AV 12th April 2014

SEE INSIDE ....

Indian firms employing over 100,000 people in UK, says report

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

HEATHROW SAFE DEPOSIT

LOCKERS now opened in

SOUTHALL

See Page 18

Broadway Lockers ÂŁ150pa

Asian Voice wishes its Punjabi, Tamil and Bengali readers a Happy New Year. It also extends its warm wishes for a Happy Bihu and Happy Vishu to our Assamese and Keralite readers respectively.

from

SAFE, SECURE SIMPLE

113a The Broadway, Southall, UB1 1LN

(Behind Pawan Jewellers)

020 8574 5009

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 42. ISSUE 49

www.heathrowsafedeposit.com

80p

12th April to 18th April 2014

!

" # $ $ %

" 3 !$ ,

Polls begin on high note in India

Time is up for Shrien Dewani

" ( + -

.2 !! ,

&

72.5% voting in Assam, 85% in Tripura

In what can be seen as one of the most important progressions in the murder case of Anni Dewani, husband and murder suspect Shrien Dewani, was extradited to South Africa on Monday 7 April and was due to appear in a South African court on Tuesday 8 April, as Asian Voice went to press.

Continued on page 30

The 2014 parliamentary election in India, which will see 815 million voters exercise their franchise in the world’s biggest democratic process, kicked off on Monday with polling in Assam’s five constituencies registering 72.5 per cent voting and Tripura’s lone parliamentary seat reporting a superb 85% turnout.

The total electorate in the five Assam seats that polled on Monday is 6450,000. In Tripura West, the electorate totalled 1248,000. Polling was held in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaliabor, Tezpur and Lakhimpur comprising 64,37,132 voters and 8,588 polling stations. The first phase in Assam will decide the fate of 51 candidates, including chief

minister Tarun Gogoi’s son Gaurav, who is contesting for the first time from Kaliabor.

West Tripura will decide the fate of 13 candidates.

There was an undercurrent of fear among officers and voters as the raising day of the banned Ulfa (Independent) coincided with the day of polling.

But no untoward incident

Send money to India in minutes

ÂŁ4.99

2 !!

&

was reported apart from a few minor ones like clashes between Congress and AGP workers at Samoguri in Kaliabor and the latter blocking NH 37. The workers of AGP also gheraoed a police station at Samoguri. “By and large, polling was incident-free and Continued on page 26

PM Cameron hosts fourth Vaisakhi at No. 10

Rupanjana Dutta Tanveer Mann Celebrating 160 years of the arrival of the Sikhs to Britain, the British Prime Minister David Cameron threw a gala reception at 10 Downing Street on Monday 7th April to celebrate the annual Punjabi festival Vaisakhi.

He also used this opportunity to make an official announcement about the abolition of compulsory hard hats for Sikhs in any place of work in Britain.

This celebration came in the midst of controversy about the role of the Tory PM Margaret Continued on page 11

0800 026 0535 mone moneygram.co.uk ygram.co.uk

*

**

,

/ 0 $ 1 )

. !!

&

!!

&

Send at: day at *** nline to .uk Send o

o gram.c money

And anywhere you see the MoneyGram sign *Subject to agent hours of operation and local regulations. **Fees mentioned are applicable for sends up to £100 to India. In addition to the transfer fees applicable to a transaction, a currency exchange rate set by MoneyGram or its agent will be applied. ***For a full list of online transfer fees please visit www.moneygram.co.uk. Post Office, Thomas Cook, Lebara, Debenhams, MoneyCorp and Speedy Cash are agents of MoneyGram International Limited in the provision of money transfer services, Post Office and the Post Office logo are registered trade marks of Post Office Ltd. MoneyGram and the Globe are trademarks of MoneyGram. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. MoneyGram is available at 44 Debenham locations via the money travel bureau. MoneyGram International Limited is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority. Š2014 MoneyGram. All rights reserved.

CS7729

From o just

& ' ( ) *$ + ,

–DEPARTING FROM LONDON HEATHROW AHMEDABAD –

FR ÂŁ450

DELHI –

FR ÂŁ490

MUMBAI –

FR ÂŁ430

BUSINESS CLASS TO INDIA FR ÂŁ1670

WE AIM TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE VISA SERVICES WORLD WIDE. WE AT TRAVLIN STYLE OFFER A FULLY BESPOKE HOTEL BOOKING AND CAR HIRE SERVICES. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE AFFORDABLE SERVICES, CONTACT US NOW.

CALL TRAVLIN STYLE 0208 954 0077

5938

www.travelinstyle.co.uk *Subject to availability

2

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Keith Vazwith MP

Keith Vaz MP

Satinder Chohan

5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?

My grandparents and parents (and I guess, Guru Nanak by extension) – they taught me about respect, humility and hard work. In a world obsessed with image and money, I’m grateful for their lessons daily.

Satinder Chohan is a writer and playwright. She edited the arts and culture magazine ‘2nd Generation’ and women of colour magazine ‘Pride’, before working as a Researcher and Assistant Producer in documentaries.

As a playwright, her first play ‘Zameen’ about a cotton farming family in Punjab and second play ‘KabaddiKabaddiKabaddi’ about 1936 Punjabi revolutionaries and 2012 UK illegal immigrants, embarked on UK tours.

1) Please tell me about your current position?

I’m a playwright currently working on a play called ‘Mother India’ about East-West surrogacy, set in an Indian fertility clinic. Yes, it’s sort of inspired by the gutsy film, which had me in tears as a kid at the Dominion Cinema in Southall. Also, I’m developing another play ‘1984’ about the struggle for Sikh independence in the UK and India and ‘Lotus Beauty’ about the lives of multigenerational women set in a suburban Asian beauty salon.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

My MA English Language and Literature from Yale in the US, writing plays despite a massive lack of writing confidence and helping to bring up my two nieces, one of whom is doing her Masters at Oxford and the other who graduated with an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute. Southall girls doing good!

3) What inspires you?

My family – the whole extended lot of them and also, my community both in Southall and the Punjabi/Asian commu-

On Wednesday 2 April, Conservative Friends of India (CF India), in partnership with accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, held a special panel discussion ahead of the upcoming Indian election to discuss its impact on UK- India relations.

Attended by both CF India members and members of the business community at Portcullis House, the discussion focussed on the key factors that would determine the outcome of the this year’s 16th Lok Sabha elections and the impact that this would have on bilateral trade and diplomatic relations with the UK. The panel consisted of expert speakers from both business and politics and was chaired by Alok Sharma, Member of Parliament for Reading West and Co-Chairman of CF India. After a welcome from both Ranjit Baxi (Co-Chairman of CF India) and Kim Hayward (International Business Partner, BDO), the discussion opened up to panelists, Nishma Gosrani

Sadiq Khan

himself, Hugh Brasher, to the event and to have his support for our team.

Without a doubt, this years London Marathon will be the best ever. We have World champions, Olympic champions, World record holders and most eagerly waited debutants (not me!) taking part. The world will once again be watching the greatest city in the world host the greatest sporting event.”

)% %'" +! /() ** ',)" ) / ** , ) " !+ )-" *

4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

Me. Especially with my lack of confidence. Always getting in my own way. With a few plays under my belt, I’m finally learning to get out of the way.

7) And the worst?

The pay. Because you make nothing financially from it and will be the butt of family ‘loser’ jokes forever. Writing truly is a labour of love. Only write if you love writing. Thankfully, it’s been the greatest love affair of my life. Single and almost 40,

8) What are your long term goals?

As well as writing for theatre, I’d like to write novels and films about Asian experiences too. Very different mediums but I grew up fully immersed in both, unlike theatre which I’ve only learnt about in recent years.

9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?

Privatisation/the marketization of everything - bodies, education and emotions included. I’d spend the defence budget fighting capitalism.

10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?

Buddha (or Guru Nanak). With all that meditating and appreciating the beauty of solitude, there might not be a whole lot of conversation but whenever there might be, it would be divine.

Alok Sharma MP hosts engaging panel discussion on ongoing Indian Elections

MP Sadiq Khan launches Dispossessed Fund London Marathon runners’ team On Wednesday 2nd April, the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP, hosted the launch of The Dispossessed Fund London Marathon runners’ team, in his State rooms,.

The evening proved to be very successful, allowing guests to celebrate the amazing work of the Fund and to learn more about the work they do both in Tooting and across London.

David Cohen, Campaigns Editor of the Evening Standard, introduced the fund and said, “It's a great honour to be here. The dispossessed fun started off as an investigation into poverty and inequality in London. We didn't expect to launch a campaign. The most we've ever raised was a quarter of a million pounds for Kid's Company. As a result of the dispossessed investigation, we have managed to raise £12.2 million.”

Sadiq Khan said, “It is a real honour to welcome guests and the London Marathon Race Director

nity worldwide. I’ve met a lot of people who have been terribly disdainful about my hometown but let me declare it now, I’m immensely proud to be from Southall. Immigrant, working class, rootsy – it’s in the blood.

You can take the girl out of Southall but you can’t take Southall out of the girl…

6) What is the best aspect about your current role?

Being creative and spending lots of time alone. I get to tell my own stories and create my own worlds, my own characters and love spending time in those imaginative spaces, with people of my own making, rather than those of the real world! Writing in bed beats the daily chicken pen commute to a routine office job too.

that’s something my parents, the masis and mamis aren’t entirely happy about…

L-R: Panel Discussion with Vijay Goel, Arbinder Chatwal , Alok Sharma, Nishma Gosrani & Lord Bilmoria

BJP could win over 220 seats, whilst the ruling Congress party fared less well with predictions of less than 100 seats.

Nishma Gosrani said: "Why do Ranjit Baxi, Co-Chairman of CF India the slowest (Deloitte), Lord Bilimoria cars in India's new 8 lane CBD, DL (Chairman of highway drive in the Cobra UK), Arbinder fastest lanes? - That’s a Chatwal (BDO) and Vijay problem the next leader Goel (Singhania UK and needs to address. I don’t London Chambers of think that [a Modi-win] Commerce Asian Business has been priced in...If Association). there is a BJP-led governAsked to give predicment, the stock market tions on the outcome of will sky-rocket.” the election, all of the panLord Bilimoria said: ellists predicted that the "India's democracy is so

$ %' %""

)

'

strong that an unknown party a year ago has now swept into power in the nation's capital..."

Arbinder Chatwal: "Different factors, ranging from corruption, food prices, caste and community, to access to jobs, education and healthcare, are all key factors to working class voters."

Vijay Goel: "Economic power translates to political clout, and as the central government is becoming weaker, the states are becoming stronger.

Regional parties can now dictate national and international policies which could have a massive influence on the national elections."

This was followed by an interesting Q&A session with the audience.

"( '%# ) ( '%# )'% 1

!'() "! &"+

"

) %*'! '(

',&*$'. ,*"& **

)#

$"

0

*'%& ',&*$'.

% "$ * $ *

) "

/

")*+ $" !+ , & +

' )'% 1 )%*

)% ( ) "$'

"( )% $ ! ( ) "$' '& "+"'&* (($0

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

COMMENT

India’s burdensome Middle East legacy

India’s ties in the Middle East are a subject that invariably ignites a spluttering response of righteous indignation from the country’s radical chic left and the Communist parties, the latter in an advanced state of insignificance and, like the Dodo, destined for extinction.. Mention Palestine and Israel and their tongues and pens go into overdrive. A recent edit-page article in the Hindu newspaper by one Vijay Prashad encapsulates this nullity. He excoriates both Congress and BJP for their close relationship with Israel at the expense of the Palestinians.

This is an inebriating fictional construct. India has neither the power nor the influence to end or mitigate what the writer calls the “calamity in West Asia.” The calamity,” such as it is, has been caused principally by poor Palestinian and the wider Arab leadership and by the inflexibility of Israeli governments of every political stripe, no to speak of the myopia and cynicism of US policy in the area, summed up surely by Washington’s privileged relationship with both Israel and the feudal Islamic monarchy of Saudi Arabia.

For thirty, largely barren years, India signed up to meaningless pieties, at Arab dictation, on Palestinian rights and the Israeli suppression of them. These hollow declarations won India few favours from either side. As India chose foolishly to avoid a formal diplomatic relationship with Tel Aviv, the latter took no notice of anything New Delhi said on the subject, preferring instead to patiently sit it out until good sense dawned in India’s corridors of power. Meanwhile, the Arab world, including the Palestinian leadership, taking Indian support for granted rewarded New Delhi with a plethora of slogans of good intent. They concentrated their diplomatic efforts where it mattered: on the United States, on Europe at a further remove, and beyond them, on the Soviet Union/Russian Federation and China. India never made the cut.

At the Organization of the Islamic Conference (IOC) India was subjected to ritual abuse for its Kashmir policy, and for its alleged oppression of its Muslim minority and much else. The campaign was orchestrated by Pakistan, whose export of jihadi terrorism amounted to war without the formal declaration. Arab regimes, including the mainstream Palestinian leadership, appeared to be in denial over this grave reality, that for India amounted to an existential crisis. The argument, if it can be so described, was that Pakistan as a brother Islamic nation had to be mollified. So that Yasser Arafat would visit New Delhi, picking up awards and praises, swearing solidarity with India in an anti-colonialist struggle, and repeat a broadly similar performance in Islamabad.

The era of such free lunches was brought to a fitting end in January 1992 when India and Israel com-

menced their strategic engagement with the establishment of diplomatic relations. This was by the Narasimha Rao government in India and the Rabin government in Israel. Like all inter-state relations pragmatism was key, with sentiment and culture the icing on the cake. Faced by an existential Jihadi threat from the larger neigbourhood, the two powers, started an enduring programme of cooperation at the highest security and defence level, constructing a platform for complementary structures of joint science and technological research and development, cultural exchanges (the last world congress of Sanskrit scholars, for example, was convened in Tel Aviv, contrast this with South Arabia’s recently ban on the use Hindu names in the kingdom as offensive to its culture) and increasingly commerce and investment, which in scale and depth transcend hugely the possibilities offered by Arab countries.

But, yes, the Palestinians deserve statehood, just as Israel does secure borders. A militarized society is one that diminishes the region, including Israel, which is a democracy with outstanding achievements in every field of human endeavour. A change to the fraught Arab-Israeli relationship can come only from within to be truly lasting; external influences are at best a catalyst, no more.

A postscript, if you will. It is known that Pakistan’s Inter Services Directorate (ISI) in July 2008 guided a jihadi attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul causing deaths and destruction of property.

Then head of Indian intelligence M.K.Narayanan, now Governor of West Bengal, received a telephone call from America’s General Keith Alexander informing him that that the US National Security Agency (NSA) had intercepted communications between the ISI and the terrorists to that effect. The same was true of the jihadi killing spree in Mumbai in November 2008. This made not a whit of difference to American military and economic aid to Pakistan. Senators John Kerry (the present Secretary of State) and his Republican counterpart Senator Richard Lugar piloted the package through Congress.

A Christian couple in Pakistan were sentenced to death last week in a Pakistani court for alleged blasphemy against the prophet Mohammad, not the first time this has happened, nor likely to be the last. No word of protest from America’s great and good on the violation of human rights. They would have gone bananas if the offence, say, were Russian, Cuban or Indian. Such is the world in which we live. It is not one of India’s making but India has to live with it, as do others in the global community. Instead of hallucinating, let us view the world as it is, not as we would like it to be.

CBI goof-up shames India

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation applied for a UK extradition order for Ravi Shankaran, an Indian naval officer accused of leaking secrets from the war room of the Indian Navy. Mr Shankaran left India and sought refuge in the UK. He contested the extradition order passed by Home Secretary Teresa May and denied the charges laid against him in the England and Wales High Court. The earlier verdicts of Judge Nicholas Evans of the Westminster Magistrates Court in December 2011 and again in March 2013, and Home Secretary May’s extradition order were overturned by Lord Justice Leveson and Justice Blake in the High Court on the ground that the critical evidence proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt was incomplete,

hence flawed in relation to the provisions of Britain’s Extradition Act 2003. More damning was their stricture on the “sluggish pace” of the Indian judicial process. They said: “It took around six years for the (from initial arrest in April 2006 until an appellate decision of the Indian courts dated 11 May 2012) other Indian defendants to secure bail.

As at that date, the documentary basis of the case,…..had still not been disclosed.” The CBI was ordered to compensate Mr Shankaran Rs 1 crore for his legal fees.

The wheels of Indian justice grind exceeding slow; they grind exceeding poor as well, it would appear. They grind the country’s ordinary citizens, more often than not, into the dust. The shame of it.

Sri Lanka were deserving winners in a fairly onsided final when they beat favourites who until then, hadn’t lost a match. But the team that was better by far on the day carried off the trophy with great aplomb. India were not only outplayed they were comprehensively out-thought. Kumar Sanggakkara played blinder, 52not out in 35 balls and was Man-of-the Match, his last (with Mahela Jayawardene) in this format of the game. He did himself and his nation proud, a wonderful batsman of the highest class. India posted 130 for 4, having lost the plot in the last five overs when they were reduced to a crawl. All credit to the Sri Lankan bowlers for bowling brilliant at the death, but India didn’t help their cause by their bovine

tactics. Virat Kohli (77 in 54 balls, run out off the last ball) and Man-of–the Tournament, stood watching helplessly at the non-striker’s end as the over-hyped Yuvraj Singh and captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni thrashed around helplessly without making contact with the ball, or making sufficient contact to it get off the pitch. Mohit Sharma is ordinary; Bhuvanesh Kumar lacks bite and Rahane is an ordinary talent in this format. The continued omission of Cheteswar Pujara, a world class batsman at Test level for preferred mediocrities is amazing. Unless this selection process is changed, the coming tours of England and Australia will be repeat disasters of the summer of 2011.

Sri Lanka deserving winners in world T20

3

This is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way - Doris Lessing

Sarah Teather MP Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central

The Budget: a helping hand or a missed opportunity?

Around this time every year, the Government lays out its spending plans for the year ahead. In recent years, we have seen the Government announce cuts in almost every area of spending in response to the financial crisis inherited by the Coalition.

Of course, we have to be responsible when it comes to public spending.

But I’ve been really concerned about the impact of the cuts on the least well off. Pay has risen slower than prices, and for those who need assistance to support themselves benefits have been cut, capped or limited to below-inflation increases.

Thousands of people in Britain are now going hungry every day, with many turning to food banks for help. That’s why last month I decided to fast for a day as part of the End Hunger Fast Relay. It is deeply troubling that so many people are unable to support themselves and their families.

At the same time, it is very encouraging to see increasing signs that the economy is on the mend.

Inflation is at its lowest level for five years, growth is expected to rise to 2.4 per cent this year, and 1.6 million jobs have been created since 2010.

In my own constituency of Brent Central, we have seen we have seen unemployment fall by 13.8% under the Coalition. This is great news.

So this year’s Budget was a chance to ensure the economy’s growth benefits everyone. There were a number of measures to help. Two of these in particular will make a real difference to the cost of living.

In the Liberal Democrat manifesto in 2010, we pledged to increase the income tax personal allowance to £10,000. In government we’ve been able to achieve this and more.

From April next year, nobody will pay any tax on the first £10,500 they earn each year. With the Lib Dems in government, a typical basic rate taxpayer will be £800 better off.

Cutting income tax

really helps those struggling to support themselves and their families.

In Brent alone, 113,200 people will receive an extra £100 this year.

However, those working and receiving housing or council tax benefit will see their payments reduced as a result, so this was a missed opportunity for the Chancellor to really help the lowest paid.

But perhaps even more important is the Government’s action on the cost of childcare.

Childcare costs are one of the biggest issues that many working families face. This is why I have warmly welcomed the announcement that taxfree childcare will be launched next year.

This means working parents will be able to get 20p from the Government for every £1 they spend on childcare – saving families up to £2,000 per child. Those on universal credit will also now have 85 per cent of their childcare costs covered.

As the former Children and Families Minister, I know how important childcare and early years support is.

That’s why I am also really pleased that the Pupil Premium – which gives schools extra funding for pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds – is going to be extended to early years education.

One of my proudest achievements as a Minister was helping to introduce the Pupil Premium – this most recent announcement is another significant step towards giving every child the best possible start in life.

Despite these positive steps, there is still a lot more to do. Each week I’m visited by constituents in my office in Willesden Green who are in desperate need of support because their benefits have been cut or incorrectly stopped and they have been left unable to feed themselves. As the economy continues to get back on track, the Government must ensure that they do far more to support those who have suffered the most.

MIDLANDS VOICE

4

Family values matter. Oh really?

Dhiren Katwa

Every parent wants their child to do well. Boy or girl, both are considered equal. Well at least in the minds of all right-thinking British citizens.

But raising children with Hindu values in Britain today can be challenging, especially in a multicultural and western society where the pace of life seems faster than ever before. This, coupled with the influence of the internet and the media is having a significant impact on our lives. We're all so busy that we don't even have the time to think why we're so busy.

Take for example British Hindus aged between 18 and 35; the majority are lawabiding, entrepreneurial, aspirational and ambitious. There are Hindus in every possible professional sector, public and private. You then take a look at the children of this age band; most rising stars of the future.

Remarkable.

But all this at the expense of language, culture, family values? Yes,

some may say. With each generation the command of one's mother-tongue has eroded. While parents from certain ethnic communities still put more emphasis on their children learning their mother-tongue and about their religious roots first,

Hindus tend to put English and education at the heart of their children's learning. But it comes at a price.

Hindu youngsters tend to struggle to speak, let alone be able to write in their mother tongue.

Even their parents struggle. There is still hope that languages such as Gujarati, Hindi and

Panjabi shall be sustained, thanks to Indian language provision across the country.

In terms of ways of life: how many British Hindus have adopted a lifestyle which reflects that of western culture and values. Some would describe this as full integration into British society. Others could see this as erosion of family values and religious principles. Each to their own?

Want to hear more? Then join in an open discussion and debate on this topic at Soar Valley College, Leicester (LE4 7GY) this Saturday (April 12) between 4pm and 6:30pm.

Speakers: Dhirajbhai Shah, Chairman of Sewa UK, a humanitarian aid charity, and psychologist Professor Steve Biddulph, author of Raising Girls and Raising Boys. Mr Shah, born in Mombasa, East Africa, settled in Birmingham now for almost four decades, is a selfless, veteran community activist and a role model to many, particularly Hindu youth across the world.

Two Asian women drown in Tenerife whilst trying to rescue children

Two British women have drowned in Tenerife while trying to rescue their children after they were swept away by a wave at the beach.

The holidaymakers, Barathe Ravikumar, 39, and Uma Ramalingam, 42, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident happened at the Playa Paraiso resort in the south west of the island, which is about five miles west of the popular Playa de las Americas complex.

The group, believed to be from the same extended family, are understood to have been washed out to sea after being knocked from a rock by a large wave at about 6pm Sunday. Onlookers rushed to help, managing to pull both children and two of the women back to the beach. However, one of the women could not be

Dr Uma Ramalingam

revived. Emergency services were called at about 6pm and a rescue helicopter was immediately scrambled, with ambulances and police being sent immediately to the scene. A rescue helicopter got to the third woman, who had been swept further out to sea, but she too could not be revived.

The youngest child was treated for hypothermia, while the 14-year-old was treated for minor bruising at the scene.

One of the women, Ms Ramalingam, was a consultant obstetrician from Altrincham in Cheshire.

She worked in a number of hospitals across the Pennine Acute Hospital Trust catchment area, including Royal Oldham Hospital, Fairfield General Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital.

A spokesman from Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We are greatly saddened to hear the death of Uma who had been working for the Trust for about six years. She was a fantastic doctor who brought a lot of hope to the high-risk women attending the Women and Children's Unit at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

This is a terrible shock to everyone who knew Uma. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

She will be sorely missed."

Liverpool Boxer admits slapping girlfriend Bollywood star Amy Jackson A champion boxer who assaulted his Bollywood star girlfriend has been given a 12-month community supervision order.

Joe Selkirk, 28, from Bootle, admitted pushing Amy Jackson, 23, after winning his WBO European light middleweight title in Liverpool in December.

The case was brought even though the actress, a former Miss Liverpool,

Joe Selkirk

refused to make an official complaint.

The Crown

Amy Jackson

Prosecution Service (CPS) said although Ms Jackson was not willing to

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Bangladeshi Visa Centre successfully launched in Leicester Leicester got its second International Visa Operation with a successful launch of a pilot Bangladesh Visa Service which took place on Saturday 5 April at 12noon at Peepul Centre, Orchardson Avenue,LE4 6DP The launch was by Local attended Councillors and dignitaries and Community membes which was performed by Leicester East MP Keith Vaz and HE Mr Mohamed Mijarul Quayes Bangladesh High Commissioner.

After the successful establishment of a Visa Centre in Leicester by the Indian High Commission, it was only a matter of

Keith Vaz MP cutting ribbon with Bangladeshi High Commissioner HE Mr Mohamed Mijarul Quayes

time before demands would be made for people from other countries.

Keith Vaz commented: "I am delighted with the successful launch of the Bangladesh Visa Centre.

The Peepul Centre has now become the hub for Visa Centre for the Asian

continent. We hope to accommodate all the nations who wish to have a Visa Surgery. I am grateful to HE Mr Mohamed Mijarul Quayes, Bangladesh High Commissioner for his support in making this possible."

Brum man jailed after grooming deaf teenager on Facebook A man from Birmingham faces being deported to Pakistan after admitting that he groomed a deaf schoolgirl on Facebook.

Mohammed Raja, pictured, turned up at the 15year-old’s school with a suitcase after arranging to meet her. But the 24-yearold was foiled when two other girls tricked him into getting into their car and drove him to a police station.

Raja, of Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, was jailed for 16 months at Derby Crown Court after admitting meeting a child

following sexual grooming. The two girls were awarded £1,000 each for their roles in snaring him.

Passing sentence, Judge John Burgess said: “Girls aged 15 are vulnerable anyway because of their age. But this girl was particularly vulnerable because of her profound deafness. You talked to her over Facebook about marriage and making her pregnant. You saw her on Skype and knew she was deaf because you could see both of her hearing aids. You are also an overstayer and I imagine the

immigration authorities will deport you back to Pakistan when you are released from prison.

Having you deported is something I am going to recommend.”

Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit honoured at Bradford Inspirational Women Awards Most Inspirational Female Bollywood icon, Madhuri Dixit, pictured, honoured at third, annual Bradford Inspirational Women Awards Indian cinema’s most lauded actress and role model, Madhuri Dixit, was honoured as the most Inspirational Female Bollywood Icon, as voted by the public, at the third, annual Bradford Inspirational Women Awards (BIWA) on Saturday 29th March at the Hilton Hotel, Bradford.

Last year, as the world celebrated 100 years of Bollywood cinema, a special category was announced at BIWA 2013 for the public to nominate their most Inspirational Female Bollywood Icon.

The winner, by public nomination, was Madhuri Dixit. In a special video pursue the case it decided a prosecution was necessary and was in the public interest. Angie Rowan from the CPS said: "Selkirk is a boxing champion and an assault by him would clearly have a substantial impact. There were witnesses to what had hap-

message played at the event, the celebrated actress said, “I’ve been a staunch advocate of women’s empowerment and I’ve worked hard throughout my career to advance the cause. It is heartening to see that gender equality is really becoming more of a reality. There is still much more to be done and I’m confident that, by working together, we can empower women worldwide.”

An independent panel pened and they were definite about what they had seen between the couple.

Victims of domestic violence often don't want to pursue a complaint because they're frightened of reprisals or are worried about the impact it will have on their families.

of judges comprising Adeeba Malik MBE; Deputy Chief Executive of Bradford-based charity, QED; David Ward MP, Bradford East; and Susan Jones, HR Director, Freeman Grattan Holdings selected the category winners, which were announced on the night.

The winners also included Asian names like Halima Khan, County Sports Development Officer, West Yorkshire Sport, Mumtaz Khan, Founder, Onna Ju-Jitsu Club, and Shameem Shah, single mother of three daughters and a foster parent to several others.

Bradford Inspirational Women Awards (BIWA) was founded by Bradford born and bred Fatima Patel, Editor, Asian Sunday – the country’s first free Sunday newspaper.

However, the CPS is determined to bring these cases to court wherever possible in the interests of the public as a whole."

Ms Jackson launched her career in Bollywood after she was spotted by Indian film producers in a beauty contest.

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Apparently Gujarat is a total wreck I write to you from Manila, Philippines. Here there stands a huge statue of a man named the ‘Sentinel of Freedom’. The inscription reads "Ne'er shall invaders trample thy sacred shores.

Countrymen remember your forefathers whose heart and soul blazed with the love for sweet freedom with heads held high in dignity and honour. To defend our land of our heritage when the price of peace was to bow before a foreign King and surrender our birthright."

As India goes to the polls I hope her citizens know such valiant nobility. But reading the British papers online, you would think not.

The Guardian in particular seems the Guardian of Freedom for Indians. Writes Aditya Chakrabortty in the paper this week, ‘Narendra Modi, a man with a massacre on his hands, is not the reasonable choice for India’. Although not an original sentiment, it’s the statistics about just how badly run Gujarat is, and what a terrible, awful State. Clearly Mr Chakrabortty has seen sides of Gujrat that have escaped the

Gujaratis themselves who voted for Mr Modi, let alone all the Indians who seem to want the Chief Minister of Gujarat to run all of India.

So what are these shocking statistics Aditya provides? “the muchtalked about Gujarati model may have brought lots of money to the state, but it has ended up in relatively few hands, without yielding improvements in health, infant mortality, or even workers' wages. As for the so-called Gujarati development model, there isn't one. The state has enjoyed growth but very little development. Under Modi, it has lagged behind the other major states in India in tackling infant mortality, in reducing poverty, and in increasing literacy. In 2006, there were even more undernourished children in Gujarat than in 1993” Oh, and there were we Gujaratis thinking Gujarat was doing quite well relative to the rest of India.

Aditya does not make the point that States which had progressed the least, would be the ones to show the greatest improvements in these sta-

tistics. But that little detail would not help the his case.

But he is in good company in the Guardian, for as Amrit Wilson writes in the same paper last week (boy there is an antiModi piece each week in the Guardian), ‘according to 2011 census figures, Gujarat has 918 women for every 1,000 men, below the national average of 940, hinting at a high level of female infanticide.” That darn Modi – even if the figures were worse under Congress, that doesn’t matter if it doesn’t help the Anti-Modi case.

She continues, “As for violence against women, the state conviction rate for rape and abduction of women are among the lowest in India. However, it is the fascistic violence of the Sangh Parivar that, more than anything, indelibly marks women's lives in Gujarat.”

But what is the link to Modi? How is he to blame? Amrita makes the link for us…”Since 2002 the Hindu right's gangs have repeated this brutal violence: first, in the eastern state of Orissa in 2007 against the Christian minority, whose families – like those in Gujarat – are yet to be rehabilitated; and last year in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, against Muslims in the run-up to Modi's election campaign. In village after village in Muzaffarnagar, women tell of incidents of rape and torture strikingly similar to those in Gujarat in 2002.”

Ahhhh…thanks Guardian…so after 2002 (Godhra) Gujarat taught the rest of India how to be violent and they copycatted the violence – including in Congress run States – those evil Gujaratis with this kind of power and influence, Modi is bound to win. Thanks again Guardian for logic and insight.

Plan to bring forward GCSEs so it doesn't clash with Ramadan In what could be an extremely controversial decision taken by school exam boards and universities, proposals are being made to potentially bring forward GCSE and A-level examinations for hundreds of thousands of pupils to avoid a clash with Ramadan. Teachers and lecturers in England and Wales are urging for the summer exam timetable to be altered to help Muslim students who will be fasting when they sit their exams. Proposals are being considered from 2016 onwards, when the religious period of Ramadan will fall during the exam season.One suggestion is to hold exams earlier within the usual MayJune exam season. Whilst another is for those fasting Muslim students to be eligible for extra marks under ‘special consideration’ rules if they believe their performance has been affected.

They also have the option of running exams in the morning, when pupils are less likely to be hungry and tired, rather than the afternoon.

The holy period in the Islamic calendar, which requires Muslims to fast during daylight hours, starts to fall earlier and earlier in the summer from next year, progressively clashing with the exam season. Barry Lingard, who is on the ATL executive committee, reportedly said: ‘The consequences are quite huge, particularly with the return to three-hour exams at the end of the course in the summer. If some of the big vital exams like English and maths could be rescheduled for before Ramadan kicks in, that would certainly be supported by the majority of teachers.’

Plans to to set up Sharia-based student loans to encourage Muslims to go to university University Minister David Willetts has unveiled plans for ‘Sharia-compliant’ student loans after more Muslim students are being put off degree courses by the higher education finance system. The new system is to be launched to allow encourage more Muslim students to go to university.

David Willetts, pictured, the Universities Minister, said an alternative financial model was being created to satisfy Islamic law that bans Muslims getting loans which make interest.

Under the new system, students would apply for taxpayer-backed loans but repay them into a similar style fund that would be ring-fenced to provide future finance to other students with the same religious beliefs.

The move could raise concerns over a two-tier system in which Muslim students pay less than other undergraduates. But the Government insisted it would be set up in a way that ensured repayments were made at the same rate as students who

WE’RE HERE TO take out traditional student loans.

It comes just weeks after it emerged that Sharia law was to be effectively enshrined in the British legal system for the first time under new guidelines for solicitors for Islamic wills.

Omar Ali, president of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, told the Telegraph: “We know of many students who finished college but decided not to go to university because of the way the new system was set up.

We welcome this proposal.”

Brent Councillor welcomes ground-breaking tax cut to support businesses Cllr Suresh Kansagra, Leader of the Brent Conservative Group has welcomed a bold new tax cut for businesses and employers in Brent which took effect on Sunday 6 April. A new Employment Allowance will take £2,000 off the National Insurance bill of every employer – open to businesses, charities and community amateur sports clubs. This will take 74,000 small businesses in London out of having to pay any tax on jobs at all. Employers will be able to hire one extra person on £22,400 a year, or four people working full time on the minimum wage, without paying any National Insurance.

Cllr Kansagra commented, ‘This new tax cut to help businesses take on more people will be great news for people in Brent. It will make it cheaper and easier for firms to hire new employees – helping give more people the security and stability of a regular pay packet.

‘Creating more jobs by backing business and enterprise with lower taxes is all part of the Conservatives’ long-term economic plan. There are already more than 1.3 million people in work since the election, but the job is not done and that’s why the Government is sticking with its plan to build a stronger, more competitive economy.’

5

SUPPORT UK BUSINESSES

We could help you by providing: • A relationship that you can count on – we have been voted Bank of the Year for the ninth year running.

• Support and guidance – through our sector specialists.

• Choice – with our range of products.

Dean Scutts – 07725 068970 Mark Darby – 07584 263612

Bank of the Year 2005–2013 FD’s Excellence Awards in association with ICAEW and supported by the CBI & Real Business. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use Text Relay (previously Typetalk) or if you would prefer to use a Textphone, please feel free to call us on 0845 601 6909 (lines open 7am–8pm, Mon–Fri and 9am–2pm Sat). Calls may be monitored or recorded in case we need to check we have carried out your instructions correctly and to help improve our quality of service. Lloyds Bank plc. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

6

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Cllr Susan Hall

Leader of Harrow Council

A home away from home Spriha Srivastava

As I made my way into the beautiful campus of Raphael Ryder Cheshire International Centre in Dehradun, a child not more than five ran towards me and grabbed my hand. Intellectually disabled, the child seemed extremely happy seeing new people in the campus. He went to call his friends and brought them all to where I was.

It's extremely easy to get emotionally carried away in such places but I kept my calm as I made my way to the CEO's office.

Well, you must be wondering what is Raphael? Raphael was established in April 1959 by Lord Cheshire and Lady Sue Ryder. They were deeply moved to see the sad plight of Leprosy cured patients and persons with disability in Dehra Dun and ventured to provide this category of sufferers, a place to live a community life of dignity and hope. They named this new home Raphael after the ‘Archangel of Healing’. Today Raphael provides ‘relief to the suffering’ in many areas including to those cured of leprosy, lifelong care to intellectually disabled, relief and rehabilitation to intellectually disabled children who find it difficult to travel outside their communities and hospital care for patients suffering from tuberculosis.

The organisation goes a long way in the history of Britain-India relations and a number of volunteers that come to Raphael are from countries like UK, Australia, and New Zealand among others.

The CEO of Raphael, Brig. Anil Sinha, a retired Army officer and an extremely enthusiastic person took me around Raphael and explained me in detail the work they do. Even though the organisation was initially established for Leprosy cured patients, it now embraces people with multiple disabilities into the big Raphael family, where they get constant care, attention and support.

Raphael has a range

of activities that they organise on a daily basis.

For instance, a day school for children with developmental delay and disabilities, from below 6 years to 18 years has been set up. This provides intervention through a multidisciplinary team, a hostel providing residential facility

their work.

The idea is to ensure that these adults are slowly able to enter the mainstream by being selfreliant. They are taught to take care of themselves and are taught basic skills that prove useful to them once they go back home to be with their parents.

Lord Cheshire and Lady Sue Ryder

to the intellectually disabled and vocational training to the intellectually disabled towards their rehabilitation.

The organisation also focuses on community based rehabilitation, which is an extremely important part of their programme.

Children with special needs are identified in the villages that have been selected to work in. Children below the age of 6 years are provided intervention services either at home (for those below 3 years of age) or at the Anganwadi (3 to 6 years). Resource persons have also been trained in the community and every effort is made to get children above the age of 6 years enrolled in the Government Primary Schools and these schools provided with help to facilitate their integration.

From time to time young adults, who have completed vocational training in the school, are assisted in making products that are readily accepted in the market.

Those who work in the workshop are paid stipend thus increasing their and their parent’s motivation level. The workshop also has a weaving unit where lesser disabled cured leprosy patients are engaged in weaving activity. They too receive stipend for

During my visit and the show around I was also told that Raphael has been appointed as ‘State Nodal Agency Centre’ (SNAC) for Uttarakhand by the National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities. In this capacity Raphael acts as the interface between the National Trust and the State authorities.

After the visit, I was taken to the main dining area where all the members of Raphael family gathered waiting for their lunch. While a 60-year old member entertained us by singing a beautiful bollywood song, a 7-year old came running to shake hands with me.

But in all this, there was one little face that I cannot forget - a quiet 5 year old girl with developmental delay, who lost her family during the Uttarakhand disaster.

Officials at Raphael made no delay in adding her to the family but she in still shock and this hardly speaks anything. The caretakers are doing everything to bring her out of the shock and she is slowly improving. I hope next time around when I visit Raphael she will come running towards me with a smile on her face and hold my hand.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

Celebrating the different traditions that make up our borough It was fitting that I was at Bhaktivedanta Manor, to mark the Ramanavami celebration, when I was first able to confirm that a new Hindu secondary school is becoming a reality in our borough.

If not quite an epic journey on the scale of The Ramayana, it feels like we have travelled a long road since the Krishna-Avanti Primary school first opened its doors in September 2008.

The story of faith education in Harrow has followed some remarkable twists and turns. In six years, the school launched by the Avanti Trust has grown in maturity, receiving a visit from the Queen and the accolade of an “Outstanding” commendation from Ofsted in 2013. All this from tremulous early beginnings when it was so wrongly feared the school would prove isolationist, steeped in an exclusive ethos that would lock the rest of the population out.

The latest turn in this story is confirmation that the Education Funding Agency has just finished a thorough assessment of the 25-acre Whitchurch playing fields site in Harrow and approved its use for a free school.

At this Thursday’s Harrow Council cabinet meeting (April 10th), my council colleagues will be asked to enter into an agreement for lease with a free school subject to planning consent, agree the terms of a 125-year lease and negotiate a community use agreement.

This latter part is important as the Whitchurch site has not been without

controversy, as anyone who reads Harrow’s local papers will know. It has attracted the interest of a sports consortium and the concerns of local sports clubs, who feared a nomadic existence without the use of local facilities.

The Avanti Trust, with whom I have had a number of detailed meetings, are attuned to all these points and I have every confidence we will reach an agreement that strengthens our school portfolio in Harrow and ensures local people can share in what I believe will be a fantastic amenity.

So what community will the school serve? As the 2011 census revealed, Harrow is a remarkably diverse borough - just over a quarter of our residents are of Indian origin and we have more Hindu followers than any other authority in Britain (25.3 per cent of the population).

It is in this setting that I believe a new Avanti school – the first Hindu state-funded secondary school in the UK and home to more than 1,200 pupils – is something to welcome.

Harrow is under continuing pressure to provide school places and we are currently embarking on a major expansion programme of our existing schools. I believe the new Avanti school will serve our approach well celebrating the different traditions that make up our borough while offering parents an enhanced choice of where they want their child to receive a high quality education.

“There is a richness within every human being. There is a possibility to feel peace within every human being – the peace that we were born with and that will be here for as long as we live.

Feeling is the most important thing. What a remarkable change it would be, not to be dependent upon the way things are in life for your happiness. You have something else – another possibility within you.

Within you lies a very tranquil ocean. Sail there and you will feel the tranquility.

Life should not be about just ideas and thoughts. Life should be about feeling – really feeling the tranquility within. Feel peace from your heart, not just, ‘I think I feel peaceful.’ Really feel peace and be independent of all the outside circumstances for that peace, for that joy. It exists in your heart.

Feeling is real. Thoughts are created. They come and go; they change, disappear and

become totally invalid tomorrow. Feeling doesn’t. It stays. Theories are great to read, but don’t ever trade them for feeling, because you have to feel too.

This is about your heart.

You cannot fool your heart.

You can fool your mind and the mind can fool you, and it does.

But the heart cannot be fooled and the heart does not fool you.

As human beings, we need to be in peace. People say, ‘Peace is not possible.’ To me, where there is a will, there is a way. Maybe the very first step just needs to be acknowledgement, seeing the possibility that life is not a piece of glass, but is, in fact, a diamond! We have been given a very special gift. Maybe seeing that is the first step – a small step, but that’s where it begins.

Once the first step has been identified, you will take all the rest of the steps because what lies at the end, is the fulfillment of a lifetime.”

- Prem Rawat

Feeling The Tranquility Within

SONY SAB TV – Watch: ”Words Of Peace” in Hindi. Every SUNDAY at 08:00am UK Information Line (Hindi) - 08453 870 009; www.wopg.org www.tprf.org

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

7

8

UK

As I See It

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Can ‘The Economist’ Stop Narendra Modi?

“Can anyone stop Narendra Modi?” – A big and bold headline featured on the front page of April 5, 2014 issue of ‘The Economist’.

Many Indians would not be impressed with the opinion given by ‘The Economist’.

“By refusing to put Muslim fears to rest, Mr. Modi feeds them. By clinging to the anti Muslims vote, he nurtures it,” claims ‘The Economist’. It is a world renowned weekly, which has its own styles, roles and responsibilities. Opinions of ‘The Economist’, ‘Asian Voice’ or any other columnist can change along with the changes in circumstances.

“If Mr. Modi were to explain his role in the violence and show genuine remorse, we would consider backing him, but he never has, it would be wrong for a man who has thrived on division to become prime minister of a country as fissile as India,” says “The Economist”. The fact remains that whatever Mr. Modi has to do; he doesn’t need to do it to satisfy ‘The Economist’ or any other media. His aim is to gain support and confidence of Indian electorates.

The word ‘Fissile’ used by the magazine for the great country – India – is definitely objectionable. Please remember that India is not a 'fissile' country by any means. The world has accepted the fact, including ‘The Economist’, that the 16th general elections in India, now being held in nine phases with almost 815 million voters are set to cast their ballots in five weeks, is the largest collective democratic act in history. So let the people of India judge its future and the leader too.

Give Indian people credit to be the part of the world’s biggest election process.

The Economist says: “We do not find the prospect of a government led by Congress under Mr. Gandhi an inspiring one. But we have to recommend it to Indians as the less disturbing option.”

On 15th March, it was the same Economist which had no hesitation to label the Congress and the UPA government as 'badly led' and 'facing record defeat.' Indeed you don’t find, because the Congress led UPA government is not very decisive. Poor governance clubbed with repetitive scandals in last one decade of UPA rule and its large scale corruptions are phenomenal. We agree with you that the next government under Mr. Gandhi wouldn’t be an inspiring one. Even you have mentioned that politicians and officials are reckoned to have taken bribes worth between $4 billion to $5 billion during the Congress tenure.

“And if they still choose Mr. Modi?

We would wish him well, and would be delighted for him to prove us wrong by governing India in a modern, honest and fair way,” says the magazine. This according to us is a skilful approach by ‘The Economist’. The weekly seems to be hedging its bet.

Of all the publications the Economist should not have, even in the slightest

sectarian view. Rather, the magazine tried to encourage it by saying, “But for now he (Modi) should be judged on his record – which is that of a man who is still associated with sectarian hatred.

There is nothing modern, honest or fair about that. India deserves better.” Many Indian would have been disturbed by the tone of ‘The Economist’. Thank ‘goodness’ it is much more sensible and matured than the views of people like Neville Maxwell, an Australian journalist, who predicted years back that the elections in 1967 would be the last poll in India. However, the people of India proved him wrong as even after 47 years, elections are being conducted in the country.

India has many challenges. The election itself is the biggest challenge.

Indians across 35 States will vote for 543 constituencies. Nearly 1.5 million voters for each constituency and the whole electorate are whopping 815m people, the population of America and European Union combined. On the first day of elections for 5 MPs in Assam, the voting was nearly 70% and for 1 seat in Tripura, it was just under 85%.

Coming back to ‘The Economist’, which on one hand writes: “No wonder that the overwhelming favourite to become India’s next prime minister is the Bhartiya Janata Party’s Narendra Modi? He could not be more different from Rahul Gandhi, his Congress party.”

And on the other hand it says, the greatgrandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first premiere, Mr. Gandhi would ascend to office as if by divine right. Accepting the work done by Modi ‘The Economist’ continued: “Mr. Modi’ performance as Chief Minister of Gujarat shows that he is set on economic development and can make it happen. Mr. Gandhi’s coalition is tainted by corruption. By comparison Mr. Modi is clean.”

The weekly went up to the extent by advocating, “If, more probably, victory goes to the BJP, its coalition partners should not hold out for a prime minister other than Mr. Modi.” Apparently one question arises in our mind – What is the

logic of the weekly? Even if, the electors of India choose Modi as PM, the magazine doesn’t want the most popular leader of India as PM. It tried to make Modi responsible for Gujarat riots 2002, in which some 1000 people died. But even the Supreme Court of appointed Special India Investigation Team (SIT) has given clean chit to Mr. Modi.

It has criticised Modi’s association with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) saying that he is lifelong member of RSS, a Hindu Nationalist Group. However, ‘The Economist’ didn’t bother to throw light on the Congress’s tie-up with Imam Bukhari ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Can “The Economist” stop Narendra Modi? Let’s wait and watch till May 16, 2014 when results for the India’s 16th general elections will be declared.

Poll campaign in India turns uglier: Can politicians set a benchmark of decency?

Unlike previous general elections, the 16th Lok Sabha elections are being fought more fiercely that too on different platforms. Role of social media surfaced first time ever in the history of Indian polls. Political parties and candidates are also feeling tremendous pressure and as result of it the poll battle continues to turn uglier day after day.

Take the case of Congress candidate Madhusudan Mistry, who is contesting from Vadodara against BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi. The 69-year-old General Secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC), climbed on a streetlight pole (with the help of a ladder), to vandalise his opponent’s poster. The police had no option but to arrest him.

Udhdhav Thakre led Shiv Sena called Sonia Gandhi ‘Fox’ and Shahi Imam ‘wolf’ while reacting on Imam’s announcement to support Congress.

That was not enough. Now the Congress candidate for Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh Imran Masood cross all the boundaries of decency. Masood in his hate speech threaten Modi to ‘chop him into tiny pieces’. Like Mistry, he was also arrested and later on released on bail. It was really shocking to see that, no one from his party criticized him for such reckless statement. Despite all these, Rahul Gandhi kept on campaigning for him and also addressed a public meeting from his constituency.

In an abusive comment, a BJP MLA Heeralal Regar in presence of BJP president Rajnath Singh threatened to strip AICC president and vice president.

“Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should be stripped off their clothes and sent back to Italy,” said Regar.

The 16th general election is one of the bitterest-fought in Indian history.

Yet, one can’t help but be shocked by the depths that the politicians in India are plumbing in their speeches and state-

ments.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said that Modi should be put in a mental asylum, and once the elections are over, this will be done, and Modi will be okay after the prescribed treatment. It was really not expected from the leader of Pawar’s stature. The campaign rhetoric seems to have degenerated into the tasteless vocabulary of the street brawl.

Sometimes such derogatory remarks on opponent ‘boomerang’ too. During the Gujarat Assembly elections in 2007, Sonia Gandhi termed Modi ‘Maut Ka Saudagar’ – The Merchant of Death in the backdrop of Gujarat riots. But it only helped Modi, who won that election with thumping majority.

The controversial statement by Amit Shah, the BJP Supremo in UP has also incurred wrath of the Election Commission who has sent a notice for explanation.

Communal harmony is a benchmark of India

On 30th March (Sunday) I was on the banks of Narmada, near the famous Kubereshwar temple, close to Karnali village, along with my family members to immerse the ashes of my late brother.

Nearly 100,000 pilgrims came to the temple. We noticed that several of them were Muslims from our previous neighbourhood in Shiapura, Vadodara.

My other brother asked his Muslim friends, who explained that they come every month with their Hindu neighbours to pray at the temple. Similarly many Hindus including my own family members visit Ajmer Sharif or other Muslim places of worship.

My ancestral village is Bhadran. We are a devout Hindu family. During my school days my father would take out a small procession to offer mazhar to a darga in the outskirts of the village.

There were very few Muslims in my village, but no Hindu raised any objection to such an interfaith harmony.

In 1969, in the aftermath of some misguided attack on Jagannath yatra in Ahmedabad, the worst riots took place in Gujarat. In Vadodara there is a mosque in Shiapura, surrounded by Hindu residents. An angry crowd of Hindus went to attack the mosque. My father who was a Sanyasi, went out in this saffron clothes with trishul in hand, and stood in front of the mosque challenging the angry Hindus, saying that you can only attack the mosque after you kill me. The mosque is still there, offering worshippers a place to worship regularly.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have written about several such instances where Hindus and Muslims cooperate for their religious places and contribute generously with land and cash.

It is really sickening that such positive developments are not reported. It is a pity. But The Economist of all publications should not have embarked on focussing the communal aspect of the Indian society, let alone the Indian election.

-CB

PM Cameron's religious adviser has links to founders of radical Muslim Brotherhood PM David Cameron has come under attack over close links between a Government adviser on religion and an Islamist group which is currently under urgent investigation.

Last week, the PM ordered security services to look into the Muslim Brotherhood amid fears that leaders are plotting a series of terrorist attacks from London. He reportedly

said that the investigation would establish ‘the complete picture’ of the Brotherhood including its possible involvement with ‘violent extremism’.

But the investigation could lead to embarrassment on his part, as it emerged that a descendent of the Muslim Brotherhood’s founding family is a senior ministerial advis-

er.

Tariq Ramadan is one of 14 members of the Foreign Office’s Advisory Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, chaired by Tory peer Baroness Warsi and a Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University. Yet he is also grandson of the Muslim Brotherhood’s founder Hassan al-Banna and his

father Said Ramadan played a significant role.

The Swiss citizen was for several years banned from the US for ‘providing material support to a terrorist organisation’ and only let in after a long legal battle in which he argued that no link with terrorism existed.

Prof Ramadan’s office has declined to comment.

Tariq Ramadan

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Christie’s Art Specialist; Getting Excited by Old Treasures Sara Plumbly is the Head of Islamic Art at Christie's.

She studied Arabic at Durham University and has a Master’s Degree in Islamic Art and Archaeology from the University of Oxford. Sara joined Christie's as a Junior Specialist in 2006.

She has been heavily involved in the sales of important manuscripts and calligraphy coming from the Estate of Djafar Ghazi. Sara has also been the main specialist in many of the auction house’s important valuations in the field over the last 18 months. She was promoted to Specialist in 2009.

Christies holds two ‘Islamic Art Weeks’ in London each year and each of those have two sales in this category – one at King Street and one at South Kensington. “In these sales we always have a strong group of works from India. These will generally include paintings, manuscripts, jeweled and enameled works of art and beautifully inlaid furniture. The joy is we never know exactly what we will have until we begin the gathering process. The categories – Islamic and

Sara Plumbly

Indian - go very well together. Many of the works that we include are Mughal and so are inherently Islamic and sit comfortably in our sales.

Occasionally we have pieces that aren’t, but we increasingly see clients of ‘Islamic art’ interested in these works, and vice versa.

Christie’s has consistently offered the finest Indian works of art since James Christie, our founder, offered ‘four fine

India pictures painted on glass’ in his first sale on 5 December, 1766. Ever since, works of art from India have been sold in our salerooms around the world. Growing interest in Modern and Contemporary Indian Art led to the opening of Christie’s first representative office in India in 1994 and soon afterwards regular sales in this category began to be offered in London and New York.

Collectors from India

Hamlets. Following the receipt of a number of documents, I am now taking legal steps, in the public interest, to appoint inspectors to look into the allegations in respect of Tower Hamlets.'

In a statement on his website, Mr Rahman said: 'I welcome the Secretary

of State’s decision to send independent auditors to review our grants processes. This will refute the scurrilous and ill founded allegations recycled by Panorama and demonstrate that the Council acts in the best interests of all Tower Hamlets residents.'

Tower Hamlets mayor investigated over fraud allegations

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has called for Police to investigate allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement against elected mayor Lutfur Rahman, in London.

The Bangladeshi mayor of Tower Hamlets, Mr Rahman, is alleged to have more than doubled funding recommended by officers for Bengali-run charities in an attempt to buy influence.

Mr Rahman has denied the accusations, which were made in a BBC Panorama documentary.

The former Labour councillor was elected as independent mayor in October 2010. Mr Pickles said serious concerns were raised and PricewaterhouseCoopers has now been called to carry out an inspection of the council.

Mr Pickles reportedly said: ‘It is a matter of public record that I have long been concerned about a worrying pattern of divisive community politics and alleged mismanagement of public money by the mayoral administration in Tower

make an increasingly important contribution to our business across international categories and following our inaugural auction in Mumbai in December of last year, we expect to see this trend continue.”

Christie’s does not own the lots it offers for sale but takes a percentage of the price from both the buyer and the seller, called a commission.

Sara finds that the market for Indian items “is strong but also very well informed, so quality is of the greatest importance to our seasoned collectors. Within the market demand seems to be particularly strong for works on paper and jeweled objects. Along with our sister saleroom in South Kensington, we offer a breadth of property across all price points for collectors.”

Collectors can bid over the telephone and increasingly people are also bidding online. This gives more accessibility to those not able to be in London for the sales.

Readers in India, enjoy!

Pushing Sara to describe the profile of the average collector, she says there isn’t one, which makes her job all the more interesting.

But she did talk about some of the items on sale this week –they’re called

“lots.”

“One of the lots from this sale that I found exciting is the jade pendant (haldili), lot 130. It is inscribed with a verse from the Qur’an, Ayat al-Kursi, and dated AH 1006/1597-98 AD. This date makes it the earliest known dated Mughal jade. The quality of the jade and the calligraphy suggest that it was made for a wealthy and probably royal patron – just possibly Prince Salim (later the Emperor Jahangir) – at a point when he was trying to

“I love that often you have no idea what you are about to be shown, and being part of a process that sometimes brings unknown works of art into the public domain”

seize power from his father the Emperor Akbar.”

Sara says that the most exciting aspect of her work is the discovery of new works of art. “I love

9

that often you have no idea what you are about to be shown, and being part of a process that sometimes brings unknown works of art into the public domain. It gives you a buzz. In this sale, for instance, we are offering one of the most important early Iznik bowls to appear on the market in recent history. It is a piece that we had no idea existed until we were shown it by the owner.”

Sara is also clear about what she would love to do in future.

“Good quality Mughal paintings are something that get me, and many of our seasoned collectors, excited. I have a weakness for those that depict Christian scenes. There was a trend in the Mughal courts from the early days of Akbar’s reign to emulate European artistic modes, which bought with it a new host of subjects, many religious. I find this moment, when cultures cross, an exciting one.”

Christie’s “An Abundance of Riches from the Islamic and Indian Worlds” sale runs in its two London showrooms to the 11th April 2014.

10

YOUR VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Right voting strategy

Opinion poll

Voting in the Indian general election has begun. The people of India must realise they would be voting to elect national leaders for another five years. If they make mistake in voting for the wrong person they would cause problems for themselves and the country and they will have to endure the suffering that will bring for another five years. The political parties have published their election manifesto making a lot of promise. They did the same five years ago. It is time to recall the promises they made and in reality what they have delivered. It should be understood promise is not a guarantee that a person knows how to deliver the promise he makes. Some of the people aspiring to be Prime Minister of India do not even have the right ability to properly understand the manifesto, let alone deliver it. This is why voters should be guided by the past record of the person seeking their vote. In 2009 election the Congress Manifesto made 28 promises but there was no reference to elimination of corruption. The same is the case this year. One cannot but wonder why there no promise to eliminate corruption.

Slogan of secularism does not ensure maintenance of the ideal nor does it guarantee social reform. Every institution whether it is a college, university or industry should be headed and guided by a person with right knowledge, experience and expertise. The same should be the case when electing national leaders especially Prime Minister. The latest poll suggests the NDA coalition with its Prime Ministerial choice Mr. Narendra Modi is most likely to win majority in the parliamentary election. It is the right choice and the right way forward for India.

Dr. Jatindra Saha

By Email

The current opinion poll taken last month gives BJP and its allies 259 seats and the Congress Alliance will get 123 and other parties 161. We should not be taken the figures for granted but however there is a possibility of BJP alliance emerge as the largest single party. There is still long way to go for the election and BJP should not complacence.

As the election is approaching Sonia Gandhi is seeking support from Muslims.

The renegade Congress leaders in desperation is calling Modi all sorts of things such as communalists, anti-Muslims and Christians, trying to chop him by bits, dictator and trying to divide India. I do not know what is wrong in building Ram Mandir when 80 per cent of the population are Hindus. The truth of the matter is all political parties SP, Bhujan Samaj, Communists and JD (U), in the North in order to get Muslim support are antiModi and BJP. These parties are willing to accept half Italian and currency smuggler as the Prime Minister candidate in preference to a true Indian who comes from a poor, backward community.

Indian Muslims call themselves as Muslims first, Indian Christians call themselves Christians and their leaders openly take part in anti- BJP propaganda and if Indian Hindu calls himself as Hindu and goes to temple he is called Communalist. Modi was criticised for not accepting Muslim cap and how many Muslims will accept Tilak and Mullahs will not enter the temple due to idols let alone accept Prasad.

The time has come for Hindus to claim back India from renegade Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Communists and bring back Ram Rajya and get rid of Italian rule. Hindus should wake up.

Cast vote responsibly

As our country begins the epic chase of electing Lok Sabha members, it is the duty of every Indian citizen to not only cast his/her vote, but to vote responsibly.

The public has no right to crib later.

Dedicated candidates with clean record should be elected to serve the nation and its people. Today, it has become difficult to choose the right person and party. Let wisdom prevail upon the voters.

Jubel D’ruz, Mumbai, India

Youth Conference Networking Evening

Congratulations for a group team effort in organising and delivering such a wonderful and very useful Networking Evening on Friday 28th March 2014. This was the first time I attended this sort of event and I am really look forward to attending such well organised and interesting future events!

Well done Asian Voice and the ABPL Group, all the rest of the organisers for planning and brining together a wide range of speakers, great compere and fantastic venue.

Karishma Raichada Student

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Fanatic Candidates must be sacked

It was soul disturbing to read the statement published in Asian Voice that Congress candidate Masood Wants to `Chop` Modi in Tiny pieces’.

Such Candidates must not be allowed to stand any where in India by any Party.

It will be advisable that Congress party leaders should sack Imran Masood immediately from the party and protect its image in the world. Muslims in Congress party can only now be trusted if they themselves come out and ask the party Leaders for such an action.

If they remain silent and take no actions, people of other faiths in India and abroad will have no faith left in Congress party.I have visited Gujarat last month and did not meet any Muslim person speaking against the state. I visited many Mosques and found Muslims very cooperative and pleased with my visit.

Subscribe Today Asian Voice in UK for only £27.50 for one year

Parties will soon publish their 2015 election manifestos

In 1949, the Conservative Party election manifesto was called “The Right Road for Britain”.

It stated that services constituted a cooperative system of self-help provided by the whole nation and designated to give all the basic security of housing, of opportunity, of employment and of living standards below which our duty to one another forbids us to permit anyone to fail.

This Sunday, I was returning from a wedding reception venue in Bath Road, Hounslow. Apparently the owner had other 400 or so properties. Many landlords own anywhere between 100 and 200 residential properties while we daily debate in the media about the need to build more houses.

There is now a debate about inflated house prices and the next housing bubble to be bigger than the last one.

Equality in opportunity often does not result in equality in outcome. Many can only find part time employment.

Million young people are unemployable.

Living standards are not all that great for many. Future governments need to work harder to ensure that growth and prosperity reaches a much bigger proportion of the nation as a whole.

The modern ideology is supremacy of the individual who is encouraged to look after himself only. It is time to think about others we have permitted to fail.

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

Up to Speed

Having just returned from a holiday to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, I was a bit apprehensive that I would lag behind others in my knowledge of the current political, economical and social affairs of this country and the world. But never fear, copies of my favourite Asian Voice (AV) and Gujarat Samachar (GS) were waiting for me on my door mat where the postman had pushed them through the letter box while I was away. I have eagerly skimmed through the pages of both and must concede that I am already up to speed on the happenings in the world while I was away. Many thanks to AV and GS for providing the news in an informative and interesting manner.

As always, I first glance at the headlines on the front pages and then go through the “Comment” and “Your Voice” columns in AV and the “Kalam Ni Dhare” and “Tamari Vaat” columns in GS. These make me au fait with the world affairs. I then read other pages and try to put my teeth into the crossword puzzles at leisure. I must add that if you subscribe to AV and GS, you do not need to buy any other daily newspapers or weeklies. All your food for thought could be gleaned from the vast amount of information contained in these two weeklies.

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

ASIAN VOICE

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below

Karma Yoga House substantial reduction in 12 Hoxton Market (Off Coronet Street)

London N1 6HW

Tel: 020 7749 4080 Fax: 020 7749 4081 E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

Please note the

subscription rates for Europe and world after reconsideration.

New Subscription rates from 1st October 2013

UK EUROPE WORLD 1 Year £27.50 £75 £85 2 Years £50 £140 £160 Subscriptions paid will not be refunded

Hare Krishna magazine

We have received many emails, calls and messages praising the recent magazine published by Asian Voice to celebrate 20 years of the Hare Krishna Temple Defence Movement.

It is overwhelming that so many readers have found it informative and inspiring, especially about the history and contributions of the Hindu community in Britain.

Due to space constraint we are unable to print all the letters, but Asian Voice would like to thank everybody who took out time to appreciate the publication.

- Editorial

Is Anna sincere or opportunist?

Anna Hazare parachuted on Indian political scene like whirlwind, pretending to be reincarnation of Gandhiji. However superficialities end there. His recent action in not attending meeting with Mamata Banerjee due to poor attendance speaks volume about his shallow, selfish, publicity seeking character and moralistic nonsense. His fasting in Gandhi mould was farce, hype, publicity stunt to fool Indian people. His “Oasis of Enlightenment” has turned into “Oasis of Self-righteousness” Anna, Kejriwal and Ramdevji shared one aspiration, to erase corruption from Indian politics. While it took fifty years for industrialists like Tatas, Ambanis to become billionaire, members of Gandhi family, even recent arrivals have attained such status in less than ten years, impossible goal to achieve with honest means.

While Baba has realised that only politician untouched by corruption who could act decisively is Modi and pledged his support, eluding the embrace of personal popularity, Anna and Kejriwal are after fame and fortune, squeeze every drop of publicity they can muster, Kejriwal unable or unwilling to distinguish between Modi and Rahul, heir apparent of borrowed Gandhi name, tainted Nehru dynasty. Kejriwal, an atheist turned Hindu is the opportunist of worse type who is exploiting every minute in his new, exotic passion in Hindu heartland of Varanasi, akin to Satan asking for directions to pearly gates?

Let’s hope beleaguered voters are able to distinguish between real and fake Kohinoor and vote accordingly. This is ominous, “Last Chance” election, “Om Kranti” time which will make or break India.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi Via Email

Disclaimer

Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL) is not in any way responsible for the goods and services rendered by its advertisers. The ABPL management accepts all advertisements in good faith and it is entirely up to readers to verify advertisers’ products and services, should they feel the need to do so.

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com

NAME

ADDRESS POST CODE Email:

TEL:

I'd like to be kept up to date by email with offers and news from ABPL

Please charge my VISA / ACCESS / MASTERCARD for £

Card No:

Signature

Card Expiry date

Date

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

PM Cameron hosts fourth Vaisakhi at No. 10

Continued from page 1

Thatcher in India's Operation Blue Star at Amritsar. Over 100 politicians in the UK including Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP have joined the estimated 700,000 strong British Sikh community to establish the truth about UK government's role to suppress information about the 1984 massacre. Some of the Sikh voters have also allegedly threatened the Tory party to abstain from voting unless answers are provided to the questions raised.

However, this did not dampen the spirit of more than 150 guests who gathered at the PM’s residence to celebrate the annual Punjabi festival Vaisakhi marking the establishment of Khalsa.

Guests arrived at the venue wearing their best attire, each carrying an einvitation and a photo id.

As they approached that famous No. 10 black door, they were overwhelmed with joy as they posed for photographs in front of the historical building.

Inside, stairs led up to a huge hall where people gathered as they sipped their favourite juices and munched on some delicious vegetarian canapés.

As they approached familiar faces, they hugged, shook hands or nodded quiet ‘Sat Sri Akaal’ (greetings/namastes) and exchanged business cards as they networked with others.

PM Cameron came in quietly, as he mingled with the guests including young children in traditional clothes. Addressing the audience he said: “There are really two parts to

tonight's (4th Vaisakhi) celebration (at 10 Downing Street). First part is celebrating Sikhism and second is celebrating immense contributions Sikhs have made and that is 160 years of contribution, since the first Sikh arrived - Maharaja Duleep Singh, whose children had Queen Victoria as their God Mother. Its a remarkable story.

“I want to reflect tonight on the three pillars of Sikhism, the first, worship: 'Naam Japna'- devotion to God. I am proud of what Sikhism brings to important parts of our UK. I am thinking specifically of the 8 Sikh schools, particularly proud of the fact that 5 that are free schools, introduced under this government policy to provide education for your children.

“British Sikhs have been an absolute model in terms of integrating into our communities and playing a role, whether its armed forces, serving in government, whether its working in business or representing brilliantly in the field of cricket, there is hardly a field where the British Sikhs haven't made an impact.

“As well as integrated, its important in a diverse, tolerant and compassionate nation, we allow different faith and religious groups to keep separate to them what they think is very important about their faiths. This government has always tried to do that.

For instance we stopped unnecessary searching of turbans at airports, something we were proud to do and today I can announce that while there has been

International students spared controversial status check by landlords

The Government has agreed substantial changes to the Immigration Bill to ensure that international students are no longer subject to controversial new proposals to require landlords to check immigration status. This, coupled with the £3 million additional funding for the Education is great campaign directed at promoting British Universities aboard, marks a major change in attitudes to foreign students.

Credit goes to Baroness Shirley from the Liberal Democrat party during a debate on the Immigration Bill in the House of Lords, said that presenting Britain as welcoming and open to international students is vital to maintaining Britain’s economy and our place in the world. She criticised the Home Office’s hostile approach to students com-

ing from abroad, claiming it was putting many off coming to the UK to study.

C o m m e n t i n g , Baroness Williams said: “International students are vital to Britain’s longterm interests. Not only are they worth billions of pounds to our economy, but bring untold benefits in terms of the UK’s global position in science, mathematics and its overall position on the world stage. We simply cannot allow anti-immigration rhetoric to put these students off choosing UK Universities.

“Liberal Democrat Ministers, and in particular Vince Cable MP, have known this for some time, and have been doing all they can to promote British universities to foreign students. I am pleased today that it appears the Home Office are now being persuaded of this approach.”

cant access the talent of your country unless we demonstrate of people every background and faith can get to the top of any organisaPM Cameron addressing the invited guests tion. the Golden Temple and as an exception that Sikhs “This year as we comsoon as that information don't have to wear hard memorate the 100 years came out, I immediately hats at construction sites, anniversary of WWI. It is ordered that enquiry and I can announce today that also worth saying how published that enquiry from now on, Sikhs do not British Sikhs have served properly, so that people have to wear hard hats at in our armed forces, with could see if there was any any place of work in our so much devotion, bravery British role. But I undercountry. and courage over so many stand the pain and hurt “I also understand the years. We should be teachthat whole episode has importance of all the ing our children about the caused... sacred places that the role of the 1.2mn soldiers “The second pillar, British Sikhs have estabfrom the Indian subconti'Kirat Karni'- working lished here in Britain, nent who played role in hard. It is such a feature where Gurdwaras are the WWI, like the story of that British Sikhs bring places of worship and eduManta Singh, who fought value to our country. The cation and community in the battle of Neuve incredible devotion to cohesion, but I also underChapelle, in 1915 and business that is so well stand the importance of when his English colknown. The hard work so sacred places in other side league was wounded, he many do in our Parliament of the world. I will never picked him up and carried to the dressing station, inspite of being wounded himself.

And then tragically died, the stories of heroism and valourSikhs always had extraordinary courage and bravery in demonstrated British armed forces.

“The third pillar, 'Vand Chhako'stands for commitment to community.

Traditional Shabad by members of Soho Road Gurdwara, B’ham The community role like MP Paul Uppal. But forget that I went to you all play, the communiwe should not rest until Amritsar to the Golden ty role Gurdwaras play. I we see more British Sikhs Temple. I spoke about it remember reading those in Green benches, Red last year. One of the most stories in London riot benches and we see more tranquil and beautiful when the Sikhs had not British Sikhs in top of places I have ever visited. I only protected their own every one of our organisaknow how much hurt and temples but also tried to tion, not because we pain it still is to the Sikh protect other places of believe in tokenism but community worldwide worship. Serving the combecause I believe that we about what happened to

11

munity and putting back in the community is something deep in the heart of all British Sikhs...

“We are involved today in an enormous fight for the future. Turning our country around, making sure the economy grows again and in the heart of is business, enterprise and hard work. Those are the values dear to British Sikhs and those are the values Britain needs today to be successful. So please keep doing all that you do, keep being all that you are and keep building the great success of your country, your religion and your community. You are hugely welcome, thank you.”

This was followed by a traditional shabad 'Khalsa Mero Ruup nai Khaas' sang by members of Soho Road Gurdwara from Birmingham including Amrit Singh, Mohan Kaur, Ramjeet Kaur, Gurmukh Singh and Gurpreet Singh.

Present as guests amongst many important dignitaries included Priti Patel, MP, Paul Uppal MP, Bob Blackman MP, Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP, Lord Swraj Paul, Indian High Commissioner HE Ranjan Mathai, S S Sidhu, Minister (Coordination), Indian High Commission, Jitesh Gadhia, Judge Mota Singh, Prof Nat Puri, City Sikhs Network representatives Jasvir and Param Singh, Resham Singh Sandhu MBE, entrepreneurs like Dr Rami Ranger MBE and Atul Pathak. The gathering also had representatives of various Indian and a few British media.

Dramatic decline in students from India and Pakistan A new survey has revealed that the South Asian students in British universities are seeing a dramatic decline in numbers.

A study by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) reports that the number of Indian students fell from 18,535 in 201011 to 13,250 in 2011-12 while the number of new Pakistani students fell by nearly 40% to 2825.

The government's strict new visa rules for students from outside EU,

in particular for applicants from so-called "high risk" countries in South Asia and Africa, have been widely cited as the reason for the fall in international admissions at UK universities.

Under the Tier 4 visa rules, not only students face tougher scrutiny from visa officers but are also required to produce evidence about their Englishlanguage capabilities and financial well-being so that they do not have to depend on work in

Hindu school to be built on playing fields gets go-ahead The Hindu community has applauded the latest development involving the Krishna Avanti School in Stanmore.The Education Funding Agency has finally approved a bid by the Avanti House Trust to build a secondary school on Whitchurch Playing Fields. The school moved to a temporary place in Stanmore last year.

The government

agency has been carrying out a feasibility study of the site in Stanmore after the trust identified it at the end of last year. Under the proposals the new school site would have a total of 1,260 pupils after it reached its full capacity.

Please also see the column by Harrow Borough Council leader Councillor Susan Hall in page 6

Britain.

Critics of the rulesincluding from Business Secretary Vince Cable have said that they have discouraged international students who contribute

billions to the British economy every year.

However, the government maintains that there is no cap on the number of legitimate students allowed to enter the UK.

Trusted for

generations to sell

Investment Gold Bars and Coins without VAT

Our prices are the cheapest.

The National Association Of Goldsmiths Member

Do phone us on

020 8767 7627

Minar Jewellers The Diamond Specialists 181 Upper Tooting Road, London SW17 7TG

12

MEDIA WATCH

There was a frisson of excitement as reports that the Congress party was planning to induct Priyana Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi’s sister, into a bigger and more visible role in the upcoming general election. She has long had an interest in politics and her abilities are impressive, say party insiders, of whom Janardhan Dwivedi, a Congress general secretary, is a self-confessed admirer and leading light.

“While there was complete silence from the party, the comment immediately led a group of Congress leaders to claim, off the record, that that plans were afoot to to bring Priyanka into active politics…..Dwivedi is seen to represent a significant group in the party management who prefer the 42 year-old Priyanka to her older brother by a year, Rahul. Congress, say pollsters, is fighting off an expected electoral debacle.

(Times of India April 4) Priyana Gandhi

Varun Gandhi in spotlight Meanwhile, another Gandhi has been making waves. Varun Gandhi, the BJP candidate from the Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh, once the bailiwick of his late father, Sanjay, has praised his cousin Rahul Gandhi

education, health and income, the rule of law (including police adequacy), rate of crime and rate of judicial disposal and physical infrastructure development, access to toilets, electricity, water, roads and brick houses. Among the large States, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu have done better than Gujarat. At the bottom of the sequentially are West Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. (Hindu April 4)

BJP Manifesto awaited

Varun Gandhi

for his work for the uplift of women in his Amethi constituency, also in Uttar Pradesh.

This has not gone down well with the BJP high command, which issued a statement claiming that Varun’s laudatory remarks had been misunderstood (the politician’s code accepting the authenticity of the observations, but making clear their disapproval of the indiscretion). More intriguing were the reports that Varun Gandhi had studiously refrained from making any reference to Narendra Modi in his campaign speeches, unlike most BJP candidates.(Times of India April). Make of this what you will.

Gujarat low on policy implementation

India’s smallest States – Sikkim, Mizoram, Goa, Punjab and Delhi are the country’s leaders in policy effectiveness, with vaunted Gujarat slipping to 16th place in 2011, according to the India Public Policy Report 2014.

The report creates a new multidimensional measure, the Policy Effectiveness Index (PEI). The PEI is composed of four subindicators which measure livelihood opportunities (including

Voting in India’s general election has commenced this week in a series of staggered operations.

The entire exercise is to end on 12 May. The BJP Manifesto coinciding late off the blocks, because, claims the Business Standard (April 5) of factional differences within the party. What the party’s policies are on critical issues pertaining to the economy, industry, science and industry remained till Monday 7 April a mystery thus with India deeply polarized, a likely BJP-led government in Delhi (if opinions are to be believed) will have a hard time gpoverning.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Communist-led Left Front government. As a BJP-led government is apparently willing to oblige, she may present West Bengal’s economic plight to the State’s large Muslim population as justification for her approaches to the BJP, explained The Times. It will take some convincing that this is a done deal.

PSLV navigation satellite in orbit

Tata, SIA get Ministry seal

Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines (Tata SIA hereon) have been given the green light from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation to start a full-service airline in India. Ministry approval was given in a week when the Home Ministry issued a security clearance for the project. The final hurdle will be an application to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for an air operational permit. “We are preparing the documents….We have in-house experts,” said a Tata spokesman, who explained that the company hadn’t hired any foreign experts in the processing of the necessary applications.

Driving force

Tata will be the driving force in the merger with a 51 per cent stake in the new company. Delhi will be the operational hub.

Looking ahead Tata SIA plan sometime in the future an international airline, depending on the success of the present venture (Business Standard, Mint April 3)

PSLV space launch

India’s politicians may cause the country much grief, but its scientists and engineers are a source of pride and joy. Through their dedication and hard work, not to speak of their brain power, they have reached for the skies, in their specialist fields have caught up, broadly, with their counterparts in the West. The latest Indian achievement occurred at the weekend when the second successful PSLV C24 launch (the first occurred in July 2013) took an IRNSS navigation weighing I,432 kg satellite into space orbit. Dr S. Radhakrishnan, Chairman Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said two more such satellites would be launched later this year and three after that in 2015, making seven in all. He said it was a milestone for the accuracy with which the 44-metre rocket placed the satellite in its orbit. “The satellite is doing extremely well in orbit,” said an elated M.Nageswar Rao, Project Director IRNSS.

Parity with US, Russia, Europe, Japan

The satellite will help in the navigation of vehicles on land, ships at sea and aircraft..It has civilian as well as defence applications.

It can also be integrated with mobile phones. The Indian navigation system parallel’s the US global positioning system, Glonass of Russia, Galileo of Europe and the Japanese Zenith Satellite System. (Hindu, Business Line, Mint April 5).

India, Russia nuclear power deal ready

accident. These premiums – for 20 years, the lifetime of the reactors – have been added to the original cost of the reactors.

India and Russia have surmounted the former’s legislative nuclear liability law hurdle following four years of gruelling negotiations. The deal, which prices Russian rectors taking into account India’s nuclear liability law may offer a template to other coluntries wishing to enter the Indian market.

“Diplomatically, it is a done deal,“ said an official. “We are just finalizing the details before

Fundamentally, the agreement is based on trust – that the Government of India and the insurance company will not renege on their commitment to make payment in the eventuality of a mishap. The Russian deal may open the door to French nuclear company Areva making a similar arrangement for its

Trust factor

Mamata nod to BJP

Consider the following extract from a Times of India editorial (April 5) l: “Over the past couple of months Mamata Banerjee, maverick chief of Trinamool Congress (TMC), has unabashedly expressed her keenness to play a significant role in government formation at the Centre in the event of a hung Parliament. With opinion polls predicting a spectacular performance by TMC in West Bengal, which accounts for 42 seats Lok Sabha constituencies, the party could well land the third-largest number of seats behind Congress and BJP.” The lady is miffed that the present UPA government in Delhi turned down her appeal for a special aid package for her State to help it cope with the financial mess left by the previous

Kundakulam nuclear power plant

signing it. It should happen within a month.” Under the agreement India’s public sector General Insurance Company has evaluated each component of the Russian reactors and prescribed an insurance premium it will charge to cover any compensation Russia has to pay for an

reactor at Jaitapur, Maharashtra.

US nuclear companies Westinghouse and General Electric have dug in their heels on the liability law, but the success of the Russians and, possibly, the French may persuade them to think again. This is a final feather in the cap of retiring

Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. Having piloted the Indo-US civilian nuclear accord in 2008 through parliament at the risk of his own political career. He will end it on a high note.(Telegraph April 2).

First IAF base upgraded

The Sukhoi-30MKIfighter swept low and fast over the Punjab plain in a simulated combat mission, in which flight controllers had directed an Airborne and Control System (AWACS) – a flying command centre on board a giant Ilyushin 78 aircraft that controls air operations from 33,000 feet.

The Bhatinda base had been ordered to ‘recover’ the fighter and guide it to base and facilitate its touchdown. The entire exercise was a validation of the infrastructure modernization for 67military airfields across India. This Rs 2,500 crore project was put out on global tender, but the contract was won by India’s Tata Power (strategic electronics division). This is a vital force multiplier for the IAF. Says Air Marshal R.K.Sharma: “By fulfilling the need to match ground infrastructure with the capability of a modern aircraft, the project will enhance the capability of India’s air power.” Bhatinda is a pilot project. By 2016 30 air and naval bases, including eight along the Sino-Indian frontier, will have been fully modernized with state-of-the-equipment (Business Standard March 31).

13

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Pr e se nt s

W I TH

Pritam LIVE IN CONCERT - First time in UK

LONDON

Also featuring

Benny Dayal and many other

13

TH

APRIL 201 4 - 7 P M

top artists...

W EMBLEY ARENA

GET READY FOR SOME BADTAMEEZI WITH HIS

BADTAMEEZ DIL !

Dhoom MachaLe Ala Barfi AND MANY OTHER SUPERHITS...

£35

£50

£75

£200

£100

Special offer for Zee Subscribers on SKY DTH in UK*

Buy 1 ge t 1 T ic k e t At No E x t ra Co s t To avail this offer, call on 0844 855 w w w. z e e t v. c o . u k

8888**

* Terms and conditions apply. ** Calls cost 5p per minute. Call charges from mobiles may vary.

Boo Book k your yo ur tickets tickets now n ow on o n www.wembleyarena.co.uk w w w.wembley embley ya arena.c o.uk

Zee T TV V UK

UK

14

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

“Our London”

OUT OF

Bringing morals and values to life

Navin Shah, GLA Member for Brent and Harrow I’m out of jail and am smiling! So are my fellow convicts including CB and George from our own Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar. There’s one great reason why all of us14 prisoners have big smile on our face and that is for raising impressive £18,000 for St Luke’s Hospice. This amount exceeds £1,000 minimum required for each convict to be bailed out and I’m sure there’s still more donations to come. If you have not donated for this wonderful cause it not late. You can still send your donations by cheque (made payable to St Luke’s Hospice) to Asian Voice or Gujarat Samachar or direct to St Luke’s Hospice.

The ‘convicts’ for the ‘Jail *& Bail’ event organised by St Luke’s Hospice were from an interesting group of people from our community. The participants were CB Patel – Publisher Editor of Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar; L George –

JAIL

Chief Operating Officer, ABPL; Nigel Oreton Bench Chairman of NW London Magistrates; Mohammed Rahman Trustee of Harrow Central Mosque; Dorab Mistry OBE - Director of Godrej International; Ramesh Bhanderi - St Luke’s Trustee; Graham Buckland - husband of St Luke’s Trustee; Gopaljeet Bhachu - Chair of Harrow Sikh Association; Mahesh Patel Halifax Wealdstone Branch Manager; Kathleen O’Connor - St Luke’s Supporter; Sherry Sendanayake - Local Businesswoman; James Mercer - Vicar at All Saints Church Harrow Weald; Kavit Shah - St Luke’s Supporter and myself.

All we prisoners reported to Pinner Police Station on last Friday

and what an experience it was! I’ve participated in this type of event before but even for a seasoned convict like me it was a terrifying experience.

One by one we were summoned by police. We were handcuffed; all our possessions taken away; asked to give finger prints and DNA samples; everyone was charged with offences and slammed in a holding room for prisoners in the police station. On confirmation of our bail money we were released to be free again.

The experience showed how professional and thorough our police service is in the procedure when dealing with offenders. The experience demonstrated the seriousness of offences and why one should not in real life offend. A big thanks to our police on duty on the day and allowing the use of the police station.

There are many tributes to pay.

Continued on page 30

An unforgettable evening

by Milapfest

Charusmita

Organised by Milapfest at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre on Saturday 22nd March, an evening concert of Indian acoustics by SAMYO was nothing short of perfect.

The event was attended

by Dr. Kiran Bedi, a special guest for the evening.

Asian Voice’s Publisher/Editor, Mr. CB Patel, who is a patron of Samyo along with Mr. Mukund Jobanputra (also, a patron) and Ms. Sangeeta Bahadur (director at the Nehru Centre) also graced the occasion. The venue was packed with the connoisseurs of Indian Classical music and non-familiar audiences, alike. The opening reception of the event was by Milapfest’s Director of Development Alok Nayak who welcomed the guests. One of the orchestra members, Jainee-Khushali Patel, who plays the Sitar and Saxophone, spoke about her experience as a musician with Samyo, “I have never known a passion stronger than my love for music, and SAMYO has helped me enhance it”.

This was followed by encouraging words from Ms. Sangeeta Bahadur, who has been attending Samyo’s events since last three years and has seen the group grow- “I am

pleased to see the youth here in the UK are keeping alive the value and culture of India by producing top quality musical innovations”.

Addressing an eager audience, Dr. Kiran Bedi talked about her work with the youth in India, her social welfare pursuits and commended the way Indian roots are being celebrated in the UK through arts. “I am inspired to take these wonderful ideas back with me to India”, she

Milapfest is Britain’s leading Indian Arts Development Trust with an aim to ‘Unite Hearts through Arts’. On an average, Milapfest produces 53 performance events every year, employing over 220 artists annually. With SAMYO, it was able to bring on stage an orchestra of more than 30 artists including established composers and conductors like Gaurav Mazumdar (an expert of Hindustani Classical

said. She was supporting the event as a part of connecting with the youth through innovative ways and was impressed by the quality of cultural performances by organisations such as Milapfest.

Two hours of pure sensory elevation, the event was a set of performances divided by a short interval. Samyo, the National Youth Orchestra for Indian Music, is a part of the Milapfest Family.

Funded by the Arts Council England,

music and a long standing student of Pt. Ravi Shankar), Anil Srinivasan (uniquely attributed to for bringing the piano to Indian Classical music), Girishh Gopalakrishnan (a film composer and talented music conductor) and Kousic Sen (whose rhythmic mastery enthralled the audience; he is in charge of Samyo’s percussion ensemble). The instruments ranged widely from Veena, Violin, Sitar and Flute to Tabla

Krupali Bhagani The question of applying what can often be seen as intangible and lofty ideas is one that a number of us will have come across. For example, we may always be told that “honesty is the best policy”, or we may be reminded that the law of Karma affects all of us, ensuring that we reap what we sow. But what do these values and principles mean in practice and how can one apply these values to the workplace?

Although it is arguable that our nature is determined from birth, it is also arguable that our upbringing, surroundings and the values we are exposed to shape our development into the adults we become.

For me, that has meant imbibing the various morals/ideals expounded in Hindu Dharma, either through the glorious epics we have heard (or watched on TV!), or the qualities epitomised by the Hindu deities we are familiar with.

Having been in the working world for a number of years now, one thing and Carnatic Percussion.

Remarkable vocalists added to the magic of innovative music fusion with Anil Srinivasan as the pianist.

The first half of the scintillating evening had five compositions. As a welcome piece, composer Gaurav Mazumdar presented ‘Aagman’, a landmark for the orchestra, combining North and South Indian styles and claiming to celebrate the diversity of Samyo in terms of instrumentals and vocals. This was followed by ‘Lullaby’, which pooled Tamil lyrics with bits from Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali, urging the listeners to dispel the darkness within to pave way for the light. The next one was a quintessential South Indian classical piece, based on the Thillana format and was composed by Anil Srinivasan, who also composed ‘Lullaby’. Closely following was ‘Panditji’, a tribute to the legendary Pt. Ravi Shankar.

Arranged by Girishh Gopalakrishnan, this was inspired by a composition of the legend himself, in association with Philip Glass. The concluding session of the first half

I have struggled with is how the values and ideals I have grown up with can be applied to the workplace. More generally, it has often been unclear to me how my faith can be an asset in the workplace, and how I can ensure that it is adhered to in a world where negative practices are often seen as the norm.

In fact, in dealing with this struggle, what has fast become apparent is that the workplace demands adaptation, and the ability to consider deeply how values and ideals are not a hurdle to success, but rather a facilitator for better decisions and more deserved congratulations.

The dilemma of how to embed my values and personal beliefs in the workplace has led to the revelation that our values can empower us to make the right decisions, and the four goals of a Hindu individual have proven to be reliable guides in my path to date.

Dharma , a term loosely translated as “that which sustains”, has highlighted to me that I must go about my daily routine with a selfless mind, and act to ensure that my role is fulfilled to the best of my abilities.

Artha, the pursuit of material and spiritual was an inspired recital, arranged by Girishh Gopalakrishnan and composed by none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Samyo celebrated Mozart’s influence on our lifelong musical expedition with this moving fusion.

Second half of the evening witnessed a thematic overlapping of nature and human aspirations. ‘Rain’, composed by Gaurav Mazumdar, was a bold curve from his earlier traditional sets and fused the theme of rainfall within the context of two countries- India and Britain. The overwhelming human reaction to monsoon was its underlying muse. Portraying nature through music on stage, Girishh G. amazed the audience with his exceptional set titled ‘Sunshine’. It clearly highlighted the fusion and was adventurously composed. The precision and timing in this musical segment was captivating and although it remembered moments of childhood and innocent sunshine, it was carefully laden with impressive pauses and rhythm. At Music India (Samyo’s residential school in Liverpool) the

wealth, has denoted that pursuing an ambition and outlining your career goals from the outset is a positive thing, but as long as it does not become allencompassing and is balanced with spiritual practice.

Kama, the fulfillment of desires, has given me the confidence to be focused on my personal goals and happiness, and taught me that being successful is a positive thing, as long as the fruits of the success are put to good use.

Finally, Moksha, the freedom from desire and attachment, has highlighted to me the importance of setting realistic goals, and the ability to pick myself up and move on when decisions and choices in the workplace do not go my way.

For those that have struggled with a perceived conflict between Dharmic values and the workplace, my humble thoughts would be these: remember that we come from a rich tradition, and one that recognises the needs and qualities of human beings.

There is no bar to pursuing successful careers and any perceived conflict between faith values and those in the workplace is just that, a “perceived” conflict.

surroundings were hugely inspirational to the students and their mentors alike. A combination of Raag Yaman and bits from other cultural contexts, this piece brought to life the thoughts of a walk alongside River Mersey in Liverpool.

This evening of Indian music concluded with a powerful and moving rendition of the Indian National Song, ‘Vande Mataram’. Titled ‘Desh’, this exquisite composition evoked a feeling of love and devotion for the nation and invited enthused comments from Dr. Kiran Bedi and the honourable guests alike.

Mesmerising improvisations on Raga Desh scale interspersed with two momentous pieces, ‘Desh’ truly touched our hearts and infused a patriotic fervour among the audience.

The evening, anchored by Alok Nayak, was visceral and intellectually stimulating at the same time. The innovation in music is as intelligent a process as an emotional one and therefore, it comes as no surprise that it was an unforgettable evening.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Life and Tanveer Mann

Things to do this Easter!

1) Head down to the Chocolate Festival This year the chocolate festival includes new features such as the Seventy% Chocolate Tasting Lounge and the Cocoa Spa at Hotel Chocolat, where visitors can sample Cocoa Juvenate products, skin and body treatments made from Cocoa.

2) Try brunch at Gails Kitchen This upmarket bakery chain is known for its pastries, cakes and sandwiches, but its branch in Bloomsbury also has a smarter, sit-down brasserie that serves brilliant breakfasts. The pastries are delicious, which makes the Continental breakfast a favourite, all for £15.

Where: 11-13 Bayley Street, WC1B 3HD. 3) Visit the London Transport Museum to see Harry Beck's handdrawn Tube maps It's hard to believe, but it's true.

The first tube map was designed by draughtsman Harry Beck, who modelled it on an electrical circuit diagram.

Beck had invented this dramatic new

style of map in 1931 and submitted it to London Underground. The Tube – and countless other underground networks all over the world – still use Beck’s ground-breaking ideas today.

4) Grab a last minute short break away to Portugal Stay at the 4 Star Santa Catarina Hotel Bed & Breakfast for £183.50 each. For more information, visit: lastminute.com Friday 25 April – Departing from Gatwick at 12.45pm / Arriving at Funchal at 16.35pm Friday 2nd May – Departing from Funchal at 17.25pm / Arriving at Gatwick at 21.05pm 5) Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl’s dark tale comes to life in the fantastic musical directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes.

Performances from 21 April to 22 May. Tickets from £25.

Visit: lastminute.com

Tête-à-Tête ….

with Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor

Though this young and upcoming duo are relatively new to the Bollywood scene, their new romantic comedy proves they have what it takes to take the film industry by storm. Having both acted in only a handful of films so far, their notoriety and respect has well-surpassed any such figures. Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor both feature in new film Two States, an adaptation of the novel

by Chetan Bhagat about a young couple from different states in India (Punjab and Tamil Nadu).

How different is the film from the novel?

Alia: We tried to stay very close to the novel.

There has been certain parts of the novel that have had to be removed because of cinema time and of course the songs and dances, which are always welcome, but other than that, it is the same.

Alia, what sort of preparation did you have to do for your role?

Alia: I learnt Tamil for about a month, but because she does not speak Tamil, she is a modern day Tamilian girl, she only speaks in Tamil when she's talking to her parents, so it was not really required. Of course, I did have to have certain body language, she's a bharatanatyam dancer, the way she looks at peo-

Alia Bhatt, Tanveer Mann and Arjun Kapoor

ple, she is very strong.

What was it like working together?

Arjun: Boring Alia: Hated it. Seeing his face every morning, I

15

If you have any particular topics you would like covered on my page, please let me know.

www.punjabeeblonde.com

Where: Business Design Centre, 52 Upper St, London N1 0QH Website: ww.festivalchocolate.co.uk

UK

wanted to kill him!

Arjun: No, it was actually a pleasant surprise to see how dedicated she is as an actor, that surprised me. She was 18 when I met her, so I didn't

tanveer.mann@abplgroup.com

Bayleaf Restaurant

Tanveer

Mann

The newest offering from the 18-year-old Bayleaf takeaway service is its sister restaurant, providing the perfect fine-dining experience. The name Bayleaf, synonymous with the aromatic leaves of several plants used in cooking, reflects the distinctive flavours and fragrances of the restaurant's new menu.

Based only a stones throw away from its takeaway kitchen in Totteridge and Whetstone, this new eatery boasts the most stylish interior, ambiance and mouthwatering food.

Whether it is the mango chutney, created with over ten different fresh ingredients, the appetising spicy chilli paneer or the aubergine main, dishes are freshly curated by hand and on demand.

The décor is extremely impressionistic upon arrival; elegant and modern, with a combination of white and dark wood, a large bubbling water wall and patterned Islamic fretwork, making it extremely unique from

Ratings Taste : Ambience : Decor : Service : Value 4 Money :

HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH HHHHH

think she was so sorted in her head, I thought she would still be finding her feet but when I met her on set, she was a sorted person.

What was the most fun thing you had to do for the movie?

Alia: Kiss Arjun: Ah, what can I say, she was excited to kiss me.

Alia: No that was one of the worst things I had to do for the movie!

Arjun: because she didn't want to stop afterwards!

Alia: I'm just joking, the best part of doing the film was that I was playing a character that I had read sometime back and it actually came to life for me so that was the best part of the film for me.

Arjun: For me, the best part was not holding a gun, which was a pleas-

the typical Indian restaurant.

The menu is wideranging, from appetizers including Mushroom Tandoori, fresh button mushrooms stuffed with potato and paneer, Gobi tree, a slice of cauliflower lightly spiced, coated

with semolina and garnished with pomegranate and Tikka Nazaqat, three individual flavoured tikka (hariyali tikka, koyla tikka and malai tikka), to mains including grilled, seafood, chicken, lamb and array of vegetarian dishes.

Amongst dessert

options, you are spoilt for choice! Each dish is immaculately presented and served with extreme delicacy. A favourite is the chocolate mouse served with fresh strawberries and ice cream, all presented in the shape of a flower.

Though prices are a little steep in the a la carte menu, you truly get what you pay for here, fine-dining with delicious tasting food. Lucky for some, the restaurant has a specific set lunch menu available between 12 – 2pm throughout the week, which includes a two-course meal for only £11.95.

All-in-all, this is a fantastic restaurant that gives you the impeccable service expected for an all-round fine-dining experience.

Competition

Bayleaf is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a complimentary meal for two. To enter, answer the below question and email: tanveer.mann@abplgroup.com with your answer by 25th April 2014.

How old is the Bayleaf takeaway delivery service? a) 15 years

b) 18 years

ant surprise after three films back-to-back holding a gun.

c) 21 years

to teach me. In conversation, you just pick it up.

Arjun, was acting always what you wanted to do?

What do you prefer now?

Arjun: I like both. As an actor, I think it is important to do different characters. But at a very serious level, for me the best experience was being able to play a character who was emotionally layered and very relatible as a human being. All my other characters have been slightly larger than life, unique on their take on life. This guy is a very normal, down-to-earth regular boy.

Arjun: No never, I wanted to direct. I met Salman Khan, and he said I think you could be an actor, I was 140kg, so that seemed like a far-fetched dream from my end. But life deals its own set of cards that you play and suddenly I'm sitting here in front of you in the same hotel where I worked as an assistant to now giving you an interview for my upcoming film.

Did you get any advice from your parents before you entered the film industry?

Alia: Advice, not in acting per say, but just generally how you should be as a professional actor and how you should present yourself.

Arjun: For me, watching your father, I've just learned subconsciously how to be. It wasn't so much about him having

Alia, your second film, Highway, seemed more demanding, this film seems more lighthearted. Which do you feel was easier?

Alia: It was actually not as easy. In this film, it is all about being and that sometimes is actually quite difficult.

Just because I was not giving a loud monologue, sometimes saying nothing is also difficult!

16

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Narendra Modi sees Congress hand in ‘flight delay’

New Delhi: BJP's prime ministerial n o m i n e e Narendra Modi accused the Congress of sabotaging his campaign by holding up flight clearances for his choppers, derailing his whistle stop schedules in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. “Congress can stop my flights, but not my ride to Delhi,” said Modi.

Few days back chaos came on the back of checks on the Adani luxury jet that has been his staple, moments after he touched down in Delhi from Ahmedabad. The DGCA team found a few lapses but nothing to ground the plane. Modi has now sought a probe by the Election Commission into his airport troubles.

Modi was to cover four constituencies in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday besides Bareilly in UP. He started the day by waiting

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadami Party (AAP) unveiled its manifesto for the 16th Lok Sabha elections. In its first ever manifesto the party favoured a healthy market economy and zero tolerance towards terrorism sponsored by Pakistan.

Releasing the AAP manifesto Kejriwal said presently India faced three major threats in the form of corruption, communalism and crony capitalism. Presenting a business friendly image, Kejriwal said the Aam Aadmi Party, founded in November 2012, would foster healthy competition in the market economy and curb monopolistic and anticompetition practices.

“Job creation shall be the primary objective of the economic policies of the AAP, and to this end we will promote honest

at Delhi airport for almost two hours for permission to take off. The charter companies hired for Modi — an Adani Group plane and a chopper from another firm — reportedly failed to file proper flight plans, giving details such as

the route the aircraft will take and the alternate airport in case of emergency.

As many as four flight plans were submitted to the air traffic control at IGI airport.

"There was a problem in the flight plans and so they could not be cleared.

Also, one of these charter firms was flying another plane for Haryana CM B S Hooda and they mixed up the flight plans of the two CMs, which made matters worse," said a source.

Modi's original plan was to fly in the Adani Challenger to Pantnagar around 9.45am and take the chopper from there to Bareilly, back to Pantnagar and then to

Rewa. But with the delay in Delhi, Modi decided to fly straight to Bareilly in the chopper. He finally took off around 11.30am from Delhi. By the altered plan, he would fly to Pantnagar from Bareilly in the chopper and then take the Adani aircraft from there to Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.

But even this did not work out. After the rally in Bareilly, he was held up for almost three hours for clearance from the civil enclave airport (where ATC is controlled by defence authorities) to take off for Pantnagar.

The chartered plane, meanwhile, waited in Pantnagar till the evening to fly him to Rewa.

Rahul didn’t get M.Phil degree from Cambridge : Swami

AV Correspondent

A h m e d a b a d : Challenging All India Congress Committee (AICC) Vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s claim to acquire Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) degree from famous Cambridge University, former Minister of Law & Justice Dr. Subramanian Swami said that Rahul didn’t get M.Phil degree from the British University and despite the fact, if he would mention about the degree while filing nomination for the Lok Sabha election, he would file a case against him.

“During an interview to a T.V. Channel, Rahul said on camera that he would show me M.Phil degeree. Subsequently I wrote him later to do that, but till today there has been no answer from his side,” said the BJP leader during a press conference in Ahmedabad.

Staunch opponent of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty also distributed a certificate he availed from University of Cambridge to the media persons too.

AAP manifesto bats for h

The certificate showing the name of ‘Mr. Raul Vinci’ suggested that he failed subject – National Economic Planning & Policy. Swami claimed that Rahul did take admission as Raul Vinci for security purpose.

“Rahul took further legacy of failure. His father Rajiv, grandmother Indira and even great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru were also failed in overseas universities. In fact Nehru was given ‘Gentleman Pass’ remark, which was sophisticated term for the failed student,” he said.

The BJP leader also raised issue of Sonia Gandhi’s background. He said that Sonia’s father

was with Hitler’s army and was caught by Russian troops and was sent to jail. Generally Hilter’s soldiers were not released for twenty years, but Sonia’s father was released in just four years, said Swami adding that it became possible because he opted to work for Russian spy agency KGB. Replying a question on ‘Ram Mandir’ in BJP manifesto, he said that generally new issues are being taken into manifesto to keep it short and the issue of construction of temple in Ayodhya was old issue.

On a query about why he is not contesting Lok Sabha elections, he said that he remained MP for five terms. “I was offered to contest from Raebareli seat against Congress president Sonia Gandhi, but I turned down the offer as it came too late.

Hap my party proposed me in January, I would have adequate time to prepare for it. In future I may contest a by-poll or can be sent to Rajya Sabha also,” he added.

businesses and entrepreneurs,” he said. On foreign direct investment (FDI), the AAP leader said: “We are not against FDI in principle but we opposed it sector wise.

However, party is against FDI in retail trade.”

It is the first time the AAP has come out with its comprehensive thinking on a host

SP manifes ‘Corruption’ a

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav released his party's manifesto in Lucknow and said SP will work against inflation and corruption.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and party leader Ramgopal Yadav were also present during the unveiling of the manifesto.

Yadav said his party will provide special benefits to Muslims and set up a commission for the poor belonging to upper castes if they are elected after releasing the poll paper. The SP chief also promised to work for traders and increase agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh.

Modi will become PM: Advani

BJP veteran files nomination from Gandhinagar constituency

AV Correspondent

Ahmedabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran LK Advani accompanied by party's PM aspirant Narendra Modi filed his nomination papers for the upcoming General Elections from Gandhinagar, said that Modi will become the next PM of the country.

Reacting to questions related to the controversy regarding his desire to contest from Bhopal, Advani, who has been the MP from Gandhinagar for five times, said that he never intended not to contest from the Gujarat’s capital.

The veteran leader recalled his relations with Gujarat and Gandhinagar from where he is seeking re-election to the lower House for the sixth term. “Absolutely rejoicing, after all, my relations with Gandhinagar and with Gujarat did not start with my contesting from here. They started with the unfortunate aspect (partition) that accompanied India's Independence," he said when asked whether he was happy to be contesting from Gandhinagar.

When asked about his reported preference for Bhopal over Gandhinagar, Advani said, "No, that is not exactly true. There was a very strong request from Madhya Pradesh to contest from Bhopal also." Apart from Modi, other senior BJP leaders in Gujarat also joined the veteran leader at the time of filing nomination.

Modi targets to give 28 seats to BJP cadre in Gujarat

AV Correspondent

In order to achieve magic figure of 272 seats to ensure next NDA government under BJP, the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi gave new target of 28 seats in stead of 26 seats to BJP workers in Gujarat.

“Apart from all 26 seats from Gujarat, we will have to win two other seat in adjoining Union Territories – Dadara & Nagar Haveli as well as Daman, Diu & Silvassa, where culture, social fabric and language of people are similar to Gujarat,” said BJP’s PM candidate while addressing a large gathering of party workers in presence of Advani in Gandhinagar.

“I have full faith on

party workers. They will employ even more strength, attract more votes and ensure more voting to make BJP victorious not only in Gandhinagar but in entire Gujarat and two seats in UT,” said Modi.

He claimed that the rival Congress party would not able to touch double digit in any of Indian state. The tempo visible in public suggests that Congress will face even worse defeat compared to emergency this time.

Former deputy Prime Minister LK Advani said that perhaps first time in the history of India’s general elections, people had given verdict even before they utilized their right to vote.

“Such thing happens rarely,” he added.

SPECIAL

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

healthy market economy

n e t t

I

P t

of issues after being dubbed as a party with a singular mindset: how to battle corruption. Kejriwal said the AAP was not limited by ideological orthodoxies in both domestic and international economic issues.

“It is neither Left nor Right and will support every good idea, old or new, if it is

sto against and ‘Inflation’

The party said it will focus on Purvanchal and Bundelkhand regions and help in its developmental projects. SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said education will be made totally free in the country if a nonCongress, non-BJP government comes to power at the Centre.

in the interest of India,” the manifesto said. On foreign policy, the AAP said, without taking Pakistan's name, that it would show no toleration for cross-border terrorism. It called for coordinated bilateral and multilateral efforts to prosecute terrorists and a sustained dialogue at various levels to dismantle the structures that encourage terrorism.

The manifesto said all major natural resources including water and forests would vest with the state and their commercial exploitation would be done based on a royalty and revenue sharing agreement. The party reiterated its support for a Jan Lokpal bill, saying undeclared assets of public servants would be liable for confiscation. “Any public official guilty of corruption would be removed from their position and sentenced to prison.

Their property will be confiscated.” The AAP advocated state funding of elections and strong disclosure norms for political parties besides a supplemental system of proportional representations in elections.

AAP candidate walks 50 km to file nomination

Mumbai: AAP candidate from Dhule in Maharashtra, Ansari N. Ahmed, walked 50-km to file Lok Sabha nomination. Ahmed had set out from Malegaon in Nashik district with around 150 supporters, a couple of vehicles and mini water tankers for Dhule, the adjoining district where the Election Commission has opened its office for Dhule constituency. The unique walkathon saw AAP supporters carrying brooms, the party's election symbol. Proceedings with them were a couple of vehicles loaded with food, large utensils and a portable gas stove and cylinder. Each person had come with his own blanket and bed sheet, plastic plates and disposable cups. Ahmed and his band were rewarded with enthusiastic public response through nearly two dozen villages.

Sonia files nomination from Rae Bareli

Rae Bareli: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi filed nomination from her family’s traditional Rae Bareli constituency for the 16th Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi, 67, who will be seeking re-election from the seat, was accompanied by party's vice president and her son, Rahul Gandhi while presenting her papers before the returning officer.

While SP has decided not to field anyone against her and Rahul, BJP has fielded Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Agarwal. The AAP is yet to announce a candidate. “The people of Rae Bareli have adopted me with immense affection and I hope they will make me victorious again in the election,” she told media persons after filing nomination.

Sonia was given a rapturous welcome from the Fursatganj airport to the district collectorate office. With Rahul at the steering wheel, Gandhi was welcomed with showering of rose petals all the way. Before she filed the nomination, a ‘Havan’ was performed at the local Congress office in which Sonia and Rahul participated. Old family loyalist Satish Sharma along with her lawyer was also present at the time of filing of nominations.

The constituency has been a Nehru-Gandhi family bastion since the 1960s.

Indira Gandhi won it for the first time in 1967, taking over after the death of her husband Feroz, who was also an MP from here.

Gandhi is a three time MP from Rae Bareli, including

once elected in a byelection in 2006, after she resigned over office of profit issue. In 2004 elections she shifted to Rae Bareli from Amethi, leaving it to her son Rahul Gandhi.

Cong names Modi opponent in Varanasi

New Delhi: The Congress announced Ajay Rai as its candidate from Varanasi against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

The announcement was made here by Congress party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.

"He has led the area, is known to the area, and in the party's opinion he is the best candidate for Varanasi.

He is a grassroot worker and leader, and can ably lead people of Varanasi in the parliament of India, besides projecting the very inherent idea of India vis-avis the BJP candidate," he

Ajay Rai

added.

Besides Modi, Kejriwal and Rai, nominees of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party will also contest the Varanasi seat. Varanasi has become the focus of elections after Modi decided to contest from there as his second constituency besides Vadodara in Gujarat.

17

Mistry considers fight against Modi as ‘usual contest’

AV Correspondent

Vadodara: The Congress candidate from Vadodara Lok Sabha constituency, Madhusudan Mistry who is contesting against BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said that for him the contest against Modi usual like any other election and there is nothing special in it.

Mistry who replace Congress’s dalit candidate Narendra Rawat, who was earlier declared by the Congress party, said that the Congress would win more seats than BJP in Gujarat.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary came down heavily on his opponent Modi for his recent jibes like “Pakistani Agent”, “Shehazada” etc. against his political rivals and blamed that the Gujarat Chief Minister was trying

Mistry & other Congress workers arrested

Mistry with nearly 100 party workers was arrested by the Vadodara police after they tried to stick a Congress poster on Modi's display on a kiosk on a lamp post in Dandiya Bazaar area in the city. Mistry had written to VMC and election officer in Vadodara four days ago over allocation of kiosks (advertisement space on electricity poles on city roads) only to BJP's prime ministerial candidate Modi. Later on they were released on conditional bail.

TDP returns to NDA after 10 years

Hyderabad: Negotiations between BJP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) finally fructified on Sunday with Chandrababu Naidu announcing a pre-election agreement with the saffron party and rejoining the NDA after a gap of 10 years.

Describing the alliance as a “lucky one”, Naidu exuded confidence that the NDA would get over 300 seats in the Lok Sabha this time. “Our aim is to provide a stable and efficient government and honest administration,” he said to loud applause.

Under the deal, the

BJP will contest from eight out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana and five out of 25 in Seemandhra. The national party has got 47 assembly seats out of 119 in Telangana and 15 out of 125 in Seemandhra region.

Recent opinion polls had suggested that a deal with TDP would take the saffron alliance closer to the magic number of 272.

An NDTV poll gave NDA, including TDP, 259 seats, while CNN-IBN put the figure at 234-246, minus TDP which was separately given 13-19 seats.

Smriti Irani to contest against Rahul Gandhi

TV actor and BJP’s national vice-president Smriti Irani will fight against Congress VicePresident Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. Aam Aadmi Party leader Kumar Vishwas is the other high-profile. Meanwhile, Uma Bharati refused to

bow to the BJP leadership's diktat to contest against Sonia Gandhi in the latter's pocket borough Rae Bareli, forcing the party to opt for Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Agarwal as its candidate against the Congress president.

to widen communal split to securer votes.

Reacting on Modi’s comment on the Congress’s decision to remove Rawat (who is also Dalit) Mistry said that he was surprised to see that a person aspiring for the top position is trying to provoke emotion for vote bank politics.

Replying a question on which issues he would contest against Modi, he said that there were plenty of issues to counter him. “I would tell people about so called development model of Gujarat’s Chief Minister. Besides, how Gujarat is lagging behind on social indicators like human development index, education etc., he claimed, adding that Modi government is camouflaging information. Even after utilizing RTI it is next to impossible to get information from the State government.

Masood granted bail

New Delhi: The Congress candidate from Saharanpur Imran Masood, who was booked for a hate speech against the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, was finally granted bail. Masood, 40, was arrested on the basis of a video clipping that went viral on the web. The clipping showed threatening to "chop BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to pieces", igniting a new political controversy prior to next month's general election. He is now facing criminal charges for his hate speech, though he maintains that he never threatened to kill Modi, but only to teach him a lesson.

A First Information Report (FIR) accuses him of violating the Model Code of Conduct, but it is not clear when and where the comments were made. Local police said they received the video CD. Masood claims he spoke those words eight months ago, when he was with the Samajwadi Party.

18

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

I write to you from Hong Kong after speaking to a group of entrepreneurs on the benefits of investing in the United Kingdom and indeed setting up their companies in the UK. So that may be a good time to talk about how well British companies have been doing. Some statistics: Of the 100 largest publicly traded British companies, in the past 6 months 17% of them are up 20% or more. Indeed 2/3rds show a positive return in their share prices in the past 6 months. And of all them today in the top 100, 80% show a positive return over the past decade.

In fact half of them have doubled over the past decade; not bad role models for overseas investors.

Whilst the Hang Seng (which measures the 40 largest companies in Hong Kong) is nowhere near its highs, it’s counter in the UK which measures the performance of the 100 largest British companies is near an all time high.

And this year, despite China’s great growth story, yet again the FTSE 100 is outperforming the Hang Seng index.

So what is the outlook for the pound? Well overseas buying of the Pound pushed it to a four year high against the Dollar recently. In Hong Kong it was noticeable the number of companies wanting to sell folk British property. I recall at school how so many of the students were from Hong Kong, wanting to secure a right to remain in Britain.

Overall one cannot help but be very bullish on Britain as a whole, even though as I was away, Nigel Farage was explaining and arguing immigrants are generally bad for the British. Clearly this was a people who had no issues with immigrants when the British went abroad on conquest, they just didn’t want the conquered coming back to this green and pleasant land..too much.

But how many of these British companies are truly British? How many make their money from exports, how many from overseas outsourcing or technologies acquired or from overseas outposts like in the colonial days very good at making a return from people elsewhere?

The FTSE 100 is simply not full of British, yet British shareholders, and pensioners whose pension funds invest in predominantly British companies get wealthy from these foreign companies here in Britain. In the same way private companies benefit from immigrants in Britain buying their goods, cutting their costs.

Nigel just doesn’t get it.

Court summons Samsung chief

In fresh trouble for Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee, who is facing an arrest warrant, the Supreme Court of India has directed him to appear before a Ghaziabad court in a $1.4 million dollar cheating case filed against him. A bench of justices C K Prasad and P C Ghose, however, directed that the arrest warrant issued against 72-year-old Lee for his non-appearance in the case before the trial court will not be executed for a period of six weeks.

Lee Kun-hee

"In the meanwhile, the petitioner shall appear before the trial court in seisin (hearing) of the case and seek bail and/or exemption from appearance in accordance with law," the bench said.

Indian firms employing over 100,000 people in UK, says report

Indian companies are becoming an increasingly important source of employment for many in the UK, employing over 100,000 people, and having positive GDP, according to Grant Thornton UK LLP's India Tracker 2014 report, developed in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry. The report identified over 700 Indianowned small to large sized businesses in the UK, collectively employing over 100,000 individuals, by monitoring UK registered businesses with ultimate Indian parent companies to identify the fastest-growing corporates by turnover and employment size.

Of these, Grant Thornton identified 41 organisations experiencing year-on-year growth rates of more than 10%, with more than half (26 corporates) demonstrating particularly strong growth in excess of 20%. These 'Top 41', the report suggests, generated some £19 billion in combined revenues.

Despite outliers, such as Tata Motors (accounting for more than 80% of the Top 41 group's total turnover), the group represents a broad range of large corporates (5), mid-sized corporates (17) and SMEs (19) across the UK. Anuj Chande, Partner and Head of the South Asia Group at Grant Thornton UK LLP, commented: "The appetite and opportunities for successful UK investment by Indian companies remains as strong as ever.

In light of sluggish growth potential in India, investors are increasingly eager to enter, or scale up their UK operations as the British economy re-enters a growth phase. The UK and India's cultural history also plays a large part in many Indian executives decision to set up a base here, giving them direct UK market access and a springboard into the recovering European market."

His Excellency Ranjan Mathai, High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, launched the report earlier this week at an exclusive

dinner attended by some of the fastest growing and largest Indian employers.

He said: "I am very pleased that this research has been conducted to show the strength of Indian investment and the range of business in which they have invested in the UK. This complements the UKTI statistics of India being the 5th largest investor in the UK last year.” Over half of the organizations in the Top 41, are represented by the pharmaceutical / chemical and technology/teleRank Indian parent company 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Bharat Forge Ltd. TVS Srichakra Ltd. Crompton Greaves Ltd. Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Dion Global Solutions Ltd. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. WPIL Ltd. India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited Cox & Kings Ltd.

10 T.V. Sundram Iyengar & Sons Ltd. 11 Tata Communications Ltd. 12 Universal Ferro & Allied chemicals ltd.

13 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. 14 Punjab National Bank 15 Firstsource Solutions Ltd 16 Secure Meters Ltd. 17 Essar family 18 Saksoft Ltd. 19 Enzen Global Solutions Private Ltd. 20 Aurobindo Pharma Ltd 21 Associated Capsules PVT.Ltd. 22 Infosys Ltd. 23 AIA engineering Ltd. 24 Punj Lloyd Ltd. 25 Vaibhav Gems Ltd. 26 UPL Ltd. 27 Suzlon Energy Ltd. 28 Zylog Systems Ltd. 29 Niit Ltd. 30 Tata Motors Ltd. 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

coms sectors (22% and 32%, respectively); although the automotive, transport and engineering and manufacturing sectors are also strongly represented. Whilst, most of the growth seems to be happening across the UK, with 29% based in London, 32% based in the South, 29% in the North and 10% based in the Midlands. Chande continued: "The entrepreneurial spirit of Indian companies is evident in the fact that many have entered quite specialist and high-

UK subsidiaries (ultimate domestic owner and its subsidiaries) Bharat Forge International Ltd. TVS Europe Distribution Ltd. Universal Components UK Ltd. CG Automation Systems UK Ltd. CG Power Solutions UK Ltd. Accord Healthcare Ltd. Astron Research Ltd. Indigo (London) Holdings Ltd. Dion Global Solutions (UK) Ltd. Diligenta Ltd. Diligenta 2 Ltd. Mathers Foundry Ltd. State Bank of India

Prometheon Entreprise Ltd. Clearmine Ltd Cox & Kings (UK) Ltd. Quoprro Global Ltd. Rico Logistics Ltd TVS Logistics Investment UK Ltd. TVS Supply Chain Solutions Ltd. Tata Communications (UK) Ltd. Uni-tritech Limited Tritech Group Limited Tritech Precision Products (Barnstaple) Ltd. Tritech Precision Products Limited Glenmark Generics (Europe) Limited Punjab National Bank (International) Limited Firstsource Solutions UK Limited All subsidiaries of: Secure Meters (UK) Ltd. Advanced Energy Monitoring Systems Ltd. Secure Controls (UK) Ltd. Essar Energy PLC Acuma Solutions Limited Saksoft Investments PVT Ltd Enzen Global Limited

Milpharm Limited ACG Europe Limited Lodestone Management Consultants Limited Vega Industries Limited Simon Carves Engineering Limited The Jewellery Channel Limited United Phosphorus Limited Repower UK Limited Suzlon Wind Energy Limited Zylog Systems (Europe) Limited Niit Ltd. Niit Insurance Technologies Ltd. Niit Technologies Ltd. Tata Motors European Technical Centre PLC Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. Incat International PLC Greatship (India) Limited Greatship (UK) Limited Marksans Pharma Ltd. Marksans Pharma U.K. Ltd. Relonchem Ltd. Bell,Sons & Co.(Druggists) Ltd. Mastek Ltd. Mastek (UK) Ltd. Shashi Kiran Shetty S.H.E. Maritime Services Ltd. Ecu-Line UK Ltd. Bombay Burmah Trading Britannia Brands Ltd. Associated Biscuits International Ltd. Corporation Ltd. ABI Holdings Ltd. Piramal Enterprises Ltd. Piramal Healthcare UK Ltd. Dynamatic Technologies Ltd. Dynamatic Ltd. Amtek Auto Ltd. Amtek Aluminium Castings (Witham) Ltd. King Automotive Systems Ltd. Amtek Investments (UK) Ltd. Elecon Engineering Company Ltd. Radicon Transmission UK Ltd. Khorakiwala Holdings and C P Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Wockhardt UK Holdings Ltd. Investments Private Ltd. Wockhardt UK Ltd. Atul Ltd. Atul Europe Ltd. D.P.D. Ltd.

B A Finance & Mortgage Co. 41

ESTABLISHED SINCE 1970

from £100K to £30M

value sectors, such as pharmaceuticals and technology. Moreover, they've located their businesses in regions where the local job market acts in their favour – either through specific acquisitions of businesses in those regions, or the attractiveness of investment opportunities marketed by business councils and local authorities in these areas."The report also identifies 12 Indian corporates which each employ more than 1,000 people in the UK.

Commercial Mortgages, Bridging Finance, Development Finance UPTO 100%.

All types of Business’s Including Retail and Restaurants.

I Nursing Homes I Rest Homes I Hotels I Pharmacies I Doctors I Dentists I Opticians.

For further information contact: Kam Patel / Tim Drakes Tel: 020 8682 0800, Fax: 020 8682 0222 Email: bafinance@btconnect.com - www.bafinance.co.uk Consumer Credit Licence No: 350996

Buy To Let Mortgages

From 1st time buyer landlords to large portfolios.

IT contractors accepted even with umbrella companies.All employment types, residency types and domicile types considered

REAL ESTATE VOICE

Off Plan Vs Here and Now

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

19

There is a tremendous amount of off plan selling going on, mostly these properties are being offloaded overseas, in Asia and India. Recently I heard from the grapevine that flats in North Row, Mayfair are being sold for £3,200 per sq ft which is a ridiculous price given the street.

‘Comparables’ in Grosvenor Square were used to sell this; this is like using the price of mangoes to sell apples. Though Grosvenor Square is close in locality it is a very different location. North Row is used as a taxi shortcut whereas Grosvenor Square has a totally different prestige to it. Many of the embassies are located here, including the Indonesian Embassy and previously the American one too; and it’s facing one of the few green spaces in Mayfair.

These properties are being sold to Indians by a prominent Agent. It seems the foreign buyers are lapping up these off plan properties without much thought or investigation. They are suckers for labels and the prestige of owning something in the primest area of London.

The off plans sales are going so well many of the agents are hardly interested in selling to London buyers. Even on bulk purchases the discounts are very marginal, typically 3% - 5%. There used to be a time when the standard discount for bulk purchases were 15% to 25%.

These discounts could have been used as a deposit so in effect you didn’t have to put any money into the deal, on the contrary you sometimes even got a cash back. I remember I was offered 10 Flats in West End Quay Paddington in 2002 for £275,000 but the actual valuation was for £350,000 (which meant the mortgage would be on this amount), they even came with two year rentals to a company. The difference could be used to pay for the deposit and stamp duty. I made the wrong call as these same flats are worth £650k plus today.

The re exist bot h risk s and re ward s for o ff plan pu rchases. T he main re ward being you ben efit f rom t he price rise of the W HOLE property valu e wit h only 10% or 20% in ve ste d. Meaning if you buy a flat of f plan fo r £1m you only n eed £100,000 somet ime s £200,000. If t he pric e rise s 10% yo u double your in ve stme nt. effect. Many thought the reduction in housing benefit for Westminster would result in reductions in price for Ex Council BTL properties, again no effect, the prices have continued to weather the storm and rise. This is testimony to the strength of the London market. I feel when you look at the types of investors purchasing in this market, it is difficult to see how a rise of 10% to 20% per annum will excite them. The kind of business these buyers run make these returns look like chicken feed. Clearly the primary purpose for the investment is not to make money but to keep some of their funds outside their respective countries, so there is a safety net. The transparency of the UK legal system and its openness in allowing foreigners to purchase here are two of the main reasons why money flows into the property market here.

There is a difference in the price sectors, the higher you go up in price the more sensitive the property becomes to a down turn. The £1m - £2million level is the bread and butter range in Central London, where regardless of the market condition there will always exist a fundamental need at this level.

In the above example it seems the market will need to rise heavily just to catch up on the investment level.

There is a down side to investing this way too, if the market turns you will be locked into a rate which is higher than the market rate.

Many people are under the illusion that if the property drops more than 10% you can simply walk away from the investment, and let the developer keep your deposit. Make no mistake this is not the case and there are court cases to prove this point. Post credit crunch when property prices plummeted, there was a well-known case where investors who thought they could walk away from their deposits and forget about the deal were taken to court by the developer and were forced to honour their contract.

If invested in properly, with thought, off plan can be great purely because of the low investment and the long completion periods, but it can be a double edged sword as well.

There are threats looming over the horizon… One is the mansion tax which the government may be looking to implement. To what degree this will scare off foreign buyers is questionable however, many thought the rise in stamp duty would deter buyers, it had almost no

In contrast whe n you pu rchase a pro perty whic h exist s t oday, it is a different type of in vest me nt, you are not specu lat in g o n the futu re. You can ascert ain the mark et value right no w, an d if you are coming in belo w market rate you g ain the bene fit rig ht away. If yo u come in mu ch cheape r t han market leve l you can re se ll prior t o co mplet io n, as o ne o f our investors did on ly last we ek. They were bold enou gh t o pl ay with th eir retire ment mon ey and invested in a flat blin d, on our say so alon e, for £700k; the flat was resold promptly ju st t wo weeks later fo r £910k. We had on ly e xchang ed, me an in g o nly £70k was used in the deal, l eavin g the m with a healthy profit and an appetite for do ing more.

The Real Deal

Two four bed flats in Church Estate, London, NW8 Purchase Price: £425k each l Bright four bedroom flats on the second floor of this four storey block l Very good rental investment with good capital growth l Long lease l Low service charge l Approx 900 sq ft area l We believe the properties are worth £500k each right now Call us now to secure this deal!

Trying this kind of transaction on an off plan purchase, and the likelihood of similar success, would be more difficult as you will be selling a piece of space, without the help of the agent and marketing involved in the original sale this may not be an easy thing to do.

With off plan you also run the risk of the developer running into financial issues and not completing the development as was the scene post credit crunch. A lot depends on the completion period, if the period is too far off into the future the risk becomes higher.

In summary offplans can be good investments - as long as the prices keeps rising! If you want to see the margin today then better to deal with property which exists today and not in the future.

0207 993 0103

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in

Central London Property Sourcing

info@sowandreap.co.uk

www.sowandreap.co.uk

55 Bryanston Street, Marble Arch Tower, London, W1H 7AA

Follow us online:

Sowandreapuk

SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week

l Buying and selling large projects will give you higher returns than a normal buy to let.

But before you get involved in such projects, do your research. Like any other business venture, trading requires not just money, but time and skill too. So it’s better to team up with people who are on the ground.

l People are often surprised with how much property they can purchase; £100,000 can buy you £400,000 of property, this is through the principle of gearing. You make money by using someone else’s money.

20

LEGAL VOICE

Maria Fernandes

info@fernandesvaz.com

Lessons of Yashika

My daughter, who usually expresses very little interest in immigration debates, for or against, became very passionate about the unfairness of the decision to r e m o v e ( n o t deport)Yashika, the 19 year old girl removed (not deported) from the UK last week. She could not understand why the Government would not let her stay to complete her exams,especially when dozens bunk school when given the opportunity. Attempts to explain that her case was not particularly compassionate when compared to others that I deal with did not change her views.

The fact is that Yashika has a name, a face, a hinterland and she ceases as a result to become just another asylum seeker. In fact if the press reports are to be believed, she made an application for asylum on the basis that she was escaping from an abusive relative. Asylum has very narrow parameters. A person must seek asylum on the basis of persecution on grounds of political opinion, race, religion or membership of a social group. She appeared to meet none of these criteria and her application was bound to fail on legal grounds. As she has not lived in the UK for long she would not succeed on human rights grounds either. That was the legal aspect and why the courts could not intervene.

The case, however, captured the imagination of the public in a very

personal way and the debate on immigration took a whole new meaning, for a short while. Our youth have grown up in a multicultural world and they are by their very nature much more liberal and accepting of differences. They are free from the shackles of the past and do not see the world in black and white alone.No one had a solution other than allowing her to stay on a compassionate basis. If the Government caved in on this, however, they would then have to concede on a number of other cases, more compassionate and deserving. It was admittedly a difficult call.

As for poor Yashika,her story is currently of interest. Her advisers probably did the right thing to publicise her plight. However this is a double edged sword.

The thirst for more information on this to keep it going can result in her life being turned upside down and not always for the better. Already her father and grandfather have been contacted and have made conflicting statements. It could get worse if the digging into her story carries on. The Government know that the public are fickle, that there will be an immediate outcry and that this will pass. Once the press interest dies down as it must,Yashika will be consigned to history, forgotten by all but her close family,teachers and friends. The sad thing is that nothing will really have changed at all.

Sun Pharmaceuticals snaps up Ranbaxy

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Sun Pharmaceuticals – owned by Gujarati tycoon Dilip S Shanghvi – snapped up the troubled pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy in a deal worth $ 3.2 billion. Shanghvi is a first-generation entrepreneur who grew up in the bylanes of Calcutta’s Bhowanipore.

Shanghvi had launched his Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd in 1982. He turned it into a Rs 112.39 billion player that makes generic drugs used in the areas of psychiatry, neurology, cardiol-

Dilip S Shanghvi

ogy and gynaecology.

Ranbaxy, one of India’s best-known pharmaceutical players, has run into troubles with overseas reg-

Snapdeal - a success story in online retail

Snapdeal, an Indian online retail business, has achieved great success in a short time. It is the brainchild of Kunal Bahl, who was denied a visa extension by the US government and was forced to return to India.

International retailers are watching Bahl’s progress in developing online retail in India By last year US retail giant eBay began investing in the site, which was set up less than two and a half years ago. In that short time it has grown to more than 20 million registered users and 4 million listed products. Snapdeal began in discount coupons well before Groupon, the US deal site, became known in India, and then morphed into an online marketplace, evolving along with India’s developing retail sector.

Snapdeal is simply a website on which retailers list the wares they have for sale. So Snapdeal does not have to administer expensive delivery services and avoids the risks of managing inventories, while earning revenues by taking commission on sales.

Certainly, the internation-

al retail sector is watching keenly to see how online shopping develops in India, eyeing a nascent market of more than 1.2 billion people. Some, such as Amazon, are even starting to operate in India.

Industry experts expect substantial growth, as the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India forecasts that ecommerce will grow to $ 56 billion, or 6.5 per cent of the total retail market, by 2023.

Snapdeal’s own sales have grown fivefold in the past 12 months, and are fast approaching $ 1billion a year, says Bahl.

ated extreme praise at the British Chambers of Commerce annual conference last week, overshadowing the likes of Michael Gove, Ed Balls and Lord Mandelson.

She reportedly told the BCC delegates that her main priority in her new role was to “represent small businesses at the highest level” in British

politics. Accepting that there were big “challenges” she said her “one message” to all policy makers and business leaders was that “we have to find a way to work with these small, dynamic but often wrongly seen as riskier small businesses.” She aims to produce a report for the Government with practical plans to help SMEs.

Kunal Bahl

TV star takes on battle for UK's small businesses

The football executiveturned-TV star has announced her desire to unleash the full potential of Britain's small firms in her role as Small Business Ambassador. Karren Brady, vice-chairman of West Ham United, shocked the sport sector by becoming the boss of Birmingham City aged 23, and then went on to become

youngest-ever managing director of a publicly-listed company and the first female director of a Premier League Club.

Yet her appointment as the Government’s Small Business Ambassador has been seen as even more surprising, though her skills have proved a hit among a host of small business owners. Brady gener-

Commercial Finance BusinessPurchase Property Purchase

Mortgages Residential Buy to let

Specialist Finance Development Bridging

Protection Critical Illness/Life Private Medical

We believe in honesty, integrity, professionalism and delivering great customer service.

Contact us with your enquiry to see how we can help.

T: 020 8459 7677

E: info@ramfs.co.uk

W: www.ramfs.co.uk

Mortgages - Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

1Some buy to let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 2Bridging Finance is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

RAM Financial Options Limited is an appointed representative of Intrinsic Financial Planning Limited and Intrinsic Mortgage Planning Limited who are authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered Address: 505 Pinner Road, Harrow, HA2 6EH. Company Registration Number: 8203695 Place of Registration: England & Wales

ulators over the past few years.

Sun Pharma’s acquisition of Ranbaxy will create the fifth-largest generics (off-patented drugs) company in the world behind Teva, Sandoz, Actavis and Mylan. It will also give birth to India’s largest pharmaceutical company with a market share of 9.2 per cent.

The estimated combined revenues of the new entity will be $4.2 billion, piping Abbott Laboratories which now holds the top position

after its acquisition of Piramal Healthcare in 2010.

Under the agreement, Ranbaxy shareholders will get 0.8 shares of Sun Pharma for each share of their company, which represents an implied value of Rs 457 for each Ranbaxy share. This is the second time in six years that the ownership of Ranbaxy is changing hands. In 2008, Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo acquired a majority stake in Ranbaxy for $4.2 billion from Malvinder and Shivinder Singh.

Tractor sales in India is set to jump by at least 20 per cent when official figures for the last financial year are released next month.

India’s leading tractor manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra is vying with global players, including US-based John Deere and Case New Holland, for the $ 4.5 billion tractor pie as nearly 700,000 farmers took delivery of new machines in the year to March. This sales shows the growing rural affluence in a country where around half of all workers are employed in agricultural industries, and whose villages have been buoyed by increases in government subsidy schemes alongside higher spending on roads and infrastructure.

Yet the tractor surge has been driven by more specific factors, notably the best annual monsoon rains in more than a decade, according to Rajesh Jejurikar, head of farm equipment at

Mahindra & Mahindra.

Last week Mahindra, which overtook John Deere to become the world's largest tractor seller by volume in 2012, reported March farm vehicle sales that exceeded expectations.

India’s tractor growth is attracting interest from global manufacturers even in a market where costconscious farmers tend to shun the more powerful and expensive vehicles popular in industrialised economies. Illinois-based John Deere, for instance, opened a new $ 80 million factory in Madhya Pradesh late last year, its second in the country.

Yet while John Deere and New Holland have built a market share of 7 and 6 per cent, respectively, according to Shishir Kumar, auto analyst, both have struggled to match the extensive rural dealer networks of larger domestic players such as Mahindra.

Market for tractors booming in India

Asda offers pulses needed for S Asian cooking at low prices

The supermarket chain Asda is offering 20 varieties of 500g pulses at £1 across 150 stores which are essential for South Asian cooking. Helen Yates, Customer Planning Manager of the chain said: "We wanted to focus on creating a better range with more choice for our customers, whilst also reflecting the ‘Asda everyday low prices’ across all the products.”

Derek Martin, Head of Marketing, said: "TRS are renowned for the quality of their everyday essential for Indian cui-

sine and ASDA are covering the needs of every Asian household by providing this.” Asda has consistently been growing its ethnic range relevant to the South Asian community in the UK. The supermarket has once again reaffirmed its commitment to its customers by announcing some positive changes to their existing South Asian range providing its customers with authentic quality ingredients at unbeatable prices. So, for your next big shop head to your nearest Asda store at lower prices.

CURRENCY VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

21

Foreign Exchange

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX,

Confidence high among UK construction firms Currency Specialists.

George Osborne says the government will keep a 'close eye' on housing market, with London homes now selling for double than the rest of the UK, once again creating fears of a bubble. London house prices have risen by almost a fifth over the past 12 months, according to Nationwide, and are now 20% above their pre-crisis peak.

In the UK overall, houses are selling for 9.2% more than a year ago.

The IMF also warned that a slow economic recovery will keep interest rates at historic lows, presently at 0.5%.

Confidence among UK construction firms has hit the highest level in over seven years, as house builders continue to drive strong growth in the sector. Markit's monthly construction PMI survey, just released, showed that confidence about the 12-month outlook hits highest level since January 2007.

The US labour department revealed on Friday 4th April that an additional 192,000 jobs were added in March, marginally below the 195,000 analysts were expecting. On average, the US economy has been adding

177,000 new jobs per month in 2014, below the 200,000 new jobs that the Federal Reserve has been targeting. The data reflects Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s recent comments that there continues to be a slack in employment in the US. So whilst the data was slightly disappointing, they weren’t bad enough to persuade the Fed to stop slowing its bond-buying programme. As a result, expectations remain for the Fed to continue to taper its stimulus programme by

US$10bn per month. US unemployment also remained at 6.7% and the US dollar continued to strengthen.

Employment figures were also released from Canada on Friday 4th April, with the headline unemployment rate dropping to 6.9% in March from 7% in February. As a result the Canadian dollar climbed to its strongest in 6 weeks.

Mario Draghi rejected the IMF's call for instant action to combat growing deflationary

pressures as the European Central Bank took on a waitand-see approach regarding ways to boost growth. The euro fell after Draghi said the ECB's ruling council had discussed how to implement quantitative easing – the purchase of financial assets to create money – after news this week that the annual inflation rate in the 18 nation Eurozone had fallen to just 0.5%.

Analysts suggested Draghi was playing for time and hoping to stimulate exports by "talking down" the euro.

Despite speculation ahead of yesterday's meeting, the ECB left its key policy rate at 0.25% and declined to take steps that might increase the flow of credit to businesses and households.

India’s rupee headed for its biggest weekly loss in more than two months on speculation the central bank will curb currency appreciation to protect exporters. The rupee extended its retreat from an eight-month high, reached on April 2nd, declining 0.8% from a week ago.

Weekly Currencies

As of Tuesday 8th April 2014 @ 4pm

GBP - INR = 100.60 USD - INR = 60.06 EUR - INR = 82.90 GBP - USD = 1.68 GBP - EUR = 1.21

EUR - USD = 1.38 GBP - AED = 6.15

GBP - CAD = 1.83

GBP - NZD = 1.93

GBP - AUD = 1.79

GBP - ZAR = 17.51

GBP - HUF = 369.96

www.rationalfx.com

Information provided by RationalFX. None of the information on this page constitutes, nor should be construed as financial advice. The exchange rates used are the commercial foreign exchange rates provided by RationalFX. For a live quote or to find out more about how RationalFX can help you, call us on 0207 220 8181.

22

INTERNATIONAL

IN BRIEF

New Asian face to appear in Coronation Street

Pervez Musharraf survives assassination attempt

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

London: With attractive Michelle Keegan, to leave the Coronation Street later this year, after 5 long years, the soap’s bosses are looking for the next big thing. Sair Khan, 26-year-old actress, whose only prior TV role was an appearance on Doctors, has been selected by bosses of the ITV soap as they hope she will be able to attract as much male attention as the departing stunner who plays Tina McIntyre. In an official statement, Sair reportedly aid: “I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the cast of Coronation Street. As a northerner I've grown up watching the show and so can't quite believe that I'll soon be walking on the famous cobbles.” Sair will be part of the first Muslim family to ever feature in the Manchester based soap and will play Alya, the daughter of personal trainer Khalid 'Kal' Nazir played by former East Enders star Jimi Mistry. Sair's first scenes will be aired in June.

Islamabad: Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who is on trial for treason, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt as a bomb went off shortly before his convoy was due to pass, police said.

The bomb was planted on Musharraf's route from an army hospital where he has been staying since January to his home on the outskirts of Islamabad.

Nobody was injured and there have so far been no claims of responsibility.

"Four kilograms of

London: A court has heard that a dental nurse allegedly poisoned her boss's coffee with mercury after being disciplined for leaving a patient in the chair while she went out for lunch. Ravinder Kaur, 35, allegedly spiked Laura Knowles’ hot drink with the metal used to make fillings in an act of ‘spite and revenge’. The Blackfriars Crown Court reportedly heard that Ms Knowles panicked and went as 'white as a ghost', in front of her colleagues at the Shams Moopen Dental Practice in Shefford, Bedfordshire, Blackfriars Crown Court heard. The practice manager was taken to hospital, after complaining stomach cramps. Kaur from Bedford denies administering a noxious substance with intent to annoy, injure or aggrieve.

The trial continues.

London: Tory MPs have urged Prime Minister David Cameron to sack culture secretary Maria Miller on the issue of parliamentary expenses or face the backlash of voters at the polls. Nearly 140,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the culture secretary to resign or repay £45,000 - the amount the parliamentary watchdog said she owed. Though the Prime Minister reiterated his support to Miller, Tories are not keen to join him in a public show of support.

When asked for his opinion on the issue, London Mayor Boris

Dental nurse accused of poisoning boss's coffee

Model to predict extreme winters developed

London: British scientists have developed a model under which extreme winters will be predicted with greater reliability than before. The breakthrough has great impact on the economy, allowing power companies and wind farms to anticipate energy demands while airports and councils can estimate how much grit and anti-freeze is likely to be required.

Hospitals can better prepare for increases in serious respiratory illness, particularly in the elderly, and bone fractures from slipping on snow and ice.

Clothes retailers rely on weather predictions to stock warm clothes and insurers will want to estimate winter storm damage risks.

Time is up for Shrien Dewani

Continued from page 1

34-year-old millionaire, Dewani from Bristol was expected to be taken to the Western Cape high court after a long battle against his returning to the country on the basis that he was suffering mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Dewani is accused of organizing the murder of his wife Anni, 28, in November 2010. He has repeatedly denied the accusation. She was shot as the couple's taxi was carjacked in Gugulethu township in Cape Town.

He claims the couple were kidnapped at gunpoint and he was released unharmed.

Dewani was extradited to Cape Town on a private plane hired by the South African authorities. This was due to fears that Dewani could be suicidal, as he had shown during the extradition proceedings and thus was accompanied by medical staff as

well as police, a justice department spokesman reportedly said.

It is alleged that he will be detained at the highsecurity Valkenberg psychiatric hospital awaiting his trial for at least a month. The Metropolitan police reportedly said on Monday night that Dewani was taken from Fromeside hospital in Bristol to the city's airport accompanied by officers from the force's extradition unit.

Dewani was arrested in Britain in December 2010, on suspicion of conspiring to murder Anni.

Since then, three men have been convicted and jailed over her death.

Following his court appearance his family released a statement saying Dewani was 'committed to proving innocence'.

The South African government has agreed with the UK that if a trial has not started within 18 months, Dewani will be returned to Britain.

Shrien is due to appear in court on May 12.

Pervez Musharraf

explosive device planted in a pipeline under a bridge exploded around 20 minutes before the former

president was supposed to cross the spot," senior police official Liaqat Niazi said.

He said the former president was taken home via an alternative route.

Muhammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Islamabad police, confirmed the incident, saying a bomb disposal squad had cleared the area after the blast. "Nobody was injured in the blast," he said, adding Musharraf was the intended target.

Musharraf, who led Pakistan from 1999 to

2008, returned from selfimposed exile in March last year to fight in general elections but was barred from taking part and has faced a series of legal cases including treason.

The Taliban also vowed to send a squad of suicide bombers to kill him, and security threats have prevented him from appearing at all but two of his treason hearings.

It was the fourth attempt on the ex-general's life, with the first three occurring while he was in office.

Tory MPs urge Cameron to sack Maria Miller

Johnson said since he did not know the facts he cannot make any comment.

But he said his sympathies are with her since she is

being hounded quite a lot.

David Laws, the Schools Minister, who resigned as chief secretary to the Treasury over his expenses

claims, initially refused to comment, but conceded that the culture secretary had his support.

The Liberal Democrat also called for Parliament to reconsider its standards system, saying: “I think personally it makes sense, without commenting upon the individual Maria Miller case, to look at that wider issue.”

However, Cameron seems determined to keep Miller, despite the prospect of facing fresh anger over his handling of the affair at his traditional end-of-term address to the influential 1922 Committee of backbench MPs.

Kishore Mahbubani

West and the Logic of One World.”

Prospect magazine's list recognises leading thinkers with a global reach whose achievements over the previous 12 months made significant contributions to addressing the central questions of the world today, and aims to provoke debate about the role of intellectuals in public life.

Jonathan Derbyshire, Managing Editor of the magazine, said that Mahbubani's work grapples with some of the biggest questions of our time, sketching as it does the contours of a new era in which the west can no longer take its primacy for granted.

South Waziristan in the last two to three years."

Zeb said all the released prisoners belonged to the Mehsud tribe, a major Pashtun tribe living in South Waziristan. Another 100 prisoners on the Taliban's list were being processed and would be released in the next few days, he added.

Taliban negotiators were not immediately available to comment on the releases.

David Cameron

Maria Miller

Indian-origin professor among top thinkers

Washington: An Indianorigin professor has bagged one of the top spots on this year's list of world's top 50 thinkers, featuring amongst the likes of Pope Francis, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and economist and philosopher Amartya Sen. Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore has been selected by leading British current affairs magazine Prospect. Also on the list are Tesla and SpaceX's Elon Musk, economist and Harvard President Emeritus Lawrence Summers, and Chairman

of the Board of Governors of the US Federal Reserve System Janet Yellen.

Mahbubani, a diplomat who served two stints as Singapore's Ambassador to the UN and as President of the UN Security Council in January 2001 and May 2002, is a renowned author and thinker.

He serves in Boards and Councils of several institutions in Singapore, Europe and North America, including the Yale President's Council on International Activities, Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, Indian Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council and University of Bocconi International Advisory Committee.

He is the Chairman of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Nominating Committee and a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on China.

His most recent book is “The Great Convergence: Asia, the

Islamabad: Pakistan has freed at least 16 Taliban prisoners with the approval of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, officials said, in a move designed to invigorate a shaky peace process with the militant group.

The Pakistani Taliban, meanwhile, have extended their March ceasefire until April 10, a spokesman said. "Tehreeke-Taliban is once again showing seriousness and responsibility, and in

order to wait for an answer from the government, is extending the ceasefire until April 10," spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said.

The Taliban demands include releasing 800 prisoners the insurgent group describes as innocent family members and withdrawing the army from parts of the semiautonomous tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

The political agent of

South Waziristan, the highest government official in the northwestern tribal region, confirmed the government has started releasing non-combatant prisoners to boost reconciliation efforts.

"South Waziristan's political administration released 16 men on April 1," Islam Zeb said.

"They are not major commanders. They are innocent tribals who were arrested during different search operations in

Pak frees 16 Taliban prisoners in bid to revive peace talks

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

IN BRIEF

BBC to portray East India Company in different light

London: The BBC has commissioned a major drama on East India Company which will depict it as the historical equivalent “the CIA, the NSA, and the biggest, baddest multinational corporation on earth”. The characterisation has already raised eyebrows among historians, who argue that it gives an overly negative view of the organisation, which operated from the 17th to the end of the 19th century, coming to account for around half the world’s trade and helping the British achieve dominance in India. The series, “Taboo,” will star Tom Hardy as James Keziah Delaney, a rogue adventurer who returns from Africa with ill-gotten diamonds to seek vengeance after the death of his father. He sets out to build his own trade and shipping empire, drawing him into conflict with the East India Company.

Teenager cuts of girlfriend's head and then stabs himself

London: A man beheaded his teenage girlfriend while she was still breathing, then stabbed himself in the chest, a court heard on Tuesday. Aras Hussein, 21, had allegedly blackmailed 18-year-old Reema Ramzan by taking sexual photographs of her and threatening to share them with her family if she broke up with him.

On June 4 last year, he killed her by cutting off her head with a knife before inflicting stab wounds on himself. Prosecutor Graham Reeds QC outlined the case against Iraqi-born Hussein, who denies murder and actual bodily harm. “Bruising into tissue wounds suggest that Reema was still alive as the defendant started to remove her head,” the lawyer said.

The trial continues.

British Forces handover of Helmand Province

Kabul: Britain’s command of Helmand province in Afghanistan came to an end after eight years, countless battles and the loss of hundreds of lives.

They have handed over command to the US forces last week. In a moving ceremony at Camp Bastion, which included a two minutes’ silence for the 448 British servicemen and women killed in the conflict since 2001, an American General took charge of the mission ahead of the withdrawal of all British forces later this year. More than 400 of the British fatalities in Afghanistan occurred under Task Force Helmand, a mission which lasted twice as long as the First World War, despite the former defence secretary John Reid’s suggestion in 2006 that UK forces might not fire “a single shot”.

Padre Steven Whiting told 300 service personnel attending the ceremony: “From the poppy fields of Ypres to those of Helmand province, our bravest and best have borne the cost of freedom for others.”

British forces will remain in Afghanistan, but will now report to the US Marines as part of the Regional Command (South West), which is headed by the American Brigadier General Daniel Yoo. Brigadier James Woodham, the last commander of Task Force Helmand, handed over the mission with a handshake, witnessed by members of the 7th Armoured Brigade – the Desert Rats.

INTERNATIONAL

50% voting in Afghan elections

Kabul: Afghans voted in large numbers on Saturday to choose a successor to president Hamid Karzai in the country’s first democratic transfer of power as US-led forces end their 13year war.

Despite Taliban threats, voting was largely peaceful with long queues in cities across the country as voters cast their ballots at around 6,000 centres under tight security. The Taliban had rejected the election as a foreign plot and urged their fighters to target polling staff, voters and security forces, but there were no major attacks reported during the day.

The head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani said turnout was better than expected, but lower in rural districts than cities.

The turnout could exceed seven million, Nuristani said - more than half of eligible voters.

DG

à{

23

UN asks Lanka to cooperate with UNHRC probe

United Nations: UN chief Ban Kimoon has asked Sri Lanka to engage "constructively" and cooperate with its human rights body to implement a resolution calling for an international inquiry into alleged war crimes committed during the final stages of the country's civil war.

Ban has "consistently underlined the importance of an accountability process for addressing violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Sri Lanka," the UN Secretary General's Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters. "He welcomes the determination by the High Commissioner for Human Rights to advance accountability and promote lasting peace and reconciliation in the country," he said.

Ban Ki-moon

Haq said Ban "calls on the government of Sri Lanka to constructively engage and cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner (for Human Rights) on the implementation of the resolution adopted last week by the Human Rights Council."

Haq was responding to a question on comments

by Sri Lankan Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe that Sri Lanka would not participate or cooperate in the investigations into human rights violations.

The Council had on March 27 voted to open an international inquiry into

alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the final stages of a decades-long conflict that ended in 2009.

The Genevabased Council requested the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to undertake a "comprehensive investigation" into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties, and to establish the facts and circumstances of such alleged violations "with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring accountability".

Haq said Ban recalled the commitments made to him on accountability by the President of Sri Lanka in their joint statement of 2009.

NOMINATION FORM

The prestigious Asian Achievers Awards is hosted every year by UK’s leading news weeklies Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to honour British Asians par excellence. If there is someone you know who has broken boundaries and deserves recognition for their unique contribution to the community and the nation then please nominate them for one of the awards listed below.

Make sure that you fill in this application form and send it on or before 14th July, 2014 by post, fax or email to Mr. L George, Tel: 020 7749 4013, Fax 020 7749 4081, Email: aaa@abplgroup.com. If you are sending it by post the address is Mr. L George, ABPL Group, Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW.

Please tick the appropriate category Entrepreneur of the Year ....................................................

Uniformed and Civil Services ............................................

Awarded to an entrepreneur with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.

For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or contribution to the community through any of the above services.

Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture ....................

Professional of the Year ......................................................

Someone who has made a mark in media including print and broadcast media; cinema, art and culture.

Achievement in Community Service................................

Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen profession.

International Personality of the Year ............................

In recognition for an individuals service to community.

Awarded to those who have acclaimed popularity internationally for his/her contribution in any particular sector and is recognised for their timeless philanthropic activities.

Sports Personality of the Year............................................

Awarded for excellence in sports.

Woman of the Year ................................................................

The award will recognise and honour a woman who has made a significant mark in any chosen field.

Business Person of the Year ..............................................

Awarded to a business person who is a success in every sense of the word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social issues.

Lifetime Achievement Award ............................................

To honour those individuals, who during their lifetime, have made immense contributions in any given field. This remarkable individual can be marked as an example for the younger generation.

Application Form

Name of the Person you are Nominating: __________________________________________________________________________

Contact Details of the Nominee (Tel & email):_______________________________________________________________________

Present Occupation of the Nominee:_______________________________________________________________________________

Please attach the Nominees's CV which includes the following information (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) (1) Personal background (2) Most important career achievements till date.

(3) Nominee's contribution to the community and nation.

(4) Future Plans, ambitions and visions.

(5) Any notable obstacles in the Nominee's career that has helped him/her to reach where they are today.

Summary- (Please include a summary in not more than 150 words why the nominee is worthy of winning the particular award in a separate sheet) Nominator’s name and contact details: ____________________________________________________________________________ Nominator’s current Occupation/Company: _________________________________________________________________________ Tel/Mobile: _________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________

NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS This is a unique event where readers nominate and an independent panel of judges comprising of eminent personalities selects the winner. Judges’ decision is final. ABPL Group will not entertain any dialogue with members of the public regarding the judging process. In order to ensure a high degree of transparency and fairness, the management and members of the staff of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will play no role in the nomination or judging process. You may use an additional sheet if the space provided is insufficient. The winners will be announced at the AAA Awards ceremony on 19th September, 2014. Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar will publish the names of the short listed candidates and winners after the event. The winners names will also appear in our e-edition www.abplgroup.com You can nominate yourself if you wish to.

Nominations and entries must follow the prescribed format. All nomination forms must reach our offices on or before 14th July, 2014

24

INDIA

SOUTH BRIEFS

Union textiles minister resigns over Andhra division

New Delhi: Union textiles minister Kavuru Sambasiva Rao submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue of division of Andhra Pradesh. "I cannot continue to be a member of the council of ministers against my conscience knowing that the government has caused irreparable damage to the state of Andhra Pradesh," Rao told Prime Minister in his resignation letter. Rao, 63, represents Eluru constituency of Andhra Pradesh in the Lok Sabha.

Elected to the lower house for the first time in 1984, he is serving his fifth term. He has served in the state Congress and has been on several parliamentary panels in the past including the crucial public accounts committee.

Chiranjeevi fans booked for poll code violation

Hyderabad: The police have registered a case against Chiranjeevi Fans Association president Swami Naidu and others for putting up flexi boards and posters in support of the Union minister's son Ramcharan Tej on the eve of his birthday near Chiranjeevi Blood Bank at Jubilee Check Post on March 27. Wishing Ramcharan Tej on his birthday, Naidu and his associates put up flexis and posters carrying the photos of Chiranjeevi and Ramcharan near the blood bank, where the young actor paid a visit on March 27. As putting up posters and flexis on the road violates the model code of conduct, GHMC officials lodged a complaint against the Chiranjeevi Fans Association members on March 28.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Swami Naidu and others.

Scam accused Raja worth Rs 31.60 million

Chennai/Udhagamandalam: A Raja, considered the architect and prime beneficiary of the 2G spectrum scam is worth Rs 31.60 million, (including his dependents’ assets), going by an poll affidavit he filed before the returning officer in Nilgiris. Raja is the sitting MP in Nilgiris. The value of his immovable assets have registered a 34% increase, but value of movable assets like jewellery and bank deposits have increased by 219% in the last five years. All in all, in real terms, his assets have increased by Rs 19 million between 2009 and 2014 when he spent much of his time battling cases. The affidavit also provides a status report on all cases pending against him.

NORTH BRIEFS

EC appoints Suresh Arora as Punjab DGP

Chandigarh: A day after DGP Punjab Sumedh Singh Saini proceeded on 45-day leave, Election Commission (EC) picked up a 1982 batch IPS officer Suresh Arora for the post of Punjab DGP. Punjab government had sent a panel of three names - 1981 batch IPS officer G D Pandey and 1982 batch officers Sanjeev Gupta and Suresh Arora - to the EC for appointment to the post. The EC has intimated the state government about its decision. Arora, who has remained ADGP Intelligence in Punjab Police, is director general of VB. According to sources, "The order of EC does not mention for how much time Arora will remain DGP."

Ex-KCF leader moves HC for issue of passport

Chandigarh: Former leader of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) Wassan Singh Jafarwal moved the Punjab and Haryana high court for issuance of his passport. Taking up his petition, the HC has issued notice to Punjab government and Amritsar regional passport officer to respond to the contentions raised

by Jafarwal. In his petition, Jafarwal argued that he was falsely implicated by police in cases during terrorism days in Punjab but was acquitted and discharged.

But he said that the regional passport officer has declined to issue him a passport.

It’s Badal vs Badal vs Badal in Bathinda

Bathinda: The big fight in Bathinda is all set to be a Badal versus Badal versus Badal affair. Seen as a tough battle between Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Harsimrat Badal, and the CM’s estranged nephew and People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) chief Manpreet Singh Badal backed by the Congress, the contest grew curiouser when another independent, Manpreet Singh Badal, filed his nomination as an independent.

Jaya slams Election Commission for imposing campaign curbs

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa lashed out at the Election Commission for imposing curbs on campaign.

Speaking at a public meeting in Namakkal, Jayalalithaa criticized the Election Commission for including the meeting expenses in the candidate's account if his name or picture is found on the dais or meeting venue.

"People flock to my meetings to hear my speech and we do not fetch people from various places as alleged by the opposition, especially the DMK, which is afraid of defeat in this election," said Jayalalithaa.

"The Election

J Jayalalithaa

Commission includes the expenses of the meeting in the candidate's account if the star speaker of the party mentions his name or his picture is found.

This is totally unacceptable. Even if people come to the meeting venue on their own how can it be included in the candidate's account," asked

Jayalalithaa.

It has been the practice that people come to hear political leaders and erect banners and cutouts during election campaigns.

This has been the norm since 1952 during Anna's period and also during my 32 years of election campaigning, the chief minister said.

"It is only in the 2014 election that the Election Commission imposed such conditions in which even a candidate's name cannot be mentioned in the constituency he is contesting, leave alone the candidate presence in the meeting.

This is the reason for AIADMK candidate not present here," she said.

Criticizing the model

code of conduct, Jayalalithaa said: "Once elections are announced, the functions of a democratically elected government come to a standstill.

Even for a small order or decision, the government has to get permission from the Election Commission and this is totally unacceptable and it is a mockery of democracy."

"The party will file a case against the Election Commission as I am not able to mention the candidate's name. I request you to vote for two leaves on April 24," she said. Apart from lashing out at the Election Commission, Jayalalithaa also criticized the UPA and DMK for its failures on various fronts.

shipped it abroad. "We are trying to trace the idol to some museum in a foreign country. We are also suspecting the handiwork of international idol smuggler Subhash Kapoor," an official said. Idol wing officials said R Kannan, additional secretary for tourism, culture and religions endowments, has discussed the Tirthankara stone idol in his book. Kannan wrote 'Jain images in the districts of Tamil Nadu' when he was the commissioner of Chennai museum in 2002.

"I visited several districts in the state and took photographs of ancient idols especially Tirthankara images in the state," R Kannan said. "With the help of curator Gandhi at the museum in Vellore, who is now retired, we tried to retrieve the antique stone idol lying uncared for by the national highway.

we still continue with this penalty," said Singh.

The four contestants, Pawan Kumar Bansal, Kirron Kher, Gul Panag and Jannat Jahan, participated in different sessions and interacted with the traders. However, Gul and Jannat shared the same stage. Before taking a few questions, Bansal said, "Often, things which I do not say are attributed to me by media. I have already included the rollback of the penalty in our manifesto."

He, however, disagreed to not introducing FDI in retail. "It is our fault that we could not convey what FDI signifies. It does not close the doors for provisional stores," said Bansal.

The traders felt that since there was no scope for expansion, an additional floor should be allowed for storage on all single storey bay shops and booths.

Jagan to follow in YSR's Tirthankara antique idol footsteps with power sop goes missing from Vellore

Hyderabad: Once again, electricity tariff is set to play a crucial role in the general elections with YSR Congress (YSRCP) president YS Jaganmohan Reddy deciding to offer subsidized power to 15 million domestic consumers in the state.

Jagan has included in the party's manifesto, to be made public on April 10, the “Rs 100 power bill scheme” under which families using less than 150 units a month would pay only Rs 100. Ten years ago, in the 2004 elections, his father, YS Rajasekara Reddy, had dislodged the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government led by N Chandrababu Naidu by offering free power to farmers.

According to the current tariff, consumers are paying Rs 536 for 150 units. Once the tariff is

revised after polls, they will have to pay Rs 611.

Earlier experiences indicate that power sops have the potential to play a crucial role in deciding the fate of parties. YSR's 'free power to farmers' scheme had energized more than 3000,000 agriculture pumpsets that were abandoned during the TDP regime. "The free power for farmers changed the agricultural scenario and AP became the top producer of foodgrain in the country.

Chennai: Police have launched a hunt for a stone idol of Lord Mahavira alias Vardhamana that went missing from Virinchi Puram near Vellore. Police said the stone idol belonged to the period before 8th century AD. Police said the antique idol was lying unguarded along the road near a temple in Virinchi Puram and it went missing in 2008.

Though an official of the Hindu religious and charitable endowment (HR&CE) department lodged a formal complaint in 2008, the local police didn't take the complaint seriously. But idol wing CID officials are following up on the complaint now, after some nudging from by R Karthikeyan, HR&CE executive officer. Idol wing CID officials believe that smugglers must have quietly removed the artefact and

Ludhiana: In a shocking incident, an 18 year old girl of Uttam Nagar in Khanna of Punjab suffered multiple burns after three youngsters allegedly poured acid on her. The acid attack has led to panic in the area.

In their complaint to police, victim's father who works as a labourer in FCI depot, said that his daughter was working in kitchen when three youngsters, including their neighbour Raju, Pappu and Dharminder entered his home and poured acid on his daughter. He added that he was not present at home at that time and his wife after hearing the cries of his daughter rushed to kitchen to find her daughter crying with pain. The victim was first rushed to Civil Hospital Khanna from where she was referred to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala.

The complainant said that Raju may have attacked his daughter as they were not in good terms with his family. In the meanwhile, police said that a case has been registered against the accused in Khanna city police station and investigations are on.

Bhupinder Singh Bhullar, SHO Khanna City, said "The girl has suffered about 20% injuries mainly on her right cheek and neck area. We have heard that she is stable at Rajindra Hospital". "We have got vital leads in the case and we will solve it very soon". Police sources, meanwhile, claim that the three accused named by the victim's father may not be responsible for the crime. They added that there may be a twist in the case as the reason for the attack may be due to different reason.

Chandigarh: It was not the usual monologue of promising a change by Lok Sabha poll candidates.

Four MP aspirants from the city were grilled by traders during a programme held by Chandigarh Beopar Mandal at a hotel in Sector 17. Traders put forward their charter of demands and a need to incorporate them in the manifesto of all parties. "The idea was to let the candidates understand these issues. We wanted to know their views on our problems," said Charanjiv Singh, president, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal.

The traders deliberated on how they were operating under "draconian" laws of a high penalty for misuse/violation of buildings.

"This is despite the fact that the Punjab and Haryana High court had observed it as illegal. But

YS Jaganmohan Reddy

Acid attack on a girl in Punjab

Chandigarh traders grill MP aspirants

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Fujairah – Delve into the distinctive shades of Arabia

With a spectacular backdrop of vast pristine beaches, clean blue stretches of the Gulf of Oman and rustic panorama of the lofty Hajar Mountains, Fujairah is a perfect getaway! A short 90-minutedrive from Dubai International Airport, sets you amidst compelling palazzo-style estates adorned by verdant parklands, swaying coconut palm trees, landscaped gardens and stately pathways taking you into a world of supreme delights.

A bustling seaport, Fujairah offers an idyllic holiday base that helps the visitors immerse in the enchanting hues of Dubai’s historical landmarks, extraordinary diving sites, sparkling waterfalls and divine hot springs. Marvel at the Ain Al Madhab Gardens, Heritage Village, Fujairah Fort& Museum, Bithna Fort, Al Bidyah Mosque, Al Hayl Castle and many others to get a real taste of this UAE hotspot.

Fujairah’s blissful Wadis, are an experience that lasts for a lifetime!

A world of bright coral reefs in the bountiful ocean treats the divers and snorkelers with an extravagant underwater stint discovering exotic marine life and flora and fauna. Adding a stirring day trip to the Musandam, where professional divers help you explore unusual wrecks and an underwater world on a night dive, can do wonders to your Dubai vacations.

One can experience the best fishing sites of UAE from one of Fujairah’s finest luxury resort the ‘Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort’ with its 30-foot sport fishing charter boat that offers an

exclusive fishing day trip. A leading fivestar,the resort boasts of spacious rooms, 9 specialized restaurants and bars, a stylish Kids and Teens Clubs, a world class fitness centre, a certified dive centre and a bright kiddies pool to keep the ‘little ones’ entertained.Not to miss is the Spa Al Aqah, offering Thai, Balinese and traditional Ayurvedic therapy designed to refresh and rejuvenate you while on holiday. So come and experience first-hand Le Méridien’shospitality for which it has earned a global reputation world over.

Save 20% & enjoy free nights at the five star Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, starting from only £579 pp including return flights to Dubai and taxes, 7 night's stay with daily breakfast and shuttle transfers. Plus a complimentary upgrade to a superior room, subject to availability. Book before 30th Apr 2014 for travel from 11th May till 30th Sep 2014.Call Brightsun Travel on our dedicated tours line 0208 819 0531 or visit www.brightsun.co.uk.

INDIA - TRAVEL

25

BJP promises to improve economy, end policy paralysis

New Delhi: The BJP on Monday released its manifesto focusing on improving India’s economy and infrastructure, ending policy paralysis and curbing corruption.

Contentious issues like construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, abrogation of Art 370 giving special status to Jammu & Kashmir and enactment of Uniform Civil Code have been included in the manifesto with the party making promises on them.

"BJP reiterates its stand to explore all possibilities within the framework of the Constitution to facilitate the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya," the manifesto, delayed by a fortnight, said.

Asked about the reported differences within the party over inclusion of the Ram Temple issue, Murli Manohar Joshi, chairman of the manifesto committee, said "whatever is there is there in the manifesto. If you want to write something on the basis of your own perceptions, you are free to do".

The 52-page document, released among others by its PM candidate Narendra Modi at the party headquarters here, also pledged to provide good governance and inclusive development.

Releasing the manifesto on the first phase of the Lok Sabha election, party leader Murli Manohar Joshi said, "We have chalked out a plan to improve the economic situation in the country in the manifesto. As far as infrastructure is concerned, improving manufacturing is important and it needs to be export oriented. We need to build a Brand India," said Joshi.

"The sooner we do it the better it would be to generate more jobs," he added. The manifesto gives high priority to revival of growth and job creation, but said no to FDI in multi-brand retail.

The party has promised to set up a Price Stabilisation Fund to check inflation, ensure fiscal discipline and pursue banking sector reforms to deal with the problem of rising bad loans.

"The country has been dragged through 10 years of jobless growth by the Congress-led UPA Government. Under the broader economic revival, BJP will accord high priority to job creation and opportunities for entrepreneurship," it said while unveiling the road map for the future.

With regard to the agriculture sector, the manifesto promises to create a single 'National Agriculture Market' and increase public investment in the farm sector.

Highlights

01 BJP promises to put in place strict measures and special courts to stop hoarding and black marketing 02 On Ram Mandir, BJP reiterates its stand to explore all possibilities within framework of Constitution to facilitate construction 03 The manifesto promises to start process of bringing back black money to India, says it will be priority 04 Barring the multi-brand retail sector, FDI will be allowed in sectors wherever needed for job and asset 05 Agri Rail network will be established designed to cater to the specific needs of perishable agricultural products 06 The manifesto promises launch of Diamond Quadrilateral project - of high speed train network 07 Oil and gas explorations would be expedited in the country, will help reduce import bill 08 BJP government will reform tax system to attract investors. Tax Terrorism will be ended and people's woes reduced 09 Madrasas to be modernized by inducting maths and science teachers 10 New national health policy including National Health Assurance Mission to be formulated.

Modernization of hospitals. AIIMS in every state 11 Dedicated fund and mission for integrated development of Himalayan region 12 Promises to bring all states on board to implement GST 13 Water to every village, water to every field will be one of the priorities of govt 14 Freight and industrial corridors to be developed.

Coastal areas network development will be done through 'sagar mala' project.

Referring to taxation, it said, "the UPA government has unleashed 'tax terrorism' and 'uncertainty', which not only creates anxiety amongst the business class and negatively impacts the investment climate, but also dents the image of the country."

Promising tax reforms, BJP said its tax policy roadmap include focus on a non-adversarial and conducive tax environment, overhaul of the dispute resolution mechanisms, bringing on board all state governments in adopting GST (Goods and Services Tax) and provision for tax incentives to promote investment.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP chief Rajnath Singh said, "The UPA government failed to implement manifestos. Had it been even partially imple-

mented, India would be a super power." Modi congratulated Joshi for including the aspirations of people in the manifesto.

"Good governance and development would be the key for party," Modi said.

"A good government should think about the poor and work for the poor," he said.

Modi highlighted the need for a strong government in Delhi. "The country has been stalled. There is need to give it momentum," he said.

Senior leader LK Advani praised the manifesto and said the country would make giant strides in the next five years.

A recorded message of Arun Jaitley was played out. Arun Jaitley could not be a part of the function as he had to file nomination papers.

26

INDIA

Learning Gujarati at Shishukunj is different to learning it anywhere else

Darshana Shah

Gujarati is a vital part of the curriculum for the children that attend Shishukunj. Each week children aged 6-14 receive one hour of Gujarati teaching from professional teachers, which eventually culminates in achieving a GCSE qualification.

It is widely believed that Children participating in fun and interactive knowledge of Gujarati is Gujarati classes essential in order to learn and understand more learning Gujarati. So it teaching and how to about our roots, values, has innovated by encourengage children in learnculture & religion. ing. Our teachers are put aging parents to join the Additionally exposure to through rigorous training classes as teaching assisand they regularly tants (even if they do not Gujarati (or any lanassessed to ensure that speak any Gujarati). We guage) at a young age they are providing the have also developed builds confidence and linbest learning experience workbooks that support guistic skills in children for our children. as well as helping The famous children to create an singer Kailash Kher identity for themonce said “For us selves.

Indians, I don't “Gamat saathe think English can gnaan” or “learning ever exude that through fun” is a key magic of emotions part of how we at Shishukunj approach which our mother teaching the four key tongue can.” skills of speaking, Learning Gujarati is reading, listening and vital for our youngwriting. Teachers use sters to be able to Montessori teaching fully immerse themChildren learning about the techniques (such as selves in our culture Ramayan through acting playful songs and draand heritage and that is why Shishukunj matics) as well as places a premium on prolearning at home to modern technology to viding this for its chilensure that there is contiensure that the lessons dren. nuity outside of the time are as engaging as possiShishukunj is currentspent in the classroom ble. India’s festivals, hisly recruiting experienced each week. tory and mythology are all Gujarati teachers for its We are very lucky to core parts of what is Sunday morning classes have extremely dedicated taught to ensure that the in Kenton and Finchley. teachers, some of whom children have a varied Please email your CV to have been with us for exposure to Indian culoffice@shishukunj.org.uk over 15 years. Despite ture. if you are interested in this long history, Shishukunj also Shishukunj recognises recognises that the lanapplying. guage barrier at home that it needs to move with means that children do the times and so we conFor more information about not get the support they stantly seek to improve Shishukunj London please need when it comes to the standard of Gujarati visit www.shishukunj.org.uk

UK honorary doctorate for 9-year-old Tamil Nadu girl

Chennai: P Adarshini, a nine year old girl from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, has been conferred with honorary doctorate by the UK based World Records University for her achievement as the ‘fastest to dismantle and assemble a laptop.’ The degree was bestowed upon this Class 4 student in Koilpalayam, last week in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam for her record breaking performance.

Her father, Prabhu Mahalingam, who is running an IT solutions firm

P Adarshini

said that she had won Tamil Nadu book of records, Indian Book of

PMS Management & Consultancy Limited Management and Business Development Consultancy

Our Services: Sales & Marketing Training & Development Research Performance Improvement Information Technology Customer Relationship Management Contact:- Pankil Shah Management and Business Consultant PMS Management & Consultancy Limited Tel: 020 3291 4102 info@pmsmc.co.uk

Records and Asian Book of records earlier.

Adarshini gained interest in dismantling and assembling laptops after visiting her father’s IT solutions unit.

She realised that she could dismantle and assemble the laptop completely in 15 minutes. Now, she is able to do the same in 10 minutes. Adarshini said, “Now I am concentrating on developing new apps, which should be used by worldwide and I am confident of achieving this.”

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14

Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated on 14th April every year in order to commemorate the birthday of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and his contributions for the people of India. It would be 123rd birthday anniversary celebration in the year 2014 to commemorate his memories. It was a big moment for the people of India when he was born in the year 1891.

The day has been declared as a public holiday all over the India. The President and Prime Minister (including other political party leaders) of India pay homage to his statue at the Parliament, New Delhi. Indian people worship him like a God by keeping his statue in their home. On this day people take out a parade by keeping his statue in front, they also enjoy dancing using dhol.

Why Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated by the people of India very happily to remember his immense

contributions for the poor people of India. Dr Ambedkar is the father of Indian Constitution who had drafted the Constitution of India. He was the great human rights activist who was born on 14th of April in 1891. He had established the “Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha” in the year 1923 in India aiming to spread the necessity of education as well as enhancing the economic status of the low caste people of India. He run a social movement for people using slogan “Educate-AgitateOrganize” aiming to eradicate the casteism in India as well as rebuilding the

Indian society by following the rule of equality of human beings.

A march was also led by him in the year 1927 at Mahad, Maharashtra for establishing the equal rights for untouchable people who were not allowed to even touch or taste the water of “Public Chawdar Lake”. He has been marked in the Indian history for starting the social movements like anti-caste, anti-priest movement and temple entry movement. He led the temple entry movement in the year 1930 at Kalaram Temple, Nashik, Maharashtra for real human rights and political justice. He said that political power is not the only way to solve all the problems of depressed class people, they should get equal rights in the society in every field. He was deeply involved in making legal changes in order to protect the low class people rights during his Membership of Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1942.

Continued from page 1 peaceful. There were some glitches with EVMs but the machines were replaced,” the CEO said, adding that at 42 places the machines developed fault. CM Tarun Gogoi, along with his wife Dolly, cast his vote at the Debicharan Barooah Girls’ High School in Jorhat. “I am very confident the Congress will win more seats this time,” said an ebullient Gogoi.

His counterpart in Tripura, Manik Sarkar, cast his vote at the Shishu Bihar H S School in Agartala. He said there was little doubt who would win in Tripura and that the fight was now on how to increase the winning percentage.

Tripura CEO Ashutosh Jindal also maintained that polling was incident-free. Over 20,000 polling personnel and almost an equal number of security personnel were engaged in West Tripura. The Election Commission of India had set up three model booths with women-only polling personnel in Agartala to encourage and involve women in the conduct and management of elections. Long queues of voters were seen at polling stations, especially in rural areas.

Malfunctioning voting machines in some places held up polling for some time.

Briefing reporters on the first phase of polls, deputy election commissioner Alok Shukla said in New Delhi that said although the voter turnout in Assam stood at 72.5% till 5 pm, with several people still queued up

at the polling booths, “the turnout is expected to cross 75%”.

In Tripura, a traditionally high-turnout state, the Tripura West seat had polled 86.25% votes in the previous election.

Ruling Congress faces drubbing Meanwhile, polls indicate that the Congress party – led by Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi - could end up with the lowest share of the popular vote, and fewest parliamentary seats, since India’s independence. With voters restive after two years of a sharp economic slowdown and persistently high inflation, Congress, in power since 2004, is facing an electoral drubbing.

“There is widespread anger against Congress party,” says Rajiv Lall, executive chairman of the I n f r a s t r u c t u r e Development Finance Corporation in Punjab.

“They, voters, have seen such a deterioration in the performance of the Congress – it has really not matched up to their expectations and aspirations.”

Voting began on Monday, but national results will not be released until May 16, as polling is conducted in

phases on nine separate dates until May 12. Yet many Congress politicians appear to have simply given up the fight and jumped ship to join the BJP, which polls have projected to romp home, along with its coalition partners, to a conclusive victory.

Prominent Congress defectors to the BJP include four sitting parliament members, including Rao Inderjit Singh from Gurgaon, a powerful regional governor from Rajasthan, and two men named as Congress parliamentary candidates.

A recent survey by the US-based Pew Research Centre found 70 per cent of Indians are dissatisfied with the country’s direction, while just 29 per cent remain satisfied.

More than 80 per cent see inflation, joblessness and inequality all as severe problems, the study found, while corruption among public officials and business executives is also seen as a significant concern by a large majority.

Most worryingly for the ruling party, the study found that 60 per cent of Indians say the BJP can better manage these challenges, compared to just 20 per cent who have more faith in Congress.

Dr. Ambedkar

Polls begin on high note in India

INDIA - ELECTION

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

27

Triangular battle on cards for National Capital Territory Delhi may have only seven seats, but for all the three major parties – the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Adami Party (AAP) which is making its debut for the Lok Sabha elections – it is a matter of prestige

Mayuri Dave

seats in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd general elections. In the fourth Lok Sabha elecWith high-profile canditions held in 1967, the dates from the three main Bharatiya Jan Sangh parties are contesting for (BJS) was the leading the seven Lok Sabha conparty.

However, the stituencies in Delhi or the Rakhi Bidlan ANALYSIS Congress won all the conNational Capital stituencies in the 1971 Territory (NCT), the Ashutosh and 1984 electriangular battle has Date of voting in Delhi NORTH WEST DELHI(SC) tions, but in drawn attention of April 10, 2014 - Thursday the 1977 entire country.

NORTH EAST DELHI elections, the also sends three Members Delhi is the largest Bharatiya in the Upper House Indian city and the second CHANDNI Lok Dal (Rajya Sabha) of Indian most populous city in the CHOWK ( B L D ) Parliament. world. It is also the most Apart from BJP, densely populated region Sandip Dixit emerged as the largest party in Congress and AAP, candiin the country. Delhi and Harsh Vardhan Delhi.

BJP first dates from some of its adjoining urban areas Parvesh Verma Kapil Sibbal time tasted huge have been given the status the regional parties EAST DELHI success in 1989 like Bahujan of the National Capital NEW DELHI elections and after Samaj Party Region (NCR). The voters that retained that ( B S P ) , are highly urbane and WEST DELHI position in the 1991, Communist educated which makes the Party of contest even more inter1996, 1998 and India (CPI), esting compared to other 1999 elections.

Nationalist parts of the country.

But its performMeenakshi Lekhi Congress Party The seven constituenance plummeted (NCP) and cies – Chandni Chowk, in the 2004 and Raj Mohan Gandhi North East Delhi, East 2009 elections Delhi, New Delhi, West while the Congress Ajay Maken Delhi, South Delhi and became the leading party.

North West Delhi are At present all seven Congress MP Kapil Sibal Contestants in highly highly dense in populaMPs from Delhi are from is the richest with properurban Delhi's seven Lok tion. The North West the Congress. But if elecSabha constituencies are ty valued Rs.114 crore.

Delhi constituency is tion surveys are to be richer than most of the He is followed by another reserved for candidates believed, the AAP is proparts in India. An analyCongress MP, Mahabal jected as front runner with Shiromani Akali Dal belonging to the sis of Association of Mishra, who owns Rs.38 four seats followed by BJP. (SAD) may also make Scheduled Castes (SC).

Democratic Reforms crore property. Bharatiya The 2014 Lok Sabha polls their presence felt. Even if The state where hardly revealed that of the total Janata Party's New Delhi will be held on 10 April in they wouldn’t win, they one year old AAP surcontestants in the State, candidate Meenakshi Delhi. would definitely play sigprised both the major parat least 33 per cent are Lekhi has assets amountUpbeat over a grand nificant role to play spoilties – the congress and millionaires. As many as ing to Rs.34 crore. The success in the assembly sport for the candidates of BJP during the 70 assem150 candidates are conCongress's all seven canmajor three parties. bly segments in 2013. elections last year, AAP testing from seven Lok didates are millionaires As far as history of AAP with outside support announced its candidates Sabha seats in National while both the BJP and Lok Sabha constituencies of the Congress formed much earlier than other Capital Region and of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi are concerned , the government but it only two political outfits. them 49 are millionaires. have six each. the Congress won most last for 49 days. The State Investigative journalist

Ashish Kehtan and TV journalist Ashutosh are its candidates. Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi – Raj Mohan Gandhi is contesting for Arvind Kejriwal’s party from East Delhi.

Congress also have high-profile candidates including two Union Ministers Kapil Sibal & Krishna Tirath as well as former Union Minister Ajay Maken. Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Leader of Opposition (LOP) in Delhi assembly Dr. Harsh Vardhan, BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi and son of Sahib Singh Verma – Pravesh Verma.

Major issues for the seven Delhi Lok Sabha constituencies are almost similar. Most important is crime against women. In the year 2013 as many as 1121 rape cases were reported in Delhi, which is the highest in the past 13 years. Despite being high urbanized state, infant mortality rate is alarmingly high – 30 out of every 1000 newborn did not survive. Corruption is another important issue, which gave AAP resounding success in the assembly elections in 2013. Other issues like soaring prices of essential commodities, unemployment, basic infrastructure in some of the areas, especially in the newly developped areas will decide the mood of Delhi voters.

AV Correspondent

has resigned and re-joined the BJP. The BJP is also expected to win both the Lok Saha seats there.

Modi has calculated and played the Hindutva card. He has said Hindus who are persecuted in Bangladesh should not be stopped from coming to India. In the 2011 Assembly polls in Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi played the Hindutva card and said his party will allow refugee status to Bengali Hindus who have entered Assam fearing religious persecution in neighbouring Bangladesh.

In Tripura, Modi is trying to rake up tribal sentiments of alienation. There is a strong feeling in Tripura that the indigenous tribals have been over shadowed by refugees from Bangladesh who have settled there. He carried his anti migrant tirade to Tripura, trying to cash into the eroding base of the indigenous tribal parties in the state. And in states like Mizoram, and even to some extend Meghalaya and Nagaland, where the church plays a key role in routing voters’ choices, Modi’s Hindutva line would not be easily acceptable.

GENERAL ELECTION 2014

Sibbal is the richest candidate

Can Modi make saffron presence in Northeast?

BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is doing something which was considered almost impossible by his predecessors – making the saffron brigade’s presence felt in eight important states in the hilly Northeast region of India.

Apparently he is targeting to reach beyond Hindi heartland.

Known as seven sister states –Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland – couple with Sikkim, which is on the north of West Bengal are having 25 important Lok Sabha seats.

Modi launched election campaign to woo voters in these eight states on February 8, for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The encouraging sign for the saffron brigade was number of people turned out to listen Modi. Unlike any other leader in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the past 64year-old Modi addressed maximum number of public rallies in this region with loud and clear idea to make space for the saffron party in the Congress and

likeminded parties.

In Assam and the rest of the Northeast, before the NDA regime, the BJP was almost a non-entity.

During the Vajpayee government, the advent of the Look East Policy and the inception of a separate Ministry SIKKIM for the LS Seat 01 Northeast brought initial brownie points for the BJP. Modi has not leave single stone unturned and uti-

lize a l l possible resources to reach out at maximum numbers of voters in this geographically difficult region. Modi-related souvenirs like masks, badges and photos sell like hot cakes etc are adding to create BJP wave.

Modi also trained his guns on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during most of his

rallies as Singh has represented Assam in Rajya Sabha for over two decades.

Of the 14 seats in Assam, seven are with Congress, four with the BJP, one with the ASSAM Bodoland LS Seat 14 MEGHALAYA

assembly the party is having 78 MLAs.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH

LS Seat 02

NAGALAND

LS Seat 01

regional politics. It is part of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government with the NPF and wants to foray into Meghalaya as well.

Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Northeast India including Sikkim, the BJP has only four MPs, all in Assam, only nine MLAs in 498 assembly seats spread across the region, and do not have any legislature in Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim. At the same time the Congress rules five of the eight states and is seen as the only pan-India party.

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Gegong Apang, who is the second longest serving chief minister in the country with a record 22 years, mostly with the Congress,

The BJP has once headed a government in IN NORTH Arunachal EAST Pradesh, in 2001.

TRIPURA BJP MLAs LS Seat 02 MANIPUR also toppled LS Seat 02 the Samata Peoples’ Party (the F r o n t previous avatar of ( B P F ) , Maulana MIZORAM Janata Dal (U)) govBadaruddin LS Seat 01 ernment in Manipur.

So it has the capabiliAjmal’s Allty to spring surprises in India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has one and the Asom Gana Parishad States Date (AGP) has one seat.

Modi himself stayed Arunachal Pradesh 9th April 2014 and worked in Assam for Aasham 7th, 12th & 24th April 2014 both the RSS and the BJP Manipur 9th & 17th April 2014 wants to take on the Congress in Assam. In fact Meghalaya 9th April 2014 he is in mission mode to Mizoram 9th April 2014 break the jinx right away.

Nagaland 9th April 2014 The Congress’s stronghold Tripura 7th & 12th April 2014 in the State can be adjudged with the fact that Sikkim 12th April in the 126 seat Assam LS Seat 02

25

TOTAL SEATS

Dates of Voting

28

A

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Mani Ratnam to offer a spy thriller

ce director Mani Ratnam will start his next project in June. As usal music will be composed by A R Rahman while cinematographer Ravi Varman will be joining hands with the director for the first time. It is certain that Nagarjuna will play an important role in the film. It is uncertain whether t h e

Tollywood ‘Prince’ will be part of the project or not. The same is in the case of heroines.

Aishwarya Rai and Sruthi Haasan are speculated to play the female lead roles while sources close to the director prefer to downplay it stating the heroines are yet to be finalised. This time the director seems to have decided to take up a spy thriller subject on the lines of Hollywood flick Bourne Identity.

Vijay Antony's third with an interesting title

Priya Anand follows Ajith Pr

iya Anand spent a 10-day holiday by cooking and baking. She said apart from learning to cook from her maid she also tried new dishes by surfing the internet. The list of items she has mastered includes Indian dishes, pasthas, lasangas, Chinese and continental recipes. Priya had served the food she had cooked to her watchman, neighborhood kids and also the friends from film

Il

industry. She says she is happy and thankful that all of them liked what she had cooked.

Priya adds that she has promised to cook biriyani for the team of “Oru Oorula Rendu Raja.” Ajith is the actor who served his 'Mankatha' crew members with biriyani cooked by him. Now it seems it's Priya's turn.

'Kaththi' in Chennai

ayathalaipathi Vijay's 57th film “Kaththi” has been progressing in Hyderabad where some important fight sequences and songs have been shot by the film's director A R Murugadoss. Now the next schedule of the shoot will start in Chennai. The film kick started in Kolkata in February and then a song was shot in Chennai International Airport before the team leaves to Hyderabad. It is interesting to note that “Kaththi” is being shot in various metro and big cities.

“Kaththi” stars Samantha as the lead heroine and Bollywood actor Neil Nithin Mukesh as the villain. Anirudh Ravichander is composing the music and Vijay is most likely to sing a song in the album.

M

usic composer Vijay Antony turned lead hero with the film “Naan” that released in 2012. Thanks to the gripping script and Vijay Antony's decent performance, the film was a commercial success.

This encouraged Vijay Antony to produce another film with himself playing the lead role. The film has been titled as “Salim” and it is being directed by N V Nirmal Kumar. Even before the release of the film, Vijay has launched his third acting venture. The film comes with an interesting title 'India Pakistan' and the tagline says “Toss Pottachu.” The first look poster released suggests that the film revolves around the game of cricket. The film is going to be directed by debutante N Anand.

New Release Aamir beats Shah Rukh Golden Kela Awards for to star in 'Shuddhi'?

Ajay Devgn, Sonakshi ‘Bhoothnath Returns’ aran Johar's 'Shuddhi' has hoothnath Returns” is a sequel of been jinxed for a long K “B“Bhoothnath.”

It is directed by Nitesh time. After the original

Tiwari and the main casts are Amitabh Bachchan and Boman Irani. The other casts are Usha Jadhav, Anurag Kashyap, Parth, Harshil Solanki and Sumer. Shah Rukh Khan makes a special appearance.

choice of lead actors Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor walked out, there were rumours that KJo will bring his best friend Shah Rukh Khan as the male lead whereas Deepika Padukone was finalised as the lead actress. Then there were rumours that Ranveer Singh has been finalised for the movie. Now it is reported that Aamir Khan is being considered for this ambitious project.

Quoting an insider, the report adds that Karan has discussed the script with Aamir, but nothing has been finalised. It seems Aamir has asked time to go through the script and make the final decision.

ctors Ajay Devgn and Sonakshi Sinha were proclaimed as the worst actors of 2013 at the Golden A Kela Awards. Even Aamir Khan won an award for his

performance in "Dhoom:3." Now in its sixth year, the Golden Kela Awards honoured the worst in Bollywood. Ajay won the worst actor award for "Himmatwala", which was also named the worst film and Sonakshi was cited for "R...Rajkumar". The honour for the worst actor in supporting role went to Aditya Roy Kapoor for "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" and Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandes and Amisha Patel jointly won the worst supporting actor (female) for "Race 2".

29

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Latest

Amitabh reprises his spooky role in ‘Boothnath Returns’

mitabh Bachchan returns to delight the audiences as he reprises his paranormal role in A “Boothnath Returns!” The film to be released on

11th April will be distributed by B4U. In the Boothnath series earlier, Bachchan charms the child artist Parth Bhalerao to the delight of the audiene.

Screen magic is created when the two characters collide in the film – a delightful, comedy drama, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, which will appeal to kids and adults alike. Boman Irani, plays a pivotal role while Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor make special appearances. The soundtrack is by Anjjan and Palash Muchhal brothers.

The film takes Bhoothnath’s story forward as the spook returns to ‘Bhoot World’, where he is taunted by other ghosts for bringing disrepute to the ghost-community for getting bullied by a kid on Earth. So Bhoonath decides to return to Earth to seek vengeance by scaring a bunch of kids. His search leads him to Akhrot (Parth Bhalerao), a kid from the slums who happens to be the only person who can see

him. They agree to help each other but their friendship embroils them in a cause bigger than they had ever imagined. To move ahead, they will need to take on one of the country’s most powerful and corrupt politicians, Bhau (Boman Irani). The Lok Sabha elections are nearing and Bhau’s victory is a mere formality, or is it? In a world where the common man is afraid of politics, will a common man’s ghost overcome his fear to stand up for what’s right and fight against injustice?

Alia Bhatt gets traditional in ‘2 States’ A

lia Bhatt who acted in tough and gritty roles will be seen in the guise of a fresh- faced South Indian girl in her forthcoming film “2 States.”

Alia plays ‘Ananya Swaminathan’, a headstrong and opinionated young woman, who is confined by the demands and rigors of an orthodox Tamil upbringing. To prepare for her conservative role, it is reported that Alia undertook intense training to perfect the detailed nuances of the South Indian accent and the particular cultural gestures that are prevalent in South India. An integral part of Alia’s preparation was getting the clothing just right. In the film

I do pilates to stay Kareena Kapoor fit: Ileana D'Cruz breaks her vow leana D'Cruz is a selfareena Kapoor agreed to break foodie but Isheconfessed her ‘no item song’ vow for a K credits pilates friend. She said, “I did the behind her toned body.

The actress, who will be next seen in 'Main Tera Hero' opposite Varun Dhawan and Nargis Fakhri, said she makes sure to burns out the extra fat with the help of pilates. "I don't starve myself. I am a foodie. I eat every possible thing and if I would tell you my food chart you won't believe that an actress can have so much.

But whatever I eat I just make sure that I exercise regularly. I do pilates to stay fit," said Ileana.

Shahid turns DJ, learning ropes of the craft

item song in Gabbar for a friend. I couldn’t say no to Shabina.”

Shabina Khan who is the co-producer of ‘Gabbar’ specially requested Kareena for the item song.

“Bebo was also t e m p t e d because it was the ‘Gabbar’.

Producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali supervised her look and presentation in the item song. And Bebo was very impressed with what Sanjay did in P r i y a n k a Chopra’s item song,” said a friend.

she is seen in a variety of conventional garments.

The film is a romantic comedy about a young couple from different states in India (Punjab and Tamil Nadu), who meet at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and fall in love.

However, their relationship is riddled with obstacles as they try to convince their traditional families to accept their relationship. The film stars Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor in lead roles. It is directed by Abhishek Varman and produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Dharma Productions.

“2 States” will release worldwide

by UTV Motion Pictures on 18th April 2014.

e's an actor and a dancer, but not many know that Shahid Kapoor is a music enthusiast H too. The actor has been stepping behind the con-

sole at parties and, now, he has set up DJ equipment at home, where he plans to learn the craft.

A source close to Shahid reveals, "He has been playing DJ at some of his friend’s parties, but now he is keen to do it in a thorough manner. Shahid has stationed the console in his living room.

These days, he spends all his free time mixing music and trying several variations. Before getting his console, Shahid extensively read about the equipment and the software. He was planning to buy it for a while, but his work commitments delayed it." It seems the actor regularly updates his music collection too. The source says, "On one of his recent vacations, Shahid met various international DJs and chatted with them about new songs, music genres, festivals etc. He often connects with people and talks to them about music.

He is always on the lookout for new songs and has downloaded many music apps to stay updated about international sound tracks."

Remo's ‘ABCD 2’ to go on floors in June fter receiving accolades and A applaud for

“Anybody Can Dance” (ABCD 3D), the ace choreographer-turnedfilmmaker Remo D'souza is now gearing up for its sequel! While there have been enough speculations around the sequel with regards to the star cast and it going on floors, Remo cleared it by disclosing about the schedule and the cast of the film.

ABCD 2 will go on floors in June. The film may not have big stars but it certainly has known names. The names will be unveiled on 17th of this month," reveals Remo.

Concurrently, ask Remo about his work on the project backed by Karan Johar and he discloses, "Yeah, I will begin work on Karan Johar's film after ABCD 2. Work on both the films will run parallel."

"

Sonam takes a dig at Deepika

he recent season of ‘Koffee With Karan’ has stirred a new conflict T and this time actresses Sonam

Kapoor and Deepika Padukone seem to have locked horns. Last time they came together but this time they came separately. While Deepika was reluctant to talk about her colleagues, Sonam, who came with her dad opened up and gave saucy bites to Karan Johar. Sonam took a nasty dig at Deepika saying that she has no style of her own.

30

UK

Competition TRAVLIN STYLE

WIN 2 FLIGHT TICKETS TO INDIA To Win 2 flight tickets to India by Travlin Style, answer the following simple 3 questions. The winner will be chosen on first come first basis from the correct answers provided.

Questions: 1. What is the Capital of Brazil?

2. How many direct flight does Jet Airways have from Heathrow to India?

3. Which Terminal does Jet Airways fly out from Heathrow.

Please send your reply with name and contact details to alka.shah@abplgroup.com by end of May 2014 (T&C Apply).

Travlin Style started trading on 2002 at their present address in Stanmore. Their office has built up a huge following of clients in and around the area and also in the provinces such as Birmingham, Leicester, Bradford, Scotland etc. Any airlines of your choice can be booked through Travlin Style and they also have a worldwide hotel division and a very competitive package.

Travlin Style are open 6 days a week, Monday-Saturday from 9am-6pm, daily.

Travlin style Limited, 46 Church Road, Stanmore, Middx HA7 4AH, Phone: 0208 9540077 - Email: email@travlinstyle.com

Coming Events

l Saturday 5th April 2014 – Hanuman Chalisa & Ram Navmi Bhajans from 10am onwards at the SPA Community Centre, Birmingham. l Tuesday 8th April 2014 – Ramnavami celebration at Wembley Temple from 10am onwards at Shri Sanatan Hindu Mandir, P.O. Box 700, Ealing Road, Alperton, Wembley, HA0 4TA. Contact: 020 8903 7737. l Sunday 13th April 2014 – Blood Donation Session at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, London NW9 8AQ from 9.30am. Contact: 0300 123 23 23. l Sunday 13th April 2014 – Karamsad Samaj UK proudly presents The Unbelievable Amazing Little Stars at The Paul Robeson Theatre, Treaty Shopping Centre, High St, Hounslow TW3 1ES. l Sunday 13th April 2014 - Bharathanatya Arangetram of Kumari Paulomi Bagvatisancar at 5pm at Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1BT. Contact: 07989 582 798

OUT OF JAIL

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 You can expect a lively and varied time ahead. Communications will be free and easy, making this an excellent time to deal with important matters. Also, you'll find that people you meet, perhaps especially newcomers, will be a stimulating influence and may encourage you to dabble in new interests.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Continued from page 14 First of all St Luke’s Hospice itself with their staff and army of volunteers who raise funds to provide most effective palliative care to people with terminal illness. The service is provided at the beautiful complex located in Kenton for inpatients and outpatients. There is also outreach service offered to patients in their own homes. Tribute is also due to the participants of this event for sparing time to raise substantial funds for this worthy cause for the unique and totally free service. I’m particularly touched by some wonderful support I had from a range of people including a group of elderly women who donated a substantial amount. I’m also grateful

to the Trustees of ‘West House’ in Pinner who hosted a reception and offered us the much needed respite after the event by treating us to a lovely spread of food and drinks.

This is one venue I recommend you visit. West House with its memorial gardens, lake and faith gardens has been restored and an extension is planned for a Heath Robinson Museum which will display the world famous cartoons and illustrations of Heath Robinson.

Heritage Lottery Fund Grant has been awarded for this project and the Trustees are collecting some further funds for the project.

You’d read more about this project in the near future as it needs our support.

In last week’s Asian Voice (issue 5th April), photo courtesy for pictures on p.14 & 15 were taken by our photographer Raj D Bakrania, Prmediapix

Birangona: Women of War Britain for the first time will hear the voices of women who were systematically raped and tortured during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War by the Pakistani army.

Komola Collective, a London-based theatre and arts company, has dug out real-life stories of the

200,000 women and girls who were raped and tortured

by Pakistan's army - one of the worst incidents of genocidal rape in human history.

The play, which will premiere in London on April 9 and run till 20th at The Lost Theatre, is called "Birangona"- meaning "Brave Woman" or "War Heroine".

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Editorial Executive: Tanveer Mann Tel: 020 7749 4010 - Email: tanveer.mann@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Chief Accountant: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

It's time when experience will enable you to enrich your inner mind and personality. You are moving into a new phase of life which will bring wider scope for developing your unique qualities and talents. You are likely to move around more than usual.

Life will become very lively and there will be a lot of social interactions.

The Sun illuminates your sector of friends, social gatherings and group activities. You will be in constant demand and will be in a position to network with new-found friends who will promote your cause.

Personal relationships are also to the fore and some of you might even find true love. This is a time to follow your dreams and ideals.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

Having all the major planets above the horizon chart shows that the general pattern of events will focus your attention on the need to make an impact on the world. Although the very practical affairs of life continue to be highlighted, this does not mean that there will be all work and no play. In fact, you will be very much in demand socially.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Many Leos will be intent on expanding their mental horizons. Your way ahead is likely to become very clear now - priortise your future goals. This is an appropriate time in which to talk things over with your loved one - especially anything that has been worrying you or making you feel insecure.

Venus continues to favour your love life. If you are still seeking the ideal partner, things are definitely looking up. An increase in your social life is likely to bring you in touch with someone attractive.

At work you need greater flexibility as well as a degree of patience. Do not step on any one's toes.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

As the Sun transits your seventh house, you have a greater need than usual to be in a relationship.

The emphasis is on "us" rather than "me". Social interactions of a personal nature are highlighted. This is likely to be an extremely busy time for most of you.

Use tact and diplomacy in your dealing, otherwise you are likely to come across as over confident and egotistical.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

Consulting Editor: Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar,Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com General Manager: Sanat Trivedi (M) +91 94293 65619 Email: sanat.trivedi@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Hardik Shah (M) +91 99250 42936 Email: hardik.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Neeta Patel (Vadodara) M: +91 98255 11702 Email: neeta_abplgroup@yahoo.co.in Assistant Marketing Manager: Manish Shah (Vadodara) M: +91 96876 06824 Email: manish.shah@abplgroup.com Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group (South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 44 9311581597

Asian Voice Head Office

Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Advertising Sales: 020 7749 4085 AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNews

Health is an important area that you will take seriously. It is likely that you may embark on a course of physical exercise and diet. It could be quite a difficult week psychologically with increased danger of misunderstandings arising and not being able to see the wood from the trees. Try to be diplomatic.

After a period of relative inactivity, you are coming out of your shell, ready to perform and to express yourself creatively. This is a very progressive period of the year, when you are inspired emotionally. You take more pride in your your love affairs, your children, and your hobbies and are generally very sociable and make friends easily.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

Don't get overanxious if you feel that you're being kept in the dark. You will probably find that worries have been unfounded.

Although you may be faced with a difficult decision concerning your career or employment, this is not the time to hide. Don't waste time if you can improve matters.

You can expect a sustained and quite hectic flow of visitors to contribute greatly to a very buoyant atmosphere. If you are ambitious, this promises to be an important time in your life. You are likely to get the lucky breaks and reach a wider audience no matter what your aims.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 Don't take short-cuts in legal or official matters. It will be only too easy to feel exasperated by bureaucracy but you won't be doing yourself any favours if you lose your cool. This is a fine time for you to get away from the mundane realities of life and relax. Some of you will probably go abroad.

World T20: Dhoni named captain

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced the men's Team of the Tournament for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, with India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its captain.

The team includes four players from India, two each from South Africa and the West Indies, and one each from Australia, the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. Chosen by a select group of experts, the team was aimed at being suited for Bangladeshi conditions, on the basis of performances at the just-concluded World T20 tournament. Statistics were used but were not the sole basis for selections.

Selection panel chairman and member of the

Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, David Boon, said: "It was a very difficult task for the panel to pick a team of 11 from the exciting players who featured in this tournament.

"As the selection criteria for the Team of the Tournament are the performances of players in the conditions during the ICC World Twenty20 2014, some of the best

players in world cricket had to be left out of the team. "Bowlers in particular performed strongly throughout this tournament, and the side we have selected includes three of the most impressive bowlers in Dale Steyn, Samuel Badree and Lasith Malinga. "The team also contains six specialist batsmen, including Stephan Myburgh from the Netherlands as an opening batsman, as well as three all-rounders, including Dhoni as a wicket-keeper batsman."

The panel faced a difficult choice for a number of positions, and players who were considered but who did not ultimately make the team included India's Amit Mishra, Pakistan's

Ahmed Shehzad, South Africa duo of AB de Villiers and Imran Tahir, Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath, and West Indies' Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine.

Full squad: Rohit Sharma (India), Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands), Virat Kohli (India), J.P. Duminy (South Africa), Glenn Maxwell (Australia), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India - captain), Darren Sammy (West Indies), Ravichandran Ashwin (India), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Samuel Badree (West Indies) and Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka); 12th Player: Krishmar Santokie (West Indies).

SPORT WORLD

Pakistan's T20 captain Hafeez quits

Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez stepped down as Twenty20 captain after the team's failure to qualify for the semifinals of the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. Pakistan went out from the Super10 stage after a disappointing 84-run defeat against the West Indies, failing to reach the last four for the first time in five editions of the tournament since its inception in 2007. Hafeez said he accepted responsibility for the early exit. "I accept all the responsibility of team's failure," Hafeez told reporters after a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) meeting in Lahore. Hafeez led Pakistan to the semifinals in the last World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka two years ago, shortly after taking over from Misbah-ulHaq. The all-rounder, who opens both the batting and the bowling with his off-spin, said no one forced him to quit. "I am under no pressure and felt that I must step down as leader by taking responsibility, and it's for the PCB to decide who to lead the team," said Hafeez.

Women's T20 final: Australia thrash England

Australia's women's cricket team ended a year of agony against England by winning their third straight World T20 title with a crushing six-wicket win in Bangladesh on Sunday.

The Australian team restricted England to 8 for 105 after being sent in by Meg Lanning.

Australia won with 29 balls left despite losing two wickets just before clinching victory.

It was a third World T20 title for Australia,

MUMBAI fr ÂŁ440

Call 020 8582 1111

who lost back-to-back Ashes series in 2013-14.

The target proved way too small, as Lanning (44 off 30 balls) and another young veteran of the side Ellyse Perry (31 not out off 32) added 60 in just over eight overs for the third wicket. Australia smashed 10 fours and four sixes and kept England to just eight boundaries.

England was well placed at 1 for 55 in the tenth over, but lost 8 for 46 and could not build a partnership of more than

31

33. Heather Knight (23 off 24 balls) was the only England batter to pass 20 and hit three of her team's eight boundaries.

The wickets were shared among the Australian attack. Medium pacer Sarah Coyte (3 for 16 off 4 overs) was the most successful. Speedster Perry (2 for 13 off 4), new ball bowler Rene Farrell (2 for 27 of 4) also claimed multiple wickets, while spinner Jonassen (0 for 16 off 4) bowled a tight spell.

"We came over here

with a great side and I think we played close to the perfect match today," Lanning said. England captain Charlotte Edwards, the architect of so many of her team's wins over Australia, said her side was not good enough on the day and 105 was not enough. "We were completely outplayed today by a very good Australian team," Edwards said. They bowled very well. They bowled to their plans and came out there and batted with a lot of intent."

DUBAI fr ÂŁ390

www.skylordtravel.com

32

SPORT

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 12th April 2014

Sri Lanka thrash India to win World T20 title

The finals hoodoo has been broken. After coming second-best in the last four ICC finals, the Sri Lankans managed to grab their hands on the big prize by winning the fifth edition of the ICC World T20 with a six-wicket win over India at the Sher-eBangla National Stadium on Sunday.

They got there with 13 balls to spare. Set to chase a modest 131, Lanka were guided by Kumar Sangakkara, who struck a majestic, unbeaten 52 to see them home.

Man of the Match Sangakkara, playing his last T20 International, was well assisted by Thisara Perera, who belted 21 not out in 14 balls as the duo added 54 runs in 5.2 overs on a wicket that wasn't easy to bat on, with the ball stopping on the batsmen. Perera was drafted into the side at the expense of leg-spinner Sekkuge Prasanna.

India, who were unchanged from the side that beat South Africa in the semis, looked to be back in the game when Amit Mishra dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne caught behind for just two. At that stage, Sri Lanka were 78 for 2 needing 53 runs off 45 balls.

Sangakkara's wicket then could have swung the game in India's favour but the experienced southpaw held one end up and as the target drew closer,

started hitting out. Perera carted a few big ones too.

Credit should also be given to another great servant of Sri Lankan cricket, Mahela Jayawardene, who too was playing his last T20 International. He soaked in the pressure after the early loss of Kushal Perera and hit a run-a-ball 24 ensured they got some stability back in the innings.

The Indian spinners R Ashwin and Amit Mishra bowled well, but with only 130 to defend, their threat was negated as it was always about a couple of good overs and one decent partnership for Sri Lanka. India's dream of becoming the first team to win the World T20 twice was shattered by a clinical display from their opponents.

Earlier, the game began 40 minutes late

The Indian Davis Cup team entered the World Group playoffs after notching up a historic away triumph over Korea following Somdev Devvarman's win over Yong-Kyu Lim in the reverse singles of the Group I Asia/Oceania second round tie at Busan on Sunday. Somdev prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in the first reverse singles to make the overall score line 3-1 in favour of India, rendering the second reverse singles inconsequential leading to its cancellation.

It was another one of those trademark fighting efforts by Somdev, who had endured a tough contest on the opening day as well. The India number one's much-admired never-say-die attitude was once again on display against Korea's number one singles player.

The IPL will be back in India from May 2.

After the first leg of 20 matches in UAE, the India leg will start with the Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders game in Ranchi. The organisers released the fixture for the remainder of the 40 games, including the final with all the matches being held in India. Bangladesh was kept as a stand by to host the second leg in case the government declined permission to hold the matches.

The Sardar Patel Gujarat stadium in Motera will host four Rajasthan Royals matches on May 5, 8, 15 and 19.

RR plays Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians respectively on the scheduled dates. Two play-offs scheduled in Chennai are on May 27 and 28, the other two

Somdev does it for India again

after a sharp shower delayed proceedings.

India, after being put in to bat, could score just 130 for 4 despite an electric knock from Virat Kohli 77. Kohli survived a dropped chance from the Sri Lankan skipper Lasith Malinga at mid-wicket off Rangana Herath when he was on 11. He capitalized on that and smashed Herath for two sixes and hit two more off Kulasekara.

He added 60 runs for the third wicket with Rohit Sharma 29, who struggled to get going. At 64/2 in 10.4 overs and batsmen like Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni left to accompany Kohli, India were looking at a score of 160plus, which could have been a match-winning one.

However, Yuvraj

Singh struggled to get going and his 11 (21 balls) affected the momentum of the Indian innings. MS Dhoni too seemed to be under pressure because of that knock and instead of giving the well-set Kohli more of the strike, he attempted wild slogs and swishes and failed to connect any of them as he scored 4 not out (7 balls).

Kohli, named Man of the Tournament for his tally of 319 runs, would have traded the prize for the trophy as an Indian victory would have made him the first cricketer to have won all ICC events the Under-19 WC (2008), ICC World Cup (2011), ICC Champions Trophy (2013) and the ICC World T20 (2014). He will have to wait for the tournament to come to India two years later.

being in Mumbai. The final, too, will be played at Wankhede Stadium on June 1.

A total of 10 cities Ranchi, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Cuttack, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Mohali - will host the 40 matches of the Indian leg. Each franchise will play nine matches in India, with five of the eight teams playing at least four matches in their home ground. There will be no matches on May 1, May 16 and May 17.

No IPL matches in Jaipur Jaipur will not host

any matches of IPLVII. Rajasthan Royals, who consider this city as their base, will be playing their four home matches in Ahmedabad. This decision by the IPL governing council was perhaps on the expected lines, since Rajasthan Cricket Association decided to allow Lalit Modi to contest in its elections late last year. Although the results of the elections are still lying in a sealed envelope with the Supreme Court, it is widely believed that the Modi group has won with a landslide margin.

The BCCI had threatened action against the RCA if Modi was allowed to contest. Not allotting IPL matches to Jaipur is perhaps the first of these ‘actions’, even though the case is still being heard by the Supreme Court.

IPL in India from May 2

India drop to second, but Kohli, Ashwin rise in ICC rankings

India lost their number one status to Sri Lanka after being defeated in the World Twenty20 final but star batsman Virat Kohli and spinner R Ashwin attained career-high positions of second and third respectively in the latest ICC rankings. "India pair of Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin has attained career-best rankings, at the end of the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014, in the latest Reliance ICC Player Rankings for T20I batsmen and Reliance ICC Player Ranking for T20I bowlers respectively," the ICC said in a statement. "Sri Lanka reclaimed the number-one position on the Reliance ICC T20I Team Rankings Table, after it beat India in the final to win the tournament for the first-time ever. Sri Lanka gained three ratings points to finish on 133, three ahead of India, to move into the top position," the ICC stated.

"Before the semifinals began, India had gone past Sri Lanka to become the number-one ranked side.

The final therefore was also a contest for either side to reclaim or retain the top spot." Meanwhile, India off-spinner Ashwin now shares the third position on the bowlers' table with Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal. Ashwin finished with 11 wickets in the tournament at an average of 11.27 and an economy rate of 5.35 runs per over. Ashwin ended as the fourth highest wicket-taker in the tournament. He had spells of three for 22 in the semifinal against South Africa and one for 29 in the final against Sri Lanka.

These efforts helped him gain 25 ratings points to end at a best-ever 711.

Stones pelted at Yuvraj's residence

Soon after India lost the final of the ICC World Twenty20 to Sri Lanka, angry cricket fans pelted stones at Yuvraj Singh`s residence in Chandigarh, according to reports.

Security was beefed up at Yuvraj`s house in Manimajra locality of Chandigarh, following the incident. The Southpaw played a scratchy inning in the final against Sri Lanka, where he played 21 balls for his 11. India managed to reach a paltry total of 130 runs, which was successfully chased by Sri Lanka with 13 balls remaining.

Yuvraj has been out of form for quite some time now. Barring one innings against Australia (60), the left-hander looked totally out of rhythm throughout ICC World T20 2014.

Shooter Heena Sidhu becomes world No1

By virtue of consistent performances, shooter Heena Sidhu has now become world No.1 in the 10 metres air pistol event, according to the recent rankings released

by International Shooting Sport Federation. Last month in Kuwait, she won a gold medal in the Asian Air Gun Championship and also recently finished with a silver at the ISSF rifle/pistol World Cup in Fort Benning, USA. At the World Cup, 2013 in Munich, Sidhu shot a world record score to win the gold medal.