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www.abplgroup.com
Dee Katwa
Asian Voice - Saturday 19th May 2012
Midland Voice Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dhiren.katwa@abplgroup.com
Goodbye Mike Whitby, welcome Albert Bore Nearly three-quarters of those people entitled to vote in Birmingham, the second largest city of the seventh largest economy in the world, decided they just couldn’t be bothered whether they wanted an elected mayor or not, and over two-thirds weren’t even interested in whether self-glorifying Mike Whitby or Albert Bore should be the next leader. A worrying indictment of local politicians and their failure to engage with their constituents. Sadly it is a pattern reflected across the country. Birmingham voters rejected plans for an executive mayor, which had the personal backing of David Cameron, voting 57.8% against the idea and 42.2% in favour, in a referendum held on the same day as local elections. But, Birmingham could still have a directly elected mayor either to run the city or as a “metro mayor” with responsibility for the wider region, ministers have insisted. Anyway, like it or loathe it, Albert (Lab; Ladywood) – who led Birmingham City Council for five years until 2004 – is back. Already, he has put forward a citizens’ question time where members of the public will be allowed to quiz senior
Outgoing: Mike Whitby
councillors over roads, bins and schools. He is also set to overhaul the council’s cabinet with councillors being handed responsibility for areas including green, safe and smart; social cohesion and equalities and commissioning; and contracting and compliance. “For too long the city has been allowed to drift,” he said. “We want to open up our council chamber and the committee rooms to our citizens. We want to tackle the problems that hold so many of our people back. The new structure will be
a fresh start and provide a focus on delivering for the people of Birmingham.” Labour now has a 34-seat majority on the council after seizing control from the Tory-Lib Dem coalition. Albert admitted the Incoming: Sir Albert Bore; Inset, result was Najma Hafeez “beyond our He is the current electexpectations” and claimed ed Chair of University the result was a “damning Hospitals Birmingham verdict” on the previous NHS Foundation Trust, administration. The Selly Oak and Queen changes are set to be Elizabeth hospitals. In adopted at the full council addition, he holds nonmeeting next Tuesday executive directorships at (May 22). By 2020, a third Birmingham Symphony of Birmingham’s populaHall, Marketing tion will be British Asian; Birmingham and National 75% of British Asian Exhibition Centre. Albert women in Birmingham are is ex-husband of Najma unemployed. Albert, aged Hafeez, inset, who was the 65, has pledged to transyoungest and first woman form this. Albert, who is a to be elected to close friend to many, parBirmingham City Council ticularly many prominent in 1983, then aged just 22. and influential British Their two sons are Omar Asians, is a former univerHafeez-Bore and Firaz sity lecturer. He was Hafeez-Bore. He also has knighted in 2002 for serva daughter, Kirsti Bore.The ices to local government. couple’s bitter split ended He has been a leading proup in the courts when tagonist of devolution and Albert was cleared of localism agendas in local assaulting her by throwing governance since entering coffee in her face. politics in 1974.
Nursery boss faces jail
Pakistani PM ‘threat’ alert
Sukpreet Kaur, the former boss of a nursery closed down by Ofsted over safety fears has admitted duping parents who continued to bring their children there. Kaur, who owned Kare Babies Nursery in Hamstead Road, Handsworth, and her assistant Tasleem Sarwar were both due to stand trial at the city’s Crown Court last Wednesday. But before a jury was sworn in, both women admitted conspiracy to commit fraud between November 1 and November 13, 2010, after failing to inform parents the “inadequate” nursery had been closed down by Ofsted. The case was adjourned and Kaur, 27, and Sarwar, 31, will be sentenced next month. Photo: Left, Sukpreet Kaur and right, Tasleem Sarwar.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan was forced to cancel a rally in Birmingham last Saturday over security fears. Yosaf Raza Gilani, pictured, who arrived in the UK last Tuesday, had planned to address supporters at the ICC. But the “community meeting” was suddenly scrapped “because there could be a serious security breach by protestors,” according to a Pakistani official. Mohammed Nazam, of the Kashmir Independence Alliance, said: ‘The truth is that it is too embarrassing for Gilani to appear in Birmingham. His President had a shoe thrown at him when he last visited Birmingham and I guess Gilani fears he will get an equally cold reception.’ British Premier David Cameron has promised to give Pakistan £650 million in education aid.
Crash-for-cash scams The West Midlands has been unveiled as the worst-hit area in the UK for crash-for-cash scams. The plot involves conmen deliberately causing car crashes by forcing people to smash into the back of them. Organised gangs are sending recruits out on to the roads and then making whiplash claims through their own bogus No Win, No Fee insurance firms. Latest figures show there were 30,000 crash-for-cash crimes last year. Nationwide, the practice is costing drivers over £350 million a year. Police say the fraud is difficult to detect because minor bumps do not require any police involvement. South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, pictured, has vowed to discuss the “disgusting” practice with government bosses and is also calling on car insurance companies to properly investigate.
Spotlight on Service Birmingham Birmingham City Council’s £1 billion contract with its IT and call centre provider, Service Birmingham, is to be independently assessed on its performance. Senior Labour councillors have doubts whether the contract, which runs until 2020, is value for money. Service Birmingham hit the headlines last year over attempts to move skilled IT jobs to India, which was later aborted at a cost of £12 million to the taxpayer.
Honour for Bhangra Guru Malkit Singh, the “King of Bhangra”, has become the first Asian artist to be awarded a star on the Birmingham Broad Street Walk of Stars. Mr Singh was presented with the special honour in recognition of his global contribution to Punjabi music. His trademark anthem, Tutak Tutak Tootiyan, is the most successful and fastest-selling bhangra song of all time. In 2008, Mr Singh received an MBE from the Queen for his Services to Punjabi music.
News in Brief Traffic warden racially abused A Birmingham businessman who racially abused a traffic warden after she asked him to move his car off double yellow lines has been given a suspended oneyear jail term. Father-of-two Jaswant Sandhu, 45, “completely lost control” when Lisa Wright “did him a favour” by not putting a ticket on his illegally parked car. Sandhu, who runs a sweet centre, was ordered to pay £1,200 costs.
Benefit cheat avoids jail An “intelligent woman with a degree” from Birmingham who admitted three charges to making false statements to obtain benefit and one charge of fraud has been given a five month sentence suspended for 12 months. Saeeda Mughal, 33, from Moseley, claimed over £9,000 while hiding the fact that she was working for Barclays Bank and had a property portfolio worth over £800,000. Mughal was also ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.
Uni secures £75k loan The University of Birmingham has taken out a £75 million loan to give its Edgbaston campus a facelift, also to make it more energy efficient. The 32-year loan was granted by the European Investment Bank. University bosses said the cash would help bring the campus closer to the vision of its founder, former Birmingham mayor Joseph Chamberlain.
Cop in racism claim A West Midlands Police inspector is at the centre of an investigation after being accused of making racist comments. The officer, who has not been named, is currently performing duties elsewhere in the force while the matter is being investigated. It is understood the claims relate to comments made in front of colleagues.
Remembrance Event A bhajans programme held to mark the fifth death anniversary of Rancchodbhai Solanki brought together around 200 people at Birmingham’s Shri Hindu Community Centre last Sunday. Organised by couple Indiraben and Jayantibhai Solanki, the two-hour event was brilliantly led by septuagenarian Prabhudasbhai Parmar and his group, of Leicester, originally part of the city’s Bajrang Bhajan Mandal. Temple treasurer Jayantibhai Jagatia gave the vote of thanks.
Driving test faker jailed A 29-year-old man from Coventry who travelled the country sitting driving tests for at least 12 other people has been jailed for 18 months, Shivan Ibrahim was paid a “going rate” of between £100 and £120 for each theory exam. Ibrahim was caught out after he booked a test for a centre in Huddersfield.
Rioters cause business to collapse Ajay Bhatia, the owner of a Birmingham newsagent ransacked by young looters during last year’s riots, is being forced to sell the business. Mr Bhatia, 52, and his wife Monika received just £3,000 from insurers and are still struggling to pay off the debt for stolen stock. “We have worked 14-hour days, every day of the week and have poured all of our money into the business,” said Indian-born Mr Bhatia, pictured, who is blaming the rioters and the banks for the collapse of his business.
Correction In an article, Temple Open Day, featured in this column (May 12,2012) it was incorrectly reported that Karsanbhai Visavadia was among the pioneers from the SSPC community who had helped lay the foundations of the temple in 1986. Mr Visavadia expired in 1979. We offer our sincere apology to his wife Gomptiben and family for any embarrassment or distress caused by this unintentional error.