AV 19th November 2016

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INDIA, ISRAEL TO BOOST DEFENCE, ANTI-TERROR COOPERATION

SC refuses to stay demonetisation order P26

19th November to 25th November 2016

TM

Haseeb Hameed, the Baby Boycott

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

Asks government to take immediate steps to ease public inconvenience

Haseeb Hameed is presented with his first cap

England has a cricket ace in teenager Haseeb Hameed. With a classy 82 under his belt in the second innings at Rajkot, Gujarat, that was once the home state of his parents, everybody including his family knew he was

and is a huge talent.

Called the “Baby Boycott” and the “Bolton Blocker”, Hameed’s sixer off Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja took everyone by surprise, as it came Continued on page 31

India and Japan sign landmark nuclear deal

BLACK MONEY BAN: People stand in queue in front of a bank in India to get Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes exchanged

Following two weeks of utter chaos, the Supreme Court of India refused to stay the November 8 government notification demonetising Rs 500 and 1,000 currency notes.

However, a bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice DY Chandrachud asked the Centre to take immediate measures to alleviate the hardships and sufferings of the traumatised common man who is “forced” to stand in queues to with-

draw a little bit of his own money.

“Tell us, instead of forcing citizens to stand in queues for his own money... and it is traumatic for people to stand in lines for hours doing nothing.

Why can’t you raise their cash withdrawal limit to a reasonable limit?” asked Chief Justice Thakur.

He stressed that the apex court does not want to interfere with the government’s economic policy and said that while the

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objective of the move may be a “surgical strike” on black money, it should not cause hardship to the common man.

Appearing for one of the four petitioners, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said what is portrayed as a surgical strike on black money, is actually a “carpet-bombing of the common man”.

CJ Thakur asked, “Carpenters, masons, daily wage earners, maids, vegetable sellers are depend-

ent on cash; we are only wondering if you are capable of doing anything to reduce the trauma of ordinary man?”

The bench asked the Centre to file an affidavit

by November 25, detailing the various measures it can take to lessen the hardship and inconvenience caused to people without hindering the larger objective of the government notification.

“After demonetisation, Continued on page 26

Narendra Modi with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Six years after negotiations began India and Japan finally signed a landmark nuclear agreement, opening new doors for India to commission nuclear reactors by global entities. The deal is sig-

nificant in more ways than one; keeping in mind the reservations of Japan – the only country to have sustained nuclear attacks, and India’s efforts to diversify the Continued on page 26

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ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice 19th November 2016

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to

Nikolai Foster

Nikolai Foster is Artistic Director at Curve Theater, Leicester.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he grew up in North Yorkshire. Nikolai trained at Drama Centre London and at the Crucible, Sheffield.

Since taking up his post in January 2015, Nikolai has directed Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest (also at Birmingham Rep) the Broadway musicals Spring Awakening (with National Youth Music Theatre) & Legally Blonde (& at Daegu International Festival, South Korea Winner Best Musical), Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s (& Haymarket Theatre, London & national tour), Roald Dahl’s The Witches, adapted by David Wood (with the Rose Theatre Kingston, Lyric Theatre Hong Kong, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds & on tour), Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire, Shakespeare’s Richard III, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s Our Country’s Good, a performance to celebrate the reveal of the tomb of King Richard III at Leicester Cathedral and Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing (with Nottingham Playhouse & on tour).

1) What is your current position?

Artistic Director at Curve 2) What are your proudest achievements?

I think my proudest achievements so far have to be around the work we do with our communities here in Leicester and Leicestershire. Whether it's working with young people through our Curve Young Company or Curve Community Productions, or seeing young people engaging with a piece of theatre for the first time, watching people's lives transformed by theatre is when I feel the greatest sense of pride. Theatre should be accessible to everybody regardless of background, ethnicity or education. When people engage with theatre and recognise that it is for them and take ownership of it, this makes me feel very proud. Therefore it is hard to identify just one thing or another as a proudest achievement; it is more the ongoing commitment to our communities, which makes me feel proud.

3) What inspires you?

I think I have always been

inspired by people - watching people and interacting with people. I was badly bullied at school and this forced me to the periphery of social groups and meant I was often observing things, rather than being in the heart of them. As an adult, this interest in people and social dynamics has remained and I continue to enjoy watching people, learning about new cultures and travelling.

I spend most of my time working in the theatre, but I also enjoy watching plays and seeing as much work as possible.

Seeing young people in youth theatre and in community productions also really inspires me.

Along with live music and art, I enjoy walking, the natural world and learning more about the world around me, which feeds my creativity and imagination.

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

The biggest obstacle in my career has been trying to break through the glass ceiling which exists in the arts and theatre, specifically because I didn't go to university or Oxbridge and my background is humble. I was

brought up in a rural community in Yorkshire and the leap from this to attending drama school in London was enormous. Once I started working in theatre it became clear I didn't belong to the “in crowd” or the fashionable club. I have always been interested in creating creative work which serves audiences and puts communities and their interests at the heart of the experience and not necessarily creating work which furthers my career or pleases colleagues. I acknowledge this path has made things harder, because one isn't so interested in networking or climbing up a London-centric ladder.

Furthermore, I feel passionately about musical theatre and there is still snobbery towards musicals in our industry. This is changing, but perception around my work on musicals has been an obstacle in my career, as people have labelled me as only a director of this genre. I know this has held me back at times when being considered for Shakespeare or plays, for example. Looking at the diversity and ambition of a place like Leicester, it feels right I should come and work here and create theatre in this city.

There don't seem to be obstacles in Leicester, only opportunities and open minds.

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

There are many people and theatre companies who have influenced me over the last few years.

I was very lucky to go to a comprehensive school where Drama and English were very important parts of the syllabus. My English and Drama teachers nurtured and facilitated furthered my interest in theatre and supported me in many different ways. I am forever grateful to them for giving me such a firm foundation and understanding of theatre. After school I attended Drama Centre London, a fantastic drama school which nurtures and encourages young people from diverse backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on working

Man 'was racing car' when girl, 9, was fatally struck A man accused of causing a girl's death in a car crash was racing against his friend at the time, a court has heard.

Aleena Kauser, nine, was walking to a Lancashire mosque in September 2015 when she was hit by a car topping 60mph in a 30mph zone.

Adil Manir, 20, who was driving the car, has already admitted causing her death by dangerous driving.

Mohsem Saddique, 23, denied he was racing Manir during the opening day of his trial at Burnley Crown Court.

Aleena Kauser was walking with her mother along Bacup Road in Rawtenstall when the

Aleena Kauser was airlifted to hospital after being hit by a car but later died

crash happened on 18 September 2015.

The prosecution claimed Mr Saddique was tailgating Manir's car immediately before the collision.

The vehicles were travelling at speeds above 60mph in a 30mph area, the court heard.

Manir lost control of his Audi, mounted the

pavement and hit Aleena and her mother.

There was only two metres between the cars as they drove between speeds of 55mph and 64mph, it was said.

The trial continues.

Adil Manir has already admitted causing Aleena's death by dangerous driving

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aspects to my role and I feel incredibly blessed to be doing what I am doing. Occasionally it would be nice to have a day off and a bit of time to recharge the batteries!

class actors and practitioners.

The founding directors of Drama Centre London, Yat Malmgren and Christopher Fettes were incredibly influential when I was training and I'm forever grateful to them too.

Along the way I have been very fortunate to see productions by incredible directors including Howard Davies, Katie Mitchell, Stephen Daldry, Marianne Elliott and Matthew Warchus.

These directors have all influenced me and my work.

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

No day is ever the same and I really welcome the exhilaration of bouncing from one challenge to the next. At the moment we have SISTER ACT and BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S on tour, THE WITCHES rehearsing at West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, FANTASTIC MR. FOX rehearsing in Southampton, and GREASE and THE TWITS both rehearsing here in Leicester. I love the various aspects of the role and being at the heart of such a vibrant and creative arts organisation.

7) And the worst?

There aren't any

negative

8) What are your long term goals?

Our long-term goals are to continue to strive, and ensure, this is not only the best theatre in the country, but one of the best in the world. We wish to continue developing the diversity of the work we present on all stages, but also our Participation, Learning and community engagement work. The more ownership our communities feel of Curve, the more they come into the building and engage with the work we are doing, and the more they are at the heart of our organisation, the better.

These are long-term goals and the things we feel passionately about here at Curve.

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

If I were a Prime Minister, I would continue to work for equality for all people regardless of ethnicity, social background or sexuality. We have made great leaps forward over the last couple of decades, however, there is still much work to be done in ensuring we all live in an equal and fair society.

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

On my desert island I would most like to be marooned with Nelson Mandela. I will never forget visiting Robben Island and seeing the tiny prison cell Mr Mandela was incarcerated in for so many years. It is incredible during his time in such a desolate and desperate situation, he was able to dream of a better future for his country and its entire people. His wisdom, generosity of spirit, and intellect are all things I imagine would make him an incredible person to be marooned on a desert island with.

Man sentenced to 20 years for Plaistow pub killing A man who killed a pubgoer with a kitchen knife after a bar brawl has been jailed for 20 years.

Reece Hussain, 22, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at the Old Bailey this morning for the manslaughter of 29-yearold Edward Stokes, who he stabbed twice in a Plaistow pub before stabbing and wounding two other people.

Judge Paul Worsley said Hussain, who knifed the three men at the Army Navy Public House in New Barn Street in the early hours of March 19, had destroyed the Stokes family with his actions.

Judge Worsley explained that Hussain, who was charged with but

denied murder, had been involved in an earlier brawl between two other men, Billy Williams and Bernard McDonagh, before the fatal stabbing.

Mr Stokes, his family and friends were still celebrating St Patrick’s Day in the pub when Mr McDonagh spotted Billy Williams, a man he had previously had dealings with.

A fight followed but soon ceased. In CCTV of the fight, Hussain can be clearly seen wielding a “large kitchen knife”, the judge said.

At this stage Hussain – after the departure of Mr Williams – went into the saloon bar, still holding his knife, and “calmly” collect-

Reece Hussain

ed his drinks while speaking to Mr Stokes. He then stabbed Mr Stokes twice, leaving an eight-inch wound to his stomach before leaving, but stabbed both Bernard McDonagh and Dylan McDonagh before disposing of the knife and fleeing.

Charges against another man, George Forde, were dropped on November 2 due to a lack of evidence.

C MMENTS

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Asian Voice |19th November 2016

Trump comes up trumps: Indo-US ties set to strengthen Donald Trump the outsider had the last laugh. Abused and vilified by his country’s media, scorned by its political establishment, written off by the pollsters, he rode past the magic 270 electoral seats at a confident gallop to claim the most astonishing victory in American history, replicating, indeed exceeding, the Brexit triumph in Britain. More than anything, the results, in both instances, confounded the droves of self-proclaimed pundits in the United States and their hangers-on in the Indian broadsheets whose integrity for impartial analysis or factual reliability have long been measured on delicate machines normally used to weigh gold dust.

The Hillary Clinton bandwagon had the support of Wall Street money, some $1.3billion were spent on her election campaign, compared to President-elect Trump’s comparatively modest $500 million. She stole the Democratic party nomination from the visionary and scrupulously upright Bernie Sanders, but failed in the final strait to the White House. Husband Bill’s and her Clinton Foundation were recipients of donations from various sources, none dodgier than the contribution from the ruler of Qatar, one of the principal financiers of the terrorist jihadi Islamic State.

Mrs Clinton and her minions put it about in the public space that President Putin of Russia was busy stealing the presidential election for Donald Trump, that whistle blower Wickileaks was in cahoots with the Kremlin and much else dutifully peddled by the mainstream media in Britain, France and Germany. Such untruths cut no ice with the bulk of the American electorate. McCarthyism has long been a spent force; resurrecting this dinosaur proved counter-productive and backfired spectacularly.

Hillary Clinton as US Secretary of State was the principal architect of the West’s military intervention in Libya; and the confrontation with Russia, which could have ignited a Third World War. She stood by the new Cold War initiated by Barack Obama.

Not everything Mr Trump said on the election trail was laudable or credible. His strength lay in breaking the mould of American politics – in challenging the shibboleths, clichés and outright falsehoods that had become holy writ in the mainstream American narrative. His cannonade concentrated of three major falsifications: he said it was American military adventures in the Middle East that, far from bringing democracy to the region had, instead, parented Islamic State. He poured scorn on the Obama administration’s sub-

terfuge in making a distinction between ‘moderate’ jihadis worthy of American financial and military support, and jihadis who sought succor elsewhere. He expressed an interest in cooperating with Russia to defeat the common scourge of militant Islamism. Over and above this, Mr Trump well understood the pain and anguish of the white American working and middle classes who were short-changed by selfish corporate interests and reduced to ignoble penury. He promised to consign the Obama administration’s Pacific free trade deal to the dustbin. US manufacturers would be given tax incentives to invest in America rather than opt for easy pickings in poorer countries.

The Indo-US relationship under a Trump administration is likely to fulfill the promise that eluded it during the eight years of the Obama administration.

During this period, India was forced to rest content with rhetorical condemnations of jihadi terrorism emanating from across the border in Pakistan, even as Washington continued to provide Islamabad with a cornucopia of financial and military aid. Such double talk is likely to end, with Donald Trump singling out Pakistan as a problem state requiring special attention in corporation with India. He has also promised to put a 45 per cent surcharge on Chinese imports as a counter to Beijing’s dumping practices.

Finally, President-elect Trump has first-hand experience of India, where his company has made substantial investments in the country’s real estate sector.

Speaking at the launch of the Trump Towers in Mumbai in 2013, Mr Trump said: ‘ It has been my desire for many years to be involved in a great project in Mumbai, and it is my honour to bring the Trump lifestyles to the citizens of this truly global metropolis.’

He is on record as saying that India was an unheralded success story. His abiding respect and admiration for the Indian diaspora and their manifold achievements in the United States has been aired at numerous public events. India.

‘Ab ki baar Trump sarkar’ - in Hindi, After this the Trump government – was the slogan at a public meetings organized by Indian American supporters of a Rump presidency. Word is now flesh.

President-elect Trump, as befits his historic victory, reached out to all Americans, with an appeal to stand united and make their country great again. He has the rare opportunity to lead his country in this uplifting task.

Platform for post-Brexit Indo-British enterprise British Prime Minister Teresa’s May recent to India in essence was an exploratory exercise, but no less significant for that, India being her first port of call outside Europe following the Brexit referendum. Her core concern was the promotion of Indo-British ties around trade and investment. Britain is the largest investor in India of all the G20 countries, India is the third-largest investor in Britain. This by any standard is a significant reality that provides scope for an ascending cycle of economic and scientific cooperation in ever widening fields.

With Brexit a ground reality, Britain is compelled to explore economic opportunities in new markets such as India, Australia, New Zealand other promising markets across continents. Under Article 50 of the EU treaty, Britain is obliged to negotiate her exit from the European Union. Until this is done and dusted, talks with India on a free trade agreement cannot begin. That said, she and Prime Minister Modi and Ministers Arun Jaitley and Liam Fox, and the large British business delegation and Indian trade and industry bodies, were presented with

opportunities to take soundings on the contours of an acceptable free trade agreement of mutual benefit. The huge Indian market and its steady expansion with India’s economic growth current the fastest among large countries, coupled with Britain’s sophisticated financial services and high-tech industries and engineering skills mesh well with those of a similar category in India.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry, put it well: ‘The maximum employment by the top Indian companies in the UK is concentrated in the sectors of Automotive Industrial products, Technology and telecom, Business services, Financial services, Hospitality, Engineering and manufacturing, Consumer products, and Transport and logistics.’

There are sticking points on UK visa controls for Indian professionals and related issues of immigration controls that will need sorting. But both parties recognize the vital importance of Ease of doing Business as the gateway to a closer Indo-British relationship.

Bombay’s debt to the Parsis Bombay’s development as India’s business hub, its rise to political eminence with the founding of the Indian National Congress and present standing as a global metropolis owes a great to its myriad communities: Gujaratis, Sindhis, Marwaris, Baghdadi Jews and, for a time, the British and Europeans , but no community played such a catalytic role in the process than its small, vibrant Parsi community. The Tata name is a badge of honour across India and much of the world. Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (1839-1904),, entrepreneur and visionary was one of the makers of modern India. Three Parsi families loomed large in Bombay’s textile industry: Petit, Wadia and Tata.

Manekji founded the Oriental Spinning and Weaving

Mill, the first such composite enterprise in the city. His son Dinshaw Manekji Petit added to these a dyeing business. Knighted in 1887, he became the Sheriff of the city and a member of the Legislative Council. Sir Dinshaw helped his compatriot Nusserwanji Wadia, a clever young engineer, who had fixed one of the technical snags in a Petit mill, to set up his own textile conglomerate.

Jamsetji Tata, a graduate of Bombay’s Elphinstone College, spent time in England learning the secrets of textile manufacturing, before returning to the city to set up his own mills.

Two eminent Parsis, Pherozshah Mehta and Dadabhai Naoroji were liberal politicians in the national movement. The Parsi community has done India proud.

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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

- Buddha

The Dangerous British Indian I’ve just returned from the visit of the UK PM to India.

And having been in the room – I have to tell you – I wonder whether most journalists and commentators just make things up before such visits, during them, or after them.

Every single negative comment I have read from journalists and also self-appointed community leaders has been a work of fiction and in some cases written in advance to grab a bit of PR. What worries me is some of these liars interested in self-promotion of their self-importance are British Indians. Trying through their articles to panic and misinform the public about visas and trade only damages the UK with untruths.

What no wit, wag, journo, joker commentator will ever tell you the the £1 billion in deals from the PM’s visit. Just one example: Buffalo Grid uses solar energy to provide mobile power and internet services to offgrid communities. The company expects to export 500 solar-powered, internet-connected hubs to provide mobile power and internet to rural villages in India – connecting over 250,000 people living in some of India’s poorest villages. These hubs will be manufactured in the UK. As the PM said, but you won’t read any British Indian commentators mentioning this: “India is now our second largest international job creator – last year, India created 7,105 new jobs in Britain through 140 projects.”

Congratulations to all the British and Indian companies involved and those making the deals to lift both nations, create jobs, sharing knowledge...now back to work, congrats over.

Or take what David Lelliott just said in Parliament this past week: “There is no cap on numbers of Indian students wishing to study in the UK.” As one person wrote on my Facebook page (Sahasrangshu Sinha)” I support PM May's immigration policies - those would bring quality rather than quantity into British universities. Many shady East London institutions may shut down which used to abuse the visa rule and facilitate immigration in the name of education.”

They won’t tell you “British PM timed her trip to India perfectly at the Tech Summit as Silicon Valley panics on expected harsh clampdown on Indians whereas UK PM at exactly the same time at the Tech Summit in Delhi says we want more Indian skilled migrants and entrepreneurs. Of course I wish UK India had an open border but I will take this.”

Or as I said on the stage after the PMs vacated it: “Britain welcomes entrepreneurs to go global from the UK. A message which resonates especially today. It is not just today the most powerful man in the world is an entrepreneur, but the most powerful people in the world will always be the entrepreneurs. 200 years ago India was the worlds largest economy. In 20 years it will be again. Its entrepreneurs shoulder the responsibility to make that happen and no Government in the world recognises that more than Britain and wants to work with India to make India even greater and to keep the Great in Great Britain.”

Editor: CB Patel

Asian Voice is published by ASIAN BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS LTD Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Website: www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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Boy, 15, found hanged after bullies 'sent rape threats from fake Jimmy Savile account' The heartbroken mum of a tragic teenager claims her son killed himself after sick school bullies made his life hell.

Brandon Singh Rayat, 15, was discovered hanged in his bedroom after 16 months of relentless abuse at the hands of his former friends. His mum Mina claims the bullies turned on him and branded him a "paedo" and a "faggot", before setting up a Facebook account in the name of sicko Jimmy Savile. They used the account to bombard the youngster with sick taunts, including threats to "bum" him and rape his mum.

Mina, 44, reported the name of her son's bullies to the school, but claims teachers refused to investigate and instead said Brandon was being "paranoid".

Brandon Singh Rayat

Psychiatrists said depressed Brandon was suffering from social anxiety as a result of being bullied, she said.

In March this year his parents again asked for Brandon to be sectioned after he tried to take his life. But medics

Mina

refused, saying he would feel "unloved" if he was taken away from his parents and 11year-old brother.

When he tried to kill himself in July a psychiatrist reportedly told his parents they should check on him every 15 minutes — instead of

having him detained.

Just weeks later on August 9 the teen was found hanged in his bedroom of their family home in Humberstone, Leicester. His devastated mum said the family feel "totally let down" by the school and doctors.

She said: "Those boys who were his friends once have killed him. They have taken his life away and they have ruined our lives. There is a hole left in our hearts and there was no need for it. He'd been bottling it up - he said his mates had started calling him names like 'faggot', 'paedo' and 'weirdo'. One of his really good friends turned to him in class and said: 'I know where you live, I'm going to come round and rape your mum'."

Darul Uloom School ordered to shut for not preparing pupils for life in 'modern British society' An independent school has been ordered to close by the Government for failing to prepare its pupils for life in "modern British society".

The move comes after Darul Uloom School, an allboys Islamic school in Loughborough Road was slammed by Ofsted for a catalogue of problems. They included giving pupils weak moral guidance and failing to challenge sexist views.

The school, which charges up to £2,700 annually per

place, is believed to be one of several schools across the country that the Department for Education has ordered to close because of fears of extremism or pupil safety.

A spokesperson for the department said: "When we find schools promoting twisted ideologies or discrimination in classrooms, we will take action, including closing the school or working with the police as necessary."

Four of the schools, including Darul Uloom, have

lodged an appeal with the courts, meaning they can continue running until a ruling is made.

Ofsted inspectors visited Darul Uloom in May this year and concluded its social, moral, spiritual and cultural education were weak, and that it did not "prepare pupils for life in modern British society".

Inspectors said pupils at the school, which has around 146 male pupils on roll aged from 11 years to 23, "held

stereotypical views on the roles of men and women in the workplace", and that those views went unchallenged. They said that in one year 10 pupil's religious studies book, he had written that "girls" are a reason for poverty in the United Kingdom - a comment which went unchallenged. They also said teachers did not ensure pupils were exposed to a range of different views. They found the school itself was "unsafe, shabby, and dirty", with poor hygiene.

Police ask for help identifying man who died in mysterious circumstances British detectives are asking help in identifying a man with a connection to Pakistan whose body was found in Saddleworth, near Oldham in Greater Manchester.

On Saturday 12 December 2015, the body of the man was found on a nearby hill, and was late found to have died of Strychnine poisoning - an extremely potent rat poison which is not sold in the UK and many other countries in Europe.

At the time of his death, he was described as being white, of slim build, had a

receding hairline with grey hair to the side and back, had a large nose which may have been previously broken and was clean shaven.

A full examination of the body was carried out by a Manchester-based Consultant Histopathologist which determined that the man had previously suffered an extra capsular fracture of the left femur (thigh bone) and had a titanium plate inserted into his hip to secure the fracture.

Further analysis of the plate found that it had been

manufactured by a company in Pakistan and was only supplied to fifteen hospitals in the country. Police have managed to narrow down the date of the operation to insert the plate as taking place sometime between 2001 and 2013.

The plate was fixed using Dynamic Hip Screws (DHS) as is standard practice; however the fracture itself was secured using a second screw which was not connected to the plate. This is extremely uncommon and would likely stick in the memory of anyone involved in the procedure.

Man allegedly exposes himself in front of shocked family Police have appealed for help after a man allegedly exposed himself to a mum and two young children on a busy Birmingham road. The 30-year-old mother was sitting in a car with her two young children on Soho Road, Handsworth, when a man walked over, exposed himself and committed an indecent act. The man ran away and boarded the number 74 bus.

Police have released two CCTV images taken from a bus and a description of the suspect, who struck at around 10.30pm on 24 August.

A police spokesman said: “The suspect is described as an Asian man in his 30s or early 40s, around 5ft 10ins tall, of

In Brief

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Asian Voice |19th November 2016

medium build and with short dark hair.

At the time he was clean shaven and wearing a green jacket.

“Officers have been following numerous lines of enquiry since the offence but have now released images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident.” He is described as an Asian man in his 30s or early 40s, around 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build and with short dark hair. He was clean shaven and wearing a green jacket.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Constable Healy from the Central Sexual Offences Team on 101 extension 845 6157 or email contactus@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk

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Councillor to be disciplined

Disciplinary action is being taken against a Labour councillor whose company employed three illegal workers, it has been confirmed.

Coldhurst councillor Montaz Ali Azad, who ran Eurolinen UK Ltd in Ashton, also failed to ensure that the company correctly operated a Pay As You Earn Scheme. He was given a civil penalty of £15,000 and banned from acting as a director or being involved in the management of a limited company for six years after an Insolvency Service and Home Office investigation.

A public question submitted last night asked how people could trust Cllr Azad.

Council leader Jean Stretton said: "The council has no powers to force Cllr Azad to stand down.

A councillor is only disqualified if an offence is criminal and a sentence of more than three months is given. For that reason the Labour party is invoking its own disciplinary procedures."

Man, 34, accused of raping male student appears in court

A man appeared in court today charged with raping a university student six years ago.

Ibrahim Elamin, appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court accused of raping the 19year-old man on the campus of Loughborough University in February 2010.

The 34-year-old was remanded into custody and is due to appear at Leicester Crown Court in December, according to Leicestershire Police.

Muslim schoolboy targeted by police over ‘bullet’

A 7-year-old schoolboy burst into tears when two police vehicles were dispatched to his house after teachers mistook a brass piece he took to school as a bullet.

The staff at the St Edward’s Catholic Primary School in Birmingham called the police after a student told teachers about the boy’s claim that the brass cylinder was a “bullet” for a rifle.

The seven-year old’s mother refused permission for the officers the interview her son.

She accused them of “racial profiling” and that they would react differently “had my son been a white kid.” the primary school has apologised to the family, insisting the boy’s ethnicity had no part in their response who said they were duty bound to report to the police.

This incident highlights the challenge faced by the school to balance common sense with their statutory duty to protect students from radicalisation and extremism.

West Midlands police confirmed officers were sent to the family’s residence after “the school reported a pupil had brought a bullet into the class.

The item was examined and found not to be a bullet and no further action was taken.”

Ill OAP can stay in UK until 2019 A severely ill widower who has been battling a home office order to be deported back to Pakistan has been granted limited leave to remain in the UK. The Chronicle reported in Hakeem April how Muhammad Haleem's application to stay in the UK was refused by a court in London two years ago and a bid to appeal rejected.

The Home Office served a notice confirming he was liable to be removed. His son Muhammed Nadeem (46) had insisted that his father (77) would have no-one to look after him if he returned to Pakistan.

Mr Haleem has been authorised tempo-

rary admission to the UK until 2019, subject to his residing at his son's address and reporting to a Home Office centre in Salford. He failed to report to the centre in March and has another chance on June 23, or faces being detained.

Mr Nadeem says his father, who is mostly bed-ridden, has difficulty being taken anywhere and has offered to go in his place, but the centre has refused this. Mr Nadeem, who works at Manchester Academy and does night shifts in a factory, said he had to take Mr Haleem to hospital a few days ago, after spotting blood in his vomit. The hospital said it was an infection and discharged him on the day.

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'A Sikh barrister with impeccable Temple (Inn of Court) accent' Varinder Singh Sir Mota Singh, the eldest of six children, was born in Nairobi, Kenya on July 26, 1930. At the age of 16, he tragically lost his father and became the head of the family. Academically gifted, he vowed to himself not to be distracted by the tragedy and make a success of his life. After matriculating, he worked as a clerk in a firm of solicitors and at the same time started a part-time, correspondence course for the Bar exams.

He got married in 1951 and two years later set sail, with his wife and one-year-old daughter, to England for the Bar finals. In England too he worked during day and studied part-time.

After passing the Bar finals in 1955, he returned to Kenya and a year later started his own legal practice.

Mota Singh soon built up a reputation as a promising young barrister and was often complimented by the Judges. Despite the prospect of a bright career in Kenya, and with the imponderable difficulties of practising at the English Bar, Mota Singh decided to migrate to England in 1966. He managed, not without difficulty, in securing tenancy at a Barrister's

Sir Mota Singh (1930-2016)

Chambers in London. In his first case, he successfully defended an English gentleman on a drinking and driving charge. The case was internationally reported.

The Times described Mota Singh as “a Sikh barrister with impeccable Temple (Inn of Court) accent”. He became a much sought-after professional and a leading specialist in the “Landlord and Tenant” branch of law. In 1968, he successfully argued an appeal, considered to be a lost cause, in the Court of Appeal. The decision in the case remains as Case Law to this day.

Mota was appointed Chairman of the Rent Assessment Panel and an Examiner of the Supreme Court. In 1968, the Home Secretary appointed him to the newly created Race

Relations Board which he served for the next 12 years.

Mota Singh’s meticulous preparation of his cases and his advocacy skills were often complimented by the judges he would appear before. He took silk in 1976 and in 1980 made English legal history by being the first from ethnic minorities to be appointed a Judge in England. He was based at the Southwark Crown Court, and some years later, was one of the four Judges at that Court nominated by the Lord Chancellor to try serious fraud cases. He ended up being the Deputy Presiding Judge there.

After 22 years, he retired from the Bench in 2002. And on his last day, as the judicial tradition has it, his court room was packed with well-wishing Appeal Court and High Court Judges, the DPP, barristers who had appeared before him over the years and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Wolf, to pay him tributes. Mota Singh was knighted in 2012 for his services to the legal profession.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

(Varinder Singh is the brother of Sir Mota Singh)

Mota Singh, the pride of UK Sikh community Ravi Govindia Sir Mota Singh, the UK’s first ever ethnic minority judge, has passed away at the age of 86. Sir Mota Singh QC was the first person from a minority ethnic group and first Judge to sit on the English Bench wearing a turban instead of a horse-hair wig.

In 1982 after Mota Singh’s first day as presiding judge a cartoon depicted a judge wearing turban instead of the traditional horse-hair wig and defendant addressing the judge “I hope your head feels better soon”. This was not mockery: this was marking a very significant moment – here was the first member of any minority ethnic community to be appoint-

ed a Judge in the United Kingdom.

Mota Singh was a deeply pious man of great charm and considerable humility. The latter was evident when performing sewa at his local Gurudwara in Southfields.

Sikhism sees all people as equal in eyes of God – none is high, none is low – Mota Singh practised this implicitly.

In Nairobi he took to public service becoming an Alderman of Nairobi City Council.

Following, Kenya’s Independence, he decided to come to the UK. Joining the English Bar was not easy for an outsider – Mota Singh never complained about it. In fact he later caused controversy when

he said that he had never faced any act of racism.

When criticised for this, his response was “well that is the truth”. He took silk, becoming Queen’s Counsel in 1978 and later a Circuit Judge. The esteem in which he was held by his colleagues at the Bar was evident by the battery of lawyers high and low who gathered to bid him farewell when he retired in 2002.

Mota Singh was the pride of UK’s Sikh community – once described as the “Noor and Nishan” of the Sikhs.

Mota Singh married Swaran Singh in 1950 who survives him.

(Ravi Govindia is a Wandsworth Council leader)

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His life was full of devotion and service

Rami Ranger

Judge Sir Mota Singh is no more but his legacy will live on for many reasons.

Firstly, he rose from a very humble background to the top of his profession and made history by being the first Turbaned judge in Britain.

He brought immense pride to everyone who knew him. He was a great inspiration and a role model to millions like me.

He discharged his

duties with utmost professionalism and his judgments were never challenged. This is a record for anyone to be proud of.

He was described as a Sikh icon and received the Sikh of the Year award from the Sikh Forum Int. He remained humble in spite of his stature and popularity. His life can be summed up in two words; devotion and service.

Despite being busy with his professional career he

always remained an important part of his community.

He was member of many important organisations like the Indian Gymkhana where he was a trustee.

His death has left a huge void in the lives of so many who came to rely on him for guidance and support. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace in heaven.

(Dr Rami Ranger CBE, Chairman, The British Sikh Association).

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UK

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Asian Voice |19th November 2016

Schoolboy dies after detention illness at Bow School A schoolboy has died after he was taken ill during detention at an east London school. Nasar Ahmed, 14, pictured, who had severe asthma, was reported ill last Thursday at Bow School in Tower Hamlets. He died on Monday afternoon.

A post-mortem will take place and the coroner has been informed. The Met said his death was being treated as unexplained. The boy's uncle told the BBC he was in detention with his friends after lunch. He said Nasar complained he felt ill and asked to get his inhaler.

He said the school then called an ambulance and his nephew was taken to the Royal London Hospital.

Tower Hamlets Council, which is speaking on behalf of the school, said there was

a care plan in place which addressed Nasar's medical condition.

A spokeswoman said he was in supervised detention with three others in a ground-floor room. Social services have been informed.

The school's latest Ofsted report said it was judged to be "good and improving". It said significantly more students were from minority ethnic backgrounds than in most schools, with the largest group of Bangladeshi origin.

Anni Dewani's dad pays tribute to hanged Birmingham witness The father of murdered bride Anni Dewani has spoken of their sadness after her husband’s gay lover was found hanged in Birmingham.

Leopold Leisser, 45, was due to give evidence at a 2014 court case in which millionaire businessman Shrien Dewani was cleared of plotting to kill his new wife. Yet the former sex worker was denied the chance to testify after objections from the defence. He took his own

life at his flat on September 13. An inquest held at Birmingham Coroner's Court this week revealed he had been “stressed” by the honeymoon murder trial, held in South African in December 2014.

Mr Leisser alleged he had been paid £400 per sex session with Mr Dewani, performing role play and S&M. Anni’s uncle Ashok Hindocha said: “This gentleman was a gay lover of Shrien Dewani and the

Leopold Leisser had a secret relationship with Shrien Dewani

only one who knew him who was prepared to give evidence against him.

Giving international community a taste of India Indian High Commission's Ladies Association raises money for the Education of Girls in Commonwealth countries

Poonam Patnaik Charity begins at home – was something I kept hearing from my mother as I grew up. But for us home keeps changing from country to country as we belong to the Diplomatic Community.

So in my mind this world is our home and hence wherever I go, I make a humble attempt to contribute in whatever way to the society.

And that is exactly what I and several ladies from the Commonwealth countries and the IHCLA (Indian High Commissions Ladies Association) are attempting to do by participating in this event.

The goal of this group

is to raise money for the Education of Girls in Commonwealth countries.

The IHCLA group is an association which has been raising funds since 1857 when Mrs Vijay Lakshmi Pandit was heading the mission here.

Today the group is contributing its time and energy by organising a food stall where we are offering the tasty spicy chatpat food of India such as Golgappas, Aloo Tiki with channa, Papri chaat, etc.

We are representing our countries' rich cultural heritage by providing Indian Food, showcasing our rich handicrafts and a glimpse of one of our dance forms (Bihu dance

from Assam).

Each and every member has contributed to this event by giving their time or culinary expertise.

We are very proud to present ourselves and our stalls which will give to the International Community a taste of India.

We feel by doing this we are not giving others an experience of what India is but also collaborate together as a community working closely towards a common cause.

(Mrs Poonam Patnaik is President, Indian High Commission’s Ladies Association & wife of Acting High Commissioner)

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Rukmini Rao: The Lepra Initiative Sunetra Senior Rukmini was named Woman of the Year in 2014 by India’s most widely read English language publication, The Week, and has gradually inherited the title of ‘Fairy Godmother of India’ for her seminal work in women’s rights and social development.

Since the Seventies, she has campaigned to affect a range of Indian legislation to protect women against such atrocities as rape, domestic violence, infant sex selection and the archaic practice of Sati (when a widow is sacrificed on her husband’s funeral pyre). She has also set up a variety of women’s homes, communities and local shelters: “this national activism,” she told us “has been a journey on two feet: one to carry the fight against social and institutional prejudice, and the other to work with the government to implement and sustain the change. We have relied on the external intervention of women’s groups in being vigilant and keeping order – it’s been a tremendous political movement.” In this way, it has not just been Rukmini’s helping of vulnerable South-Asian women that has progressively transformed the landscape. As is clear through her latest role as chair of the Indian management committee of Lepra, an organisation dedicated to detecting and effectively delivering aid to leprosy sufferers, it’s as much about circulating open-mindedness, and the sheer, visceral strength of the individual and communities to resist discrimination.

Cultural perception is very powerful, Rukmini detailed to us: “We have the cure for leprosy. We have all the effective treatments, but the stigma placed on it, and the consequent underreporting of cases has caused deterioration and thousands of lives to be needlessly ruined. There have been 81% new cases of leprosy reported in India, Indonesia and Brazil, with 60% of those cases in India, and many more feared to be undisclosed.

It is entirely possible for leprosy sufferers to recover and re-integrate into society; to go back to having normal jobs and a family life. However as long as they’re looked upon as ‘loathsome’ or ‘lowly’, there will continue to be alienation to monstrous effect. This is how my decades of working with different women, across urban and rural spaces, to give them a voice and speak up collec-

tively – has come to converge beautifully.

Lepra similarly organises leprosy groups to support the members to reclaim their dignity and basic respect.

Certainly, the greatest advance I’ve observed for the women’s movement has been their increased recognition. In my age group there was maybe one friend who was going on to study aeronautical engineering; now you have something like 49% of women making up the region’s engineering colleges. It’s obviously not that women were unable, but were not given the opportunities to utilise in the first place.” As a corollary to this, female leprosy patients are triply marginalised, because of their gender, the disability and the impact of the shaming. Reductive bodily stereotypes become compounded and acute: “male sufferers are more easily identified,” Rukmini elaborated, “because they’re not secluded within the house and domestic sphere.

Secondly, a woman will be more scrutinised for her appearance so she will not be able to travel out and seek the necessary aid. The symptoms can be as conspicuous as those of Elephantiasis.

The woman suffering will be cut off from vital resources and regular contact with the wider community.”

And an overarching class dialogue is significant to Rukmini’s cause: “disadvantaged women find it most difficult to seek help,” she added.

“Middle class women can now access a law which works for them, while the poorer still don’t have the financial means. But, at the same time, at my first women’s collective Saheli in Delhi – there were also very wealthy women who sought refuge from gender violence. Money didn’t’ stop the abuse” But this isn’t a concept Rukmini emphasises to be maudlin. No, she wouldn’t be the same defiant woman who ran away “with only 30 Rupees” in her pocket – herself experiencing gender discrimination - to drive the country’s fight for women’s advocacy, if she was. Her message is more pure: ‘though we may be susceptible, we have as much in us to stand up and push back.’

This openly extends to all men and women, liberated or oppressed, Asian and otherwise. Indeed she went on to stress: “I was able to challenge the societal norm, at a time

Rukmini Rao

when domestic brutality was not even recognised as a crime.” At a time, in fact, when female independents did not have a physical, much less an ideological, base. “I’ve also worked closely with Dalit women, to help them among other initiatives, to develop agricultural skills and cultivate their own plots of land.

This has amazingly contributed to the economic health of the farmers, and the overall development of the nation.

The truth is we’re all in it together. I’ve always learnt from and invested in the people around me; whether they’ve been scientists, villagers or the famous theorists. The smallest interest or gesture can set in motion a drastic change. Ordinary people are capable of extraordinary feats, but we can only go so far with just one half of the world fending for itself. I do believe there is a cynicism in middle-class Indian (and indeed European communities) that there’s ‘no point’ or that nothing good can come of things, but that’s a sort of apathetic self-oppression: a resignation to being closed and expecting what is negative. It’s a global anxiety, and one that our charity, Lepra, finds itself simultaneously taking on. Lepra not only works with communities to encourage self reporting of illness and self-care to overcome disabilities, but through raising public awareness, and working very closely with governments to ensure sustainable health care”. Thus the multicampaigning Rukmini shows that there needn’t be an ‘us versus them’ mentality, but rather a universally affirmative sense of community which enriches everyone equally. “If we consider the British-Indian Diaspora,” she passionately concluded, “it has carved out a wealthier place for itself. Now just imagine what could happen for contemporary culture, if each person started giving back.” www.lepra.org.uk

UK Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

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Tories 'split' after May rejects Farage's help with Trump Senior Tories are said to be divided after Prime Minister Theresa May chose not to use Ukip's Nigel Farage as a gobetween with the US president-elect, Donald Trump.

According to several newspaper reports, several figures in the party believe Farage has a unique "in" with the property tycoon and should liaise with him for the government.

Others, however, say there is "no need for Nigel".

Ukip's interim leader was the first UK politician to meet Trump after his election success last week, enjoying an hour-long tetea-tete with the Republican president-elect at Trump Tower in Manhattan this weekend.

The PM was snubbed

by Trump – intentionally or not – when he chose to speak to ten world leaders before her on the telephone after winning the election.

After the meeting, Farage suggested the Republican's campaign team were unhappy with negative remarks made about their candidate during the election campaign by some of the UK Cabinet, says The Guardian.

While May has been careful not to criticise Trump since she became

PM Theresa May was snubbed by Trump Nigel Farage with US president-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox

Prime Minister, as home secretary she called his campaign pledge to ban Muslims from entering the US "divisive, unhelpful and wrong".

Farage said the Cabinet would need to "mend some fences" with Trump's campaign team, if not with the president-elect himself.

"Some of his team had reservations about what members of the Cabinet

have said during the election. Believe you me, his team are conscious of the comments," he said.

According to the Daily Telegraph, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was last week forbidden to consult Farage before flying to the US – the Ukip politician said this was because the government "resent" him.

The Times says Farage is dividing senior Tories, with a prominent Tory donor, Edi Truell, and a Tory peer, Lord Marland, both calling on the Prime Minister to "deploy Mr Farage in the diplomatic effort".

According to the Guardian, a "senior former Cabinet minister" said:

"Frankly, given what the political establishment have said about Trump, any help Nigel Farage is able to give Great Britain with the incoming administration should be welcomed."

But Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, told the BBC there was "no need for Nigel".

He said: "There is fantastic opportunity for a relationship between Britain and the United States. There's no need for Nigel. The Prime Minister has been very reserved and wise in having been guarded in her comments about Donald Trump, right from the beginning, unlike many.”

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Sri Baladiya Leva Patel Sarvodal (UK) celebrates Diwali

selves in the celebrations Sri Baladiya Leva Patel and could be seen enjoying Sarvodal (UK) organisathemselves and giving each tion was created 46 years other Diwali wishes. back with an aim to keep Fourteen youths out of youngsters of the commu52 from London will join in nity in touch with our a charity bike ride from roots.

Kutch to Ahmedabad, Since its inception, the organised by Sri Kutchi sanstha has involved itself Leva Patel Community to in programmes highlightbe held in March next year. ing Indian culture and The Baladia sanstha ways to connect the young appealed for funds for the with their roots. charity, and soon enough The group's Diwali over £4000 were collected Snehmilan, which was held in addition to the £500 recently at Harrow's forwarded by the organisaHarrow Leisure Centre tion itself. saw over 1000 people participate in the event.

The evening began at 5 pm, and saw several activities including rangoli darshan, raas garba, and a delicious community dinner.

All, young and the old, delighted themSanstha members with their rangoli

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UK

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Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Marking the Contribution of British Indian to UK Parliament On 2nd November, the Zoroastrian All-Party Parliamentary Group hosted an iconic event to mark the contribution of British Indians to UK Parliament on the eve of the 10 year Lord anniversary of Bilimoria being a Peer in the House of Lords. The event was a full house, with over 10 speakers providing their thoughts on Lord Bilimoria’s milestone and the broader contribution of British Indians to UK Parliament.

Lord Bourne, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government was the opening lead speaker, discussing the contribution of the Zoroastrian Community but so too the broader British Indian community.

With Dadabhai Naoroji being the first the first MP of Indian descent to be elected in 1892 as a Zoroastrian Parsi, the Reception was naturally being held under the jurisdiction of the Zoroastrian All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Lord Bourne rightly pointed out that not too many people were aware that the first three MPs of Indian descent to sit in the House of Commons were Zoroastrian Parsi.

Having witnessed Lord Bilimoria’s achievements in Parliament and outside Parliament, Lord Dholakia and Baroness Prashar, who have been mentors to Karan were proud of his achievements and progress across the years. Baroness Prashar stated how honoured she felt in being considered a mentor to Lord Bilimora, with his contribution to entrepreneurship, business, UK-India ties and a voice for international students in British Politics.

Lord Dholakia also praised Lord Bilimoria for being symbolic of how well the Zoroastrian community had integrated in every country and community whether it be in Gujarat, India or in the UK today.

His Excellency, the acting Deputy High Commissioner, Shri Dinesh, K. Patnaik touched on the profound ability of the Zoroastrian community to integrate, but at the same being wonderfully able to hold on to its roots too. Mr Patnaik recollected having a meal at a Zoroastrian wedding, where the food was presented on a leaf, but also with a fork and knife, which the Deputy High Commissioner believes, was symbolic of how the

Zoroastrian community had maintained its culture, but simultaneously embracing modernity every step of the way.

Lord Dholakia also mentioned the role the Zoroastrian community has played in preserving Indian culture, whether it be in the arts or literature.

As a member of the Commission for Racial Equality that was established in the 1970s, Lord Dholakia, also pointed out the political breakthrough the British Indian community and the broader British Minority and Ethnic (BME) community had made into British politics in recent times. As opposed to the Indian diaspora in East Africa and Fiji that were largely reluctant to enter the political frame. The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party in the House of Lords also named Bernie Grant, Keith Vaz, Dianne Abott and Paul Boateng as being the political pioneers of the more diverse Parliament we see before us today. The former President of the Liberal Democrats also stressed the need to see British Indian Parliamentarians as politicians that happen to be of Indian descent and look at their wider contribution they are making to society and Britain.

Conservative Peer, Lord Popat also shared the platform to give his thoughts on Karan’s 10 year anniversary. Lord Popat likened the House of Lords to the world’s best university and how Karan

had been an embodiment in learning and absorbing at the mother of all Parliaments. Lord Popat also cited, Lord Bilimoria’s maiden speech in Parliament 10 years ago this month, where Lord Bilimoria highlighted the untapped potential of the UK-India relationship.

Lord Popat was keen to point out how Lord Bilimoria’s ambitions in this regard were being realised, with Prime Minister, Theresa May making India her first trade visit destination, which would later be pointed out by the recently appointed Peer, Lord Gadhia. As contemporaries at the University of Cambridge, Lord Gadhia fondly remembered how he had always seen something special in Karan since his University days and how his presence and contribution is strongly felt, whether it be from business, entrepreneurship or in his capacity as Chancellor at the University of Birmingham.

Shailesh Vara MP also fondly remembered earlier memories where they discussed their future career paths and anticipated how Karan would be appointed to the House of Lords and he himself would become a member of the elected chamber.

Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing Southall, stressed how Karan has always a provided a powerful presence and voice when the situation demanded it on key issues, whether it be international students or skill shortages. ‘This is what I admire most’ about Karan, stated the Chair of the Indo-British APPG. Mr Sharma stressed how despite all the success Karan has enjoyed over the years, he has always been a decent and honest human being and has not limited himself to any single compartment, but to the contrary as Lord Popat pointed out, been a champion for breaking the glass ceiling.

Dorab Mistry, who is the Executive at Godrej Industries Ltd, poignantly recounted how a friend of his had stated that whilst you may have only one Parsi in Parliament, he is equivalent to a dozen, which Mr Mistry felt encapsulated Karan’s influential contribution.

Whilst Karan was proud of his Zoroastrian roots, the Zoroastrian community was equally proud of Karan.

Kapil’s

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KHICHADI

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com

Time the World Woke Up As the world woke up on Wednesday 9th November, people got a shock of the century. Or did they? I accept the shock was real for the establishment both in the US, as well as many western countries.

It was a shock for the paid liberal media that had thrown everything at Trump to destroy him, and they failed. Yes, it was also a shock for the pollsters who frankly have still not learnt a simple lesson, the world paradigm has changed and therefore their traditional models just don’t work any longer. It was a monumental shock for the divas of show business who went out of their way to promote Hillary Clinton and demonise Trump. It was a shock because no one wanted to listen to the people. The establishment and the liberal socialist PC brigade forgot the people. All they wanted to do was preserve their elite power base by hoodwinking their core voters again.

However, the Earthquake that started in the east in 2014, established a new era in world politics which many ignored at their peril.

So, let’s go to the epicentre of this global earthquake, India. The Indian paid media, political parties, show business and societal elite demonised the then CM Modi who was standing to be the Prime Minister of India. We saw them use every dirty trick in the book to undermine CM Modi, and we also saw the absurd scenario when even the BJP insiders were actively undermining his campaign. The media and the pollsters connived to present a negative picture of CM Modi, presenting polling that was totally skewed. Despite this mafia style attack on CM Modi, in May 2014 he did not just win the Indian election, in so doing he destroyed the very backbone of the corrupt opposition. The Indian people at the grassroots showed their contempt for the establishment.

The opposition has still not come to terms with the thrashing they got in 2014.

That was the start. The huge upset reverberated throughout the world since the ‘establishment’ in many western countries wanted their pet poodle ‘Sonia’s Congress’ to win in India.

They did not heed the message.

In June 2016, Great Britain had their EU referendum (otherwise known as Brexit). Again, we saw the same pattern. The media, political parties (here in the UK as well as the meddling politicians from the EU and USA), show business and societal elite demonised all Brexit voters. There was wall to wall coverage painting every Brexiter as racist, xenophobic and illiterate thugs.

When the big day came, the ‘remainers’ – i.e. the establishment, started their celebrations showing the polls confirming that Britain would stay in the EU. Well we all know how wrong they all got that and their rhetoric failed in every way possible. The British people at the grassroots sent a message, listen to what we are saying. If you don’t, we’ll

give you the political establishment a bloody nose. Today we see that even after such a humiliating defeat, the ‘remainers’ continue to do everything to thwart the will of the people. I have already stated, they do so at their peril.

If they think Brexit was a bloody nose, then in GE2020 they’ll get a lot more than that if they don’t get their act together.

So, we come to the USA and November 2016. We have seen the very same events unfolding. The establishment refused to listen to the people.

They refused to listen to common sense. They did everything in their power to ensure that the Washington click stayed in power, one way or another. They had become so corrupt that even when they could see the wholesale misadventures of Hillary Clinton, collectively they all turned a blind eye.

Remember, Hillary had the media, show business, the establishment, big businesses all on her side. She also had the President, Barak Obama who became the first outgoing President to take such an active part in a presidential election.

If that was not enough, even Michelle Obama took to the stage to influence (or was it to hoodwink) the ‘minority’ voters. Then we add on top the $1.3 Billion which the democrats spent in promoting Hillary. Yes, $1.3 Billion and they still lost.

So, what is going on? After more than 60 years of political match fixing in many of our western democracies, there is now a people’s revolt that is taking place. It is NOT the racists as the establishment will paint. They are NOT xenophobic and nor are they dumb. In the real world where we all live, you have some crazy people on the extreme left, on the extreme right and yes, even some in the middle. However, to paint vast groups of law abiding good people with such crass labels is not only wrong, it is defamation on a monumental scale. You cannot win any election with just the ultra-left, or the ultra-right – you also need the people in the middle (the silent majority), a fact many people ignored.

This wind of change is already present in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany and don’t rule out Austria, Holland and Hungary. If the EU politicians don’t wake up, they are all in for a shocking future.

And so, we end with one clear exposition, Brexit was right for the UK. This is now our time to reset the country so we can take advantage of a new global paradigm. It’s time to be positive and brave. The bigger story is not that Trump won, but that almost everyone in the ‘establishment’ is so out of touch with the grassroots. When Trump said, it was going to be Brexit plus plus plus, there was a clue for the establishment!

Do they get it?

UK Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Jyotveer Singh Gill: Taking Care of Vulnerable Communities Across the Globe Jyotveer Singh, 34, is a founder of AnonCare, where communities all over the world come together to help each other.

This website provides a 24/7 hour service for vulnerable people all over the world.

Visitors to AnonCare can comment anonymously and share their concerns so that the global comunity will support them. On AnonCare one cannot only like posts, but also 'wish well' or 'offer a prayer,' sharing compassion.

Background

Jyotveer Singh was born in High Wycombe Buckinghamshire. His parents were welcomed to Britain because of his grandfather's merited work in the British army. His mother migrated from Tanzania and was a single parent, working hard to support Jyotveer and his sisters.

Jyotveer's grandmother had a lot of influence on

her grandson, who called her 'Mama'. She used to be a very religious person and she knew lots of Gurus' stories that fascinated her grandson. Jyotveer recalls that his grandmother played a significant role in his moral upringing: “She would tell me that by remembering God, people could accomplish impossible tasks.” When he thinks of his grandma, Jyotveer remembers her with her mala always in her hands.

Turning point

When the hero of our story reached adulthood, his grandmother had already passed.

Jyotveer

Jyotveer Singh Gill

began to lose his moral boundaries as in terms of behaviour, he was exposed to bad examples. However, his grandmother's teachings had had an impact on

Jyotveer at the time and he never forgot that God was watching him. He says: “It was my Mama's lessons that remained a fabrique of consciousness in dark times.”

Jyotveer changed his life path to a new direction when he met international interfaith ambassador, Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji. Bhai Sahib Ji shared teachings with Jyotveer and also told him how a Sikh should behave: “He informed me that as Sikhs we were responsible for God's entire creation without distinction because we were accountable to him.”

This advice was given to Jyotveer just in time as he was working in the NHS and knew about the pressures in the health and care industry. He realised that people could diminish (spell mistake) the reliance on health services if they brought more compassion to each other. “I felt there was much we can draw from the powerful acts of selfless service, care and devotion.”

Growing the business

At the age of digital communication development, Jyotveer decided it would be a great idea to

9

create technology that would aid him in serving What's next? others, and allowothers to serve humanity. This is Jyotveer Singh believes how AnonCare was born. It that in today's world it is became a large social increasingly difficult but media platfrom where peostill very important to ple provided help to each embrace our shared other. Today AnonCare has humanity and focus on a smart – phone app which things that bring us togethis easily accessible for peoer. AnonCare could be a ple all over the world. useful tool that would help Although AnonCare unite people of all was rapidly flourishing, cultural backJyotveer was not congrounds to tent with his personal selflessly It has become serve each progress. He decided to draw more closeincreasingly o t h e r . ly to the heart of his clear to me that Although religion. So in it is ambiI haven't been December 2014 he tious, we investing in was baptised into c a n technology but a already see the order of the hope for Khalsa.

Today that this Jyotveer lives a hechumanity idea works. tic life, being a Digital At this Marketing Manager point Jyotveer for a university but also plans to attract looking after AnonCare. more American Even though he is busy, and Middle Eastern visiJyotveer feels happy about tors to his website. His aim the fruits his business is to create a shared brings: “It gives me great responsibility for the weljoy when I see on the app fare of others and to elevate someone in need being humanity across all the responded to with compascommunities of the world. sion by a stranger from a As a profound fighter completely different part of against racial segregation the world.” This is also and resentment, Jytoveer largely due to the help proputs a lot of effort into vided by digital media that bringing more social cohehas proved to be a great sion to the world. Talking companion to Jyotveer. He about his work progress, mentions: “I think technolJyotveer : “It has become ogy has turned the world increasingly clear to me into a global village but by that I haven't been investcoming together, we can ing in technology but a turn it into a global family.” hope for humanity.”

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READERS’ VOICE

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Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Donald Trump as America's President Donald Trump's win as a President of America is a victory of a man full of ego, arrogance, lies, hatred and much more as well as one who has faced more than 3,500 legal actions in federal and state courts during the past three decades as well as being the first presidential candidate in 40 years to refuse to release his income tax returns. The list goes on.

Americans who voted for him believe that he is a magician who by waving magic wands will deliver what ever he promised and now he has already started slowly backtracking.

People have a tendency to jump into the bandwagon and can be easily brainwashed by con artists, swindlers, politicians, Babas, Gurus, Bapus and religious leaders (of any religions of the world) and Americans are not immune to it.

On November 18, 1978 Jim Jones and more than 900 members of his People's Temple committed mass suicide in the jungle of Guyana. Jim Jones was very charismatic and attracted people who were feeling vulnerable or disenfranchised for whatever reason. Most of them were African-Americans, and there were also white people, Jewish people, religious Christians and communists. His followers are wideeye innocents, swallowing his outrageous teachings along with his cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. Thomas Jefferson, an American founding father and principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of United States, very rightly said: "A difference between politicians and statesmen is that a politicians think of next election while a statesmen think of next generation".

During my first year of commerce collage at Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanaga, Gujarat, India some 60 years ago our political science Professor Late Shri RD Parikh told us a nice but true joke of politician still vividly I remember. A little boy was standing in balcony of his first floor house one evening and upon seeing his father coming home he was giggling and laughing when father came underneath the balcony told his son jump from balcony and he will catch him which he did but father didn't catch him and boy fell on lawn of house garden and he was crying.

A village elder man was passing from there and he was furious and scolding father of boy-what type of farther are you? Why you didn't catch him? Very calmly the man said, look I am politician and I was giving first lesson of politics to my boy that in politics you don't trust your own father. The elder man without saying anything went of.

Moral of this talse is wait and watch and let's see what Donald Trump is delivering from his all promises given at election campaign.

Suresh and Bhavna Patel Markham, Canada

Cruelty to animals

Donald’s trump cards

One wonders how, against all the odds, did Donald Trump land the most powerful job on the planet.

The naive answer would be that he did it because Hillary Clinton lost it. He played on people’s emotions by inciting hatred – hatred against muslims, hatred against jews and against the hispanics. He has overtly stated that if he wins, he will ban muslims from entering the country. He had also stated that he would build a wall between the US and Mexico to stop immigration from that quarter.

Americans love their freedom.

Donald Trump said that he would change things. His overtly racist comments about muslims, Mexicans and so on have received plenty of attention from the Americans.

He had his trump cards and he played them well, by bringing to people’s attention his opponent’s thousands of e-mails.

Hillary Clinton, even with the support of her expresident husband Bill Clinton, played a decent game and hence she lost the race to the White house. What repurcussions would Donald’s victroy have on the world as a whole? How would his policies affect the rest of the world?

Only time will tell.The world awaits with abated breath what other tricks he pulls out of his bag when he actually takes office next year. Whatever techniques he used, one cannot but admire him for winning the game by playing his cards right.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Gujarat is one of the most visited States in the Indian union by wild-life lovers and naturalists, as it boasts most vivid wild-life and bird population, normal habituating as well as heaven for migrating birds. It boasts Asiatic lions found nowhere else and the second highest leopard population in India with some 1400 wild cats roaming freely, more wild animals per square mile than any other State with the sole exception of thinly populated States bordering Himalayas.

But the State does not have much forested area and with rising population, encroaching forested areas, the clash between wild cats and humans is inevitable. Recently leopard killed a young girl near the village of Vadigam. The enraged villagers soon trapped the animal in a cage, the normal practice to catch man-eating wild cats that stray near human settlements.

The normal procedure is either to kill the animal humanly by Forest Rangers or releasing it far away from human settlements. But the outraged villagers came out with cans of inflammable liquid and burned the animal to death, the most gruesome, painful manner to kill wild animals.

Gujarat, the birthplace of luminary Gandhiji with one of the most impeccably tolerant population, is now turning extreme, monomania, intolerant even to their own people, the modern day disease where the survival of the fittest is fast gaining popularity.

Kumudini Valambia By email

New Rupee Note I congratulate PM Modi for taking bold step in banning 500 & 1000 Rupee notes in order to curb corruption and black money. I am quite sure it will help Indian economy in the long run though some common man may suffer in the short time.

There are many Indians living in UK who visit India time to time and also have Bank accounts there.

Many a times when they come back they bring some leftover currency with them. It is not easy for them to go back to India and deposit any leftover with them in their bank accounts. It would the right step for Indian Govt to facilitate them to deposit their notes in Indian Banks through their UK branches.

Baldev Goyal MBE By email

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American Election

No doubt Donald Trump was an outsider, unconventional, unorthodox and inexperienced Presidential candidate. He was able to garner support by attacking the establishment and status quo in America. He had specifically targeted white blue-collar, working-class, lower middle class voters who were left behind, facing unemployment and financial hardships. Their factories and coal mines had closed because of globalisation. They were facing hopelessness and frustration.

Donald Trump was their knight in shining armour who had come to rescue them.

He echoed their voice by saying he will impose immigration control by sending 11 million illegal Mexicans back home, Moslems will be restricted to come to American and will be subjected to strict scrutiny and checks those wanting to come to America, he would abrogate trade agreements signed by the American government, so jobs to come to America and not go to other countries. He coined attractive slogans like ‘ America First’, ‘Will make America Great again’ ‘Will build a wall on the Mexican border’ and ‘Jobs, Jobs Jobs’ this resonated with forgotten voters. They found they champion who was not a politician but a seasoned businessman who talked their language and would improve their lot.

Previously he had decimated 16 Republican heavyweights in the Primaries, they fell like dominoes. That signalled something new was happening. Again in the Presidential race he was behind Hilary Clinton in the polls, but Hilary’s bandwagon was derailed 11 days before the election by James B. Comey the FBI Director by announcing that he re-opened the investigation on the emails of Hilary Clinton, on tops of that Julian Assange of WikiLeaks said he would release further leaks of Hilary’s emails.

This was a tumultuous, unprecedented, vicious, ugly, acrimonious and dirty Presidential election. Since 1776 there has not been so much vitriol and personal attacks by the candidates, it really a historic and unprecedented confrontation.

In any other country after what Donald Trump had said about women, Mexicans, Latinos, Moslems, Disabled people, Immigrants, the establishment, his opponent and media, he would have been disqualified to stand for the election. Moreover he has held no elected office before. All he did was host a TV reality show and was a property developer. Yet he got elected as the President of America. As they say, ‘Only in America’.

Now it has to be seen, after getting into office will he be able to keep promises given to the have-nots or will he wriggle out of it.

Baldev Sharma Harrow

Unexpected triumph for Trump

As we all know from Brexit experience, politics is not only extremely volatile, occasionally throws most unexpected results when least expected. No one gave Donald Trump one in hell chance to defeat establishment favourite Hilary Clinton, supported by not only master of oratory Obama and his wife Michelle but host of celebrities, entire Hollywood heartthrobs and press world-wide, describing him as polarising, venom-filled one time TV ego turn politician. Left hysteria knew no bounds in character assassination, comparing him with Hitler, Mussolini, Mao and Stalin.

Seventy year old businessman smashed Hillary’s “Firewall” with stunning victories in Mid-Western and Southern States bordering Mexico, Democratic heartland where Hillary was expected to triumph with ease.

Although Trump is not perfect, has many skeletons in his wardrobe, accused by host of women of real and imaginary misdeeds, it did not dent his popularity, capturing more votes from much maligned Mexican Americans (29%) than Obama did in his last election. (27%) With Trump as president, the threat of third world war three has receded. US relations with Russia, India, Israel and Japan will improve by leaps and bound while it will decline with China and Pakistan benefiting India. Wise cracking fiduciary Nigel Farage who supported Trump is a winner.

Elections in France and Germany are scheduled for next year with even more unexpected results in prospect, with Marie la Penn of National Front may win while fiddlesticks Angela Mercer, conscious of Europe may lose.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

The Great Indian rupee cleanup Demonitisation of Indian Rupees 500 and Rupees 1000 notes is a revolutionary, electrifying and stunning monetary surgical strike that has shaken all Indian citizens. With one master stroke, P.M. Modiji has demolished hoarders, bribe givers/ takers, fake currency printers and ‘hawala’ dealers.

The inconvenience to everyone may last least till January 2017. Such drastic action was essential to remedy parallel economy that was hurting legal economy for last 70 years. Reserve Bank of India was losing interest when return flow of high denomination currency was blocked by hoarders. Earlier attempts could not be implemented being influenced by differing views of coalition partners and vested interests. P.M. Modiji has taken fullest advantage of majority status. Added to this was remarkable and utmost secrecy for at least 10 months of planning, execution and logistics. Critics and conspiracy theorists must appreciate the gigantic gamble by the PM who has already left his family and wife for the nation.

Allegations of breach of secrecy, scam and insider dealings by party are without any evidence. It is also alleged that while poor citizens are most inconvenienced, assets of rich tycoons are safe, as they are in foreign currencies, offshore investments, and precious metals.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

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Asian Voice |19th November 2016

Online bullying counselling on increase, says Childline The number of children and young people needing counselling about online bullying has increased by 88% over five years, according to a helpline.

The NSPCC's Childline service said it counselled more than 4,500 children in the past year compared to about 2,400 in 2011-12. The total number suffering online abuse is thought to be far higher. Some children as young as seven told Childline how they were tormented, abused and scared to go to school.

The charity said online trolls caused misery and humiliation for thousands of children. Childline's president Dame Esther Rantzen said the figures should be a wake-up call.

The report is being released at the start of

Anti-Bullying Week which is coordinated by the Anti Bullying Alliance.

The group is working with parents, schools and other organisations to help combat the problem.

Advice given by young people on dealing with bullying includes: - Tell an adult you can trust - Keep a diary of what the bullies do including dates and descriptions - Write a letter to your headteacher - Don't react, show the bullies you don't care and they will often lose interest

Information Commissioner rejects DfE case in nursery funding The Department for Education has been told to re-think a decision not to publish key research it used to set new funding levels for free nursery places. The Information Commissioner has given it 35 days to issue a fresh response to a challenge for the research to be made public.

The government had argued that research carried out by accountants Deloitte was not in its possession to publish. But the Information Commissioner

found that claim to be "not plausible".

The research fed into the government's decision on how to set hourly rates for nursery providers offering the free 30hours nursery place entitlement. This pre-election pledge by the Conservatives to offer places to working parents of three- and four-yearolds in England is due to

come into force next September.

The rates were revealed in the review of childcare costs, which was published last year.

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IN SUPPORT OF PHARMACY Managing a community pharmacy is hard work due to high expectations from both the Government and the public. Almost all independent community pharmacies provide a number of services like out of hours service which is to dispense a prescription after 7pm when called out in an emergency, flu vaccination, weight management, health checks and a raft of other services.

Over and above that they carry out daily dispensing service.

Currently high street pharmacies are totally dependent on the NHS for funds.

With the impending funding cuts a very large number of pharmacies face closure and their livelihood taken away, especially in larger cities like London.

On the 17th of December the Department of Health decided to cut pharmacy funding by ÂŁ170m and recover purchase margins on medicines to the value of further ÂŁ80m.I fear that this is not the end but will carry on for a few years to come, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake.

According to the Chief Pharmacist there are 3,000 surplus pharmacies and some or all should be closed.The Department of Health without proper consultation and without consulting the PSNC(Pharmaceutical Negotiating Committee) wants to take away a huge chunk of our remuneration.The government has already imposed the contract which means the cut and cull will go ahead.

The Chief Pharmacist has suggested to the Government a click and collect service, similar to online retailer Amazon. Sadly the face to face contact with pharmacists will disappear. Beside hitting pharmacies hard this will adversely affect the elderly and mothers with young children who will now have to collect their medication in a warehouse like atmosphere situated in inconvenient locations.

Under the proposed plans, your prescription will be sent electronically to a hub where it will be assembled and the dispensed medicines will be transported by a delivery van to various pharmacies owned Dr Umesh B Patel, MBE DL, by the hub.This is Community Pharmacist fine for a large organisation catering to its various branches but it is totally impractical for independent pharmacies with different owners. Also, I foresee the new system burdened with several legalities.

As mentioned earlier, the all important face to face contact between the pharmacist and patient will become a thing of the past. Should a patient require an additional prescription they will have to make another visit to their GP and request for it to be electronically transmitted to the hub, to be dispensed again. But this may be on a different day requiring another journey.

Perhaps some DOH staff should spend some time in a community pharmacy to learn how it operates and the value that pharmacies bring to communities. Surely pharmacists should have been properly consulted before imposing the draconian cuts. Community pharmacies want to be an integral part of NHS but unfortunately we have been gated out.

Politicians change or move on but community pharmacies are here to serve the nation and to keep everyone in good health. Please do not destroy our lively hood. Let community pharmacies help the NHS save money.

Please do not let pharmacies meet the same fate as post offices.

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MEDIA WATCH

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Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Such has been the disastrous pollution in Delhi and its environs in recent days. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, driven to desperation, announced that schools in the city would be closed temporarily to prevent serious damage to the health of children. Kejriwal, floundering around for answers, asked for artificial rain, but harassed citizens might well feel his removal would be a good beginning to end the capital’s deepening blight. Instead of devoting the desired attention to Delhi, Kejriwal was strutting around Punjab promoting his unelectable and increasingly ridiculous Aam Aadmi party.

over a billion mobile phone users in the country who buy approximately 250 million new phones a year (Business Line November 8)

Biotech betting big

Bangalore-based Biotech will be soon filing for a biosimilars version of trasfuzumahb, used for the treatment of breast cancer in the US, said Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Biocon Chairperson and Managing Director. The company has filed for marketing rights for the drug in Europe and expects regulatory clearance in the next 12 to 18 months. She said that the launch of insulin glargine in Japan has been a positive development, opening up other markets for glargine (Mint October 24)

Karnataka CM on British visa rules

Polluted Delhi under smoke and smog

This backwoodsman from nowhere emerged into the limelight as a Magsaysay Award winner. It was set up in the Cold War as a memorial to the Filipino president Ramon Magsaysay, who was killed tragically in an air crash. The aim of the award was to promote the careers of young men and women in public life across Asia in fulfillment of the American dream to recast the continent in its own image.

Surgical strike on black money

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a surgical strike on black money. It was swift, and sudden, catching the country by surprise – which clearly was the goal of the exercise before the rats scuttled to safety with their hoard intact. All notes of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 were put out of circulation at the midnight hour of November 9. Those in possession of such notes would have to change them at banks for new notes that were believed to be equipped with chips to prove that they were genuine.

Industry positive

‘It is a major move which will help curb unaccounted cash, particularly in the real estate sector.

We have just witnessed a tremendous step towards increased transparency in the Indian real estate sector. The effort will be far-reaching and immediate, and shake up the sector in no uncertain way,’ said Anuj Puri, Chairman and Country Head, JLL India (Business Line November 9)

Dud notes a security threat

Counterfeit rupees had assumed alarming proportions through smuggling, mostly by jihadi groups in Pakistan seeking to cripple India in multiple ways.

President Pranab Mukherjee expressed his warm approval of this bold and resolute measure.

Another respected voice joined the chorus of approvals. Former Supreme Court judge, Justice

Shah told the media that, ‘You have to understand there is no other alternative. This is one of the methods to end circulation of unaccounted wealth across the country.’ (Business Line, Hindu, Mint, Telegraph November 9)

Rahul Gandhi to be Congress President

Heir apparent Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi chaired a meeting of its top brass in the absence of his mother Sonia, the party President, who was reported ill. Whether the move can revive what has become a corpse is open to doubt.

Nothing in his performance, thus far, indicates that he has the qualities to take Congress forward and make it a credible national force. His slogans are trite, his antics juvenile. (Hindu, Times of India, Business Line November 8)

India’s mobile phone dream

While India seems condemned to bear the cross of its legion of discredited politicians, its advances in multiple fields of endeavour continue apace – the one abiding factor that prompts entrepreneurs and businessmen and women from afar to come calling. During the recent Diwali festivities the demand for Micromax phones shot through the roof. The Gurgaon-based handset manufacturer was busy launching a new model every week, its primary factory in Uttarkhand struggled to keep up with the frenetic demand, so much so that it ran out of storage space, forcing the local management to set up a makeshift canopy to house the products coming off the line.

Bulging revenues

In 2015 financial year, Micromax Informatics earned a consolidated revenue of Rs10,984 crore and a profit of Rs 176 crore. In the corresponding period for 2016 during the Diwali season the revenue touched $2 billion or Rs 13,400 crore, propelling Micromax to second spot nationally. There are

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddararamaiah, welcoming British Prime Minister Teresa May to Bangalore , told her, during one-to-one talks, to rethink her country’s restrictive visa regulations for Indian software engineers wishing to enter the UK for temporary jobs in local or Indian companies, pointing out that that the movement of skilled workers from India should be a trade priority and not an immigrations issue.

Benefits

He said, ‘Temporary placement of highly skilled individuals in the UK provides a significant economic boost while having a negligible impact on net immigration.’

Expanding presence Around 15 per cent of UK-based companies in India have an expanding presence in Bangalore, with a total workforce of 23,000.

Some of the biggest Indian software firms such as Infosys, Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services and Dynamic Technologies continue to expand their footprint in the UK (Hindu November 9)

Indian start-ups vibrant

The Indian start-up scene has been vibrant for the last few years, with a total venture investment in start-ups of Rs 1,11,700 crore between 2005-2015, The average yearly investment flow was 42 per cent higherer during this period, according to the eighth Annual Report on Indian Venture Capital and Equity on Start-ups. Over 10,000 start-ups received funding. Kris Gopalakrishnan, cofounder of Infosys, told a panel discussion that the aspiration of Tamil Nadu and Chennai to start an appropriate ecosystem was encouraging.

Madras IIT model

He said, ‘ I am positive and optimistic that it can be done with ecosystems like the IIT-Madras Research Park. There is a strong linkage between research institutions and start-up ecosystem. IITMadras is an example of that with over 100 start-ups. We need to replicate, grow and sustain this.’

(Hindu November 9)

India to acquire T-90 Russian tanks India is to acquire the latest T-90 model Russian tanks for the armoured divisions of the Indian Army. This latest version is equipped with thermal imaging night vision cameras. Major General (Retd) R.K.Arora, Chief Editor of the Indian Military Review, says, ‘We may have 800 or so T-90 tanks just now. The government is planning to buy 460 more that will make it about 1,300 T-90 tanks in the fleet.’ The deal, estimated to be worth $2.1 billion, is likely to include a Make in India componenti. India currently has about 13 regiments of T-90 tanks. This figure will increase to 21 regiments by 2020.

(Sputnik, November 2)

Invitation to join fast reactor project

A fast neutron reactor is one in which nuclear fission is sustained by neutrons. This multipurpose research reactor project is located in the Russian city of Dimitrovgrad in the Ulyanovsk region. India has been invited to participate in this cutting edge endeavour by Rosatom Project Manager Alexander Zagornov during a recent visit to the country. The step-by-step deepening Indo-Russian cooperation in diverse fields has been welcomed as an instance of forward planning by Vyacheslav Trubnikov, a former Russian ambassador to India and now a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow

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vailed in a stand-off with a Chinese military unit which had raised objections to the scheme because of its location near the border. The Army and the IndoTibetan Border Police Force, which had increased their force levels, prevailed in this trial of wills (Hindu November 7)

Ford to invest $195 million in Chennai

US auto company Ford is setting up a $195 million Ford Global Technology and Business Center in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The center will serve as a hub for product development, mobility solutions and business services for India and other global markets. It will have 3000 scientists, engineers and a skilled workforce over the next five years.

Home from home

William Clay Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company, said at the launch: ‘Chennai is Ford Motor’s home away from home. It will be our third global product development centre in the Asia Pacific area….With about 12,000 employees in total, the Chennai facility will become the second-largest centre of employment globally outside the US.’ Speaking to the media, Clayton Ford said that ‘our sales in India are up this year quite dramatically…we are very pleased with our growth in India.’

(Business Line November 9).

India prevails in Ladakh stand-off

The Indian Army has completed its project to construct an irrigation pipeline for a village in the Demchok region PM Modi, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe signing of Ladakh, having pre- nuclear accord in Tokyo. Comment next week

Prime Ministers Modi and Teresa May. see comment page 3

British Minister Liam Fox with Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. see comment page 3

UK Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

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Vijay Kakkar, a surgeon whose hobby was thrombosis, passes away Professor Vijay Kakkar, a vascular surgeon and research scientist whose research into the use of heparin to prevent blood clots has saved countless lives, died peacefully in London on November 5, 2016. He was 79.

A family man Vijay Kakkar, OBE, FRCS, FRCSE, Professor Emeritus and founder director of the Thrombosis Research Institute, was dearly loved and devoted husband of Savitri, father of Ajay and Sanjay and grandfather of India, Tara, Jay and Gaia.

He came to Britain from India in 1961 to complete his postgraduate sur-

Vijay Kakkar

gical training. Kakkar soon became interested in the treatment of thromboembolism where a blood clot breaks loose from a vessel and travels through the bloodstream to plug another vessel, often with

devastating consequences.

His 1969 study on the natural history of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) was the first to identify the extent of the problem, discovering that nearly a third of the 132

patients studied developed DVT in their legs following surgery.

A landmark 1975 trial, which he led, involving 4,121 patients from 28 treatment centres around the world, further vindicated Kakkar’s hypothesis.

Apart from family and cricket, he was into thrombosis. “My hobby is thrombosis,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

Both his sons went into medicine. Ajay (Lord Kakkar), a professor of surgery, succeeded his father as director of the Thrombosis Research Institute, while Sanjay is a biotechnology entrepreneur.

BBC revamp will counter Christian ‘bias’ The BBC is determined to press ahead with plans to increase its coverage of more religions, and could even broadcast the Muslim call to Friday prayers, thanks to concerns from within the corporation that its religious broadcasting is too biased towards Christianity.

Lord Hall of Birkenhead, director-general of the corporation, will invite religious leaders to take part in discussions on increasing multi-faith coverage, following the publication of a BBC report which claimed that there was currently a disproportionate amount of Christian coverage, compared with other faiths.

Lord Hall is also set to appoint a senior executive to the board of governors with a remit to draw up new programme ideas to complement the corporation’s current Christian output, The Times has reported.

For years the BBC has come under fire for being biased against Christians and towards members of other faiths, Islam in particular.

A 2012 report by the New Culture Forum entitled ‘A Question of Attitude – the BBC and Bias Beyond News’ found that, while Christians were portrayed as laughable at best, violent extremists at worst by BBC programme-makers, the corporation went out of its way to paint Muslims, including Muslim extremists, in a moderate light.

Religious leaders expected to be invited to the BBC’s discussions include Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Harun Khan, the head of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), is also expected to attend as are Hindu and Sikh leaders.

Ibrahim Mogra of the

MCB has suggested that the BBC could televise Friday prayers from a mosque, cover Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan, or show children attending Koranic lessons.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “We would love to see a program exploring the history of Jewish-Muslim co-operation over the centuries, such as during the Holocaust when many Jews were saved by Muslims.”

Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain, suggested that the BBC might televise Friday prayers from a mosque

Skylink Travel launches 2017 brochure

Skylink Travel and Tours of Wembley and Baba Holidays from Leicester launched their 2017 brochure in an elaborate Diwali function on 6th November. Anil Bhagi .. the Director of Skylink proudly announced a new array of cruises from Southampton for groups or private bookings to luxurious destinations like Norwegian Fjords & The Baltic Capitals.

Skylink, a benchmark company for Kathas’ on cruises was proud to announce the first Cruise Katha based on Jainism as well as the ever popular Sundarkand and Hanuman Chalisa on the Norwegian Cruise Line through the beautiful Greek Isles.

The afternoon display was set off by the comic and percussionist Parag Baxi, acclaimed folk artist Pritee Varsani, talented vocalist Nilesh Jain and

skilled dances of Mira Salat.The artists together with all the special guests truly made the evening colourful.

The vast spectrum of what Skylink had to offer was showcased at the launch, from Air, Coach and Cruise holidays as well as a variety of pilgrimages like Kailash Mansarovar, Chardham with Amarnath, 11 and 12 jyotirling, Jain pilgrimages, Vaishnava pilgrimages and so many more to choose from.

So whether it's getting special rates on an Alaskan cruise or fabulous deals for packages to Japan, Burma, China, A u s t r a i l a Newzealand,South Africa, South America, East and West coast of USASkylink, a considerate holiday provider with hospitality as warm as home is one to keep in mind.

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Dear Subscriber, This edition of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar includes the annual Global Indian Rich List magazine.

This authoritative listing, which includes 150 Indian billionaires from across the globe, is compiled once a year by Philip Beresford who also compiles the Sunday Times Rich List.

Former BHS owner Chappell arrested for 'unpaid tax bill' Dominic Chappell, the serial bankrupt who bought BHS for £1, has been arrested in relation to an unpaid tax bill of about £500,000. He was arrested on 2 November by HM Revenue and Customs.

HMRC did not confirm the identity of the "49year-old businessman", but Mr Chappell told ITV News he had been arrested.

The tax related to the profits he made from the department store chain before it collapsed.

Mr Chappell's company, Swiss Rock, was paid at least £1.6m by BHS following his controversial purchase of BHS from Sir Philip Green.

The Guardian reported that Swiss Rock owed £365,000 in VAT and £196,306 in corporation tax. HMRC began legal action against Mr Chappell to recover the sums, but he has put Swiss Rock into liquidation, making it

Dominic Chappell arrested in relation to unpaid tax bill

more difficult for the tax man to obtain the funds.

He took a total of £2.6m out of BHS, including a £600,000 salary, which he described as a "drip in the ocean" to the BBC in August.

The loss-making chain was bought by Mr Chappell last year. It went into administration in April and the last stores closed in August, with the loss of about 11,000 jobs and leaving a pensions deficit of hundreds of millions of pounds.

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SP

TLIGHT

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Shivani Wazir Pasrich: Making Philanthropy Shine

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Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Thirteen people charged with murder after death of Abdul Hafidah

Sunetra Senior

A Madame of multiple trades, what media star, law and economics graduate and the current Asia Representative of the Commonwealth Society, Shivani, retains is an effortless air of sophistication. When pursuing a legal career, she at once honoured the legacy of her grandfather - the Chief Justice of the state of Jammu & Kashmir - and her transition to the world of TV and glamour took her via the highest possible route: being crowned Miss India World Wide, 1992, before she went on to host some of the nation’s most topical , widely watched shows, such as morning hit ‘Morning Zee’ and the lush travel series ‘Namaste India’ which saw her exploring the “length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent in all its beauty and grandeur.” She has also been invited to compere many live events, from fashion shows to special government occasions, at the same time as holding the position of CEO and Managing Director for SWP Productions, creators, active circulators, and show casers of varied cause-driven theatre.

“While the pageant and life afterwards was peppered with fun and You can glamour, for me,” she told us, keep working “theatre was very much central to hard and hardly my enjoyment. I relished the drama in life, whether it was get anywhere' crashing the thermometer when and 'happiness my mother asked me to be careis a habit ful, or creating family productions for my cousins and friends. The audience was never a concern. For me it was always about communicating a thought. That, I think, was when the seed was planted. By default, I began to write original works. It is hard to pin point when my life got entwined with the stage because there was no beginning and I don't think there will be an end!” The productions Shivani has driven include the play ‘Draupadi – will my spirit live on!’ for the cause of women’s empowerment, touring on Broadway in New York, and ‘I Am Tiger’, which forwarded the project of environmental conservation. This wowed audiences at the Women of the World festival in London, the Ujazdowsky Castle in Poland as well as in the forests of Ranthambore and Khana. “A high point of impact,” she proudly stated, “was our performance through the World Bank Global Tiger initiative at the UN Convention on biodiversity.” Shivani may be well known for her beauty, the razzmatazz and her soaring success, but what makes her truly compelling is her warmth and the sincerity in herself: “there's only one element to being a good presenter,” she aptly added, “and that’s to be yourself. It is as in life: there is only one of you. People will enjoy what you are presenting because of who you are.”

Tell us first what your role as the Asia Representative of the Royal Commonwealth Society entails?

The Commonwealth is a legacy that needs nurturing so that it can reach its full potential and evolve in a relevant manner in today’s dynamically changed context.

As Asia Representative of the Royal Commonwealth Society, I identify opportunities and create platforms for meaningful interaction. I am currently in the process of creating the Commonwealth Cultural Forum (CCF), which is an endeavour to strengthen commonwealth values by promoting the diverse cultural ethos of member states.

Tell us more about some of your most memorable times?

The Miss India Worldwide win unleashed so many opportunities and I was able to travel the world independently of my parent’s protective shelter. My life just seemed to change overnight. In terms of my media appearances, in addition to the many television shows, I will always remember working on the National award winning film “Dil To Pagal Hai” with Yash Chopra & Adi Chopra, on the

Bollywood platform. When Adi offered the role to me, he said I’d love the part. He spoke the truth! It’s also incredibly flattering to have them remember my part in the film with such deep affection and appreciation.

How did it feel to win Miss India World Wide; did you ever consider an alternative career in modelling?

Winning the Pageant did change my life; I was wined and dined and flown all over the world! Suddenly from being a student, I became a celebrity.

I went on to model for some of the most prestigious Indian designers and even choreographed several shows.

However, I did not consider a full time modeling career. I always had too many ideas and I wanted to create and curate performances and events.

You have done a lot of television work: tell us more about the journey?

Yes, I’ve been on the Parliament television channel in India to doing the shows on Bollywood, fashion, fitness, music and personalities. I stepped away from it when Ameera, my elder daughter became a little bit older and I could no longer lead her to think I

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Thirteen people - including a 14-year-old boy - have been charged with murder after a teenager was ran over and stabbed to death in Moss Side.

Abdul Hafidah, 18, died after being discovered in Moss Lane East with stab wounds to his neck and body.

Police said the teenager was first ran over on Thursday, May 12, before

Abdul Hafidah

being stabbed.

A post-mortem examination found Abdul died as a result of a stab wound to the neck.

Man stabbed in Docklands for ‘looking at attacker’s girlfriend’

was a stay-at-home-mommy.

During my years as a breakfast show host, I worked between 4am and 9am and was home in time to wake her up. I figured I would take a break from television and give the children my time. That’s when I shifted to compering live events. This was easier as the audience has to go home and so can you.

What’s one concept people have about TV Anchors that simply isn’t true?

When cable television first came into India, people thought a lot about anchors - I’m not so sure that’s the case now. I think they’re just taken for granted as if a piece of furniture in the bedroom!

You are very stylish too; what would be some of your favourite go-to outfits?

I don’t consider myself stylish, I consider myself imaginative. When I begin work on a new part, I imagine how I’d make the character look more authentic and exotic. I enjoy wearing jumpsuits and long skirts with traditional fabrics and broad belts. I prefer long and flowing full length outfits that lend grace and elegance to the frame.

Do you believe that hard work can get you anywhere?

You can keep working hard and hardly get anywhere. Though I believe that if you get up, get dressed and show up, you will certainly get somewhere.

So I think the key is hard work coupled with imagination. You have to keep imagining what others can’t because then you are unique and then your hard work has a multiplier effect.

What have been some of the highlights of your career?

People have been the highlight of my career. The journey of working with creative and talented people who inspire me to bring out the best of my capability is what I have enjoyed the most. Performing for Chancellor Kohl’s delegation, the then German Prime Minister in the late 80’s was something that put me on the map.

Finally, do you have a life motto to share with us?

“Happiness is a Habit, adopt it!” and “Life is a journey, Experience it”

Detectives have released CCTV footage of two men they would like to speak to in connection with a sickening knife attack.

The 39-year-old victim was attacked at around midnight on Friday October 14 as he sat on a bench outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Western Gateway, just at stone’s throw from the Emirates Air Line.

Police say he had an altercation with another man after he was accused of looking at his girlfriend then he was stabbed in the stomach with a black-handled knife.

The attacker and two friends made off towards Silvertown Way. The victim was taken to an east London hopital and

has since been discharged.

Police are now seeking two medium-build Asian men in their early twenties.

Suspect One [ref: 228465] is 5ft 7ins tall with hair shaved at the sides. He wore earrings, a red T-shirt with a logo of a boat and a black jacket.

Suspect Two [ref: 228466] is 5ft 9ins tall and was wearing a white Tshirt and a black jacket.

PC Faye Cook, from Newham Borough, said: “We are keen to identify the two men in the CCTV footage so we can speak to them about the incident.

We would also urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.”

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.

Islamic extremist gang based in the UK 'used aid convoys as a cover to smuggle cash for guns to terrorists' A group of UK-based Islamic extremists used charity convoys taking food and medicine to Syria as a cover to smuggle money to terrorists, a court has heard.

The four men allegedly sent £4,500 to a fighter with Al Qaeda-linked group Jabhat al-Nusra so he could buy a sniper rifle and other military equipment. They also plotted to set up a 'night team' of terrorist snipers in the war-torn country, it was claimed.

Syed Hoque, 37, is said to have supplied cash to the terrorist, his nephew Mohammed Choudhury, 26, and discussed the beheading of enemies.

Mashoud Miah, 27, is said to have acted as a 'fixer' while Mohammed Hussain, 30, and Pervez Rafiq, 46, allegedly sourced equipment to be sent to Syria on charity convoys.

The plot was uncovered when Hoque and his wife

Syed Hoque

Nazia Khanom were stopped at Heathrow Airport on their return from Bangladesh on 5 August 2014. Analysis of the contents of their phones later revealed Whatsapp chats to Hoque's nephew Mohammed Choudhury, who was fighting with Jabhat al-Nusra, the terrorist wing of Al Qaeda in Syria. Messages are said to have showed that Hoque had supplied his nephew with money and discussed buying a Dragunov sniper rifle, AK47 and a nightscope.

UK Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

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Armed Forces Hindu Network celebrates Diwali Just days before Remembrance Sunday, the Armed Forces Hindu Network had an event on the occasion of Diwali. The event was attended by armed forces personnel, community leaders and organisations and Rt Hon Lord Howe, Minister of State for Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.

Launched in 2014 the network helps the Asian community and the members of the armed forces build strong links. The auspicious occasion of Diwali

Lord Howe addressing the audience

is the perfect time to engage with the wider community across all faiths and recognise the contribution of British Hindus to defence.

Held at the London Scottish Regiment’s Drill Hall, the event saw delegates taking part in the ceremony. The diyas were lit as Acharya Krishnakanth Attri recited mantras.

Acharya Attri is the Hindu Chaplin for the Ministry of Defence. The audience were entertained by capitvating dance performances by artistes of the Sujata Banerjee dance company.

Speaking at the event Rear Admiral Graeme Mackay said it is the sense of community which binds both the armed forces and Asian community. He added: “The key the community has is the sense of goodness and faith which is UK military is a very

L-R: Lord Howe, Dr Jagdish Sharma and Panna Vekaria at the signing ceremony

hope more Hindus will join important lesson. We up considering we are such should be humble in listenan important part of socieing and understanding to ty,” he said. that while connecting with Panna Vekaria, the community. He also Assistant General Sectary spoke of Hinduism and the of the Hindu Forum of military having a code Britain told this paper: which is common.”

“We want to make people Lord Howe in his aware of the armed forces, speech spoke of the shared it is important for the cherished values of tolerHindu community and the ance, freedom and justice armed forces to work shared between Hinduism together and be part of one and the armed forces. The team. With the signing of Hindus in the armed forces of today number around 1,020 regulars who continue the long and proud tradition of Hindus serving in both the world wars. The armed forces and the British community are bound together by the selfless commitment.

The event also saw the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant by the Hindu Forum of Britain and Hindu Council of UK. James Greenrod from the Armed Forces Covenant Team told those gathered, “It's the promise to ensure that those who serve or had served and their families should be supported by society. It's a voluntary pledge made by organisations of all faiths and sizes to show their commit- Rear Admiral Graeme Mackay ment to our armed forces addressing the audience community.” the covenant it helps the Asian Voice caught up Hindu community to be with Dr Jagdish Sharma aware that there are armed from Hindu Council of UK forces out there, there are after the signing ceremony Hindus in the armed who said he is proud and forces. There are Hindus honoured to be part of the not only from the ceremony. “It commits the Commonwealth countries Hindu community of but British-born Hindus Britain through the Hindu who are part of the armed Council of UK for the forces and we need to be appreciation, commitment there to support the famiand support to the armed lies as well.” forces. With the signing we

Diwali celebrated in European Parliament A historic and extremely well-attended event was organised by Hindu Forum of Europe and Golden Tours Foundation to celebrate Diwali in the European Parliament on November 9, 2016.

Hosted by MEPs Geoffery Van Orden, and co-hosted by Neena Gill, Jo Leinen, Cora Van Neiuwenhuizen, Igor Soltes, this historic Hindu festival celebration saw the participation of other MEPs, including Syed Kamall, Charles Tannock and was graced by Guest of Honour, Hon’ble Ambassador of India, His Excellency Manjeev Puri, Ambassadors of Mauritius, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

The Vice President of European Parliament

organisation ever since its inception in 1973.

There was live music by Music Masti, garbas, dances, raffle and a delicious dinner which was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended.

The occasion was enhanced by two member’s celebrating their birthdays – Ishwarkaka

85 years and Mahendrabhai 69 years. The President – Dakshesh Patel – in his address appealed to all the Tarapurians to attend the annual event in larger numbers so that we can share and pass our culture and tradition to the future generations.

As has been the case

Mahaprabhu chanting prayer

Hindu Federation of Spain, and concluded in the classical Indian Bharatanatyam dance presentation by local Usha artistes Balachandran and Srinidhi Baradwaj.

The local support was provided by Mahaprabhu Martin Guruwich, the General secretary of HFE, Editor-in Chief of the

Soldiers and of the Indian diaspora as a whole said, “Diwali is a special festival which brings communities and faiths together, worldwide. In the UK Diwali on Trafalgar Square is the biggest celebration of this cohesiveness and harmony and I hope that in the coming years Diwali also is celebrated more widely in all European countries by millions of people.”

In addition to the Diwali celebration, the visiting delegates from the UK and other countries of Europe held a series of meetings to discuss the relevance of Hinduism in Europe and its lack of official recognition. Diwali celebrations in various parts of Europe

A packed audience at the Diwali Celebrations in European Parliament

Antonio Tajani, and Vincent Depaigne, Policy Officer on religions, philosophical and nonconfessional organisations from European commission graced the occasion.

The community leaders represented by temples and 35 organisations from the UK and Europe, including the Swaminarayan temple, ISCKON, Brahmaku maris, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, National Council of Hindu Temples, Hindu Forum of Britain and many leading NGOs from Europe, were in attendance.

A traditional lighting of the lamp kicked off the programme followed by prayers recited by Krishna Kirpa Das,

TUK celebrates Diwali Tarapur UK (TUK) – the organisation that represents all the Tarapurians in the UK held its Annual Diwali gathering at the Compton School in Finchley on Sunday 6th November 2016.

The event was supported by a core group of Tarapurians who have been with the

15

for many years – the event was free for all Tarapurians. The TUK secretary pointed out that it is the intention of the committee to communicate with members electronically in future and urged all members to complete and return the forms which were mailed with the invitation cards.

Magazine that was published for the Diwali programme.

Congratulating the organisers, the High Commissioner of India said, “It is heartening to see a full house and overwhelming response to this programme.

It demonstrates the love for India and Indian diaspora globally. There is a great friendship between the European Union and India which needs to be strengthened further.”

The programme while celebrating the festival of lights paid tribute to the Indian Soldiers who fought during the World War I and World War II. Chairman of Golden Tours Foundation, Nitin Palan while highlighting the role of Indian

was proposed to be an appropriate way to connect with different organisations in Europe to espouse the Hindu identity.

Vincent Depaigne Policy Officer of Dialogue with Churches, Religions and Philosophical and Non-confessional Organisations announced the upcoming High-level Religious Leaders meeting on November 29, 2016, for a dialogue on European Values and how it could be meaningfully put into action, at the Head Quarters of European Commission.

Dr Lakshmi Vyas, Hindu Forum of Europe, has been invited to attend the meeting and speak on UK's policy on integration after Brexit.

Modi's India cashing in on the ‘black money’ ban move 16 SPECIAL

Asian Voice |19th November 2016

Anand Pillai

The long-queue pictures and chaotic scenes outside banks in India on this page belie the Acchhe Din that is on the way in the world's largest democracy.

Y

es, there is a genuine effort on the part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in concrete reforms in India and along with it Acchhe Din in India.

While Modi was riding in the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Kobe, images of long, angry queues of Indians at ATMs that wouldn’t work were juxtaposed with visuals of high currency notes floating down the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and overflowing in a garbage bin in central Kolkata.

obstacles in eradicating poverty,” Modi said during his address to the nation.

As a result of demonetisation, there were long, unending queues at almost every ATM and bank across the country, with people having to wait for several hours before they could exchange their old notes. Many had to return disappointed as well.

The government with just a few hours notice announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will become invalid and can be exchanged for newly printed

People stand in queue to exchange currency notes at a bank in India

Long queues were seen over the past few days across India as people scrambled to the banks to exchange the demonetised currency notes.

PM Modi recently announced demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes to curb black money. The decision came as a big blow to those who earn and stash black money.

The two notes accounted for about 85% of the cash in circulation.

“Black money and corruption are the biggest

SPECIAL

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Rs 2,000 and 500 currency notes.

On November 12 Modi warned of the possibility of more measures being introduced by the government against black money after the December-end deadline to deposit the scrapped notes.

Modi, who introduced the demonetisation scheme on November 8, hailed it as the “biggest cleanliness drive” against black money hoarders while addressing a gathering of NRI audience in

Kobe.

Modi assured that all the black money that has been looted will be brought back and that the “rules would be same for everyone”.

Modi recognised that people were facing hardships but said that it was in the larger interest of the nation.

He said, “Some people think that after December 30, this all will end. I want to declare this once again that after the end of this scheme, there is no guarantee that something else will not be introduced to get rid of such people.”

The PM laid down the law saying no-one with black money will be spared. “We will check all the records since Independence. If I come across any unaccounted cash, no-one will be spared.”

He said: “I thought long and hard about the possible difficulties, and it was also important to keep it a secret.

It had to be done suddenly.

But I never thought I will receive blessings for this.”

The PM said he was happy to see how sons and daughters-in-law were depositing money up to Rs 2.5 lakh in their mothers’ accounts staying in old age homes. “After blessings from mothers like these, it is certain to be successful.”

Modi said people were given several chances to come clean. “We had given 50 days to people to show their unaccounted wealth.”

Modi claimed the banks received Rs 125 lakh crore after people were asked to declare their unaccounted wealth in September.

The PM lauded the people facing difficulties due to the scheme. He compared

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and swift decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Every voter is affected by this move. And they know it is meant to keep a check on black money. Although they know it will put them in some inconvenience, at least they know the PM’s intention is right and he is doing something about black money or trying to keep his promise. To say the least, it has demonstrated Modi's India is committed to reforms and positive change.

However, like the surgical strikes, this move too is not without risks. Not only does demonetization entail economic costs, it could potentially spiral into an administrative nightmare as people scramble to offload their stock of soon to be worthless banknotes.

Also, the move comes at

a time when BJP is in the middle of its preparations for elections to the state assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand.

Modi is one of the most risk-friendly PMs India had. His way comes from an incredible self-belief and a calculation that the benefits would outweigh the costs.

The whole idea in demonetising is to break the unholy nexus of corruption, black money and terrorism, as it has acquired scary proportions, threatening the very fabric of India, which was highlighted by Modi in his address to the nation.

Yes, there will be some initial chaos, but the implicit calculation is that the honest will be unharmed.

It is clear that this move has been a well-thought-out decision. It began with a

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sentatives opposed the government’s move fearing inconvenience to citizens, they were asked to maintain total secrecy around the discussion.

On Friday evening, Modi met Jaitley to follow up the discussion on the government’s plan. Modi also met Finance Ministry PM Narenda Modi's address to the officials to discuss the nation on demonetisation implications of the decision. the situation in India to how Soon after, the Reserve Japan handled the natural Bank of India officials disaster. “I salute my counreceived an email from the trymen. People stood in line Finance Ministry regarding for four hours, six hours but the bold move. accepted the decision in On Tuesday morning, a national interest the way fax was sent from the people of Japan tackled the Finance Ministry to the aftermath of the 2011 disasRBI’s regional offices directter. I salute each and every ing the banks to not accept Indian. Many families had Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes weddings, their mothers from the next day. were ailing, they faced inconAnother fax was sent to venience, but they accepted the decision,” Modi said.

Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes can be deposited in banks or post offices till December this year.

People could withdraw a maximum of Rs 10,000 a day from the banks and a maximum of Rs 2,000 a day from the ATMs till November 14. The limit for withdrawal from ATM has then been increased to Rs 4,000 per day.

Jaitley assured people that usage of smaller currency denomination won’t be affected. He also suggested that the decision had the potential to change the mood of the nation.

“This will have an effect on the economy in the long term and this bold step will change the mood of the nation,” he said.

He encouraged people to use cheques instead of cash for transactions whenever possible.

The finance minister also came down hard on critics of the scheme suggesting that only those who are corrupt are disturbed by the move.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed the PM calling for a rollback of the scheme, and alleging that Modi had told his close aides about demonetisation beforehand.

“People are feeling proud of being honest after the decision. Those living honest

the RBI offices in the evening. This fax mentioned PM Modi’s order stating that from midnight Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will not be accepted as legal tender.

The RBI governor then forwarded the email to all the banks and departments concerned.

Jaitley said this decision of the government will help curb corruption, black money and terror funding.

life are happy with this decision,” Jaitley added.

This is PM Modi’s biggest offensive yet. Most transactions in daily life are in cash and 45% of those are in notes in denominations of 500 rupees and over.

The decision has caught the country completely off guard. The move leaves a lot of uncertainty about the Indian economy at least in the short term.

OPERATION BLACK MONEY

On a Thursday two weeks ago, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met RBI Directors from all the states. During the meeting, he made a presentation to the RBI Directors and asked for their views on banning the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Though some RBI repre-

Modi’s tearful defence of his war against the parallel black money economy is both an admission that the war is tougher and will last much longer than he expected, besides the frustrating fact that his initiatives are well-received abroad more than at home.

Resultantly, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters that by 5 pm on Sunday evening, banks had netted $44 billion in 180 million transactions.

However, some say if secrecy was the key in the banning of the high currency notes, the government should have anticipated and worked overtime to alleviate people's troubles.

PM Modi was elected to take big, transformational decisions. He hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations in

the past two and half years – but with the surgical strikes on terror camps on the border and this demonetisation scheme he showed that he was certainly capable of them.

The demonetisation decision has a certain economic logic to it. The absence of large-denomination notes will surely make it harder for people to keep black money in hand.

Another perspective is – the demonetisation decision is also a kind of making a statement that the PM is capable of doing something – of strong leadership.

Modi came to power in 2014 on anti-corruption plank, with promises to end black money economy. And so the black money issue was one of the most vulnerable for Modi. And that’s the reason for the sudden

What are the options?

We have learned from sources, although we don't vouch for its authenticity, that NRIs have two options: l They can either go to India in person and deposit the currency in their NRO account in India.

Or l Send the currency through someone reliable with an authorisation letter to credit the amount in their NRO account. This has to be accompanied by a valid ID card of the account holder. massive push to universalise access to bank accounts, big fillip to the use of Aadhaar in transactions and the push to a cashless economy.

This was followed up with two offers for those with black money to come clean—the latest scheme closing on 30 September.

Finally, Modi is good at hitting two birds with one stone.

Demonetising these two currency notes (16.5 billion

Rs 500 notes and 6.7 billion Rs 1,000 notes are presently in circulation) will not only help in clean governance but also help him in building his image as a strong leader.

Needless to say, he is also eyeing the 2019 General Elections. This is the beginning of Narendra Modi’s re-election campaign –a potential game changing moment something to cash in on.

Bullet train deal puts India back on the rails

I

ndia is on the right track, and that’s because Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t gone off the rails. His visit to Japan has done India a power of good and set the balls rolling for development.

The visit can be termed historic, with India signing two major deals with the economically powerful South-east Asian country.

A long line to get currency notes exchanged at a bank in India

Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

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thing had happened in Japan when high speed rail system 'Shinkansen' was introduced in 1964.

At a joint press conference, Japanese PM Abe said the Consultancy work on the project will start in December 2016 and the construction will begin by the end of 2018. The ground breaking ceremony will happen in 2017 and the line will become opera-

Indian PM Narendra Modi with Japan's PM Shinzo Abe after the deal

India will have its first high speed bullet train in operation by 2023. Japan, which is building the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highspeed train corridor, has assured that the work will begin in 2018 and get over in 5 years' time. The rail line will stretch approximately 530km between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Like the proof of the pudding is in the eating, the proof of bullet train’s efficiency is in the ride.

Modi travelled by Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kobe. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe accompanied the Indian Prime Minister in the Shinkansen train journey.

Abe said the project symbolises a new dimension in the special relations between the two countries and hoped that introduction of the rapid train network will boost further economic growth in India as he recalled that a similar

tional in 2023.

A task force for transfer of technology and ‘Make in india’ will also be established. It will have representatives from the two Japan and India sign bullet train deal

countries.

Shinkansen train has an undisputable safety and unmatched reliability record in the world. Japan’s bullet trains can travel at speeds in excess of 300kph.

The two leaders emphasised the critical importance of human resource development in high speed rail technology, operation and maintenance in a planned manner, including the start of preliminary work on setting up of HSR Institute and development of its training programme.

Modi said he is “focused on making strong progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project. Our engagement and agreement on cooperation in the financial sector will help us in accessing greater resources for infrastructure development.”

The ties between India and Japan have grown in the economic sphere over the past decade.

The signing of the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has certainly boosted economic ties between the two countries.

Bilateral trade between both countries in 2015-16 stood at nearly $15 billion, while Japanese investments in India are pegged at $2.6 billion. Japanese PM

Indian PM Narendra Modi with Japan's PM Shinzo Abe travelling in the Shinkansen bullet train

Shinzo Abe had committed investments worth $35 billion in 2014.

The Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), which provided assistance for the Delhi Metro, will also be giving a loan of nearly Rs 80,000 crore over a period of 15 years for the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. The interest rate is a just 0.1 per cent.

The project will cost around Rs 1 lakh crore. The cost is officially said to be Rs 97,636 crore, but reports say a Rs 10,000 crore additional cost may be incurred.

The two leaders attended a signing ceremony where the

Hyogo Prefectural Government and officials from Gujarat exchanged memorandums on business and culture.

Hyogo’s local government provided support to Gujarat following the 2001 earthquake.

Since then exchanges between Hyogo and Gujarat have continued, with Modi visiting the prefecture twice while he was the state’s chief minister.

Indian Railways carries 23 million people daily on age-old tracks. Modi plans to spend 8.5 trillion rupees through 2020 on new tracks, including bullet trains and modern stations, as he looks to spur a manufacturing boom.

Modi's India cashing in on the ‘black money’ ban move 16 SPECIAL

Asian Voice |19th November 2016

Anand Pillai

The long-queue pictures and chaotic scenes outside banks in India on this page belie the Acchhe Din that is on the way in the world's largest democracy.

Y

es, there is a genuine effort on the part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring in concrete reforms in India and along with it Acchhe Din in India.

While Modi was riding in the Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo to Kobe, images of long, angry queues of Indians at ATMs that wouldn’t work were juxtaposed with visuals of high currency notes floating down the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh and overflowing in a garbage bin in central Kolkata.

obstacles in eradicating poverty,” Modi said during his address to the nation.

As a result of demonetisation, there were long, unending queues at almost every ATM and bank across the country, with people having to wait for several hours before they could exchange their old notes. Many had to return disappointed as well.

The government with just a few hours notice announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will become invalid and can be exchanged for newly printed

People stand in queue to exchange currency notes at a bank in India

Long queues were seen over the past few days across India as people scrambled to the banks to exchange the demonetised currency notes.

PM Modi recently announced demonetisation of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes to curb black money. The decision came as a big blow to those who earn and stash black money.

The two notes accounted for about 85% of the cash in circulation.

“Black money and corruption are the biggest

SPECIAL

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

Rs 2,000 and 500 currency notes.

On November 12 Modi warned of the possibility of more measures being introduced by the government against black money after the December-end deadline to deposit the scrapped notes.

Modi, who introduced the demonetisation scheme on November 8, hailed it as the “biggest cleanliness drive” against black money hoarders while addressing a gathering of NRI audience in

Kobe.

Modi assured that all the black money that has been looted will be brought back and that the “rules would be same for everyone”.

Modi recognised that people were facing hardships but said that it was in the larger interest of the nation.

He said, “Some people think that after December 30, this all will end. I want to declare this once again that after the end of this scheme, there is no guarantee that something else will not be introduced to get rid of such people.”

The PM laid down the law saying no-one with black money will be spared. “We will check all the records since Independence. If I come across any unaccounted cash, no-one will be spared.”

He said: “I thought long and hard about the possible difficulties, and it was also important to keep it a secret.

It had to be done suddenly.

But I never thought I will receive blessings for this.”

The PM said he was happy to see how sons and daughters-in-law were depositing money up to Rs 2.5 lakh in their mothers’ accounts staying in old age homes. “After blessings from mothers like these, it is certain to be successful.”

Modi said people were given several chances to come clean. “We had given 50 days to people to show their unaccounted wealth.”

Modi claimed the banks received Rs 125 lakh crore after people were asked to declare their unaccounted wealth in September.

The PM lauded the people facing difficulties due to the scheme. He compared

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and swift decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Every voter is affected by this move. And they know it is meant to keep a check on black money. Although they know it will put them in some inconvenience, at least they know the PM’s intention is right and he is doing something about black money or trying to keep his promise. To say the least, it has demonstrated Modi's India is committed to reforms and positive change.

However, like the surgical strikes, this move too is not without risks. Not only does demonetization entail economic costs, it could potentially spiral into an administrative nightmare as people scramble to offload their stock of soon to be worthless banknotes.

Also, the move comes at

a time when BJP is in the middle of its preparations for elections to the state assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand.

Modi is one of the most risk-friendly PMs India had. His way comes from an incredible self-belief and a calculation that the benefits would outweigh the costs.

The whole idea in demonetising is to break the unholy nexus of corruption, black money and terrorism, as it has acquired scary proportions, threatening the very fabric of India, which was highlighted by Modi in his address to the nation.

Yes, there will be some initial chaos, but the implicit calculation is that the honest will be unharmed.

It is clear that this move has been a well-thought-out decision. It began with a

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sentatives opposed the government’s move fearing inconvenience to citizens, they were asked to maintain total secrecy around the discussion.

On Friday evening, Modi met Jaitley to follow up the discussion on the government’s plan. Modi also met Finance Ministry PM Narenda Modi's address to the officials to discuss the nation on demonetisation implications of the decision. the situation in India to how Soon after, the Reserve Japan handled the natural Bank of India officials disaster. “I salute my counreceived an email from the trymen. People stood in line Finance Ministry regarding for four hours, six hours but the bold move. accepted the decision in On Tuesday morning, a national interest the way fax was sent from the people of Japan tackled the Finance Ministry to the aftermath of the 2011 disasRBI’s regional offices directter. I salute each and every ing the banks to not accept Indian. Many families had Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes weddings, their mothers from the next day. were ailing, they faced inconAnother fax was sent to venience, but they accepted the decision,” Modi said.

Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes can be deposited in banks or post offices till December this year.

People could withdraw a maximum of Rs 10,000 a day from the banks and a maximum of Rs 2,000 a day from the ATMs till November 14. The limit for withdrawal from ATM has then been increased to Rs 4,000 per day.

Jaitley assured people that usage of smaller currency denomination won’t be affected. He also suggested that the decision had the potential to change the mood of the nation.

“This will have an effect on the economy in the long term and this bold step will change the mood of the nation,” he said.

He encouraged people to use cheques instead of cash for transactions whenever possible.

The finance minister also came down hard on critics of the scheme suggesting that only those who are corrupt are disturbed by the move.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed the PM calling for a rollback of the scheme, and alleging that Modi had told his close aides about demonetisation beforehand.

“People are feeling proud of being honest after the decision. Those living honest

the RBI offices in the evening. This fax mentioned PM Modi’s order stating that from midnight Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will not be accepted as legal tender.

The RBI governor then forwarded the email to all the banks and departments concerned.

Jaitley said this decision of the government will help curb corruption, black money and terror funding.

life are happy with this decision,” Jaitley added.

This is PM Modi’s biggest offensive yet. Most transactions in daily life are in cash and 45% of those are in notes in denominations of 500 rupees and over.

The decision has caught the country completely off guard. The move leaves a lot of uncertainty about the Indian economy at least in the short term.

OPERATION BLACK MONEY

On a Thursday two weeks ago, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met RBI Directors from all the states. During the meeting, he made a presentation to the RBI Directors and asked for their views on banning the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Though some RBI repre-

Modi’s tearful defence of his war against the parallel black money economy is both an admission that the war is tougher and will last much longer than he expected, besides the frustrating fact that his initiatives are well-received abroad more than at home.

Resultantly, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters that by 5 pm on Sunday evening, banks had netted $44 billion in 180 million transactions.

However, some say if secrecy was the key in the banning of the high currency notes, the government should have anticipated and worked overtime to alleviate people's troubles.

PM Modi was elected to take big, transformational decisions. He hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations in

the past two and half years – but with the surgical strikes on terror camps on the border and this demonetisation scheme he showed that he was certainly capable of them.

The demonetisation decision has a certain economic logic to it. The absence of large-denomination notes will surely make it harder for people to keep black money in hand.

Another perspective is – the demonetisation decision is also a kind of making a statement that the PM is capable of doing something – of strong leadership.

Modi came to power in 2014 on anti-corruption plank, with promises to end black money economy. And so the black money issue was one of the most vulnerable for Modi. And that’s the reason for the sudden

What are the options?

We have learned from sources, although we don't vouch for its authenticity, that NRIs have two options: l They can either go to India in person and deposit the currency in their NRO account in India.

Or l Send the currency through someone reliable with an authorisation letter to credit the amount in their NRO account. This has to be accompanied by a valid ID card of the account holder. massive push to universalise access to bank accounts, big fillip to the use of Aadhaar in transactions and the push to a cashless economy.

This was followed up with two offers for those with black money to come clean—the latest scheme closing on 30 September.

Finally, Modi is good at hitting two birds with one stone.

Demonetising these two currency notes (16.5 billion

Rs 500 notes and 6.7 billion Rs 1,000 notes are presently in circulation) will not only help in clean governance but also help him in building his image as a strong leader.

Needless to say, he is also eyeing the 2019 General Elections. This is the beginning of Narendra Modi’s re-election campaign –a potential game changing moment something to cash in on.

Bullet train deal puts India back on the rails

I

ndia is on the right track, and that’s because Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t gone off the rails. His visit to Japan has done India a power of good and set the balls rolling for development.

The visit can be termed historic, with India signing two major deals with the economically powerful South-east Asian country.

A long line to get currency notes exchanged at a bank in India

Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

17

thing had happened in Japan when high speed rail system 'Shinkansen' was introduced in 1964.

At a joint press conference, Japanese PM Abe said the Consultancy work on the project will start in December 2016 and the construction will begin by the end of 2018. The ground breaking ceremony will happen in 2017 and the line will become opera-

Indian PM Narendra Modi with Japan's PM Shinzo Abe after the deal

India will have its first high speed bullet train in operation by 2023. Japan, which is building the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highspeed train corridor, has assured that the work will begin in 2018 and get over in 5 years' time. The rail line will stretch approximately 530km between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Like the proof of the pudding is in the eating, the proof of bullet train’s efficiency is in the ride.

Modi travelled by Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kobe. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe accompanied the Indian Prime Minister in the Shinkansen train journey.

Abe said the project symbolises a new dimension in the special relations between the two countries and hoped that introduction of the rapid train network will boost further economic growth in India as he recalled that a similar

tional in 2023.

A task force for transfer of technology and ‘Make in india’ will also be established. It will have representatives from the two Japan and India sign bullet train deal

countries.

Shinkansen train has an undisputable safety and unmatched reliability record in the world. Japan’s bullet trains can travel at speeds in excess of 300kph.

The two leaders emphasised the critical importance of human resource development in high speed rail technology, operation and maintenance in a planned manner, including the start of preliminary work on setting up of HSR Institute and development of its training programme.

Modi said he is “focused on making strong progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project. Our engagement and agreement on cooperation in the financial sector will help us in accessing greater resources for infrastructure development.”

The ties between India and Japan have grown in the economic sphere over the past decade.

The signing of the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has certainly boosted economic ties between the two countries.

Bilateral trade between both countries in 2015-16 stood at nearly $15 billion, while Japanese investments in India are pegged at $2.6 billion. Japanese PM

Indian PM Narendra Modi with Japan's PM Shinzo Abe travelling in the Shinkansen bullet train

Shinzo Abe had committed investments worth $35 billion in 2014.

The Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), which provided assistance for the Delhi Metro, will also be giving a loan of nearly Rs 80,000 crore over a period of 15 years for the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. The interest rate is a just 0.1 per cent.

The project will cost around Rs 1 lakh crore. The cost is officially said to be Rs 97,636 crore, but reports say a Rs 10,000 crore additional cost may be incurred.

The two leaders attended a signing ceremony where the

Hyogo Prefectural Government and officials from Gujarat exchanged memorandums on business and culture.

Hyogo’s local government provided support to Gujarat following the 2001 earthquake.

Since then exchanges between Hyogo and Gujarat have continued, with Modi visiting the prefecture twice while he was the state’s chief minister.

Indian Railways carries 23 million people daily on age-old tracks. Modi plans to spend 8.5 trillion rupees through 2020 on new tracks, including bullet trains and modern stations, as he looks to spur a manufacturing boom.

18

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel

Where the Money Is Being Made Now Dear Financial Voice Reader, I don’t want to brag (but I will) about how in my free two hour weekly webinars (www.alpeshpatel.com/mega) on trading and investing I said Trump would win and you should around midnight (US time) on November 8th sell the US Dollar that night.

So what now? The markets are reaching all time highs because Trump is expected to spend like crazy.

This guy is not scared of debt – so expect a lot of spending. That means US and UK banking stocks will do well – US ones doing best, especially beaten down ones like Wells Fargo.

By the way since 1984, 12 months after a US election the US market (usually copied by the UK) is up and it’s up sometimes 27 or 30% and others around 10%. So 12 months from now, buy and hold alone should make you about 15% I reckon.

But what about sectors – the best ones are financials due to the spending boom. What about tech? Especially because those Indian immigrants who make US tech great will no longer be as welcome? Well there are some good names based on my trading algorithms which mines accounts of companies over a number of years looking at their financials and probing how good value they are and how much money they make for investors.

Names that pop up for me for UK companies are Ashtead, BAE Systems (remember Trump told European Nato members to start pulling their own weight and spend more), Carnival, CRH, OneSavingBank, Schroders, Tullet, Ultra Electronics.

Others in the US, in the tech rich Nasdaq are; Apogee, Chemical Financial, Eagle Bancorp, Heritage Commerce, Horizon Bancorp.

As I said on my BBC newspaper review, the papers were simply wrong to be panicking people of any crashes in the market if Trump wins. Journalist who write sensational headlines to sell their paper are more damaging to your wealth and to your country than any other category of person.

Keep calm, new market highs in 2017!

Modi hints at more action to unearth black money Narendra Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi dropped hints on more action against black money saying none of those holding unaccounted money will be spared. With people in a frenzy with the recent demonetisation, Modi said there is no "guarantee" that no further steps would be taken after December 30.

He, however, assured honest people saying they will not face any trouble. "I would like to announce once again that after the end of this scheme, there is no guarantee that something new will not be introduced to punish you," Modi said. "I make it very clear that if anything unaccounted comes up, then I will check its records since Independence. Will deploy as many people as required for this. Honest people will not face any problem. No

one will be spared. Those who know me, they are intelligent as well. They think it is better to offer it to Ganga than in banks," he said referring to notes of Rs 500 and 1000 flowing in the Ganga river. Calling the move "Swachhata Abhiyan", Modi hailed the spirit of people despite the chaos that ensued his announcement on November 8.

"I salute my countrymen. People stood in line for four hours, six hours but accepted the decision in national interest the way people tackled the aftermath of the 2011 disaster. I thought long and hard about the possible difficulties and it was also important to keep it a secret. It had to be done suddenly but I never thought I will receive blessings for this," Modi said.

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Mistry-Tata Sons war of words heats up AsianVoiceNews

Tata Group has announced the appointment of Ishaat Hussain, 69, as its interim chairman, to replace current chairman and ousted chief of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry. In a release issued to the BSE, TCS said, "Mistry has ceased to be the chairman of board of directors of the company, and Hussain is the new chairman of the company."

The company further said that the newly appointed Hussain shall hold office as chairman until a new chairman is appointed in his place.

Later, in a nine-page statement issued to the press, Tata Group accused Mistry of putting the group in doldrums and attempting to wrest control of the firm.

Responding as has become

Ratan Tata and Cyrus Mistry

a pattern in their battle, Mistry's office said that Tata's letter showed "unsubstantiated claims and half truths without a word of explanation as to why it became necessary to remove him summarily violating natural justice and without explanation."

In a sly move, the Tata Sons board ousted Mistry

from the board of Tata Sons, announcing it late evening on October 24. On being removed, Mistry had said, "To remove TCS from the data contending that Mistry does not really contribute materially to TCS and to blame him for all problems inherited by him such as Tata Motor's passenger vehicle business in

ED seizes fresh assets worth £162 mn of Mallya India's Enforcement Directorate attached shares worth £162 million at current market value, all belonging to the nowdefunct Kingfisher Airlines owner Vijay Mallya after an antimoney laundering court declared him a proclaimed offender.

The shares include those held in group companies like United Breweries Holdings Limited, United Breweries Limited and United Spirits Limited.

"Mr Mallya was declared a proclaimed offender under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The court also ordered attachment, by way of seizure, of his shares held in group companies, under Section 83 of the CrPC. This prohibits the delivery of such property to the accused or to any person on his behalf," a senior ED official said.

Mallya has not cooperated in the ongoing investigations, not appearing when summoned by the ED in the money laundering case. "He neither presented himself in pursuance of the summons issued to

Vijay Mallya

him by the ED in March and April, nor did he honour the court directions issued on June 21 instructing him to appear on July 29. The court had also issued non-bailable warrants against him in April," the official said. He added, "In view of his repetitive avoidance and non-compliance, the Directorate had filed an application before the court to declare him a proclaimed offender and attach his movable and immovable properties to compel him to join the probe."

The ED had moved court last month seeking that Mallya be declared a proclaimed offender and his properties be attached

as he did not comply with a proclamation order issued against him in June requiring him to appear before the court. The agency had sought an order from the court under section 82 (proclamation of absconding person) of CrPC as several arrest warrants were pending against him. A person against whom a warrant has been issued can be declared a proclaimed offender if the court believes that he or she has absconded or is evading execution of warrant.

In September, the Directorate had attached assets worth £663 million that included shares of United Spirits Limited, United Breweries Limited and McDowell Holding Co. worth £363.5 million held by Mallya, United Breweries Holding Ltd. and his controlled entities.

Mandwa Farm House, worth £2.5 million at Alibaug in Maharashtra, flats in Kingfisher Tower in Bengaluru, worth £56.5 million and fixed deposits of Mallya with HDFC for £10 million were also attached.

Jet Airways Q2 profit at £8.5 mn Jet Airways group has reported a nearly flat profit at £8.5 million in the second quarter that ended September 2016 amid pressure on domestic ticket prices and lean travel season. The full service carrier had a profit of £8.3 million in the year-ago period at the group level. Total revenues rose a little over three per cent to £568.2 million in the latest September quarter, when it stood at £550.4 million in the same period last year.

Announcing the latest quarterly results, Jet Airways said it raked in £8.5 million profit "despite

a traditionally lean quarter and domestic yields being under pressure."

Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal said improvements in operational performance have helped the airline participate in the strong growth being witnessed in Indian aviation market.

Domestic ticket prices have also come under pressure amid local deploying increased capacity and aggressive pricing ways to attract more passengers.

The domestic aviation sector has been growing over 20 per cent for almost two years now. In the 2016 September quarter, the air-

line carried over 6 per cent higher number of passengers at 6.77 million. The same stood at 6.37 million in the year-ago period.

"Overall traffic from codeshare partners increased by 15 per cent to 1.17 million passengers carried from 1.02 million passengers in Q2 FY16," the release said. Gulf carrier Etihad Airways owns 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways. "Passengers and revenues delivered by Etihad Airways and Etihad Airways Partners rose by 32 per cent and 25 per cent respectively by Q2 FY17," the release said.

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India is inherently fallacious to any unbiased observer." Till date, no reasons have been given, except for vague explanations citing "culture" and "trust deficit".

Meanwhile, the 148 year old conglomerate which owns the trademark Tata, might consider withdrawing its usage rights from group companies that are backing Mistry.

Independent directors at two group companiesIndian Hotels and Tata Chemicals- have backed Mistry's continuation as chairman already. "The shareholders will have to decide if these companies should remain part of Tata or not, and if they will be as strong under a Mistry pedigree," one of the Tata Trust members said.

UK inflation slips, but soaring factory prices herald big rises ahead

British inflation slipped unexpectedly last month but factory gate prices shot up at the fastest pace in years after sterling's Brexit slump, spelling higher prices for consumers in the year ahead.

Consumer prices rose 0.9 per cent compared with a year ago, the Office for National Statistics said, belie economists' expectation for a 1.1 per cent annual rise.

But prices for goods leaving factories rose by 2.1 per cent, faster than expected and the biggest increase since April 2012.

Costs faced by producers for raw material and oil showed a record monthly jump in October, leaping by 4.6 per cent.

"After initially pushing up the prices of raw materials, the recent fall in the value of the pound is now starting to boost the price of goods leaving factories as well," ONS statistician Mike Prestwood said.

"However, aside from fuel, there is no clear evidence that these pressures have so far fed through to the prices in shops."

Earlier this month the Bank of England forecast that inflation would rise to about 2.7 per cent around this time next year, as sterling's big fall after Britain's vote to leave the EU pushes up the cost of imports. With wages only expected to grow more slowly, many households are likely to face a squeeze in their living standards next year. The pound's fall - down 16 per cent against the US currency and about 11 per cent against the euro - has left suppliers and retailers battling for profits as imported goods become more expensive.

REALESTATEVOICE

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PIGGY BACKING WINS THE DEAL AsianVoiceNews

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

We had agreed a deal for a two bedroom flat in W1 with a shortish lease of 55 years, or at least we thought we had. The property is on the fourth floor of a purpose-built apartment block, which I didn’t know even existed until this flat came up, as it’s tucked away in a small square with commercial all around the ground floor.

With a lease extension costing £150k and a makeover of around £75k, the property would be worth around £1.1m.

It’s a deal, hence I was pursuing it having completed one deal with the agent only recently.

We were confident of receiving the contracts, however, days went ticking by and every time I checked in I was told the

STUDENT MYTHS

1. Students don’t care about location Whilst students may have limited budgets, this doesn’t mean they’ll live anywhere in pursuit of cheap rents. Ultimately, they’re looking for somewhere within a couple of miles of their University; so it’s crucial that you find a property to let that’s in the right area.

property With students now demanding more, for example, properties with high quality furnishings, this myth is no longer the case. What this does mean is that landlords with student accommodation to rent will need to invest in quality furniture and fittings, with a modern interior. Don’t scrimp with cheap furnishings, as it’ll need to withstand wear and tear, and in the long run, you could end up forking more out for replacements.

2. Students don't respect

3. Students don’t mind

Over the years, many myths have surrounded student living and the properties they rent, but most of these simply aren’t true.

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

Sale Place W2 Purchase Price: £1.6m

owner is taking his time and the contract will be coming in shortly.

However, on meeting a contact yesterday I discovered he was sitting on the contract, and had received it from a runner he uses. Small world; this shows the importance of having several sources in the market and to keep networking.

So the deal will be done, not through the agent who alerted us, but through the source who delivered. The fact that this same deal was spotted and closed by an associate shows how few deals come to the surface, for someone who’s networked in the area and keeps the network alive by steady buying, somehow or another deals keep finding their way to the buying living in grotty properties Again, this is another total misconception – students today look for a comfortable property that they’ll enjoy living in. It’s worth knowing that whilst students may not always demand the best of furnishings and decor, their parents most certainly will, especially if they’re asked to be a guarantor for the rent! A scruffy, dirty student property will most definitely struggle finding quality student tenants.

4. Students don’t pay much in rent While it's true to say that students would prefer to pay a low rent because of their limited budgets, it

Asian Voice |19th November 2016

source. This time we were second in the race; not to worry as we will simply jump on and piggyback on the front runner to the deal.

Contracts are in, and there’s a deal to be done.

Another deal which has also come up, is a small deal in Finchley, going for a ridiculous amount, £350k, at 1,000 sq. ft., this equates to £350 per sq. ft.

On first hearing about the deal I assumed at this price it must be located on the north side of the North Circular road, as Finchley Road is a long road, and properties closer to Finchley Road station are more valuable than those situated near Finchley Central. This is located near Finchley Road station close to Hampstead, and isn't true to assume that all students are like this.

There is a growing demand for quality accommodation which means that students are willing to pay realistic market rents to enjoy these properties.

Additionally, when a house is recognised as an HMO, the reality that the property has undergone inspection to ensure it reaches a certain standard, will draw in students looking for good-quality housing; meaning higher rents can be charged.

5. Student houses are too much trouble Again, the clear majority of students are decent, hard-working people who

l

Fantastic investment l Freehold property l Two large split level apartments l Approx. 1,700 sq. ft. l Purchase price is £941 per sq. ft. l Resale value as it is, expected to be around £2.3m Call us now for more information.

19

so it’s a great deal which comes with the benefit of rent coming in from day one.

There is a small window of opportunity before the new mortgage regulations come in the new year, these will serve to reduce the amount one can borrow by increasing the rental cover which is required on BTL mortgages.

Christmas is coming, this will be a slow time for the property market as most people will be gearing up for the break and getting drunk at Christmas parties, this results in sluggish activity.

If a deal is to be done, now have been undermined by the antics of a very small minority. So while there are some badly behaved students, most students today have too much invested in their education to cause problems for their landlord or their neighbours.

Additionally, most students sign up for a year long tenancy agreement, ensuring the consistent payment of rent – even when they’re not residing in the property during the

is the time to be doing it.

Both these deals are available, we have the contracts in. If you are interested in either one, or both, give us a call before they get snapped up.

summer months.

The student accommodation sector is a buoyant one, so get in touch and let us help you to tailor your property to the student market.

20

FINANCIAL VOICE

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Resilient British economy can withstand Brexit

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Addressing a group of guests at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ahmedabad, Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Hon'ble Member of House of Lords, said that it was premature to talk about the impact of Brexit.

Strongly establishing that he was against Britain leaving the European Union, Lord Parekh said the implications of the referendum were yet to be estimated as negotiations of the exit would take over two years, may be more.

"I am totally against 'Brexit'. What is Brexit? It is a silly term brought in 2013. The UK leaving the EU doesn't mean it will fail as a nation. Britain will sustain, but, it won't make the impact it makes staying within the Union. It is similar to India leaving the Commonwealth. Not that it won't survive, it will just make the country poorer," said Lord Parekh. "In the referendum, majority exercised the power to exit, and therefore Brexit will happen. Nearly 52.3 per cent wanted to leave while 48 per cent population wanted to stay. Can the majority decide the fate of the remaining 48 per cent? In

(From left) K H Patel, Hon. Chairman, GCCI NRG Committee/ Centre; Vijay Shah, Hon. Secretary, GCCI; Geoff Wain, British Deputy High Commissioner, Ahmedabad; Bipinbhai Patel, President, GCCI; Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Shailesh Patwari, Sr.Vice President, GCCI

a democracy, they can," he said.

Lord Parekh mentioned the major questions worth asking post the milestone vote. "Now, what about the 48 per cent who wanted to stay? What are the consequences?

What about UK's relations with other countries? The Brexit has positive results for India. The chances of Britain investing in India has now increased.

Infrastructure, smart cities, rural areas, all these are areas of interest of the British government.

However, what about the students? What is the government doing for the stu-

dents?"

Also speaking at the event, British Deputy High Commissioner at Ahmedabad, Geoff Wain addressed the audience saying, "British is truly a great country." He said it is a private and prospering economy which is why, Brexit will have no major adverse impact. "In any case, Britain is not leaving the European Union completely as mutual cooperative agreement will govern the relations between Britain and the EU." Wain also stated that the economy was financially resilient and London being a leading bilateral

hub, there was no cause of concern.

Earlier K.H. Patel, Chairman NRG Centre, Ahmedabad in his introductory remarks said that Non-Resident Indians and Non-Resident Gujaratis had an overwhelming presence in Britain. Nearly 15 to 2000,000 NRIs resided in Britain and the NRG population alone was close to 900,000. Nearly 1,000 hotels in London were run by the NRGs. Bipin R Patel, President GCCI, welcomed the guests and Shailesh Patwari, Sr. Vice President, GCCI proposed a vote of thanks.

Abhishek Sachdev

It was only a few weeks ago since we highlighted the Buzzfeed News / BBC Newsnight ‘dash for cash’ leaks, which revealed how the bank systematically destroyed businesses during the recession as a result of a

Pranav Vora

said. After a short stint with CEB for three years, Vora pushed his focus back to men's wear when he saw that there weren't enough shirts to fit his frame.

"Usually something would be wrong in the fit, and most often the shirts would

just have too much room through the chest, waist, and arms," he said. This led to Georgetown-based Hugh & Crye, which aimed to "focus on the shape of the torso." Vora found out that the sizing of garments is done in a linear manner, which means all measurements are increased in a consistent way. His brand has 12 sizes for consumers to choose from, ranging from "short/skinny" to "tall/broad". Their unique sizing system is based on "body types".

"To us, apparel is intimately connected to authentic personal presence. What you wear says a lot about who you are," Vora said. Hugh & Crye

made by staff and internal valuations were based upon insufficient or inadequate work. This is especially significant when decisions were based on such valuations because a low valuation was often used by banks to enforce an LTV breach and cause other serious problems for the borrower which the Bank could then use to its advantage.

They also found a failure to handle the conflicts of interest inherent in the West Register model and operation; and a failure to exercise adequate safeguards to ensure that the terms of cer-

Packed in a frenzy, following Modi Government's decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, people have deposited nearly £6 billion in banks across the country. The State Bank of India has raised around £3.97 billion alone, in deposits following the withdrawal of high denomination notes. SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said, "We have received deposits of £1.10 billion in savings accounts in one day.

Normally, it takes a month to mobilise £800 million of savings deposits."

The bank said collections on Friday last week amounted to £1.75 billion on the back of £2.22 billion, the day before. For exchange, SBI received £72.3 million worth of notes and additional £94.2 million during the weekend. Bhattacharya said demonetisation tend to have a deflationary impact.

The surge in low-cost deposits will also, bring

Arundhati Bhattacharya

down the bank's cost of funds. Taken together, both measures could effectively bring down interest rates.

While a huge chunk of the deposits are expected to be withdrawn, bankers say the demonetisation would lead to a sustained reduction in the use of cash. The increase in bank deposits would also lead to a reduction in bond yields and interest rates in the money market. An increase in deposits would compel banks to invest more in government bonds. Given the limited supply of government bonds, there would be an increase in price which translates into a drop in yields.

SBI net profit shrinks 35%

also sells blazers, fitted Tshirts, pocket squares, and printed popovers. "We're excited to expand our scope into many other categories in the spirit of helping guys become the best version of themselves." Vora said that in order to grow, the company needs capital. "We have an incredible product that people love, and we want to keep building on that simple, yet perfect foundation." Vora added that Hugh & Crye is more than halfway to its $2 million funding goal. "The opportunity is enormous, and we feel we have one of the most important ingredients to break out from the pack: authenticity."

come from the stressed list," she said.

SBI's operating profit increasing by 9.34 per cent to £1.12 billion in the quarter mainly due to healthy growth of non-interest income which rose 36 per cent to £842.4 million. Net interest income growth was however, flat at £1.44 billion. "We have seen every strong and sustained operating performance," Bhattacharya said, adding that fee income growth was also healthy. The bank’s fee income increased by 36.91 per cent to £431.7 million during the quarter. While the overall loan growth remained in single digit ( 8.1 per cent, y-o-y) but retail loans grew at a healthy pace of 20.42 per cent to £35 billion. SBI’s capital adequacy ratio was at 13.94 per cent in Q2 and the bank expects £757.5 million capital infusion from the Centre in 201617.

tain upside instruments, in particular, Equity Participation Agreements, were appropriate.This is significant because most of the consequential losses will be large and not related to simply the refund of fees!

We still await further details on exactly what the review scheme will look like but given the full report is unlikely to ever be released, our previous fears that the report will be whitewash look to be confirmed.

Sir William Blackburne, a retired high court judge has been brought in as an independent adjudicator to

oversee the complaints process, however, he will not be allowed to look at ‘consequential losses’ , giving RBS the final say so in 'CL' claims. Clearly this is very disappointing, as ‘CL’ claims are likely to be the most important part of any SME claim.

Our view is £400m is clearly not enough, and whilst this is disappointing, it is now important that businesses begin the process of trying to recover fees and other consequential losses from their bank.

Given our extensive experience with the previous IRHP review scheme, we are uniquely experienced in how these schemes work

(we instigated the FCA IRHP Review scheme and has been paid by the FCA to advise them). Therefore if you have suffered any losses involving either RBS GRG or Lloyds BSU units, we suggest you to contact us urgently to discuss your options. To also help businesses, Vedanta Hedging will be holding a webinar on the 23rd November to cover the main points of the report and also give you a chance to ask questions during the webinar.

FCA finally release initial findings into RBS GRG Unit

deliberate plan to add billions to its balance sheet.

Finally, on the 8th November, the FCA published its initial findings and whilst some important areas of wrong-doing were highlighted in the summary, the news that RBS had only put aside £400m for claims, put a dampener on any ideas of large payouts, as it highlights that most of the compensation will only be paid back in excessive fee charges and not consequential loss claims.

The FCA noted a failure to ensure that appropriate and robust valuations were

SBI gets one month's deposits in one day

The State Bank of India's net profit dropped 34.56 per cent for the quarter ended September 30 to £ 253.80 million, as a provision for loan loss doubled to £767 million. The total provision of the country's largest lender increased 36 per cent to £868.6 million.

While its gross bad loans almost doubled to £10.60 billion in a year, it sequentially rose marginally by about £400 million.

The gross NPA ratio was 7.14 per cent as on end September as compared to 6.94 per cent as on June end and 4.15 per cent a year ago. "The increase is not that large though the percentage may look so because of the lower growth of the denominator," said Arundhati Bhattacharya, chairman, SBI. "We are not resolving as much as it is slipping.

When resolution process starts we will see NPA stabilising. Slippages have

Pranav Vora's Hugh & Crye trying to change clothing industry Owner of e-commerce clothing retail company Hugh & Crye, Pranav Vora, 39, came a long way to establish himself in an industry that boasts of changing overnight. After a bachelor's degree in business from Indiana University, it was only when he shifted to London briefly to graduate at the London School of Economics, that he noticed how differently there men dress than those in the US. "I noticed that people dress very differently than in the US. What I noticed was that men wore garments that fit their bodies, and in a much more flattering way than the average American guy," he

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India, Lanka to sign new agreement: Sirisena In Brief AsianVoiceNews

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena came to power nearly six years after the country's brutal civil war ended. He, however, faces several challenges including frictions of coalition politics in Lanka's first national unity government. Stating that he is satisfied with his performance, Sirisena cited his success in getting the 19th Amendment to the Constitution a big feather in his cap. "We actually proposed that the executive powers of the President be reduced immediately. The Supreme Court said major clauses cannot be deleted without referendum.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court told us what could be done with two-thirds majority in Parliament. So we have changed clauses to the maximum extent possible with two-thirds majority in Parliament," he said.

"Earlier the President could dissolve the Parliament after completion of one year, but now under the provisions of the 19th Amendment, it has been extended to four and a half years. Establishment of independent commissions is

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Maithripala Sirisena

another reason. It was essential for the country to ensure human rights, democratic rights, fundamental rights, and the freedom of the people." Sirisena said the international community was satisfied with his performance which has helped change the impression of the country.

"Now there is no threat of international courts, now we don't have to talk about electric chairs, there is no problem. I have told the international community that I cannot accept any proposal that allows foreign judges to probe our domestic matters."

When asked how his government intends to promote economic growth while safeguarding living standards and social welfare, Siri said, "We have a consensual government of the two major parties.

There are similarities as well as differences in the vision and policies of these two parties.

The problems we face today are not the ones we faced 50 years ago. My vision is social democracy. Your question is how compatible is liberal democracy with social democracy. Both the parties have agreed on a consensual formula, a common plan of action has been agreed upon to continue and implement the programme. There is a broad agreement between the parties on this. We need largescale investments. We cannot come out of the economic crisis without such investments.

At the same time, enhancing social welfare and subsidies is also essential. The poor man is the one badly affected by a market economy. We have to protect the welfare and economy of the ordinary man. For that purpose, there is an agreement between the two parties. We have a strong government. Some people believe that is about to be toppled, which is a pipe dream."

Later addressing India-Sri Lanka ties, and signing of the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement,

Sirisena said the agreement will be signed after the approval of the Cabinet and will also be submitted to the Parliament. "Since ancient times we have very close relations with India. There are many similarities between the two countries. We have similar cultures. This relationship has been built on Hindu and Buddhist philosophies. We expect to sign trade agreement with quite a number of countries. These agreements are aimed at benefiting both the signatory countries and we don't intend signing any agreement that could be detrimental to any one country."

He added, "The proposal for India and Sri Lanka to sign a fresh agreement has been there for the last 10-15 years.

Deliberations and discussions continued under different names. We will enter into an agreement which is not harmful to either party. The agreement will be signed after the approval of the Cabinet and will also be submitted to Parliament. We cannot do anything in secrecy, we are transparent and accountable to the people."

A new wall separates a German city Almost thirty years after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, a German city is building a wall to separates its residents. Three times higher than the Berlin Wall, the Munich Wall is intended to separate local residents and a refugee hostel.

Despite the 100m span sound absorbing wall is a symbolises German reaction to the over 1million migrants who arrived in Germany over the last 18 months. Before being built, the Munich Wall

faced over a year of legal arguments in a case brought

by six local residents since the plans of the hostel

emerged in 2014.

The legal action demanded a 4.5m barrier to block noise which was to be unclimbable and resistant to ball games. City authorities solved the issue by building the barrier to 4m high in the style found beside many autobahns to cancel noise, rocks bound within steel cages to be covered in vegetation. The asylum centre in city’s suburb of Neuperlach South accommodates 160 migrants.

Khalistan banners put up in Pak gurdwaras AMRITSAR: The Pakistan government has revived the Khalistan propaganda and launched a massive campaign in its support at Nankana Sahib during the visit of Sikh pilgrims, who have gathered from across the world to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. According to intelligence sources, not only the banners inscribed with Khalistan were displayed in the gurdwaras but Sikh separatists enjoying shelter from Pakistani agency ISI delivered venomous speeches against India to provoke gullible devotees on the eve of Guru Nanak Dev birth

anniversary.

Sources added that the propaganda drive had been launched under the very nose of Pakistan administration and was being spearheaded by the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) general secretary Gopal Singh Chawla, who claims to be a friend of Jamat-ud-Daawa chief and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. They said that in order to provoke Sikh sentiments, posters eulogising Khalistan and militants have also been displayed in the gurdwaras in Pakistan.

"Post Indian Army's surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), this is the massive campaign launched to fan the separatist movement," sources said, adding that Sikh fugitives living in Pakistan also held a meeting with various foreignbased Khalistan ideologues to further their movement.

According to sources, the Pakistan government wanted to avenge the Indian Army's action by provoking the Sikhs in the name of religion and a separate nation was top on their agenda.

When asked about Khalistan propaganda,

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq said, "The Sikhs have gathered from all over world here to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and if they talk about Khalistan, it is their affair." He denied that any Pakistani official or minister spoke about Khalistan in their speeches. "Besides me, there were federal minister of Kashmir affairs and GilgitBaltistan Barjees Tahir and federal minister for religious affairs Muhammad Yousaf.

None of us uttered a single word about Khalsitan," the ETPB chief said.

India pledges $10.95 mn for UN activities UNITED NATIONS: India has pledged about $10.95 million for development activities across UN bodies for the coming year. First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN, Mahesh Kumar said, "India has been a regular contributor to the UN since its founding. India believes that the UN should have the necessary resources to finance, in an appropriate and balanced

manner, the activities and programmes of its three main pillars; Peace and security, Development and Human Rights."

Speaking at a Pledging Conference for Development Activities, Kumar said as a developing country, India has its own plate full of developmental challenges that need to be addressed, but it stil has always contributed to increase the availability of

core resources for the development activities of the United Nations system. India announced pledges of contribution totalling about $10.95 million for development activities for 2017, including $4.5 million for the UN Development Programme, $1.92 million for the World Food Programme, $1.25 million for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Near East and a million dollars towards

UN Women. It also pledged resources to UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the world body's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Commission on Human Settlements Programme (HABITAT), Environment Programme (UNEP), Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and towards the Voluntary Fund for Technical Co-operation.

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Bangladesh arrests killer of secular blogger

DHAKA: A prime suspect in the brutal murders of a secular blogger and a publisher in Bangladesh, Khairul Islam alias Fahim, leader of intelligence wing of the outlawed Ansar alIslam, has been arrested from the national capital. Khairul, 24, was arrested from Kamlapur Rail Station area in Dhaka as informed by Masudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Branch of Police. He is believed to be involved in the murders of Jagriti Prakashani published Faisal Arefin Dipan and secular activist Niladri Chatterjee Niloy. Joint Commissioner Detective Branch of Police Abdul Baten said Khairul admitted his involvement in the killings during primary interrogation. Baten said that the leader had joined the group in 2013 and met its senior leader Sayed Ziaul Haque next year. He began collecting information about the deceased and provided it to the outfit's Askari section to carry out the killings. "Seeing CCTV footage, Khairul has identified four people involved in blogger and secular writer Avijit's killing and we are analysing the information," Baten said.

Now, no non-Islamic holidays in Saudi schools

RIYADH: Saudi Education Ministry has warned international schools from marking non-Islamic occasions, such as Christmas and New Year, the media reported. The ban includes forbidding those schools from providing holidays on such occasions or changing the dates of exams to suit them, Xinhua news agency reported. The ministry directed all schools to stick to the academic calendars for exams and holidays. The ministry warned of legal steps against violated schools that could reach to termination of the license. Saudi Arabia is a Sunni-conservative state that follows Islamic rules in all walks of life.

China's first woman pilot killed in accident

BEIJING: China's first woman pilot of a J-10 fighter jet has died in a flying accident, an official media report said. Yu Xu, 30, who was born in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, was a member of the August 1 aerobatics team of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. She was one of few female pilots who could fly domestically-made fighter jets, Hong Kongbased South China Morning Post reported, citing a report by Sichuan Communist Youth League. Yu's plane plunged to the ground after an unspecified accident, and she was unable to eject in time. The incident occurred in Hebei province, the day after China's air force day. Reports said Yu was flying with a male pilot, who was able to eject but was injured. Yu applied to become a pilot in the air force in 2005 and four years later, became one of China's first 16 female pilots of fighter jets, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.

Muslim teacher told to hang herself with headscarf in US

WASHINGTON: A 24-year-old Muslim school teacher in the US was told to hang herself with her headscarf in a handwritten anonymous note which said the scarf “isn’t allowed any more.” Mairah Teli, a teacher at Dacula High School in Gwinnett County, located outside Atlanta in Georgia, posted a picture of the note on her Facebook page last week. “Mrs Teli, your head scarf isn’t allowed any more. Why don’t you tie it around your neck and hang yourself with it,” the note scribbled in black ink said, signed “America!”, the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. “As a Muslim, I wear a headscarf as a practice of my faith. I want to share this to raise awareness about the reality and climate of our community. Spreading hate isn’t going to “make America great again,” she wrote on her Facebook page. Sloan Roach, a spokeswoman for the Gwinnett County Schools, said in a statement that school officials are working to find out who wrote the note.

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Indian Americans Ash Kalra, Niraj Antani, Jay Chaudhuri win elections Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

WASHINGTON: Indian Americans Ash Kalra, Niraj Antani and Jay Chaudhari tasted sweet victory in their respective election races on November 8. A democratic city councilman in San Jose, Kalra was in the hopes of winning a spot in the 27th state Assembly district against fellow Democrat Madison Nguyen. With a lead of over 4,000, until Nguyen finally conceded the election. "I want to thank Madison for her many years of service to the city of San Jose and for her commitment to continuing her service. I know she will continue to find ways to give back to our community and I look forward to working with her, particularly on our shared goals of ensuring every child has a quality education," Kalra said in a statement released after his victory.

He added, "Words do not do justice to my feelings of gratitude to the voters of San Jose who have given me the great privilege of continuing in my service as your next state Assembly member. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity and am honoured by your faith in me." Before serving on the San Jose city council, Kalra

Ash Kalra, Niraj Antani and Jay Chaudhari

was an attorney for the Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office where he spent time in drug treatment court.

Niraj Antani, 25, voted as the second most influential Republican under 30, was seeking re-election as a state representative in Ohio's 42nd District.

Competing against Democrat Patrick Merris in the Republican district, Antani won by receiving 63 per cent of the vote. "I am truly honoured to have been re-elected as the state representative for the 42nd Ohio House District," he said. "I look forward to returning to the Ohio House of

Representative as its only Indian American member, and continuing my fight for the American Dream."

Releasing a statement, Antani said he is proud of the progress he and his district have made. "I think I've been able to be effective for my community. The legislature has been able to cut taxes, prevent overall increased spending and increase education spending. I am looking forward to continuing my fight in the Ohio House of Representatives so that all Ohioans can have the opportunity to achieve their American Dream."

Against Republican

businessman Eric Weaver, Democrat Jay Chaudhari held his seat by winning 65 per cent to 35 per cent.

Writing a Facebook post following the victory, Chaudhari said, "Yes, the last 48 hours have been really hard for Democrats. But, we must respect the integrity of our election process.

Let us move forward. And, let us roll up our sleeves to do the hard work on behalf of all Americans and all North Carolinians."

Other Indian-Americans to leave an impression on the fateful elections were Pramilla Malick, Neil Makhija, and Mudita Bhargava.

2 killed as strong quake hits New Zealand WILLINGTON: Hundreds of tourists and residents have been evacuated by New Zealand emergency services and defence personnel amid strong aftershocks, a day after a massive earthquake killed two people in Wellington. The 7.8 magnitude tremor hit right after midnight, devastating houses, cutting through road and rail links throughout the northeast of South Island.

As aftershocks continued to threaten the area, emergency services cordoned off streets and evacuated several buildings due to fears of them collapsing. A fire service official said a major structural beam had "snapped like a bone". Four defence force helicopters flew into the town, along with the Navy's multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury, said Air Commander Darryn Webb, commander of New Zealand joint forces. "We're looking to do as many flights as we can out of Kaikoura,"

he said. Around 400 of the 1,200 tourists stranded in the town were flown out, including 12 people who suffered several injuries. The Red Cross, which used defence force helicopters to bring out emergency generators, satellite communications, and water bladders, said the town was running out of water.

A 5.4 tremor was among the bigger aftershocks the region felt. China chartered four helicopters to evacuate 40 nationals, mostly elderly and children from Kaikoura.

An official at the Chinese

Consulate, Liu Lian said one Chinese national had been treated for a minor head injury in the hospital and around 60 others will be evacuated soon. "They have been trapped in Kaikoura for a couple of days, some are maybe scared, they have some mental stress," Liu said.

New Zealand's Finance Minister Bill English said the government was well positioned to deal with the expected repair bill of billions of dollars, with low debt and budget surpluses.

"We are in about as good a

shape as we could be to deal with this natural disaster," he said. New Zealand Police released a statement saying, "A number of aftershocks of a lesser magnitude have been experienced up and down the country.

Police continue to remind members of the public to drop, cover, and hold during any subsequent earthquake. There is a tsunami warning to the east coast of the North and South Islands. Police advise the public in these areas to get to higher ground or go as far inland as possible.

Wellington residents should avoid the beaches and waterways."

The earthquake comes five years after a 6.3 quake that struck Christchurch in 2011, destroying much of the downtown area and killing 185 people. It was said to be one of New Zealand's worst disasters, causing an estimated $25 billion in damage.

'Afghan Girl’ to arrive in India for treatment KABUL: The green-eyed "Afghan Girl" Sharbat Gula, whose 1985 photo in National Geographic magazine became a worldwide sensation, has arrived to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul. "The iconic Sharbat Gula will soon be in Bengaluru, India, for medical treatment of Hepatitis C- free of costThank you India for being a true friend!" tweeted Afghan Ambassador Shaida Abdali.

Sharbat Gula

Gula was deported from Pakistan after she was arrested from her house in Peshawar with a forged

P a k i s t a n i Computerised National Identity Card.

Abdali tweeted that she would receive free treatment in India. He also t h a n k e d Narayana Health City in a tweet, saying, "Touched by NARAYANA, hospital in Bangalore, offering the Iconic Sharbatgal free of cost

treatment and hospitality: "friend in need" Narayana Hrudayalaya successfully treated a twoyear-old Pakistani girl Noor Fathima in 2003. She was born with several holes in her heart, and her surgery became a symbol of IndiaPakistan friendship. It was after this surgery that more children from the neighbouring country were brought to India for treatment.

In Brief

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Indian students in US up by 25%

WASHINGTON: International students in the US have crossed the one-million mark, an increase of 7% over the previous year, and one in every six of them is an Indian. The rate of growth of Indian students - for the third straight year - at almost 25% in 2015-16 is the highest among the top 25 places of origin for scholars in America. In all, 170,000 students from India are studying in the US, making up 16% of the total international students. A majority of them study at the graduate level. In 2015-16, the breakdown was: 11.6% undergraduate; 61.4% graduate; 1.5% others; 25.5% OPT (Optional Practical Training). Last year, these students contributed $5billion to the American economy. In absolute numbers, China remains the largest sender of international students to the US, with a 31.5% share in all international enrolment. Students from the top three senders - China, India, and Saudi Arabia - now represent approximately 53% of all international student enrolment. In all, 10,43,839 foreign candidates, representing 5% of the US' total higher education student population, contribute nearly $36 billion to the US economy, says the department of commerce.

Citing India as example, Pakistan senator calls for demonetization

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani Opposition party lawmaker has submitted resolution in the Senate appealing to withdraw 1000 and 5000 rupee notes from circulation in the country to deal with corruption. Citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's example, Senator Osman Saifullah Khan of the Pakistan Peoples Party submitted the resolution that read, "The house urges the government to take steps to withdraw from circulation as legal tender the high denomination Rs 5000 and 1000 notes so as to reduce illicit money flows, encourage the use of bank accounts, and reduce the size of undocumented economy."

Speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Khan said this is the only way people will compelled to use banking channels. However, Committee Chairman Senator Saleem Mandviwalla underlined the need for taking the views of all stakeholders. Khan cited India as an example, and added that the world over such notes were being discouraged.

52 killed in IS bombing of Pak shrine

KARACHI: A remote Sufi shrine in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province was attacked by a suicide bombing claimed by Islamic State, with doctors and rescuers estimating the death toll to touch 52. The third major terrorist attack in the province in a little over three months, the attack occurred when as many as 600 worshippers were at Dargah Shah Noorani in Khuzdar district's Hub area, frequented by Iranian nationals.

Security forces have established a cordon around the site of the blast and were scrambling to carry out emergency services. Additional reinforcements and 45 army ambulances were also dispatched to the scene, with support from Sindh Rangers, reports said. The army's media wing added that the helicopter evacuation of the injured will soon be attempted as there is no airstrip nearby to land larger aircraft.

Afghan parliament sacks three Ministers

KABUL: Afghanistan Parliament has sacked their Minister of Foreign Affairs and two of his cabinet colleagues citing poor performance.

Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Public Works Minister Mahmood Baligh and Social Services Minister Nasreen Oryakhel, all failed to win confidence votes in the parliament and were declared to have been dismissed by the Speaker.

All three were sent off for their lack of performance and failure to spend all allocated budgetary funds on time, in accordance with provisions in the Afghan Constitution which gives parliament the power to sack Ministers. Fourteen other Ministers are due to face similar confidence votes. At a time when the Taliban insurgency is threatening security across Afghanistan, the move creates further confusion for the national unity government which has been trapped in infighting ever since it was set up in 2014.

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Protests against President-elect Trump continue AsianVoiceNews

NEW YORK: Tens of thousands of people around America took to the streets to protest the election of Donald Trump, the f o u r t h straight day of demonstrations against t h e Republican president-elect.

In New York, an estimated 25,000 people covered a 20-block stretch of Fifth Avenue outside Trump Tower, the 58-story skyscraper fortified by the New York Police Department and US Secret Service agents. Two people were arrested, both for trying to hop over a police barricade, a senior police official said. The charges against the two people weren’t immediately clear.

Demonstrators have converged on Trump Tower daily since Trump was elected last week. Saturday’s protest was the largest to date but also orderly, compared with earlier protests, the police official said.

On Wednesday, police arrested 65 people, almost all for not following orders to stay out of the street. In Lose Angeles, about 8,000 people swarmed into the city’s downtown in one of the largest anti-Trump gatherings on the West Coast.

Throngs of people - including many families and childrenfilled Wilshire Boulevard, a major city thoroughfare, for a slow planned march downtown. The protesters held signs with slogans that have become familiar in the past few days: “Not My President” and “Reject Hate.”

Some demonstrators wore

Indian judge on Trump's SC nominee list

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safety pins - a gesture that has become a global symbol to the marginalized that they are “safe” with the person wearing the pin. Lose Angeles Police said four people were arrested for vandalism and one for “battery on a police officer” late on Saturday night. By then, most protesters had gone home. The “vast majority of Angelenos proved to the world you can speak your mind in a safe and respectful way,” an LA police department statement said on Sunday. Protesters also gathered in Oakland and California, but the crowd was significantly smaller than in the days immediately after the election, when hundreds of people rallied there.

“As someone that can’t vote, this is the most that I can do,” said 17-year-old Bridey Caramango, who has attended three protests since the election. Over the past few days, some demonstrators here left graffiti, broken windows, and burned trash bins in their tracks. Caramango denounced the protesters that come out for “the wrong reasons.” minority candidate shortlisted.

Bobby Jindal could be secy of health?

Bobby Jindal, a two-term Louisiana governor and the

Amul Thapar

Eight months after Sri Srinivasan missed out on becoming the first IndianAmerican judge in the US Supreme Court, another Indian has emerged in the running for the top judicial post. Amul Thapar, 47, a district court judge in the eastern American district of Kentucky, is among the nominees shortlisted for US Supreme Court by Trump.

Thapar's name figured in Trump's second list of 21 individuals, announced on September 23. As 45th US president, the business tycoon will be in a position to nominate three SC judges. Venezuelan-born Federico Moreno, 64, who sits in the US district court of Florida, is the only other

Bobby Jindal

first Indian American to be elected as a state governor, is among the shortlisted candidates for Trump's Cabinet, a media report said. If appointed, the 45year-old will be the first ever Indian-American to be included in the president's Cabinet and second ever to be elected to the US Congress. The Wall Street Journal said, Jindal is being considered for the position of secretary of health along with Ben Carson. Jindal did not respond to queries on his possible Cabinet position.

Caramango’s friend, Chloe Smith, 17, said attending this protest is a way for her to cope with the result of the election.

“It feels empowering after feeling powerless,” Smith said.

“Protests don’t accomplish anything, but at least it shows all the upset that’s been created.”

Though the largest protests have occurred in blue-state metropolises such as L.A., New York, Oakland and Chicago, there have been smaller demonstrations in red-state cities, including Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta.

Demonstrations also took place internationally. About 300 people protested Trump’s election outside the US Embassy in Berlin. In Mexico City, a group gathered at the city’s Independence monument, expressing concern about a possible wave of deportations.

For the most part, the protests in the US have been peaceful. But violence has flared in some cities as protesters confronted police, smashed windows and vandalized property.

During a protest in Portland, Ore., a man was shot and injured after a confrontation with a driver. Police said they arrested two teens in connection with the shooting, but the motive for the shooting is unclear.

At a Saturday afternoon press conference, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales asked residents to stay home instead of protesting and said the movement had been taken over by “people who simply want to fight with police.”

Trump to deport 3 mn US migrants sans papers Trump will keep his campaign promise to deport millions of undocumented migrants from the United States, the US president-elect said in an interview, declaring that as three million could be removed after he takes office. “We are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate (them),”

he said.

“What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, where a lot of these people, probably two million, it could be even three million,” Trump told CBS News. “We're getting them out of our country, they're here illegally,”he said.

Visits White House Trump came to the White House in Washington on Thursday pledging to work with the outgoing President, and in surprisingly restrained and respectful remarks, even saying he will seek his counsel on important issues.

WORLD Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

In Brief

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6 killed in Taliban attack on German consulate

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (AFGHANISTAN): The death toll from a Taliban truck bombing at the German consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-iSharif city rose to six, with more than 100 others wounded in a major militant assault. The Taliban said the bombing, which tore a massive crater in the road and overturned cars, was a “revenge attack” for US air strikes this month in the volatile province of Kunduz that left 32 civilians dead. The explosion, followed by sporadic gunfire, reverberated across the usually tranquil northern city, shearing off the facades of nearby buildings and blowing out windows several miles away. The city's hospitals received bodies of six civilians, including two killed by bullets. At least 128 others were wounded, some of them critically.

Taiwan set to legalize same-sex marriages, a first in Asia

TAIPEI: Lawmakers in Taiwan are currently working on three bills in support of marriage equality, one of which is already listed for review and could be passed within months.

Taiwan's first female head of state, President Tsai Ing-wen, has also given prominent support to same-sex marriage. Gay and lesbian relationships found wide acceptance in the 1990s as said by Jens Damm, associate professor in the Graduate Institute of Taiwan Studies at Chang Jung University. She added that the elite became in favour of a kind of gender equality, however, same-sex marriage still had to overcome traditional perceptions of gender roles and the strong pressure on children to marry and have kids. A notable exception among Asian and Middle Eastern countries, where at least 20 countries continue to ban same-sex intercourse.

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Karnataka Minister caught watching porn Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

BENGALURU: The ruling Siddaramaiah-led Congress government was recently shamed when the state's Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait was caught on camera watching sexually explicit pictures on his mobile phone during an official event.

Organised to mark the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan in Raichur, Sait who was the chief guest, could be seen scrolling down a list of seemingly explicit pictures on his phone in the middle of the function.

Kannada television channels aired the footage, prompting the Chief Minister

Tanveer Sait

and state Congress president G Parameshwar to take note of the incident. Meanwhile, the accused has denied all allegations.

Sait has, meanwhile, filed a complaint against a journalist and his cameraman, who

Sabarimala: Devotees divided over women's entry SABARIMALA (KERALA): As the Supreme Court takes its time to come with a verdict on whether women should be allowed to enter the Sannidhanam at Kerala's Sabarimala temple, the devotees have already given their ruling. A 40 year old, Subramaniam, who took 36 days to walk to the temple all the way from Telangana, said, "There are men who don't follow the 41-day strict ritual as part of preparations, they just come one day before and visit Ayyappa. If Ayyappa is okay about blessing them, then why can't he bless women of all ages?" He, however, found disagreement with his friend Satish Singh, who said that he left his daughter behind for the pilgrimage as she had begun menstruating. "Kerala government's decision is wrong. This is an old temple

Khattar pitches for separate HC for Haryana

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government has yet again voiced their demand for a separate high court for the state, along with an equal representation of Punjab and Haryana in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar took up the topic while speaking at a function after inaugurating an eLibrary set up in the court complex. Responding to the demand for a separate bench of the high court for Hisar raised by the advocates, Khattar said the decision on the creation of a separate bench would be taken by the judges of the Supreme Court, the high court, and the Union government. If the demands of the state government are met, demands made by Hisar advocates would also be met.

Khattar urged the advocates to provide cheap, convenient and immediate services to the people, especially the poor.

As the poor can't afford expensive legal fees, the state government has constituted legal services authorities at the district level to provide assistance to such persons, he said.

with old rituals and should be maintained. This is not any modern temple. Such tough rituals will only affect the health of women," Singh said.

Several devotees believe that as Lord Ayyappa was a "brahmachari" (celibate), women of certain age group are best kept away from the shrine.

Taking a crucial shift from the previous government's stand on the issue, the ruling LDF is for allowing women of all age into the temple.

Minister for Devaswom and electricity boards, Kadakamapally Surendran said, "Women of all age groups must be allowed."

shot a video of him purportedly watching sleazy pictures on his cellphone. "Based on the minister's complaint, we've registered a case against the TV reporter and cameraman," a senior police officer said.

The duo have been charged under IPC Section 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace).

The Chief Minister said: "I'm not aware of the development. I'll speak to Sait before reacting... (But) I'm not defending anyone. What's important is whether the mistake has been committed. I

don't want an innocent person to get punished, regardless of the person's stature or party affiliation. I won't accept the report Sait submits to me. I will get the incident probed before initiating action."

Former PM HD Deve Gowda said Siddaramaiah should have been careful while dealing with the issue.

He said: "The media has shown footage of Sait watching objectionable photos on his mobile. Instead of giving the minister a clean chit, the CM should order a probe into the incident. Now, a complaint has been filed against a media house."

SC pulls up Centre over Jallikattu issue NEW DELHI: Pulling up the Centre for trying to "import a Roman-type gladiator sport" despite a judgement that clearly banned Jallikattu as cruelty and crime to animals, the Supreme Court asked why bulls should be made to suffer merely for the entertainment of humans. A Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Rohinton Nariman tested the legality of the Centre's January 7 notification permitting Jallikattu.

"Can bulls be contemplated for entertainment of human mind? Bulls are supposed to rest, why should they race," they asked. The Bench further said that if the argument was that Jallikattu was a "sport", it was a "cruel" sport and cruelty on animals was prohibited by the law. When senior advocate for Tamil Nadu Shekhar Naphade said

when humans run marathons, why can't bulls be part of a sport. Justice Misra said, "Humans have free will, bulls are forced into it." The Apex Court called for compassion to animals citing it as our constitutional obligation, posting the matter for further hearing on November 16.

The Tamil Nadu government highlighted how there was nothing wrong in farmers practising Jallikattu in the semi-arid regions of the State if the Spanish Senate could declare the "far more cruel" sport of bull-fighting a cultural heritage.

SC gives Haryana water, fires up Punjab poll scene NEW DELHI: The PunjabHaryana dispute on the Satluj-Yamuna Link canal flared up after the Supreme Court declared Punjab's 2004 law that unilaterally scrapped the 1981 agreement to share Ravi and Beas rivers as "unconstitutional". The ruling triggered a massive political response ahead of the Punjab polls due next year as Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh resigned as the Amritsar Lok Sabha MP. All party MLAs from the assembly also resigned.

Meanwhile, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP state government announced that not a single drop will be shared even if it meant defying the SC. With the Jat Sikh farmers dominating state politics, no party can afford to alienate the key constituency. In a ruling that was delivered over 10 years later, a five-judge Constitution bench headed

by Justice AR Dave said Punjab could not unilaterally terminate the agreement by unconstitutional methods.

Also striking down the Punjab law, the apex court said the state has to construct

the unfinished portion of the SYL canal, according to January 2002 and June 2004 judgments. Openly defying the bench, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal remained adamant to his stand saying his government would not share a single drop of water with other states even if it meant going to jail. Meeting with the press after an emergency state cabinet meeting, Badal said fighting for the rights of Punjab's farmers was his priority.

Parallely, Amarinder, after his resignation, said his party would now go to the people to give them a mandate so that the Punjab assembly could pass a fresh law against the Supreme Court's order. He also criticised the government for challenging the Court." In an act of protest, all 42 Congress legislators resigned from the assembly a day after Amarinder quit.

The state government is in the works to bring a new bill on the inter-state water dispute, a move that could potentially complicate the legal fight with Haryana. The SAD-BJP government asked

President Pranab Mukherjee to ignore the SC's ruling terming it as "unconstitutional".

State government sources said the fresh bill was likely to be introduced at a special session of the assembly, and that the government has asked advocate general Ashok Aggarwal and other top legal personalities to put in place a strategy to hit-back politically and stay ahead of the Congress which has blamed the ruling alliance of failing to protect Punjab's interest in court. "The Supreme Court's judicial reference is not a binding on President who may accept, reject, or sent back to Supreme Court for fresh opinion. Punjab government has set up a team of lawyers, including me, to examine the advisory," Aggarwal said.

In his letter to the Prez, Badal wrote, "The Constitution clearly forbids the Centre from arrogating to itself the right to adjudicate on distribution of river waters among states. Grave injustice has been done to Punjab by the Centre, violating this Constitutional clause."

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Case against DMK candidate

MADURAI: Madurai police have registered a case against DMK candidate for Thirupparankundram by-election P Saravanam, on charges of bribing voters. A police official said, "The case was registered based on the video footage of Polimer TV report." He said the police have identified the recipients and suspects who had reportedly distributed money and had been summoned for questioning.

"Initially, it was reported that the incident of a DMK man giving money to women happened in Nilaiyur under Madurai rural police limits.

However, during investigation, we found that it occurred on Om Sakthi Nagar in Madurai city police limits. After preliminary investigation, the case would be transferred to Madurai city police," he said.

Telugu star Pawan Kalyan to contest Assembly polls

VIJAYAWADA: Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan has announced that he would contest the Assembly election in 2019. Addressing a public rally in Anantapuramu, he said, "I don't know if I will win or not, whether you will vote for me or not. But I will continue my fight for you. I will always stand by you and fight for people's problems." The rally was a part of the party's programme to gain support for the cause of special category status to the state. He said he would contest for an MLA seat, but did not mention if Jana Sena would field other candidates as well. Kalyan said he sought an appointment with the Prime Minister to discuss the special category statues issue, also criticising Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu and YS Chowdhary on the "special package" they claimed to have achieved for AP. "Your package is like a paper plane. It doesn't fly," he said.

Undertrial stabbed to death with spoon in jail

MYSURU: A murder accused was fatally stabbed with a spoon at the Mysuru Central Prison last week. In an attack that raised communal tensions in the city, undertrial Kiran Shetty, 20, repeatedly stabbed Mohammed Mustafa, 31, with a sharpened spoon after lunch. A police officer said Kiran smuggled the spoon from the jail kitchen two days before and turned it into a weapon by sharpening it. He stabbed Mustafa on the face, neck, and the abdomen. Police Commissioner AS Rao said Kiran attacked the victim after he left for the jail's dispensary to buy medicine.

Kirpal Singh elected SGPC chief

AMRITSAR: Sikh intellectual Kirpal Singh Badunagar has been elected as the new president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, to replace outgoing Avtar Singh Makkar who has held the post for 11 years.

Election for the top SGPC post was held after nearly six years. Badunagar will have a new team of office bearers and executives to work with. Akali Dal spokesperson and Punjab Education minister Daljit Singh Cheema welcomed the "unanimous election". Cheema praised the new leader saying, "He has all the qualities and experience to be the SGPC chief.

He has been elected for the third time."

Modi to address BJP rally

CHANDIGARH: Gearing up for the upcoming Assembly polls in Punjab, the BJP has planned a rally to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December, along with a programme where party chief Amit Shah will address booth-level workers in the state. "We have planned a big rally in the middle of December which will be addressed by PM Narendra Modi," said Punjab BJP President Vijay Sampla. Venue for the rally is yet to be finalised. While Sampla said, "A booth sammelan will be held in which Amit Shah will be present," he added that the "date is yet to be finalised." In the sammelan, the BJP chief will address booth-level workers of 23 assembly constituencies in which there are 4,000 booths, he said. There are also plans to invite Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, and other senior leaders to participate in the proposed rallies.

HERITAGE - HISTORY Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

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25

Accession of King Rama X to the throne in Thailand AsianVoiceNews

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Never colonised by a European power, a South-east Asian Buddhist country with a Hindu culture, influenced by Ramayana and Sanskrit

Dr Hari Desai

Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only South-east Asian country never to have been colonised by a European power. The world’s longest reigning God-like monarch Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej (88) died on October 13, 2016, and the reluctant 64-yearold Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is to be named as the country’s new King on December 1, 2016. The much-married – with all the three marriages ending in divorce – Crown Prince has been living in Paris and the west-

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to be King

Thailand King, the Crown Prince and the Queen.

ern media prefers to call him a “Playboy”.

In the military-ruled Thailand there is a strict penal provision for imprisonment if the media or any citizen insults the Royal family or uses a derogatory remark about them.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy since 1932. The King in the current Chakri dynasty is often referred to as Rama, the ideal ruler. Though the country is Buddhist, the influence of Indian culture and Hindu customs is visible in every aspect of life.

The coronation of the new King would be performed

by Hindu Brahmanas first, followed by the Buddhists.

In “Hinduism in Thai Life”, Santosh N Desai states: “The first is the Rajyabhiseka, the Brahmanical Rajasuya, the anointment. The second part of the Thai ceremony is the actual crowning. The coronation made the King a divine being – Siva or Visnu – a possessor of Sakti, the divine power.

The Thai King, like the ancient Hindu King of India, always sits on the throne facing the east. The

Thai Queen greets Queen Elizabeth as King Bhumibol looks on

idea implied is that the King is equivalent to the Sun. The Kings are Gods but they are more particularly Sun-Gods.”

The Hindu epics, primarily the Ramayana, depict for the Thai the model of a righteous King, the Dharma-Raja, and also give them an outlet for their literary and artistic expression. The nation of 68 million people is currently in a state of mourn-

Sirindhorn never married and is a world-renowned scholar of Sanskrit. Others are married and are divorced, having children too. The Crown Prince has four children but he prefers to stay away from them.

Dr Satya Vrat Shastri (86), the world-renowned Sanskrit scholar and Professor of Delhi University, taught Sanskrit to Princess Sirindhon when he was on assignment as the Visiting Professor at Chulalongkorn University of Thailand.

He says: “Thai language has majority of Sanskrit as well as Pali words.” Prof Shastri has got research-based books like “Brahmanas of Thailand”. He got the Royal honour and Jnanpith Award too.

The Prime Minister, General Prayuth ChanOcha, and his cabinet got the new Constitution

ing, which will last a year.

Although the heir to the throne can become the King at any time, the Royal Coronation will not be held until the official cremation takes place late next year.

The King Bhumibol, born in 1927, was King Rama IX and his Crown Prince would be named as King Rama X. Bhumibol ascended to the throne following the death of his

The Garuda, the National Emblem of Thailand

Eminent Sanskrit scholar, Prof Satya Vrat Shastri receiving the 42nd Jnanpith Award for the year 2006 from Princess of Thailand, Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as Dr Karan Singh looks on

brother, King Ananda Mahidol, on June 9, 1946.

He was officially crowned on May 5, 1950. He was married to Queen Sirikit and the couple’s four children include Princess Ubolratna Rajakanya (b.1951), Crown Prince Maha Vajralongkorn (b.1952), Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (b.1955) and Princess Chulabhom Walailak (b.1957).

Princess

approved through referendum. It is time to implement it. Elections are tentatively set for mid-2017.

Thailand has been facing frequent coups. Since January 2004, thousands have been killed and wounded in the insurgency. Otherwise a beautiful country, Thailand is facing separatist violence predominantly in MalayMuslim southern provinces, forced labour

and sex trafficking, illicit drug trafficking and spread of the deadly HIV/AIDs. The country with an estimated population of 68,200,824 has 4,38,100 people living with HIV/AIDs and an average 14,000 yearly deaths due to HIV/AIDs. The Ramayana is very popular among the masses and people expect the ideals of Rama in their God-like King. “The Thai story does not regard abduction of Sita by Ravana as an immoral act, violating the sacred state of matrimony.” writes S N Desai. He adds: “The Thai story describes Ravana’s action with sympathy and understanding. Ravana’s ability as a scholar and a resourceful character is admired.”

The old city founded in 1350, Ayutthaya (Ayodhya), just 70 km north of the Thai capital Bangkok, was the capital of a powerful BuddhistHindu empire for 400 years but war with neighbouring Burma (Myanmar) led to its destruction in 1767. All that is left today are the magnificent ruins, still a revered place of pilgrimage for Buddhists.

Tim Curtis of UNESCO is quoted saying, “In the 17th century, Ayutthaya was one of the world’s largest cities as big as Paris.” The national symbols of Thailand are Garuda-mythical halfman, half-bird figure and elephant.

Historically, the status of Kings was evaluated by the number of white elephants in their possession.

To pay respect to Bhumibol, 9 white elephants and two white painted elephants had visited the Grand Palace on November 8, 2016. This is quite significant.

Next Column : The Untold story of the Indian Constitution (The writer is a Socio-political Historian. E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com )

26

INDIA

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

SC refuses to stay demonetisation order

Continued from page 1 the black money hoarders do not even have the money they once used to have in their pyjamas,” Advocate General Mukul Rohatgi submitted. He argued that the only argument raised against demonetisation is “inconvenience”.

“Some collateral damage will take place. I could not calibrate the 200,000 ATMs that would have brought the cat out of the bag. I could not print or keep the new money in godowns. There is some pain, we understand. But our objective is to wipe out black money and end terror financing. Though it is not in our or anybody’s interest to have people wait in queues, I have to say that for 50 years, when others were in power, we used to wait for our Fiat car, gas and phone connection... We waited. Now, people are willing to wait.”

He said the “poor man” does not anyway have excess cash. “Poor man does not have Rs 2,000,000.” He submitted, “Indians are intelligent.

They booked air tickets and train reservations with their black money only to withdraw them in new notes,” adding that though

there is “some pain”, people can make transactions through Paytm, cards, online transfers, etc. Sibal retorted by saying, “Paytm is a Chinese company. And yes... now we have become a truly cashless society.

Nobody has any money with them.”

Major inconvenience has been caused following the notification that intended to slap corruption in the face. People are seen standing in neverending lines outside banks and ATMs, as they scurry to deposit or withdraw their money before the government-given deadline.

The Opposition tried to make the most out of the rising intolerance of the aam aadmi, with Congress vice-president Rahul

Gandhi choosing to stand in a queue himself, to withdraw money. Calling this a major scam, and blaming Modiji for informing his friends beforehand, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam

Modi said, “I know the people are facing problem but I am doing this for betterment of the country, but I am sure the people are willing to suffer a bit to clean the system. I am fighting for honesty.”

Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the demonetisation scheme, terming it as a “fraud”

aimed at benefiting a “particular political party”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemed unfazed with the accusations and the whining as he said he was fully aware of the inconvenience the people of the country were facing following demonetisation.

Addressing a public meeting in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, “I know the people are facing problem but I am doing this for betterment of the country, but I am sure the people are willing to suffer a bit to clean the system. I am fighting for honesty.”

He lashed out at black money holders, especially politicians who raised their voices against the scrapping of the notes. In a

India and Japan sign landmark nuclear deal Continued from page 1 sources of equipment and technology it will need to boost nuclear power generation. Following the signing of the agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a three-day trip to the Asian country, called the agreement for cooperation a “historic step” in India’s engagement to build a clean energy partnership.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted, “A landmark deal for a cleaner, greener world.

PM Narendra Modi and PM Shinzo Abe witness exchange of the landmark nuclear agreement.”

Japanese Prime Minister Abe noted, “This agreement is a legal framework that India will act responsibly in peaceful uses of nuclear energy and also in non-proliferation regime even though India is not a participant or signatory of NPT.” He added that it “is in line with Japan’s ambition to create a world without nuclear weapons”.

Briefing the press, foreign secretary S Jaishankar said the Japan nuclear deal had a number of similarities with the US deal. While the US deal was covered in four different stages, the Japan deal pushed all four stages into one – a 123 agreement, reprocessing, administrative arrangements and NSG. The host country has built in a clause that it would cease cooperation if India conducted nuclear

Highlights of Modi’s visit to Japan

• Both sides have signed five pacts covering defence exchanges, cooperation in clean energy, roads and highways, healthcare and women while vowing to take their relationship from strategic partnership to a special strategic partnership.

• Japan has lifted the ban on six Indian entities, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which was imposed in the aftermath of 1998 nuclear tests.

• Tokyo will help India in providing financial, technical and operational support to introduce Bullet trains, a project that Modi has been actively pursuing.

• Both sides have signed an MoU for cooperation in heritage conservation, city modernisation and cooperation in the fields of art, culture and academics.

• Japan has promised to give $35 billion to India through public and private funding over the next 5 years for developmental projects, including building of smart cities and cleanup of river Ganges.

tests. While Abe referred to both NPT and CTBT, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s position saying it abided by both the agreements even though it was not a signatory. Despite India’s pact with the United States, this agreement remains significant. India commissioned six EPR reactors from Areva and another four from ToshibaWestinghouse. Both companies use Japanese components which would not be forthcoming in the absence of a nuclear deal with Japan. During his trip to Tokyo, Modi spoke at the CII-KEIDANREN business luncheon where he stated that his personal engagements with leadership, government, industry, and people of Japan are now almost a decade old. “The growing convergence of views between Japan and India under our Special Strategic and Global Partnership has the capacity to drive the regional economy and development, and stimulate the global growth. Strong India-Japan ties will enrich our two nations. It will also be a stabilising factor in Asia and the world,” Modi said. He said that even against a weak international economic scenario, the news from India is of strong growth and abundant opportunities. “In 2015, the Indian economy grew faster than other major economies. World Bank and IMF assess this trend to

continue. Lower labour costs, large domestic market and macro-economic stability combine to make India a very attractive investment destination.”

He also praised and thanked Japan, pitching in his ‘Make in India’ scheme, promising that people of Japan who are looking to explore their options in India that his government remains committed to further refine the policies and procedures to boost business. “I have long maintained that India needs scale, speed, and skill.

Japan has a very important role to play in all three. Its involvement in our mega projects like Dedicated Freight Corridors, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Metro Rail, and High Speed Rail signifies scale and speed,” Modi said.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Japan, Modi assured them of his decision to demonetise Rs 500 and 1,000 notes. He said that he was aware of the hardship people were facing in India but emphasised it was necessary in the larger interests of the nation.

“I know it is difficult.

People are made to speak against Modi but I salute the people... some stood in the queues for five hours, six hours but endured the hardship. The same way as people in Japan endured in 2011,” he said in reference to the earthquake-triggered tsuname that hit the nation.

veiled attack at BSP chief Mayawati, Modi said, “Some politicians love to wear garland of currency notes. They are agitated because they do not know what to do with their black money that they are holding.”

He also targeted Congress asserting leaders were hiding their own trouble by raising issues of public inconvenience.

“Congress had also scrapped 25 paise once, they should tell under which law did they do so?

The Congress had scrapped 25 paise according to their stature and I scrapped Rs 500, 1,000 according to my stature.”

Following the announcement, people have resorted to several desperate measures to dispose of their bundles of cash. While many chose to burn it in sacks, others thought it best to dump it in the Ganges. The weakhearted even chose to end their own life. Then there were those who used the poor class to their interest.

Workers and daily wage earners could be seen standing in line with cash in their pocket, spending the day making multiple transactions. However, the government was quick to deal with the evolving situation.

Department of

AsianVoiceNewsweekly Economic Affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said banks will now start applying indelible ink on customers’ fingers similar to the election system. This is being done to prevent people from transacting multiple times at a branch.

“Customers who come to banks to withdraw or exchange or deposit cash will be marked with indelible ink to prevent them from making multiple transactions on the same day. The banks have been given operational instructions on how to differentiate between customers who come the next day and same day. This has been done to curb the queue at banks which have given rise to suspicion that some unscrupulous elements are trying to whiten their black money using third party help. This is severely restricting the facility to the needy,” he said.

He also said that Jan Dhan Yojana (JDY) accounts that have been used to deposit huge amounts of money are under close scrutiny as it is a misuse of such accounts.

Das added that the government has appealed to the JDY account holders to not allow such tax evaders to use their accounts, promising that legitimate money will never come under scrutiny.

India, Israel to boost defence, anti-terror cooperation

Narendra Modi with Reuven Rivlin

With an objective to boost their growing proximity, both India and Israel have decided to further "broadbase" their already close defence partnership and intensify cooperation in combating radicalisation and extremism. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who is on his maiden trip to India, has pushed talks to deepen cooperation in several areas, including trade and investment, agriculture, water resources, and cyber crime.

Following extensive talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both leaders released a statement saying people of the two countries were constantly threatened by forces of terrorism and extremism and both sides agreed to intensify cooperation in combating them effectively.

"We recognise that terrorism is a global challenge, knows no boundaries and has extensive links with other forms of organised

crime," Modi said. "We agreed that the international community must act with resolve and determination against terror networks and States that harbour them.

Failure to act and silence of speech only encourages the terrorists." He also made a dig at Pakistan, saying, "Regrettably, one of the countries of its origin and spread is in India's neighbourhood."

Modi stated that Rivlin's visit gives a "crucial push" to efforts to build new pillars in bilateral ties, adding that they noted the strength of the growing defence partnership and agreed on the need to make it "more broad-based" through production and manufacturing partnerships. Both India and Israel signed two pacts to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and water resources management sectors. "we stand together in defending our people and our values," Rivlin said.

HEALTH&WELLNESS

AsianVoiceNewsweekly| Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

AsianVoiceNews

Natural ways to have a healthy heart FITNESS

FOOD

LIFESTYLE

H

eart is one of the biggest killers, taking life of over 17 million people every year. A drastic change in lifestyle has made individuals more vulnerable towards different heart ailments. While this may be the most talked about organ of the body it is also the most delicate and imperative for one's healthy living. One heart surgeon says, “Changing lifestyle has played a major role in making the heart ailment grow in numbers. Eighty per cent of heart patients have it running in their lineage thus hereditary being the foremost reason and the lifestyle can only be blamed. Although it is extremely difficult to say exact reasons and remedies as there are individuals following good habits and still have heart blockage but it sure can be tried to prevent.” He adds,“regular and proper exercise, proper food, sports activities, hobbies, staying social can immensely help. Following are some of the natural remedies: HEALTHY

START:

Blood

up body's sodium excretion.

DE-STRESS: Laugh on funny statements, jokes, silly liners, look at yourself in mirror and laugh. Let the stress not be built upon you. Meditate or do yoga for fantastic results

pressure and cholesterol play major role in inviting heart diseases. Green Tea immensely helps cutting down on these by adding antioxidants in bulk, thus swear by green tea.

cause, there is no better way than to exercise to prevent heart attack. Even the lighter forms like Aerobics, swimming, horse riding, dancing can immensely help.

A GOOD ALTERNATE: If green tea doesn't appeal your taste buds go for juice.

Especially orange juice helps lower your levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to a higher heart attack risk while grape juice helps discourage red blood cells from clumping together and forming an artery-blocking clot.

SWEET GESTURES: Stay in touch with your loved ones, do something sweet for your spouse or friends.

Strong ties to family, friends, and community reduce anxiety and fight depression - two factors that increase your risk of a heart attack.

MOVE ON: Sedentary lifestyle be held for the

GO BANANAS: Bananas or other vegetables and fruits high on potassium shall help. The potassium rich foods will help as it speeds

esearchers from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have developed a new way to calculate a person's 10-year risk for heart disease by analysing his blood, a method which has greater precision than identifying traditional risk factors alone. When someone visits his general practitioner, he can get his blood analysed for cholesterol and triglycerides, to get an idea of his risk for cardiovascular disease.

With additional information about Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking habits and blood pressure, this can be used to calculate his 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease, according to researchers.

There are several risk prediction calculators available today. However, the use of risk prediction calculators has declined in the primary care setting because the currently available calculators only explain a modest proportion of the incidence, researchers said.

For myocardial infarc-

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...

tion, it is estimated that 15-20 per cent of the patients had none of the traditional risk factors and would be classified as "low risk," they said.

"Our study showed that by measuring a combination of five different microRNAs and adding this information to the traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, we could identify those that were going to experience a myocardial infarction with considerably improved precision," said Anja Bye from NTNU. There have been several attempts during the last years to improve the risk prediction calculators by adding new bio markers.

Some calculators add information of an inflammation marker in blood called CRP (C-reactive

protein) or a diabetic marker called HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin), researchers said.

This increases the accuracy of the calculators, but still there is a need for new cardiovascular bio markers that could complement the assessment of traditional risk factors, to identify the

SUN BATHING: Vitamin D is not only good for your bone strength, but has also been shown as a serious preventative vitamin for heartrelated diseases thus let the natural source of vitamin D soak you.

GET A PET: Studies have shown that connecting with a pet can increase your overall quality of life, lower stress, cause you to be more active, and generally reduce your chances of developing heart conditions.

individuals at risk with greater precision than today, they said.

It was based on this that r e s e a r c h e r s designed this study to explore the possibility of a new type of bio marker called c i r c u l a t i n g microRNAs, to predict 10-year risk for myocardial infarction.

They included 212 healthy participants (40-70 years) from the NordTrondelag Health Study 2 (HUNT2, blood collected in 1996) that either died from myocardial infarction within 10 years or remained healthy at the time of HUNT3 (2006).

As many as 179 different microRNAs were quantified in blood samples from these participants.

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Diluted honey may help in fighting urine infections

SLEEP WELL: Sleep is essential to heart health.

Lack of sleep has been connected to calcium build-up in the arteries, which can cause heart attacks.

Additional stress, irritability, and poor lifestyle choices are also a result of improper sleeping habits.

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A

recent research has found that honey and water might be a useful weapon against urine infections in hospital patients, who have a catheter fitted, either to drain urine stuck in the bladder or to monitor urine output. Scientists at University of Southampton have shown that diluted honey stops some common bacteria from forming sticky.

Honey has been used for centuries as a natural antiseptic to treat burns and wounds and many companies now sell a range of "medical grade" honey products that comply with regulatory standards. The researchers looked at two common bacteria that can cause urine and bladder infections - E. coli and Proteus mirabilis.

Even at low dilution of about 3.3 per cent, the honey solution appeared to stop the bacteria from clustering together and creating layers of known biofilm. Lead researcher Bashir Lwaleed used Manuka honey (made by

bees that feed on the nectar of the manuka tree) in their study because this dark-coloured honey from Australia and New Zealand is known to have bacterialfighting properties.

They said other types of honey might work too, but they have not tested this.

"Nobody knows exactly how or why honey works as an antibacterial. And we don't know how well honey would be tolerated in the bladder. We are the first to propose this," Lwaleed said.

Professor Dame Nicky Cullum, an expert in wound care has also looked at the evidence around honey as a treatment. "This work from Southampton is at a very early stage so we shouldn't get too excited.

But it is an interesting avenue that is worth pursuing," she said. She added, "Obviously, we'd need more studies to check that it wouldn't irritate the bladder or cause any other problems. People like things that are natural but they are not always more effective."

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Pooja Hegde excited about working with Allu Arjun

Asian Voice

19th November 2016

P

ooja Hegde of 'Mohenjo Daro' fame, has begun work on her next, a Telugu film titled 'Duvvada Jagannadham'. Excited for the movie helmed by Harish Shankar, she said, "My fans on social media are very active.

When I was working on 'Mohenjo Daro', they kept telling me do a Telugu film soon. I realised I missed my Telugu fans.

All this got me really excited when 'Duvvada Jagannadham' was offered and it came to me at the right time."

Pooja called it a "fun" film,

adding it was important for her to do a "light-hearted entertainer" after her last Bollywood venture. "I have always wanted to work with Allu Arjun, and this project had everything I was looking for. Although, I can't talk about my character, I am confident that it will be very different from anything I have done so far in Telugu filmdom." She continued, "I'm looking forward to working with him in general. I never really got to dance in my Telugu films, so I'm hoping there's scope for dancing in this project."

Samantha and Naga Chaitanya to come together

I

f rumours are to be believed, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya will soon be seen together in the Telugu version of '2 States'. Apparently, ever since the Arjun KapoorAlia Bhatt movie came out, filmmakers in the industry have been looking to remake it in their regional language.

Recent buzz is that Abhishek Nama of Abhishek Pictures has acquired the rights of the Hindi film, for Rs 5500,000. When asked about the remake, he confirmed the news, also informing that he will introduce VV Vinayak's apprentice Venkat Kuchem as an independent director for it.

It is Nama who thinks Sam and Naga will be perfect for the

roles. Talking to a leading local, he said, "Samantha is a Malayali and Naga Chaitanya is a Telugu boy, so the subject suits them and their real life relationship will add glamour to it if they sign this film." Both the actors in question have shared great onscreen and offscreen chemistry in the past. They are in fact, in a relationship and are all set to marry. Fans can't get enough of the pairing and it would be a delight if they choose to accept the offer.

'2 States' is a Bollywood movie based on a book by the same name written by author Chetan Bhagat. It is about a Punjabi boy and a South Indian girl who fall in love and struggle to convince their families.

'Pulimurugan' hits historic 100

T

he first Malayalam film ever to collect a Rs 100 crore (ÂŁ 10 million) at the box office, Mohan Lal's 'Pulimurugan' took yet another honour within a month of its release. While Bollywood has long walked past the milestone, it remains a big deal in the Kerala film industry.

The movie opened to a raging audience on October 7, most of the credit for which can be given to Lalettan's evergrowing fan club. While producer Tomichan Mulakupudam and director Vysakh were confident of the chances of their movie breaking the barrier, not all were.

"Nobody could have

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expected 'Pulimurugan' to make Rs 100 crore, that too within a month. It is no doubt a big achievement for Malayalam cinema; its success surely would encourage our producers to spend more on films," said director M Padmakumar.

Tomichan had spent Rs 25 crore on a film, eventhough it is possible to make a Malayalam film featuring a superstar for less than Rs 7 crore. He said he not only invested in the making of the film, but on marketing also. "I backed my instinct, though I knew I was taking a big gamble," he said.

'Pulimurugan' was re;eased in major Indian cities, Gulf countries, and Europe including Poland.

Kajal Aggarwal wants to act in 'Bahubali 3'

S

outh Indian hottie Kajal Aggarwal said she would leave everything in this world to act in 'Baahubali 3', if at all it is ever made and offered to her. While she does not regret being left out of the franchise, she said she was proud of the film that matches international standards. "I will leave everything to act in 'Baahubali 3'. That would be my first preference.

More than feeling left out, I had a sense of pride when I saw the film. It is

amazing. It is at par with any international film," she said.

Talking about director S S Rajamouli, she added, "It is not possible to have a trend of 'Baahubali'. It is too expensive. We can't afford it in our industry.

This kind of films are made once in a while."

The actress also said that films like the one are too expensive and the industry cannot afford to make such films every now and then.

Soundarya Rajinikanth to direct Dhanush

I

n a social media announcement, Soundarya Rajinikanth said she would be collaborating with husband and actor Dhanush for a sequel of 2014 Tamil drama 'Vella Illa Pattathari'.

Sharing a motion poster of

the film on micro-blogging website Twitter, Soundarya wrote "Proud to be directing @dhanushkraja in this Cult Franchise for @theVcreations & @WunderbarFilms_ #D33 #BiLingual #Tamil&Telugu."

The movie will be

bankrolled by 'Kabali' producer Kalaipuli S Thanu and will be shot in both, Tamil and Telugu languages. Music will be composed by Sean Roldan with Anirudh Ravichander's background score from the first part to stay put.

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Shah Rukh launches his biography Sridevi upset with AsianVoiceNews

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Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

B

ollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan launched a biography on him written by 'Kuchh Meetha ho Jaye' director Samar Khan.

Speaking at the event, the actor shared his beautiful journey of 25 years as a simple guy from Delhi to the King of Romance he is today. "An actor is just like water... he should just adapt the colour and shape. I believe the art is important, the artist is not.

The art remains and not the artist and as an actor, I feel if I think like that I can work with some amount of purity. The purity will be retained if I believe that my art is important than myself," he said.

"Twenty-five years in

the film industry was big dream for a boy who came from Delhi all those years ago. These years have been full of excitement, hard work and various ups and downs and this book is a tribute to all these filmmakers who believed in me and my dreams. I am

extremely thankful to all my fans who have made me who I am today." He also added, "I was an oddlooking guy, I was not from a film background, I spoke too fast but I am thankful all the filmmakers and those friends who gave me an opportunity.

to the audience, she even gave him a hug! While on a show 'Yaroon Ki Barat', with 'Rock On 2' co-actor Farhan Akhtar, the 'Ek Villain' actress introduced her stalker who was sitting in the audience.

She also mentioned that she was meeting the boy for the 17th time that day. While we are yet to know the implications of the action, we sure appreciate Shraddha's technique.

t is a big task to step into superstar Salman Khan's shoes, and boy we would love to watch Varun Dhawan try. The 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania' actor is set to feature in Salman's cult classic 'Judwaa' which will be directed by his father David Dhawan. However, that is not the best part.

Salman has been roped in to do a cameo in the movie, and he will feature as a "godfather gunda" to the twins Varun plays.

A source clost to the unit said, "It's a commercial film being planned on a grand scale with beach locations in the Mediterranean. The script is generously peppered

with tapori slang and a remix of the chartbuster 'Tan Tana Tan Tan Tan Tara' from the original is in the works. The icing on the cake is that a special appearance is being written for Bhaijaan.

Salman has already agreed to step in as a godfather gunda." 'Judwaa 2' will be shot in scenic beach-locales along the Mediterranean.

Talking about the project, Varun said, "It's a special film because in a career spanning over 50 films, my dad has explored every aspect of comedy.

Now I want him to make a film from his heart. He has nothing to prove to anyone anymore."

However, this time, he agreed to come on board and ended up walking out mid shoot.

"I was cracking jokes on his earlier films like 'Paap'. That's when he told me that those were his favourite films.

Sometime later, when he refused to shake a leg with Sonakshi and me on stage, I realised that he was upset. He soon walked out and I ran after him, but he left. I want to apolo-

gise to him. I haven't slept since the last few days because of this," Krushna said.

This isn't the first time a celebrity walked out of his show. Last month, Tannishtha walked out after the anchor made jibes at her skin complexion.

Krushna said that while he had issued an apology to her, it didn't bother him as much as the issue with Abraham. He feels that the actor is one of the most genuine guys in the industry.

Shraddha Kapoor hugs her stalker

F

John Abraham walks out of comedy show

A

fter Tannishta Chatterjee, it was John Abraham's turn to walk out a comedy show. On the 'Comedy Nights Bachao Taaza' to promote his upcoming action thriller 'Force' opposite Sonakshi Sinha, Abraham found himself the butt of jokes made by comedian Krushna and his team. Sources say the actor was initially reluctant to promote his film 'Dishoom' on the show as he wasn't too delighted with the show's roast format.

daughter Jhanvi?

Varun Dhawan to step into Salman's shoes

I

andom has its perks, except for when one tries to get a tad too close. While stalkers are immediately reported to the police, our little rockstar Shraddha Kapoor has her own unique way of dealing with them. In a positive way to check stalking, the actress decided to call a man on stage where she was performing when she saw him for the 17th time in the same day.

Not only introduce him

So for me if a newcomer comes I have been trained by people like these to respect the newcomer and love them." Titled '25 Years of a Life', the book captures several interesting incidents from Khan's raging journey in the industry.

Samar said, "This book was the perfect chance for me to tell the SRK story from a different lens. I would like to thank everyone involved who has made this dream project a reality." Khan even took to Twitter to thank the writer, saying, "Thk u @samarmumbaikhan this is so special. The book is lovely & my lil 1 is happy to c so many papas #25yearsofalife".

Y

esteryear actress Sridevi's elder daughter Jhanvi has been quite in the news lately with people anticipating her grand Bollywood debut. While the mother has profusely refused to any such rumour, saying she should concentrate on her education for now and later decide her career path. However, it seems Sridevi is more than just a doting mother. If the grapevine is to be trusted, the 'English Vinglish' actress has a tight hand over her children. A picture of Jhanvi kissing her rumoured boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya surfaced on the internet making

mommy dearest livid and setting down a few ground rules. Entering the movie industry at a very young age, Sri herself had remained a loyal daughter, always listening to her mother and taking her advice. It is said that she now wants her daughter to do the same. In fact, when Jhanvi was contacted by the media to get her side of the story, she stuck with her mother's classic 'Ask Mummy' answer.

Stardom comes at a cost. Already exposed to the media at such a tender age, does it really help when your parents draw lines instead of standing by you?

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Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Shri Aswinbhai Pritamlal Joshi passes away Shri Aswinbhai Pritamlal Joshi hailed from Rajkot in Saurashtra. He had an illustrious education at Rajkumar College while his grandfather Mohanlal Mayashakar Joshi and father Pritamlal Mohanlal Joshi had been establishing the family business M. M. Joshi and Sons (Pty) Ltd in South Africa.

His grandfather, Shri M M Joshi, had moved to South Africa in 1904 at Gandhiji’s motivation.

The families had know each other well from Rajkot and it was Gandhiji who convinced MM Joshi to move with him to South Africa and he also made all necessary arrangements for passage and for settling there. Having gone there with little other than a sharp intellect, good education and excellent command of English, in short time M M Joshi established himself as a leading member of the community and as a successful businessman. M M Joshi and Sons was born and grew into one of the South Africa’s leading businesses.

Over the years, Aswinbhai took the reins as Managing Director and the business expanded rapidly. The business was well established as a leading player in the FMCG space covering wholesaling and later retailing. It was also one of the leading players in in import/export from South Africa. Branching out, he also launched a logistics company Sun-Joss Warehousing and Distribution that was one of the first done so by an Asian. In another first, he and a group of partners led the formation of one of

as one of the original satsangi’s. In addition he also supported many other religious institutions across all religions.

In later years, he played an active role in the Senior Citizens group including organising many overseas trips. This group were more active than many youngsters! A particularly memorable trip was a visit to Europe and London where CB Patel and myself hosted the delegation for an afternoon of Gujarati comedy at our place in London.

Shri Aswinbhai Pritamlal Joshi He played a vital role in the lives of many young the first wholesale consorGujarati’s including entretiums, Circle Buying and preneurs and professionMarketing which soon als. He provided many of grew to be a substantial them with a springboard force in SA wholesaling. for the ideas and always He was also a founding drove them to achieve member and Director of more than they thought Pragati, a property they could. His encourfocused investment busiagement gave many the ness that accumulated one ability to succeed in the of the largest property ventures. He brought his portfolios in the commubusiness experience to the nity through the years. He benefit of these and also was also a founder Trustee our community instituof the first Co-operative tions.

Bank established for our His eldest son, Dixit is community in SA. leading global investment In addition to busibanker currently serving ness, he was a staunch as a Managing Director of supporter of social and Deutsche Bank in Hindu causes. He served London. With his fathers as a Board member of the encouragement he has Shree Pretoria Hindu Seva had an illustrious career Samaj and was also a key having lived in NY, Hong figure in the Navyug Kong and London. group. He played a key Miheer, second son has hand in the management been a leading accountant of the Gujarati School in in London, and is now Pretoria. He was a well back in South Africa havknown and dedicated suping been asked to serve porter to many instituwith Saatchi and Saatchi, tions especially Baps the leading global marketSwaminarayan Sanstha, ing and communications having met Yogi Bapa in firm. Jayneel, youngest, is his early years and hosted one of South Africa’s few Pujya Pramukh Swami specialist paediatric cardiand santo many times at ologists. our home in South Africa -

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 It's a good time for getting

on with your work colleagues, as Venus embraces your 10th house. Bear in mind that Mars is transiting your eleventh house of friends and associates as well. The next few weeks would serve you well if you spend more time listening than speaking.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 If you are taking a holiday,

so much the better ! Not only do you have Venus putting a favourable emphasis on travel but also you can be sure of deriving the utmost pleasure from adventures, excursions and romance. There are influences around you now that will give you great confidence.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Long-term

partnerships are reinvigorated by Venus transiting your solar 8th house. Whether you’re single or attached you’ll have a busy time ahead of you. You may find that you can enrich your lifestyle considerably by simplifying certain areas and re-organising your priorities.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Venus, the planet of love and romance throws a pleasing light on affairs of the heart. It is certainly going to be a fortunate time for those already married or in an established relationship.

The keynote is emotional enrichment through close interaction with a loved one.

Sneh Joshi LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

India husband killing suspect refused bail A court in India has turned down a bail application for a Derby woman accused of plotting to kill her husband. Ramandeep Kaur Mann, 31, denies involvement in the killing of Sukhjit Singh, 34, who was found with his throat slit on 2 September in Banda, Uttar Pradesh.

Ms Kaur Mann is accused alongside her alleged lover, Mr Singh's childhood friend Gurpreet Singh.

Lawyers applied for her to be released while the investigation takes place.

The judge did not specify a reason for turning down the application, her lawyer Benant Noor Singh said. Sukhjit Singh, from Littleover, in Derby, was

Ramandeep Kaur Mann denies plotting to kill her husband Sukhjit Singh

visiting his mother in Banda, about 450km (280 miles) south east of New Delhi with his wife, when he was killed.

Ms Kaur Mann's family have claimed she is being used as a scapegoat and the couple were happily married for 11 years.

Willesden shisha café owner fined for selling illegal tobacco products

The owner of a now closed shisha café in Willesden has been fined £1,500 for selling illegal tobacco products. Rumel Miah, director of Retreat Café Ltd trading as Zayna Egyptian Café and Shisha Bar in the High Road, was fined £750 with costs of £750 by Willesden Magistrates Court.

Mr Miah, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was penalised for allowing customers to smoke in an enclosed area, serving illegal tobacco products, displaying a tobacco menu and failing to display ownership details.

Brent’s Food Safety Team carried out smoke free compliance work with members of Harlesden Police at the premises in July.

Customers who were found smoking there were issued with fixed penalty notices and approximately 15kg of Shisha tobacco was seized.

The court heard Miah had been warned three times by council officers and was aware that what he was doing was wrong and would have received a higher fine if he was not currently unemployed.

The council was also granted a forfeiture order which allows them to destroy the illegal tobacco products.

Brent Council are currently carrying out a 10-week joint operation with the police to clampdown on the increasing number of shisha venues that continue to break the law.

The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

Venus'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.

The prevailing pattern of planets gives you a marvellous opportunity. Take time out to strengthen close ties of affection, sort out emotional differences and proffer the olive branch to anyone who may have caused you pain in recent months. Venus throws an easy light on affairs of the heart - prime time for engagements and weddings.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Although there are very intense amorous energies indicated in your chart, the trouble is that these are likely to be marred by feelings of jealousy. Do not therefore dabble in anything that could harbour such negative potential, as it is bound to end in heartache. Venus in your Solar chart throws a very positive light on property interests and home affairs.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Your horizons have most certainly been expanding. Jupiter in the area of your chart ruling far off lands and philosophical thoughts will make your mind run wild. With Venus transiting your networking sector for some time, there will be many romantic opportunities. Your financial affairs are looking up.

Officials from the British High Commission have visited Ms Kaur Mann in prison to check on her welfare.

Neither of the suspects have been formally charged, but both are in custody while police decide whether to bring charges.

'Fake rape' woman fights to clear name

A woman sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of faking her own rape says she is now fighting to clear her name.

Layla Ibrahim, from Carlisle, was convicted of perverting the course of justice in 2010 and served 18 months of her sentence, giving birth in prison. But she told the Victoria Derbyshire programme she "finally" had enough new information to prove her innocence.

The Crown Prosecution Service said prosecutions for such cases were rare. Ibrahim has now asked the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the statutory body responsible for investigating alleged miscarriages of justice, to review her case.

According to her legal team, her bloodstained ring was not tested for DNA during the original police investigation, and neither were her shoes and leggings.

020 8518 5500

Financial and business affairs are unlikely to give rise to any major problems this week. The gentle influence of Venus ensures that most things run smoothly and that your cash-flow remains viable. Domestic and career interests are likely to come into conflict - try to aim at a more balanced pattern of life and remember that work is not always the only virtue.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Venus, the goddess of love, is transiting your sign. This is a time when you naturally show your softer side. Romantic matters, as well as pleasure-seeking activities, come to the fore now. You are more likely to pay closer attention to your physical appearance and aim to improve and enhance your attractiveness. At home, be diplomatic or there will be misunderstandings.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 With Mercury and Venus riding high in your chart, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. This will give you a chance to meet people of your own calibre and pursue any romantic liaisons that might present themselves.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 You may find yourself hard at work behind the scenes, although that may not be apparent to others. You may find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of activity, with opportunities to advance on both the inner and outer level. There is likely to be a powerful incentive to do what remains to be done and tie up loose ends.

SPORT

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Ahmedabad boy all set for New Zealand debut

AsianVoiceNews

Struggling opening batsman Martin Guptill is among five players to be dropped from the New Zealand cricket team for the two-test home series against Pakistan beginning at Christchurch next week.

In his place Ahmedabadborn Jeet Raval is in all likelihood to open the innings for Kiwis.

The 28-year-old, who learned his basics in Ahmedabad and went to represent Gujarat in under-14 and under-16 sides, was earlier part of the New Zealand team that toured South Africa and Zimbabwe but is yet to play any Tests.

“Jeet (Raval) has been in the picture for a while now and he benefited from spending time in the environment during the tour of Africa,” New Zealand's chief selector Gavin Larsen said. The southpaw, who

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Jeet Raval

had played with the likes of Parthiv Patel in his school days, has been in impressive form while representing Auckland in New Zealand's domestic cricket.

Guptill was among the batsmen who under-performed on the recent tour to India, where it was white-washed in a threetest series. He had scores of 21, 0, 13, 24, 72 and 29 - a total of 159 runs at an average of 26.

Spinners Ish Sodhi and Jeetan Patel, fast bowler Doug Bracewell and wicket keeper-batsman Luke Ronchi were also omitted from the 13-man squad. In their place, along with Jeet, Colin de Grandhomme is in line to make Test debuts in the first Test at Christchurch's Lincoln Oval on November 17. Allrounder Todd Astle has been recalled to the Test squad for the first time

8-year-old Kashmiri girl wins gold in kickboxing Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

Eight-year-old Kashmiri girl created history by winning the gold medal for India in the world Kick Boxing Championship of undereight players in Italy's Andria. “In five days, Tajamul Islam won six games,” said her coach Master Fasil Ali. She defeated her rival from the US to become the world champion in the kick boxing championship. She is first such player to achieve the feat from the volatile Kashmir Valley. A Class 2 student, Islam represented India in Italy where the World Kick Boxing Championship, in which 90 countries participated. “She (Islam) has created history by winning a gold medal in the game at the age of eight,” said PDP leader Waheed Parra, who is also J&K State Sports Council secretary. In 2015, Islam won the national recognition after bagging the gold medal in sub-junior category National Kickboxing Championship in New Delhi. A resident of Tarkpora village in Bandipora district, 65 km from Srinagar, Islam is a student of the Army Goodwill School.

since 2012. Astle will provide a spin bowling option in the absence of allrounder Mitchell Santner who will miss the two Test matches with a broken wrist. Astle played his only Test against Sri Lanka in 2012 and appeared in two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan last year.

“Todd's been incredibly consistent at the domestic level, having been one of the top four wicket-takers in the Plunket Shield (domestic first class competition) for the past threes seasons,” Larsen said.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD: Kane Williamson (captain), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jimmy Neesham, Jeet Raval, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner and BJ Watling.

Dravid pads up for another challenge

When Rahul Dravid is associated with a cricket team, in any capacity, he is expected to take on the role of philosopher and guide. His most recent endeavour, however, could prove to be different. Dravid, named the brand ambassador for the 2nd T20 World Cup for the Blind, was asked if he would act as a mentor to his visually-impaired wards. “Actually, I might need some mentoring from them. What they do is a lot tougher than what I did. It would be foolish for me to say that I can mentor them because I have never experienced what it is like to be a visually-impaired cricketer. My role is to create awareness about this event,” Dravid said at a press conference. “I tried to play cricket while blindfolded when we were in Delhi this year during the IPL. It is really, really difficult. To conquer that fear — an object coming towards you — is very difficult. The ball comes at you quite fast. I could not do it, and had to back out after a while,” the former India captain stated.

A new high for Indian golf A psychological barrier and a glass ceiling were both shattered in Indian golf on Sunday. First, 18-year-old Aditi Ashok beat off the challenge of the more-experienced American Brittany Lincicome and Spain's Belen Mozo to win the Hero Women's Indian Open in Gurugram. In doing so, the Bengaluru girl became the first Indian woman to win a Ladies European Tour title. Her win and a prize purse of $ 60,000, propelled her to the top spot in the Rookie of the Year rankings.

Then, in Manila, seasoned Kolkata's Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia, fighting off the challenge of a premium Asian Tour field at the $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters all

Games after 112 years. In true professional manner, while a confident Chawrasia is next headed for the World Cup in Melbourne, Aditi is simply letting to allow the feeling to sink in.

Aditi Ashok

week, pushed himself to a previously unknown level of attacking golf in the final round to storm to his first overseas win since he made the cut to play abroad in 2006. The normally-reticent Kolkatan, a regular winner on big-ticket events at home, pulled out all the stops in a threeway play-off

Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia

between Malaysia's Nicholas Fung and US rookie Sam Chien for the $180,000 prize. It is proving a heady few months for both Aditi and 38year-old Chawrasia, who had just soaked in the atmosphere of the Olympics at Rio, with golf making a return to the

Haseeb Hameed, the Baby Boycott of England

Continued from page 1 quite early – in just the sixth over of England’s second innings, when one would normally err on the side of caution.

Born in the UK to Gujarati immigrants from Umraj village near Surat, it was his father Ismail who acquainted him to cricket.

Building huge expectations for himself, the 19year-old has stepped into the world of the sport at a time when Twenty20 is reigning supreme and players are bought for milliondollar cheques.

“He’s organised with his batting. A very hard worker as well. Calm. Level-headed,” said Adil Rashid about him.

Praise isn’t something new for the teenager as he had been getting a lot of it in the past two years.

Hameed has been compared to Michael Atherton,

his Lancashire senior who gave him his Test cap, and to Jonathan Trott, when his batting at Old Trafford last year had spectators rooting for him.

With mounting praise, comes pressure. England coach Trevor Bayliss remains wary of putting additional stress on the cricketer after he hit the highest Test score by a teenager for England. He, however, went ahead to compare him with Sri Lanka’s record-breaker Kumar Sangakkara. “It’s early days obviously for him, but the early signs are that he’s a very, very good player. For one so young, 19, his composure is very good.

He knows how his game works, something that players years in advance of him would like to have, I think.

Without wanting to put too much pressure on him, the signs are good,” Bayliss said.

Also noting his good behaviour, the Australian coach added, “He’s been with the squad for about six weeks, but it feels like he’s been here for two or three years – he’s got that type of a personality. He’s one of those batters, a little like a Sangakkara, who just loves batting – whether it’s in the nets, having throwdowns or with a tennis ball in the changing room. He just loves to have a bat in his hand.”

Hameed only has his father to thank. An opening batsman himself in the Bolton Association League, Ismail was known as ‘Geoffrey’ for the way he played. He sent his older sons to play for Tonge Cricket Club in Bolton, but neither of them made it past club level. Haseeb believes his father “sacrificed his life” to help the brothers succeed in theirs.

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NOW & AFTER

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar introduces Shanti - Now & After, the first annual comprehensive guide and directory for the Asian community for later-life planning and life's unexpected situations.

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Asian Voice | 19th November 2016

India manage a draw in first test

India survived a scare and finally managed to draw the first Test against England in Rajkot on Sunday. Set a target of 310 in the post-lunch session on day five, India managed to reach 172/6 at close. In the end, England gained the upper hand psychologically and will go into the second Test in Visakhapatnam on November 17 on a high.

It was once again skipper Virat Kohli who steered India to a draw with an unbeaten knock of 49, along with Ravindra Jadeja (32 not out), after the hosts were struggling at 132/6.

Earlier, England skipper Alastair Cook scored his 30th Test century before declaring at 260/3 in the second innings.

Like a pack of wolves that had smelled blood, they stood around each batsman at the crease.

They waited in anticipation each time the bowler ran in. But India managed to escape from their trap.

England will take the flight to Visakhapatnam, for the second Test which starts on Thursday. They'll fly with the confidence of having cornered the World's No. 1 Test team in their own backyard, at their own game, against

their own strengths.

The first Test in Rajkot that needn't have ended in a draw ended precisely that way after the hosts survived the mandatory overs until stumps at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday. In the end, Virat Kohli - with R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to back him up - made it look easy.

But for the better part of India's innings, it wasn't exactly a walk in the park.

Alastair Cook would've loved to have another go, but the umpires had to call

time. A Test match that witnessed six centuries and saw 27 wickets fall - 22 of them to spin bowling - in a span of five days, concluded in thrilling fashion.

England resumed Day Five at 114 for no loss and raced beyond 200 by lunch. The visitors then stretched the overall lead from 250 to beyond 300 and the clock started ticking for Cook to declare. He did it just before tea, setting the hosts a target of 310 runs with a minimum of 49 overs to go.

It is possibly here that

the visitors could've gone about things differently.

Declaring 10 overs early, perhaps, would've given them added space. Murali Vijay and Gautam Gambhir walked out once again and England waited for the two batsmen to set the tone for an innings that would help them figure out what India had in mind whether to settle for a draw or attempt an impossible chase.

Gambhir never gave them the chance. Without a single run on the board until the second over, he

walked back edging Chris Woakes to second slip.

England would have to wait for Cheteshwar Pujara to join Vijay to read India's mind. The first innings centurions soon spelt it out - India would go for a draw. A sensible option, given the England spin trio that was threatening with each delivery on a track that had finally started showing signs of wear and tear. It was going to be about the number of deliveries that India had to play to survive, not the number of runs to be scored.

But it was better said than done because Adil Rashid - the bowler who had troubled India the most in the first innings was once again on the prowl. Pujara misread the line. Vijay misjudged the length. Both fell to Rashid's guile between the 17th and the 20th over to make the home team sweat.

Ajinkya Rahane, who had struggled to find his feet in the first innings, failed to get going either.

Bowled by Zafar Ansari earlier in this match, Rahane got bowled in his second stint too. A sharp turning delivery from outside offstump from Moeen Ali went on to hit legstump after the ball

deflected onto the wickets from his pad as the batsman tried to play against the spin.

India slipped to 71 for 4 in no time and 132 for 6 with seven mandatory overs to go. Cook would've pushed for more if it mattered. Kohli knew he had to hold fort. Here's where Ashwin will deserve a pat on the back. The off-spinner, who scored an excellent 70 in the first innings, stood like a rock yet again for a 56-ball 32. He clearly looked more reliable than most other batsmen in the Indian middle-order when it mattered most.

There were reviews and drops, like there had been throughout this Test. But none mattered. Kohli's partnership with Ashwin, followed by Jadeja's cameo in the end saved India the blushes.

Cook finally relented after India had played out 52.3 overs. The moment had passed.

In the first innings, England made a mammoth total of 537 runs with Ben Stokes (128) scoring his fourth test hundred. In reply Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay scored centuries but India were bowled out for 488 and England took a 49 run lead.

Narinder Batra becomes first Rohit Sharma undergoes surgery Indian president of FIH Narinder Batra became the first Indian to be elected the president of the International Hockey Federation after he was voted to the top post by an overwhelming margin during the penultimate day of the 45th FIH Congress.

Batra, who is the president of Hockey India, defeated David Balbirnie of Ireland and Australia's Ken Read to become the 12th FIH president - the first Asian to grab the post.

Batra got 68 votes in his favour while Balbirnie and Read managed 29 and 13 votes respectively. The voting was conducted via secret ballot through an electronic voting system.

Each delegation head of a

Narinder Batra

national association was provided with a tablet and a unique password by which they voted for their favourite candidate.

Outgoing president Leandro Negre, with whom Batra shares a very cordial relationship,

announced the result of the poll. Batra's win means the power centre of the sport will now move to Asia from Europe, which had been ruling international hockey for decades.

The 59year old Batra, who became president of Hockey India in October 2014 after serving as its secretary, has criss-crossed the globe to seek votes in the last few weeks. Batra succeeds Negre, who has been the FIH chief since 2008.

Rohit Sharma has undergone a successful surgery on his right upper quadriceps tendon in London, according to a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Rohit suffered an injury to his thigh during the fifth and final match of India’s One Day International series against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam last month. Having done well in the Test series, Rohit was expected to come good in the ODIs, but he returned a string of low scores before finally coming good in the last game with a 65-ball 70 as India won by 190 runs and took the five-match series 3-2. During the course of his innings, Rohit tugged at his quads while attempting a run when on 46. The physio checked on

Rohit Sharma

him immediately and Rohit continued after a lengthy break, but by then the damage seemed to have been done. BCCI, in their last update, had said Rohit would travel to London for a specialist consultation and would likely be ruled out of action for at least 10 to 12 weeks, but didn’t confirm the surgery, which took place last week. The latest release didn’t mention any estimated recovery time.

“Rohit will be discharged from the hospital in the next 24 hours,” stated the release. “BCCI medical team is constantly monitoring his treatment and will oversee his recovery, towards becoming match fit.” However, Rohit had previously said that a surgery would mean he “cannot play for three to threeand-a-half months.” That would effectively rule him out of the on-going fiveTest series against England and possibly the three ODIs and the three Twenty20 Internationals against the same opposition in January-February after the visiting side goes back home for a Christmas-New Year’s break. Rohit took to Twitter to give the fans an update on his injury and medical condition on Friday.