mehboob Sharif, who died in the accident, said, “We were told we will get a compensation of Rs 10 lakh, but what will we do of that amount at this time of inflation.” She said that she would be benefited if her son gets a job.

Salman Khan sentenced to 5 years in jail

A

sessions court on Wednesday sentenced Bollywood superstar Salman Khan to 5 years in jail after finding him guilty of all 8 charges in a 2002 case where his car rammed into a bakery killing one and injuring four persons while he was driving under the influence of alcohol. The court had earlier found him guilty under the stringent charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and several other charges including rash driving, causing minor injuries; causing major injuries; negligence and driving without a licence. The sentence in the 12-year-old case was delivered in a jam packed court room number 58 of Judge D W Deshpande where the 49-year-old actor and his family were present. The sentencing follows the culmination of a trial that commenced in April last year. The court relied upon judgements in Alistair Pereira and Sanjeev Nanda BMW case of Delhi while convicting Salman. The court also asked the actor what he had to say on the verdict to which he denied charges saying he was not driving the car at

the time of mishap. Khan was earlier being tried in the magistrate court under the lesser charge of rash and negligent driving before the case was transferred to the sessions court. The graver section was added after key prosecution witness, Khan’s bodyguard, cop Ravindra Patil, who was present in the car, told the police that the actor had been driving drunk. Patil died in 2007, but his examination before the magistrate court was included in the present trial. During the final arguments, defence advocate Srikant Shivde, however, opposed this inclusion and said his statement before the court was taken when Khan was being tried for the lesser charge of rash and negligent driving. While special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat had examined 27 witnesses with one turning hostile, Shivde presented one defence witness Ashok Singh, who gave an altogether new twist to the case. Singh, Khan’s driver, told the court in March that it was him and not the actor behind the wheel on the intervening night of September 28, 2002. Singh’s revelation came just after Khan took a similar stand during his statement before the court.

FIJI

T

wo young men who murdered Fiji born New Zealand resident Shalvin Prasad in South Auckland two years ago were today sentenced to life imprisonment with non-parole periods of 17 years. Shivneel Shahil Kumar, 21, and Byrne Permal, 20, were both found guilty of the murder Prasad following a four week trial. Prasad’s scorched body was discovered on a rural road in Kingseat on January 31, 2013 Crown prosecutors alleged that the pair threw petrol on Prasad and left him burning on the side of the road after hatching a plan to defraud him of his life savings ($30,000) and convincing him to withdraw the money.

Pair jailed for life for murdering Fiji man in NZ On January 30, Prasad and Kumar arranged to meet to have the debt repaid but CCTV footage later showed Prasad withdrawing the significant sum from an ASB bank in Manukau. Kumar and Permal maintained they attacked Prasad after taking his money and believing he was dead, attempted to dispose of his body by setting him alight. During sentencing, Justice Geoffrey Venning accepted the pair assumed Prasad was already dead when they set fire to him, but either way the pair had attacked him with intent to kill.

Health Ministry confirms first Chikungunya case

F

iji’s Health Ministry has received laboratory confirmation of an imported case of Chikungunya virus disease and will scale-up its national mosquito vector control program and its disease surveillance activities to prevent establishment and internal circulation of CHIKV. Chikungunya virus disease evolved and has progressively circulated amongst neighboring Pacific Island countries in since 2014. The Ministry in a statement says it has been monitoring the Chikungunya situation in the region very closely in collaboration

with WHO (World Health Organisation) and SPC (Secretariat of the Pacific Community). In addition, it is also spearheading Chikungunya mitigation activities countrywide in efforts to reduce the risks of establishing the disease in Fiji. Chikungunya virus disease is caused by the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). The Dengue and Chikungunya viruses are spread by the same mosquito vector. CHIKV is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected individual and then discharges the virus in the bloodstream of a well individual during its next blood feed.

PM to boycott South Pacific Forum meeting

F

ijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says as Head of Government, he will not participate in any Forum Leaders Meeting until the issue of the undue influence of Australia and New Zealand and their divergence of views is addressed. He however stated that Fiji will continue to participate in all Forum activities at the public service, technical and ministerial levels and the PIF Secretariat will continue to be headquartered in Fiji. While launching the first of two meetings to seek the views of our Pacific partners on a draft agreement to institutionalise the Pacific Islands Development Forum, Mr Bainimarama said Austra-

Investment Fiji opposes service fees

I

nvestment Fiji chief executive Godo Muller-Teut says introducing service fees in the Tourism Industry would have an adverse impact to investment in the country particularly in the tourism sector. Presenting the IF’s submission before the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Affairs, Mr MullerTeut said service fees would impact the affordability of Fiji as a tourism destination, therefore decreasing visitor numbers leading to reduce investments in tourism and decreased future employment in the sector. “Investment Fiji believes all workers need to be treated fairly and their welfare is of paramount importance,” Muller-Teut said. “The introduction of service fees in the industry might lead to wage inequality when compared to other sectors. “It is the role of Investment Fiji to attract foreign investment and stimulate exports. The introduction of service fees could have an adverse effect on investment, as visitor numbers might be contracting rather than expanding. Potential investors might therefore decide not to invest in Fiji, which will have a negative impact on new employment.

lia and New Zealand are not island nations and they believe that they are more development partners such as the European Union, China, India, South Korea, Indonesia and the rest. “This is not some ill-considered position based on resentment against Australia and New Zealand for their punitive attitude towards our reform programme that produced the first genuine democracy in Fijian history.” “This is not me ‘mouthing off ’, as the New Zealand Prime Minister so condescendingly put it.” “But as things stand, we do not see Fiji’s interests reflected in the stance being taken by Australia and New Zealand. And especially on the biggest threat to our security we have ever faced collectively as Pacific Islanders – the rising sea levels caused by climate change.”

“The element of callousness is missing, however while you may have believed Mr Prasad to be dead, he was still alive, and you killed him by burning him to death,” Justice Venning said. “Your actions in burning him to death are so closely related to your intent of murderous

Saturday, May 9, 2015 L 31 intent ...it would be artificial to separate the two and doesn’t reflect the overall culpability of your actions.” “The evidence discloses Mr Prasad was a naive and trusting young man, a thoroughly decent young man... you understood Mr Prasad’s need for friendship and you abused it.”

PAKISTAN

32 L Saturday, May 9, 2015

Gunmen attack school in Pakistan, one dead

U

nidentified gunmen attacked a school in Pakistan on Monday and killed a guard, police said, raising fears of a repeat of a deadly school attack five months ago that toughened Pakistan’s resolve to fight militants. Police said all teachers and children at the high school for boys were safe after the gunmen killed the guard in the central town of Dera Ghazi Khan, 500 km (300 miles) southwest of Islamabad. “We are still not sure how many gunmen there were and whether they are still there. The police are searching,” district police officer Rehmat Ullah Khan Niazi told Reuters. Pakistani Taliban militants killed 153 people, most of them children, at a high school in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Dec. 16. That attack hardened Pakistan’s resolve to fight Islamist militants who have been battling the state for years. There have been two grenade attacks on schools in the southern city of Karachi since early February though no one was hurt in either one.

Zardari skips court appearance due to food poisoning

F

ormer president Asif Ali Zardari today failed to appear before an anti-corruption court due to food poisoning, his lawyer said. Zardari’s counsel Farooq Naek told the court that the former president was suffering from food poisoning and was vomiting and should be granted exemption from appearance. Justice Khalid Mehmood Ranjha of the court accepted the request and adjourned the case till May 13. The court in garrison city of Rawalpindi is hearing a case of corruption registered in 2001 against Zardari, who is accused of making illegal assets in 1990s

when his slain wife Benazir Bhutto was the prime minister. The case has dragged on for years due to several reasons. It was dropped in 2007 under a controversial political deal with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf but later it was reopened on the Supreme Court order. Zardari enjoyed immunity as the President during his tenure from 2008 to 2013. He once again faces the law when anti-corruption watchdog - National Accountability Bureau (NAB)- reopened the case last month.

Court accepts money laundering case against PM Nawaz Sharif, 26 years later

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ourt on Wednesday decided to form a larger bench to investigate money laundering allegations against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. A petition was filed against Sharif in Lahore High Court in 1991 accusing him of laundering money out of Pakistan. The petition further said that the money was looted from national kitty and was invested in foreign countries. After 26 years, the court decided to take up the case when Manzoor Ahmed Malik, the Lahore HC Chief Justice, formed a five-member larger bench to probe the case. The bench will be headed by Justice Farrukh

Irfan Khan and will include Justice Muhammad Qasim, Justice Ayesha A Malik, Justice Faisal Zaman and Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf. Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafri, who had filed the petition against Sharif asked the court to bring back the money to Pakistan and take action against him. The bench would start proceedings into the case on May 8 (Friday). The Lahore HC, last year, had summoned at least 24 politicians and notables - including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his wife Kalsoom Nawaz and son Hussain Nawaz asking them to submit their replies to a petition demanding return of their foreign assets back to Pakistan.

Lakhvi seeks exemption from appearing in court

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umbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi has requested a Pakistan court to exempt him from personal appearance citing security reasons, media reported on Tuesday. An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) is scheduled to resume trial in the case on Wednesday, Dawn online reported. ATC Judge Sohail Ikram on Monday issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking reply on Lakhvi’s application by May 6. Since the trial in the Mumbai attack case began in February 2009, Lakhvi and six other suspects in the case had been attending the proceedings inside Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. But after his release from jail on April 10 following the Lahore High Court’s dismissal of detention orders issued against him by the Okara District Coordination Officer on March 14, Lakhvi will have to appear before the court on his own. Advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi, counsel for Lakhvi, argued before the court that his client had been facing threats and might be assassinated while coming to or leaving the court. He pointed out that Lakhvi had been kept in tight security inside the jail as the law enforcement agency knew he might be targeted. Advocate Abbasi requested the court to exempt him from personal attendance during the course of hearing.

Pakistan sends food with beef masala to Nepal, blames Indian media for row

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akistan on Thursday blamed the Indian media for maligning its relief efforts for survivors of the devastating earthquake in Nepal. According to media reports, the food items in relief aid sent by Pakistan to Nepal included beef content (beef masala) in the food packets.

Eating beef is prohibited in Hindu religion. Nepal is a majority-Hindu nation. During a weekly press briefing, Tasneem Aslam, Pakistan’s foreign office spokeswoman, said it was unfortunate that Indian media has not even spared a humanitarian mission and has, unnecessarily, tried to inject controversy into it. “The Meal Ready to Eat (MRE) is a pre-

packed kit of 20 items for a full day’s meals. On each and every packet inside the kit the name of the dish is clearly written in English and Urdu so that people may choose whatever they like to eat or discard,” she said. “Both the languages are understood in Nepal,” she added. The Nepalese authorities, Tasneem Aslam said, found the MREs so ef-

fective that they specially requested for a full planeload of MREs on priority. The Pakistan foreign office reaction came the same day after Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif contacted his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to offer condolences over the loss of lives and devastation caused by the earthquake in India.

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GM Oshawa workers worry more layoffs could lead to plant closure

“

Workers at GM in Oshawa are concerned the plant could eventually close as job numbers dwindle

W

here’d all that work go?” asks longtime General Motors worker Frank Giarrizzo after getting confirmation about the latest layoffs to hit the Oshawa auto plant. In 1987, shortly after Giarrizzo joined GM, the plant employed about 15,000 workers. Following numerous rounds of layoffs, just 3,600 remain today. And the cuts continue; GM will axe another 1,000 jobs by Novembe “When I started, it was good,” says Giarrizzo. “But they’ve pushed it too far, one extreme to the other.” As Canada’s auto sector continues to shrink, some Oshawa workers fear their plant will continue to lose jobs to the point where it shuts down. And then there were none? “The scary thing is, the numbers just keep getting smaller. I mean, the writing’s on the wall in that respect. It is a big build-

ing and it is an aging building,” says another longtime Oshawa GM worker, Jim McAuliffe. “The uncertainty in all this is almost mind-numbing at this point,” says employee Rebecca Keetch. Keetch has worked on the GM assembly line since 2006. If enough senior employees take retirement packages, she believes she’ll be immune from the latest round of layoffs. But she fears it could just be a temporary reprieve because of looming troubles ahead. “Everybody’s worried,” she says. “There’s a lot of fear that the plant can be closed.” That’s because the plant’s consolidated line making Chevrolet’s Impala and Equinox models is scheduled to end in 2016. If that happens, another 700 jobs or so could be cut. And it would leave Oshawa with only two shifts working one production line. The risk for workers is that as production gets smaller, the plant becomes less viable.

Return to business as usual at Volkswagen

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EO Martin Winterkorn will feel confident going into the annual meeting, having won the recent power struggle at VW and having delivered solid quarterly results. He is likely, however, to face tough questions. On Tuesday, like every year, the city of Hanover in Germany plays host to the annual general meeting (AGM) of Europe’s largest carmaker. The occasion presents an opportunity for Volkswagen (VW) to put on display the latest models emanating from its 12 brands for the company’s shareholders. This year’s meeting, however, is taking place under very special circumstances. What would have seemed unthinkable just a few weeks ago suddenly became reality - Ferdinand Piëch, who had been VW’s CEO between 1993 and 2002 and later chairman of the supervisory

board until recently - resigned from his post on April 25 and therefore will not be present at the meeting. As a result, Volkswagen’s AGM is in an unprecedented affair chaired by trade union leader Berthold Huber, former head of the powerful IG Metall union, which represents workers’ interests on the board. His plan was to oust CEO Winterkorn ahead of the shareholders’ meeting. The story has been repeatedly told over the past three weeks - Piëch publicly ‘distances himself ’ from Winterkorn, underestimates the support for the CEO among the company’s top leadership, and later throws in the towel.

The developments finally led him and his wife Ursula Piëch to resign from their membership in the supervisory board. The board did not wait longer to name their successors.

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