AA 16th August 2014

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Special: Janmashtami at Bhaktivedanta Manor- The House of Lord Krishna

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First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

We would like to wish our Indian and Pakistani readers a Happy Independence Day. A special issue will be published in next week's Asian Voice newspaper

British Sikhs demand a special monument to remember the fallen See Page 15

See Page 16-17

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 43. ISSUE 15

Nawaz Sharif regrets Pakistan's troubled ties with India See Page 22

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16th August to 22nd August 2014

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Modi slams Pakistan for proxy war against India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Pakistan for resorting to proxy war against India.

Addressing Indian Army and Air Force personnel at Leh (in the state of Jammu and Kasmir), Modi said that the "neighbouring country was incapable of fighting a conventional war, but continues to engage in the proxy war of terrorism. He said that the Indian army was suffering more casualties from terrorism than from war.

Modi, during his daylong visit to Ladakh to inaugurate a clutch of power projects, told soldiers and officers that his

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government won't ever compromise on the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield India has controlled since 1984. Pakistan demands

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demilitarization of this strategically important glacier.

Modi said that Indian has a strong and wellequipped army and

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assured the jawans that the entire country was behind them. Modi later flew to Kargil, the first Prime Minister to visit the Continued on page 26

Well-deserved recognition for Ranbir Singh Suri A record number of 20 new peers were announced on Friday 8 including August, ennobling jewellery tycoon Ranbir Singh Suri, who has donated more than ÂŁ300,000 to the Tories. This boosts the total number of peers to 850, the highest level since most hereditary peers were removed following the House of Lords Act in 1999.

Mr Suri was the founder and chairman of the British Asian Conservative Link which was set up in 1998 to encourage Asians to participate more fully in political life and is worth ÂŁ40 million.

His elevation has caused some backlash from the Labour party, with some saying that Mr

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Cameron is filling the House of Lords with cronies, yet the majority of the Asian community is calling for even more Asians to enter the House of Lords as their number still remains at a record low. There are at the moment around 25 Asian peers out of 850, who have had the honour bestowed upon them.

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Reena Ranger

Reena Ranger has worked within her family business for almost 20 years (Sea Air and Land Forwarding Limited and Sun Mark ). She is the Chairman and founder of Women Empowered, a grass roots, social initiative that aims to inspire and help women make the best of their individual talents and skills by connecting with successful and inspirational women and to help them make the most of their abilities and help them gain new opportunities. The group is championed and supported by prominent women and men from all walks of life, from politics to media, from finance to music.www.womenempowered.co.uk. Reena was successfully elected as one of the three District Councillors for Moor Park & Eastbury in May 2014.

She previously ran as a County Council Candidate 2013 and is on the Conservative Parliamentary Candidates list.

1) What is your current position?

I am also the Founder & Chairwoman of Women Empowered (WE), a social initiative started about 2 years ago. Our aim is to encourage women (and men) to be the best at whatever they choose to do by providing role models to engage us with their journeys and inspirational stories and provide a networking platform.

In addition to that, I am a District Councillor a Daughter, Wife and Mother 2) What are your proudest achievements?

There have been many, some that many may understand, for example setting up Women Empowered, watching it grow and flourish and hearing of the impact it has had on others as well as knowing the impact on me. Signing the paperwork once I was elected this year.

And then there are some personal achievements that may not make sense to many, for example at work, so strange things like filling my first artic-

ulated lorry with freight!

3) What inspires you?

People. Human ingenuity, achievement and imagination amongst a few traits. The things that we have achieved and solutions we have found to so many problems. Sadly as inspirational as I find people, some of the less inspiring ways some use these traits does leave me in despair.

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

I would say, myself. Often you second guess what you are doing or able to do and you end up holding yourself back. Now I remind myself that for all my years before there have been many things that I have done and had to find a way to do them with no formal training or qualification, so when I am in doubt about new opportunities and challenges I can draw from this and try to be bold rather than procrastinate.

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

My family business was found-

ed by my father, so my work ethic comes from him. I have always worked closely with him and continue to do so. He has always taught me to do whatever you are doing well, people will remember you and your attitude long after the job itself.

To look after others and contribute to society and help wherever you can and always try to be positive and big hearted and that there is no substitute for hard work.

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

That I have many roles, they are all varied and diverse. I enjoy meeting people, talking to them and learning from them and enjoying their company.

7) And the worst?

Like so many people I am sure,

Birmingham ruthless armed gang jailed Long prison sentences have been given to three members of a ruthless armed gang who forced their way into the homes of terrified householders in Birmingham in order to steal high value cars.

During their year-long campaign, when they also attacked cash and carry premises, a number of victims were assaulted and tied up and a nine year old boy was threatened with an axe.

Gavin Hunt, 37, of Kelynmead Road, Kitts Green, who had previously admitted two charges of conspiracy to rob, was jailed for 12 years and 10 months. Jamie Dixon, 32, of Arran Way, Castle

Bromwich, was sent to prison for eight years and 10 months while his brother Christopher Dixon, 29, of Greenfinch Road, also Castle Bromwich, was handed a sentence of seven years and three months.

They had both admitted one charge of conspiracy.

Mr Malcolm Morse, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said about two weeks later the gang

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there are some days where I could just do with a few more hours in that day!

My day can consist of activities in relation to all the diverse roles I have.

Sometimes I can feel that there is no common direction to my day and your mind is constantly switching from one role to another. On those days I would be happy for a few more hours so that the rushed feeling is dispersed!

8) What are your long term goals?

With Women Empowered, to keep doing what we do and motivate, inspire and assist women (and men) to connect people in whatever capacity we are able to. I hope to be able to add to the list of services Women Empowered can provide in this respect and hope to be able to capture more peoples’ imaginations.

As a councillor to represent the people in my ward to the best of my ability at local level and perhaps one day, I hope, at national level too!

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

In some cases there is a huge generational gap with regards to the internet.

Something that youngsters use multiple times daily can actually be so alien to the people who are paying the monthly

fee. There are some dark places on the net with horrific activity and this leads to a whole new world of underground and illegal activity. The internet is a relatively new phenomenon and the technology and its ability are growing fast, it has become such a huge part of our daily lives and we should know more and be in more control.

There seems to be one set of rules for things off line and either in print or practice in the real world and another online.

There needs to be transparency in what downloading or clicking on something actually does or what data one may be unwittingly giving that programme access to.

The world wide web is just that. It has been one of the major breakthroughs of recent times and opened up so much to so many and for all of the fantastic gains and advances which have come about as a result of it, there is a very dark side too. It is a huge area and there needs to be balance between free speech, safety, censorship and protection.

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

My Grandmother. Only now I can begin to understand what a turbulent time she lived through; all the lows, very lows, highs she must have experienced.

I would love to hear her stories. I grew up with her telling me imaginative and funny bedtime tales. It’s a shame that I never knew that she would have had so many real life tales to tell me about.

Muslim extremist who warned of Royal Wedding attack, worked on London Underground

broke into a property in Newton Road, Great Barr, belonging to Rajinder Auluk.

One of the raiders armed with an axe, pulled out a nine-year-old, who had taken refuge behind a sofa, and had held the weapon above the child’s head “in view of the family” while demanding the keys to their Nissan GTR and Mercedes.

A Muslim extremist who warned of a terror attack at Prince William’s wedding, worked on the London Underground, he told a court on Wednesday 6 August.

Afsor Ali, 27, from Whitechapel, is accused of being in possession of alQaeda documents, bomb manuals and extremist material.

Prosecutors told the Old Bailey Ali took tutorials on Jihad with hate preacher Omar Bakri Muhammad and was spokesman for the banned Muslims Against

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Crusades.

Ali denied speaking to Bakri about committing terror acts, but reportedly said he had sought “clarification” on faith issues.

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow said Ali promoted extremism in YouTube videos under the alias Abu Assadullah.

The Old Bailey heard how counter terrorism investigators found a library of extremist material and MP3 players belonging to Ali. But he denied knowing how the material ended up on his own devices and said they

were shared by like-minded young Muslims who came to his house for meetings.

Ali, of Whitechapel, East London, denies four counts of possessing terrorist documents. The trial continues.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

COMMENT

Celebrating Independence Day

August 15 is an accustomed day of colour and pageantry, especially in Delhi, where the country’s armed forces provide a stunning spectacle of pomp and circumstance. The States provide their own tableaux of local cultures, dances and handicrafts. Together, they tell of India’s amazing diversity and also its essential unity of command. The shows in the nation’s capital and the regional capitals draw vast crowds whose presence is a constant affirmation of popular confidence in India’s future, warts and all. The political party in power at the centre dominates proceedings – the Prime Minister, as has been the custom, will address a massive throng from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort, but his words will be directed to people in every corner of this vast and diverse land. The same will be true of the President’s national broadcast. As head of state, he stands above party.

In short, Independence Day, as if you didn’t know, is a national occasion that transcends political affiliations and loyalties of ethnicity, caste and faith. This surely is symbolic of the deeper Indian reality. So also was the recent general election, which resulted in the peaceful transfer of power from one set of politicians to those of a rival party.

The electoral exercise itself was a truly daunting undertaking.

That said, it would be silly and ostrich-like, to bury one’s head in the sand, to pretend that all is well with the country. This can never be in a subcontinent populated by more than a billion souls in the midst of an epic transformation, of a society existing in contrasting zones of historical time.

India seeks to create a level playing field for her people to economic and educational opportunities and achieve food security and freedom from debilitating wants and deprivation. Independent India started her journey as a constitutional democracy wedded to the rule of law and anchored to pluralistic values befitting its rich civilization. Freedom of thought and expression has been, and is, a staple of her public life. Every creed is guaranteed its space in the national conversation, but none has the authority to neuter the right of others on specious pleas of sectarian sensitivities. Over the years, however, political parties have pandered to these sectional whims in the hope of creating and controlling vote banks. This creeping, poisonous phenomenon has reached intolerable levels and is having a spill-over effect on faith group, including

the ruling fringe Sangh parivar fringe. India’s Supreme Court has cautioned these militant elements to avoid creating tension with minority communities through irresponsible rumour mongering. That said, the time has come to put an end to indulgent vote bank politics.

Taslima Nasreen, the Bengali novelist and writer who, unable to work freely in her native Bangladesh, sought refuge abroad. She has lived in America and Europe but prefers India as her abode. Although based in Delhi, her initial choice of residence was Kolkata. She was barred from its precincts in 2007 by the then ruling Communistled Left Front government because of Muslim mob violence spearheaded by local clerics. It was an abject and shameful surrender. Narendra Modi, then Gujarat Chief Ministe,offered Ms Nasreen safe haven in Gujarat. Now, her application for long-term residence in India is being sympathetically processed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

West Bengal Trinamool Congress MP Idris Ali, claiming that Taslima Nasreen had defamed Islam and its Prophet, said any residence permit for the author in India would hurt the “sentiments of the Muslim community.” Another Trinamool MP, Sultan Mohammed, alleged that Taslima Nasreen’s presence in Kolkata would violate the spirit of Rabindranath Tagore. Kolkata’s outraged intellectuals were up in arms. Civil rights activist Sujata Bhadra made a telling reply. “India is not an Islamic State….. Readers should be given the opportunity to accept or reject her work.” Author Jaya Mitra remarked: “Any one is free to live in India as it is a democratic nation…..Banning Ms Nasreem (is) fascism.” Poet and novelist Nabanita Dev Sen said Taslima’s critical comments had special relevance as she herself was Muslim. “It would be great if Ms Nasreen is allowed to come to Bengal. She is a friend and I want her to be safe and stay in India.” A final word to the two Trinamool Congressmen cited above. India was partitioned in August 1947.

Pakistan – “Land of the Pure” – was created by Mohammed Ali Jinnah and his Muslim League as a homeland for the Subcontinent’s Muslims, who have an embedded right of return from outside the pale. Pakistan is where Idris Ali and Sultan Mohammed belong. In the name of god, go!

[Independence Day reports and pictures next week]

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s two-day visit to India has been a notable success It has taken the Indo-US relationship forward following a period of stagnation. The Unites States is the world’s largest arms exporter just as India is the largest arms importer. Arms exports are vital to the health of the US economy, much more than its manufactured goods and services, where Japanese and German competitors are significantly ahead of the game, with others not too far behind. Armaments are therefore America’s métier. They have to be sold in bulk to earn the required financial returns.

Nato allies such as Poland, Lithuania, Netherlands et al make relatively small purchases as befits their limited size, population and needs; India, with its huge military base, is a market of a hugely different dimension and promises a tidy profit for US manufacturers. Over the past decade India has bought $10 billion worth of US arms.Tie-ups in joint production and technology transfer are critical for the future of India’s own advanced defense manufacturing capacity. The exponential growth of Indian defense manufactures can lead to a knock-on effect across India’s entire industrial spectrum,

injection new dynamic into the Indian economy as a whole. Delhi’s decision to raise Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to 49 per cent from the present 26 per cent is surely encouragement to top-line countries like the US to invest in India’s defense industry. Mr Hagel’s talks with the senior-most members of the Indian government, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defense Minister Arun Jaitley have cleared the decks for the revival of the somnolent India-US Defense Trade and Technology Initiative, resulting in the prompt extension of the ten-year India-US Defense Framework, signed in 2005 on then defense minister Pranab Mukherjee’s watch. The Indian caveat to these transactions are ironclad US guarantees that there will be no holdups {as there have been in the past) on the US side because of a need to know the purpose of enduse. This is what curtailed Indo-US defense cooperation in the past. These issues must be worked out satisfactorily to ensure a smooth rite of passage for future cooperation. This must be predicated on political trust. Hopefully this will not be in short supply in Washington.

Emeritus Chairman of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata, piloted his own plane when he flew into Kolkata. It was his first visit to the city in two years, and he appeared astounded at the realty development he saw in the new, salubrious suburb of Rajarhat. New office blocks and residential complexes were an impressive sight, he told a women’s caucus of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) . What he missed were signs of industrialization, without which there would be a significant job deficit. The West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said Mr Tata had “lost his mind,” that much was happening on the industrial front, about which Ratan Tata seemed ignorant. Ministerial colleague Firhad Hakim, once a notorious city gangland boss, hit the roof with a more incendiary statement. D.S. Rawat, Assocham [trade body] President warned

that such uncouth rhetoric “should have been avoided as the entire business community..… will shy away from investing in Bengal.” What appeared to have raised Trinamool Congress hackles was Mr Tata’s advice that Bengal had much to learn from economic outcomes in Gujarat. Tatas, having been driven out of its Singur site, where the company had set up a plant for the manufacture the then iconic Nano car, had relocated to Gujarat’s Sanand district, but a precious year had been lost and with it disappeared the excitement generated by Nano imminent arrival on the market.

Four years have passed, the Singur site in Bengal is derelict. The demoralized farmers who sold their land to Tatas still await their promised compensation from the Mamata Banerjee government. Mr Tata’s truth touched a raw nerve. Truth hurts.

Hagel cements Indo-US defense ties

Ratan Tata’s spat with Trinamool Congress

3 Every experience in life, everything with which we have come in contact in life, is a chisel which has been cutting away at our life statue, moulding, modifying, shaping it. We are part of all we have met. Everything we have seen, heard, felt, or thought has had its hand in moulding us, shaping us - Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924)

Indian Independence should mean a loud voice on a world stage Indian leaders, and especially one with the largest number of people voting for any one man, in the history of democracy and the world, you would think have the legitimacy, more so than the EU and the US, to claim to be a world leader, a leader of the free world, a spokeperson for democratic values, the human rights that flow from the promise of free, fair elections. But no.

Such leadership does not need a UN Security Council seat – the EU doesn’t have one, Germany and Japan do not have one. It requires the will to project that power.

I write to you from South East Asia. A region which is dominated still by what happens in the White House and to a lesser extent what happens in Beijing.

Indian political leaders have never since Gandhi managed to capture the world stage, or project their imprint or thought.

When I do the BBC World paper review I often ask them how come we only ever cover US, European, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Singaporean, Korean, Australian papers? Notice the missing Indian one.

Yes of course India as it celebrates its Independence has many domestic issues to resolve, but as it reaches for the stars in its space programme it surely should raise all of mankind with its unique position on Earth.

A democracy in a tough non-democratic neighbourhood. I mean, you have China, Russia, Afghanistan and Iran on your door-step. And whilst many readers of this paper will be in favour of those

who stand opposed to the West on all things, remember ultimately world history does not favour the non-aligned, the neutral.

You will always be forced to take sides – and the side we want is an India with a global voice on the world stage. Still too often she is willing only to play timidly in her neighbourhood.

What does this mean in practical terms? Clear pressure on Iran to comply on its nuclear non-proliferation treaty obligations – ironic you may think from India, but the US is no less a nuclear hypocrite.

A threat to Assad that he halt killing Muslims or India seeks another resolution in the UN for military intervention, because India speaks for Muslims in democracies. A clear message to Putin that destabilising Ukraine is not in the EU’s interests and therefore not in India’s – because democracies stand together – join the club or get lost in isolation.

The message to Hamas – Israel has a right to exist.

She is the only democracy in the region. Bombing democracies will not be tolerated. A message to ISIS – India is the land of 300m muslims – she is against ISIS and speaks for 300m muslims when she says that.

India alone can shore up democracies at a time when democracies are under threat. An independent India means an India with a strong voice on a global stage – not an India that makes big speeches to small neighbours alone.

For the sake of humanity, India’s roles is on the global stage, not in the wings.

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MIDLANDS VOICE

Rival beauty pageant organisations bestow same title on two women A beauty queen rivalry has led to confusions between two contestants, after two different organisations bestowed the coveted title of ‘Miss Birmingham’ on two separate city stunners.

In one corner there’s Kris’ina Jagpal, last week crowned Miss Birmingham by organisers of the Miss Great Britain pageant.

In the other corner is construction worker Katie Stamps. She took the coveted title three months ago in a contest run by rival body Miss England.

Miss England bigwigs insisted there is only one official Miss Birmingham – Katie, aged 21, from Kidderminster.

Rachael Barker, Miss England regional director for the West Midlands, reportedly said: “I am livid. We could not afford the £25,000 to challenge this through the courts.

They have no right to use the term, but unless we take them through the High Court in a costly battle we can’t do anything.”

Rachael says the royal rumpus has resulted in

Kris’ina Jagpal and Katie Stamps

widespread confusion among would-be entrants.

“I also had Katie on the phone utterly confused, asking if she’s still Miss Birmingham,” she added.

Kris’ina, from Edgbaston, won her Miss Birmingham crown in Leicester last Thursday.

The 26-year-old pointed out there were two holders last year - and no problems.

According to a report in Birmingham Mail, Kris’ina added: “When you win a pageant the last thing you want is all this. I was shocked to be honest.

I’m a nice person, I get along with everybody. I’m

happy to work with another Miss Birmingham.”

Katie said: “Since winning the Miss Birmingham title I have put my all into representing the city and to change perceptions of what a beauty pageant means. With charitable and intelligent girls such as the Miss England finalists I met, I cannot believe something like this would come to jeopardise all the hard work.”

Kate Solomons, the national director for Miss Great Britain, reportedly said that she did not need a licence to hold a Miss Birmingham contest and has every right to run her own competition.

Husband slashes his pregnant wife A husband has allegedly slashed his pregnant wife with a Stanley knife and sprayed aftershave in her face because she hid his cannabis stash. Jurors heard Haroon Ashraf slashed at the mum, who was nine weeks pregnant, while their one-year-old son was just a few feet away. She was left with a deep wound to her arm which she’d raised to protect her face.

At Birmingham Crown Court, Ashraf, 24, now of Gilberthorpe Street, Rotherham, had denied charges of wounding with intent and assault by beating. But a jury of four women and eight men took just one hour and 13 minutes to find the former factory worker guilty following a three-day trial.

They had heard Neelam had hidden the bags of cannabis she found on February 8 because she objected to her husband smoking the drug. Two days later Ashraf, pictured, subjected her to a three hour attack in which he pulled her hair, slapped her, sprayed aftershave in her face and throttled her.

Then, on the morning of February 15, following a night of drinking, he used the knife on his wife of three years after she still

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refused to hand back the drugs.

Closing the case for the prosecution, Paul Whitfield told the jury: “The consequences could have been permanently disfiguring.

He approached her and slashed at her. If she had not put her arm up she would have looked very different today.”

Neelam told the court after the knife attack she knew she had to contact police. Ashram has denied the charges, saying Neelam attacked him with a knife and stabbed herself in the arm. He also denied the assault on February 10. Ashram was released on bail until September 19 when he was warned by His Honour Judge Murray Creed a custodial sentence was almost inevitable.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Yorkshire mums’ mission to give voice to families with rare conditions Two mums who tell how they experienced ‘immense isolation’ after their young sons were diagnosed with a devastating muscle-wasting condition are launching a support network in the hope of preventing other parents from facing the same plight.

Nazma Chowdhury from Bradford and Anisa Kothia from Dewsbury, who both have children affected

by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, have joined forces with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and Leeds General Infirmary to bring together families across Yorkshire living with muscular dystrophy and other musclewasting conditions.

Both Nazma and Anisa tell how they struggled to cope after their sons were diagnosed with the lifelimiting condition, needing emotional and practical support and wanting to make contact with other families in a similar situation. The pair also stressed how language and cultural barriers posed an additional obstacle to many parents finding the help that they need.

Adopting the name ‘Awaaz’ for the new group, a Hindi and Urdu word for ‘voice’, Nazma and Anisa hope it will become a supportive community for families and a means of sharing advice on anything from finding accessible accommodation to accessing local expert care and health services. Awaaz gathered for the first time on Sunday (10 August) at the Bradford Mayfield Centre, where families had the chance to meet an expert neuromuscular support worker and enjoy an afternoon of henna painting, face painting and powerchair football demonstrations.

Muscle-wasting conditions cause muscles to weaken and waste over

time, causing increasingly severe disability. Just 70,000 people in the UK – 6,000 of them in Yorkshire and Humberside – are affected. Owing to their rarity, few GPs, hospital staff and general health professionals are able to offer accurate advice on prognosis or treatment.

extremely daunting. We hope this new forum will be the missing link for many families in the area. This group, as well as being a community for families, will help to breakdown the barrier of language and culture that may prevent some people getting the best support available.”

Anisa Kothia from Dewsbury, whose six-yearold son has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, said: “Being able to speak to other parents, who can relate to you and understand exactly what you are going through, can be a huge source of support and comfort. We have been working hard to identify ways to help South Asian adults and children affected by neuromuscular conditions in particular, to work for a better future together.

This seemed like the perfect way to bring families together. We want to build a strong community where we can all support and reach out to each other.”

Nazma Chowdhury from Bradford, whose eleven-year-old son also has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, said: “I cannot tell you enough how much this forum will mean to people. It can be incredibly isolating having a child who has a condition that people know little about.

Navigating the health system and negotiating all the NHS services can be

Specialist Neuro-muscular Care Advisor, Leeds General Infirmary, said: “This project promises to be a huge success. By working sideby-side with Nazma and Anisa we hope this forum provides a much needed conduit for families to connect and support one another.”

Bobby Ancil, Neuromuscular Outreach Manager at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said: “The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is really excited to be involved in this fantastic project, which aims to bring together South Asian families across West Yorkshire affected by muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions.

We know that peer-to-peer support can be invaluable, especially for newly diagnosed families who feel that they have nowhere to turn and are forced to cope alone with the bombshell of diagnosis. This group will help people realise that they are not alone.”

Photo coutesy: Roger Moody/ Muscular Dystrophy Campaign

Members of mosque donate food to families

Young members of Masjid Al Husayn in Leicester organised a Ramadan food drive to support more than 700 Leicestershire families. Every year the Behlool Society, made up of young people has a collection during the holy month of Ramadan to donate to the British Red Cross headquarters in Oadby. The society collected dozens of shopping bags of food and provisions, as well as nearly £500 cash.

Kumail Jaffar, a member of the Behlool Society, told a local newspaper: “We run the food drive for the homeless and destitute in Leicestershire and we ask people to bring in all sorts of non-perishable things, from toothpaste to their favourite chocolate, and it went really well this year.

Gemma Lakin and Kumail Jaffar with helpers

“We do it in the name of Imam Ali, the successor to the Prophet

Mohammed, who was himself a very generous and giving man.”

5

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

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6

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

The UK’s worst doctors are let off by Medical Council Some of the UK’s worst doctors, despite being named and shamed, have been allowed to carry on practising despite making life-threatening errors and having a criminal record, a national daily has revealed.

The most extreme failings have included overlooking cancer symptoms, making mistakes during operations and kerb-crawling, errors which have been merely pushed to the side by the General Medical Council (GMC).

In total, 147 doctors were given formal warnings by the GMC in 2013, which is charged with upholding professional standards. Cases included: at least five in which doctors missed the symptoms of cancer, a surgeon who threw a scalpel across an operating theatre during an operation and a GP who indecently exposed himself at a Christmas party and another caught soliciting for prostitutes.

For each of the cases, the GMC chose to issue a warning rather than

impose a harsher penalty.

Last year, 55 other doctors were struck off – 1.6 per cent of the 3,348 formally investigated. A further 86 were suspended, out of the total of 233,000 doctors who are licensed to practise.

The identities of the doctors were published on the GMC register, which lists doctors by name and registration number.

One of those who received a warning for missing a cancer case was gastro-enterologist Navneet Ahluwalia, from Stockport, who was asked to examine a female patient with ‘significant abdominal symptoms’.

The GMC reported that despite test results indicating a need for further investigation, Dr Ahluwalia reportedly wrote to the patient’s GP stating “we are not dealing with cancer” and that the results were ‘‘normal’’, which was incorrect. The patient was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer ‘after a significant delay which could have affected her prognosis’.

The GMC did not say whether the patient lived or died.

In addition, Dermatologist Dr Hari Narayana received a warning after trying to pick up a prostitute in the street.

Whilst surgeon Munir Abdullah Ali was warned after throwing a scalpel in an operating theatre at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester.

On Saturday 9 August, a number of campaigners accused the GMC of ‘going soft’ on these doctors.

GMC chief executive Niall Dickson responded by denying that a warning was a ‘let-off’ for a doctor.

Top British-Pakistani Surgeon suspended over groping allegations An acclaimed British Pakistani plastic surgeon, who featured in the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary 'Saving Face', has been suspended from work after being accused of attacking a female patient at his London office.

Dr Mohammed Jawad, who is renowned as a reconstructive surgeon working with acid attack victims in Pakistan, is reported to have attacked the Polish woman during a consultation in 2012.

The alleged victim reportedly told a national Daily that Dr Jawad, 55, had "downed a bottle of vodka" before asking her to dance at his surgery in London's Harley Street.

He is then said to have rubbed her neck before wrapping his leg around hers. She reportedly said that the incident had left

her feeling "suicidal" but she decided to speak out to warn other women.

Dr Jawad, who is married, has contested the allegations.

Britain's doctor's regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC) suspended Dr Jawad soon after the allegations emerged in November 2013.

The widely-regarded surgeon first came to the attention of the British public in 2008 after carrying out a new reconstructive procedure on British

model Katie Piper who was the victim of a horrific acid attack at the hands of her boyfriend.

At the time of the Quetta earthquake in 2008, Dr Jawad visited his native Pakistan to help in any way he could, and realised that acid attacks were rife in the country.

Determined to help, Dr Jawad began visiting every three months and with help from charities in Britain and Pakistan, set up free clinics to conduct reconstructive operations.

Dr Jawad's alleged victim claims that she contacted the surgeon after seeing the Channel 4 documentary on his work with Katie Piper.

The GMC is expected to make a decision later this month on whether Dr Jawad is fit to practise in the UK. Dr Jawad refused to comment.

Teenage activist Malala FaceTimes with pop singer Justin Bieber

She shot to attention when she overcome a brutal attack at the hands of the Taliban for daring to advocate for education for girls in her native Pakistan and won a Nobel Peace Prize for it. He went from being a child from a broken home in suburban Ontario to becoming one of the world’s biggest-selling and wealthiest pop stars in a mere four years.

Though an unlikely duo, Malala and Justin Bieber nevertheless enjoyed a FaceTime chat together on Wednesday 6 August.

Bieber, 20-year-old who is Canadian, took to his Facebook page on Wednesday to post

that that he had caught up with Malala, 17, to chat about the her work campaigning for education for young girls around the world.

Bieber posted a still picture taken from his phone showing Malala sporting a wide grin. “Just

got to FaceTime with Malala Yousafzai. She has such an incredible story. I can’t wait to meet her in person and talk about how I can support her and the @malalafund. #love,” Bieber posted.

Bieber has offered his generous support in the past to more than two dozen different charitable causes around the world, from school-building projects in Guatemala to antibullying campaigns. He is yet to confirm what he will be doing for the Malala Fund, Yousafzai’s education charity that works promoting education for girls in in Pakistan, the Middle East and Africa.

Bangladeshi murderer heading to UK after Home Office blunder A convicted murderer from Bangladesh is due to come and live in Britain on human-rights grounds after the Home Office made a legal error.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary, came under pressure on Saturday 9th August, to explain how the man – referred to as “ZR” – had been allowed to win a legal challenge because of a paperwork error made by her department.

The 45-year-old former shopkeeper is now expected to enter Britain because the Home Office submitted court papers too late.

ZR was convicted of murdering two people in Bangladesh in 1990 and jailed for life.

However, he was released in 1997 due to a r e p o r t e d “general amnesty for good behaviour”, according to papers in his immigration case.

In March 1998, he married a British woman and they had three children, all born in Britain.

In 2011, ZR reportedly applied to the Home Office to come and join his family. His application was refused because the admission of a double murderer to Britain was “not in the public interest”.

ZR launched an appeal, and Judge John Blair-Gould in the lower immigration tribunal permitted his claim

under Article 8 of the E u r o p e a n Convention on Human Rights, which protects the “right to private and family life”.

Unfortunately, Home Office lawyers failed to lodge an appeal in time, meaning the earlier decision to allow ZR’s appeal still remains. The details of his crimes are still unknown.

The Home Office reportedly refused to provide details of ZR’s offences, but confirmed that the G o v e r n m e n t had “exhausted all avenues of appeal”, meaning officials must now issue the murderer with a visa to travel to Britain.

Toddler dies after being hit by bus in Luton A three-year-old girl has died after she was hit by a bus in Luton on Friday 8th August.

Police in Bedfordshire confirmed the toddler to be Mayah Shazad, who was hit by the bus in Dunstable Road, Bury Park, at around 3.45pm on Friday.

In a statement, Bedfordshire Police reportedly said: “Obviously this tragedy, which took place at a very

busy time in a busy area, was extremely distressing for many people who witnessed it or arrived at the scene shortly afterwards to assist.

“The girl’s family are being supported by family liaison officers who are keeping them in touch with developments.

Our condolences are with them at this time.”

The busy road was closed for more than four

hours as police investigated the scene whilst buses were re-routed. The driver was reportedly questioned as “a matter of routine”.

Police are urging any witnesses to contact them on 101 with any information.

Jailed international drug smuggler ordered to pay more than £70,000 An international drug smuggler, who is currently serving a 14 year sentence for hiding £800,000 of heroin in children’s clothing, has been order to pay up more than £70,000 or face an extended period behind bars.

Imran Hussain, 32, from Birmingham, was convicted in August 2013, after it was discovered that he had made £285,781 from drug smuggling and dealing.

He has now been ordered to repay all the money or spend a further 21 months in prison.

Birmingham Crown

Imran Hussain

Court heard Hussain’s realisable assets, including cash and the price of

an industrial unit, came to £76,693.

His Honour Judge Murray Creed gave Hussain six months to return the money.

Hussain denied importing heroin and possession with intent to supply but was convicted by a jury last August and handed a 14-and-a-halfyear sentence. He was caught when police became suspicious about a Luton taxi making a delivery in Birmingham.

When police stopped the vehicle, officers found four-and-a-half kilos of heroin with a street value

of more than £800,000 concealed in the lining of children’s tracksuits and jackets. Analysis of phone history revealed the delivery was intended for Hussain.

Det Insp Martin Brennan, from the serious and organised crime unit, reportedly said: ‘This seizure and the conviction has stopped a large quantity of heroin from being dealt on the streets of Birmingham. The arrest is a fantastic example of how local officers work closely alongside force detectives to speedily take action against those try-

ing to bring Class A drugs

into the West Midlands.’

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Warnings over extremism in Britain’s nurseries

Nurseries are at risk of being influenced by religious extremists, the new Education Secretary has warned, as she announced that toddlers will be taught ‘fundamental British values’.

In her first major speech since the reshuffle, Nicky Morgan highlighted the danger of extremism in Britain’s nurseries after the ‘Trojan Horse’ scandal.

She said that local authorities will be obliged

to use new powers to strip nurseries of their funding if they are found to “promote extremist views”.

Mrs Morgan’s announcement comes in the wake of the “Trojan Horse” plot by Islamist radicals to take over state schools in Birmingham.

The scandal involved primary and secondary schools, but this is the first time the Government has warned that children as young as two could require

Nicky Morgan

protection from extremists.

Mrs Morgan is understood to be concerned about the risks posed to children by

nurseries linked to radical mosques or run by Islamic hardliners.

However, sources added that there is no concrete intelligence about individual nurseries that demands immediate action. An Asian nursery owner in Birmingham, who does not wish to be named, said: ‘I don’t think my nursery is under any sort of threat. As the proprietor, I would not allow it. We follow the British national curriculum and we cele-

brate different cultural festivals but we don’t practice any religious values within the nursery. We’ve got specific polices and procedures in place which don’t allow that.’

When asked if the Government is being over pre-cautious, the proprietor said, ‘no they are not being over pre-cautious because there have been incidents in certain areas where such things have happened. We live in Britain, we have to have British values and we shouldn’t forget that.’

The Secretary’s

UK

7

announcement comes after a consultation into early education funding received 450 responses from individuals and organisations expressing concerns about funding going to organisations that promote extremist views.

Mrs Morgan, who replaced Michael Gove as Education Secretary in last month’s Cabinet reshuffle, has made it clear that any institution that fails to prepare children for life in modern Britain cannot be supported with public funding.

8

As I See It

“Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached”

- Swami Vivekananda

100 years ago while Indian soldiers were contributing their blood and toil for the allied cause, Swami Vivekananda's message from Indian scriptures was making waves in a very inspiring manner for all Indians, not necessarily Hindus.

The then Indian leaders canvased for recruitment in the British Indian army expecting home rule. The British empire was at its zenith and this modest demand was rejected. Within 20 years, with the advent of World War II, the call for complete independence became very loud and nationwide in 1942. In 5 years, the Crown had to hand over powers to India.

On 15th August, India celebrates its 67th Independence Day. Since 1947 almost 100 countries including all neighbours (except Nepal and Bhutan) gained their i n d e p e n d e n c e .

Democracy has taken roots in India like nowhere else. The freedom struggle was non violent and peaceful (by and large) and the quality of the leadership contributed enormously.

A nation born out of hatred and violence has been divided into two and has become itself a victim of its own extremism, violence and aggressiveness. Indians everywhere will be justly proud of their progress on the world stage.

Janmashtami follows after Independence Day. Shrimad Bhagavad Gita has been universally accepted as a book of scriptures and perhaps the standard bearer of Sanatan Hindu message.

Karma Yoga is one of the most effective of yogas (jap yoga, tapayouga, homatmak yoga etc.) and Chapter 3 Shloka 21, is reproduced below in Sanskrit and English publications by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India. यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः । स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ।

“For whatever a great man does, that very thing other men also do; whatever standard he sets up, the generality of men follow the same.”

Lord Krishna says no one is perfect at the same time it is true we common mortals are inspired and encouraged by those who lead us. Not only in the political field but everywhere. There are few topics on which I would like to focus: l Kusoomben Vadgama, a very learned octogenarian, has raised several

UK

Trojan Horse plot still running, warn headteachers

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

From left: Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, Kevin McCabe, Saeeda Bano, Ruby Kundi and Bhupinder Kondal say they were subjected to a campaign of bullying and interference by governors trying to impose Islamic practices in secular schools

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi

eyebrows with her statement about the proposed Gandhi statue in the Parliament Square.

There are several letters on Gandhi statue comment in Asian Voice this week and many more remain unpublished because of space.

Mahatma Gandhi never claimed to be perfect and perhaps was one of the most candid persons. 65 years after his assassination and nearly 80 years after his so called experiments on celibacy, is it necessary, desirable or even right to raise the issue in the way Kusoomben has done?

Nitpicking is very easy. But lets look at the picture in totality. I would request letter writers to be more vigilant and restrained.

Throwing stones against the brick is not an Indian tradition. l Baroness Sayeeda Warsi is an amazing person. Born in an immigrant family in modest circumstances, she rapidly rose to a unique position. All of a sudden like a shooting star she left the cabinet. Everyone has to accept, however shocking or tragic her decision was, she is fully entitled to choose her course. Some people have asked me whether she has done the right thing in the wrong way.

Some have asked a pertinent question. Since when is Baroness Warsi talking about northern working class women?

How can she talk about ethnic minority? How much does she know about Indians, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, Afro Carribeans or Africans, let alone about British Pakistanis? Is she the most popular or respected British Pakistani politician?

The saddest thing is

what an average man on the Clapham Omnibus would react now on about any Muslim politician in the mainstream of Britain? You are a member of the House of Lords or House of Commons to represent your constituent or your party. How far justified is your decision based on events, however sad they may be in the far off lands?

Foreign affairs are, after all, confined to a different sphere. I do not wish that any other Pakistani in in British politics, locally or nationally is judged as a loose cannon for some tragedy on foreign soil.

If no person is perfect, no place or politician is perfect.

Sayeedaben herself shocked many Indians and peace loving Britons when she labelled terrorists in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir as 'freedom fighters'.

We all have moved on. So perhaps she should as well. After all she is a politician. She lost at least one election for British Parliament, by her own admission, the Conservative party is unlikely to win next year.

Is that the cause or consequence of her action?

That is also a real question, isn't it?

Whether you are Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Sikh or Christian, a believer or a non believer, or a person in a very powerful and prominent position like Baroness Warsi, one has to look before they leap.

It's not important whether she is going to gain or lose out of her actions, but other budding politicians from that or this community, should not be stigmatised.

- CB

Five headteachers, who suffered bullying at the hands of hardline Muslim governors in Birmingham, have warned of a second layer of extremists planning to take over state schools in the city.

In almost similar accounts of the bullying they claimed they experienced during the ‘Trojan Horse’ plot, the group of heads urged the new education secretary to support further investigations into the Islamification of schools in Birmingham.

Out of the five heads, three were removed from their role or walked away and one is on leave after clashing with Muslim governors who tried to

impose Islamic practices on secular schools.

Saeeda Bano, who resigned as head of Nansen Primary School, reportedly described a “second layer” of teachers and governors working together to destabilise schools: “There are still things going on in other city schools. I know for a fact there are head teachers who haven’t come forward yet. This really does need to be stopped. There are still many things that need to be addressed. I would not want any other teachers to have to go through what I have been through.”

Bhupinder Kondal, the head of Oldknow

Academy who walked out six months ago, will return to her job following the resignation of its board of governors. She reportedly described her imminent return to work as “like winning the lottery”.

The ongoing Trojan Horse plot has had a deep effect on all those involved as well as the Muslim community as a whole.

Several head teachers are taking or considering legal action against either Birmingham city council or the academy trusts that employed them, according to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

Baroness Boothroyd, the former Speaker of the House of Commons, spoke out against the planned elevation of the peers, saying the Lords had run out of space as well as claiming expenses.

Baroness Boothroyd, 84, reportedly said: “It is so overcrowded that there is only space for

two thirds of us in the chamber itself. It is appalling. All prime ministers are very keen to put new members in here so they get their legislation through and they pile them in irrespective.”

She called for “proper reform” so there would be “a retirement age or a number of years they should perform here”.

Well-deserved recognition for Ranbir Singh Suri

Continued from page 1

Other individuals on the PM’s list includes Karren Brady, the Apprentice television star and businesswoman, Sir Stuart Rose, the retail businessman, Michael Farmer, the Tory party’s co-treasurer, and Michael Cashman, the former EastEnders actor.

Earlier this week,

Warsi predicts Conservatives will lose elections in 2015 With Britain’s first female Muslim Cabinet minister quitting last week, Prime Minister David Cameron is facing rebellion from amongst his peers. Saying that the Conservative party cannot win a majority at the next general election to be held in 2015, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has raised questions regarding Cameron’s policies towards Britain’s ethnic minority voters.

Baroness Warsi reportedly said, “I will be out there, vocally fighting for an outright Conservative majority. But the electoral reality is that we will not win outright Conservative majorities until we start attracting more of the ethnic vote.’’

Talking about Cameron she said she was one of his earliest support-

ers in 2005 when she thought “This is a guy who gets today’s Britain.

He’s a new kind of Conservative. I think the party has shifted since then. I think over time it will be a regressive move because we have to appeal to all of Britain, not just because it’s morally the right thing to do but because it is an electoral reality. We’ve probably left it a little too late to take this part of the electorate seriously. “ Baroness Warsi - a senior foreign office minister resigned last Tuesday calling the government’s stance on Gaza “morally indefensible”.

In her letter to Cameron, Warsi reportedly said “ Our policy in relation to the Middle East peace process generally

but more recently our approach and language during the current crisis in Gaza is morally indefensible, is not in Britain’s national interest and will have a long term detrimental impact on our reputation internationally and domestically.’’

PM Cameron also defended himself by saying “We’ve been very clear that there needs to be an immediate, comprehensive humanitarian ceasefire and that we want this conflict to stop. And we obviously think it’s appalling, the loss of life that there’s been. From the start, though, we’ve also made the point that if the Hamas rocket attacks on Israel stop, then that would be probably the fastest way to stop this conflict.’

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

The Israeli Deputy Ambassador on India and Israel Mr. Eitan Na'eh is Israel's Deputy Ambassador to the United Kingdom. A specialist in Turkish affairs, Mr Na’eh served in Ankara and Chicago and was Head of the Turkish, Greek and Cyprus desk in Jerusalem. Most recently he was Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

Before London, he was the National Security Council's Senior Director at the Diplomatic Secretariat, within the Office of the Prime Minister.

Mr. Na'eh holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science and Middle Eastern History from TelAviv University.

He gave me an exclusive interview after an Indian Jewish Association event recently to which the Indian Journalists Association was invited.

Mr Na’eh was Acting Ambassador that night, as the Israeli Ambassador was away on a trip to the troubled Middle East with British Foreign Minister William Hague.

Mr. Eitan Na'eh

Because the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians was under way, there was a slightly sombre backdrop, and Mr Na’eh appeared concerned. He sat down with me and talked openly.

He said that Israelis tend measure their words carefully when commenting on the current conflict

that started July 8th.

“We need to bring the truth. We cannot just tell lies. Sometimes it takes us more time to react because we need to be accurate in what we are reporting.”

The Deputy Ambassador said that Israel felt threatened and that facts were just being uncovered, particularly about the missiles and tunnels that had been built across the Israeli border.

He made a comparison between what could have happened now and the murder and mayhem that happened in 2008, in India.

“The vast, intricate system of underground tunnels; these are not potholes- these are tube like, terror tunnels; more than 30. And we haven’t discovered all of them. Their

exit points are close to or inside Israeli villages. It’s Mumbai massacre, times forty. Can you imagine the magnitude; we are not the size of India. What it would have created, had we let it happen? We have to do away with this danger. We cannot leave Gaza without at least eliminating the motivation to use them, hopefully to destroy these terror tunnels. With the amount of concrete inside you could have built hospitals.”

As of Sunday afternoon, one news outlet put the death toll in Gaza at 1,939. According to the UN, about 73 percent of those killed were civilians.

66 Israeli soldiers and three civilians were killed on the Israeli side.

Mr Na’eh regretted civilian casualties in Gaza.

“People are languishing in poor neighbourhoods in their houses. Yes, civilians are being hurt, but nobody invented another way of uprooting and stopping terror.

There’s no other way. It’s unfortunate. The rage, the disgust, should be directed against them [Hamas]. If you shoot among civilians, it’s a war crime, if you shoot at civilians, deliberately, targeting civilians.

We don’t target civilians.

Why would we do that?

What do we stand to gain by targeting civilians, women and children? If

and when civilians were killed it was a mistake, it could only be undeliberate. We made a mistake.

It’s a malfunction of weapons systems.”

Mr Na’eh stated that Israel was determined to defend itself from attack, as the ancestors of the current generation of Israelis had suffered badly at the hands of others. He was aware of the international criticism.

“People tell us what not to do, so tell us what we should be doing. Sit down and wait for our turn to die? We did that, 70 years ago. We could not protect ourselves. My mother, as a six year old; she could not protect herself. The Nazis came to take her family. Now we can protect ourselves. We are very good at protecting ourselves. Sometimes in order to protect ourselves, we have to go after them.

And because they are operating from civilian territories, peoples’ homes, living rooms, streets and alleys, we have to go there.

And uproot them. Because if not, life will be unbearable for years to come.”

When I ask if this crisis will be the final one, he said, “I don’t know. I hope so. We have to stop them.

We have to demilitarise Gaza. We have to take their arms away. It’s a tremendous task. The international community

has a task, an obligation.

Drafting UN Security Council resolutions is one thing, not implementing is another. We feel neglected by the international community.

Because they have not really insisted on complete compliance.

Which meant the end of smuggling of weapons into Gaza; since then we had three cycles of violence.”

What should Britain do? “Together with the rest of the international community, to make sure that Hamas will be disarmed. The European foreign ministers gave a very strong statement in Brussels denouncing Hamas. Asking to disarm Hamas. Whether it will be done remains to be seen.

We have an obligation to protect our citizens. They are not sleeping at night.

The kibbutzim were mostly deserted. People are afraid to go back because there are tunnels under their houses. Who can live like that? Communities cannot survive like that.”

I wanted to know about Israeli-India interaction. “We have very good relationships, quiet relationships; we wish India was to voice its position. India and Israel together, we are way over one billion people,” he said jokingly.

At the time of writing, a 72 hour ceasefire was holding.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Admire Gandhi

The truth about Gandhi

Kusoombenji has weighed achievements of Gandhiji on the scales of sex and defamatory data, thus exposing erroneous bench mark pursued by some writers. Whether it is true or false, it hurts all patriotic readers. Though Hindu philosophy exhorts one to speak the truth, the same philosophy also mentions to shut up if that truth hurts. Thus writer partially follows tenet of truthfulness.

Kusoomben should dwell strictly on spatial problems, spatial resources and spatial solutions. Please do not use western trend to sully brilliant luminaries of India. Values and ideals of such role models are more lasting and mentally soothing than standards set and propitiated by the west. 1000 years henceforth, generations will find it incredible that such a luminary walked among mere mortals.

The very, the undisputed and the globally accepted fact that Gandhiji removed mighty British rule by non-violence deserves unsolicited and unadulterated admiration. Nobody has been able to achieve such a feat in past 1000 years or will achieve in next 1000 years.

Admire Gandhiji for candid admissions as against denials of sex philandering by many leaders and role models of East and West. One may adore him as a Mahatma or not is ones personal choice.

I am disgusted to read Kusoom’s article of the 9th August about our great Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji ran an Ambulance service in South African War, he led Civil disobedience of 300 Indians to break the unjust law to go to the restricted area of white, grew own vegetables and clean the dirty places with other Indians. He fought against Apartheid there and won their hearts of all people!

In 1915 when he went to India he was 46. He travelled all over India to get first hand knowledge of Indians. Once he saw a poor woman wearing the same torn old saree after bathing in a pond. He said to himself, is my Mother India so poor, then I would wear only Loin Cloth till all the Poor of India have enough clothes. He took such Bhishma Oath and fought for India Independence and died wearing Loin Cloth and cheap pair of Chappals!

GandhiJi soon started his own News paper to show the world how badly and unjustly Indians were treated by British.

He was busy organising the strategy with the Indians Leaders like Nehru, Sardar Patel, Sarojini Naidu, Maulana Azad, Jinnah, etc. Also striving hard to raise the respect of untouchables to Harijans, asking to spin their own clothes and ban British goods, leading the truth and nonviolence struggle from Sabarmati to Dandi against unjust tax on Salt when so many Indians were killed by British, unwept, unrecognised and unsung.

Gandhi and Nehru spent their time in jail some times with other leaders. He did so many Good things including writing books and other multifarious activities.

He was respected as Bapu.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

The truth about Gandhi

“Gandhi was a great inspiration.” (Martin Luther King) “You gave us MK Gandhi and we gave you back Mahatma” (Nelson Mandela) “By educating son, he liberates one family, by educating girl, she liberates two families.” (Modi quoting Gandhi) “Studying Gandhi’s life encouraged me to follow in his foot-steps for independence” (Julius Nyerere, first President of independent Tanzania whom I met several times) These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to quoting famous people inspired by Gandhi who was oasis of enlightenment, was declared unanimously “Personality” of the 20th Century.

Even the noblest soul to grace earth, Lord Jesus Christ is not spared, ridiculed in similar manner, imagining his sexual preferences and linking his name with a prostitute. The writer could have used her pyrotechnics psychological powers to better use. Perhaps she has signed affidavits from Manu and Abha to justify her ridiculing Gandhiji, great advocate of the oppressed plebeians, visiting Harijans in their own homes for dinner. So how could he hate Africans? World is full of ventriloquist’s dummies and holier than thou people libelling great souls. Then what do we expect from bunker mentality and subservient attitude acquired during 1000 years of slavery. We the finicky, fiduciary, demented Indians are champions at self-denigrating. During Congress, Communist rule, school textbooks described Maha Rana Pratap and Shivaji as traitors, terrorists but murderers Stalin and Mao as great leaders.

Lord Desai is an intellectual giant. I would rather trust Lord Desai’s judgement.

Upendra Kapadia By email

Our Memorial

I read with great interest your comment on India’s Glorious Dead in the Great War, although you haven’t actually said that 60,000 Indians died. I have not been able to discover the numbers of the wounded.

I am disappointed that you did not mention that now there is actually a Memorial which commemorates the commitment and sacrifice of not just the Indians but also the Africans and the people from the West Indies. Quite naturally the largest number came from India but you should never forget that the Jamaicans after waiting 6 months to be allowed to join the British Army were at the Somme.

All of us the non white people from the Colonies had somehow been forgotten. I think that everyone needs to know about the Memorial next to the wall of Buckingham Palace at Hyde Park Corner since it is the only Memorial and it has created a lot of interest among the British. Sadly when I ask the Indians if they know about it, most of them say they don’t. I do hope that you will rectify this.

It is our Memorial and we need to know that it represents what we did for this country.

Subscribe Today Bhupendra M Gandhi By email

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Baroness Shreela Flather By email

ASIAN VOICE

Statue of Gandhi at Parliament Square

I am saddened by the reaction of a few misguided fellow Indians who are campaigning against the statue of Mahatma Gandhi which is to be erected near the Houses of Parliament in Britain in recognition of his immense contribution to the free world. Their protest is unwarranted and unnecessary and above all, counterproductive. If Britain wishes to acknowledge the contribution of a leader who was also the architect for bringing an end to the British rule in India, then it surely speaks volumes about the great man. In fact, I shudder to think what our future would have been if it wasn’t for Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle for our independence.

Today Britain is no longer an imperial power and its approach has changed completely hence the acknowledgement of our great leader. The statue of someone who renounced violence and spoke of civility many decades ago, when violence is still being perpetrated today on minorities by majorities on a daily basis, will act as a great symbol of peace and harmony. His famous saying, “an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind” would serve us well today.

The shape of the world as we see today owes him a great deal. The civil rights movement in America under Dr. Martin Luther King was a direct result of Bapuji’s inspiration. The struggle against apartheid in South Africa by Nelson Mandela is yet another example with both Bapuji and Madiba holding strong beliefs on non-violent approaches to social change.

Bapuji was a visionary. His message of love and nonviolence has become more important than ever before in our fractured world. His statue will reminds us of his contribution to nonviolence and a peaceful coexistence. (abridged) Dr Rami Ranger MBE, Chairman The British Sikh Association

Attack on Yazidis

There was a country called Persia. It is now called Iran. The name Persia has been erased from the history of mankind. Muslim invasion of Persia forced its original inhabitants, the Zoroastrians, to flee their homeland. Vast majority of them went to India.

Since then India has been their homeland.

The Bahai faith originated in Iran.

Ayatollah Khomaini gave Bahais three choices: Convert to Shia Islam, leave Iran or get slaughtered. So, as repeat of history, the vast majority of Bahais went to India for shelter and succour. India is now their home. The same thing is now happening in Iraq. Yazidis have been the citizen of that country before the advent of Islam. There are reports that 500 Yazidis have been already killed. 300 women are taken as slaves. Like the Bahais they have been given the same three choices.

From the historical point of view the Zoroastrians, Bahais and Yazidis have not done anything to Islam or Muslims. The Yazidis are not in any way involved in the conflict between Shias and Sunnis. Yet they are either brutally killed or driven out of their homes. We are repeatedly told Islam is

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Diwali is now two months away. The New Year is knocking at the door waiting to bring in colours and light to our lives with fervour of joy and ever lasting happiness. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar as every year will be publishing the ‘Diwali Special’ Magazine for our fabulous and supportive readers like yourself.

This year in the English section, we are doing something special for our young readers. l If you are between 7-25 years of age, write an article in English on 'how you celebrate your Diwali every year' or 'your most memorable Diwali with friends and family' or 'how you celebrate Diwali in your school' in no more than 700 words, along with a suitable photo l if you an organisation, which has a youth wing or support youth activities, tell us how your young members or youth wing celebrates Diwali in 500-600 words with 2 pictures (in no less than 300dpi).

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Is there life in an egg?

During this holy month of Shravan and as the Jains’ Paryushan are drawing closer, I would like to carry out a vox populi of Asian Voice readers. The dictionary definition of abortion is the expulsion of the foetus from the uterus- either spontaneous or induced.

What should we call the removal of the foetus from the egg of a bird? We know that there is no life yet in the egg but there is potential for life. If the egg were not utilised for food, life would have been formed. This begs the question. Is there life in an egg and does eating an egg tantamount to taking a life? It has been said that there is only the potential for life in an egg if the egg has been fertilised. Any egg that you buy from a shop is unfertilised therefore there is no potential for life. When eggs are processed, they are checked using a bright light and any which have been fertilised are identified and removed. However, by consuming eggs one is still encourging animal deaths as there will be a lot of males born to get enough hens. The same could also be said for milk drinking. How many bulls are born and slaughtered to breed enough cows for milking? It is for the individual to make his own judgement. Jains and some other Hindus do not condone eating of eggs, or root vegetables, for that matter.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford a religion of peace. Are these examples of peaceful acts?

Dr Jatindra Saha By email Continued on page 11

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Southall restaurant fined thousands Chaudhry’s TKC has been subject to a number of written warnings, enforcement notices and two temporary closures over the last three and a half years and had traded under a food hygiene rating of zero out of five stars since December 2012 until April 2014.

The owner requested a follow up inspection in mid-2013 to try and

Continued from page 10

YOUR VOICE

Ban Ki-Moon

Ban Ki-Moon, then 62, was preferred instead of Shashi Tharoor, than 50, as the U N General Secretary in 2006. Now Ban Ki-Moon must be 70. He has not been an effective force in the United Nations. There is still time to fire him and appoint someone like Shashi Tharoor who would now be 58. After all, Shashi Tharoor has had many years of very high level experience working for the United Nations, the last one as Deputy General Secretary of the United Nations.

Recent decision by Barak Hussein Obama to drop bombs in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq was misguided. The latter knew better how to rule Iraq than the former. ISIS has already gained control of

improve this rating.

Despite being told that a visit was imminent, a surprise inspection by the Ealing Council’s food safety team on 5 October 2013 once again found major failures including dead flies on work surfaces, mouse faeces behind shelving, poor food storage systems, and a lack of hot water for washing hands or equipment.

one-quarter of Iraq and one-third of Syria: an area bigger than United Kingdom. 6 million Iraqis and/or Syrians live in that area.

Without the tacit support of these six million inhabitants, and some financial and/or operational support to ISIS from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, ISIS would not have succeeded so quickly so far.

What is the real objective of ISIS? Who are they? Are they corrupt? Perhaps they want to share jobs and oil revenues on an equal footing compared to the current equally corrupt Iraqi government that is apparently favouring Shias to Sunnis in jobs, oil revenues and bribes. After all, about 40% are Sunni Muslims and about 60% are Shia Muslims. Surely mediation, not military, is the fair civilized way of helping the entire population of Iraq.

Record number set to appeal A-level and GCSE results

Record numbers of appeals are expected over this year’s GCSE and Alevel results amid a toughening up of the qualifications. Grades are likely to dip following major changes to the exams system in England which could see an unprecedented number of challenges from pupils unhappy at their results.

Exams watchdog Ofqual has already told schools to expect ‘particularly volatile’ GCSE and A-level results. This is now expected to have a knock-on effect on complaints to exam boards, which have risen every year since 2008. Last year 329,900 GCSE and Alevel results were challenged by schools on behalf of pupils – a 13 per cent increase in a year. Of those, 54,400 grades – one in six – were changed, with the vast majority being marked up. This

If your family member or children have scored brilliantly in this year's ALevels, you can publish a congratulatory message (no more than 40 words) with photo free of charge.

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Nagindas Khajuria By email

Global Muslims

Indian national anthem

Alpesh Patel has stated India needs to protect global Muslims- because Muslims Won’t. I would like to ask him who is protecting global Hindus who are forced to become Muslims in Bangladesh and Sikhs and Hindus are beheaded in Pakistan. How many Muslim countries have come to their rescue.

India is the only country where majority are Hindus and their population has gone down to 80 per cent where as Muslim population after independence has gone up by four times. Muslims have large families with several wives and successive governments gave generous handouts for their families and hence Muslim population is increasing rapidly.

As a born Indian before independence I know how Muslims are increasing their population in the South, Kashmir, in Bengal and Assam in India. In fact Muslim population in West Bengal and Assam is almost 50 per cent and the Indian government has failed to release the figures for the fear of Hindu backlash.

When few Muslims were killed in religious riots in Gujarat, Hindus in Gujarat were accused of committing genocide and this was included in lok Sabah minutes.

When Muslims kill thousands of Christians in Nigeria and in Iraq no Muslim country has condemned this barbaric act and some Muslim countries support them. India is the country where Muslims are allowed to kill Hindus in all parts including Mumbai and the UPA government failed to acknowledge crime committed by Muslims. In fact BJP won the election because of the appeasement of minorities and Hindus want their rights to be restored.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

15th August will mark the 66th Anniversary of Indian independennce.

The day will be celebrated with parades and proclamations. Struggle for independence and the sacrifices of national leaders, only Nehru and Gandhi will be delivered and delivered like a mantra.

Gokhale , Tilak, Azad, Naidu, Singh and Lajpat Rai who even died as a result of a Lathi charge during a peaceful antiSimon Commission rally in 1928, will not be remembered for their significant role in the freedom movement. After the flag hoisting, the official celebrations will end with the singing of the national anthem.

The Indian national anthem has no indication of love for the motherland nor does it glorify God and unbelievably mentions Sindh, which is in Pakistan. The song was written in Bengali by Tagore to honour King George V when he visited India with Queen Mary for the imperial durbar in 1911, the first British monarch to set foot on Indian soil. It was also to proclaim them as emperor and empress of India.

The poem was first recited on 27 December 1911 at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress and was officially accepted as the national anthem in 1950, when India became a REpublic.

It is not an ode to India and its freedom.

Worse still, its meaning is lost to 90% of Indians, who do not speak Bengali. For the past 66 years, the people of independent India have been signing the praise of a British monarch, a ruler of India. It is very much hoped that the Modi administration will consider a new national anthem worthy of India’s glory and greatness. Jai Hind!

Kusoom Vadgama By fax

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The owner of Chaudhry’s TKC restaurant in Southall, has pleaded guilty to eight food hygiene offences after council officers found their premises to be dirty and pest-infested.

MMM Caterers Limited appeared at Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court last week following a string of failed food hygiene inspections and sustained non-compliance with basic food safety standards.

11

12

MEDIA WATCH

He came, he saw, he conquered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took Nepal by storm. Nepali leaders, from Prime Minister Sushil Kumar Koirala, of the ruling Nepal Congress, right across the political spectrum to the far left Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), whose leader Prachanda [ real name Pushpa Kumar Dahal] hailed Mr Modi’s visit as a transformational event in the relations between the two countries.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

to ensure oil availability in farflung parts of Nepal beyond its capital. These and other economic issues, market access, foremost among them, and investment will be discussed in some detail by Nepali and Indian civil servants. This promises to be a period of seed-time and remedy. Prime Minister Koirala told reporters that Narendra Modi’s trip to his country had gone off well.

Chinese trade with Nepal was a non-issue, he said, commerce being an essential component of international life. Mr Modi’s early forays on the regional and wider international stage have begun with a resounding bang.

Ties of culture, faith, ethnicity and language will be the icing on the India-Nepal cake (Telegraph, Hindu, Times of India, Economic Times August 5, 6)

No change in RBI repo rates

Narendra Modi in Kathmandu with Nepal PM Sushil Kumar Koirala

Welcoming the Indian Prime Minister, Prachanda told his guest, “You did not just touch the feelings of the people of Nepal, but you also won their hearts.” This was no hyperbole, as vast crowds assembled in Kathmandu, which was decorated with banners and arches to greet the visitor. Mr Modi went to the city’s famous Pashupatinath Temple for an hour-long consecration – a ritual rite in the month of Shravaan bearing a gift of 2,500 kilos of white sandalwood [banned for export] as he performed an elaborate prostration before the Temple deities.

Nepal’s transition

Nepal is in the midst of an epochal transition, from a centuries-old feudal monarchy to a 21st century democracy fit for purpose, in tune with the spirit of the age. India-Nepal relations have been plagued by misunderstanding and mistrust in the last fevered decades, which was grist to the mills of the monarchy and the court coterie and opportunist political factions for whom these dark shadows became enabling principles of opportunistic statecraft. They were happy to play off Pakistan and China against India, the targeted big brother, villain and regional bully.

New beginning

In what will hopefully be new beginning in the Indo-Nepal relationship this fraught chapter is ready for closure, as Nepali parties grapple with the writ of a national Constitution, a process in which they look to see India playing a friendly, advisory role.

Nepal looks for a revision of its 1950 Treaty with India, hoping to update the document to conform to present-day ground realities. The current Treaty endorses an open border for the free movement people, goods and services, but India seeks greater Nepali cooperation in meeting Indian security concerns about a porous border abused with trafficking in fake Indian currency and a route for jihadi terrorists from Pakistan infiltrating India.

Modi praise

Prime Minister Modi praised the sagacity and wisdom of Nepal’s political parties as they go about framing their country’s Constitution, singling out the Maoists for special mention in this regard. A great start has been made to put together a new and dynamic relationship in which Nepal and India can generate power projects from the Himalayan rivers – the Kosi, in particular, that flow through both countries. Furthermore, India plans to build an oil pipeline from Bihar to Kathmandu, followed by others

Modi at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the careful watch of Dr Raghuram Rajan, its Governor since September 2013, has increased the country’s foreign exchange reserves by $45 billion, in keeping with

culture. (Mint, Business Line August 6)

FDI in rail, defense

India’s Cabinet has cleared Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country’s rail network to 100 per cent and raised the cap on the defense sector from the present 26 per cent to 49 per cent. The proposed railways FDI will include high speed train systems, suburban corridors and freight trains connecting ports, mines, and power installations, but rail operations will be off-limits to FDI. Which means that, say, Japanese firm Mitsuibishi will be able to build high speed trains, whose operations will come under the exclusive authority of Indian Railways. FDI in India’s rail network is expected to boost modernization. Leading Indian companies such as Tatas, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra and Reliance Industries are opposed to foreign companies having a majority stake in Indian defense companies; raising the FDI, however, was a welcome development, they said.

It made sense to permit foreign companies to enter the field, as this would meet India’s growing defense needs and also enable the country to become a major international exporter of defense equipment (Telegraph, Times of India August 7)

Dr Reddy’s strong showing

Dr Raghuram Rajan

his first declaration that India needed to strengthen its war chest as a safeguard against global financial volatility. This accumulation was made possible by a shrinking current account deficit, stronger capital inflows on the back of increasing volumes of non-resident Indian remittances and rising levels of foreign investment. The economic platform is thus in better shape than a year ago.

SLR cut

Taking these figures and the overall data into consideration, including declining inflation and increased consumer demand, the RBI is not yet ready to lower its guard by relaxing its monetary policy. The RBI has thus kept the repo rate at 8 per cent and the reverse repo rate at its present 7 per cent. Dr Rajan explained: “If disinflation proceeds, we will eventually have room to cut rates…..RBI in no way will hold rates high any longer than necessary.” However, the RBI cut the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) – the deposits banks are required by statute to invest in Government securities – to 22 per cent from the earlier 22.5 per cent, releasing Rs 40,000 crore into the banking system and giving banks more money to lend when credit demand gains momentum. One reason for RBI caution is the progress of the monsoon after its late arrival and its awaited impact on agri-

Hyderabad-based Pharmaceuti cal major, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, has posted a record 52 per cent profit of Rs 550 crore in the first quarter of the present fiscal (AprilJune) as compared to the Rs 361 crore for the same period last year.

The growth was driven by a 32 per cent rise in revenue from its global generic business. North America alone recorded a 51 per cent rise in revenue, while operations in Russia and India also returned good figures, said Abhijit Mukherjee, the firm’s Chief Operating Officer and President of Global Generics. In the domestic market, said Chief Financial Officer Saumen Chakraborti sales had grown by 15 per cent. During the quarter the company launched 25 generic products and filed 27 new production applications (Business Line July 31)

Bharat Forge

Pune-based forgings company Bharat Forge has reported a 60 per cent rise in its first quarter (AprilJune) net profit of Rs Rs 145 crore as against Rs 96 crore earned for a

similar period last year, thanks largely to robust exports and highend earnings from the non-auto segment. “The June quarter saw sequential growth across major product segments and geographies in line with expectation with industrial revenue contributions staying at 46 per cent for the quarter,” said Baba Kalyani, the company’s Chief Managing Director.(Business Line July 31)

Mahindra in top league

Mumbai-based automobile major Mahindra & Mahindra’s new XUV 500 is the flagship, with the company selling 3000 units of the model and 100,000 units of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) overall in

Anand Mahindra (Mahindra & Mahindra CEO)

the domestic market during the first quarter ending June 30. “This milestone is to be cherished as it is the fastest growth for an SUV in the Rs 10-20 lakh segment,” said Chief Executive Officer Pravin Shah. M&M which launched three models of XUV 500 in September 2011, has been given a makeover with its recently released fourth model (Business Line July 31)Four Indians in

Fortune Tech list

Four Indians have made it to Fortune magazine’s top 20 list of extraordinary tech czars. They are: Arun Murthy, co-founder of business software company Hortonworks, who started off at Yahoo; Surabhi Gupta, software engineer at popular travel rentals website Airbub. A graduate from Stanford University, Ms Gupta mastered the art of summarization – extracting the essence of texts without reading them; Swati Singh, Vice President of GMS IM Platforms and Big Data Capabilities of American Express. Ms Singh is the brain behind its “MyOffers” which aims to give members “what they want when they need it”; finally, Vijay Subramanian, Chief Analytics Officer at Rent the Runway, an online service provides designer dress and accessory rentals (Business Line August 6).

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel with Arun Jaitley See comment apge 3

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

India’s finest young players battle it out at Wimbledon On Monday 11 August, 148 junior tennis players had the opportunity of a lifetime when they were invited to the thirteenth HSBC Road to Wimbledon National Finals, to compete on the famous lawns of the All England Club. It marked the first time in the tournament’s history where players from outside the UK had the opportunity to qualify, with four talented stars from India entering the main draw.

Earlier this year, former Great Britain No.1 Tim Henman and Dan Bloxham, Head Coach at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, joined the players in India to spearhead the new initiative aiming to boost the development of junior tennis in the country.

Adil Kalyanpur from Bangalore and runner-up Siddhant Banthia from Pune battled it out in the boys final whilst Shivani S Ingle from defeated Aarja Pune Chakraborty from Noida in the girls draw and all four players have travelled over for this week’s competition. The move comes after the Wimbledon Foundation, the community, charitable

and development arm of the All England Club, and HSBC teamed up with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) to bring The Road to Wimbledon to India. The competition was designed to give Indian players aged 14 and under the opportunity to improve their game and win the opportunity to come to London to compete at Wimbledon alongside the best junior players in the UK. Tim Henman joined the junior players at the All England Club on Monday and, having kick-started his career in India in 1994, he was particularly supportive of extending the tournament to include winners from India.

Tim Henman said: “The HSBC Road To Wimbledon 14 and Under National Challenge is the UK’s largest national junior grass court tournament and continues to get better and better each year.

Thousands of young players take part and it’s fantastic to see the high level of talent on show on these famous courts. As an ambassador to the initiative, it is even more encouraging to see the programme expanding and this year we have some special young talent come over from India. It will be a wonderful experience for them and should be another step in the nurturing of talent both here in the UK and abroad.”

Bomb hoax suspect sectioned under Mental Health Act A 47 year old man was sectioned under the Mental Health Act last week, after he was arrested by police in Manchester Airport for a bomb hoax in a Manchester bound Qatar Airways flight from Doha. The man, who has not been named, was arrested by armed guards after the pilot notified authorities that he had been handed a note from a passenger about “a possi-

ble device on board”.

A plane carrying 269 passengers and 13 crew were escorted by RAF fighter jets to Manchester Airport ahead of its arrival time on 1.15 pm. After the plane was escorted to an isolated area of Manchester airport, the plane was searched by police and specialist officers but nothing dangerous or suspicious was found. The man is being

held in custody after two police officers arrested him upon the arrival of the plane. The man from the north-west of England was later assessed by a mental health team following the mid-air incident on Tuesday. Following the arrival of the RAF jet, passengers started to panic and worry that a Typhoon jet was flying alongside them as they approached Manchester.

A nun has removed a black flag resembling those flown by jihadist fighters in Iraq and Syria after it was seen flying at the gates of an east London housing estate in Tower Hamlets.

The controversial flag sparked outrage after it was pictured flying above the Will Crooks estate in Tower Hamlets, alongside a number of Palestinian flags and slogans in support of Gaza.

However, when council officers went to the

site, in Poplar High Street, they were reportedly told the flag had been removed by Sister Christine Frost, a Roman Catholic nun who runs a charity supporting vulnerable residents in the area.

A spokesman reportedly said: “The council can confirm that following reports this morning of a flag erected on the Will Crooks Estate, council officials took steps to remove it but found it had already been taken down

by Sister Christine Frost,

a well-known local activist and promoter of community cohesion.

The flag was removed following concerns that it could cause community tension.”

Nun removes Jihadist-inspired flag

UK

Tory MP’s son quits Royal Marines over racial slurs

The son of Tory Sport and Tourism Minister Helen Grant MP, has quit the Royal Marines after admitting assaulting two men in a fight over racist language.

22-year-old Benjamin Grant quit the Armed Forces after a fight outside a nightclub for which he escaped immediate punfollowing a ishment judge’s finding he was provoked.

The judge gave him a conditional discharge because of the ‘very exceptional circumstances’ of the case.

He was serving as a with the driver Commando Logistics Brigade at RMB Chivenor and had just returned from a four-week exercise on Salisbury Plain when he went out clubbing with friends. He was caught on CCTV punching a 20year-old in the face after

accusing him of racially insulting him and pushing another man away as he tried to separate them.

A jury at Exeter Crown Court cleared Grant and fellow marine James Stott of causing grievous bodily harm to Ryan Behn, 19, who suffered a broken jaw in the fight.

Grant, who previously admitted assault by battery on Jack Yarde, 20, and Curtis Wenham, 19, was given a two-year conditional discharge by the judge on Saturday 9th August.

Judge Phillip Wassall reportedly said: ‘You are of good character until that evening. I am quite satisfied you only acted in that way because you were on the end of vile and objectionable racist taunts.

The judge made no order for compensation because Grant was ‘subjected to such outrageous

13

provocation’.

Grant, of Tadworth, Surrey reportedly said: ‘I don’t take offence at racial banter but it is different if someone who you don’t know says it in a nasty way. I am not going to take it. I took my coat off because I was going to confront him and ask him what his problem was and why he was saying this. If he had said sorry I would 100 per cent have walked away.’

Five police officers accused of gross misconduct on man who died Five police officers are facing gross misconduct hearings over the death of a man who collapsed whilst being restrained during a drugs search., yet will not face criminal charges.

Habib Ullah, 39, died after he was forced to the ground in a car park in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire in 2008 by police who believed he was hiding class A drugs in his mouth.

Officers reportedly allege that he refused to reveal a package of drugs hidden in his mouth. He then collapsed whilst struggling against the officers.

After an inquest into his death, the CPS decided that there was not enough evidence for charges of manslaughter by gross negligence, misconduct in public office, perjury and perverting the course of justice. Though

the officers from Thames Valley Police could be after the sacked Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found grounds for gross misconduct because the police gave conflicting statements to the coroner and the IPCC. His distraught relatives reacted with anger on Saturday, as prosecutors decided not to bring charges in the case.

Mr Ullah’s sister Nasrit Mahmood reportedly said: ‘We are not happy that the CPS has decided not to charge those police officers who are responsible for Habib’s death. At the inquest they are caught out withholding evidence in front of everyone including the judge and jury. We have evidence of police coverups, so not only is it my opinion that they caused my brother’s death but these police officers have

Habib Ullah

not given a full and truthful account. How on earth can CPS disregard the facts? This sadly shows that the CPS together with the IPCC are only there to protect and cover up police crimes.

She added: ‘Their decision has only shown their true colours but made us much stronger. This is not justice for us and we will not give up until justice is served and that is a promise.’

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14

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Pakistani Muslim community comes together to encourage peers to save more lives Members of the Pakistani Muslim community in Birmingham attended the launch of a new health project on 26 June. The project will see trained volunteers, called peer educators, from the Pakistani Muslim community raise awareness of the important need for organ, blood and bone marrow donation within their communities.

The project is being managed by Kidney Research UK, whose peer model has educator encouraged over 2,000 people from the Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. The charity is working with the National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA) partners, and the project is funded by the Department of Health.

In the UK in the last three years, of the families of patients approached for a decision about organ donation where the patient’s nationality was known to be Pakistani, less than 10% consented.

Around 70 people attended the launch, including members of the local community and several religious leaders. Jane Ellison MP, Under Secretary of State for Public Health, opened the event with a video message praising the work of the peer educators and their dedication to the cause.

There are almost 6,000 people in the UK waiting for a kidney transplant, of those, over 1,000 are Asian. A kidney from someone of the same ethnic group is likely to lead to a better matched organ, making it available sooner.

Sadly, 70 Asian people died in the UK in the last year waiting for a kidney.

Neerja Jain, Kidney Research UK’s Health

Projects Improvement Manager, said: “The shortage of donors from the Pakistani Muslim community is severe, so it’s vital

we continue to engage with the community to help the community to explore the beliefs that can act as a barrier to dona-

tion. The passion of our peer educators helps drive this work forward, and we urgently need more to help spread the word.”

Jane Ellison, Public Health Minister, said: “Peer educators play a vital role in educating people about the need for more organ, blood and bone marrow donors, and work like this is crucial.

Through their hard work, peer educators have the potential to save hundreds of lives and I wish them every success.”

Kidney recipient appeals for community to save lives A kidney transplant recipient has joined this initiative in health Birmingham. Mazim Ali, a Muslim Pharmacist from central Birmingham, had a successful kidney transplant in 2013, after being diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in 1990.

About 70,000 people in the UK have PKD - the most common inherited form of kidney disease.

Cysts develop on the surface of the kidney, eventually impairing the kidney’s function. His father suffered with the disease, he had a transplant in 1997, as do some of his children. Coincidentally his sister-in-law also has PKD, but received a transplant on the same day as Maz. Maz says: “I was diagnosed with PKD in 1990, and my kidney function declined gradually from then on. In 2012 my kidneys failed completely and I needed to start dialysis. I was hooked up to a machine at the dialysis unit three times a week, which removed the toxins from my body as my kid-

neys couldn’t do this anymore. I was one of the fortunate ones, as I was only on dialysis for 11 months before I had my transplant, but not everyone is so fortunate. My quality of life has improved dramatically post-transplant” “My doctor initially said that the average wait was about five or six years for a kidney transplant, for an Asian patient, due to a lack of suitable donors. We had started going down the family member donating route, prior to me receiving a kidney from a deceased donor. I have also experienced a family member receiving a kidney from another family member.”

Because of his experiences, Maz has joined the group of trained volunteers as part of a project managed by Kidney Research UK. Maz said: “Through my own experiences I know how hard it is for our community to talk about donation – there’s a concern that donating is un-Islamic. But organ, blood or bone marrow donation can save lives, so it’s important we spread the word amongst our peers. Even if my work encourages one person to sign up to the organ donor register, and make someone’s life better, I will feel like I have helped achieve something.”

In the UK in the last three years, of the families of deceased patients approached for a decision about organ donation where the patient’s nationality was known to be Pakistani, less than 10% consented.

If you are interested in becoming a Peer Educator, please email: supportercare@kidneyresearchuk.org

preceding of the festival through its Central London Grand Parade to mark our deep cultural roots with backdrop of Trafalgar Square, Downing St. Horse Guards, Big Ben and House of Commons. The

parade will offer an opportunity to see expertly crafted magnificent chariots by the Sants, thunderous dhol drums, beautifully costumed dancers and the community’s very own prestigious 150 member marching Pipe Band from 4 different continents with members from ages 3 to 60 years old.

Other key highlights of the festival include evening concerts of dance, music and theatre in Roe Green Park and the local Kingsbury parade which will all be a real spectacle to be reckoned with.

The Mandir has been designed with sustainability in mind from the foundations up. The lean,

Mazim Ali

Artist sets up greetings and wedding card business for Asians

A talented young artist from Birmingham has set up her own business selling stunning handdesigned range of cards and stationary aimed at the Asian market.

Anisha Chauhan, 25, spotted a gap in the market when she was working for one of the country’s biggest greeting cards companies - but had no idea how to turn her idea into a successful business.

She said: “I was the only Asian designer at the very well know company I was working for and I realised no major retailers seemed to stock attractive, contemporary cards for Asian festivals like Eid or Diwali or aimed at the market in general.

“I knew they would be popular, especially in places like Birmingham where we have such a big Asian community. What I didn’t know was how to set up a business. It was daunting, I didn’t know where to start.”

Because she was on Jobseeker’s Allowance, she was able to access the free support and mentoring and financial assistance available through the Government’s New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), delivered in Birmingham by public services provider A4e.

A4e helped her draw

up a viable business plan, understand cash flows, marketing, tax, insurance and provided a reassuring sounding board for her ideas.

She has tapped into the Asian wedding market with invitations, wedding table name cards and money wallets, traditionally given as gifts, and has been picking up business through word of mouth.

She is now looking to push her marketing, expand into handmade, personalised mainstream cards and stationary and hopes to see her designs on sale in stores across the country one day.

The New Enterprise Allowance, which was launched in April 2011, aims to help unemployed people who want to start their own business. NEA is available to Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants aged 18 and over.

Participants receive access to a volunteer business mentor who will provide them with guidance and support as they develop their business plan and through the first 6 months of trading. Once participants have demonstrated they have a viable business proposition with the potential for growth in the future, they are able to access financial support.

Unique Eco-Mandir to open in Northwest London

The community at the newly established Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury are set to welcome hundreds of VIP guests and thousands of visitors to celebrate the opening of their new Mandir on Kingsbury Road. Traditional Indian architecture, intricate carvings and masterful artistry blend seamlessly with green technologies will create what is believed to be the world’s first ‘Eco-Mandir’ by design.

This opening festival follows the pre-opening event which inaugurated the Multi Function Hall in May earlier this year by HDH Acharya Swamishree Maharaj (global spiritual leader of the Swaminarayan faith) and Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

The festival begins

with the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday 19th August at 7.30 pm at Kingsbury Mandir. As a prelude, they will also be holding a spectacular parade through central London on Sunday 17th August which will see the

clean and green philosophy that has been applied ensures the complex uses fewer resources, has efficient operations and utilises natural resources through renewable generation.

The Mandir’s building regulations consultant, Kirit Ashani explains, “The Mandir has been constructed using Glassfibre Reinforce Concrete (GRC) which makes use of recycled materials such as recycled glass and metals. Its thermal properties help to minimise heat loss and contribute to the environmental performance of the build.” The GRC used was a combination of locally sourced material with the decorative features hand made in India, before being assembled in London.

Some of the other fea-

tures of the Mandir that are helping to achieve the goal of making this the world’s first eco-Mandir include: Mandir's passive solar building and its south facing orientation, high levels of insulation, good air tightness and heat recovery facilities, use of automatic high level openings/vents and low level manual openings, a mixture of LED lighting and high frequency dimmable fluorescents, gas fired Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit, 140m2 of solar panels, rainwater harvesting forms to save water etc Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury Grand Opening Festival takes place from 19-22 August.

More information is available at www.SwaminarayanGadi .com/London.

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

15

British Sikhs demand a special monument to remember the fallen

August 4th marked the beginning of the First World War 100 years ago.

The British government has paid homage to the Indian soldiers with a centenary celebration by the former Senior Minister of the State in the Foreign Office and Minister for Faith and communities, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.

The Prime Minister Cameron and David Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg have made special mentions about the Indian soldiers in their official speeches, but the Asian community, especially the British Sikhs strongly believe not enough has been done to remember their sacrifices in World War I. Despite the existence of the Memorial Gates (commemorating the lives of Commonwealth soldiers) at the Constitution Hill, the UK based Sikh organisation Sikh Federation (SF) has reportedly demanded for a monument remembering just the fallen Sikh soldiers in central London.

The Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) Bhai Amrik Singh told the Times of India, “We have made clear to the UK government that there needs to be a permanent monument in central London in the next four years to recognise the Sikh contribution and show turbanwearing Sikhs were the 'lions of the great war'.”

The conflict between 1914 and 1918 - which became known as the Great War - left 17 million soldiers and civilians dead.

When Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914, it had only about 150,000 combat-ready troops. It could commit only a little over 80,000 troops to the Western Front in the initial days of the war. He added that the only professional standing army that Britain could bank upon in that crisis was the Indian army with its many turban-wearing Sikh soldiers.

These troops became the first fighting nonwhite colonial soldiers in Europe ever. The British Council survey reportedly showed 78% of respondents in France believed India stayed neutral in the conflict and did not send any troops. In reality, over

140,000 Indian soldiers, including tens of thousands of turban wearing Sikh soldiers fought to defend French soil and many died while doing so.

"This lack of awareness is unhelpful when 100 years later in modern day France turban-wearing Sikhs face increasing discrimination in schools and public employment," he added.

Amrik Singh further told the newspaper that the 1 million Sikh community that has today made Europe its home want there to be better awareness of Sikh valour in the First World War, especially the sacrifices by turban wearing Sikhs in Belgium and France. We have had a positive initial response to the proposal that we hope will eventually see similar monuments in several other cities in the UK as well as in France and Belgium.”

Sikh households across the UK reportedly took part in the Lights Out project to mark the exact time when Britain entered the First World War. "Prayers were also offered at the estimated 250 Gurdwaras to remember those who lost their lives.”

Chairman of United Kingdom Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) Amandeep Madra speaking exclusively to the Asian Voice, said, “Even after Monday's coverage (4th August), I think people are still shocked to hear that one sixth of the British Empire was from India. With the BBC coverage, they are very conscious of diversity.

However I don't think it is coming across strongly enough.”

Mr. Madra expressed his desire to create a legacy in which Sikh's can be considered and remembered as loyal and brave soldiers as well as brave men who left their homes to fight in an unexpectedly bloody battle in an unfamiliar territory. When asked about the demand for a monument to recognise Sikhs across Britain, he responded by illustrating his opinion: “If a memorial is what you believe should be the legacy that needs to be left for the contribution of Sikhs in the First or Second World War, then you

should just get on with it and do it and you should not demand others to do it. We should do it ourselves. All London monuments, do not forget, are the work of public subscriptions. We have a different legacy that we are living in this exhibition.

This exhibition tells a

story to all visitors. All visitors are being encouraged to sign up as a citizen story and to try and find their own WW1 story.”

Outlining his aim for the future, he is hopeful in creating a database in which thousands of people can share and tell their stories of WW1.

UKPHA was set up in 2011 with the sole aim of securing Punjab’s cultural heritage for today’s audiences. With the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, his organisation set up an exhibition showing the contribution that Sikh soldiers made to World War One in order to fur-

ther strengthen their recognition in the modern world.

(The exhibition, titled 'Empire, Faith and War: The Sikhs and World War One, is currently running at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS University from 9 July 2014 – 28 September 2014 from 5pm onwards)

Remembering the remarkable Indo-British relationship that existed

Dr Kusoom Vadgama

To mark the Centenary of the first World War (19141918), when Britain declared war on Germany on the 4 August, the Imperial War Museum, London has opened a new redesigned gallery after a $40 million transformation. There are 1,300 objects on view as well as digital displays, life size news reels, photographs and audio broadcasts.

To walk into the exhibition gallery is to walk into Britain of 1914-1918 war years one hundred years ago. The dimly lit Empire gallery instantly creates an atmosphere of doom and gloom the nation endured for four long years with the uncertainty of the final outcome of the conflict.

However, what was certain was the loyal support of the Indian Army, 1.5 million, the world's largest volunteer of force.

India made an outright contribution of £100 million at the start of the war followed by 320 million and £30 million annually toward the british war expenses. All at the time when India's enemy was Britain not Germany.

On display is the uniform of the sepoy (private) of the 57th Wild's Rifles which fought on the Western Front. Apart from a few photographs and a couple of paintings, there is nothing much to show Indians in action.

Sadly there also no post cards about the Indians soldiers among the many on sale. Over 70 thousand Indians died in the war.

The walls of the Empire gallery are covered with quotations by various people about the Empire and India. Sone unforgettable and some unforgivable.

“If we are going to shed our blood , England must at least lose India.”

(Kaiser Wilhelm 11July 1914).

“It is not right that one people should rule another. British rule in India is evil” (Gandhi 1908) “As long as we rule India we are the greatest power in the world. If we lose it, we shall drop straight away to third power rate” (Lord Curzon 1901) The Indians soldiers were seen as heroes by the Germans and one of them wrote, “Today for

the first time we had to fight against the Indians and the devil knows those brown rascals are not to be underrated” King George V sent the message to the Indians troops in France, “You are the descendants of the men who have been great rulers and great warriors...In battle you will remember that your religions enjoin on you that to give your life doing the duty is your highest reward... You will fight for your King Emperor and your faith, so that history will record the doings of India's sons and your children will proudly tell of the deeds of their fathers...”

The exhibition is most interesting for what it has on display and equally disappointing for what it has excluded i.e news reels of reaction to

Men of the 15th Sikh Regiment spend time with the locals in a Flanders village after weeks in the trenches of the Western Front, c.1915. (Source: UKPHA Archive)

war by the people of India, opinions of Indian leaders, feelings of the wives and mothers of the soldiers and the material support that came from India. Four years is long enough time for the films, documentaries and further exhibitions to show the Indian contributions to the war efforts in detail, in full and from an Indian point of view.

Mrs. Sarojini Naidu wrote a very moving long poem during the war, The Services of the Indian Womanhood. The verse is: “When the terror and tumult of hate shall cease And life be refashioned and anvils of peace, And your love shall offer memorial thanks To the comrades who fought in your dauntless ranks, And you honour the deeds of your deathless ones, Remember the blood of martyred sons.”

The history of Indian contribution to the war efforts, which includes Pakistan and Bangladesh, is not only history of war but also history of the remarkable relationship that existed between Britain and India. It shows the hardship, risks of certain death, a sense of duty and above all, loyalty to the Crown. It needs to be acknowledged loudly and clearly during the Centenary commemoration events.

The name of the first Indian to be awarded the Victoria's Cross, Khudadad Khan, must never be forgotten, nor must the names of those who died for our future be resigned to the war statistics. We will never be able to pay the debt we owe them for their supreme sacrifice for Britain's war.

16

Janmashtami at Bhaktivedanta Ma www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Janmashtami is the birthday of all birthdays, that day when we can put everything from our busy lives to one side and gather together to celebrate the birth of the all-attractive, best friend of everyone, Lord Sri Krishna!

ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor holds the largest Janmashtami festival in the world outside of India, and arguably the best organized of all. This year the two day festivities will be held on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August (the actual Janmashtami day).

On those days pilgrims will eagerly queue to get a glimpse of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda in Their dazzling Deity forms on the temple room shrine. The charming cowherd boy will be celebrating His birthday with Radharani, His beautiful girlfriend, and His devotees were ecstatically singing and dancing!

Tens of thousands of delicious meals are being prepared for Krishna’s huge birthday party. These meals are so famous that 2 years ago the BBC spent the whole day capturing exclusive footage of the preparation of those meals. Those kitchens will once again be in operation 24 hours a day preparing free vegetarian prasad meals for everyone.

The main marquee

Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August

Members of the Manor’s theatre group

promises to be spectacle of music, dance and drama. In addition, on the festival field there will be exhibi-

tions, bazaars, scores of live music, stalls and, to the delight of so many parents, a special area for children!

The site will also feature scores of children with their faces painted blue, many carrying flutes and wearing peacock feathers in their

hair, dressing like Lord Krishna as part of the festive spirit!

On Sunday 17th the festival will build up to mid-

night, which marks the time of Krishna’s birth. This will be celebrated with the bathing (abhishek) of the small Deities of Radha and Krishna in the main marquee, in front of a rapturous crowd.

Every birthday party requires family and friends to help with decorations, food, invites and entertainment and this party will be no different. Over 1000 friends from the community are gathering every evening after work and put in countless hours of hard work to set everything up just right.

Krishna wants everyone to be part of His huge birthday bash and everyone is invited!

Reflecting 20th Anniversary of the Hare Krishna Temple Defence Movement (HKTDM) As preparations for such a spectacular festival unfold, many devotees have been reflecting on the 20th Anniversary since the biggest achievement of the HKDTM: A huge protest march designed to keep Bhaktivedanta Manor open for public festivals- - -especially Janmashtami.

Indeed, no one should take the religious freedoms we have in this country for granted. The fact is that the right to worship at Bhaktivedanta Manor had to be fought for: and fight we did!

The Campaign to save Bhaktivedanta Manor was a long journey fraught with difficulties, and it looked as if it would fail on many occasions . Exploring every legal channel, the temple was due to close to the public on March 16th 1994.

Yet, on that historic day,

community came together to share their memories of the one campaign which saved a Temple from closure.

After opening prayers, Mr CB Patel, Publisher /Editor of the Asian Voice and key campaigner, then launched the souvenir magazine which detailed the history - the low and high points - of the Akandadhi das, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, CB Patel and Lord Dolar Popat campaign.

It was called “The Turning Parliament recognised how 36,000 Hindus, Jains and Point- -How a campaign to it was possible for many Sikhs from across the UK save one temple united the diverse communities to gathered in Westminster, entire Hindu community.” come together and show many sitting on the road It was acknowledged what can be achieved with outside Parliament, in a that the success of the one, united voice. public display of unity. It Hindu community since Scores of Lords, MPs, turned the fortunes of the those days has been proCouncillors, old friends Temple around! found and lasting both and key members of 20 years later, last economically and politicalBhaktivedanta Manor’s March, a celebration inside ly: Quite literally- - it rep-

ASIAN ACHIEVERS

AWARDS

The people’s choice awards

resented the turning point after which the Hindu community became much more credible in the eyes of the political establishment.

Since ISKCON’s successful campaign, they have become the faith affiliate of a number of government-funded faith schools.

Another example is what happened after the unjust and untimely killing of one of their sick cows by the RSCPA. After a series of protests, ISKCON was able to influence DEFRA policy regarding attitudes towards cultural perspectives on animals on private property. After that, the Temple built Britain’s foremost farm of ox-power and cow-protection.

Another notable achievement has been a significant development in

Leicester. A few years ago, an unfortunate gas explosion completely destroyed the ISKCON temple in the city: a calamity which received international media attention. Yet, with the prayers and hard work of the local devotees, they now have a huge new Temple there, adjacent to the courtyard of the town hall!

ISKCON gratefully received the building which is considered a jewel of Victorian architecture.

They now have Planning Permission for the design and renovation work for its interior. What happened in Leicester is surely another great example of how, when all appears lost, with faith, determination and prayer one can turn unfortunate and difficult circumstances into a great victory.

Asian Achievers Awards is organised Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to

Venue: Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London W1K 7TN

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JANMASHTAMI SPECIAL

anor - the Home of Lord Krishna www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

17

EXCITING NEWS

“The Turning Point: How a campaign to save one temple united the entire Hindu community”- a magazine published by Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to celebrate 20 years of Hare Krishna Temple Defence Movement

The Manor’s new Haveli A very special new feature of Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Janmashtami festival this year is an exhibition about the proposed 'Haveli' project.

In response to overcrowding at Bhaktivedanta Manor and the fact that the temple was submitting various planning applications, local Hertsmere Borough Council requested a master-plan of proposed developments for the next ten to fifteen years.

The Council’s Executive approved the Planning Brief in 2012, which sets a framework to work within. The new building project was given the name ‘Haveli’, meaning “a space for religious activity”.

The design of the Haveli will be sensitive to

One of the younger devotees having face painted

its Green Belt location and the character and appearance of the Conservation Area setting. It will be predominantly single storey with broken down building volumes to create the impression of a smaller building.

ISKCON’s architects and various consultants are working hard to have the application submitted very soon. This includes 2000m2 of development and complimentary landscaping. If the detail plans correspond to the Council’s approved planning brief, planning should be granted later in the year. The hope is to begin construction in the summer of 2015.

For more information about the Haveli, please contact Devaki Dasi at Devaki@krishnatemple.com

Bhaktivedanta Manor celebrates patrons at special evening event

Bhajans

Member of the Manor’s theatre group in the role of Krishna

Srutidharma Das addressing the audience

Thousands of patrons and supporters of Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple came together at an evening event on Saturday 9 August to celebrate their support and contribution to Temple over the years.

The event featured an evening of inspirational talks by the Temple President Srutidharma Das, who spoke about the history of Bhaktivedanta Manor and the vital role played by the patrons, and managing director Gauri Das who gave an exciting insight into future developments for the Temple, it’s legacy and inspiring the new genera-

tion.

Attendees were treated to a stage show including traditional indian dance, uplifting kirtan and a special comedy performance by the Manor’s Bhaktivedanta Players theatre group, who brought a bit of Bollywood to the evening.

Temple president Srutidharma Das said: “This was a wonderful evening celebrating the very a people that have helped to make Bhaktivedanta Manor what it is today, and will help ensure that it remains a place of inspiration and joy for many generations to come.”

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Above and Below: Some of the patrons enjoying the evening

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18

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Dear Financial Voice Reader,

I write to you having returned from Singapore and Thailand, and whilst there saw the news about Boots.

I’ve been asked by another magazine to write on Pharmaceutical stocks and I thought I would share my insights here first – not least because I will be in Bangalore in 10 days which is the bio pharma hub of India.

Playing on the theme that some $86 billion of branded drugs will lose patent protection from 2013 to 2017, there must be a lot of money for the generic drug maker - especially as such generic drugs are 30-80% cheaper.

So which companies do I have my eyes on? Well many are billion dollar companies so safe given their size. We are not talking here of some oil exploration company in the Pacific or Gold miner in Angola.

Dr Reddy’s is up 27% this year already. Names I love for their performance and size for safety as well as no signs they will slow down include: Perrigo, Actavis, Mylan, Hospira, Taro, Akorn, Lannett – these are all US listed firms so easy to access from anywhere in the world.

Some of these provide over the counter drugs, others provide drug ingredients. Overall P/E ratios which measure the price of a company to its earnings and therefore give an indication if we are paying too much for the share for each dollar of profit they make, is quit high at around 40+, but that reflects future increase in profit potential too.

Minimally invasive surgery companies are related to this sector and they are much loved because insurance companies have to pay less – and of course the patients prefer such companies too. Names here can be broken down into Microsurgery (Conmed, AngioDynamics, NuVasive, Cardiovascular Systems) all of which have been performing very well and show signs of only rising.

Robotic surgery companies in this sector to catch my eye include Intuitive Surgical as the stand out performance leader. For imaging and detection I would go with Hologic. In the Laser catergory the stand out leader based on performance is Spectranetics.

Biotech giants increasing their merger and acquisition activities as they fight to own the next big technology in a sector fighting for cancer, MS, aging drugs means this sector is buoyant. My stand out performers that I like: In Cancer: Amgen and Celgene for their performance. In infection diseases: Gilead Sciences who work in everything from Aids to Liver diseases. Autoimmune disorder specialists doing well – Biogen and Incyte. For general other diseases, companies on an upward trajectory – Alexion, Regeneron.

And in case that is not enough for you to profit from the misery (or the happiness in cure) of others, then an aging population globally will make you pleased with these stand out players: In retirement communities: Aviv. In Diabetes care – Novo. In Dialysis the player is Davita and Rockwell. For assisted living companies go for Chemed and Gentiva.

If Cardiovascular care interests you then its Vascular Solutions and Spectranetics. And finally for Orthopedic care the performers are Wright Medical and NuVasive!

Happy health. I’m off for a run after I take my beetroot juice and broccoli.

Car sales in India rise for third straight month

Car sales in India rose for the third month in a row, fuelling hopes of a recovery this fiscal after two consecutive years of downturn. Sales have rebounded on the back of discounts and positive sentiment after the formation of a stable government by a BJP-led alliance.

Lower excise duty also aided the turnarond.

According to July sales figures released by industry body Society of Indian A u t o m o b i l e Manufacturers (Siam), car sales saw a 5% growth in

volumes, led by top makers like Maruti, Hyundai and Honda. The minor turnaround in buyer sentiment has seen a rise in footfalls at showrooms.

However, companies are still forced to offer attractive discounts to maintain the excitement. Overall, passenger vehicle sales rose 7% in July as car volumes were aided by healthy demand in the utility vehicle space.

Models like Honda's Mobilio and Ford's Eco Sport witnessed good demand.

RBI governor warns of another market crash

Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan has warned that global markets are at the risk of a "crash" due to the lingering competitive loose monetary policies being followed by the developed economies.

Warning that the current build-up of financial sector imbalances may cause sudden price reversals and sharp spikes in volatility, Rajan said, "we are taking a greater chance of having another crash at a time when the world is less capable of bearing the cost". In an interview, he said, "unfortunately, a number of macro- economists have not fully learned the lessons of the great financial crisis. They still do not pay enough attention to the financial sector. Financial sector crises are not as predictable. The risks build up until it hits you".

Rajan expressed fears that central banks "may be exhausting room on the financial side and creating a situation where there

will be a discontinuous movement in the financial sector." Discounting arguments from a section of economists that asset price hike is not due to credit growth, Rajan said problems do not appear to be arising from credit growth although this is an issue in some emerging markets.

"They (global investors) put trades on even though they know what will happen as everyone attempts to exit positions at the same time, there will be major market volatility," the RBI chief said. Reiterating his warnings that emerging mar-

kets are especially vulnerable to big shifts in capital flows brought on by unprecedented monetary accommodation in rich nations, Rajan warned, "there will be major market volatility if such a crash occurs. True, it may not happen if we can find a way to unwind everything steadily. But it is a big hope and a prayer".

The former IMF chief economist, who famously predicted the 2008 financial meltdown - three years before at an event in US - from which the global economy is yet to recover fully, compared the current global markets to the 1930s which marked the worst recession in the financial history.

Stating that the Great Depression was due to a long period of competitive devaluation of national currencies, Rajan said, "we are back to the 1930s, in a world of competitive easing. Back then, it was competitive devaluation, but competitive easing could lead to competitive

devaluation. If there were no consequences, to competitive easing, fine; but there are consequences."

The central banks of the rich nations are now engaged in ever more accommodative policies, he said, and called for more coordination between the major monetary authorities.

Rajan first made this demand early this year in Sydney during the BRICS finance ministers and central bankers summit. He repeated the same at the annual summit of the World Bank group in Washington a few months later. Calling for more policy co-ordination and research into effects of central bank policy spillover and spill-backs, he said monetary policy changes by the developed world central banks can cause "substantial levels of uncertainty" at a time that may suit the policy instigator but not be convenient for other central banks, especially in the emerging markets.

modern stocking facility.

Its products, including structural hollow sections, serve a wide range of construction and infrastructure projects.

The centre was established in 2012 and employs 94 people. It is

responsible for managing and distributing steel from the Teesside Beam Mill, as well as Tata Steel’s sections mill in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, and the tube mills in Corby, Northamptonshire. “We have established Teesside Service Centre to be able to offer customers a uniquely flexible service,” Ian Beveridge, Director, Construction Structures, Tata Steel, said in a statement. “Furthermore, the investment we have made in logistics, new handling

and processing equipment mean we are able to offer a product and delivery service with unrivalled speed and efficiency. That all adds up to Teesside Service Centre being the leading distribution facility in the UK and the benchmark in our industry.” According to the company, the latest developments have involved opening up another warehouse and installing a high-specification shotblaster and new heavy sections sawing capacity.

study. State-run insurance firm LIC is ranked second with a brand value of $4.1 billion, followed by public sector bank SBI ($4 billion), Bharti Airtel ($3.8 billion) and Reliance ($3.5 billion). The brand value of Tata Group has risen by $3 billion in the past one year, primarily led by its international diversification strategy and the flagship firm TCS, as per consulting firm Brand Finance India's annual study. "Despite the fact that some divisions within the group have been underperforming, the brand should benefit from the recently outlined plans to invest $35 billion over the next three years and should go some way towards meeting the goal of the Tata chairman, Cyrus Mistry, to be amongst the 25 most admired brands globally," it said. Brand value has

increased among the top 50 by 10% compared to 2013 with brands such as Tata, Godrej, HCL, and L&T leading the way, said the Brand Finance India 100 list. Banking firms fared the worst collectively with majority of brands losing value or remaining stagnant due to generally poor governance and weak credit controls, especially at the government-owned institutions, Brand Finance said. State Bank of India has seen its value drop by ($1.9 billion) as poorer revenue forecasts and bad-loans dampened earnings, it said.

HCL Technologies has seen an increase in brand value of 51% by $649 million as its successful strategy has seen the brand win 50 transformational engagements with contract values of $5 billion in the past year distributed across all service lines and

geographies.

"Indian brands have benefited from the rapid economic growth seen over the past ten years," said Brand Finance's Savio D'Souza.

"Indian brands must take advantage of the improving business sentiment and invest in brand related activities like customer engagement, sponsorships, employee satisfaction and brand tracking to drive the next phase of growth in order for more Indian companies to join the global club of internationally recognised brands," he added.

The average brand value to enterprise value (BV/EV) for India's top 100 brands is 12%.

However, some of the largest PSUs have an average ratio of 3%. The BV/EV ratio shows the proportion of a company's value accounted for by the brand.

Tata Steel to raise UK plant capacity

Tata Steel’s plant at Teesside, UK, is looking to surpass its nominal 1,700 billion tonnes per annum capacity to support increasing demand. A statement from the company said Teesside Service Centre, at Redcar, which is next to the Beam Mill, is the only steel sections processing facility in the UK backed up by an adjacent production capability.

Tata Steel has invested a total of 8.5 million pounds in the centre that has a warehouse and a

Tata Group is India's most valuable brand

The Tata Group has retained its place as India’s most valuable brand at $21 billion, while the total worth of top-100 Indian brands now stands at $92.6 billion, says a new ¿ЬєઅЦ´ ╙¾» ¶³Ц¾¾Ц ╙¾¥ЦºЪ ºΝЦЦ ¦ђ?

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

19

The trouble with going bald

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

Last week I was invited to see a large newly developed property in Esher, Surrey; it was on a golf course. The property consisted of 13,000 sq. ft., a swimming pool, cinema room, wine cellar, car port and the usual bells and whistles you would expect for this type of property.

The price tag was £12m. I don’t know the area but the price seemed ok for what you’re getting. It all looked great enough as you would expect for a property of this calibre. However there were some fundamental flaws, in my mind it wasn’t perfect. And perfection is what you would need or at least be close to when you’re dealing with a discerning buyer at this level.

Firstly the grounds did not do the building justice they were proportionally too small, not what you would expect for a property for this size. The bedrooms, apart from the master bedroom which was very plush, were small and almost the same size as the servants’ quarters.

The architect involved in the project was very involved, perhaps too involved, meaning he had a story as to the reason why he had designed the building this way, he also had an agent who bought in to his story and therefore was deemed the right agent for this property in his opinion.

The story went above my head; it was that the property was designed as a neo-classical as opposed to a conventional house which had been refurbished.

The issue is that unless you really buy into this story, which the agent did hence he got the agency, the house doesn’t really sell itself.

Th e proof o f the pu ddin g is in the e atin g; th e prope rty has been on sale since Febru ary and has o nly had one firm offe r for £10m which was refused because this was the act ual cost of purchase an d de ve lopment. Sin ce then there h ave bee n no o ffers. It is appreciat ed pro perties like this take time to sell but I fo r one would n't ho ld my bre ath for t his one , t he price t ag is £12m.

I have had a little experience in Bishops Avenue, properties there can take some years to sell. And unlike smaller less valuable properties you cannot rent them in the interim, they also have full time security guards to look after the property whilst it remains vacant. If these properties were to be used they would lose their appeal and not be able to command the premium price they are on for in the same way a brand new car is able to sell for a large premium.

The owners of the Esher property in retrospect now wish they had taken the previous offer and cut their losses. However the previous interested party has gone on to purchase something else and there doesn't look like there’s anyone else on the horizon. This property does not look like it will sell any time soon. It seems to me the architect is the only one who loves the property since it is his baby; the issue is he hasn’t got the £12m to purchase the property.

A similar scenario unfolded in a freehold mews house in Kensington some months ago. It was like a Tardis from Doctor Who, with three floors above the ground and another three floors sub ground level. The swimming pool doubles up as a dance floor, at the press of a button the swimming pool floor rises to floor level. This property was on the market for £21m originally then it dropped to £16m and then dropped to £13m.

e r wh o u sed to play for Tot te nham H ot spur, e ven he did n' t bi te the bu lle t, he nc e t he prope rt y was re possesse d an d t he n so ld for £11m by t he bridg ing co mpany, who pre sen te d t he d eal t o me so me mo nt hs late r i nd epen d en tly.

The other issue is foreigners especially do not like living beneath the ground, you can get away with one level below ground but not three.

The risk with doing deals in these locations at this level is the debt may kill the deal, as the time taken to sell will be long and the finance cost will increase as time goes on.

Even if it is assumed there is 50% debt on a price of £13m the cost of serving the debt per annum will be £260,000 at 4% per annum. In effect the price of the property needs to increase at this level in order to sustain the debt cost.

Therefore property investment is not looking so good at these levels.

Interestingly a property came up only last week in the prime road of Bishops Ave, it used to be on the market for £100m back in 2011, then the price was slashed by £35m to £65m, and if that isn't cheap enough then you can get it now for a mere £27m.

The property consists of 27,000 sq. ft. on a surprisingly large plot of 2.5 acres, which is huge given the location. Normally on a plot like this the developer would chop the land into 5 pieces and sell 5 individual properties rather than one monstrous one. I haven't been to see the property but the pictures and the backers tell me this is top finish, which would normally cost in the region of £350 -£500 per sq. ft. to develop. Therefore given the size of the property and the substantial grounds £27m is cheap. The property known as Heath Hall was originally designed for William Lyle from the Tate & Llye family back in 1910. The property has been restored by the well-known property entrepreneur Andreas Panayiotou’s Ability Group.

There’s a saying which I've quoted often and used to defend the nature of property as an asset class: “buying a dud property is like having a bad haircut, if you wait long enough it always grows back.”

Well in this scenario it doesn't quite work out, hence I have had to revisit this important thesis and re-amend the rule, here’s the additional sub clause to the rule:

T he de vel ope r had go t thin g s badl y wron g. It was a hou se wh ich sho uld appeal to f amilie s yet was de sign ed t o appe al t o a bache lor/f oo tball er. An d in fact it was a f oo tball er wh o popped up to se e the propert y whilst I was th ere , a d ivisio n on e play -

The Real Deal

Victoria, London, SW1V Purchase Price: £2m l A beautiful house in this highly sought after location l Freehold l In its current condition this property is priced at £1,032 per sq. ft., properties in this location are being sold above £1,200 per sq. ft. l The amenities of Pimlico and Victoria are close by while the shops, bars and restaurants of Chelsea's famous King's Road are a short walk away l The end value of the property after works is expected to be above £2.6m Call us now to secure this deal!

“Bu yi ng an d de vel opin g an expe nsiv e propert y can be l ike go ing bald , it may n eve r gro w back n o matt er h ow l on g yo u wait !”

In the defense of all of the above it is not just the out of place property design to blame but equally the debt level which would have served to push these deals over the edge. When debt is mounting you cannot wait indefinitely to release the profit, there are time limits. This was especially exercised with malicious intent during the credit crunch. If there was no credit to be crunched these properties may have sold……in time.

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Tips of the Week l Remember, the easiest way to avoid capital gains tax is never to sell! You can always extract equity from property by way of a refinance.

l When using mortgages for trading deals, more emphasis is often placed on the arrangement and exit fees rather than the interest rates due to the short nature of the loan.

20

LEGAL VOICE

14,800 multimillionaires in India

India has more multimillionaires than Australia, Russia and France. The latest wealth index by New World Wealth that looks at multimillionaires - an individual with net assets of at least $10 million - has ranked India eighth in the global rich list, below countries such as the US, China, Germany and the UK but above Singapore and Canada.

India is home to 14,800 multimillionaires.

Mumbai is home to the highest number of them 2,700, as many as that in Munich. Mumbai is the only Indian entry in the top 30 cities for multimillionaires. Hong Kong is the city with the largest number of multi-millionaires (15,400), followed

by New York (14,300), London (9,700), Moscow (7,600), Los Angeles

Tata's Vistara airline to fly in October

Tata's full-service airline joint venture with Singapore Airlines will commence operations in October under the brand 'Vistara', which means limitless expanse in Indian's ancient Sanskrit language.

Announcing the airline name with an eight-pointed star as its logo, TataSIA Airlines Ltd (TSAL) said it would render the highest standards of service to passengers.

"We will start operations in October after receiving the first plane, an Airbus A320-200, in September and increase the fleet to 20 aircraft by fifth year (2018)," TSAL chairman Prasad Menon said.

Asserting that the new airline would redefine air travel in India, Menon said the legendary hospitality of both the partners would make its service a natural choice for passengers.

"We aim to deliver a seamless experience via personalisation of services for guests who travel with us. Our core belief is to be thoughtful about our guests' needs and make a difference in their air travel experience," TSAL chief executive Phee Teik Yeoh said.

Noting that the Indian aviation sector had a lot of potential for growth, TSAL director Swee Wah Mak said Singapore Airlines would contribute to create a fine flying experience in the Indian skies through Vistara.

Tata Sons holds majority stake (51 per cent) in the joint venture, with Singapore Airlines the remaining 49 per *cent.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

(7,400) and Singapore (6,600).

As far as countries are concerned, the US tops the list with 183,500 people worth over $10 million, followed by China (26,600), Germany (25,400), UK (21,700), Japan (21,000), Switzerland (18,300) and Hong Kong (15,400).

Over the past 10 years, millionaire and multimillionaire numbers have grown at vastly different rates. Millionaire numbers

worldwide have gone up by 58% during this period, whilst multi-millionaire numbers have gone up by 71%.

There are currently just over 13 million millionaires in the world (as of June 2014).

Approximately 495,000 of these individuals can be classified as multi-millionaires.

When it comes to millionaires, the US tops the list followed by Japan and the UK. China and India are both significantly lower on this list than they are on the multi-millionaire list. Russia, which ranks ninth in the world for multi-millionaires, only ranks 18th in the world for millionaires.

"The higher growth of multi-millionaires can be put down to a number of factors including: a widening wealth gap at the top-

end, a rising rate of conversion of millionaires into multi-millionaires and strong growth in countries that have a high multi-millionaire to millionaire ratio (the likes of Russia and India)," the report says.

In terms of regional performance, South America was the standout, with multi-millionaire growth of 265% over the 10-year period. Other top performers included Australasia (182% growth) and Africa (142% growth). In terms of country performance, major countries that registered 200% plus growth included Russia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Angola. All are emerging markets.

Australia was the top performing developed market with growth of just over 190%.

Summer price wars have been breaking out between some of the market's main players, as well as between some of their upstart competitors. If you are in Barking in East London, a new 97p store, advertising 'Knockout' prices, has opened right next door to the already established Sam's 99p Store. The new boys are taking levels of undercutting to even greater heights, by having an introductory 89p sale.

On the English Riviera, shoppers can also expect to pay as little as 89p for items as poundstore giants 99p Store and Poundland slug it out in Torquay. Prices at 99p Store in Union Street and Poundland in Fleet Street in the town have tumbled in recent weeks, from 97p, then to 93p, then to 92p.

Now, Poundland have apparently broken new

ground by taking their prices down to 90p thought by retail experts to be the lowest price ever offered by the chain.

However, the 99p Store has now responded by dropping its price to 89p also the lowest the chain has ever gone.

Other price wars have been reported in Ipswich, East Ham, Dudley and Chelmsley Wood. Usually, such price-cutting binges do not last, with stores reverting to the standard £1 or 99p after a set period. One industry insider

said: "Sometimes it is simply a question of who blinks first." A Poundland spokeswoman said: “Poundland always aims to offer great quality products for amazing value to all its customers. Like all retailers we test competitor response options all the time and this is just one of a number of tactical options. Poundland knows how important value is to customers and we regularly check our prices against those of our competitors to ensure we offer the best value."

FDI up to 24% will be allowed via the automatic route.

The cabinet also allowed 100% foreign participation in crucial infrastructure segments of the railways, in line with Narendra Modi government's plan to fast-track modernization of the state-run transporter. So far, FDI in railways and atomic energy was not allowed. Now, foreign investors can invest in setting up of suburban rail

networks, high speed corridors, signalling projects, logistic hubs and in creating links to industrial parks.

These decisions follow the earlier move to raise the FDI limit in the insurance sector to 49% from 26%, though the legislation has met stiff resistance in Parliament from some opposition parties such as Congress.

Experts cheered the move to open up the railways to FDI. “With high operating ratio, and reliance on budgetary support, railways have underinvested over last several years on capital expenditure,” said Arvind Mahajan, partner and head of infrastructure and government services at KPMG.

Retailers in discount wars to entice customers

Indian govt hikes FDI in defence, railways

The Indian government has approved raising the FDI limit in the sensitive defence sector to 49% from 26% and opened up the railway infrastructure segment to foreign firms.

The NDA government wants to accelerate economic reforms, attract investments and create jobs. The union cabinet also decided that FDI beyond 49% will be allowed in state-of-the art defence equipment manufacturing, with technology transfer under Indian control and management.

Technically, this means 100% FDI is allowed, but sources said this has been the position since 2002.

As a safeguard, the Cabinet Committee on Security will approve such proposals. Sources said

Increased penalties for employers

Maria Fernandes

The civil penalty has doubled from £10000 to £20000. If an employer carries out checks in accordance with Code (using specific lists) they will have a statutory excuse against a liability for a civil penalty. There are 3 functions. The first is to obtain original documents, secondly check that they are genuine as far as is reasonably possible and third make a copy and the date of the check recorded on the document (this is a new requirement).

Checks should be carried out whilst the proposed employee is present visual checks are reasonably accurate.

The new Code of Practice affects all employers who employ staff on or after 16 May 2014. For those employed on or after 29th February 2008 but before 16th May 2014 the 2008 Code still applies.

The requirement to check students documents has been tightened. Employers must obtain evidence from the education sponsor setting out term time and vacation periods. This can be a printout from the website of the institution or a copy of a letter from the college to the student or to the employer from the institution addressing these issues.

Furthermore where the student has ceased study before completing the course they are not allowed to work.

Furthermore once they do complete their course the Home Office will normally allow them to work for a “wrap up” period. The Code appears to suggest that the employer could be lose their excuse if the student finishes the course early and the Home Office do not

reduce their wrap up leave. How this would work in practice is anybody’s guess.

There are now only 3 instances when it will be necessary to carry out verification checks with the Home Office, when an employer is presented with a Certificate of Application which is under 6 months old, an Application Registration Card is presented (ARC) or if the applicant has an outstanding application and is unable to produce any original documents.

Applications for verification will not be able to provide information for applications that are under 14 days.

The Home Office state they will respond within 5 working days.

Where an employee is reasonably satisfied that an employee has submitted an application to the Home Office or has an appeal pending they will have a statutory excuse for a maximum of 28 days provided they contact the Employer Checking Service to verify the right to work. If a positive notice is issued (called the Positive Verification Notice) they will have a further 6 months protection.

The starting figure for a person who has not been previously found to have employed illegal workers in a 3 year period will be £15000. For others it starts at £20000.

Those who take staff on under the Transfer of Undertaking Provisions (TUPE) will be given a grace period of 60 days to check the status of their employees.

Finally employers must now object to the Home Office first and then if the claim is rejected can appeal to the County Court.

To contact Maria Fernandes, please email at: info@fernandesvaz.com

Modi calls bankers to push infra projects

Keen to revive infrastructure development, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a meeting of bank chiefs to address funding constraints of developers and also seek inputs from the financial sector on how to bridge the deficit by constructing more power plants, roads, ports and airports. A key concern in the government is the absence of interest from private developers as sev-

eral large groups with interest in infrastructure are saddled with high levels of debt and have opted out of projects. In fact, the absence of interest, especially in road construction, was even discussed during a recent cabinet meeting, said sources privy to the deliberations.

The government departments have been asked to identify issues for which solutions are needed immediately.

CURRENCY VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

21

Foreign Exchange

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

Economic recovery requires more time The Bank of England kept interest rates at their record low last week Thursday 7th August giving Britain’s economic recovery more time to build. The BoE's Monetary Policy Committee left Bank Rate at 0.5 percent. This decision was no surprise to economists and did little to move the pound.

The currency movement from this decision will come out if there was any split on the voting in two weeks’ time when the BoE release the minutes from this meeting.

The Pound struggled during last week’s session Friday on news UK exports dropped in June, ending a quarter that saw the trade deficit widen to the most in almost a year. Overseas sales (exports) fell 1.6 percent from May and imports also declined as the UK’s trade gap widened to 9.4 billion pounds.

The figures underscore U.K. companies’ challenge to revive exports against the challenges of weak growth in the euro area and a stronger pound.

With Russia placing bans on agricultural imports from the EU there is talk amongst economists

that this action could push the Eurozone further into deflation.

With food prices having a high weighting on the inflation index and Russia accounting for nearly 10% of all EU agricultural exports.

Some economists expect the surplus of food produced for export could push prices lower in the Eurozone.

The European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged at record lows of 0.15% as the Ukraine crisis strengthened headwinds facing the euro area’s recovery. ECB President Mario Draghi reiterated that interest

rates will remain low in Europe for an extended period and confirms that inflation will remain “Anchored” for some time still.

The ECB stated that they are still assessing the possible impact of sanctions with Russia on the euro area economy with one major risk being the price of energy.

Greek unemployment eased slightly in May but it is still shockingly high. The country’s statistics agency said the jobless rate inched down to 27.2% from 27.3% in April.

That is more than double the

Eurozone average of 11.6% in May. The Dollar made ground against the Pound after data revealed productivity of U.S. workers rose more than projected in the second quarter, rebounding from the biggest drop in more than three decades and helping to restrain labour costs.

The measure of employee output per hour increased at a 2.5 percent annualized rate, meaning companies that have been relying on wringing efficiency gains from existing staff may take on more employees and increase investment as demand grows.

In the US the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, pointing to a further strengthening of labour market conditions.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased by 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 289,000 for the week ended Aug. 2 .The four-week average of claims fell 4,000 to 293,500, the lowest level since February 2006.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 12th August 2014 @ 2.30pm

GBP - INR = 102.57 USD - INR = 61.19 EUR - INR = 81.80 GBP - USD = 1.68 GBP - EUR = 1.25

EUR - USD = 1.34 GBP - AED = 6.16

GBP - CAD = 1.83

GBP - NZD = 1.99

GBP - AUD = 1.81

GBP - ZAR = 17.87

GBP - HUF = 392.87

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

LONDON - PAKISTAN

Nawaz Sharif regrets Pakistan's troubled ties with India

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regretted that Pakistan was having bad relations with key neighbour India and said it was time the two had good relations.

Addressing the National Security Conference here, which was attended by ministers, chief ministers, political leaders of all major parties, army chief Gen Raheel Sharif and other senior civil and military officials including ISI chief Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, Sharif noted with dissatisfaction that his country was not having good ties with neighbours.

The Prime Minister mentioned India by saying that it is time for having good relations with it. He hoped that the planned

meeting of the foreign secretaries will help move the ties forward. Sharif also said Pakistan wants to improve ties with Afghanistan and hoped that the new leadership in that country will cooperate with him.

The Pakistani leader

also criticized moderate cleric Tahir-ul Qadri who has been challenging the government with a wave of protests resulting in clashes with police in Punjab. Sharif offered olive branch to former cricketer Imran Khan, the chief of Pakistan Tehrik-e-

Insaaf, saying that the government was ready to settle the issue of rigging allegations by recounting the ballots in some constituencies.

Khan has given call for a mammoth rally on August 14 in Islamabad to protest against the alleged rigging of last year polls which brought Sharif to power.

The prime minister also said that economic outlook of the county was changing and promised to tackle the crippling energy crisis and terrorism in the country. Later, the military leadership briefed the political leaders about the operation in restive North Waziristan tribal region which was launched on June 15 to eliminate militants from the area.

the fourth meeting of the Pakistan-India Joint Business Forum (PIJBF).

India and Pakistan are looking to take fresh initiative in relations when the foreign secretaries of both the countries meet in Islamabad on August 25.

Pakistan is likely to push for a full scale resumption of the dialogue process which has effectively remained stalled since January 2013 when an Indian soldier was beheaded at LoC. Talking about the meeting, the high commissioner said Pakistan was looking forward to a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue process.

He said PM Narendra Modi and his counterpart Nawaz Sharif had both agreed in their meeting here that the two coun-

tries needed to move from confrontation to cooperation. After the IPJBF meeting, Pakistani industry expressed hope that Islamabad would soon grant the MFN status as the formalities on the matter have already been completed.

"All the home work has been completed and formalities have been done so I think it is only the matter of time when the two governments meet and right forum is there. So I do not think that is an issue," Pakistan Co-chair for IPJBF Syed Yawar Ali said. India granted the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 but Pakistan is yet to reciprocate to that. Grant of status to India would help in further boosting trade.

Pak seeks tariff protection to break MFN deadlock

New Delhi: As India awaits MFN status - or what Pakistan calls nondiscriminatory market access (NDMA) - from Islamabad, Pakistan said the Indian government needs to address its concerns related to "market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers''.

India has in the past, towards the end of UPA-II, accused Pakistan of raising the issue of non-tariff barriers to deny it NDMA. Pakistan high commissioner to India Abdul Basit said Pakistan wants a level-playing field for promoting and further strengthening trade ties with India. "There is need to address concerns relating to market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers,'' he said.

Pak urged to revoke rights suspension

New York: The Pakistani government should rescind the suspension of fundamental rights and the grant of military authority for law enforcement in Islamabad, Human Rights Watch said. Powers given to the military risk misuse in the face of ongoing largescale political protests, the US-based body said.

"Pakistan faces very real threats of terrorism, but giving unbridled powers to the army and suspending fundamental rights is the wrong response," said Brad Adams at Human Rights Watch.

"Suspending rights and judicial oversight is a disproportionate measure that should be rescinded." On Aug 1, the government invoked article 245 of the constitution, permitting the military to carry out law enforcement in Islamabad.

Abdul Basit

"At the same time, innovative proposals and ideas may also be explored which can help create economic inter-dependence between the two countries. Mutual economic dependence will boost confidence amongst the business communities and make economic cooperation sustainable," he added, while addressing

Saudi men banned from marrying Pak, Bangladeshi women

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has banned its male citizens from marrying women from four countries Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chad and Myanmar - a police officer said. The announcement comes as a part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to prohibit Saudi men from marrying expatriates, a subject widely debated in the Gulf nation. There is an estimated 500,000 women from the four countries, residing in Saudi Arabia.

Mecca Police Director Assaf Al-Qurashi said additional formalities have been placed before issuing the permission for marriage with foreigners, Dawnonline reported citing a local daily.

Tougher regulations have been introduced for such marriages, that includes, obtaining consent from the authorities and submitting marriage applications through official channels, the report

said. Applicants should be over 25 and attach identification documents signed by the local district mayor as well as all other identity papers, including a copy of his family card.

"If the applicant is already married, he should attach a report from a hospital proving that his wife is either disabled, suffering from a chronic disease or is sterile," Al-Qurashi said. However, no official

announcement has been released by the Saudi Arabian government yet.

The largest oil exporting nation is home to an estimated 9 million expatriate workers, constituting 30 per cent of the total population. The highly conservative country has been the subject of global condemnation for its bad record in granting equal rights to women in the country.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

In Brief

First enriched GM crops ready for harvest

London: The first genetically modified crops, enriched with nutrients to improve health, will be ready for harvesting within weeks. In a major step, a crop of camelina (false flax) has been spliced with genes which make Omega-3 so that its seeds will produce an oil rich in fatty acid normally only found in fish. It is the first example of a new generation of so-called ‘nutraceuticals’ – plants whose genetic structure has been altered to introduce healthboosting properties. If future trials are successful, the plant oil will initially be fed to farmed fish, such as salmon, to boost their Omega-3 content and make food healthier for shoppers.

Subway's 'secrets' revealed

London: A disgruntled franchise owner has allegedly revealed fast food chain Subway’s misleading marketing strategy. It was uploaded by an anonymous user but was allegedly created by former Melbourne franchisee Arun Singhal as part of a suspected $35 million blackmail plot against the sandwich giant. Singhal's concerns of Subway's business practices allegedly prompted him to create a number of videos and a website to reveal the franchise's trade secrets, called 'The System.' A restrained video allegedly unveiling Subway's deceptive marketing tactics has been mysteriously leaked by an unknown source. Singhal denies any plot to blackmail Subway and claims he is the victim of the 'Sandwich Mafia', as he was forced to declare bankruptcy after the company allegedly promised him that if he closed his store he would be able to open a new one elsewhere. Singhal said, “after they took my authorisation to close the store and I closed the store, they completely changed their words.”

Dieting makes you less happy

London: A study shows that people who undergo dieting may lose weight and healthier but may not be happier. A study of nearly 2,000 overweight and obese adults found that those who lost more than 5 per cent of their body weight over four years were more likely to suffer from depression or low mood – despite showing improvements to physical health.

The findings highlight the need to provide psychological support to those who are aiming to lose significant amounts of weight, the authors said.

Govt to gain from Osborne’s pension reforms

London: An analysis has revealed that more than 650,000 savers are preparing to take advantage of George Osborne’s pension reforms over the next five years, providing the government with a £4 billion tax benefits. The figures suggested savers will take out around £26 billion from their pension funds in five years, equivalent to just under £40,000 each. This will boost treasury coffers by £3.8 billion between 2015 and 2020 as pensioners are hit by higher levels of tax. Pension experts warn that many savers will withdraw more than they need and could find themselves dragged into the higher rate tax band.

Pornography can make some women ‘hypersexual’

London: A new research shows that women are just as susceptible to becoming addicted to online pornography as men. Previous research had suggested as many as 17 per cent of women describe themselves as "addicted" to online porn. A German study showed heavy use of pornography could make some women “hypersexual” - a personality disorder that involves spending excessive time engaged in sexual fantasies and urges or in planning for and engaging in sexual behaviour.

Scientists discovered that behavioural patterns in hypersexual women resembled those previously observed in men with the same problem including pornography dependence, excessive masturbation and promiscuity.

MPs want alcoholic drinks to carry health warnings

London: An all-party parliamentary group on alcohol misuse said that labels should warn about the harmful effects of drinking. It wants political parties to commit to 10 recommendations to minimise alcohol-related problems in the UK - including cutting the drink-drive limit. The government said it was working to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and tackle sales of cheap alcohol. The recommendation by the group says: "In order to inform consumers about risk, every alcohol label should include an evidence-based health warning as well as describing the product's nutritional, calorific and alcohol content."

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

In Brief

Education secretary for raising school standard

London: Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, said that better standards in education were more important than rise in number scoring higher grades. She said that increases in the past had been achieved by "drilling" pupils to pass and shifting children onto low-grade qualifications to boost league table positions. She criticised the higher grades and pass rates seen under the last Labour government, saying they had been achieved at the expense of a proper understanding of traditional subjects. It was claimed that children’s education had been damaged by “constant drilling for examinations” and a drive towards poor quality courses.

Use spoon to avoid ice-cream headache

London: A doctor has suggested using spoons to avoid headache after eating ice-cream or a cold drink. Dr Amanda Ellison said the headache is caused by the sudden cold sensation on the roof of the mouth. She said growing numbers are complaining about the dull throbbing ache in the temple or forehead after drinking smoothes. Research suggests sucking cold drinks through a straw brings on the pain faster than spooning down lumps of ice cream or biting into a cornet, she said. It has often been assumed the stabbing pain is brought on by sensitive teeth with the cold treat stimulating temperature controlled nerves as it passes over the gums.

Imran tells Nawaz Sharif to quit

Islamabad: Demanding fresh elections under the new election commission, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan, vowed that he wouldn't call off his sit-in protest until the Nawaz Sharif government quit. “Sharif should immediately resign and announce fresh elections.

The mandate of this government is fake as it grabbed power through rigged elections,” Imran Khan said at a crowded press conference. “Barring the 1970 polls, no free and fair elections gave been held in the country.

But the 2013 elections broke all previous records,” Khan said.

The secret of perfect relationship

London: A survey said that admitting one’s fault after an argument, five kisses a day and a romantic meal once a month are among the key ingredients for a successful relationship. Sharing household chores and sex twice a week are other crucial factors. The list of 20 factors is designed to ensure that couple spend time together and are openly affectionate.

Daily walk reduces breast cancer risk

London: Researchers have found women who take 30 minutes of gentle exercise per day are 10 per cent less likely to develop breast cancer but once they stop their risk increases quickly. A study of nearly 60,000 women found those who had exercised for the equivalent of four hours a week were 10 per cent less likely to develop breast cancer than those who were sedentary.

However the effect was only found in women who exercised consistently over four years.

Two thirds never consider old age care

London: A survey has found that more than three quarters of those questioned said they had never spoken to their family or a trusted friend about their wishes for old-age care. The poll of more than 2,300 over-18s, conducted on behalf of a housing and care charity, found 64 per cent admitted they have never contemplated the options when they are unable to care for themselves.

Australian couple would have aborted Baby Gammy

Melbourne: The Australian couple accused of abandoning their surrogate baby in Thailand have admitted they would have preferred to abort the boy, who has Down's syndrome, because "no parents want a son with a disability". In their first public comments since it emerged that they had left the boy called Gammy and returned to Australia with his healthy twin sister, David and Wendy Farnell said that they had learnt of his condition too late to terminate and now wanted him back.

Afghan policeman kills 7 colleagues

Kabul: A local official says an Afghan policeman has turned his gun on his colleagues at a checkpoint in the south, killing seven policemen. The shooting was the latest among so-called insider attacks in which Afghan forces or gunmen in Afghan police or army uniforms turn their weapon on Afghan colleagues or NATO allies.

Doost Mohammad Nayab, a spokesman in southern Uruzgan province, said that after killing seven policemen, the attacker stole their weapons and fled in a police car. Nayab says the shooter had Taliban connections and blamed the insurgents for the attack.

WORLD

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Indian invited to join Lanka probe panel Two British lawyers and US law professor to be part of the panel

Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has roped in Avdhash Kaushal of Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a Dehradunbased NGO to a panel advising its Presidential Commission on missing persons, it is learnt.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to expand the panel of international experts, according to Presidential spokesperson Mohan Samaranayake. “Some names are being considered, but they have not been finalised,” he said.

Confirming that he received a call from President Rajapaksa’s office in this connection, Avdhash Kaushal said, “The President himself spoke to me, inviting me to be on this panel. I asked for the terms and I was too

Avdhash Kaushal

happy to be part of it.”

President Rajapaksa, according to him, visited the organisation in Dehradun on his invitation.

“Over 20 Sri Lankans pursued a course in Human Rights offered by us.”

In July, Rajapaksa expanded the mandate of the Commission - original-

ly set up to look into complaints of enforced disappearances - directing it to probe the roles of Sri Lankan army and the rebel Tigers during the civil war. The move surprised many, for it seemed like a shift from the Sri Lankan government’s earlier claim that its army was engaged in a completely “humanitarian operation”. British lawyers Desmond de Silva and Geoffrey Nice and US law professor David Crane were roped in to be part of the advisory panel. More recently, local media reported the President’s decision to expand the panel.

The inclusion of an Indian activist was possibly based on a private interaction and did not reflect the Indian government’s position, according to sources in the Indian

ISIS has massacred 500 of Yazidi minority

Baghdad: ISIS militants have killed at least 500 members of Iraq's Yazidi minority, burying some alive and taking hundreds of women as slaves, an Iraqi government minister said. Human rights minister Mohammed Shia alSudani accused the Sunni Muslim insurgents - who have ordered the community they regard as “devil worshipper” to convert to Islam or die. No independent confirmation was available.ISIS' advance through northern Iraq has forced tens of thousands to flee, threatened the capital of the Kurdish autonomous region and provoked the first US air strikes in the area since Washington withdrew troops from Iraq in late 2011.

Jihadists take over largest Christian town Meanwhile, jihadists took over Iraq's largest Christian town and sur-

rounding areas and sent tens of thousands of panicked residents fleeing towards autonomous Kurdistan. The militants moved into Qaraqosh and several other towns overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish peshmerga troops, who are stretched thin across several fronts in Iraq, residents said.

Obama authorises renewed air strikes In Washington President Barack Obama

authorised US air strikes in northern Iraq, warning they would be launched if needed to defend Americans from advancing Islamic militants and protect civilians under siege.

Obama said American military planes already had carried out airdrops of humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of Iraqi religious minorities surrounded by militants and desperately in need of food and water.

"Today America is coming to help," he declared.

New York: Just days after a Sikh man was hit and dragged by a truck, another Sikh man and his mother were attacked by a group of teenagers who called them “Osama Bin Laden” in an apparent hate crime, sparking fresh outrage among the community members.

The Sikh man, a physician scientist, said in a statement that he and his mother were attacked in a Queens neighbourhood on the night of August 7. He said that in accordance with Sikh religious beliefs, both he and his mother wear turbans and maintain uncut hair.

They were confronted by about 10 teenagers who called them Osama bin Laden and asked the duo to go back to their country.

The teenagers also used derogatory language

against the man's mother and made fun of her facial hair. The Sikh man told them to stop, but the teenagers surrounded him and punched him in the face and neck.

Rights group Sikh Coalition called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to work with the community to end violence and discrimination against Sikhs.

"Enough is enough," it

said, urging witnesses to call federal authorities giving any information they may have on the 10 teenagers. "We're tired of being targeted again and again by bigots, but Sikh Americans are not afraid and are not going to let a small group of narrowminded individuals get us down," Rajdeep Singh, Director of Law and Policy at the Sikh Coalition, said.

Sikh man, his mother attacked in NY

High Commission here.

“We have nothing to do with this,” a senior official remarked.

The developments come in the wake of a UN probe into Sri Lanka’s rights record, following a resolution at the Human Rights Council in March.

The Sri Lankan government, which declared that it would not cooperate in the process, initiated its own mechanism to probe allegations of war crimes.

UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay has said the UN could conduct an effective investigation into reports of war crimes in Sri Lanka without visiting the country, a report said.

Citing Syria and North Korea as examples where, despite no access, investigations were carried out, Ms. Pillay said: “There is a wealth of information outside of Sri Lanka which can be tapped into.”

Half of Britons skip breakfast

London: A survey has found that more than half of Britons skip breakfast because of their increasingly hectic schedules. Twothirds of Britons surveyed eat breakfast on the go - some in the car and some in public transport The poll of 2,000 adults, by oat drink producers Oatly, also revealed 34 per cent of people don't eat anything before noon.

Only half eat breakfast every day, with 40 per cent telling researchers they have rushed the meal - with the average time taken just six minutes and 15 seconds.

The most common reasons are rushing to work (58 per cent), starting work too early (24 per cent), waking up late (18 per cent), being distracted by the children (16 per cent), the school run (14 per cent) or a long commute (12 per cent).

Two-thirds (65 per cent) admit munching breakfast while getting ready, more than a quarter (27 per cent) eat in the car, while 15 per cent admit eating on public transport.

Weekends see the nation take the most time over breakfast, with an average of 13 minutes and two seconds spent enjoying the first meal of the day on Saturdays and Sundays.

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INDIA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Imam held for supporting ISIS Jihadists

Chennai: The Ramanathapuram police in Tamil Nadu arrested a Tirupur-based Imam, who had procured T-shirts and printed slogans in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and al Shams (ISIS) before sending them to the Muslim youths in Thondi, who had posed for a group photograph sporting the T-shirts in front of a mosque recently.

After the arrest of M Abdul Rahman (24) and his accomplice Rilvan, who organised the photo session and had ordered the T-shirts, a special police team from the district visited the hosiery town of Tirupur and detained S Faizur Rahman (27) who procured the T-

shirts and supplied them to Rilvan after printing a modified ISIS emblem on them.

As he had arranged the Tshirts with full knowledge after receiving the designs and money from Abdul Rahman and Rilvan, he was also arrested for illegal activities. He was produced before a magistrate court and remanded in judicial custody.

Faizur Rahman, who was working as an Imam in a local mosque in Tirupur, had despatched the T-shirts to Rilvan in Chennai, who, in turn, sent them to Thondi.

After police launched a drive against those who posed for the photograph sporting the T-shirts, father of Abdul Rahman had destroyed about 50 T-shirts by burning them,

while police seized 25 Tshirts.

Meanwhile, police have initiated steps to impound the passport of Abdul Rahman, who used to visit Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka on tourist visa in connection with his textiles, leather and electronic goods business.

The incident came to light last week after a group photograph of the youths went viral on social media when one of them posted the picture on Facebook on Id-ulFitr. Initially, it was believed that the Muslim youths wanted to only express their gratitude to the ISIS for releasing Indian nurses stranded in Iraq.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa introduced a bill in the assembly to give legal protection to the dhoti, the traditional attire in Tamil Nadu. The bill barred recreation clubs, associations, trusts, companies and societies from imposing restrictions on any person wearing the dhoti (veshti).

The bill proposes cancellation of licences to clubs and organisations violating the law. "Whoever violates the provisions shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to Rs 25,000."

"No person, wearing a veshti reflecting Tamil culture or any other Indian traditional dress, shall be denied entry into any public place, by reason only of his dress, provided that the dress shall be worn in a

J Jayalalithaa decent manner," the bill said.

The denial of entry to Madras high court judge D Hariparanthaman and two senior advocates into Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Club at Chepauk in Chennai last month, as they were wearing dhoti, triggered a debate in the state, calling for stringent action against the clubs. Opposition parties, including the DMK, the DMDK, the Congress, the Left parties and the PMK decried the disrespect shown by clubs towards the Tamil attire.

Hyderabad: Chaos reigned supreme at Gandhi Hospital last week with senior doctors hailing from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh almost coming to blows on the issue of nativity. As a result, medical services broke down with doctors from both sides deciding to boycott duties.

Trouble started when doctors from the Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGDA) put-up posters that said ‘Seemandhra doctors go back’ from the hospital premises. A few Andhra Pradesh doctors questioned the TGDA members about the posters.

“We asked them what was the need to put up such posters in the hospital? If the Government sends us notices to leave, then we will voluntarily go away on our own. We asked TGDA members not to create such uncomfortable situations on

the hospital premises,” they said. What started as a small argument, gradually became an uproar with doctors from either side arguing with each other. A lot of heckling between the two was witnessed and at one point, the doctors almost came to blows. Angry members of TGDA rushed to the chambers of Superintendent Ashok Kumar, demanding immediate action against the AP doctors. The TGDA members also staged a dharna and burned an effigy of the Kamalnathan Committee. “There are 270 doctors at Gandhi Hospital out of which 136 are from AP. Just to stay in Hyderabad, many of these doctors have submitted fake school certificates. One of them manhandled a member of the TGDA,” Dr P Sravan Kumar, president of the TGDA, Gandhi Hospital unit, said.

New Delhi: The Election Commission is set to announce assembly polls in Haryana within the next fortnight, with polling likely to be held in mid-October in a single phase. Sources indicated that the schedule for the state poll, the first after NDA's emphatic win in Lok Sabha elections, may be out around August 21.

A separate announcement for the other three poll-bound states of Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir will follow later, possibly in late September or early October. This round of state polls will stretch over multiple phases from November to December. According to sources, polling for the three states may begin in midNovember and conclude in the second half of December. J&K, in particular, may witness polling over seven to eight phases.

The EC's move to delink Haryana polls from the other state elections due between December 7 and January 19 was necessary as the term of the state assembly expires on October 27.

Maharashtra, Jharkhand and J&K assemblies have time until December 7, January 3 and January 19 respectively. Advancing the three state polls to match the Haryana schedule was not seen as feasible as Maharashtra, in particular, is witnessing erratic monsoon and its impact, including flooding, may continue until October.

The EC is likely to schedule the Haryana polling after October 10, and have the election process completed latest by October 20, leaving a week for government formation.

Modi remains Congress’ big worry: Congress sees PM Narendra Modi as the big challenge if he campaigns in the state.

Desperate to claw back from the Lok Sabha decimation when it could win a solitary seat of the 10, Congress is pegging its hopes on the triangular contest that is likely to take place with BJP and INLD in the fray. According to party strategists, the state is likely to vote differently in the local polls from the parliamentary bout.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court stepped in to defuse a political fight for the control of gurudwaras between Punjab and Haryana. Ordering status quo, the court said, "Time is the healer. All of you proceed with a cool head."

The court was hearing a petition that questioned the constitutional validity of a Haryana government law setting up its own Sikh body to take over the running of about 50 shrines in the state.

All Sikh shrines in India are currently under the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee, or SGPC, controlled by Punjab's ruling Akali Dal. With the main Sikh body and the Haryana offshoot fighting for control of the gurudwaras in the state, the court ordered both to open separate bank accounts and deposit offerings in the shrines.

The court asked the Haryana government to explain whether it had the

TN introduces bill to provide legal protection to dhoti

Haryana polls likely in mid-October

Telangana, AP doctors clash over nativity

SC orders status quo on Haryana gurudwaras issue

South Brief

DMK suspends Stalin loyalist

Chennai: The DMK has suspended its organising secretary P V Kalyanasundaram after he submitted his resignation demanding that M K Stalin be declared the chief ministerial candidate for the 2016 Assembly polls. Party general secretary K. Anbazhagan said that Kalyanasundaram was suspended from all posts, including the primary membership of the party, for indiscipline.

Anbazhagan said legal wing secretary R S Bharathi had been appointed in Kalyanasundaram’s place.

DMK candidate’s election upheld

Chennai: The Madras High Court upheld the election of the DMK candidate G. Anbalagan in the Kumbakonam constituency in the April 2011 Assembly elections. The judge said that AIADMK candidate Eramanathan had not proved the charges of corrupt practices by the DMK candidate, who defeated him by 1,272 votes. The petitioner said he gave complaints of money distribution to the Returning Officer and the Flying Squad.

Anbalagan countered that the compact discs and documents submitted by the petitioner were not substantiated at all.

Karnataka man hacks daughter's abductor to death Bangalore: Riyaz Khan, a driver, has shocked everyone at the KR Puram police station when he walked in wearing a bloodsoaked shirt and wielding a machete.

He told police that he killed Sadiq Bakash, the man who abducted his daughter and surrendered before the police. Riyaz carried the body of the youth in a gunny bag into the police station. Sadiq had allegedly abducted Riyaz's 14-year-old daughter on July 30. Riyaz was arrested and taken into police custody.

North Brief

Hooda baiter transferred for 60th time

Chandigarh: Nine days after senior IAS officer Pradeep Kasni took on the Hooda government by refusing to issue appointment letters to five commissioners of two statutory bodies by raising various objections, the state government transferred him to a low profile assignment.

According to Kasni, this is the 60th transfer in his career of 30 years in the state. The 1997 batch IAS officer has been transferred at a time when governor Kaptan Singh Solanki has sought a report from the state government on the controversial appointments.

Rainwali does Haryana proud

competence to bring the law. The Haryana government has also been asked to maintain law and order, a day after street clashes between Sikh protesters and the police in Kurukshetra.

Supporters of the newlyformed Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee earlier tried to forcibly enter the 'Chhevin Patshahi', Haryana's main Sikh shrine, when they were stopped by the police.

The police used batons, water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse protesters.

At least five policemen were injured in the violence. The court will take up the case next on August 25.

Chandigarh: Haryana, known for the worst child sex ratio in India, has reasons to cheer about a small village in Fatehabad district.

According to latest figures of the state health department, child sex ratio in the hamlet, Rainwali, is 2,750 girls against 1,000 boys, something unheard of in Haryana. As per 2011 census, Haryana's child sex ratio was just 834 girls for 1,000 boys in 0-6 age group - worst in the country. Rainwali, located near Punjab border, has around 1,800 inhabitants, with a significant number of residents belonging to dalit backward classes.

Two minor sisters allegedly gang-raped in Gurgaon

Gurgaon: Two sisters, 13 and 16 years of age, were allegedly raped by their landlord and three accomplices in Binola village, Gurgaon. Police said the girls had arrived a month ago from Madhya Pradesh with their mother and brother, who were searching for work. They had rented a house in Binola village belonging to Ramavtar, 50, the prime accused. On Saturday night, the four accused entered the house in a drunken state, assaulted the mother and brother before locking them in a room. They then abducted the girls and took them to an undisclosed location and repeatedly raped them.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Clean chit to Narendra Modi in poll code violation case

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a clean chit from the crime branch in Ahmedabad for his act of taking a selfie with the BJP’s symbol and addressing mediapersons on the day of the elections on April 30 outside the polling booth.

The Election Commission of India had ordered the Gujarat government to register an FIR against Modi and concerned newspersons and media houses for alleged violation of the code of conduct and book them under the Representation of the People Act. He was also booked for violation

of the notification under section 188 of the IPC this prohibits campaigning within 100 metres of the booth and within 48 hours of polling. The crime branch submitted its 2,000-page closure report before metropolitan magistrate M H Patel last week.

The investigators

headed by Ahmedabad crime branch DCP Himanshu Shukla mentioned that neither Modi nor other BJP leaders had invited media for interaction near the polling booth at Ranip in Ahmedabad, where the leader cast his vote. It mentioned that in this era, media cannot be restrained from approaching any location, sources said. Incidentally, this is the third clean chit to Modi by Shukla, including SIT's closure report in Zakia Zafri's complaint and Modi's marriage affidavit filed during 2012 assembly polls.

“If that happens, pilots will have no control on any system on board, leading to a disaster,” one Air India official said.

This is not the first time that rats have posed a problem on Air India. In 2009 a flight to Toronto was delayed for 11 hours as staff tried to catch rats.

In another incident in Mumbai last year, officials blamed a short circuit caused by rat excreta for a communications blackout that led to the closure of the airport for three hours. An investigation into the incident at Juhu airport by the Airports Authority of India said cables linked to the site’s VHF radio system had been chewed through by rats, whose excreta was then thought to have triggered a short circuit.

Rat scare in Air India flight

An Air India flight between Delhi and Kolkata was forced ground and fumigate after rats were spotted scurrying beneath the seats in the passenger cabin.

When staff members spotted the rodents they raised an alarm and informed the pilots.

Officials say rats on an aircraft pose an extreme danger because they can chew through vital electrical cables, disabling the aircraft’s control systems and leaving pilots unable to steer.

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PM Modi shows his humanitarian side Reunites godson with his real parents in Nepal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a personal agenda during his Nepal visit – to reunite his godson with his family there. So Modi was accompanied by his godson Jeet Bahadur on his Nepal visit. The boy is from Nepal but has been studying in India for years now. Modi took care of him and provided him with quality education.

Jeet met Modi years ago but he had no knowledge about his parents and family.

Jeet said that whatever he is today, is because of Narendra Modi. Jeet said, "He (PM) is like bade bhai (elder brother) to me.

Whatever I am today is because of my elder brother (Modi). Bade bhai provided me with quality education and guided me throughout. I wouldn't be

where I am without him. I met him (Modi) when I was young. He took care of me like his own son. I met my family two years back and Modiji helped me lot to manage this meeting. Modiji has messaged me and asked me to accompany him to Nepal."

Modi also tweeted reasons behind his Nepal visit being very special. He said, "On a personal note my Nepal visit is very special. Years ago I met a child from Nepal, Jeet Bahadur who did not know where he was headed. I started showing my concern for Jeet Bahadur.

Gradually, he took interest in academics, sports and even learnt Gujarati!"

Jeet’s parents were traced and he was re-united with his family.

"Thankfully, we were able to locate his parents. I am

glad that the parents were reunited with their son," Modi added. Jeet had met his parents in 2011. Jeet, 27, had left his home in Nawalparasi district of Nepal along with his elder brother Dasrath in 1998 to earn a living in India.

Dasrath was working as a domestic help at a house in Delhi and soon Jeet also started working in another place. But unable to cope with hard work, he fled to Rajasthan.

There too he failed to find a 'good home' and left.

With the intention of returning home, he got into a train he hoped will take him to Gorakhpur, the town in Uttar Pradesh on the Indo-Nepal border.

But instead, he boarded a wrong train and landed in Ahmedabad. It is here that Modi took Jeet under his care.

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INDIA - LONDON

India, US agree on arms deal, but technology transfer remains key

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

India and the US last week agreed to go in for codevelopment and co-production of advanced weapon systems, with Washington pushing New Delhi for early decisions on offers ranging from the next-generation Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

But India will not jump headlong into any venture without first ensuring the US sticks to its promise to provide "ground-breaking technology" on par with its closest allies, even though the Modi government is keen to strengthen the moribund domestic defence production sector.

The decision to revive the floundering Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) between the two countries, as also work towards the extension of the 10-year IndiaUS defence framework, was taken after visiting US defence secretary Chuck Hagel held delegation-

level talks with his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley.

As the name DTTI suggests, the US is eager about "trade" as the world's largest arms exporter. Having bagged Indian defence deals worth $10 billion in the last decade, with more like the ones for Apache and Chinook helicopters on the way, has only served to whet its appetite. But for India, the focus is on "technology" to ensure it can build a robust defence-

industrial base to shed its embarrassing tag of being the world's largest arms importer.

So, it was the importance of "technology transfer" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed in his meeting with Hagel, holding that he was keen to see "further progress" in bilateral defence ties, including in "defence manufacturing in India".

Jaitley, in turn, said, "The development of our own indigenous capabili-

ties is a major objective that guides our present policies. In this direction, we have taken steps to raise the FDI cap (from 26% to 49%) in the defence sector. We look forward to work closely with the US in this regard," said Jaitley.

But India is still not fully convinced about the US as a reliable long-term, high-end defence supplier, given its propensity to impose sanctions and stringent export control laws. The US, however, believes it can effectively marry trade and technology, with benefits for both.

Stressing that "security, stability, freedom of sea lanes, economic development and energy" is in the interest of the two countries as well as the AsiaPacific region, Hagel said the US wants to be a partner in India's military modernization and recognises its needs to strengthen its defence-industrial base.

On any other day, Pankaj Parakh flaunts gold ornaments weighing around 2.25 kg. It was natural for this NCP corporator from Yeola to wear a 4-kg gold shirt worth Rs 14 million to celebrate his 45th birthday last week. Though Parakh cut his birthday cake in the presence of state PWD minister and veteran NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, he avoided wearing the shirt in front of his senior.

Bhujbal, who presided over the birthday celebration programme, had reportedly made it clear that he would not attend the event if Parakh flaunted the gold shirt.

Amid speculation that India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna may be conferred on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, his family members disapproved of the idea, saying icons like him were above the award and that the government must reveal the truth on his disappearance instead of honouring him with a “posthumous” award.

There were reports that the government had ordered five Bharat Ratna medallions from the RBI mint and that the names of Netaji and Atal Bihari Vajpayee were being considered.

“Netaji and Gandhi are above Bharat

Ratna. Vajpayee is a perfect candidate for Bharat Ratna, not Netaji. Don’t put forward Netaji's name,” the freedom fighter’s grandnephew, Sugato Bose, who is a Trinamool Congress MP said. Bose wondered how Netaji could be given Bharat Ratna after 43 people.

“Keep Netaji out of partisan politics. His stature is bigger than Bharat Ratna.

How can Netaji be given Bharat Ratna after Rajiv Gandhi? Anyone with a sense of history will agree with me”.

Dhyan Chand’s name suggested The Lok Sabha has been told that recommen-

dations have been received for conferring the Bharat Ratna on hockey great Major Dhayan Chand and they have been forwarded to the Prime Minister's Office.

"Although no formal recommendations for Bharat Ratna are necessary, the recommendations have been received for Bharat Ratna to late Major Dhayan Chand from several quarters.

These recommendations have been forwarded to the Prime Minister's Office," minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said in reply to a written query in Lok Sabha.

sanction four major road communication projects for Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that these projects would be fully funded by the Centre to the tune of Rs 80 billion. Writing off the FCI liability would help the Omar Abdullah government continue procurement of the subsidised public distribution items like rice, sugar and atta for the state’s below poverty level population of over 7 million. Modi added that Leh is at the focus of his government's solar initiative.

"We have to connect all

regions of the country by the means of roadways, railways, electricity grid and telecommunications," Modi said. "Past PMs rarely ever visited Kashmir. I've come twice in two months alone because of your love," he added. "I understand the people's problems here. I also understand their strengths. I am very fortunate to have worked for the party in Jammu & Kashmir. I used to visit the state often," he said. The PM also laid the foundation stone of the Rs 17 billion, 330-km-long LehKargil-Srinagar transmission line.

Modi was received in Leh by governor N N Vohra, chief minister Omar Abdullah, Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, among others. He was accompanied by Union power minister Piyush Goyal and national security adviser Ajit Doval.

Corporator flaunts gold shirt

Arun Jaitley with his US counterpart Chuck Hagel

Family don’t want Bharat Ratna for Netaji

Modi slams Pakistan for proxy war against India

Continued from page 1 region since the 1999 conflict with Pakistan over the mountain peaks, where he inaugurated the 44 MW Chutak hydro-power project. At a public meeting there, he said that 20 per cent of the population in Jammu and Kashmir has been displaced and said, “We want to settle these displaced people and give them opportunity of their livelihood."

In Leh, Modi said his government was committed to "3 Ps" for J&K: prakash (electricity), paryavaran (environment) and paryatan (tourism), which would help improve the region and the country.

"Development should bring change in the lives of the people and energy plays an important role in that," Modi said in Leh after inaugurating a 45 MW hydro-electric project.

The power project, he said, would end electricity crisis in the region. Modi

announced special Central assistance of Rs 80 billion for construction of four important surface communication projects in Jammu and Kashmir while writing off the State’s liability of Rs 600 million towards Food Corporation of India.

Addressing a public meeting, attended by about 8,000 people at the Polo Ground in Leh, during his maiden visit to Ladakh region and second to Jammu and Kashmir after taking over as Prime Minister, Modi said that his Cabinet would soon

In Brief

Hurricane Bertha brings heavy rains

London: Heavy rains and strong winds lashed the country as an after effect of Hurricane Bertha.

Torrential downpours broke out over Wales, where 31mm of rain fell on the port of Milford Haven in the 12 hours. The British Cross put hundreds of volunteers on standby to cope with the expected fall-out from the storm and possible evacuations of homes because of flooding. The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning covering all of England, Wales, Scotland and the east coast of Northern Ireland and Ireland. The yellow warning indicated that "the public should be aware of the risk of flooding due to heavy rain as well as strong winds and large waves, particularly on the coasts of southern England and areas bordering the northern Irish Sea."

Care Quality Commission admits its failure

London: The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which was set up to protect the interests of elderly and vulnerable at care homes has admitted its failure because it feared legal threats from owners of care homes. The CQC said it has too often “backed off” from making attempts to close unsafe homes and “tended not to fight back” when legally challenged. David Prior, chairman of CQC, made the disclosures as the regulator vowed to change its approach, to be “much more robust” in taking on poor providers of care. He said its own data suggests that at least 750 care homes providing care to elderly and disabled people have been failing to hit at least one basic standard for more than a year.

Aussie commuters tip train car to help trapped man

Sydney: Dozens of people helped rescue a fellow commuter in Australia by pushing against a train car to free the man whose leg slipped between the platform and the train. Closed-circuit footage released by the Western Australia State Public Transport Authority showed the man lost his footing while boarding the train at a station in the city of Perth. A passenger alerted railway staff who stopped the train from leaving, local media said. When railway workers realized the man couldn't move, they called on other passengers to help. The footage showed dozens of people rushing to help tilt the car to free the man, who fell at least thigh deep into the platform gap. "It's really heartwarming I think, to find an incident like this where everyone pitched in," transport authority spokesman David Hynes said.

Indian couple arrested in New York for child abuse

New York: An Indian couple has been arrested in New York and charged with subjecting their 12-yearold daughter to “unspeakable physical abuse“ for months by starving her and beating her up. Rajesh Ranot, 46, and his wife Sheetal Ranot, 31, of Queens were arraigned in Queens Criminal Court and together charged in a criminal complaint with first, second and third degree assault, unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child, district attorney Richard Brown said. Sheetal, who is the child's stepmother, faces 33 years in prison if convicted. Rajesh is the child's biological father and faces up to seven years. Sheetal repeatedly hit her stepdaughter Maya on her body and face and locked her inside her bedroom, refusing to feed her for extended periods of time between December 2012 and May 2014, according to the charges.

Chinese city bans beards, veils in buses

Beijing: China’s restive Xinjiang region has banned beards and burka or veils worn by Muslim women within days of a major terrorist attack and subsequent police action that killed nearly 100 people in Kashgar area of the same province.

Authorities banned "five groups of people" - those who wear burka, headscarves, veils or hijab, any clothing bearing the crescent moon and star, as well as long beards, media said. All of these symbols are associated with Islam. The ban disallows people in this group from using public transport. State leaders in Xinjiang are working on a proposal to amend existing rules on family planning, which allows Muslims to have more than two children. So far, Muslims are exempt from the country's one-child policy, but now Xinjiang will implement family planning policy equally on all ethnic groups, a Communist Party leader said.

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Sushma’s Health & Beauty Blog

HEALTH WATCH

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Health benefits of drumsticks

rumsticks are unique in flavour and rich with many health benefits.

Drumstick pods and leaves consist of rich amounts of minerals, phyto-nutrients, dietary fibre and vitamins that are essential to stay healthy.

High amount of oleic acid: Drumsticks contain rich amounts of oleic acid which is an essential mono-saturated fatty acid necessary for our body.

Vitamin C: Many health benefits of drumsticks are due to the presence of high vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in the reduction of respiratory problems like asthma. It prevents and reduces the common cold and works against the congestion and blockage in the nose and ears. Boil few pieces of drumsticks in water and inhale the steam to open the airways. Apart from the above benefits it helps to boost the immune system and to combat with various infections.

Mineral source:

Drumsticks contains an array of minerals including calcium, manganese, magnesium and iron. With the presence of calcium it aids to strengthen the bones.

The mineral iron prevents anaemia; there by the transportation of oxygen to various parts of the body will be in good condition.

Vitamin B complex: Another important health benefit of eating drumsticks includes digestion.

The drumstick pods and leaves contain good amounts of B complex vitamins such as vitamin B6, riboflavin, niacin and folic acid, which are considered as vital vitamins to regulate the digestion.

These vitamins breakdown the complex carbohydrates, fats and proteins into simple compounds there the digestion will go on in a better way.

Vitamin A: Drumstick pods as well its leaves are the best sources of vitamin A, which is highly used in the age reducing beauty products. So, why can’t you try adding drumsticks to your diet rather than pouring the money on anti-ageing beauty products. Vitamin A is also popular to foster the good vision and to boost up the immune system.

A popular aphrodisiac: Drumstick is believed to increase spermatogenesis because of the presence of zinc amount. In fact it is considered as an aphrodisiac food since many decades in India.

Blood purifier: Both the drumstick leaves and pods have the property of purifying blood, the regular intake of drumstick soup will reduce the acne and its related problems.

One can apply the drumstick juice on the acne or pimple affected area to heal them early. It also works like an antibiotic.

Good for pregnant women: Drumsticks are recommended for pregnant women in order to ease the delivery problems. Drinking drumstick juice helps the pregnant women in the period of delivery and it is also believed to be a good solution to reduce the physical problems that arise after the delivery. It also used to enhance better lactation in mothers.

diabetes was one and a half times higher than those who slept well.

“As people stay up late

into the night, hormonal imbalance takes place and disrupts the metabolic rate. Even the expression of genes changes and sets off a variety of disorders,” he said. It was the other way round for diabetics who had trouble getting sleep. A study led by Sridhar on `Prevalence of sleep disturbances in diabetes mellitus' showed that several factors contributed to a diabetic losing sleep at night.

“Physical discomfort, psychosocial stress, fluctuation of metabolic control and urge to urinate frequently at night disrupt a diabetic's sleep cycle,” he said.

Advising people to shut off their gadgets a few hours before they go to sleep, Sridhar said they should stick to a sleep routine. “Seven to eight hours of sleep is a must for a healthy life.

“Especially if the patient is diabetic, the doctor should make it a point to keep track of their sleep cycle and follow up if there are any significant changes,” he said.

Insufficient sleep could up risk of diabetes

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eople who to go to bed late in the night could be at a higher risk of getting diabetes and becoming obese than a person with a normal sleep cycle, warned Dr G R Sridhar, a diabetologist. He said those without enough sleep at night were more prone to diabetes and obesity.

He said a disrupted sleep cycle could trigger several complications resulting in long lasting disorders such as diabetes. “Before electricity was discovered, human beings matched the time of day with metabolism.

But later, when there was source of light all through the day and night, the cycle changed significantly and many people chose to stay awake even late at night,” he pointed out.

“As we have evolved, our duration of sleep gradually decreased from 9 hours

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

to 7 hours.” Sridhar said several studies had established the link between sleep and diabetes and it had been proved the chances of those sleeping less than six hours getting

Recruiting Now

Neem Tree Care Centre for the elderly is looking for part time care assistants for evening shifts between 6pm - 9pm Please send your CV to info@neemtreecare.co.uk and quote ‘Asian Voice’ when sending CV

Pain In The Back?

Are all neck, back and shoulder pains the same? Other than pain killing medication can you do anything about it? Almost one person per household suffers from chronic pain according to Partners Against Pain. Of these around 4 out of 5 people are not happy with their conventional pain relieving medication. This can affect sleep and affects mood. So Sushma Bhanot what can Ayurveda suggest .

Pharmacist, Ayurvedic and Homeopathic Consultant, Well consider these: Why are you suffering?

Lecturer and Author. Heads Research and Development The body is normally telling us something when in pain. at Coolherbals Are you suppressing some emotion, or tensing muscles due to stress, drinking too much caffeine or insufficient water or eating too much refined food or just not breathing deeply enough. If any of these are possible culprits on your life - change your lifestyle!

In all these cases the Vata energy gets affected. Try these natural remedies: 1. Relax more. Try some yoga positions such as a Palm Tree or Camel position to help in reducing muscle spasm or relieving tension. In these positions stretch the body to look like a palm tree or a camel.

2.Massage helps reduce Vata imbalance. Contact us for your local Ayurvedic therapist or visit http://coolherbals. com/list-of-therapists. If you want to massage at home, use Ayurvedic Herbal Balls with natural pain relieving herbs in them. Simply heat the ball in a flat pan and apply to the areas of pain. They will add heat and pain relief to the affected area. Alternatively massage with warm Pain Relief Ayurvedic oil. These are all available in some salons, natural health food shops or on line from www.coolherbals.com.

3. Diet- have a Vata reducing diet. Focus on eating warm, mild nourishing foods. Contact us for a full Vata Reducing Diet Sheet.

4. Remove excess toxins. Sitting around a lot can causes toxin build up and pain in this area. Stretching exercises for 15 minutes daily should help move the toxins through the blood and lymphatic system.

Alternatively use a drawing out paste with ingredients such as Gopichand Clay, Sea Weed and Ginger to gently remove toxins out of the system. You could use a Coolherbals Thermal Pain Relief Wrap daily to remove toxins.

5. Natural Pain Relieving Herbs. Boswellia, also known as Indian Frankincense, is a herbal extract taken from the Boswellia Serrata tree and has been traditionally used to ease pain. Valerian and Ginger capsules help in relaxation of muscles. Valerian contains Valerenic acid and Iridoids which act as a mild sedative and Ginger contains Cineole which has a calming effect. Bathing in relaxing bath salts would help too in muscles relaxing, such as Himalayan bath salts (www.coolherbals.com).

Get rid of Back Pain!

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Tel: 020 8597 9039 Email: sushma@coolherbals.com

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Mahima is riding Anjali is the new Shruti Haasan lends voice for Sonakshi high in Kollywood A glamour queen

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fter starting her career with a girl next door image, Anjali’s career graph has now taken a U turn completely. Off late she has been acting in glamorous roles, even in “Singham Returns” she was seen shaking a leg for a song, for the Telugu movie “Geethanjili” she has acted quite glamorously as well. The buck doesn’t stop here for the upcoming Tamil movie with Jeyam Ravi, the role requires glamour. This news is spreading like wildfire among Tollywood and Kollywood, with the film buffs already calling her as the next Silk Smitha.

There has been talk about making a movie on adult star Shakila and her life, rumour is that Anjali has been approached to do the role of Shakila.

Amidst all these, at a recent function in AP, a prominent director went on to say that Anjali can earn millions if she continues to dance for item songs and show glamour as people have taken a liking to it.

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ven though Shruti Haasan has been busy donning the greasepaint for films down South, she never misses any chance when it comes to music, her first love. She has recorded a song for the Hindi film “Tevar” starring Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Kapoor. It has music by Sajid and Wajid. It is said to be a romantic song and has come out well. The music directors found Shruti’s voice fresh and extremely soothing and

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Sonakshi being the confident actress she is, was more than happy so far as it worked well for the song, says a source.

Even Sonakshi lent her voice for a small portion in the song called “Let’s celebrate.” Will A R Rahman utilise Sonakshi’s voice in Rajinikanth’s “Lingaa”? It was Rahman who shocked everyone in the “Highway” album where Alia Bhatt, the female lead of the film, crooned the soulful “Sooha Saaha” song.

Asin donates her organs

couple of months ago, Trisha pledged all her organs and posted a picture of the same on her official page. Now, it is, Asin, the 'Ghajini' girl has signed the papers for organ donation.

Asin was actively participating in lots of social activities and took part in a blood donation camp held at

‘Singham Returns’

“Singham Returns” (formerly referred to as Singham 2) is an action film directed

by Rohit Shetty and produced by Reliance Entertainment. The sequel to the 2011 film “Singham,” actor Ajay Devgn reprises his role from the previous film, as well as co-producing the project, while Kareena Kapoor Khan plays the female lead. Others in the cast included Amole Gupte, Dayanand Shetty, Anupam Kher, Sameer Dharmadhikari, Zakir Hussain and Sharat Saxena.

Aamir defends nudity on ‘PK’ poster

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a m i r K h a n , who has left many intrigued and many ridiculing him over his nude look in the poster of his upcoming film ‘PK’, says it’s not for publicity. Calling it ‘key art’, he says it depicts the story of the film. Talking about it, Aamir said: “When you will watch the film then only you will be able to understand the idea behind the poster. But I would just like to say that the kind of filmmaker, the kind of writer Rajkumar is, he always tries to present the things, his thinking, in a unique way and that’s why I am his huge fan.”

Mumbai.

While answering what made her to take this decision, Asin replied - “It was my long time wish to do so. And I am happy that I have done it now. I hope that this will act as a catalyst in making others to donate their organs.”

Asin was last seen in Vijay's 'Kaavalan' in 2011 and she is acting in 'All Is Well' with Abhishek Bachchan.

fter her impressive performances in Tamil films like “Sattai” and “Ennemo Nadakuthu,” actress Mahima Nambiar is on a high. Though her debut role in Dileep-starrer “Karyasthan” didn't give any boost to her filmi career in M-Town, Kollywood welcomed the pretty lass with open arms. As she has been signed up for a number of projects in Tamil like “Mosakutty,” “Puravi 150 cc” and “Ahathini,” Mahima is indeed living her dream. "In Karyasthan, I played Dileep's sister, which was indeed a blink and miss role. So naturally, the audience must have forgotten about it. But I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. Since the movie had a huge star cast, I got an opportunity to meet many actors," says Mahima. She says she was always serious about her acting career, even from a very young age.

"Since my dream was to become an actress, I was very careful and always stayed away from any sort of adventure that might cause any physic a l marks o r scars on my b o d y, " she says.

Juhi Chawla grows older for Steven Spielberg

Kangana Ranaut offered an Italian film

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ollywood actor Juhi Chawla will soon make her Hollywood debut with a Steven Spielberg production that is being directed by Lasse Hallström. She will be seen playing veteran actor Om Puri’s wife in the film. However, for the role, the makers needed Juhi to look at least 15 years older than she is. So, to make sure she fit that requirement, the 46-year-old has been made to age digitally on screen with the help of post-production techniques. A source says, “Puri is 63 years old, and that’s why Juhi was required to look older for the part.”

fter signing a French film opposite Irrfan Khan, now Italy is on the radar for Kangana Ranaut. According to a source close to the actor, she was recently approached by director Edoardo De Angelis to play the lead role in an Italian film opposite Massimiliano Gallo. Although excited at the prospect, she is yet to decide on whether she will accept the offer. The source adds that Kangana will begin Nikhil Advani’s film in September, followed by the “Tanu Weds Manu” (2011) sequel and the film with Irrfan. Thus, she is unable to decide whether she should take up this film.

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Salman’s remark surprises Jacqueline

alman Khan has been showering praise on his costar in “Kick” and has even referred to her as JFK - Jacqueline Fernandez Khan, on a reality show recently. But the 28-year-old actress only blushes when asked if there is something brewing between the two.

“Well, what can I say,” says Jacqueline. “It was as much of a surprise for me as it was for everyone else; your guess is as good as mine. Initially, I thought he was referring to John F Kennedy when he said he has found his lady love, who’s called JFK,” she says, adding, “Salman is a fantastic person - focused and positive. He’s my role model.”

Talking about working with the Bollywood star in their latest blockbuster, she says, “It’s a great feeling to be part of a hit film. I had only seen others enjoy such stardom. Now I know what it feels like, and I need to work harder.”

Not one to accept that Bollywood isn’t welcoming towards outsiders, the Sri Lankan beauty says, “If you work hard, you will find your space. The ‘out-

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siders’ may need to prove themselves a lot more, but if you have talent, you will always get work. Even those (considered industry insiders) may not be able to survive without talent and hard work.”

Ranbir to meet Katrina’s family in London B

ollywood star Ranbir Kapoor will be meeting the family members of his lady love Katrina Kaif in London. The actor, who has wrapped up his shoot for “Tamasha” in Corsica, will reportedly meet Katrina's family and will squeeze in a short trip to London.

Ranbir did drop a hint of meeting the woman of his dreams on Koffee With Karan when he confided to Karan Johar that he felt happy and settled in his personal and professional life after a long time. The actor had also announced on the show that the next time he would speak of his relationship would be when he was engaged.

When it comes to getting married, meeting the parents and impressing them is a rather daunting task. So far Katrina has sailed through the rather intimidating task of keeping up with the Kapoors, including matriarch Krishna Raj. Now it's Ranbir's turn in the hot seat.

It's not the first time Ranbir will be spending time with Katrina's mother who apparently approves thoroughly of Ranbir, but may be spending time with Katrina's siblings is also on the agenda.

Parineeti trying to shed extra weight

ver since she made her Bollywood debut, Parineeti Chopra has been talked about for her acting ability and on-screen energy.

At the same time, thanks to her voluptuous figure, there’s been a fair amount of criticism about her weight.

Now, with the 25-yearold making a conscious effort to lose weight, she says, "On screen, when someone is fat - unless your character demands it - I don’t think people enjoy watching you. Nobody likes a fat actress." The actor admits that while the ability to emote matters, so does your appearance, "I want to

balance it out. I want to act well and look good. And I’m working towards that. There are so many actresses - like my sister Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma. They are all very good actresses, and they look awesome."

One of the other reasons Parineeti wants to lose weight is to be able "to wear better clothes". She says, "everyone else in the industry looks so good. I’m only 25; so I told myself, I have to lose weight. I want to look better, fitter and younger.

On screen, when you wear a bikini or shorts, if you are fitter, you look better."

I’ll never work with Sajid Khan again: Bipasha Basu

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ollywood actress Bipasha Basu, who decided to refrain from promoting ‘Humshakals‘ prior to its release, says she won’t work with Sajid Khan, the film’s director, ever again.

Bipasha Basu, who was seen as one of the six key characters in the comic film which wasn’t received well, has nothing against the film’s co-producers Vashu Bhagnani and Fox Star Studios. But she is glad she took a stand against promoting ‘Humshakals’ when it was required.

Bipasha had said she was “extremely disturbed by the end result” of the film and “didn’t know how to promote the film with all honesty”.

Asked if she will work with Sajid again, Bipasha said: “No, I will never work with him. I have

Karisma will never remarry, says Kareena

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ctress Kareena Kapoor Khan put an end to all rumours about her actresssister Karisma Kapoor’s re marriage to rumoured beau Sandeep Toshniwal, CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Karisma has recently filed for divorce from her husband Sunjay Kapur. The couple had been living separately for a while. They have two kids. In a recent interview, Kareena said her sister was going through a difficult period in her life and that the re-marriage rumours are only hurting her.

Bebo also made it clear that her sister will never remarry.

nothing against Vashu-ji and Fox Star Studios. They have put in so much money and I respect that. I love Vashu-ji, it’s just that I didn’t want to come to a podium and lie and look like a fool. So, I took a stand.”

Bipasha says such situations are rare. “I have been in this industry for way too long. I have worked with many people and nobody has said anything against me. It’s rare that you make such a mistake, it’s one of those films. I did this film on the basis of trust. Anyone who has seen the film will understand why I didn’t promote it.

“I was six minutes into it and I don’t know what I was doing in it,” she said of the movie, which also stars Saif Ali Khan, Ram Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Tamannaah Bhatia and Esha Gupta.

Raj Kapoor award for Madhur Bhandarkar

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cclaimed filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar has been chosen to receive the Raj Kapoor Smriti Award from the Maharashtra government for his contribution to Indian cinema. “Thank you to each one of you for the congratulatory messages you sent. I accept this Maharashtra State honour bestowed on me, in all humility,” Bhandarkar tweeted. The award has added another achievement to Bhandarkar’s credit. He has so far received four National Awards for his films “Chandani Bar”, “Page 3”, “Fashion” and “Traffic Signal”. The filmmaker is now busy making his next film “Calendar Girls” based on lives of models who feature on special calendars.

Salman is a friend, says Shah Rukh

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ollywood's two biggest superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan's hugs and fights have always hogged the media limelight but both the actors have always stayed tight-lipped when asked about their friendship status.

However, Shah Rukh seems to have finally broken his silence on the most awaited friendship between the two stars.

Shah Rukh at a recently held press conference said that he's bored of being asked about Salman and now they are friends. "I am bored of being continuously asked about Salman. You guys have been asking the same question since years and we are bored of this. Ab toh hum ek dusre ko hug karte hain aur hum dono ke beech mein pyaar hai, dosti hai aur sab kuch hai. "

Nargis Fakhri has no time for love

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ast year, some tweets

by Uday Chopra about Nargis Fakhri left BTown buzzing with the news of an alleged linkup. But Nargis never entertained the rumours. Back then, she had said she was single, and she insists the relationship status remains the same even today. She says that an actor’s shelf life is short and she wanted to make the most of her time.

“Frankly, I don’t have time for anything else. This job is very hard. I’m learning Hindi, attending dance classes and trying to focus on myself. So I’m not looking at pursuing any relationship right now.”

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UK

‘Ascension’ – an outdoor Indian dance performance

London-based South Asian Dance production company Akademi host Ascension – an outdoor Indian dance performance, inspired by Dante’s ascension to heaven as described in Paradiso, the third part of Dante’s poem Divine Comedy, while drawing on Hindu astrology and the nine planets of Navagraha.

The free performance is as intimate as it is powerful, drawing on classical Indian dances Kathak and Odissi, fused with the imagery behind Dante’s Paradiso and Mars - the fifth planet of Navgraha, and ruler of the warriors.

Audiences will be guided through each site on a journey of Ascension to the heavens as dancers perform in and amongst the audience members.

Each performance will adapt to the surroundings creating a distinct experience each time.

Choreographed by Manuela Benini, Ascension features

Khavita Kaur and Kali Chandrasegaram, with music by Ash Madni, and lasts approximately 20 minutes.

The production will tour London, Cumbria and Manchester as part of a first look at a larger scale outdoor project that will eventually combine all nine of Navagraha’s planets and is planned to tour in 2016.

Showing on: Sat 23rd August at 1200, 1500 & 1730 at St Johns Church Gardens, 73 Waterloo Rd, Southwark, SE1 8UD, Sat 30th August at 18:15 & 20:00 at Abbot Hall Park, Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5AL, Sun 31st August at 13:30, 14:45 & 16:00 at Abbot HallPark, Kirkland, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 5AL, Sat 6th September (times TBC, part of Urban Moves International Dance Festival) at Cathedral Gardens, Corporation St, Manchester M4 3BG.

COMPETITION

Coming Events

n Friday 15th August 2014 – Flag Raising and National Anthem at Shree Jalaram Mandir – Grenford, 30-45 Oldfield Lane South, Middlesex, UB6 9LB. Contact: 0208 578 8088. n Friday 15th August 2014 – National Association of Patidar Samaj celebrates India’s Independence Day at Samaj Hall, 26B Tooting High Street, London SW17 0RG from 7pm onwards. Contact: 0208 337 2873. n Friday 15th August 2014 – Satsang Sabha at 26 Queens Road, Belmont, Surrey SM2 6BZ from 4-9pm. n Saturday 16th August 2014 – Raas Garba at Alperton Community School, Stanley Ave Wembley, Middlesex, HA0 4JE. 4.30pm till late. n Saturday 16th August 2014 – Satyanarayan Samuh Katha at Shree Ramkrishna Centre, Alfred Street, Loughborough, LE11 1NG. Contact: 01509 218 274. n Saturday 16th August 2014 – Variety Cultural Show from 6pm onwards. Ticket: £1.00. Under 12s free at South Meadow Lane, Preston, PR1 8JN. Contact: 01772 253 901. n Sunday 17th August 2014 – Janmastami at Shree Ramkrishna Centre, Alfred Street, Loughborough, LE11 1NG. Contact: 01509 218 274. n Sunday 17th August 2014 – Janmastami Krishna Janam at Wembley Temple from 9am-12pm. n Sunday 17th August 2014 – Navchandi Yagna at 29 Lassell Gardens, Maidenhead, SL6 8ND from 9.30am till late. n Sunday 17th August 2014 – Shree Govardhannathji’s Suddha Pusti Margiya Haveli hosts Janmastmi Utsav from 6.30am at WASP, Repton Avenue, Sudbury, Wembley, Middx, UK, HAO 3DW. Contact: 020 8793 3254. n Sunday 17th August 2014 – Lohana Community South London celebrates Janmastami from 4pm onwards at Lohana Community Complex, P V Raichura Centra, Corner of Lower Coombe Street & Church Road, Croydon, CRO 1AA. Contact: 0208 408 9814. n Monday 18th August 2014 - Shree Govardhannathji’s Suddha Pusti Margiya Haveli hosts NAND Mahotsav and Palna from 7.30am-9am at WASP, Repton Avenue, Sudbury, Wembley, Middx, UK, HAO 3DW. Contact: 020 8793 3254. n Sunday 24th August 2014 – Cricket tournament at Lohana Cricket Club, Bridle Way, Off Headstone Lane, Hatch End, Middlesex, HA2 6NG. Contact: 0208 863 6775 n Monday 25th August 2014 – Shiv Poojan from 4pm onwards at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, 72 Colmer Road, Streatham, London SW16 5JZ. Contact: 0208 679 8050

Two tickets are up for grabs to see legendary Paresh Rawal in ‘Dear Father’ on Sunday 12th October 2014 in London. All you have to do is answer the following question to be in with a chance of winning. The winner will be chosen from all correct entries on a lottery basis. All entries need to be sent to aveditorial@abplgroup.com by no later than Saturday 13th September. Good luck.

What role does Paresh Rawal play in the film ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’?

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ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 You will have plenty of

energy and drive to improve your status and at the same time achieve financial prosperity - you must make good use of the energy that is flowing, by channelling it positively!

Creativity, romance and leisure all receive a tonic.

Taurus

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Anything or anyone that

drains your time and energy should be re-evaluated. It’s time to use that creative imagination of yours to create grandeur in your life.

Don't get too carried away and lose sight of little things that mean a lot to you. There are a lot of opportunities around you.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 The prevailing cosmic pat-

tern packs a powerful punch early this week. Having such potent energies, make you feel positive and confident in whatever you do. This is not the time to hold back or underestimate your potential if you wish to further an important aim.

The Sun continues to transit your solar second house. This is the most "financial" period of the year for you. You have an increased interest in your own possessions, during this period. You are more attracted to objects that give you a sense of comfort, status, or luxury now. Careful with your extravagant spending habits.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

The Sun transits your solar first house. You experience a renewal of energy and vitality now, and it's a strong time for increased personal confidence. The emphasis is on self-expression. For many aspiring Leos there is much to suggest that a goal you have been striving towards will at last be reached.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Sun's transit of your 12th Solar House indicates that experience will put you in a deeply reflective mood. This is a favourable time for getting away from usual routines and seeking a retreat for a few days. All the better if you are interested in such things as meditation, yoga and therapies that help you to get in closer touch with your inner self.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Your communications are at their peak and any initiatives you take now will be well received by people in authority. An exchange of opinions ought to prove very enlivening at this time. Although the very practical affairs of life continue to be highlighted, you will still be very much in demand socially.

Your energy and attention will be very much devoted to financial matters. The tide of fortune continues to run strongly in your favour for some time to come. You will be working harder than usual, intent on getting things done. Close personal relationships may come under some stress and strain.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

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The Sun continues to transit your solar ninth house now. In this period you seek to expand your experiences and awareness, whether through philosophical thinking, travel, or simply activities that take you away from your mundane routines. It's an excellent period for looking at your life from a different perspective.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

The Sun continues to transit your solar eighth house. Personal transformations and intimate matters fulfill you most during this period. There may be a strong focus on other's money, such as the resources of a partner, inheritance, banking and loans, or taxes. You are more in touch with the deeper and even primal elements of your own personality.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

This is almost certain to be an eventful time for affairs of the heart. The transit of Venus through your opposite sign augurs well for those hoping to meet the right partner. A party that you attend allows you to connect with interesting new people, one of whom may be interested in you as a romantic partner.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Jupiter's transit in your solar 6th house, you will find it easy to do well at work and rise to great heights. During this transit you will enjoy robust health and find physical activities very enjoyable. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Lanka beat Pak by 7 wickets

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Sri Lanka have advanced to a 1-0 lead over Pakistan in the two-match series after they defeated the tourists by seven-wickets in Galle in the first Test.

Pakistan began the final day of the first match 78 runs adrift at 4-1 and were all out for 180, with Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath delivering impressive match figure of 6-48.

Sri Lanka needed 99 to win in 21 overs and Mahela Jayawardene, who will retire from Tests after this series, opened in his final Test innings at Galle.

The former Sri Lanka skipper made 26 and Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 25 from 13 balls as Sri Lanka won with four overs to spare.

Sangakkara scores 221 Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara struck a sparkling 221 to move to the second spot in the alltime list of Test double centurions as Sri Lanka grabbed lead before declaring their first innings on day four on Saturday. Sangakkara's 10th double century put him just two behind Australian great Don Bradman's 12 as Sri Lanka declared at 533 for nine wickets for an 82 -run first innings lead before returning to strike a late blow as well.

Pakistan were four for one wicket in their second innings at stumps, having lost opener Khurram Manzoor for three to Rangana Herath. Ahmed Shehzad was one not out and Saeed Ajmal yet to open his account with Pakistan still trailing by 78 runs with nine wickets in hand. The day, however, belonged to Sangakkara who brought up his double century with a single off Ajmal, sparking off celebrations in the ground. He batted for 11 hours and 38 minutes, hitting 24 fours in his marathon 425-ball knock.

Sangakkara

endured some torrid moments, however, before reaching the double century when Ajmal followed up the dismissal of Angelo Mathews (91) before the tea break with a further three cheap wickets as Sri Lanka slumped to 475-7.

Dilruwan Perera took the last five wickets as the tourists were finally dismissed for 451 in their first innings, anchored by a magnificent 177 from Younus Khan. The 36year-old had dealt Perera some harsh treatment in the morning session but the spinner delivered some retribution by dismissing

him in the fifth over after lunch. Younus advanced down the pitch but could only lob an easy catch to Kithuruwan Vithanage at short mid-wicket.

Sarfraz Ahmed (55) was next to fall trying to attack Perera, the right hander’s smash through the leg side going straight to silly mid-on fielder Angelo Mathews. That left the tourists on 388-7 with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman taking Pakistan past 400 before Perera struck again to remove Ajmal for 12 after he flicked a ball to Mahela Jayawardene at leg slip.

Deepika Kumari clinched a silver medal earlier.

In the women's recurve team event, the second seeded trio of Deepika, Bombayla Devi and Laxmirani Majhi routed Mexico without surrendering a single set point.

Deepika shot three of the Indian team's five perfect 10s.

“The match was not too difficult. Hopefully we can do the same at the Asian Games,“ said Deepika. “This event has already raised our confidence. We have had a difficult season, but the hard work we have put in ahead of Incheon is starting to pay off.” The women had earlier trounced their Georgian opponents 6-2 in the semi-finals.

In the men's recurve team final, Mexico took a 2-0 lead and never looked back. Tarundeep Rai, Jayanta Talukdar and Atanu Das trailed 2-4 in

the fourth set with Serrano only needing a red to seal the match. The only right-handed archer among the Mexicans, Serrano shot last in the trio's rotation and made no mistake in getting the winning shot.

It was the second World Cup stage team gold for Mexico. The other was won at Medellin last year.

In the women's recurve individual event, Deepika beat Tatiana Segina of Russia 6-2 in the bronzemedal match. Deepika then partnered Talukdar in the recurve mixed team pair event and thrashed Belarus 6-0 in the bronzemedal match.

stand as ICC chairman, there has been an agreement that the two teams will play each other soon,” ICC chairman N Srinivasan said. When the BCCI officials were contacted on the issue, they too agreed. “We have set an eight-year plan and are

working towards it,” a BCCI source said.

The 2015 series is a `home' series for Pakistan, but owing to domestic tensions, the matches will have to be played in UAE. “As part of the restructuring of the FTP, India have agreed to play Pakistan in offshore venues and, as I understand, the BCCI working committee has agreed to it,“ Srinivasan said. BCCI had earlier strongly opposed India's matches at off-shore venues, but

the Indian Premier League this year in UAE was an ice-breaker. “The tournament was very well-organized and we are happy with the arrangements in UAE,” the source added.

The last Test match between India and Pakistan was played in Bangalore in 2007. After a five-year pause due to friction between the two countries following the 26/11 attacks in 2008, Pakistan returned for a short series to India in late 2012, when they played three ODIs and two T20s. Since then,

Indians win 5 medals at archery world cup

Deepika Kumari-led women archers clinched the recurve team gold after routing Mexico 6-0 in the final as India returned with five medals in the Archery World Cup Stage IV in Wroclaw, Poland, on Sunday.

Deepika herself won three medals and bagged a bronze each in recurve women's individual and mixed team pair event with partner Jayanta Talukdar.

The men's recurve team had to settle for silver after losing 3-5 to Mexico in the final. The Indian compound mixed pair of Abhishek Verma and Puvasha Shende had

SPORT WORLD

Gavaskar escapes unhurt in London car crash

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has escaped a car crash while travelling from Manchester to London on Sunday. The legendary batsman, who is in England now as a commentator for India's ongoing tour of England, was seated in a Jaguar on the left side of the back seat along with his friend Chandresh Patel and fellow commentator Mark Nicholas. A vehicle coming from the opposite side caught Gavaskar's driver off guard and a late manoeuvring avoided a head-on clash but could not avoid the collision. The impact of the hit was on the side where Gavaskar was seated. Despite the Jaguar taking a severe hit following the collision, all the passengers inside were luckily unhurt. "My God! God has saved us. There was torrential rain and our car was being driven very fast. Thankfully, no one was hurt although the accident was very, very scary," Gavaskar was quoted as saying. The occupants of the car had to abandon it and walk up to East Midland Parkway railway station from where they took a train to London.

Fauja Singh calls for peace run in UK

The 103-year-old Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner, has asked people of all faiths to join a peace marathon in the UK saying people should be fighting injustice, poverty and hatred, not each other. London's running club Sikhs in the City has organised the relay race to mark the centenary of World War I as message of "cooperation and harmony". The India-born British Sikh, the club's founding member who was three in 1914 when the conflict started, said: "I urge everyone to support the race as there is too much violence in the world today." He said Sikhs in London represents Britain in the Luxembourg Interfaith Marathon each year to show how all faiths can share a common effort for peace and harmony.

Sanju Samson, Karn Sharma get India call

Uncapped Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson and Railways leg-spin-bowling all-rounder Karn Sharma have been named in India's 17-man squad for the five ODIs and one-off Twenty20 against England. Mumbai seamer Dhawal Kulkarni, who was picked in the ODI squad for the home series against West Indies last year but was then ruled out with injury, has also been included. Suresh Raina, who was dropped from the ODI squad for the Asia Cup also makes the 17. Fast bowlers Mohit Sharma and Umesh Yadav have also been retained from the squad which played in Bangladesh, while legspinner Amit Mishra misses out due to injury.

India-Pak Test series to resume from Dec 2015

The long wait for India and Pakistan to play a bilateral Test series is set to end in December 2015.

The two sub-continental giants will take on each other in the United Arab Emirates in a full series comprising two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two T20 games. As per the future tours and programmes (FTP) schedule drawn up by ICC, they will play four more fulllength series over the next eight years.

“There has been a proposal to resume bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan. As I under-

31

there has been no clearance from the government for Pakistan to tour India.

According to the new FTP, the first tour of Pakistan to India will be in November-December 2017, when they will play three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s. The two teams will play 12 Test matches over the next eight years.

The 50-over World Cup in February-March of 2023 will be played exclusively in India. There had been two 50 over World Cups played in the subcontinent before this, in 1996 and 2011, both of which took place in three

countries. While the 1996 event was shared by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the 2011 event took place in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

In addition to that, the 2016 World T20 and the 2021 Champions Trophy will also be played in India. “In the past, India used to get one ICC event in 16-18 years. We had the 2011 World Cup in India after 15 years and that we had to share with other countries. Now three events will happen in eight years and that is very significant,“ Srinivasan said.

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SPORT

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th August 2014

Humiliating defeat at Manchester

Moeen Ali starred in a dramatic England victory for the second time in as many matches as they crushed India by an innings and 54 runs to win the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Saturday with more than two days to spare.

India suffered their second humiliating defeat by losing nine wickets after tea on the third day including five for 13 in 21 balls - as England went 2-1 up in the five-match series ahead of next week's final at The Oval.

Ali, whose Test best six for 67 -sealed England's 266-run win in the third Test at Southampton - their first victory in 11 Tests took four for 13 in 37 balls on the way to innings figures of four for 39 in 13 overs.

At tea, India were 33 for one in their second innings - with all-rounder Chris Woakes having taken his first wicket of the series to dismiss Murali Vijay.

But this was quickly transformed into 66 for six.

What made this slump all the more extraordinary

India equal record in ducks

India lose 4th test in less than 3 days

was England fast medium bowler Stuart Broad, who took six for 25 in India's first innings was off the field after being hit on the

nose by a Varon Aaron bouncer after trying to hook the fast bowler for a third six in as many balls.

This latest collapse started when left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir gloved a short ball from James Anderson to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Next ball, the start of a new over, saw 53 for two become 53 for three when Cheteshwar Pujara was given out lbw

Earlier in the first innings the Indian team sets an ignominious statistic with six of their batsmen getting without scoring thereby equalling the record number of six ducks in a single Test inning by an international team. On Thursday last, Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pankaj Singh all went back without scoring a single run while Gautam Gambhir (4) and Varun Aaron (1) didn't reach double figures. Only

to Ali as he pushed forward.

Pujara looked unhappy but, with Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s objections to the use of Decision Review System, he had to go. But there was no doubt at all when Ajinkya Rahane (one) chipped a tame return catch to Ali. And then 61 for four became 61 for five when Virat Kohli's miserable run continued when, on seven,

three batsmen - skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (71), Ajinkya Rahane (24) and Ravichandran Ashwin (40) had respectable scores against their names.

James Anderson was the wrecker of India and he made the ball talk in conditions tailor-made for England's all-out pace attack. Gautam Gambhir, back in whites after almost two years, showed no foot movement as Broad squared him up with one that left him and had him edging to gully.

he edged Anderson, on his Lancashire home ground, to Ian Bell at second slip.

That left the talented batsman with a tally of just 108 runs in eight innings in this series at an average of 13.50. Then as the crowd drenched in sunshine - a marked contrast to the rain which had cut short Friday's play - had more to cheer when Ravindra Jadeja was caught at slip by

Chris Jordan off Ali. India were now 66 for six with England, 1-0 down in the series after a 95-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's, on the brink of going 2-1 up.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who had defied England with 71 in the first innings and was trying to attack Ali was brilliantly caught for 27 by Gary Ballance, diving to his right at midwicket. India were now 105 for seven, with all-rounder Ali having taken four for 13 in 27 balls.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 'caught' off a Jordan no-ball on nine, did not make the most of his reprieve and was run out for 10 by Ali's throw to Buttler. Jordan, however, got in on the act by taking the last two wickets in as many balls, with Varun Aaron caught behind and Pankaj Singh yorked for a duck as India were dismissed for 161 in 43 overs. Ravichandran Ashwin was 46 not out, the top score in an innings where Dhoni's 27 was the next best score.