UK
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 18th May 2013
The Labour peer Lord Ahmed has resigned days before he was due before a hearing over allegations that he made anti-Semitic comments in a television interview. Lord Ahmed was due to appear before Labour's ruling National Executive Committee on Wednesday to answer accusations that he blamed a Jewish conspiracy for his dangerous driving jail term. He insists he does not recall making the alleged comments, but in his resignation letter said he felt he would not get a fair hearing and therefore had no choice but to resign from the party. His solicitor Stephen Smith said he would not be able to receive a ''fair trial'' from the Labour panel. Lord Ahmed was suspended from the Labour Party in March after The Times reported he blamed his 2009 prison sentence for sending text messages shortly before his car was involved in a fatal crash – on pressure placed on the courts by Jews ''who own newspapers and TV channels''. The Muslim peer allegedly told an Urdu-language broadcaster in
Lord Ahmed
Pakistan that the judge who jailed him for 12 weeks was appointed to the High Court after helping a ''Jewish colleague'' of Tony Blair during an important case. Lord Ahmed and Mr Smith have called for The Times to release the interview footage for it to be forensically examined. In his resignation letter he claims he has been denied this, but that he believes the justice of the case demands the film be subject to forensic tests. Lord Ahmed said he had "never been antisemitic" and had "unreservedly apologised" for any offence caused to the Jewish community. A Labour Party spokesman said: ''I can confirm that he has resigned from the party.''
Inquest opened into 'tragic death' of Indian pupil An inquest has been opened into the tragic death of the Forest School pupil Aashi Sinha, who died suddenly last week aged just 18. A spokesman at Walthamstow Coroners’ Court said Aashi died at Queen’s Hospital, in Romford, on last Wednesday. No cause of death has been formally announced until the inquest closes later this year. Friends have set up a Facebook tribute page for Aashi, pictured, who has been described as intelligent and happy teenager. At the request of her
family, donations are also being taken for charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, which raises awareness of heart conditions that cause sudden death, the Ilford recorder has reported. Following news of her death, many pupils from her school, in College Place, Snaresbrook, expressed their grief on Twitter.
London Mayor calls for 'better and improved connectivity' with India As the House of Commons Transport Committee rejected the additional runway proposal at the 'Boris Island' on Thames Estuary, the London Mayor told a room full of cross party MPs, Peers, business tycoons, dignitaries and journalists told that the UK capital has 'something to learn from the Indian cities', as he called for improving British air connectivity, especially with India. He made this speech, while he addressed a gathering as the Chief Guest of an Indian Journalists' Association dinner on Thursday 9th May. Grabbing the opportunity the Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar reporters explained how the newspapers and its Gujarati readers are fighting for a direct flight to Ahmedabad for years now, collecting thousands of petitions. The Mayor instantly welcomed the idea with open arms and asked the reporters to 'send him a letter' for his reference. While Johnson also spoke about the Olympic success, the popularity of the Mittal tower viz. Orbit Tower at the Olympic park and so on, he also elaborated on the need for increasing the aviation links with India, "We need better aviation capacity and more flights between London and India to ensure we are an open and welcoming city for Indians. “London needs to have a four-runway hub airport, along the lines that I saw in several Indian cities, like Hyderabad, during my visit last year. Frankly, London has some catching up to do.” Speaking about visas and the growing IndoBritish economic ties Boris Johnson said "We already have same-day
Boris Johnson addressing the audience
Waris Hussein speaking about tv productions
The Mayor of London with Rupanjana Dutta (Associate Editor, Asian Voice) and Kamal Rao (News Editor, Gujarat Samachar)
Journalists Hassan Suroor, Shrabani Basu and Aditi Khanna
visas for business people and are keen to show our enthusiasm for greater number of Indian professionals coming to London. The city has a good image in the mind of Indians and we are doing all we can to make it even easier and pleasant.” He also spoke about immigration and the ease of student visa, and described himself as the "first and only mayor of London with real live rela-
tives in India", in reference to his half-Indian wife Marina Wheeler. Johnson made an Indian visit in November, 2012, where he was also seen hobnobbing with the Bollywood stars. "The mission did deliver for London as loads of very exciting deals were struck, as many as 15, with the prospect of around 1,000 jobs. Simultaneously, we were also able to help London firms pursue contacts and
HE Dr Jaimini Bhagwati, Indian High Commissioner speaking to the IJA guests
build partnerships in India," he said. In his usual witty manner, Johnson recalled his first vision of a Jaguar on the roads in India and referred to the Tata Motors' acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover as a prime example of the "synchresis" in the India-UK relationship. "Tata now makes as much in profit as it cost it to buy JLR. It is an amazing testament to the IndiaUK relationship that an old great motoring mark from Britain was revived by a great Indian corporation," he said. The event was attended by the Indian High Commissioner HE Dr Jaimini Bhagwati and wife Mrs Rita Bhagwati, the new Press and Information Counsellor of Indian High Commission Prashant Pise, Waris Hussein, the first ever director of television serial, Doctor Who, community and business leaders like Dr Rami Ranger, entrepreneurs like Prakash Lohia (Chairman, Indorama), Atul Pathak (Managing Director, APPT Corporation), cross-party representations from British Indian peers and MPs, including Lord Swraj and Lady Aruna Paul, Lady Mohini Noon, Tory MPs Alok Sharma, Paul Uppal, Shailesh Vara and Labour MP Seema Malhotra. photo courtesy: Ukasiaonline.com
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Lord Ahmed resigns from the Labour party
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