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Terror in London Army soldier hacked to death by Islamic fanatics in South London Drummer Lee Rigby

Bloody handed with knife Michael Adebolajo speaking on camera

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A brutal attack in the daylight on a British soldier has raised fears amongst otherwise resilient Londoners, that terrorism may have made an unwelcoming return to their city.

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England's first free Sikh schools in Midlands get a go ahead England's first free schools for Sikhs in Leicester and Coventry will be opening in September 2014, the Department for Education has decided.

These 2 schools are amongst the 15 new faith schools that have received approval this year, including six Muslim schools.

The school in Leicester, where only vegetarian food will be served, will be open to students from other faiths too, but half its seats will be reserved for Sikh students. Nine gurdwara leaders had initially proposed the school and this is their second bid to create the Sikh free school in Leicester

Education Secretary Michael Gove

after the first proposal was turned down in July by the Government, because it was not deemed strong enough.

The school in Leicester be opened on an undisclosed site and be called Falcon's Primary.

Continued on page 2

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Keith Vazwith MP

Keith Vaz MP

John Randall MP John Randall, was educated at Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood, Hertfordshire. He studied Serbo-Croat language and literature at London University, graduating with a 2.1. He then went into the family retailing business in Uxbridge which his great grandfather had founded in 1888. In 1993, he became Honorary Treasurer of Uxbridge Conservative Association, which later that year elected him Chairman.

John was elected Member of Parliament for Uxbridge in a byelection following the death of Sir Michael Shersby in the wake of the Labour Party's 1997 landslide election victory. John had been an Agent for Michael Shersby throughout the 1997 General Election campaign. He became the first Conservative candidate to win a parliamentary by-election since William Hague's victory in Richmond in 1989.

In January 2000 he was appointed as an Opposition Whip, but, due to his opposition to Britain's involvement in the Iraq War, he resigned as a matter of conscience in March 2003 He was later reappointed as a Whip in July 2003. At the end of 2005 he was promoted to Conservative Assistant Chief Whip.

In 2010 he was appointed the joint Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of Her Majesty's Household in the Coalition Government.

He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor on 9 June 2010. He is married with three children.

1) What inspired you to stand for Parliament?

My predecessor, Sir Michael Shersby died suddenly a few days after the General Election in 1997. I had not really thought of standing but quite a few people suggested that I should try. I felt acutely that

we needed someone with very strong local ties and I wondered whether if I didn’t at least put my name forward, it might be something I would always regret.

2) What are your proudest achievements in politics?

I am very pleased that I was

ing, it is really a managerial role combined with human resources skills – a direct link with my retailing career, so I feel right at home.

7) And the worst?

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

Ironically for a Whip, I am not a great believer in confrontational party politics and will always try to reach a compromise solution.

able to play a significant role in getting the Marine Act on the statute book as wildlife and conservation have always been a major part of my life. The other achievements that I am proud of are really those things that I have managed to do for individuals in my constituency.

3) Please tell us about your current position?

I am currently Government Deputy Chief Whip. Although the title sounds vaguely menac-

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

Patrick McLoughlin MP, a former Chief Whip and current Secretary of State for Transport, with whom I have worked closely, stands out as someone who has taught me a lot and I have a huge admiration for him. He is a shining example that you can succeed even if you do not have the best starts in life. My parents too, not for political influence but who were such wonderful role models.

England's first free Sikh schools in Midlands get a go ahead Continued from page 1 A Sikh free school has also been given the go ahead to open in Coventry; the Seva School, which will be open to children of all backgrounds.

This will be a co-educational, Sikh school in Coventry for 4 to 16-yearolds. The proposer group, the Sevak Education Trust was formed by a group of parents and community members who have lived and studied in Coventry.

The group aims to deliver excellent educational development through a framework supporting the wellbeing of all pupils.

The Sikh schools are among 102 free schools cleared last week with a capacity of over 50,000.

Education secretary Michael Gove said there are 81 free schools and another 109 would be opened from September

.

onwards. In total, all currently approved free schools would deliver 130,000 new school places when full.

Free schools are statefunded schools independent of local authority control. They are run by teachers – not local or central government bureaucrats.

They have the freedom to decide the length of the school day and term, the curriculum, and how they reward their teachers and spend their money.

The Sikh school in Coventry will also be open to children from any faith and employ staff from any background. Half the places will be initially reserved for Sikhs and half for nonSikhs.

It would open in the Foleshill area. The school will have a Sikh ethos encouraging “high morals, discipline, love, compas-

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

I enjoy being at the centre of things and being able to influence thinking and policy albeit in a small way.

sion and selfless service towards all regardless of faith, gender or colour.”

One innovative feature of the school will be a maths curriculum based on a the system used in Singapore, known as “Math in Focus”, which prepares children from an early age for complex algebra.

Children will begin studying for GCSEs and BTECs from year 9, a year earlier than most schools, giving them three years to prepare for the qualifications rather than two.

The school will also offer catch up sessions for pupils who fall behind and extra-curricular activities for all pupils on Saturdays.

Tarsen Singh, a trustee of Sevak Education Trust, which will manage the school told a local paper: “Coventry’s exam results are not good if you look at the league tables, and we want to turn that around.

“We are delighted by the Department for Education’s announcement.”

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “There are many innovators in local communities set on raising standards of education for their children. I am delighted to approve so many of their high-quality plans to open a free school.

“Free schools are extremely popular with parents and are delivering strong discipline and teaching excellence across the country.”

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city Mayor for schools in Leicester, said: "The group

has worked incredibly hard to reach this position and we look forward to working with it as its plans progress.

"It's particularly heartening that it is committed to working in partnership with the council and schools across the city in the best interests of all of our children."

The groups will now finalise their plans in readiness to open from September 2014. Chief among their tasks will be to secure their site. The department has co-developed a website – www.gov.uk/find-government-property – with the Cabinet Office that lists all surplus government property available to buy or rent, including those suitable for free schools.

Changes to planning laws at the end of May 2013 will also make it easier for free schools to move into their preferred site.

However this year Britain has seen a fall in the number of approved faith schools by the Education department.

The Muslim faith schools that have received a go ahead, including a mix of both boys and girls schools across London, Bolton, Slough and Birmingham.

Among others a good initiative has been taken by a Family school in London for children with complex psychological and mental-health problems and two schools under the aegis of the National Autistic Society, in east Cheshire and Lambeth.

Not being able to speak in the Chamber.

8) What are your long term goals?

Being able to look back at a career without blushing at too many mistakes.

9) If you were Secretary General of the United Nations, what one thing would you change?

I would try to give more priority to eradicate modern-day slavery.

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

Because of my great interest in wildlife it would have to be Charles Darwin. There would be a lot to interest us on the island and there would be so many subjects to discuss that I think the time would quickly pass.

George Osborne praises Indian Financial Minister P Chidambaram The British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne praised Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram's reform push to revive Indian economy and restore investor confidence.

The PTI reported that giving a resounding thumbs up to India's reform initiatives, Osborne said: "I P Chidambaram with George Osborne think people had FTA. Osborne further said some questions a year or Chidambaram has done a two ago but Mr huge amount of work to Chidambaram has settled reassure investors. those doubts and the He also stressed upon reforms he has proposedthe special relationship the retail reforms, pension between the two countries, bill, among others are a highlighted earlier this year real sign of India's commitduring Prime Minister ment to wanting to trade David Cameron's visit to with the world.”

India.

The meeting of the two The Chancellor added finance ministers followed the two countries have a Chidambaram's closedvery strong relationship door meetings with poten"but we can still make it tial British investors into stronger, creating more India. Asked about the jobs in India and the UK". progress on the India-EU However, Osborne Free Trade Agreement speaking about challenges (FTA), the Chancellor said: said, "There are challenges "We have spoken about the for Britain and India...We India-EU FTA and we will don't do enough trade with be speaking about it furIndia and we could do ther. I think the FTA will more. And that requires an be a real sign that India effort by the British govwants to engage with the ernment. Also, we are askrest of the world and that ing companies to look at Europe, which has had its Indian markets and think own very severe economic about investing in India," problems, is undertaking he said. the reforms necessary."

Osborne also said that Osborne reportedly his government's specific said Britain is probably the focus is on encouraging strongest champion in SMEs to do more business Europe of the India-EU with India.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Comment

Shocker in London The gruesome execution of a 25 year-old British soldier, Drummer Lee Rigby in a south London street in broad daylight by two Nigerian origin Islamists with cleavers and their brazen defiance after the bloody deed was a tragedy that has only one parallel, a similar Islamist execution of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh in Holland some years ago. The barbarians are no longer at the gates but come through them. It has taken Britain and Continental Europe quite awhile to awaken to this stark and uncomfortable truth. But truth it is, and the stark and menacing reality has to be faced at every level of civil society and government. Five days of rioting and arson in an Islamic-populated suburb of the Swedish capital Stockholm is a reminder of the problem facing Europe.

To the UK again. The raw courage of Londoner Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, a 48 year-old woman who confronted the murderers. Trained in first aid, she got off the bus and up to the body of the dead man before she realized that this no victim of an accident, she first thought, but a case of cold calculated murder. Standing a mere foot from one of the revolver and knife- wielding killers, she told him that he and his ilk had no future, that the few would ultimately succumb to the power of the many. The confrontation may have distracted the man and prevented further mischief including a possible killing spree. Prime Minister David Cameron was right to make public acknowledgement of a fearless and compassionate soul, who preferred not to walk

away but assert her citizen’s right of plain and forceful speech with a crazed assailant.

How this dastardly ultimately play out is anybody’s guess, but public figures would be well advised to think carefully before they speak. The Conservative party’s Baroness Warsi should take a break from her ritual lament on what she claims, in a recent interview to The Times of India, is the rising level of Islamophobia in Britain. Why not discuss the militant Islamism in our midst, for a change, and its disastrous impact on British society as a whole? Truth is that there far too many fringe groups making far too many hate speeches, with the authorities unwilling to stop them under anti-incitement laws. The case of the British Pakistamni fanatic Anjum Chowdhry comes readily to mind. The indulgence shown to people who choose to live here, yet have not the slightest respect for the British way of life and the rule of law; their fantasy world where resurgent Islam is perceived to be on an march to re-conquer Spain and dominate the entire world, were points persuasively argued by an Iranian (also Muslim)participant, of four discussants, in the BBC World Television talk show Dateline London (superbly chaired by Gavin Esler).The politics of intimidation and blackmail must stop, or be stopped, without further delay. That is the government’s responsibility. Civil society must occupy much of the remaining space and do what it must, through education and argument.

Blind activist with second sight Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese human rights activist, who was imprisoned in his country and tortured, before escaping house arrest for the sanctuary of the US embassy in Beijing, and thence to a new life of freedom in America, has warned India’s lotus-eaters to beware of the bad faith of China’s leaders. Speaking to an Indian newspaper, he said: “The Chinese government can’t be trusted….can never be trusted….India must play a part in voicing to support activists working in China for more transparency. If the international community does not speak up, it will permit the Chinese government to continue with the attitude of impunity towards its people.”

Mr Chen also spoke up for the Dalai Lama and Tibetan freedom. “It is China’s propaganda that defames the Dalai Lama,” said Mr Chen. He is on message for a less imperfect world, but the world we inhabit has its constraints. Power brings immunity, as the case of China demonstrates only too well. The international community courts China for self-evident reasons, and India is no exception to the general rule. But Mr Chen’s words of warning are, without doubt, timely.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s honeyed sentiments in India on Sino-Indian friendship and understanding was reworked in his subsequent visit to Pakistan, where he reiterated Beijing’s “all weather” alignment with Islamabad, including more military aid and the promise to fund an economic corridor linking the Pakistani port of Gwador (currently under development by China) to China’s western-most province of Xinjiang, via

the disputed territory of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. When reminded of this, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made a wooden reiteration of his government’s hope that Pakistan and India would resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue.

The Global Times, the Chinese Communist Party’s most militant nationalist voice, in an editorial, said India “must accept and adapt” to the ground reality of the strategic relationship between China and Pakistan. An Indian official referred pointedly to India’s oil exploration, on behalf of Vietnam, in the South China Sea and Beijing’s protest, that this being an area of dispute, the Indian presence there was illegal.

China, likewise, has a similar territorial dispute with Japan in the East China Sea. It would appear that Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to India was something of a one night stand. India should have few qualms: unstable and strife-torn Pakistan for powerhouse Japan and tough, rising Vietnam is pawn to king and knight. India will do very well to keep it that way. Meanwhile Prime Minister Singh’s five-day visit to Tokyo this week promises to be a game-changer. His talks with Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe (who will have returned from Myanmar, the first to the country in thirty years by a Japanese prime minister) on far-reaching security and economic issues will surely elevate the Indo-Japan relationship to a level beyond imagining only a few years ago. Watch this space.

New National Defence University carries an Indian message The one thing the harshest critics of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will readily concede is that he a man of few words; that, unlike most Indian politicians, he is not naturally loquacious.

So when he does speak at some length on a serious matter it is well worth paying attention to what he has to say. Laying the foundation of the Indian National Defence University (INDU), which will be spread over a 200 acre site in Gurgaon, within easy reach of Delhi. The campus, expected to be up and running by 2018, will be the first of its class in South Asia. The concept of such an all-purpose institution covering the army, air force and navy, was mooted in the aftermath of the Kargil conflict war in 1999. Cadets, officers, strategic thinkers, management experts and bureaucrats will sign up to INDU courses, some specialized, others general, but the experience overall should be a stimulating one. Dr Singh expounded his theme by quoting a passage from William Francis Butler’s biography of General Charles George Gordon, who led a British expeditionary force against the Mahdi in the 1880s and perished in the siege of Khartoum:

“The nation that will insist on drawing a broad line of demarcation between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to find its thinking done by fools, and its thinking done by cowards.”

The Prime Minister went on: “Our defence cooperation has grown and today, we have unprecedented access to high technologies, capital and partnerships. We have sought to assume our responsibility for stability in the Indian Ocean region. We are well positioned, therefore, to become a net provider of security in our immediate region and beyond.” He said India’s security has never been stronger, that she “faces the entire spectrum of security challenges…. inevitable as we live in a difficult neighbourhood , which holds the full range of conventional, strategic and non-traditional challenges”, such as the fragmentation of states, internal conflicts and terrorism. However, the country’s deterrent capabilities, including nuclear, cyber and space, he said, were in place and were being upgraded through constant review.

India, it would appear, is fast ceasing to fear her own shadow.

3

Squeeze the past like a sponge, smell the present like a rose, and send a kiss to the future - Arabic proverb

Sarah Teather MP Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central

Providing support when people need it the most At the beginning of last month, the Queen came to Parliament for the State Opening.

This is a big occasion in the parliamentary calendar and marks the start of a new parliamentary session.

Like most things in parliament, it is an occasion with many bizarre and extraordinary traditions. This was my 10th State Opening since I became a Member of Parliament, and I am still learning about what goes on and the history behind the customs.

The focus of the State Opening is the Queen’s Speech, when the Queen reads a speech written for her by the Government, setting out all the Bills that the Government plan to pass over the next year. One of the most important Bills announced was the Care Bill, which will help protect people from the costs of residential care in old age.

The British population is getting older as people live for longer.

One consequence of this is that funding for long term care becomes a bigger challenge for our society.

For too long our funding system for long term care in the UK has been unfair and outdated. It leaves people with huge costs and little help from the state, forcing too many people to sell their homes in order to pay for the essential care they need.

The Care Bill will reform the way we provide social care, making it fairer and more sustainable.

Currently, one in ten families will be hit with care costs of £100,000 or more in their lifetime, many of them completely unexpected.

One of the key changes is the introduction of a cap on the amount people will have to pay for care costs in their lifetime at £75,000.

Beyond that level, all costs will be covered by the state, protecting people from exceptionally high costs.

The Bill will also mean that more people will be eligible for help with care cost. Under the current system, support is only provided when a person’s wealth, including their family home, is valued at less than £23,250; below that level, people are means tested and then given support based on a sliding scale.

While that protects the very poorest, it does nothing to assist many people in the middle, who come in just above that threshold and struggle to meet their care costs.

The Liberal Democrats, as part of the Coalition Government, are changing this by increasing the threshold to £123,000. This means that people will get support far earlier than they do now.

I believe that elderly members of our society should be able to enjoy their old age and spend time with their families without having to worry about how they will meet their care costs. These changes will make this that little bit easier.

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 www: abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

4

Midlands Voice

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 1st June 2013

Muslim lesbian couple tie knot in Leeds Leeds: Two Muslim women and former Birmingham students have made history by becoming the first Muslim lesbian couple to get married in a civil ceremony in the UK, defying death threats.

Rehana Kausar, 34, and Sobia Qamar, 29, pictured, tied the knot at a registration office in front of their solicitors and two Pakistani friends earlier this month.

The couple then immediately applied for political asylum in the UK claiming that their lives would be in danger if they were to return to their native Pakistan.

Relatives of the couple said the women had received death threats both in the UK and from opponents in their native Pakistan.

A gay person is considered to be a taboo in parts of society of Pakistan and gay rights are close to non-existent in Muslim community, as it considered against teachings of Islam.

However the potential threat to their

lives didn’t stop Ms Kausar and Ms Kamar from going ahead with their marriage at Leeds Registry Office.

Wearing a traditional white bridal dress, the couple told the Registrar that they had known each other for around three years after moving to Birmingham from Pakistan on student visas.

They said they had later began living together as a couple in South Yorkshire

for nearly a year.

Ms Kausar, originally from Lahore, said: “This country allows us rights and it’s a very personal decision that we have taken. It’s no one’s business as to what we do with our personal lives.

“The problem with Pakistan is that everyone believes he is in charge of other people lives and can best decide about the morals of others but that’s not the right approach and we are in this state because of our clergy, who have hijacked our society which was once a tolerant society and respected individuals freedoms.”

Ms Qamar, originally from the Mirpur region of Azad Kashmir, said she loves her partner and described her as her “soul mate.”

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 in the UK gives same-sex couples rights and responsibilities identical to civil marriage.

Man, 21, shot in the neck in a suspected gang-related shooting Manchester: A man was heard shouting ‘please don’t’ before he was shot in the neck in a suspected gang-related shooting.

The attack happened in broad daylight near a barber shop on Lloyd Street South, Fallowfield, Manchester.

Residents said they heard shouting and then three shots being fired at about 3.30pm on Saturday.

The 21-year-old victim, Lerone Murphy, was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary with a wound to his neck and chin. Two men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

One neighbour, who asked not to be

named,told a local newspaper: “I was in my bedroom and heard shouting.

“It was ‘please don’t, please don’t’, and then three shots.

“You hear shouting around here all the time but I can’t believe someone has been shot.”

Friends, including former United starlet Ravel Morrison, posted get-well messages on social networking sites.

Residents in the area said they did not know the victim and did not think he lived on the road.

Supt Wasim Chaudhry of Greater Manchester Police said: “We are at the

early stages of our investigation, which will establish the full facts behind what has happened, and how this young man came to suffer these injuries.

"I understand that residents will be concerned about this incident but we urge people not to speculate or jump to any conclusions about what may have happened. Patrols in the area have been stepped up and we will speak to local residents to offer reassurance and appeal for witnesses.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Boxer Amir Khan to bring back wife to Bolton after glamorous New York wedding

Illegal immigrant jailed for luring 12 years old girl

Bolton: Boxer Amir Khan will bring his bride back to Bolton after a glamorous New York wedding ceremony. But Bolton boxer Amir admits he’s had nothing to do with the wedding planning – leaving it to his stunning bride-to-be Faryal Makhdoom and family to organise.

They will wed in American student Faryal’s home city of New York at the glitzy five star hotel the Waldorf Astoria, before heading back to Amir’s hometown of Bolton for a massive wedding party for 4,000 people in the summer.

After his points victory against Diaz, Amir is back in title fight contention, but admits he won’t be looking at heading back to the boxing ring until December.

Birmingham: A Birmingham shop worker who lured a 12year-old girl to his home and then asked her for sex has been jailed for three-and-ahalf years.

Illegal immigrant Abslan Nadli, 35 had previously reportedly admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The Birmingham Mail reported that Jane Sarginson, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said on the afternoon of January 12 this year the girl, who was coming back home after a dance class, went into a newsagents on the Stratford Road.

There were two employees including the defendant and after realising she did not have any money the youngster came back out.

However as she carried on down the road she became aware that someone was following her and when she turned around saw Nadli.

The defendant then indicated that she should go into an alleyway.

The girl, thinking Nadli probably had something to show her, then followed him up a

Amir with Faryal

The couple only met last July, but have had a whirlwind romance and earlier this year held a glitzy engagement party in front of 1,000 people at the Reebok Stadium, home of Amir’s beloved Bolton Wanderers.

We wish Amir and Faryal all the best for the years to come.

Students making jewellery from recycled paper win enterprise contest Leicester: A business which makes jewellery from recycled paper has been named this year's winner of the annual Young Enterprise competition in Leicestershire.

Youngsters from Sir Jonathan North Community College, in West Knighton, Leicester, made the jewellery from discarded wrapping paper and newspapers.

Winners from Sir Jonathan North Community College, in West Knighton, Leicester The group formed a company called Ignite, which sold Ignite will now fight it out with almost £400 worth of products to four others for the title of East school friends and the public.

Midlands Company of the Year in They beat five other companies Nottingham on June 18. from five county schools to be The winner of the regional heat named Leicestershire Company of on June 18 will go through to the the Year at a ceremony at the national final in London, where Holiday Inn, Leicester, on they will be competing for a place Monday. in the European final.

flight of stairs and through a door and went into a room above shops.

Nadli then asked her whether she liked boys and whether she wanted to have sex.

Miss Sarginson said the defendant then gave the victim £2 and told her not to tell anyone about what had happened but she later told her father.

William Dudley, defending, said Nadli was not a predator but was someone who was naive.

He said that the girl had been friendly and that he had “read too much into that.”

Judge Stuart Rafferty QC said “I am satisfied that the only reason you were asking those questions is that you wanted to have sexual intercourse with her.

“With commendable calmness and courage in the circumstances she said no and tried to get out of the flat.”

The judge said he accepted that Nadli had eventually let the girl out but went on “The damage had been done.

She went home in fear and was very distressed by what had happened.

Her confidence was shaken severely.”

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In Brief Help police find missing Sugeethan Leicester: The police have issued a photograph of a young man with learning disabilities who has gone missing from home.

S u g e e t h a n Sivarajah, who is probably of SriLankan or Tamil was last seen at 11am last week at the corner of Belgrave Gate and Churchgate in the city centre.

Pc Meryl Bishop, of city police’s missing from home team, said: “Sugeethan is hearing impaired and has learning difficulties.

“He is a quiet young man and unlikely to approach anyone.

“I would ask that you take a moment to look at the photo and if you recognise him to contact us.”

Sugeethan is South Asian, 5ft 8in and of medium build. He has short, straight black hair and facial stubble.

He was wearing a hooded black jacket, black tracksuit bottoms and black shoes.

Contact Leicestershire Police on 101.

World gig organised to celebrate Manchester Refugee Week Manchester: A former Kurdish refugee, Persian percussionist and British-born Pakistani peace activist are three of the remarkable talents, taking part in a one world gig in Manchester to celebrate Refugee Week on Saturday June 22.

Manchester International Roots Orchestra (MIRO) is a unique new ensemble of musicians with roots from across the world. Initiated by Community Arts North West and Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), its repertoire skilfully combines diverse musical influences from haunting Eastern European melodies, to the delicate textures of the Middle East, embracing rap, hip-hop, classical and jazz along the way.

Directed by world-renowned German/Romanian musician, Michael Cretu, the performance will be the culmination of many months of hard work honing and refining a mixture of diverse musical talents to create one powerful unified voice.

British-born Pakistani singer/musician Sarah Yaseen (41), pictured, who describes herself as "a mother, singer and peace activist" is part of MIRO. Accompanied by a guitar or darabouka, her raw acapella/cantata style takes the audience into her world of emotions and feelings of love, faith, personal struggle, including sharing her political stance through influential, unique compositions.

She has been trained by her father, Sufi Muhammed Yasin, from an early age and has performed nationally and internationally in Europe and Morocco.

5

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

40% of graduates not in full-time work a year after leaving college Only 60% of former students find work in the first twelve months after leaving further education, a leading graduate careers website reports.

According to a major survey of nearly a quarter of a million students published by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit, over 21,000 graduates remain unemployed after a year - a higher rate than the national average; while many had continued with their studies or gone into training.

The survey by Graduates.co.uk also found an increase in the number of graduates abandoning highly competitive job markets and taking the step into self-employment.

Although the number of former students becoming self-employed remained

relatively low at 5%, the figure represents a substantial increase over recent years.

"The number of graduates looking to become self-employed doesn't really surprise me," said Adam Grunwerg from Graduates.co.uk , "It's so much harder to get a good graduate job nowadays, especially with the increase in assessment centres, pre-interviews and tests in what has become a highly competitive market."

The migration of the majority of graduate vacancies to London also contributes to joblessness and the increase in selfemployment amongst former students.

"The 'Dragons Den' culture of TV programmes and government initiatives

such as start-up loans has lowered the barriers to entry for starting a business," said Adam, "In fact, we might have to start adding new words like 'gradpreneur' to the dictionary."

"Hard times tend to bring out the best in people, and a market of wellmotivated graduates bodes well for the future."

"I hope this trend continues because the more young start-up businesses we have, the lower the barriers to entry for students it becomes."

What are graduates doing now?

In employment - 61.8% Self-employed - 5% Unemployed - 8.6% Working and studying 8.4% Still in further education 13.1%

Loomba Foundation win Community Award in B'ham The Loomba Foundation won the 'Community Award' at the British Indian Awards in Birmingham. The inaugural British Indian Awards presented by BDO took place on Friday the 17th May at the St. Johns Hotel The awards seek to serve, recognise, reward and highlight the achievements of people of Indian heritage.

The evening show-

cased the determination, hard work and personal targets achieved by British Indians. It was a colourful celebration outlining the significant role played by British Indians at the forefront of their businesses and wider communities.

The awards embody the continuing strength of the British Indian community, recognising those who continue to thrive, evolve and make Great Britain a

better place.

Eighteen awards were presented on the night.

The finalists in this category were: I-Partner India, Asian Foundation of Philanthropy, The Loomba Foundation, Jas Jassal, and the Mandy Sanghera Foundation.

The awards were presented by Sunny and Shay of the Bafta nominated Channel 4's 'The Family'.

British authorities orders extradition of Naval war room leak accused, Ravi Shankaran British authorities on Tuesday ordered extradition of one of the main Naval war room leak accused Ravi Shankaran to India to face trail, a move that may expedite court proceedings pending for several months.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May issued the orders for his extradition to India and facing trial but gave Shankaran, close relative of former Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash, 14 days of time to file an appeal in the case, CBI said.

The order came exactly two months after a British

Ravi Shankaran

court rejected the appeal

by Shankaran against his extradition.

Shankaran's lawyers are now planning to challenge the order in the high court.

On March 28, the Westminster Magistrates

Court in London cleared Shankaran's extradition to India.

The court asked the Metropolitan Police to confiscate Shankaran's passport. He was banned from international travel and would have to live in a single address. He was however granted bail against ÂŁ20,000.

Shankaran is a relative of former navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash.

Shankaran has been absconding since the case was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in March 2006.

GP Davinder Jeet Bains jailed A family doctor who used a secret camera inside his wristwatch to record himself abusing female patients at his surgery has been jailed for 12 years.

Davinder Jeet Bains, pictured, previously admitted 39 sex offences at Swindon Crown Court.

The 45-year-old, who worked as a GP at a medical practice in Royal Wootton Bassett, filmed the attacks using a spy watch.

Detectives investigating likened the timepiece to something out of a James Bond movie.

The judge said police found a large number of video clips of women and girls aged 14 to 51 during "intimate examinations" dating from 2009 to 2012.

The court heard a large number of the victims, when questioned by police, said they had felt "violated" at the time by

Bains' actions.

Two of his patients had also complained about his behaviour before he was arrested. In mitigation, Mr Tedd said Bains wanted to express "regret" at his actions.

Bains, who qualified as a doctor in 1993, previously worked at Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

He is suspended from practising by the General Medical Council.

Dr Liz Mears, from the NHS, said there would be an independent report and "the findings will be made public in due course".

6

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

As I See It Terrorism is terrible, unwarranted and futile for perpetrators What happened in the broad daylight at Woolwich and another sickening incident in Paris next day, is so ghastly, inhuman and painful that no words can express our disgust and denounce such blood thirsty mindset.

Let us remember and remind repeatedly such misguided messengers of hatred and bloodshed:1. Islam in its true sense does not preach such wanton, antinational and cruel action on unarmed person or persons.

2. Unrealistic expectation to have their faith supremacy on globe by force is a fantasy and shall never come to fruition.

3. Most Muslims all over the world have totally normal, more desirable and

decent hopes and aspirations for themselves, their children and their grand children or their dear ones.

4. Any State, even the weakest one, let alone the developed and resourceful – The United Kingdom, The United States of America, India and several other countries- are far more capable, well coordinated and committed to defeat such blood thirsty activism or ideology. Few loony loners can never win against the power of a State Machinery.

5. We need not, cannot and shall not allow, let alone tolerate such ‘Private Enterprise’.

It deserves to be destroyed, sooner the better.

- CB

Tower Hamlets Violence Against Women and Girls Plan launched Organised by Tower Hamlets Council, over 120 professionals and residents attended the one day conference and heard from a range of expert speakers from across the council and community sector groups as well as the Police and other specialist organisations stressing the commitment to tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in this borough. It provided an opportunity for those who work in the area to learn about VAWG in

Hamlets, said: “I'm Tower Hamlets and pleased that we have how it is being developed addressed locally. this The conference important plan. heard about the Tackling violence work that is curagainst women and rently being done girls is key to creaton VAWG in Tower Lutfur Rahman ing One Tower Hamlets and the Hamlets, our drive breadth of services availto making it a fair borough able. A key aim of the day where everyone has access was to join-up services and to the same opportunities. provide networking opporThe council will use every tunities for agencies and measure available to send a residents to work together clear message to offenders in the future. Lutfur that Tower Hamlets does Rahman, Mayor of Tower not tolerate such offences.�

Dear ........................................................................... (MP) Date:

/

/ 2013

Re: Concerns over the consultation process for Caste Discrimination legislation I understand the Government has voted to bring forward legislation that will have the effect of including caste within the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010.

As a community leader I am deeply concerned at this as I believe this may have an extremely negative impact on communities living within the UK - not only Hindu but others also.

I think "caste" is really difficult to define. There are thousands of castes, subcastes, clans, tribes and other sub-groups in India, protected by several pieces of legislation, including Articles 16, 23, 24, 44 of the Indian Constitution, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989, the Backward Classes Act 1993 and others. Yet, all of this legislation has led to an entrenchment of caste-based discrimination and has not alleviated it.

The research the government has relied upon to evidence caste discrimination in this country was biased and unrepresentative. The NIESR research only evidenced 23 cases, all of which were unverified in that the victim’s account was used without further investigation. Forming legislation based on so few untested cases is not wise. Further research urgently needs to be carried out which is independent, robust and large scale.

Caste-based discrimination may exist in the UK - and where it does it is heartbreaking - but I, and many other Hindus, think that many politicians and the prolegislation campaign has branded this as a "Hindu problem". This is unfair and unacceptable for the Hindu community and based on a lack of evidence.

Please work together with the Hindu community to make sure our concerns have been answered and we do not continue to feel like politicians are acting against our interests. This is best done through engaging us in proper research, grassroots consultation and a proper time period for consultation of between 1 and 2 years.

Thank you for reading this mail and I look forward to your response.

Constituent Name:__________________________________________________ Email Address:_____________________________________________________

Kapil’s

KHICHADI Follow me on Twitter: @kdudakia

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com

Sharia or Fascism? months we may well see more evidence of this as Labour systematically infiltrates the Muslim community by using candidates who can get votes using clan loyalty. Often it is said a declaration by the cleric or the community leader to vote in a certain manner usually does the trick.

This lurch has the potential to be interpreted by voters and the media as moving Labour ever closer to adopting aspects of Sharia. Whatever the truth is, as they say perception is the real game in politics.

The consequence of such a move by Labour has the potential to affect its own core vote that resides in working class communities. These folk will not want to be associated with any Party that might be associated with any aspect of Sharia.

The result being that Labour may also lose a proportion of its core vote. The question is where will this vote go? Now in the old days it would have gone to the LibDems – but in light of their disastrous coalition antics they are finished for at least the 2015 elections. I therefore hazard a guess that UKIP will be the willing recipients of such voter sentiments.

So we have a pukka political Khichadi in the making. UKIP will only secure seats if they poll in excess of 25%, and do so in specific targeted seats.

Therefore looking at my crystal ball – it is rather cloudy like the British summer. In this mix of failed governance, failed leadership and failed political direction – we are heading for the election of a life time in 2015.

And whilst this is taking place, what about our community? We have the votes therefore we have the means to send a message. We should do this regardless of any historical political allegiance since the very future of our children rests in ensuring that the political class do not ever undermine us, as they did recently on caste. I have heard from certain MPs, as well as their proxy advisers from within our community – that Hindus are so disunited, so stupid that they will carry on voting the way they have done for decades. In fact some of them have claimed that they can do anything they like and the Hindus won’t have the intelligence or the common sense to retaliate. You see folks, the bottom line is we have allowed some of these politicians to eat our samosas, have cups of chai and be garlanded at out festive events – and they return the favour by showing utter contempt for all of us. Is it time we woke up and smelt the coffee? Or are you still so deluded that you will excuse away the contempt that is being shown by 6, T MFBEJOH TPMJDJUPST some of these politicians?

GPS /3* TFSWJDFT

The recent Council elections produced interesting results for all the main parties.

There is no doubting the Tories took a beating, but let’s face it – the LibDems were almost wiped out in the process.

Labour did not make the sort of impact you would expect of the main opposition either. So all the main parties lost out to UKIP who turned in a performance of the century. As it happens they did secure Council seats but this will be difficult to replicate in a General Election.

What UKIP has shown however is that it is possible to upset the status quo.

In upsetting the establishment, UKIP have unwittingly elevated their policies onto the two main parties. The lead parties are in such turmoil it is now difficult to figure out whether they are right of centre, centre or left of centre. All parties are forced to re-write their narrative for the public, a task getting harder all the time. The evidence thus far suggests the public are on the war path and not taking the politician’s bait. Fishing for votes just got tougher and one wonders what type of extreme bait these parties will use to harvest those votes?

The fact that UKIP will take votes away means that in many parts of the country the sitting MP might well end up losing, not necessarily to UKIP but possibly to their main opponent. It’s likely to become a game of who loses the fewer votes to UKIP that wins the seat.

The Tory Party are poised dangerously on the cusp of being taken in by the UKIP tornado. In their exasperation to limit the damage, factions are now openly at war fighting for the heart and soul of the Party. And whilst they devour each other, the Party moves ever so close to the farright with the health warning that they might lose more votes from the middle than they gain from the right.

So what is Labour doing whilst we have the Government in such disarray?

Well frankly very little. They should be at least 15+% points ahead of the Tories by now if they are to stand any chance of getting a majority next time round. Their failure to galvanise their supporters or get new voters might well tempt them to lurch to the left. Ed Miliband not only gives this impression but also that he is beholden to the Unions. There is also another very sinister development taking place. It seems Labour has decided to target the Muslim vote. Over the coming

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For updates please visit www.mycasteishindu.org Email this form to Kamal Rao at kamal.rao@abplgroup.com or fax it to 020 7749 4081 or post it to Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW for further action.

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Father's Day Message Asian Voice will publish a Father's Day Special in 15 June issue. If you want to print your Father's day message in Asian Voice, email aveditorial@abplgroup.com in no more than 50 words, with full name and contact details by Sunday 9 June 2013.

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

7

Terror in London Continued from page 1 Fear of safety and communal riots reached its peak, after two men Michael Adebowale, 22 and British Nigerian Michael Adebolajo, 28 allegedly hacked drummer Lee Rigby, 25, to death in Woolwich, near a Military barrack in South London, last week. One of them then went on a video to explain the crime shouting political statements, gesturing with bloodied hands and waving a meat cleaver.

Soon after that police arrived, shot and wounded the assassins.

All of Britain’s national newspapers led with details of the incident and counter-terrorism officers leading the investigation into the attack also attracted headlines internationally. The Cabinet's emergency committee was immediately convened and security was stepped up at army barracks across London. Cameron cut short his Paris trip and returned to London before leaving for his holidays in Ibiza.

The soldier's murder is being treated as a terrorist incident. However, so far the national threat level from al-Qaida-inspired terrorism remains unchanged, suggesting that officials do not believe Britain faces a wave of similar attacks.

Members of drummer Lee Rigby's family visited the scene of his murder in Woolwich. They laid flowers at the Woolwich Barracks where the 25year-old soldier with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was based.

Prayers were said for him at All Saints and Martyrs Church, Langley, Middleton, Greater Manchester, where he grew up. People of all faiths also attended a memorial service at St Peter The Apostle RC Church, Woolwich. He is survived by mother, sister, step father, estranged wife, 2 year old son and girl

friend.

The charity Help For Heroes has been swamped with donations, leading to its website crashing after Drummer Lee Rigby was murdered while wearing one of its tshirts. The charity has so far received hundreds in donation but has refused to take any

simple call from a prison imam to pray for Drummer Lee who was butchered in the street last week.

The ringleader of the prison attack flew into a rage at the request, insisting the 25-year-old’s murder was justified.

Recruiting two fellow

Michael Adebola seen here behind (left) Anjem Choudary at a hate demonstration in 2007

donation that is pledged by the English Defence League (£3,000+ pledged as we went to press on Tuesday), leaving them shocked.

Copycat attacks This attack on the soldier in Woolwich was copied by an attack on another soldier while on patrol in La Defense, a business district west of the French capital. Private First Class Cedric Cordier was approached from behind and stabbed in the neck with a small-bladed knife.

Another incident was noted when a prison officer was kidnapped by three extremists and tortured for 5hrs in a closed room. The terrified officer, in his 30s, was finally freed by a specialist riot squad who stormed the room where he was held for five hours and beaten mercilessly.

Prison staff feared their colleague, locked in a room and being attacked by crazed extremists, was facing the same gruesome death as murdered soldier Lee Rigby. This vicious assault was sparked by a

Muslims, an African-born fanatic and a British convert, they kidnapped the guard on Sunday and bundled him into a cleaning room at Full Sutton jail near York. Once inside, he was battered senseless with mop handles. The yobs threatened to pour caustic toilet cleaner into his eyes.

The guard was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He is believed to have been allowed home to recover but is expected to be off work for several weeks. Staff at Full Sutton, which holds dozens of terrorists, said they had warned bosses about the ringleader’s volatile temperament and insisted he was an increased security risk.

They had wanted him moved into a segregation wing. But they claimed their pleas were ignored as jail chiefs did not want to risk stirring up trouble.

The three attackers were bundled into segregation units after being overpowered at the maximum security jail.

The Prisoner Officers Association confirmed the latest incident had taken

What China Needs To Learn From India "We're for freedom of speech everywhere. We're for freedom to worship everywhere. We're for freedom to learn... for everybody. And because in our time, you can build a bomb in your country and bring it to my country, what goes on in your country is very much my business.

And so we are for freedom from tyranny, everywhere, whether in the guise of political oppression, or economic slavery, or religious fanaticism. That most fundamental idea cannot be met with merely our support. It has to be met with our strength. Diplomatically, economically, materially. And, if Pharaoh still doesn’t free the slaves, then he gets the plagues or my cavalry, whichever gets there first.

The Commerce guys will go crazy and say that we're not considering global trade.

Other will go crazy and say we haven't consulted enough. And the Chinese will just go indiscriminately crazy. We have in the past bent over backward, been fooled time and again, been perceived as weak, corrupt, divided. That streak's gonna end tonight. We know our border. Do not test our resolve for it is strong and resolute.”

That is what the Indian PM should have said to the Chinese on the latter’s recent visit to India to discuss border disputes. The words are not mine, but amended by me from scriptwriter Aaron Sorkin.

I’ve just finished the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme interview covering China and the EU. From when I was a Washington intern in the US Congress the one thing about China that was clear is that as long as you trade with them, you can criticise their human rights record (much like most countries). By place.

And a spokesman said severe cuts in the number of guards has sparked fears of more attacks.

What happened in Woolwich on Wednesday 24 May 2013 Witnesses say that Adebowale and Adebolajo appeared to deliberately drive their car at the victim, before getting out with various bladed weapons and launching their attack on the soldier in a 'Help for Hero' charity t-shirt. After butchering him, they hurled the almost beheaded and

coincidence I just looked at some photos of a trip I made to Kashmir and Leh, Ladakh.

Money and strong talk are understood

by China.

In 2011, Chinese troops undertook over 50 incursions into Indian territory ‘at will’ according to the well regarding India Today magazine. These ‘incursions’ include everything from Chinese soldiers setting up camps inside India to encouraging locals to join the Chinese army.

Pakistani soldiers a month ago decapitated Indian soldiers in Kashmir.

In case you don’t think this has anything to do with Britain, then I remind you, that India is nestled next to Pakistan, a nuclear-armed unreliable Western ally which housed not Osama Bin Laden, and is widely considered a training ground for International terrorism. North of India is Russia – a Western adversary – whether we like it or not.

And of course then there is China.

Remember in the most recent test of values in international relations and the type of world we want, India, US and Britain, all members of the UN Security Council voted in favour of action in Syria.

China and Russia used their veto; thereby encouraging crimes against humanity in Syria.

‘War is hell’ said General Patton and there are many a macho arm-chair General who will advocate strong armies.

But I speak as a believer in deterrence.

Without strong deterrence, your adversaries will seek to incur in your territories and China and Argentina and Russia are bedfellows.

bloodied body in the middle of the road and left it there, waiting for 20 mins for the police to arrive. As the victim lay motionless there, witnesses say they heard the pair chanting "Allahu Akbar” which means 'God is great' in Arabic.

After the attack, one of the men said in a clear south London accent: 'You people will never be safe.

'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'

After committing the crime, Adebolajo made chilling rants on camera to passerbys watching in horror. He apologised that

women passers-by "have had to witness this" barbarity, saying that "in our land our women have to see the same."

He gave no indication what that land was as he urged people to tell the government to "bring our troops back." British troops are deployed in Afghanistan and recently supported the French-led intervention in Mali.

"We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you," the man declared. "We must fight them as they fight us.

Continued on page 8

Terror in London

8 Continued from page 7 As soon as armed police arrived at the scene, witnesses say at least one of the alleged attackers began approaching the officers - who opened fire and shot the pair. The men were taken to separate hospitals with gunshot wounds.

High Street, handing out extremist literature. One witness said he had been recently seen outside Plumstead community centre encouraging an audience to go to Syria to fight.

His family were churchgoing Christians of

the tragedy. In London police said they had deployed 1,200 extra officers amid fears of a backlash.

Dozens of Islamophobic incidents were reported in the wake of the murder, including attacks on four mosques.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013 Drummer Lee Rigby, as the two suspects, Michael Olumide Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, were reportedly on the domestic intelligence service MI5's monitoring radar.

However, the committee's chairman has stressed that the move to

Indian man escapes duo In a new revelation, a man, believed to be of Indian origin, has said he was on the brink of meeting the same fate as drummer Lee Rigby in the hands of the two killers.

The Woolwich killers both Britons of Nigerian origin - went out hunting soldiers in weeks before attack, in the same area.

According to 46-yearold Paul Ramsamy, the pair confronted him after apparently mistaking him for a soldier because he was wearing combat trousers and boots. The incident took place in Greenwich as Ramsamy walked home.

The father of two, said the killers - Michael Adebowale (22) and Michael Adebolajo (28) had followed him.

He, however, had a lucky escape when the duo changed their mind after making aggressive gestures. After seeing the two on television, Ramsamy realised how he had a lucky escape.

Identity and Extremist Links The extremist cleric Omar Bakri Mohammad, who has been expelled from Britain, told the newspaper Guardian he had tutored Adebolajo in Islam after he converted to the religion in 2003. He was the former leader of al-Muhajiroun, an organisation banned for professing extremist views.

Mohammad described Adebolajo as a shy man who had been angered by the Iraq invasion, and who would ask questions about when violence was justified. Photographs and videos have been found showing Adebolajo also taking part in Islamic rallies by hate cleric Anjem Choudary, former head of banned Islamist organization Al Muhajiroun.

Adebolajo had a Muslim name, Mujaahid, which means one who engages in jihad. He went to meetings of the now banned Islamist organisation from around 2004 to 2011, but stopped attending those meetings, and those of its successor organisations, two years ago.

Adebolajo's mother moved her family out of London to Lincolnshire in an attempt to remove him from the influence of a street gang. But Michael Adebolajo returned to the capital to go to university.

The 28-year-old was a regular volunteer at the alMuhajiroun stall outside HSBC bank on Woolwich

Sara McClure (sister), his mother and stepfather Lyn and Ian Rigby, wife Rebecca Rigby, Susan Metcalfe (mother-in-law) and Ray Dutton (brother-in-law) were there to pay tribute

Nigerian heritage but he converted to Islam about 10 years ago and investigators are trying to establish how he became radicalised to the point that he may have committed violence.

Adebolajo had complained of harassment by MI5 in the last three years after he came to the intelligence agency's attention.

A Muslim classmate, who was in the same year as Adebowale at Kidbrooke School in Greenwich, described him as “weird” and “easily influenced”, but said he never dreamed that he could have been capable of such brutality.

Government Reaction Britain has decided to crack down on websites with fears growing that the internet is being increasingly used as a tool by terrorists to radicalise youngsters.

For the first time ever, Britain's home secretary Theresa May revealed on Sunday that since 2010, nearly 5700 separate articles and websites have been taken off the internet by the UK government.

examine the service's operation prior to the attack in Woolwich, a neighbourhood in southeast London, does not imply that MI5 is "in the dock".

The group, comprising cabinet ministers and top police and security service officials, will focus on radical preachers who seek out potential recruits in prisons, schools, colleges and mosques.

Local Heroes 48-year-old Ingrid Loyau-Kennett jumped off her bus when she saw the tragic soldier's body lying in the south-east London street, checked his pulse and then tried to talk to the men who hacked him to death.

After pleading with them to hand her the weapons, one told her: 'We want to start a war in London tonight'.

She replied: 'Right now it is only you versus many people, you are going to lose'.

Ms Loyau-Kennett explained the man holding the knife told her it was for 'all the bomb droppings and killings, blindly, women.'

When asked if she feared for her life she replied: 'Better me than the children. There were mothers with children. It was important.

MPs have praised her 'extraordinary bravery' today.

David Cameron paid tribute to Mrs LoyauKennett in a statement outside Number 10, and said: 'She spoke for all of us'.

At least two other women were also seen sobbing over the man's body, trying to comfort him even though he was probably dead.

EDL Backlash Among British authorities there were fears of a violence and potential attempts by extremist groups such as the English Defence League to exploit

A group of Sikh people paying homage to the deceased Lee Rigby

David Cameron is planning new powers to muzzle Islamic hate preachers accused of provoking terrorist outrages such as the killing of soldier Lee Rigby.

The Prime Minister wants to stop extremist clerics using schools, colleges, prisons and mosques to spread their ‘poison’ and is to head a new Tackling Extremism and Radicalisation Task Force (TERFOR) made up of senior Ministers, MI5, police and moderate religious leaders.

The high-powered group will study a number of measures, including banning extremist clerics from being given public platforms to incite students, prisoners and other followers – and forcing mosque leaders to answer for ‘hate preachers’.

A British parliamentary committee will examine whether the country's intelligence service failed in assessing the threat posed by two apparent Islamists who butchered a soldier on a London street last week.

The parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) will examine whether more could have been done to prevent the killing of

Further arrests Scotland Yard has arrested 10th person in connection with the grisly murder of British soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

The 50-year-old suspect was arrested on Monday in Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, south east London, Scotland Yard said on Tuesday.

Earlier, three men arrested on Saturday over drummer Rigby's killing were released on bail.

Reaction from the Asian community, organisations and Indian MPs MP and Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz hailed the spirit of London in the aftermath of Wednesday's attack in Woolwich.

"I do want to pay tribute to them (members of the public). I think what they have done is extraordinarily brave and courageous. It shows the spirit of London that people are just not prepared to allow an attack of this kind. I pay tribute to what they have done," he said, describing the attack as a "horrific and barbaric" crime.

Another Indian-origin

MP (for Ealing Southall) Virendra Sharma, condemning the anti-Islamic rhetoric which has surfaced following the attack, told Asian Voice.

“I am deeply saddened by the shocking attack in Woolwich. I wish to send my sympathies to the family of the victim who bravely served this country.

These attackers are not in any way representative of the Islamic faith and it is wrong for anyone to engage in anti-Islamic rhetoric. The intent of this act was to stir up hatred and fear and it is distressing to see certain groups using this attack as an excuse to stigmatise and divide. We should all unite together to condemn this attack and any form of extremism.”

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi told the media to starve the hate clerics of publicity, and MP Sadiq Khan in a statement also condemned this heinous attack on humanity.

The Hindu Forum of Britain in a statement said, “We express our sincere condolence to the bereaved family and to the nation for the loss of life of a brave soldier.”

United Against Fascism in a statement said, “Unite Against Fascism sends its condolences to the family and friends of the soldier murdered in Woolwich. There can be no justification for such a terrible attack on an individual.

But we must recognise that fascist organisations such as the English Defence League and British National Party are trying to use the murder to whip up racism and direct hatred against all Muslims.

EDL thugs attempted to start a race riot in Woolwich. Mosques have been attacked by racist thugs. These fascists and racists should be condemned and opposed. We must not give a quarter to those who would judge an entire religion, race or nationality by the actions of a few.”

Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (UK) said “We have been appalled by the heinous event that took place in Woolwich in which a person was put to death in a particularly gruesome way.

We express our deep sympathy and condolences to the family of the victim, a soldier, who was brutally murdered...”

The British Sikh Association told Asian Voice, “The British Sikh Association condemns the barbaric killing of a brave soldier in Woolwich. The soldier was a hero who joined the army to preserve and defend human freedom, while the killers joined together for a cowardly act of murder.

The brave soldier will receive respect and condemnations from every quarter...

Religion is a force for

good and it must remain that way if we are to progress as a human race.

We express our sincere condolences to the bereaved family and to the nation for the loss of a valuable life.”

The National Council of Hindu Temples (UK) in a statement told Asian Voice, “The member organisations of the NCHT UK and Hindu Temples of the United Kingdom send condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of young Lee Rigby who died in Woolwich, the victim of hatred and violence. We ask all members of our British Community to reflect and give prayers for the peace of the atma (soul) of a young life ended in such a terrible way, and to pray for strength and guidance for his family and dear ones.”

Muslim Council of Britain responding to Announcement of Government Taskforce on Extremism said, "This has been a challenging week for all of us. The killers of Drummer Lee Rigby attempted to sow division amongst Britons through the propaganda of their deed. Yet in large numbers, British Muslims stood up and declared loudly and clearly that this murder was not in our name.

It was natural for the Muslim Council of Britain to reflect that sentiment. It has always condemned terrorism and extremism in the strongest possible terms, and it will continue to do so.

Extremism is fostered on the margins of our society. All of us – government, civil society and religious institutions – have tried to stand firm against this.

Earlier this month, the Muslim Council of Britain spoke out against Anjem Choudhury responsible for stoking sectarian tension on the streets of Britain.

In a subsequent community forum with the Metropolitan police coorganised by the MCB, many participants expressed exasperation that such an individual and his extremism is given a platform and airtime.

This is extremism that is tolerated and given airtime.

After Woolwich, we understand the Prime Minister needs an effective strategy in the face of such a horrific instance of extremism...We need leadership to foster greater civic and political engagement, ensuring young people are equal stakeholders in British public life. The challenge of civic apathy affects us all...While tackling extremism requires the participation of all of us, at the end of the day, it is the job of the police authorities to protect us, as the public has no power of enforcement. We need evidence-based strategies to ensure such violence does not return to the streets of UK."

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

For the daughter of the artist Lance Ribeiro, organising the exhibition currently being shown at Asia House in London started with a simple idea in mind: to celebrate the life and works of her father who passed away on Christmas Day in 2010.

“One of the saddest aspects of my father’s life is that here was someone who had achieved remarkable success so early in his career, produced an explosive body of work, reinvented his style continuously over 50 years but was heavily sidelined by the mainstream art establishment”.

Yet, despite these struggles, Ribeiro remained defiant and uncompromising as an artist and individual. It has been this essence that has driven Marsha since his death, to both reveal the extent of his originality while commemorating someone who developed artistic techniques, while campaigning for greater

photograph copyright George Torode

Marsha Ribeiro- Preserving her Father’s Artistic Legacy

Marsha Ribeiro, Katriana Hazell (curator), Lord Desai (who opened the show) and Betty Yao (Project Manager)

recognition of Indian artists in Britain.

To this effect, over the last two years she has been cataloguing his life’s achievements and gathered together an archive of old photographs and oral histories. The exhibition at Asia House is the first of these ventures and combines a significant retrospective of 30 years of work with a lecture programme about the man, Ribeiro. The most striking effect of the curated exhibition is that it gives the

impression that the work on display is the product of different individuals.

“He had had such a volatile career, and I feel it was a great injustice that an artist of such stature is only known by a few. He knew interest would pick up after his death and yet was deeply philosophical about why some made it and others did not. But if there was anything I wanted to take from him, it was that if you have passion and belief in what you do,

then anything is possible.”

Marsha revealed that it felt as if she faced enormous hurdles in getting this project off the ground.

“Juggling with the process of grieving, while handling an artist’s estate, and planning one of the biggest ventures of my life - while working full time – stretched me beyond my limits. I think I surprised myself in refusing to take no for an answer but I believe this was because never before had I been so sure that what I was doing was the right thing”. It helped channel her energies at a very difficult period in her life but the turning point came when she secured the support of Asia House and Bonhams auction house.

Marsha grew up in North London, where her father had first visited his brother, the artist FN Souza in 1950. Since moving to Britain in the 1960s, the family has continued to live in the Belsize Park area. Through her school days, she was encouraged to paint and would keep company with her father, helping to stretch canvasses, buy artists materials in London’s Rowneys store and assist with framing in his studio, usually “holding the hammer and glued stretchers for what seemed to be hours on end”. She would see his favoured medium of choice take central stage on his desk, with addition-

al supplies bought to supplement her own collection of artist materials.

The period she recalled most vividly was his watercolour phase. She would sit at his desk usually absorbed in her own paints, with the music of the early jazz bands in the background. Sometimes they would have baked a cake together, or roasted a chicken, fitted around a walk on Hampstead Heath.

Our living room doubled as a gallery while we carried on with the business of daily living She recalls a childhood that she now confesses she took for granted although it instilled an appreciation and awareness of her artistic heritage that she would later fall back on. “My normality was growing up in a household surrounded by my father’s work. Our living room doubled as a gallery while we carried on with the business of daily living, being quietly kept company by landscapes with basilicas, steeples and spiky trees and faceless portraits”. Various effects of his experiments had even ventured onto some of her hand-crafted toys and furniture.

Our conversations

9

never just centred on art but usually encompassed history, economics and current affairs. He was known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of most things. It was therefore little surprise that she on to study went Economics and Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (London) and then Development Studies from the London School of Economics.

After two years of teaching economics, she entered the policy environment, first at the Ministry of Agriculture, to the UK’s Agricultural Cereals public body before eventually joining an Oxford-based commodities consultancy, where she specialises in agricultural policy and trade economics.

“My own life has come full circle and I feel that where I am at now was naturally written into my cards”. Her parents gave her a strong sense of who they were as a family and left her with a sense of her heritage, their childhood and the personalities behind their ancestry and she felt she knew the sights and sounds of an Old Goa that she had never got to know in the flesh.

Going forward, she has plans to share these hidden histories of a family that produced two artist sons and were behind some of the most important shifts in the arts.

10

Your Voice The New Tory Party

David Cameroon, if he wins the 2015 General Election, has decided to pass legislation to hold an in or out referendum in 2017 as regards European Union Membership depending on his renegotiation of terms as if was like making instant coffee.

Rome was not built in a day. Nor was the European Union. Neither was the Tory Party.

The name Tory was taken from 17th century Irish outlaws who plundered and killed English settlers (Irish ‘toraidhe’ outlaw, highwayman). Lord Liverpool adopted the title ‘Tory’ when he became Prime Minister in early 19th century.

Toryism developed into Conservatism under Sir Robert Peel, Prime Minister (1834 -35 and 1841-46).

Then the Conservatives were in power for long periods 1886-1905, and 1922-45. More recently out of the last 63 years, they have been in power for 40 years 1951-64, 1970-74 (under Heath), 1979-1997 (under Thatcher and Major).

In his Emergency Budget, George Osbourne, decided in June 2010 that as they were not going to join the Euro currency during their 5-year term, he was closing down that research department within Treasury.

UK joined what is now the European Union in 1973. Neither the Tory Party, nor the public who are also Tories have been able to figure out whether membership benefits exceed costs, or vice versa, for 40 years. How is it possible to get this done in 4 years?

Both decisions were selfish.

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

We do not practice what we preach Let us not draw swords and bring personal attacks to an end in Asian Voice or Gujarat Samachar. They both are very knowledgable and marvellous publications. The ‘Your voice’ and ‘Tamari Vaat’ sections are a wonderful read. It is a praiseworthy opportunity for people giving different views and opinions, that are allowed to be expressed freely.

So to bring personal attacks therein seems to be of poor taste. My article in AV (11 May) was much more related to the matter, where we Hindus as a religion are nearly sidelined and often not given due consideration and opportunity to represent at various interfaith and other related meetings and seminars by the government.

Today with advent of science all humanities have become one world, though, we all carry our religious and cultural image and impressions, wherever we go or settle. Let us all not think that ourselves, our culture, our civilisations and our religions are perfect. Even the nature and for that matter universe is not perfect.

Let us all be sensible enough to admit that by and large, we all, do not practice what we preach.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Treacherous Chinese Foreign Policy

Death of Gurkiren Kaur Loyal

Horrendous murder of the British soldier

“India’s China challenge” in last week’s AV is timely reminder of China’s greed and expansionism with the ultimate aim of world domination.

Unfortunately West is aiding and abiding China by providing $50 billion monthly trade surplus that China uses wisely to facilitate its industrial revolution and modernise military.

China’s progress on all fronts is breath-taking. China will replace US as dominant naval power in the Pacific in less than two decades; building nuclear powered submarines and catamaran type two runway aircraft carriers that would give China an air of invincibility.

Chinese politicians are shrewd, gifted with foresight that most Western politicians lack, are distinctly paupers compared to their Chinese counterparts who out-think and out-plan them and wait with patience for the right time to pounce.

But with recent economic success, patience is wearing thin. China is raising its ugly head not only on Sino-Indian border but with most of her neighbours, notably Burma, Laos, Vietnam and claiming sovereignty over vast span of China Sea, Gulf of Tonkin and Sea of Japan and as far South as Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, as these seas and remote outposts have rich potentials to yield oil, the black gold.

India, Japan and Russia have at last realized the danger and are trying to form an alliance that could thwart Chinese expansion but Russian occupation of Japanese Kuril Island chain is stumbling block.

But Russia is eager to exploit its vast mineral wealth in Siberia where Japanese technology can help, is an ace that can heal WW2 wounds and bring prosperity to the Pacific Rim.

The recent death of Gurkiren Kaur Loyal at the hands of the doctor in Punjab is a great tragedy and a very sad loss of life of this lovely little girl. My sincere condolences to her parents and her family and friends.

I believe incidents like this are very common in India, whereby a small minority within the medical profession are bringing shame to the whole profession. I am pleased that this incident has been brought out in the open so that the people travelling to India are made aware of such barbaric and inhumane ways the doctor’s resort to and kill people. I understand that the practice of taking out organs from patients and selling them has been going on for a very long time, but it has never been out in the open. There is a very large population in India who can not read or write and are illiterate, and they are more vulnerable and left at the mercy of the doctors.

Doctors are supposed to save lives, but in India this has been taken to the extreme whereby the doctors, instead of saving lives, take lives and charge huge amounts of money. Human life has no value in India.

A lot of people travelling to India takes out insurance to cover themselves in the event of falling ill. There are lots of people, who while in India have fallen ill and when you hear about their experiences of Indian hospitals and doctors it sends a shiver through your spine.

I would urge the Foreign Office and travel insurance firms to do whatever is necessary to stop such incidents happening again.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

Horrendous murder of British soldier by two terrorists must be condemned by people of all faiths. The family of the soldier needs all-round, fullest and unsolicited support/consolations at this shocking and unpredictable tragedy. The killers must be harshly condemned and punished.

Muslims in UK have distanced themselves from this murder. They must effectively ban, report or ostracise hate preachers to indicate appreciation of British benevolent care, welfare, hospitality, respecting Islamic sharia and polygamy.

Words are holy which is a fact accepted all faiths, hypnotists and mesmerisers.

Words seep into subconscious of listeners. At certain trigger moment these words bubble out into conscious level whereby listeners enact love or violence and death, as per subject matter of the preaching and instigation by preacher / hypnotist. Thus Bollywood film industry is also harming minds by subliminal messages via violent / lascivious films.

Hindus have preached for 1000s of years that harmless word OM is basic building block of life. Word, Om can be utilised by all, irrespective of literacy, status, gender, faith, religion or philosophical inclinations. Om punctuates verses e.g., surrender to Buddha, subordinate to group, non violence transcends religion, happiness all round, whole humanity as one family, parents/friends/intelligence, guest is God, etc. OM can be used solo as yoga’s breath exercise and meditation.

It is essential for British government / self appointed do-gooders to tackle home grown hate preachers / homicidal fanatics, rather than wild goose chase of mirage of caste system blamed on constructive and benevolent Hindus in Britain.

The killing of a Brirish soldier in the streets of Woolwich must remind us of the famous speech by Enoch Powell on 20 April 1968. In his speech he had criticised the entry in the United Kingdom when the exodus of Kenyan Asians began and many Asians started arriving in the UK after being expelled by the newly independent African states. He had then said “In this country in 15 or 20 years’ time the black man will have the whip hand over the white man.”

That prophecy seems to be coming true as the Islamic fanatics wielding meat cleavers butchered and tried to behead the soldier, saying “You and your children will be next”. In a chilling rant captured on camera, the knife-wielding man had declared: ‘The only reason we have killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers.’ The incident begs the question. Why did this take place or to put it in other words, would this happen again or would this crete a trend for things to come? How safe would we be walking in the streets of London?.

Golden days Ramesh Jhalla’s letter in Asian Voice (issue 4th to 10th May) recalls the good old days when food was “less refined and more nourishing... milk came straight from cows to homes... we enjoyed fruit straight from trees...”

He pines for those wonderful, additive-free days.

His views, interesting as always, reminded me of my childhood in a Maharashtra town where my father’s railway quarters had a large compound bristling with papaya trees, bairo trees, white tamarind trees, jamun trees and a grapelike fruit with sweet red juice called karvandhas.

We did nothing to maintain those trees - no pruning, no pesticides, no slug pellets or scarecrows to keep the birds away- yet year after year Mother Nature managed to provide a bountiful, wormfree harvest of the choicest and most delicious produce you could ever imagine.

Kishore V Shingadia Via Email

Rivers of Blood

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Rudy Otter Via Email

Dr Naginbhai P Patel London

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Ramesh Jhalla Via Email Continued on page 13

Dear Letter Writers Thank you for your letters to our ‘your voice’ section. As you may recall a few years back we made it mandatory that your ‘letters to the editor’ must not be more than 200 words. Despite that we have allowed people to write upto 250-300 words and have edited them as and when required.

However some letter writers continue to send letters worth 400-450 words.

Our Editorial team has been editing them every week. However the team and the Editors have decided that from now on, if any letter is more than 250 words, we would unfortunately not be able to accommodate in the paper.

Please note: Letters must be written within 250 words. And can be sent via email to aveditorial@abplgroup.com

by Monday 5pm or by fax to 020 7749 4080 or by post.

- AV

EducAtion/council Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

University of Leicester forges links with a new University in India The University of Leicester is to play a key role in the development of a new University in India.

A delegation from Leicester attended the formal opening of the Maharaja Agrasen University (MAU) by the President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, on 25 May. The University of Leicester has signed an agreement with MAU for capacity building and sharing ideas and experiences. Leicester is the sole UK university to develop formal links with MAU. The partnership has been welcomed by Patricia Hewitt, Chair of the UK India Business Council, during a conference organised in Leicester by UK Trade and Investment.

Patricia Hewitt said: “India is one of the most exciting and fastest growing economies in the world with a population of over a billionhalf of whom are under the age of 25. British universities, which are amongst the best in the world, should be partnering with universities in India to share their knowledge and experience, and also to learn from the extraordinary innovation that is going on in India.

“I think this a great partnership and I wish the University of Leicester all the best with this exciting new venture.”

P r o -Vi c e - C h a n c e l l o r (International) Professor Douglas Tallack said the University of Leicester had a wealth of experience in capacity building – creating key relationships and in curriculum development.

“This is internationalisation at its best, working with institutions to develop programmes and forge connections that last.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Maharaja Agrasen

University in order to bring our considerable experience and expertise at Leicester to bear on the future development of this new University in Himachal Pradesh.

“There is so much potential in terms of research collaboration, student and staff exchanges, course development and more. This marks the beginning of a long and mutually beneficial relationship between the universities.”

Under the agreement, Leicester will work with MAU initially in Engineering and Computer Science.

Students will have the opportunity to complete part of their course in India and part in Leicester subject to satisfactory performance as specified

by Leicester and also depending on course options followed at MAU. Students could also be eligible for Study Abroad options leading to degrees awarded by MAU and progress onto Master’s courses at Leicester, subject to qualification.

“We view our international alliances as a core driving philosophy and our partnership with the University of Leicester is its vital element,” said Dr. N.K. Garg,

Cllr Sunil Chopra elected as Deputy Mayor of Southwark Councillor Sunil Chopra, has been elected as the Deputy Mayor of Southwark for 201314.

Commenting on his election, Chopra told the media, "I feel really proud to be a British Indian citizen. It is not only a great honour for me and my family but for the whole Indian

Community. I will keep working with the community."Chopra, born and brought up in Delhi before moving to the UK was the first President of College of Vocational Studies in Delhi. During his University days he was Vice President of Youth Congress Delhi and was president of NSUI, Delhi.

Sunil Chopra

Chancellor of Maharaja Agrasen University.

He added: “We aim at leveraging our partnership with University of Leicester to develop students’ global perspectives and international opportunities. The University of Leicester will help us in capacity building to meet international academic standards and ensuring that an international multi-cultural ethos pervades our University.”

Director of Strategic Partnerships at the University of Leicester, Dr Michael Green, said: “In recent years, the University of Leicester has established partnerships with several Indian universities located in Tamil Nadu and these collaborations have supported the development of a positive brand image for the University throughout South India, as well as generating research income. However, to date, University of Leicester has no partnerships with universities in Northern India.

“The Foundation which is the driving force behind the new MAU is comprised of people of high achievement in business, politics or education and is deeply respected in Delhi and North India. It is both an opportunity and also an honour for University of Leicester to be the partner of MAU in helping it to begin its existence with curricula which are benchmarked to international standards in the key areas of Engineering and Computing Science.”

The formal opening of the University was attended by Professor Rajeev Raman, from the Department of Computer Science, Ian Jarvis from the Department of Engineering and Dr Michael Green, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the University of Leicester.

Dismore challenges Avanti House School head teacher over school plan Andrew Dismore AM, London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden, met the head teacher of Avanti House School to object to the school’s proposals for a permanent site at Broadfields and a temporary site in the Fairway.

This came after the local residents expressed their frustration and disapproval over plans of the Hindu free school to move to a temporary site on their estate.

Harrow-based Avanti House is about to submit plans to move its secondary school next to Fairway Primary School in The Fairway in September, before relocating to a permanent site on the Broadfields Estate in 2015. The school will be made from ten two-storey prefabricated buildings, which will be craned in, and which will house 180 children in its first year.

During the consultation, held in Northway School’s hall and hosted by the Education Funding Agency (EFA), which chose The Fairway site, residents examined draft plans and had their questions answered by Avanti House’s Principal Gareth Jones and representatives of the EFA. Residents’ concerns included the congestion and danger caused by the cars of parents dropping their children off at the new school, increased

mess and noise caused by the influx of children and the unfeasibility of the school’s plans to have a coach drop off point on the A41.

Residents and parents have been signing a petition to halt the move of Avanti House School to the Fairway site. The petition may be found at http://petitions.barnet.go v.uk/fairwaysite/ Mr Dismore told Asian Voice: “I made it absolutely clear to the school that both proposals were unacceptable to local residents and that the plans would be opposed tooth and nail.

Both schemes would lead to appalling traffic congestion, being so close to existing schools.

I have major reservations about the free school concept in the first place, which leads to these uncoordinated and ill thought through kinds of proposals...

I will be objecting to the planning application and will facilitate objections for residents too.

However, just objecting is not enough, and I feel it is important to work with the school to find alternative and more suitable locations. I have therefore written to the Mayor of London with a proposal for particular a site under his control and urged him to work with the school to find another site if this does not find favour with him...”

Number of foreign students decline The number of people moving to Britain has fallen by more than a third in the last year, putting The latest figures show that net migration fell to 153,000 in the year to September 2012, down from 242,000 in the previous 12 months.

The decline was due largely to a big drop in the number of students coming to universities here, down by 56,000 to 190,000. While universities showed an increase in

the number of sponsored student visas, decreases of almost 50 per cent were recorded in the non-university sector.

The number of migrants from the New Commonwealth fell by 61,000 to 105,000, most of them students from countries such as India, Pakistan and parts of Africa. The figures show that 175,000 people came to the UK for work, 8,000 fewer than in the previous 12 months.

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Media Watch

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been the eye of a countrywide storm for all the wrong reasons. Three players, Sreesanth, Chandilla and Chauhan, all from the Rajasthan Royals, have been arrested by the police and charged with spot-fixing. The Delhi Police had been tracking the three men since March and have tapes of their compromising conversations with bookies. Should the IPL be banned? No, was the India’s Supreme Court, emphatic answer, but the Indian cricket board could tighten up its supervisory role to preserve and uphold cricket’s finest traditions in the country. The scandal is now perilously close to Indian cricket board president N.Srinivasan, whose position appears to be increasingly untenable as calls for his resignation mounts (Times of India, Hindu May 22, 25)

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 1st June 2013

endorsement embroiders every declaration between Beijing and foreign powers. If China has “core interests,” said an Indian official, so too does India, most notably on Kashmir. That said, both countries affirmed their resolve to keep talking, jaw-jaw being preferable to war-war.

There would be a number of high powered Indian visits to China, including ones by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and National Security chief Shiv Shankar Menon and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia (Hindu May 21)

Maxwell on song

Ankeet Chavan

Ajit Chandila

Sreesanth

Unique national and global event To impose a ban on a sporting event that has become a unique national and global brand, thanks to television, because three players have seemingly betrayed their trust makes no sense whatsoever. Should marriage be prohibited because prostitution – the world’s oldest profession, as George Bernard Shaw famously described it - exists? The vast crowds who have thronged the country’s stadia in their thousands deserve better, as do novice cricketers who end up as household names competing and achieving with and against battle-hardened professionals. Then there are the support staff, umpires, curators, sponsors, and franchisees, who have all contributed to a captivating spectacle.

Whither Sino-Indian relations?

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s three-day visit to India ended with expressions of goodwill and pious intent. The visitors were given the freedom of the Hindu newspaper’s opinion pages, with the Prime Minister and China’s Ambassador to India making an eloquent pitch for an improved relationship between the countries. Premier Li pressed the memory of Rabindranath Tagore and Dwarknath Kotnis into service in a peroration on the greatness of Indian and Chinese civilizations.. The Poet Tagore visited China in 1924 and set up Cheena Bhavan for the study of Chinese culture at his VishvaBharati University, Santiniketan, while Dr Kotnis went to China during World War II to tend to the country’s sick and wounded in the conflict with Imperial Japan and himself died of illness and exhaustion.

Concentrate on economy In his public statements, Premier Li appealed to India to

Neville Maxwell, the octogenarian India-baiter vegetating in the Australian outback made an abusive attack on Jawaharlal Nehru, whose alleged folly in refusing to negotiate as Beijing’s desired and on its terms. Mr Maxwell, The Times correspondent in India many moons ago, predicted in March 1967 that Indian democracy was on the brink of collapse and a military takeover was imminent. He sang from the same hymn-sheet well into the 1990s. He remains a loquacious supporter of Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward in which some 40 million Chinese perished in the worst famine in recorded history, and has long foretold India’s dissolution after her dalliance with military rule was over. He belongs rightly to an absurdist chamber of curiosities.

Reminder to India N. Srinivasan

put aside the contentious boundary issue and concentrate on economic relations between the countries. The potential was boundless, he claimed, while admitting that trade was heavily tilted in China’s favour.

Moreover, as the Mint editorial (May 22) reminded its readers, economics alone was no guarantee of a smooth relationship.

China and the US were tied by an umbilical cord with a trade turnover many times that of China and India, with China also the biggest buyer of American debt, the sum somewhere in the region of $3 trillion, yet their relationship was blighted by mutual suspicion. The constant Chinese refrain is that the US is embarked on a containment of China with its close Asia-Pacific allies.

Lobsang Sangay, Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-inexile told a Washington audience that India’s security is directly linked to Tibet (a point made by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in December 1950, a week or so before his death).Mr Sangmay said: “When China says that Tibet is one of the core issues, all the more reason for India that India should say, ‘India is a core issue for India as well.’“ While suggesting that India does more on Tibet, Mr Sangay expressed “profuse” thanks to India for her hospitality to the Tibetan people who had sought sanctuary on her soil. He contrasted the state elections in diverse parts of India, from Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh et al with the jackboot of Chinese rule in Tibet (Times of India May 19)

No new ground

Damage limitation exercise in US

There was little that was new in the India-China joint communiqué which broke new ground.

China and India would keep talking on the border and on the Brahmaputra river’s flow into India. The joint survey of the latter sought by India was not accepted, but China promised to supply information to India.

China avoided any commitment to India’s membership of the UN Security Council and India, significantly, made no reiteration of Tibet being part of China or to its adherence to the regulation “one China” policy, which

Some years ago an Indian intelligence team showed their visiting counterpart evidence of the Pakistani imprint on detonators and timers used in the serial bombings in Mumbai in March 1993, which claimed 259 innocent lives. The Americans took the forensic evidence back with them to Washington, with a promise to return the items in due course. These were lost, it was claimed, but the Americans gave India a report that stated that the material in question was of American origin from the stock supplied to Pakistan dur-

ing the Afghan war in the 1980s.

“They did not apparently want to leave any clinching evidence against Pakistan in our hands,” wrote the key Indian intelligence official involved in these events.

“This was a bitter lesson to us that in matters concerning the Pakistan one should not totally trust the US. They would do anything to see that no harm came to Pakistan.”

Pakistani shadow Two decades later the US and India in a fence-mending exercise are re-engaged in anti-terrorist cooperation, with Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s visit to Washington for detailed, wide-ranging talks with US Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano. (Times of India May 23) The bottom line is that a close Pakistani connection will always cast a shadow, large or small, between the engaging power and India, whether that power is the US, UK or China. It cannot be otherwise in the present scheme of things. Period.

Four Pakistan ISI operatives have been arrested in the vicinity of the Indian Army’s Sukna base in the Kurseong district of sub-Himalayan north Bengal within reach of the Tibetan border.

ed warheads, able to manoeuvre their way to the object of the attack. The Defence Research & Organization Development (DRDO) is at an advanced stage of developing these warhead technologies. “Our ballistic missiles must be compact and roadmobile, even the Agni VI with its heavier payload to target objects 5,000 plus kilometres away. We will do this by building the first stage with composites, fitting the Agni VI with India’s first composite 40-tonne rocket motor,” said Dr Chander.

(Business Standard May 8)

Dev Patel as Ramanujan Srinivasa Ramanujan’s life is being made into a film with Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel playing the role of the mathematical genius, with a Hollywood actor in the role of Ramanujan’s mentor, collaborator and friend, the Cambridge academic G.H.Hardy.

The script by Matthew

Indian defences beefed up India has successfully test-fired the naval version of its supersonic 290-kilometre BrahMos missile from the guided missile frigate INS Tarkash off the coast of Goa. The missile performed the high level “C” manoeuvre in the pre-determined flight path and hit the target (Hindu May 23)

Agni VI on anvil Meanwhile, India is gearing up to manufacture and test its futuristic long-range, 5000 kilometre-plus Agni VI missile after the Agni V is put into service sometime in 2015. Government funding for the Agni VI project is expected well before that.

According to Programme Director Avinash Chander, Agni VI will carry a massive threetonne warhead, thrice the weight of the normal Agni missiles. The Agni VI missile will carry three independently target-

Dev Patel

Brown is based on Robert Kannigal’s book, “The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan.” Edward Pressman, who has produced cult hits like “American Psycho,” “Das Boot” and “Wall Street” has teamed up with Prashita Chaudhury’s Cinemorphic Entertainment Company, Jim Young and Sofia Sondervan to bring one of the most remarkable and exotic stories of the last century to the silver screen.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Tokyo with Premier Shinzo Abe see comment page 3

uK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Your Voice

Overstayers: Where are we today ?

Caste discrimination

Revelations by The Times

The proposed Cast Discrimination Laws will stigmatize the Hindus.

A very large proportion of the young Hindu people, specially those born in the UK are not even aware of the caste system.

Therefore there can be no question of discrimination.

The older generation will gradually be replaced by the younger.

To give a practical example of this please allow me to explain.

I am one of a family of 9 siblings, 7 sisters and 2 brothers.

Four of my sisters are married ‘outside’ the caste of Prajapati.

One is married to a Patel, another is married to an Englishman of Welsh decent, third is married to a Brahmin from Karnataka and the youngest is married to a Lohana.

If the ‘caste’ system is ignored, by intermarriage, then where is the need of legislation.

The Hindu community is practicing the abandonment of the caste system but he proposed laws will shackle them to it.

This kind of legislation in India has been counter productive. It will have the same effect in the UK.

Two very momentous revelations were made by the Times newspaper on the 15th and 16th May 2013 which you readers will be well advised to keep at least of what is happening on the moral canvas of this country. These are: First, sex gangs roaming about freely in the Midlands, prying on young girls of 11-13. Drugging them and then passing them to their clients. The Police and Social Welfare Authorities did not act for nearly ten years until pressurised by the Times newspapers.

Second is the case of 60 British universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and many of the same stature have been infiltrated by Jihadi preachers from all over the world sermonising the need of Sharia law in this country, conversion of Non Muslims to Islam, no free speech unless it’s to promote Islam and more. It seems ‘democracy’ is a crazy idea that does not fit within their religion.

I would like to suggest your readers should catch up with all these developments and protect themselves and their children with their own resources. Police in this country is always concerned with ‘Islamophobia’ and let sinners go free.

Naresh Lathia Via Email

P C Aggarwal Stanmore

Young British doctor of Indian origin killed in Syria A young British doctor of Indian origin has been killed in Syria after an attack on a field hospital, where he was treating victims. 26 years old Isa Abdur Rahman, pictured, had left his job in London to help out British charity Hand in Hand for Syria (HIHS).

He was in a secret clinic in the Idlib province when a shell hit the hospital. He died soon after that. Two other civilians died and two people were wounded in the attack that the charity blamed on government forces.

HIHS said it was mourning loss of the brave medic, a very dedicated volunteer and friend in Syria.

HIHS said Dr Rahman - a graduate from Imperial College, London put his promising medical career on hold so that he could go to Syria with the charity to help treat injured people. Faddy Sahloul, chairman of HIHS paid tribute to him on Monday.

The charity has already raised £23,392.26 to date - which will be used to set up a field hospital in Homs named after the inspirational medic.

Dr Rahman is married and was from north west London. He flew to Syria almost a year ago and set

up a clinic in Atmeh before setting about travelling from town to town offering medical help.

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What is the current position of Overstayers and their options in light of the changes to the Law? The Immigration Rules HC395: (i) Where one stays beyond the time limit attached to the last period where leave was granted, for example a visit visa expires. (ii) Beyond a period where leave was extended under 3C or 3D of the Immigration Act 197, for example when an appeal was lodged against the refusal of asylum which was later refused by the First Tier Tribunal.

The Home Office has a statutory duty to consider the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of any children involved, if not the decision is unlawful.

Such failure is challenged by way of Judicial Review proceedings.

Under the Zambrano provisions, a non EU parent who is a primary carer of the child has “a derivative right of residence” in the United Kingdom.

Under the Chen principles, a non EU parent of a self sufficient child may also reside in the UK Partner / Spouse If there is a UK national spouse or partner then Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 applies. This provision allows for applications to be made if there is genuine and subsisting relationship.

(iii) The date that one receives a notice of invalidity declaring that an application for leave to remain is not a valid application provided that an application was submitted before the leave expired.

In light of changes to the rules (i) 28 days grace period is meant to allow rectification of any errors such as lack of funds in your bank account; (ii) No overstaying for more than 28 days after the expiry of the original application on the date that your further leave to remain application is submitted and (iii) If you have overstayed for more than 28 days, your application may be refused.

Length of stay The 14 year rule was abolished in July 2012. Section 276ADE of the Immigration Rules (private life) now applies. So you can regularise your stay if you have either (i) resided continuously for 20 years or more, (ii) if aged between 18 - 25 lived continuously for half your life, (iii) if 18 or above lived for less than 20 years but has no ties cultural social or family with the country he would be retuned to.

Children Non British Children, born in the UK or who have lived here for 7 years and are under the age of 18 can regularise their stay and that of their parent.

If the child has been a resident in the UK for less than 7 years, the test is "whether it would be reasonable to expect the child to leave the UK".

Hence, applies when deciding whether a person with a "genuine and subsisting parental relationship" with the child in the UK should be allowed to remain.

Section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 is one of the strongest provisions since the withdrawal of the policy DP5/96.

EU national Under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 you have a right to reside in the UK if you are a spouse or family member of an EU national who is exercising his or her treaty rights and is a qualified person At Duncan Lewis Solicitors we have very experienced, passionate and committed Immigration Solicitors who have assisted various individuals by exploring their circumstances and advising them appropriately. If you are an overstayer the message is that your stay should be regularised urgently and there is always hope and help available to you.

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Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple Cowley, Uxbridge attacked Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple a Hindu temple suffered an arson attack that destroyed part of the temple on Monday Night at around 12.15.

Fire Brigade attended the scene at around 12.40 and had put the fire out. Police is treating this as a crime scene.

CCTV images reveal it was a lone attacker in hoods.

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On Sunday 26th May 2013 a very special prayers were done for Lee Rigby who was brutally murdered in Woolwich.

Next Sunday they will also hold prayers for the young men who committed such a horrific act as their lives are blighted with hatred.

Mandir Trustee Chairman Jashwant Maicha told Asian Voice, that he believes this attack on the temple was probably a hate reaction to the Woolwich murder. Hillingdon police station has called for a meeting on Monday.

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UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

GMB London region in partnership with Simpson Millar Solicitors launch their new immigration services GMB London region in association with Simpson Millar Solicitors LLP announced the launch of their new immigration legal services at the Brent Indian Association on 23 May. The GMB are committed to support both their members and their families at every opportunity. The launch of this new service is a further demonstration of their commitment to ensure the services GMB provides to meet the needs of their members.

The GMB has a proud history of supporting working people and we constantly look for new ways to improve our services and benefits to ensure that we continue to provide the best service possible to you.

The GMB has over 120 years experience in successfully representing the members in all aspects of employment. Many members join GMB because they suffer bullying and harassment at work, poor safety or discrimination. As a member, you will be able to access services such as: l representation at grievances l disciplinary hearings l negotiations on your pay and con-

ditions at work l health and safety GMB represent members who work in: l local authorities l private companies l utilities such as gas, water, electricity l NHS, If you, a member or your family are experiencing immigration issues, Please contact Bhavini Bhatt on 0208 902 8584, even if English is not your first language. You can also reach her via her email – bhavini.bhatt@simpsonmillar.co.uk.

Or visit on www.simpsonmillar.co.uk to find out

more about how they can help. Your initial conference will be free. visit www.gmbunion.org to find out more about how Simpson Millar can help.

Your initial discussion will be free.

Hiten Vaidya GMB organiser Welcome GMB President Marry Turner, Tony Warr – Head of Legal and Senior Organiser, Bryan Nott and Jane Latimer, Partners from Simpson Millar Solicitors, Surendra Patel from Gujarat Samachar, Jagdish Patel – BIA Manager, and local Councillors and MP Barry Gardiner along with GMB National Equity officer Kamaljeet Jandu.

Protests target Benetton, Mango on Bangladesh payouts Compensate victims, brands told a month after Rana Plaza block disaster

Activists on Saturday 25 May protested outside Benetton and Mango fashion stores near London’s Oxford Circus over the retailers’ failure to compensate families of workers killed, as well as the injured, after the Bangladesh building collapse.

One month after the Rana Plaza disaster which killed 1,127 people, mainly female garment workers, protesters demanded justice for bereaved relatives and many garment workers, now left without any income, who are struggling to survive with their families [2].

Though Benetton and Mango labels were found in the rubble of the Rana Plaza, both companies have allegedly refused to pay any compensation.

Campaigners, dressed in black

clothes, held flowers and candles, to commemorate workers killed in the disaster.

A coffin was also carried as a reminder of the deadly outcomes from a factory monitoring system which activists claim puts profits before workers’ safety and failed to prevent this disaster.

Protesters will declare that another catastrophe like the Rana Plaza tragedy must never happen again, in Bangladesh or elsewhere.

The demonstrations were organised by the students’ group People & Planet, together with War on Want, the South Asia Solidarity Group, Freedom Without Fear Platform, UK Feminista and Labour Behind the Label.

The action was taken in solidarity with and to support workers in Bangladesh.

Amirul Haque Amin, president of the National Garment Workers’ Federation, one of the largest garment workers’ trade unions in Bangladesh, said “This disaster was a calamity waiting to happen because high street chains failed to ensure proper safety measures. Now we demand compensation.”

Asian People's Disability Alliance celebrates Silver Jubilee

A night of Bollywood dancing and entertainment was organised to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Asian People's Disability Alliance (APDA) at Alisan restaurant in Engineers Way, Wembley.

Dancers and performers entertained guests to celebrate the anniversary with a fundraising event. They collected more than £5000 for the charity. The deputy Mayor of Brent, Cllr Bobby Thomas, The Mayor of Harrow Cllr Nizam Ismail, Brent Council Leader Muhammed Butt attend-

ed the event which included dinner, classical music, Bollywood dance routines.

APDA's aim is to provides services to disabled people, their families and their carers, based on their specific personal, cultural and community needs.

If you are an organisation that supports disabled people or an individual caring for a disabled person (family or friend), let us know your story in no more than 200 words with a picture and we would like to share it with our readers. Contact: aveditorial@abplgroup.com

Heart Valve Bank (UK) celebrates 10th anniversary The Heart Valve Bank (UK) celebrated its 10th anniversary on 6th May at Watford Colosseim, Watford in the presence of some 900 devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba from various parts of the UK, around 50 medical professionals from NHS, leaders of community organisations and various dignitaries.

The concept of Heart Valve Bank (HVB) was inspired by Baba’s ideals to provide health care totally free of cost to all, rich or poor without any discrimination of cast, colour or creed.

The expansion of HVB was very rapid and it became apparent that there were other areas of medical needs for the poor which could not be ignored. These were, for example, leprosy, malaria and TB. It was, therefore, decided to formally register the HVB with the Charities Commissioners on 17 June 2003 to cover relief of sickness and financial hardship, in regions of need worldwide, through the provision of medical equipment, medicines and related services as well as providing heart valves free of cost.

The HVB projects and some of the achievements were depicted in a small exhibition of photographs and videos in the foyer of the Hall and shown in a short video at the beginning of the program that

opened with a prayer by children of Sai School followed by an introduction,

by Mr. Ajit Popat, the Managing trustee of HVB. He summarised the work done under the HVB during its first decade punctuated by references to meet-

would be anything between £35,000 and £50,000 in the West. He emphasized the value of the HVB in providing the heart valves cost free to hospitals in India as well as sponsoring surgeons to perform the surgeries at

ings he had with Baba who guided him on matters related to HVB. This was followed by the first keynote speaker, Dr. Anil Kumar, an eminent cardiothoracic surgeon and head of the Sunshine Heart Institute (SHI), Hyderabad, India.

In his presentation, Dr Anil Kumar praised the UK National Health Service and highlighted some comparative statistics on the cost of heart valves and heart valve surgery in the West and in India. For example, he said that a heart valve could cost between £4,000 and £8,000 in the UK compared with one tenth of this in India. The cost of carrying out a surgery

no cost to patients. Dr Anil Kumar also suggested that there could be cooperation between HVB and SHI. This very impressive presentation was followed by the speeches from various dignitaries. For example the Rt. Hon. Richard Harrington MP for Watford recognized the significance of the work done by the HVB. Two other speakers were Cllr Nana Asante, the Deputy Mayor of London Borough of Harrow and Cllr Navin Shah, Councillor for London Borough of Harrow and Member of the GLA (Greater London Assembly member for the Brent and Harrow).

UK

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'Woman of the Year' Nomination is now open for Asian Achievers Awards 2013 Members of the public invited to nominate inspirational characters for this ‘People’s Awards’

It is yet again a time of year when Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar celebrate the various outstanding roles played by Britain’s Asian community.

It is against this background that the Asian Achievers Awards salute individuals who are singularly responsible for bringing the Asian community to the centre stage of British life. Exceptional and exemplary achievements of individual that are truly inspirational.

Whilst the early migrants struggled to make Britain hometheir sacrifices, resilience and determined efforts have meant that the younger generations have been able to flourish, with the majority of them being wellsettled, successful and occupying important positions in all walks of life. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar continue to proudly play their part in recording the community’s consistent efforts to maintain and enhance its position within the British society.

To ensure that the future generations will continue to carry the success further, ABPL recognises individuals from various fields for their contribution to the society through Asian

only the subscribers and the readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar but also the wider community is invited to nominate in various categories of the award, as its publicised through radio, television, internet and various events. Every year we receive a record Lord Dolar Popat of Harrow, Simrin Choudhrie, number of nominations and the calibre Creative Director, Bach Interiors Ltd with Shahnaz Hussain, winner of Woman of of the candidates are the Year Category 2012 always very impressive.

Achievers Awards (AAA).

Asian Achievers Award cateThe AAA is now in its 13th gories comprise: Woman of the year and by an impressive array Year; Young Entrepreneur of the of high net worth individuals, Year; Uniformed and Civil industry captains, high - level Services; International decision makers, Personality of the Year; Lifetime Parliamentarians, community Achievement Award, Sports leaders and senior professionals.

Personality of the Year; There are various types of Business Person of the Year; awards, but Asian Achievers Professional of the Year; Awards (AAA) is rather unique.

Achievement in Community Instead of few individuals decidService; Achievement in Media ing who the award winner is, a and Arts and Culture; Award for truly independent panel of Entertainment. judges are given total freedom to This year the theme of the select a shortlist and then the award is Woman. The category winner in each category. Not is supported by Alpha G Corp.

Today's Asian Women are much more than just home makers. Given the obstacles many have faced, the difference they are making to the way in which the world works now, their success alone is a cause for celebration. Their prominence fuels the aspirations of millions of other women and girls who see themselves as the future leaders and achievers in their respective areas of work. According to the Census report in 2005, there are over 2 million Asian women in the UK. That's 3% of the population in the UK. An analysis by the Census, concluded there are approximately 204,000 working Asian women in the UK. The British Asian Women have left an indelible imprint in the corporate & PR sector, media, technology, retail, literature, medicine, law, entertainment and much more.

Over the last few years, some of the winners of this category were: Baroness Shriti Vadera, Nishma Gosrani, Pavani Reddy, Ruby McGregor-Smith, Shahnaz Husain. Shortlisted candidates included personalities like Urvashi Naidoo, Misha Husain, Dr Sonal Minocha, Shashi Kiran Gossain, Cllr

Mimi Harker OBE, Yashmin Mistry and Devi Kolly.

Speaking about the awards last year, Shahnaz Husain, CEO of Shahnaz Herbals Inc, a prominent entrepreneur best known for her herbal cosmetics, particularly skin care products and winner of 2012 AAA Woman of the Year category said, “It was a great honour for me to attend the 12th Asian Achievers Awards, organized by Asian Business Publications Ltd and to receive the prestigious Woman of the Year Award. It is recognition of my relentless efforts to promote the Indian herbal heritage worldwide. The Awards celebrate and highlight the outstanding achievements of the Asian community...I also commend your success and excellent community service” To salute their unmatched contributions, 'Woman of the Year' category is now open for nominations. These nominations can be registered via Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar newspapers, as well as online at: www.asianachieversawards.com.

Deadline for nominations: 12th July 2013

Please tick the appropriate category Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture ................................

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

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

NOMINATION FORM The prestigious Asian Achievers Awards is hosted every year by UK’s leading news weeklies Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to honour British Asians par excellence. If there is someone you know who has broken boundaries and deserves recognition for their unique contribution to the community and the nation then please nominate them for one of the awards listed below. Make sure that you fill in this application form and send it on or before 12th July, 2013 by post, fax or email to Mr. L George, Tel: 020 7749 4013, Fax 020 7749 4081, Email: aaa@abplgroup.com. If you are sending it by post the address is Mr. L George, ABPL Group, Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW.

Name of the Person you are Nominating: _______________________________________ Contact Details of the Nominee (Tel & email):____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Present Occupation of the Nominee: ____________________________________________ Please attach the Nominees's CV which includes the following information (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) (1) Personal background (2) (3) (4) (5) are

Most important career achievements till date.

Nominee's contribution to the community and nation.

Future Plans, ambitions and visions.

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

Summary-

(Please include a summary in not more than 150 words why the nominee is worthy of win-

ning the particular award in a separate sheet)

Nominators name and contact details: __________________________________________ Nominators current Occupation/Company: ______________________________________ Tel/Mobile: __________________________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________________________ NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS: This is a unique event where readers nominate and an independent panel of judges comprising of eminent personalities selects the winner. Judges’ decision is final. ABPL Group will not entertain any dialogue with members of the public regarding the judging process. In order to ensure a high degree of transparency and fairness, the management and members of the staff of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will play no role in the nomination or judging process. You may use an additional sheet if the space provided is insufficient. The winners will be announced at the AAA Awards ceremony on 6th September, 2013. Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar will publish the names of the short listed candidates and winners after the event. The winners names will also appear in our e-edition www.abplgroup.com You can nominate yourself if you wish to. Nominations and entries must follow the prescribed format. All nomination forms must reach our offices on or before 12th July, 2013

In recognition for an individuals service to community.

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

Awarded for excellence in sports.

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

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

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

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

Young Entrepreneur of the Year ..................................................

Awarded to an young entrepreneur (less than 35 years) with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Madhur Bhandarkar honoured

‘Naan Kadavul’ actress in a thriller Pooja who was last seen in “Naan Kadavul” with an award winning performance is back in a thriller movie "Vidiyum Munn", that is to be directed by debutant Balaji. The story is a thriller about two women who run from four men for various reasons. The other heroine is to be played by a Keralite Malavika. The music will be the highlight as this edge of the seat thriller will have some interesting compositions by Marina fame Girish.

The other cast will be John Vijay, Vinoth Krishnan, Muthukumar and Lakshmi Ramakrishnan. Just as the title suggests, this should be a thriller movie with time as the essence.

If you thought that Madhur Bhandarkar was missing from the scene of late, think again as he is back in action and how! Last week, he was honoured with the prestigious, New York Citizen's Achievement Award.

The proclamation was made by Dhyaneshwar Muley, Counsel General of India. Talking about this surprise honour, Madhur, who is presently holidaying in New York, said he was highly honoured to receive the Citizen's Award. He added that the award makes a filmmaker believe that he or she must be doing something right. He also thanked the people of New York and Dhyaneshwar Muley for finding him a fit for the honour.

I am not competing with my mother: Soha Ali Khan She isn't in filmdom for either fame or money, rather Soha Ali Khan wants to do good work and also clarifies that doing a remake of her mother's film is not on her wish-list. Soha said: "Why would I want to be in my mother's remake film? That would be like suicide for me because I am inviting people to compare me with her.

Rarely people will make favourable comment. The idea is to do something new and fresh. If it's a contemporary adaptation then it's okay," said Soha.

Anil Kapoor to launch 7 actors

Industry veteran Anil Kapoor is looking to launch seven fresh faces in his upcoming home production titled “Saat Hindustani.” Anil Kapoor has earlier produced films like “Badhaai Ho Badhaai,” “Gandhi-My Father” and “Aisha” among others. “Its not a patriotic film. It is about college students based in America.

There is a whole new cast for this film... we will have seven new actors," a source close to the actor-producer said. The casting is under process and things will be finalised soon.

Love is not my priority: Shruti Haasan

Shruti Haasan is busy these days promoting her upcoming romantic movie “Ramaiya Vastavaiya.” However, the actress claims that she has no time for romance in her life. On being asked about her love life, Shruti said, "There is no time for romance. I don't have time as I am busy working and have a busy schedule." "I don't see love in my life at all. It's not my priority from any angle. Right now, my focus is only work.

There is no definition of right man in my life," concluded Shruti. Shruti will be seen in a Bollywood film after a gap of two years. However, she doesn't consider “Ramayya Vasthavayya” as her comeback film in Bollywood.

Rajinikanth sings his first Hindi song for Rahman “Kochadaiyaan,” directed by Rajinikanth's daughter Soundarya, is a bilingual that will have versions in Tamil and Hindi. And for the first time ever, the Tamil superstar has sung for the Hindi version that is a translation of the Tamil one. While the lyrics in Tamil are written by Vairamuthu, the Hindi translation has been done by Irshad Kamil.

The song is about Rajini's beliefs and philosophies. For instance, one of his beliefs is that man loves land, but ultimately land grabs him, as he becomes greedy once he gets land. A R Rahman has composed the music for the song.

Sonakshi takes painting lessons from Salman Sonakshi Sinha considers Salman Khan to be her mentor and now we hear that the two seem to share a common passion.

Both actors love to paint and in her next film, “Lootera,” Sonakshi will be seen playing the role of an artist. She even teaches her co-star, Ranveer Singh how to paint in the movie. And for the launch of one of the songs in the film, she will be seen painting live at an event. Sonakshi, like Salman, has the same hobby that is painting.

She likes a lot of Salman’s works of art, so much so that she calls herself a fan of his paintings. And recently, Sonakshi has been taking advice from Salman about painting live for the media.”

Ranbir keen to work on small screen Ranbir Kapoor says "When I will get some good offer, when something (offer) will excite me, definitely I would love to be a part of television.

Television is one of the biggest platforms today, one of the (most) entertaining platforms. So to be just a part of it would be lovely. But I have not got any offer yet."

When the actor was asked about signing a film by filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, he denied it and said there was no such film. Rumour mills are abuzz with the news that Zoya is making a film on the relationship between a brother and sister, and she is keen to cast real-life cousins Ranbir and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles. "Currently I am doing 'Besharam', then 'Bombay Velvet' and after that I am doing Imtiaz Ali's next film," he added.

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Basking under the success of “Ethirneechal,” Priya Anand is delighted after winning rave reviews for her performance. The actress has a lineup of movies to cover in the next couple of weeks and so will be trotting between Tamil, Telugu and Hindi industries. In Tamil she has already been signed up for an untitled film with Thanu's production and also shooting for “Vanakkam Chennai.” Recently she has been roped in for "Vai Raja Vai." Aishwarya Dhanush will be directing the movie with Gautam Karthik playing the lead.

riyanka Chopra was pleasantly surprised on a recent visit to a Delhi school as the chief guest at their choir festival, that the P Class 5 students of the school have an entire chapter on the actor’s

Priya Anand is busy these days

life in their text book. Courtesy her army background, Chopra spent her childhood in a number of places, and her story of constantly moving base and wide exposure is now part of the Class 5 Environmental Studies textbook in the first chapter titled Roving Families, Shifting Homes. The actor grew up in Bareilly, Lucknow, Mumbai in India and Newton, Massachusetts and Iowa in the USA. The chapter also has pictures of Pee Cee’s family and her Miss World winning moment. A source close to the actor says, “This is the first time an actress has been honoured in such a manner.” Dr Jyoti Bose, principal, Springdales School Dhaula Kuan, which has the book in its curriculum, says, “We chose the book on the basis of overall content and didn’t even know that Priyanka was featured in the chapter. As a sheer coincidence, we chanced upon the chapter a day before her visit and decided to surprise her with it. She was overwhelmed.”

Mallika slammed for calling India ‘regressive’ Mallika Sherawat has been receiving a lot of flak for calling India 'regressive' and 'hypocritical', in her recent interview to a magazine. At a recently held event, actress Priyanka Chopra slammed Mallika for misrepresenting our nation and now Playboy hottie Sherlyn Chopra, too has taken pot -shots at the ‘Murder’ girl. Taking to Twitter Sherlyn wrote, “Had India been "regressive" & "depressing", people such as myself would've been outta work..Why endorse a prejudicial opinion of INDIA???!!!”

Sherlyn, who is hosting the sixth season of 'MTV Splitsvilla', will next be seen in Rupesh Paul's erotic drama ‘Kamasutra 3D.’

“Baharon Phool Barsao” from the hit 1966 film Suraj has been chosen as the greatest Bollywood song of all time by the listeners of BBC Asian Network, said Tommy Sandhu in a special programme on Monday evening (May 27).

As part of the BBC Asian Network’s season of programming to celebrate 100 years of Bollywood, a team including presenters and producers, as well as Bollywood experts, shortlisted 100 songs from the World of Hindi Cinema released between 1940 - 2010, and asked listeners to vote for the nation’s favourite Bollywood song.

The panel compiling the 100 songs included Asian Network presenters, Raj and Pablo and Noreen Khan, British Indian rapper and hip-hop singer, Hard Kaur, Bollywood film expert, Dr Rajinder Dudrah and Indian film critic and entertainment reporter, Rajeev Masand.

Neila Butt, Editor, Music and Live Events BBC Asian Network said: “Bollywood is huge. It is an all-encompassing, massively popular topic for our listeners. For the past month, the Asian Network has been celebrating all things Bollywood.

And what better way to continue the celebration than counting down the Top 100 Bollywood songs.”

Noreen Khan, BBC Asian Network presenter said: “Bollywood has a global following and reaches billions.

Audiences flock to the cinema to watch a movie at times just because of one song they’ve heard! A big part of its success and appeal is the music - the songs and music are the soul of the movie.”

Vyjayanthimala, lead actress in the film Suraj said: “It’s

wonderful to see ‘Baharon Phool Barsao’ being crowned the top Bollywood song of all time by BBC Asian Network listeners. Bollywood is such an important industry and there are some truly wonderful songs out there. I’m sure it was a hotly contested competition.”

The top 20 1. Baharon Phool Barsao - Suraj 2. Awaara Hoon - Awaara 3. Tujhe Dekha To - Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge 4. Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh - Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 5. Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein - Kabhi Kabhie 6. Tere Liye - Veer-Zaara 7. Yeh Dosti - Sholay 8. Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya - Mughal-e-Azam 9. Chaiyya Chaiyya - Dil Se. 10. Chalte Chalte - Pakeezah 11. Kal Ho Naa Ho - Kal Ho Naa Ho 12. Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna - Guide 13. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 14. Mauja Hi Mauja - Jab We Met 15. Ae Mere Humsafar - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak 16. Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho - Chaudhvin Ka Chand 17. Aaja Sanam - Chori Chori 18. Pehla Nasha - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar 19. Dheere Dheere Se - Aashiqui 20. Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko - Yaadon Ki Baaraat The full list is available on the Asian Network website – bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader,

Unethical investments. I have loads, like you. For years I’ve recommended British companies based on their performance not on their activities. Companies in tobacco (BAT), gambling (Ladbrokes), alcohol (Diageo), armaments (BAe Systems) and now the latest and clearly the most unethical of all – tax avoiders – like Apple, Google, Amazon – and they’re not even British. How unpatriotic and unethical am I? Sure, it’s no excuse to say, we I just want you to make profit.

So is it unethical to own Apple, Google, Amazon stock. I really like all three stocks by the way. Actually I really like armament companies for their profitability – especially smart bomb companies – they are doing rather well. So unethical I know. Profiting from death and destruction. I guess I’ve always been immoral – before being in finance I was a barrister (urghhh, lawyer) and then went into being a hedge fund manager (evil or what?) and of course, worst of all, practice journalism (they had to shut down News of the World because of some of the immoral journalists there).

So I ask again, is it wrong to own these stocks? All I can tell you is that I leave it to your conscience, but I prefer them all to Facebook. Even Google who said their guiding principle is ‘do no Evil’ apparently are doing some evil according to some people.

I won’t go into morality, but I will tell you great performers at the moment coming up on my screen and all of them I am sure have done much wrong – that is no excuse – but beware if you invest in shares then the you will want to heed the advice from the Gita to be detached.

Names which continue doing well and growing revenues and earnings and paying good dividends include Aberdeen Asset Management, Babcock, Bunzl, Easyjet and ITV. Certainly the last two you’ve been furious with at some point.

So do immoral companies make the most money?

Do the best, because they break or bend the rules?

Maybe we should have a portfolio of unethical immoral investments of tobacco and bomb companies because humans are so weak?

Looking at stocks in that area – I have to tell you it would do well. You might even add Vedanta in mining (environmentally damaging perhaps?) – it is up 18% in the past 6 months.

Maybe this correlates to our understanding of human nature –that bad people get ahead. What about Karma? Well, luckily stocks move in cycles – just ask Apple shareholders – so when they fall we can say it is Karma.

Maybe I should add banks and even oil companies like BP as bad. Poor Pearson which just wants to educate people is one of the poorer FTSE performers of recent months. So I have made up my mind, I need to find the stock of a tax-dodging, alcohol making, tobacco producing, bomb creating, casino owning conglomerate. Or I could just buy the FTSE 100 index – that’s pretty evil ….and near all time highs too. Evil clearly pays.

Insurance man Srinivasan visiting London G Srinivasan, Associate of Institute of Cost Accountants of India and Fellow of Insurance Institute of India with 33 years experience in general insurance will be visiting London shortly.

He was Managing Director of the New India Assurance Co. (Trinidad & Tobago) Ltd., in the Caribbean and was CMD of United India Insurance Co. Ltd during 2007-2012.

At present he is Director of GIC Housing Finance Limited, Mumbai, The New India Assurance CO. (T&T) Ltd, Port of Spain, Prestige Assurance Plc., Lagos, Nigeria and India International Insurance Pte Ltd., Singapore.

He was Chairman of General Insurance Public Sector Association

(GIPSA), New Delhi and has bagged the award of “Icon of the year 2011” given by ICWAI for his contribution to the General Insurance industry and was awarded SKOTCH award for Financial Inclusion initiatives in 2012. He has also presented papers at many national and international conferences on various topics related to insurance.

The year 2013 isn't turning out to be Lakshmi Mittal's dream year. On the one hand, French steel workers are gunning for his head through online games meant to "kill him" for shutting down factories while, on the other, a steady fall in demand for steel from China saw his fortunes plunge by an estimated 2.7 billion pounds ($4 billion).

And now, the billionaire steel magnate has decided to put up his dream house for sale. But even in that, lady luck isn't smiling.

Mittal has put up his neo-Georgian mansion on London's Billionaire's Boulevard on sale. But the selling price for the 14,736-sq-ft property has been earmarked at just

110 million pounds (Rs 9.25 billion at latest exchange rates) - 7 million pounds below what Mittal had bought it in 2008.

The property on Palace Green in Kensington was the most expensive home in Britain when he had bought it. The central London, 12-bedroom pala-

tial home next door to the Israeli embassy was bought for Mittal's son Aditya from Israeli-American financier Noam Gottesman.

Aditya is the chief financial officer of the world's largest steel firm Arcelor Mittal. Unfortunately, it is believed that Aditya never moved into the new man-

Manmohan Singh asks Sebi to root out insider trading

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the Securities and Exchange Board of India to do all that it can to root out the “disease of insider trading" from stock markets. "Sebi's future effectiveness will be its ability to finish the hard-todefine but extremely pernicious disease of insider trading," Singh said, speaking at the regulator’s silver jubilee function.

Manmohan Singh also said something that the regulator had been wanting to hear for a long time – that the government would do the needful to strengthen the regulator's enforcement powers. "Our government remains committed to doing everything that is needed to strengthen Sebi so that it can deliver even more effective

enforcement," he said.

The Indian Prime Minister favoured making it easier for foreign investors, including central banks, sovereign wealth, university and pension funds to invest in India.

“Mobilisation of household savings into productive investment in the capital market must be a key goal for everyone in the financial sector. This is an area which needs priority attention, especially in view of the current macroeconomic environment in our country. I would urge the Board to quickly bring to fruition the initiatives that are already underway in this regard,” he said.

He said spiralling inflation coupled with a sluggish economy has dented the average Indian's capac-

ity to save money. He called upon government and financial regulators to channelize domestic savings into financial assets.

He said gross domestic savings, as a percentage of GDP, had decreased from 36.8 per cent in 2007-08 to 30.8 per cent in 2011-12.

"In times of uncertainty, doubts often arise regarding the likely return on financial assets. Individuals prefer to hold physical assets like gold and housing," he said. In his speech, finance minister P Chidambaram asked the market regulator to increase the number of people it had for policing the markets, suggesting that its current work force of 600 may be inadequate to deal with the country’s vast population and growing economy.

sion. The most prestigious address in London is on a tree-lined private avenue near the Royal residence that was home to Diana, Princess of Wales.

The 117 million pounds (Rs 9.80 billion) that exchanged hands achieved a British record in property prices. The previous high was when a flat in nearby St James's Square went for 115 million ($174 million).

The four-floor house with at least five luxurious suite bedrooms was built in the 1920s. It was sold furnished with a formidable art collection. The entire first floor of the palatial building on sale is dedicated to the master bedroom quarters, with a separate wing referred to as "Mrs Mittal's dressing room."

Tata Steel posts `65.29 bn loss in Q4 Tata Steel's consolidated net loss plunged to Rs 65.29 billion for the quarter ended March, 2013, as it took Rs 83.56 billion one-time impairment on non-current assets, primarily related to European operations. The Tata group company had reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 4.33 billion for the same quarter of 2011-12.

In a separate statement, Tata Steel said that performance of its European operations has improved during the last quarter and its quarterly deliveries stood at 3.42 million tonnes (MT) in the fourth quarter compared to 3.02 MT of the third quarter.

AirAsia India launch seen in Q4; may order 50 more jets

AirAsia, which smashed order records for Airbus jets to become Asia's largest budget carrier, could buy another 50 planes as it targets aggressive expansion in India, chief executive Tony Fernandes said.

Discussion of an order for another 50 A320-family jets, worth $5 billion at list prices, comes weeks ahead of the Paris air show and five months after the Malaysian carrier added 100 jets to its order book to lift total purchases to 475 planes.

AirAsia plans to launch an airline in India in partnership with the Tata Group to cash in on rising demand for domestic air travel among India's

expanding middle class. It would start with planes already on order but potentially trigger new orders.

"We're looking at putting in almost a plane every month. We decided that sometimes when we pussyfoot around it takes too long to catch up so we decided just to go for it," Fernandes said in an interview.

"We've bought a lot of planes but we're still short, we're still leasing planes at the moment, so I was right buying these planes, and we may have to put in another order...(for) 50 or something like that," Fernandes said.

Fernandes said the affiliate, AirAsia India, was recruiting to be ready to

Tony Fernandes

launch in the fourth quarter, subject to final clearances. He denied a report that the launch had been delayed from September, saying he had always planned the final quarter.

Fernandes was speaking ahead of Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, where his Caterham racing

team is trailing behind Indian drinks tycoon Vijay Mallya - whose Kingfisher Airlines has been grounded for shortage of cash.

"I think we run a better airline and he's run a better Formula One team," Fernandes said, asked how his airline would make money in a market known for losses and bureaucracy.

"My point is, we're two very different models. Two very different leaders and you can't compare one with the other."

Fernandes said the sector's boom and bust cycle, which prompted India to open up the sector to foreign airline investors, had given way to a healthier business climate.

finAnciAl Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

19

Financial Warning: Your wealth may be seriously eroded if you do nothing Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

There is a new currency which is internet based, it’s called Bitcoin. The supply of the currency is limited to 21 million. I actually thought the whole thing was a joke and didn’t give it much attention, perhaps a passing fad at best; I mean how can you just invent a currency and put in on the internet and expect people to spend it? What’s not a joke is the price of this currency; for a single Bitcoin has increased from $20 earlier this year to $130, having risen as high as $240 in April. This online currency has been backed by Facebook founder Mark Zukerburg.

You can purchase real items with this currency, for example cupcake bakeries in New York will take your currency and a social networking site for nudists, amongst others, will accept this as a legitimate currency. Though the number of firms which will accept it is limited, so it’s an illiquid currency. There is even an ATM in San Diego.

It seems weird that you can invent a currency online and it becomes acceptable to firms and even increases in value.

But then is that not what our currency is? Once upon a time the currency was introduced into the system and people had to accept it had value and that it can be traded for goods. Only if enough people are willing to place value in it, and accept the idea, can it then become an acceptable currency.

Perhaps it can even be said it inevitably will be more valuable than our currency because there will always be a finite amount. The number in existence of the Bitcoin can never go beyond 21 million; unlike our currency which can be introduced into the system seemingly without limit.

Therefore it can increase in value as you are using something which can be created from thin air to value something finite for which there is demand. So perhaps the Bitcoin idea is not so crazy, perhaps it makes more sense than the money we use day to day.

You can argue Bitcoin is not backed up by anything, but is our currency backed by anything? It is not as surprising as this may seem.

How different is Bitcoin? Unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoins are predictable and limited in supply and not controlled by a central authority, and they aren't debt-based.

The above explo res you r true posit ion in having cash in the bank. You’re actu all y in a fragile place , skating on thin ice.

In this enviro nment, asse ts are the onl y re al form of true wealth and pro tection .

When clients approach us and are concerned about investing, they are actually misguided. The question which they should be asking is where can I put my money to keep it safe? As it’s currently in a dangerous place. They will be moving their funds from a place of uncertainty to certainty.

Prime London property has come through the crash unscathed and it continues to command interest from buyers all around the world. International buyers account for over 52% of all sales of prime residential property over £2m in the 12 months leading up to April 2013, according to the recent Knight Frank survey.

Property is a simple asset class. Anyone can understand it.

There are only two ways to make money from it; one from an income and the other from capital growth.

You can enhance these two returns by adding value to it, which means there is an element of the asset which is in your control, this is not the case with gold or Bitcoin. The value is driven by the market, purely by demand and supply.

Normally new clients want to 'test' investing in property. They seem to falsely think they are moving from a position of less risk to high risk, though investing in a real asset which has stood the test of time means your money will have a chance and means of keeping up, rather than eroding in the bank.

Savills predict that capital seeking a home in the world's ultraprime safest properties could reach £8.4bn by 2013.

Even if we assume the worst property crash is looming around the corner – which most commentators do not, the property price will not go to zero, the price may dip for a temporary period, but inevitably it will again rise given time. What is termed as a property crash is a dip for a temporary period; unlike the crash of a stock market where your stock can actually disappear into thin air. A ‘crash’ may also serve to increase rental demand. Purchasers will be turned into renters, therefore there will be upward pressure on the income side.

Gold, prime London property and Bitcoin have many things in common. They derive their value from their limited supply. The world's mined reserves of gold total around 171,300 tonnes.

London prime property are constrained by a boundary. You can increase the supply in a limited way by digging a basement or increasing upwards, however this is restricted by tight planning rules.

Property has the added benefit of gearing and producing an income. Prime property is finite; the rush for keeping funds safe globally is not likely to dampen in the near future.

This is the reason we have not made any losses to date whilst trading property in Central London, indeed our returns have been well in excess of 40% per annum. This has been verified by DAC Beachfort who are a leading international law firm with more than 2,200 staff across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

P erhaps considering this what starte d as a ludicrous ide a isn’ t that bad. It certain ly se ems anyone who invested in Bitco in wou ld have had a good retu rn o n their f und s. It ce rtainly has beaten the return you 're g etting from the bank s.

The point here is your wealth in the form of money is arguably not that far away from Bitcoin; perhaps it’s actually in a worse position than having your wealth in Bitcoins.

Think from this perspective how valuable it is to have wealth which exists in a real form such as gold and property. Over the last decade gold has emerged the winner with an increase of 379% compared to a growth of 124% for prime London. In its defence, property has a couple of advantages. One is it can be geared up; so although it has risen 124%, if you gear it up by a sensible 50%, in effect this means a 248% increase for your money. The other important benefit is it's income producing.

Furthermore the income, if managed properly, will be produced passively. Gold does not have this attribute, nor does Bitcoin.

One of the driving forces of the uplift in prime London property was the crisis around the world which has resulted in a flight to safety for funds.

The Real Deal Frognal Lane, Hampstead, London, NW3 Purchase Price: £850,000 l An attractive two double bedroom first floor flat, in this highly sought after residential area l Long lease of 104 years l Lift l Value after works expected to be £1.1m Call us now to reserve!

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Tips of the Week l People moving abroad, getting divorced or going bankrupt will need a quick sale; this means if you can offer a quick deal with commitment you will be able to negotiate a better price. l When purchasing and developing always keep the buyer in mind, not your own preferences.

20

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

High court clears Vijay Mallya's share sale to Diageo

The Karnataka high court delivered some cheer to beleaguered Vijay Mallya's investment holding company United Breweries Holdings Ltd (UBHL), when it allowed the company to sell its shares in United Spirits Ltd (USL), to British spirits giant Diageo.

With this, the $2 billion takeover of USL has crossed a major hurdle.

The court order will help Diageo mop-up an initial 27.4% stake, provided the lenders to Mallya's grounded Kingfisher Airlines create no further hiccups. The high court cleared the stake sale, while considering a set of winding up petitions by the airline's unsecured creditors.

The judgment comes as a breather for Mallya and helps him speed up the multi-phased complex deal making with Diageo, the world's largest drinks company, and owner of Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff brands. UBHL shares soared 9.9% on BSE following the court order.

Diageo will soon take ownership of the 10% preferential allotment made by USL, and now has a chance to purchase the entire 12% UBHL shares and around 5% stock (diluted post preferential allotment). The SBI-led consortium has threatened to invoke UBHL corporate as well as Mallya's personal guarantees to recover bad

loans estimated at over Rs 80 billion.

Diageo, which has management control as part of the takeover deal, has insisted on taking possession of the unencumbered shares. Mallya, who would remain USL chairman, must vote along with Diageo for the initial four years. The judgment provides comfort to Diageo too. If the share sale hadn't been approved, Diageo would have had to be reconciled to owning a smaller stake than Mallya, despite enjoying boardroom control. The London listed giant's open offer to buy 26% from Indian public shareholders has already collapsed, with just 0.4% tendering shares. This was a route envisaged to buy 53.4% shares of India's largest distiller.

Court Orders: The court order refrained UBHL from creating pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation, or charge on immovable or movable properties subject to the disposal of the company petitions.

The court directed the company to put Rs 2.50 billion into a term deposit of a nationalized bank 'immediately on conclusion of the transaction (share sale to Diageo).'

The court also asked UBHL to present an audited statement of accounts on July 22, which is also the next date of hearing for the winding up petitions.

Hyderabad and Vadodara.

"These hubs will form the core of a revised and predominantly deposit-led general banking proposition for the RBS Group in India... There is no impact on RBS' corporate and institutional business or its private banking business in India," the bank said in a statement.

RBS will continue to offer financing, risk management, wholesale and investment banking, cash and payments, trade finance and a comprehensive range of wealth management services to its clients in India.

Former Goldman Sachs group board of director Rajat Gupta's attorneys asked the judge to reverse his insider-trading conviction, saying wiretap evidence used by the prosecution should not have been introduced at trial stage.

Seth Waxman, lawyer for Gupta, told the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York that wiretaps played for the jury were inadmissible because they amounted to hearsay evidence. "Gupta himself was not heard on the wiretaps, which are instead conversations between convicted Galleon Group manager Raj Rajaratnam and other

employees at the hedge fund. Those wiretaps should never have been admitted,” Waxman told a three-judge panel.

"The prosecution's case rested exclusively on cir-

cumstantial evidence, and predominantly on wiretap statements - not of Gupta, but of Raj Rajaratnam, a highly unreliable declarant, speaking with other people with no connection to Gupta," Seth Waxman and Gary Naftalis, Gupta's lawyers said in a brief to the appeals court.

"The court's decidedly asymmetrical interpretation of the rules of evidence left the jury with a distorted picture in which Gupta was accused by the selfserving hearsay of a known fabulist beyond Gupta's powers to cross-examine, but was unable to explain to the jury that he had nei-

ther the motive nor the inclination to benefit that person," Waxman said.

Gupta, 64, in October last year, was handed down a two-year prison term by US District Court Judge Jed Rakoff, who also ordered him to pay a USD 5 million fine. Waxman and Naftalis argued that the conversation and a second wiretapped call were admitted erroneously under the theory that it furthered the insider-trading conspiracy because prosecutors didn't allege Lau was a member of the Rajaratnam-Gupta conspiracy and instead called it "inadmissible braggadocio".

Quadricycles get India’s gems and jewellery exports see green signal in India 33% growth in April

After declining 3 per cent in March, India's gems and jewellery exports witnessed a robust growth of about 33 per cent to USD 3.38 billion in April 2013.

In April 2012, these exports stood at USD 2.55 billion, according to the data provided by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

"These exports saw a very healthy growth as demand is rising not only in American market, but also in emerging markets like China, Russia and Latin America," GJEPC executive director Sabyasachi Ray said.

But, he said, the European market is still sluggish. The major markets for the country's gems and jewellery exports include the US, the UAE, Hong Kong and Europe.

Among the categories which witnessed growth in April, silver jewellery topped the list with a robust growth of 469 per cent, followed by coloured gemstones 218 per cent, cut and polished diamonds 37 per cent and gold medallions and coins 13.2 per cent.

However, outward shipments of gold jewellery saw a decline of 13.8 per cent.

During 2012-13, the gems and jewellery exports declined by 9.4 per cent year-on-year to USD 39 billion due to weak demand in western markets.

The council feels that in 2013-14 these exports would grow between 10 per cent and 15 per cent compared to the last fiscal.

Gems and jewellery constitute 17 per cent of India's total exports and the sector employs 1.5 million people.

The Manmohan Singh government has decided to allow manufacturing and plying of a new category of four-wheeler on Indian roads - the ‘quadricycle.’ The issue - which sharply divided the auto industry in recent months, with small car makers and some two-wheeler companies against the idea while others rooting for it - has now been settled with the road transport and highways ministry announcing that the quadricycle will be allowed to ply as a transport (commercial) vehicle carrying both passenger and goods within city limits and on rural roads.

With this, the government has put a lid on the controversy, at least for the time being. The issue would have snowballed into a major problem if the quadricycle was allowed as a personal vehicle, a demand that was pursued

by Bajaj Auto. The twowheeler major has invested Rs 5.50 billion in developing the platform and created enough capacity to pro-

duce 5,000 quadricycles a month and will likely launch its product (RE60) soon after the government notifies its decision.

“A separate category has been proposed for notification to include quadricycle with specifications adopting present norms notified in the three-wheeler category of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), or the European Union quadricycle, whichever is more stringent,” a road transport ministry statement said.

For example, the vehicles need to be registered as commercial vehicles, the driver has to have a valid driving licence and every such vehicle must have a first aid box. In Europe, there is no such norm.

The bank said it would serve appropriate notice to customers of branches that were slated for closure and would make alternative arrangements for their banking requirements if needed.

"We are a relationship driven organisation and will ensure the smoothest possible transition for our customers as well as employees who may be affected by this consolidation...Importantly, the strategic decision to reduce the geographic footprint of our retail and commercial franchise does not change the RBS

Group's commitment to the Indian market, and we continue to invest in India," Brijesh Mehra, managing director and country head for international banking at RBS in India, said.

He added that RBS in India would continue to be the third largest employment centre for the Group globally.

Earlier, RBS failed to close a deal involving sale of its India retail and commercial banking assets to Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).

As part of the deal,

RBS was planning to transfer 23 of its branches in India to HSBC. However, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised objection.

The banking regulator was of the view that RBS cannot sell its India branches to HSBC as part of the transaction. RBI had asked RBS to surrender these branch licences.

The central bank follows a restrictive policy of offering branch licences to foreign banks in India.

On November 30, 2012, almost two and a half years after the transaction was announced,

HSBC and RBS decided to scrap the deal as the long-stop date was reached without all conditions required to be closed.

RBS said its India retail and commercial operations accounted for less than 0.5% of its noncore assets at the end of November 2012 and it would continue to wind down this business.

YES Bank and a few other Indian banks had initiated talks with RBS to acquire the foreign lender's retail assets in India. However, no deal has been finalised yet.

Royal Bank of Scotland to shut 23 of 31 branches in India

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) said it has started the process of consolidating its retail and commercial banking business in India and will close 23 of its 31 branches across the country. The process is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

In the first phase the bank will shut seven branches followed by closure of the remaining 16 branches. The foreign lender will continue to operate eight branches in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune,

finAnciAl voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

21

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

US planning to scale back on QE

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 21st May 2013 @ 4.30pm GBP - INR = 84.29

The US dollar, once again, came into focus last week following Ben Bernanke’s speech in Congress on Wednesday 22nd May. In prepared testimony, Bernanke had stated that withdrawing the Fed’s quantitative easing programme (QE) could threaten the nation’s economic recovery. However, when questioned on the topic in the press conference, Bernanke confirmed that the central bank will start to discuss scaling back its QE programme in the next few meetings; as long as the job market continues to see improvement.

Later on that day, this notion

Ben Bernanke

was reconfirmed as the Federal Open Market Committee minutes revealed that several of the monetary policy members felt that QE should begin unwinding as early as June. The US dollar drew support following these comments, as a reduction of QE would give reason for the US dollar to strengthen.

The UK came under the spotlight last week, with the pound on the back foot following a series or weaker economic data to paint a gloomy picture for the UK. Inflation fell to its lowest in a year and sales in the retail sector fell by 1.3% in March. The latest BoE minutes meeting revealed that the BoE votes were unchanged from last month with regards to expanding the current QE program with only three out of the nine members voting to increase the program.

Whilst in the short term, the likelihood of further QE for the UK may not be in the cards; the market will be looking into what may happen later on in the year, especially when Mark Carney takes over from Mervyn King as the BoE Governor.

The IMF gave their verdict

USD - INR = 56.01 EUR - INR = 72.00 GBP - USD = 1.50 GBP - EUR = 1.17 EUR - USD = 1.29 GBP - AED = 5.52 GBP - CAD = 1.56 GBP - NZD = 1.86 on the UK economy on Wednesday calling upon the government to bring in new measures to support growth in the economy as well as calling on the government to ease the pace of its austerity programme.

The euro remained relatively well supported after consumer confidence and business climate figures came in better than expected from Germany. The euro’s moves continue to be dictated by fundamentals especially with speculation still surrounding talk of further stimulus being bought in by the European

0 8 0 8

$ 0 4 5

Central Bank.

China’s manufacturing contracted in May, adding to the recent string of poor data that has come out the nation. The impact in the markets was pretty emphatic with stock markets across the globe taking big losses, notably the Japanese Nikkei falling 7.3% in last night’s trade.

As a result commodity linked currencies, such as the Australian dollar, also took big losses, notably with the South African rand falling to four years lows against the US dollar and the pound.

GBP - AUD = 1.56 GBP - ZAR = 14.71 GBP - HUF = 335.35

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

PX XJ S F U S B OT G FS

G FFT

B OE OP IJ EEFO D PT U T

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Pakistan-Bangladesh-sri lanka

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In Focus Gunmen kill female polio worker in Pakistan

Peshawar: Gunmen shot dead a female anti-polio worker in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, police said, the latest in a series of deadly attacks on vaccination teams. The two attackers on a motorbike opened fire on the team as they went to administer polio drops on the edge of the city of Peshawar, near the restive Khyber tribal region where the military has been battling homegrown insurgents with links to the Taliban.

Malala Yousufzai meets UAE top leadership

Abu Dhabi: Malala Yousufzai was received by UAE's top leadership at the AlBahr Palace. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received the young Pakistani girl who was attacked last year in her village of Mingora by the Taliban, for her efforts towards girls' education. On her way to perform Umrah rituals, Malala stopped over in Abu Dhabi to thank the UAE and Sheikh Mohammed for their assistance and support during her ordeal.

Mumbai attacks: Pak court adjourns hearing

Islamabad: A Pakistani court has adjourned for nearly four months the hearing of a petition filed by Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed seeking legal aid from the government to defend himself in a US lawsuit over the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The Chief Justice then adjourned the matter till September 24. The US lawsuit was filed by relatives of two Jewish victims of the Mumbai attacks, which were carried out by members of the Pakistan-based LeT. US nationals Rabbi Gabriel Noah Holtzberg and his wife Rivka were killed in the attacks. Their relatives filed nine claims against LeT members and several ISI officials.

Navi Pillay to visit Lanka to access progress of human rights

Colombo: UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay would visit Colombo in August on an invitation extended to her by the Sri Lankan government in April 2011. Sri Lankan officials said they had kept open the invitation for Pillay to visit the island to assess the progress of Human Rights in the country in spite of adverse propaganda carried out by the pro-LTTE diaspora in the West. The UN Human Rights Council in 2012 and 2013 adopted two resolutions against Sri Lanka's alleged lack of rights accountability.

China woos Lanka with $580m loan

Beijing: China stepped up its efforts to win over another South Asian country, Sri Lanka, with its state-owned bank extending $580 million in loans days ahead of president Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Beijing which began on May 27-30. The China Development Bank, known as the government's financial diplomacy arm, has promised the Sri Lanka government $300 million loan for developing roads, $200 million for water supply projects, and $80 million to create a national business school. In 2012, China gave Sri Lanka assistance worth $1.05 billion.

Gas cylinder blast on Pak school bus kills 17

Islamabad: At least 17 children were burned to death in eastern Pakistan when a faulty gas cylinder exploded on the bus taking them to school, police said. Police officer Mohammed Rasheed said seven children were also injured in the explosion on the outskirts of the city of Gujrat. "This is a very sad incident. According to our information, at least 17 children were burned to death," he said. "The school bus caught fire after the blast. We have transported all the victims to a nearby hospital." The accident comes after a pair of suspected militant attacks killed nine people in two different areas of northwest Pakistan.

Islamabad: The PML-N has formally nominated its chief Nawaz Sharif for the office of prime minister after the party moved towards a simple majority in the 342-member National Assembly or Pakistan's lower house of parliament.

The final approval for Sharif's nomination will be made during a meeting of the PML-N's parliamentary committee before the start of the first session of the new National Assembly.

The PML-N is all set to form government after emerging the single largest party in the National Assembly during the May 11 general election.

The party won 126 of 272 directly elected seats in the lower house of parliament.

Eighteen independent candidates recently joined the PML-N, taking its tally of directly elected seats to 144.

The PML-N will be allo-

cated 32 reserved seats for women and five reserved seats for non-Muslims.

This will give it 181 seats in the 342-member House, or 10 seats more than the 171 required for a simple majority.

The PML-N's strength in the National Assembly could increase further as several parties including the PML-F, National People's Party and National Party are expected to enter into an alliance with it.

The new prime minister will be formally elected during the first session of the new National Assembly, which is expected to be summoned on June 1.

The newly elected lawmakers will take their oath on the first day of the session, and this will be followed by the election of the Speaker and the Leader of the House or prime minister.

Meanwhile, hectic consul-

Obama signals easing, not end, of drone strikes in Pak Washington: Pakistan is finally getting some relief although not total closure from the unrelenting American drone attacks that have become part of the undeclared US war on the country.

In a major foreign policy address, President Barack Obama indicated he is easing off on the drone strikes, which have already tapered off this year, saying such attacks may not be wise or moral in every instance, even if they are legal and effective.

In a nearly hour-long speech at the National Defense University outside Washington, he praised Pakistan's sacrifices, although it was underlined by the subtle subtext of the state's lack of will and capacity to meet the terrorism threat headlong.

Still, Obama indicated that direct actions against terrorist havens in Pakistan, such as the Abbottabad raid, will be more the exception than the rule. Drones strikes themselves will be bound by new Presidential policy guidelines that he signed that would insist upon clear

guidelines, oversight, and accountability.

"It's also not possible for America to simply deploy a team of Special Forces to capture every terrorist...To put it another way, our operation in Pakistan against Osama bin Laden cannot be the norm."

Obama said. "The risks in that case were immense. The likelihood of capture, although that was our preference, was remote given the certainty that our folks would confront resistance. The fact that we did not find ourselves confronted with civilian casualties, or embroiled in an extended firefight, was a testament to the meticulous planning and professionalism of our Special Forces, but it also depended on some luck. And it was supported by massive infrastructure in Afghanistan."

tations are continuing within the PML-N on selecting candidates for key portfolios like foreign affairs, finance, interior, defence and power.

Sources said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is initially expected to retain the foreign affairs and defence portfolios with himself.

Senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has expressed an interest in the foreign affairs portfolio but his candidature has been opposed by other leaders.

Lt Gen (retired) Abdul Qadir Baloch is among those being considered for the post of Interior Minister.

Former foreign minister Sartaj Aziz is widely considered a front-runner for the post of advisor to the premier on foreign affairs.

However, some sources said Aziz had expressed an interest in becoming President

after the current incumbent, Asif Ali Zardari, completes his term in September.

Senior PML-N leader Ishaq Dar has been chosen for the post of Finance Minister while Khwaja Asif is expected to become Energy Minister after the ministries of power and petroleum are clubbed into a single portfolio.

Nawaz Sharif's younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, formally nominated for the post of chief minister of Punjab, is expected to assist Asif in handling Pakistan's energy crisis, which has resulted in power cuts of up to 20 hours in some parts of the country.

China doesn't rule out investing in PoK Beijing: China refused to give any guarantees that its investments in Pakistan occupied Kashmir would not go up merely out of respect for Indian sensibilities. The signal came from the Chinese foreign ministry in midst of premier Li Keqiang's visit to Pakistan after spending three days in India.

"It's for India and Pakistan to sort out their differences concerning Kashmir," the foreign ministry spokesman said in reply to specific questions about why China was making investments in PoK, which is claimed by India. Premier Li has signed an agreement with Pakistan about building an economic corridor that would pass through PoK. "On the issue of Kashmir, China's position is clear and consistent. We hope India and Pakistan should resolve the relevant issue through dialogue," said Hong Lei, the foreign ministry spokesman, in reply to a question about a border management agreement between China and Pakistan.

China's border with Pakistan is really the PoK region, and the border management programme between the two countries would prove to be a major stumbling block in India's quest to reacquire the area, sources said.

"The two sides should map out a plan for ChinaPakistan economic corridor and make steady efforts to promote construction of the corridor so as to promote common development of the two countries," Hong said.

Speaking on Li's India visit, Hong said it resulted in an important agreement under which the two countries "agreed to make consensus the dominant element of their relations". China and India have agreed to treat each other as partners instead of rivals, he said.

Li did not avoid discussing difficult issues like the border, cross-border rivers and trade imbalance but requested India to properly manage differences in the larger interest of the two countries, the spokesman said.

Militancy, floods leave schools empty in Swat Swat (Pakistan): Twelveyear-old Nida Khan stands gloomily outside her mud house in Saar village, Swat.

She looks at a school van carrying kids to a private school that leaves her eyes brimming. Nida misses her own government school which was destroyed by militants in 2009. She doesn’t know if her school will ever open up again.

The demolished government primary school looks more like an old ruin rather than a school located just 20 km from Mingora. People cross the school property easily; it has no gate or walls, doors, or windows except for one single remaining wall

dividing two classrooms.

Nida was studying in third grade along with 150 other girls. “I was near school on that day when terrorists destroyed the doors and windows of the school and banned female education in this school,” she says. Her father, Niaz Ali, says parents are concerned about the education their children are missing out on. “Due to the closure of the school in our village, our children are at home … While we have no money for food then how we can admit our children in private schools?” he asks.

Like Nida, Zeba Ahmed was also a fourth grade student in this school in 2009.

Zeba said that after the restoration of peace in the area, she took admission again for in the Shingrai government middle school which is eight km away from her village. “After early morning prayers, I go to school and come back to home in the evening because the school is situated on the other side of the mountain,” she explains.

Ajab Khan, a teacher in a primary school who belongs to Sakhra Village said that the primary school there was destroyed due to the floods in 2010. A total of 300 students were enrolled there at the time. “People who don’t have financial problems

admitted their children in private schools of the city while the children of the remaining poor are working in the fields with their parents to earn some money to meet the expenses of daily life,” he added.

Khan said that hundreds of students in villages in the Matta, Kabal, Bahrain and Charbagh tehsils are facing difficulties in continuing their education because of a delay in reconstruction of schools in their areas. “Some of them are attending their classes in the grounds of these destroyed schools which creates more difficulties for them during the rainy season,” he explains.

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In Focus Indian sentenced to death in UAE

Dubai: A 28-year-old Indian has been sentenced to death by a court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for murdering a housewife last year. The court of first instance in Dubai found the accused, an accountant by profession, guilty of killing the woman by slitting her throat in her house at Bur Dubai here and then decamping with jewellery. He can appeal the verdict within 15 days. If the verdict becomes irrevocable and the ruler of Dubai upholds it, he will be executed by a firing squad.

Indian American teen invents 20 seconds charger

California: An 18-yearold Indian-American girl has invented a supercapacitor device that could potentially charge your cellphone in less than 20 seconds. Eesha Khare, from Saratoga, California, was awarded the Young Scientist Award by the Intel Foundation after developing the tiny device that fits inside mobile phone batteries, that could allow them to charge within 2030 seconds. Khare has been awarded USD 50,000 for developing the tiny device. She has also attracted the attention of tech giant Google for her potentially revolutionary invention.

4 Indian-origin men in NZ face gang-rape charges

Wellington: A woman has given evidence in a court in New Zealand implicating four men of Indian origin of raping her in turns in April 2011.

Amir Chand, 25, Harvinder Singh, 22, Kamaljeet Singh, 27, and Sumit Vermani, 26, are defending the charges in the high court in Hamilton. The woman has claimed that the four men raped her in the course of an evening during the Hamilton 400 weekend, the V8 supercar racing event that took place on the streets of that New Zealand city.

China slams Japan

Beijing: Piqued over Japan's warm ties with India, a Chinese daily said New Delhi's wisdom lies in dealing with its disputes with Beijing calmly, undisturbed by "internal and international provocateurs." As Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh undertook a visit to Tokyo amid reports of defence deals between the two sides, the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece, the People's Daily, lashed out at Japanese politicians, terming them as "petty burglars.”

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Australian army help sought to find Over 100,000 Indians face arrest in Saudi Arabia missing Canadian Sikh soldier

Prabhdeep Srawn Prabhdeep Srawn’s sister Mandeep, mother Devinder, father Major and cousin Rajveer

Ottawa: The family members of missing Canadian bushwalker Prabhdeep Srawn have called for Australian Defence Force personnel to be brought in to assist searching remote sections of the Kosciuszko National Park, after crews suspended search efforts.

Rescue helicopters using state-of-the-art infrared scanners aided efforts around the Lady Northcote Canyon, Mount Sentinel, and the Opera House and Seamen's huts after news reports of a male voice being heard, 10 days after Srawn was last seen.

The 25-year-old's parents, sister, brother-in-law and cousin maintained a sombre vigil at the National Parks and Wildlife office in Jindabyne, with local police monitoring specialised infrared scans and thermal imaging from two helicopters.

As many as 30 people on the ground failed to find any definite sign of

the Bond University law student, who was last seen when he parked his car at Charlotte Pass Village on May 13. Crews continued searching amid failing hopes the operation would remain a rescue effort.

Two days after arriving from Ontario, Canada, Srawn's sister Mandeep Srawn said her brother was the ''strongest person I know. We don't want to endanger the life of anyone else looking for our brother which is why we think the Australian Army are the best option at this time,'' she said. ''They have a lot of men who are trained in survival and difficult conditions and are willing to come and look for our brother, who as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, is really one of their own.''

Peter Hosking of the Kosciusko Huts Association has been supporting the family during the search, and contacted

Srinivasan’s appointment to US Court of Appeals confirmed Washington: The United States Senate voted 97-0 to confirm Srikanth Srinivasan to a judgeship on the prestigious US Court of Appeals in the capital, the highest judicial appointment achieved by an Indian-American, and a precursor to his widely forecast elevation to the US Supreme Court before the end of President Obama's second term.

The President himself led a full-blooded endorsement of Srinivasan, highlighting his Indian origins.

"Sri is a trailblazer who personifies the best of America.

Born in Chandigarh, India, and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, Sri spent nearly two decades as an extraordinary litigator before serving as Principal Deputy Solicitor General of the United States. Now he will serve with distinction on the federal bench. Sri will in fact be the first South Asian American to serve as a circuit court judge in our history," Obama said in a White House statement.

The DC Court of Appeals is considered the most important in the country after the Supreme Court.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle welcomed Srinivasan's confirmation although there have been bitter partisan wrangles relating to Obama's effort

to fill court vacancies.

Even the vote was not without procedural drama.

But in the end, it all fell into place beautifully for the 47-year old son of Indian academics, whose sister, Srinija Srinivasan, is one of the Yahoo originals as employee #5.

"The enthusiastic bipartisan support he has received reflects his effective work for both Democratic and Republican administrations and numerous well respected judges," said Virginia Senator Mark Warner (D), who introduced Srinivasan to the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier in the confirmation process. His approval, Warner said,"also has great significance for the Indian-American community, which despite an incredibly rich talent pool in the legal arena is underrepresented at the highest levels of our legal system."

He added, "Srinivasan is poised to change that as he continues his exceptional career."

Eden-Monaro MP and Defence Materiel Minister Mike Kelly to appeal for ADF involvement. So far the search is being conducted by police, SES crews and National Parks and Wildlife officers.

Mandeep said her brother's training as an army reservist included survival in temperatures reaching minus 15 degrees. ''We have been praying a lot, talking to family members and keeping in touch with the social media storm our relatives overseas have been running to put pressure on politicians in Canada and Australia,'' she said.

Snow is expected in the region in coming days with Perisher expected to drop to minus 3 degrees overnight.

The Westpac Life Saver and Snowy Hydro Southcare helicopters will continue searching with Jindabyne police Inspector Peter Rooney coordinating ground efforts.

Jeddah: As Saudi Arabia implements its controversial naturalisation law or Nitaqat, which seeks to replace foreigners in companies with its own people, India is in the midst of a gigantic effort to bring back over 75,000 people in the next few months. After having failed to regularise their work status, these people have applied for emergency exit certificates to leave the country by July 3, the deadline set by Saudi Arabia for deportation of illegal workers. If these people, whose number is growing, can't leave the country by July 3, they are likely to be arrested.

"In terms of logistics involved, it obviously is a challenge but we have a grace period and we need to do whatever we can during that period,'' said India’s foreign minister Salman Khurshid.

Nitaqat makes it mandatory for companies to hire a minimum number of local people before employing foreigners and while the law is not new, Saudi authorities have now started to identify `illegal' workers and send them back. Out of those who have applied for emergency certificates, applications of close to 57,000 have been processed by Indian authorities.

However, the Saudi authorities are processing these applications only at the rate of 500 per day making it impossible for India to meet the July 3 deadline. According to the government, Nitaqat mostly impacts blue collarworkers who have stayed back illegally in the country after the expiry of their work visa.

"For all we know, after all this many more Indians would be able to come to Saudi Arabia legitimately,'' said Khurshid in Jeddah.

Out of the over 8 million expatriates in Saudi Arabia, Indians account for 2.45 million, the largest.

Saudi minister assures Salman Khurshid on Nitaqat' law: Meanwhile, Khurshid met his Saudi Foreign counterpart who tried to allay India's fears over the Nitaqat law and said the "procedures" are being taken in the "best interest of Indian workers." The Nitaqat law and the ongoing drive to identify workers who are overstaying in the Arab Kingdom was one of the main area of focus during the talks held between the two leaders.

Unlike what was being thought earlier, these numbers are not limited mostly to Kerala but span the length and breadth of the country.

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South US patent for Hyderabad scientists

A faculty from the University of Hyderabad and an IITian from the city received United States patent for creating beams of light which can control the movement and subsequent arrangement of matter. Dr Nirmal Vishwanthan, teaching at the School of Physics at UoH along with Kavita Vemuri from IIT-Hyderabad, received the patent for their work on 'System and Method for generating an Optical Vector Vortex Beam having two Lobes', a media communique said.

Bangalore population booms to 96,00,000

The population of Bangalore grew by about 30 lakh in 10 years, but its social indicators nosedived. The Primary Abstract of the Census of India 2011, released lately, puts the city's population at 96,21,551 — a growth of 47.18% during 2001-2011. he city has the lowest sex ratio of 916 women to 1,000 men, while Udupi has the highest: 1,094. Bangalore also has the lowest work participation rate (WPR) among women, and ranks 14th in the state's 30 districts child sex ratio.

Siddaramaiah expands ministry, inducts one

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expanded his ministry by inducting senior Congressman S.R. Patil, the first from the legislative council to join the week-old ministry. Patil, 64, was administered the oath of office and secrecy as cabinet minister by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj at Raj Bhavan.

Patil was leader of the opposition in the council during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule which ended with the party's defeat in the May 5 assembly poll. His entry to the ministry came after strong protest by Congress members.

Punjab Man beaten to death by in-laws A man was tied to an electric pole and beaten to death allegedly by his wife and three in-laws after a tiff in Muradpura. Balkar Singh got married to Rajwinder Kaur around 18 years ago and due to a tiff, Kaur came to her parent's house. Singh went to his in-laws house and started hurling abuses on them. In a fit of rage, Singh's wife, her sister and their two brothers allegedly tied him with an electric pole and thrashed him severely. Singh died in a hospital later. A case against the four persons has been registered.

Tantrik held on rape charges

The Talwandi Sabo resident Dulla Singh's wife was not keeping well and he had called tantrik Gurdial Singh to treat her.

Tantrik injected some intoxicants into Dulla, who fell unconscious. Tantric tried to make sexual advances towards her but sensing his intentions she went to call his relatives nearby, leaving behind his 15-year-old daughter. When she came back with relatives, she saw that tantric was rushing on the motorbike and found that her daughter was physically abused and raped.

Radical Sikh leaders meet, raise Khalistan demand

Some radical Sikh leaders, led by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, discussed strategy for upcoming Lok Sabha polls at a meeting. The leaders also raised the Khalistan (separate Sikh homeland) demand at the meeting, Mann said. The SAD (Amritsar) chief said he "still supports the Khalistan movement and the Sikh community abroad also favours it."

Gurgaon has lowest sex ratio

Gurgaon-the most progressive city of Haryana has figured among districts having lowest sex ratio even as overall sex ratio of Haryana has increased to 879. According to data rolled out by Haryana Census department for census 2011, lowest sex ratio was reported in Gurgaon at 854, Sonipat at 856 and Jhajjar at 862.

The intense summer heat continues to claim more lives even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warns of a severe heat wave in some parts of the state for two more days. The Official sunstroke toll released by the commissioner of disaster management on Sunday put the number of deaths at 524 since April 1. Of these, 440 deaths were reported in the last three days.

This is the first time that 440 people have lost their lives due to heat in the span of three to four days in the state. Between April 1 and May 23, the official sunstroke toll was only 84 but it zoomed to 524 by May 26.

Guntur recorded the highest number of deaths with 95 people falling victim, followed by Prakasam district with 75 casualties.

According to the IMD, the maximum temperatures

showed a marked increase at one or two places in coastal Andhra Pradesh but fell at one or two places in Telangana and Rayalaseema. The highest maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius was recorded at Tuni and Visakhapatnam airport. Vijayawada and Kakinada recorded 46 degrees Celsius while Bapatla, M a c h i l i p a t n a m , Rentachintala, Hanamkonda and Ramagundem recorded 45 degrees Celsius. Hyderabad was relatively cooler with the mercury at 41 degrees.

Severe heat wave conditions are expected in Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts for the next two days. Warangal and Karimnagar are also expected to feel the brunt of the sun.

The Disaster Management Cell has advised people against venturing out

or taking up physical labour between 10 am and 4 pm.

Mercury went up above 43 degrees Celsius at almost all places in the state with Rentachintala, Bapatla and Ramagundam recording the day's highest temperature at 47 degrees C. Hyderabad recorded 43.4 degrees C but the concrete jungle made the life more miserable.

The Met department has issued a heat wave warning for the next two days for Hyderabad even as the dreaded Rohini Karthe set in.

Other areas where heat wave is likely to prevail are Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda and Medak, according to

Sudhakar Rao, director, meteorological department, Hyderabad.

Faced with strong criticism from the opposition, the state government jumped into action announcing a list of dos and don'ts and compensation of `50,000 to the kin of the victims under the Apadhbandhu, an insurance scheme for the below poverty line (BPL) families.

Local body elections in Andhra Pradesh are likely to be held within a month, state Panchayati Raj Minister K. Jana Reddy had said.

Addressing a state-level convention of the Congress party here, he asked the party cadre to gear up for the polls.

He said elections to gram panchayats and mandal parishads were likely to be held in June last week or July first week. Elections to zilla parishads, or district level bodies, are expected in August.

Jana Reddy asked party workers to ensure that the Congress wins a majority of seats in local bodies ahead of next year's elections to the state assembly and parliament.

The minister said elections to local bodies could not be held for the last two years due to certain problems

in providing reservations to various sections.

He, however, did not say when the government proposed to hold elections to urban local bodies.

The Supreme Court in February this year had asked the state government to conduct elections to urban local bodies (ULB) and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) on the basis of the existing 60.5 percent quota to backward classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Andhra local body Governor accepts resignations elections likely in a month of two Andhra ministers

Decks have been cleared for the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle with governor E S L Narasimhan accepting the resignations of Dharmana Prasada Rao and Sabita Indra Reddy, the two ministers who have been chargesheeted in the Jagan assets case.

Despite the resignations of the two ministers in his pocket and since last Sunday, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy prolonged the suspense as to when would he forward them to the governor for acceptance. The CM finally did in morning and the resignations were accepted immediately, said sources.

The exit of Dharmana and Sabita clears the way for a major cabinet rejig, an exercise that is likely to happen any time next week. The chief minister is scheduled to leave

Dharmana Prasada Rao and Sabita Indra Reddy

for Delhi on an official visit on May 29 and is expected to finalise the cabinet reshuffle in meetings with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders during his two-day stay. While Dharmana, who held the roads and building portfolio, and Sabita, who handled the home portfolio, are out, there is uncertainty over the continuance of many other ministers in the Kirancabinet.

Haryana Sikh body bans celebratory fire, DJs in weddings A social reform forum of Sikhs in Haryana has launched a campaign to curb lavish spending on wedding ceremonies by announcing a ban on use of firearms, DJs and even wearing of lehngas by brides in the state. The campaign initially covers five districts of Haryana, which have significant Sikh population, and would then be enforced in the entire state.

Samaj Sudhar Lahar, a social body formed by the ad hoc president of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Jagdev Singh Jhinda, would carry out this campaign first in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Panipat and Jind districts.

Committees of youth and women have been formed in these districts to impose total ban on use of firearms to celebrate the wedding festivities.

Jhinda said he formed the

social reform body keeping in view the rising trend of spending hugely on weddings among Sikhs. "There are lots of people who are against such extravagance and want to work to make others aware of this. We have called for ban on use of weapons to fire shots in the air, playing DJs and orchestra in marriages. There have been many instances of fights among guests while dancing during marriages not only among Sikhs but in other communities also. Firing gunshots in the air have caused many deaths and injured others across the state. It's time to do away with these evils," he said.

Jhinda stated that wearing lehnga by brides during wedding ceremonies is not a Sikh tradition so they have formed a women's group, which would pitch for wearing of salwar kameez instead.

K. Jana Reddy

` 8 bn plan for potable water to 1,300 villages

Punjab government has conceived a plan of `8 bn to provide potable water to 1300 villages in the state within two years. With this, all the 13000 Punjab villages would have potable water facility.

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the state government is also committed to provide underground sewerage to all villages with a population of more than 5000 and the projected will be completed within the next three years.

Sukhbir Badal inaugurated `370 mn sewage treatment plant at Bathinda and said Punjab government was targeting to provide sewage treatment plants in all cities, by the year 2016. The sewage treatment plant constructed on 8 acre has a capacity of 52 million litres per day.

Badal said the previous Congress government could

not provide a single treatment plant in any city and people were suffering due to massive pollution caused by the disposal of untreated sewage in the most unscientific manner.

He said that the Punjab government has evolved a massive urban renewal plan, under which all cities would have underground sewerage, sewerage treatment plants, door-to-door solid waste collection, and solid waste disposal plants. He said that a separate plan has also been finalized for scientific disposal of rain water, besides rain water harvesting, keeping in view the depleting underground water table.

He said that the outcry of Congress regarding the misuse of official machinery in zila parishad polls was a sign of frustration, as their base has been completely eroded in the state.

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In Focus 500 tickets of Sanjay Dutt's next for Arthur Road jail staff

It looks like you can never take out the Munnabhai out of Sanjay Dutt. Even though the actor is now a convict at Pune's Yerawada Central jail, we hear that just before he was shifted from Arthur Road jail, he thought of a special gesture for the staff at the Mumbai prison.Dutt requested the producers of his next, 'Policegiri', to show the film to the staff and inmates at the jail. Co-producer Rahul Aggarwal said that as per Sanju's request, they are giving 500 tickets to the jail's staff.

Ram Jethmalani expelled from BJP for 6 years

Eminent advocate Ram Jethmalani has been expelled from primary membership of BJP for 6 years for making anti-party statements, Times Now reported. The decision to expel Jethmalani was taken at a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board. Earlier, BJP had suspended Jethmalani for making statements against former party chief Nitin Gadkari.

Man critical as mobile bursts in his mouth

In Bhopal 22-year-old man was injured critically after a mobile phone he was holding in his mouth burst. The youth was holding the mobile in his mouth and using it as a torch to search some object stacked underneath the thatched roof. The blast injured him seriously and has damaged his jaws and nasal pipe; the injured man has been taken to Nagpur for treatment by his relatives. It was some Chinese-make handset which was being used by him.

BrahMos missile successfully test-fired from ship

India successfully test-fired the 290km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Navy's latest guided missile frigate INS Tarkash off the coast of Goa.The missile performed the high-level 'C' manoeuvre in the pre-determined flight path and successfully hit the target. The missile was launched from the Russian-built warship at 1100 hours, BrahMos Aerospace chief A Sivathanu Pillai said here.

Bus falls into canal, over 24 dead in Lucknow

Over two dozen people are feared dead after a bus from Farukkhabad to New Delhi fell into a canal in Etah. While eight bodies have been fished out of the Hazara canal and 22 passengers have been saved from the canal waters, police said they fear more than two dozen people have been washed away. The bus was jam-packed and more than 58 passengers were travelling in it.

India hesitant to fulfill Karzai’s wish-list

In the backdrop of a Nato withdrawal and fears of a Taliban resurgence, Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday said he had given the Indian government a “wishlist” for military equipment. The list, said sources, comes after considerable discussions with Afghanistan on what exactly they would want. New Delhi has committed to provide training, equipment and capacity building for Afghan armed forces as part of the strategic partnership pact signed in 2011. However, India appears more hesitant this time, largely because of the Pakistan factor. Afghan foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul observed.

Kerala CM bags UN award for mass contact programme

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has won the prestigious United Nations Public Service Award for his mass contact programme initiative .The Kerala chief minister bagged the first place in the category 'Preventing and Combating Corruption in the Public Service' from the Asia and Pacific region. The second place was bagged by South Korea's Seoul Metropolitan Infrastructure Headquarters. Chandy first launched the mass contact programme when he became the chief minister of Kerala in 2004.

In the most lethal attack so far in Chhattisgarh, Maoists last week hit a Congress convoy in Bastar, killing top party leader Mahendra Karma, the man who started the anti-Naxal Salwa Judum campaign, and 26 others, many of them prominent party leaders.

At least 20 people were injured. Among them was former union minister Vidya Charan Shukla, who took three bullets. He was first taken to a hospital in Jagdalpur and later flown to Raipur where doctors said he is “very critical”.

State Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel and his son Dinesh were among those killed and their bodies were recovered from the bushes later. They were travelling with Sukma Congress legislator Kawasai Lakma, who was injured.

The group of Congress leaders and workers were ambushed at Darba Ghati valley as they were driving out of the rebel stronghold of Sukma in Bastar district towards Jagdalpur after attending a rally. Police said some cars leading the convoy hit land mines and then the

entire convoy came under a hail of gunfire as more than 150 combatants ringed them.

NIA to probe attack: Shinde Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would probe

Congress defeat, not primeministership, is Modi's aim: Rajnath

A new axis between Narendra Modi and BJP president Rajnath Singh - since Gujarat CM's elevation to the party's parliamentary board has more to do with battle plans for the Lok Sabha polls than with jostling for the choice of prime minister's candidate.

That's the view of Singh after his interactions with Modi since January. "No matter what others think, I can tell you that, not once, has Modi said anything about the PM's race or he wants to be the candidate. Like others, Modi has left it to the party. I say this with complete honesty," Singh told HT in what is seen as his first response to the rumours that Modi is pushing for his candidature with the help of the BJP chief.

"That is not true. None of our discussions have centred on this subject. In all the interactions we have had,

including the one on May 21, we talked about only putting the BJP back into fighting gear and how we must enthuse cadres and ensure the Congress is defeated," he said.

Singh said it was unfair to read too much meaning about Modi's plans or his role when as a popular face he was only concerned about the BJP's readiness for the elections.

Singh said his task was to involve all leaders - whether it was LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitely, or Modi - in enabling the BJP win the polls. "Everyone will be involved and provide the thrust for the party. I need Gadkari and Venkaiah Naidu to guide us too."

Singh said his choice of Modi's confidant, Amit Shah, to handle UP for the Lok Sabha polls was also guided by the need for an "experienced hand" to manage the

Rajnath Singh

challenging state and "not to please or displease anyone."

"Shah brings his rich winning experience from Gujarat, which will inspire our workers in UP. We needed somebody who can bring fresh ideas to resurrect the BJP," said Singh. Singh, who is a former UP chief minister, did not mince words in saying his highest expectation in terms of Lok Sabha tally was from UP. "We are looking at a scenario where we can win 35-40 of the 80 seats."

the attack. Speaking from the United States, where he is on an official visit, Shinde said he has briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the decision to hand over the investigation to the NIA, and also asked union home secretary R K Singh to monitor the probe.

Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi along with other leaders visited Chhattisgarh to review the situation arising out of the Maoist attack on the state Congress leadership.

Modi charts out road map for 2014 elections Modi's mantra, as BJP insiders put it, is for an aggressive offensive against the UPA's 9 years rule, enthuse party workers to "sweat it out" to push the Congress into a corner. Modi also wanted the social media to be put to optimum use for reaching out to the youth. As for giving a picture of unity and discipline in BJP, Modi made it a point to call on AB Vajpayee, Advani and former party chief Nitin Gadkari.

He described on twitter that his meeting with Advani was "wonderful" to scotch the talk of any distance developing between them. As he left for Ahmedabad, Modi told HT that "it was a long day indeed, and we had very frutiful interaction." BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said, "We discussed the nine years of UPA rule. This government has failed on all fronts, be it price rise, internal and external security or the economic situation. BJP will launch a jail bharo (court arrest) programme from May 27 to June 2."

A rock concert for Narendra Modi as PM AV Correspondent If you thought that saffron politics is all about singing Bhajans, think twice. On the face of UPA’s Bharat Nirman campaign, it is now a rock concert that is set to rock the national capital on May 31.

The theme of the concert is “Modi for PM”, while the campaign song NaMo NaMo, essentially positioning Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate for the next general election has been composed with elements of Metal, Rock and folk songs.

“It is only the people, who are seriously interested in politics listens to the political speeches,” said Tejendar Singh Bagga, a former BJP activist and the founder of the community page Modi-Fying India, which is organizing the event. “We have decided to take the campaign to the people across through other things which touch people’s lives,” he says. Only recently, the group had launched Narendra Modi T-shirts and is

Narendra Modi

doing brisk business.

“Now we are organizing a Rock Concert to launch our song to campaign for Modi’s prime ministership,” Bagga said adding that while the first song will be in Hindi, subsequently the group intends to launch one song every month in other vernacular languages including Bhojpuri, Tamil and Bangla.

‘Panchtarni Music in Exile’ a Kashmiri Rock Band, will perform at the event, Bagga said, adding that two Kashmiri Pandit singers Rahul Tikoo and Ashish Bhat will launch the song. “This is a piece of fusion music, encompassing all these elements

from Metal, Rock and Folk and is a very catchy one,” said Tikoo from Panchtarni that has already recorded the song at a studio in Gurgaon.

“On this occasion, we also will launch the cover page of the Comic on Narendra Modi as well as stickers saying ‘I support Narendra Modi as Prime Minister”, he added. As a matter of fact, the group has already started online registration for the concert through its Facebook page.

Bagga added that he was now talking to various other musical groups from different language to launch songs subsequently.

The community page of

the “Modi-Fying India” states the vision of the group more than obviously. “Through Modi-Fying India we aim to bring you the road map to build a Transformed India under the able leadership of Narendra Modi,” it says.

His key areas of focus have been to work towards transforming the field of agriculture, industry and service sectors. His sense of perseverance to protect the environment and in empowering women has led to holistic growth in the state of Gujarat . He is a rare leader who other nations trust and are ever ready to work with him and also a leader who is beyond the blemish of corruption.

Last but not the least a leader who is certified ‘clean’ by the Gujaratis and the Supreme Court of India,” it adds.

“To any spirited Indian he is the symbol of progress and transformation.

Narendra Modi is a man on an overdrive to achieve the goal of nation building with unparalleled pride and patriotism for the motherland”, it says.

26

IndIa

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 1st June 2013

""( #% The Congress sought to project a unified front ahead of the 2014 elections, as party president Sonia Gandhi and vicepresident Rahul Gandhi expressed complete confidence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and declared that Singh, too, will be part of the party campaign next year.

"All reports suggesting a rift between me and the Prime Minister are baseless….There are no differences. There is collective leadership,” said Sonia.

“The Prime Minister is carrying out his responsibilities with great dignity in the face of unrelenting hostility and abuse from the Opposition.

We respect him, and we all stand by him,” said Sonia at a function marking the ninth year of the UPA government.

Echoing her sentiments, Rahul said socalled rift between party and PM was a creation of

the Opposition. He ruled out taking over as prime minister ahead of the 2014 election. "I have several times made my stand clear on this issue," he told journalists during the dinner that followed the formal event in which a report card to the people, detailing achievements of the UPA, was released.

“Next year, we will directly approach the people and seek a fresh mandate,” the PM said as Sonia's speech set the tone for the next general elections.

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“All of us collectively… will all lead the 2014 campaign together," she said to a question whether Rahul would lead the election campaign.

"Why not…Of course I will," Sonia said when asked if she would contest the elections.

Though it is only the third time that a government has completed ninth straight year in office, the celebrations were muted, in fact most subdued in all of the UPA's nine years in power. Between last year and now, the UPA is down

two key constituents - the DMK and the TMC - and ceaseless allegations of corruption have left little to celebrate.

The BJP was quick to dismiss the report card as a "non-report card". "It conveniently hides all misdeeds and scams," said spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

"To our critics I would only say that in many of these areas since the glass was almost empty when we started, it will take some time before it is really full. The important point to note is that it is being filled," the PM said.

While both Singh and Congress chief admitted that corruption was a matter of concern, Sonia's aggressive speech sought to turn the tables on the BJP. "We have been uncompromising in our approach to combat this scourge. We have nothing to feel defensive about," she said.

Averse to frisking, Meira Kumar shoots down Ukraine visit Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar shot down a bilateral meet at Kiev after Ukraine refused to exempt her and accompanying six MPs from frisking.

Although India enjoys close ties with Ukraine, Kiev could not give any written assurance to New Delhi that Kumar and other MPs would not be subject to security checking.

The tour was finalized almost two months ago but as Ukraine dithered till the last moment over the touchy issue of security checking, Kumar decided at the last moment not to go to Ukraine.

Her husband, Manjul Kumar was also accompanying her for the tour.

Initially, the delegation was slated to tour Belarus and Ukraine from 20- 27 May. But the delegation returned from Belarus last

night. "Whenever any foreign parliamentary delegation comes to India, we ensure that their members are not subject to checking. This is the we extend to them and we expect the same for us," said an official source.

While this is Kumar's first such decision to call off a tour at the last moment, her predecessor Somnath Chatterjee refused to go to many countries including the US on the same ground as he too, fiercely tried to protect the dignity of parliamentary delegation.

For New Delhi, frisking has been a sensitive matter and even became a major diplomatic issue with Washington when former president APJ Abdul Kalam was frisked at New York's JFK Airport. US later issued an apology to Kalam.

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UPA banks on reforms for 2014 Lok Sabha polls Battered by a series of corruption scandals and allegations of mis-governance, the Congress faces an uphill task of regaining the lost ground in the remaining one year before the 2014 polls with pro-reform and social welfare measures apart from addressing the concerns of middle class, which had drifted away from it in the recent past.

The passage of social security bills - food security and land acquisition - is the essential challenge before the Congress leadership in the last year. It was the rural employment guarantee programme that helped the party to retain power in 2009 elections.

"These bills are propoor and pro-farmer and important not only for Congress but entire country," senior party leader

Shakeel Ahmed said.

Battling middle class negativity is another challenge. Over the past two years, the middle class has displayed its anguish against the government by repeatedly taking to the streets.

Even Congress president Sonia Gandhi has admitted that her party's revival largely depends on addressing the disenchantment of the middle class.

The Congress also needs to present a picture of cohesion between the government and the party due to the existence of multiple voices that often projected a sign of drift or discordance in the UPA. The party had to come on record several times to dismiss suggestions mainly from its leaders - of a rift between Congress

president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying the two shared a "perfect and unique relationship" despite "disagreements" on some issues.

Congress leaders, including Gandhi, had to repeat the party position more than once that there is no vacancy at the top and Singh would continue to be the PM till 2014.

Outspoken Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh's statement that Manmohan Singh-Sonia Gandhi "dual power centre" experiment too created ripples in the party, which later clarified that the model has been successful and could continue in future also.

Even as the power sharing arrangement is still being debated, the third power centre has

emerged in the Congress with the anointment of Rahul Gandhi as the party vice-president in January this year.

The party has also formally announced that Rahul will be its face of the 2014 poll campaign.

But before that, the Congress party's strength would be tested in the assembly elections in four important states - Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan - where it would be in direct confrontation with the BJP. Also, the exit of two key allies - Trinamool Congress and DMK - during the past one year has put a big question mark on the future of the UPA and the ability of the Congress to keep its flock together or make new friends.

india

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

27

the maritime hub of India Gujarat is thriving on port- led development. Of the 1,600 km long coastline of the state, 40 minor and intermediate ports are situated which handles 26 per cent of total national cargo

By Nayan Dave

I

n the next few years Gujarat will become the most important player in the port business. The state which is blessed with 1,600 km coastline has, in fact, achieved many fetes over the last one decade.

And the spurring growth in ports and port-led activities has bestowed Gujarat a special place in the map of global ports. Port builders are rushing to build more ports and thus creating a benchmark for the country and compete with countries like China and Singapore.

Dhruv Batra, director of Ahmedabad-based Cargo Motors, is keen to develop an island port at Nargol in South Gujarat.

His firm has partnered with Israel Ports Company (IPC) to jointly invest Rs 35 billion for this greenfield project. “Nargol port is at a strategic location, where we’re building this project on 150 hectares of sea-land through reclamation,” says Batra. The port has the biggest advantage as it lies between two major cities - Surat and Mumbai, where apparently Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is getting constructed. “Once commissioned, the modern port is expected to ease the burden of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai,” he added. The consortium will develop six berths to handle container, bulk cargo and roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) trade.

Like its predecessor, Nargol port is set to open a plethora of opportunities for traders in the country. Earlier, private ports such as Mundra, Pipavav, Dahej and Hazira have built in huge capacity to minimize stress by major ports and filled in revenues for the state exchequer. The other private ports, to be watched, are Chhara, Kachhigadh and Mahuva which are

undergoing various stages of development.

While one of India’s oldest and biggest construction company Shapoorji Pallonji is mapping out plans to develop Chhara port near Junagadh, infrastructure conglomerate Larsen & Toubro will soon announce its plans to develop Kachhigadh as modern port.

Adani Group has set an example in ports industry by developing the most advanced port of the country in Mundra, in Kutch district of Gujarat.

For the year 2012, Adani Port alone handled close to 70 million tonne, 20% of country’s total 350 MT handled by minor ports.

Pipavav Port is managed and operated by APM Terminals and maritime giant AP Moller- Maersk Group.

“Pipavav and Mundra ports are already carrying out decent operations.

Gujarat Chemical Port Terminal at Dahej and LNG Terminal, developed

by Petronet India Ltd, has handled well over the years after the state’s port policy was announced in 1995,” says a senior state government official.

The major ports in the country controlled 561 MT of cargo in 2012, of which minor ports handled nearly 39% of total cargo, out of which Pipavav and Essar Ports together handled close to 100 MT. Gujarat, the country’s biggest maritime

state, has 40 minor and intermediate ports dispersed across Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat regions, have handled 26% of total national cargo.

If Essar, ABG Shipyard and Adanis would invest further in the state’s ports sector, it would change the country’s ports scenario.

Nearly 63 firms have signed memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with the Gujarat government, during Vibrant Gujarat 2013, to invest over Rs 1,000 billion in ports sector.

Essar Group’s chairman Shashi Ruia announced to invest close to Rs 140 billion at Hazira port, near Surat, and Salaya port, near Jamnagar, for handling dry bulk, liquid and container cargoes. The state government plans to undertake developmental schemes on existing ports, under Gujarat Maritime Board, with an expenditure of $ 43.67 million with a joint participation of private investment worth of $1.06 billion in next few years. It has identified projects for development of non-major ports at an estimated cost of Rs 1,700 billion for creation of additional capacity of 1,294 million tonne.

A analysis of proposed investment in projects indicates that investment in non-major ports of Gujarat would be around 44 per cent of the total investments in non-major ports during 2010 to 2020.

Another example of why officers in Uttar Pradesh are not able to deliver.

They are frequently transferred from one place to the another, making it difficult for them to plan things to tackle problems, execute and deliver results.

As many as 43 Indian Police Services (IPS) officers posted in UP have been transferred more than 40 times in their career. The officers include two director general police(DGP)Vinod Kumar Singh (43 times) and Arun Kumar Gupta (45 times), 14 additional DGPs, 13 Inspector general of police (IGPs), 10 deputy inspector general of police (DIGs) and four superintendent of police(SPs).

These facts were revealed in the information obtained from the home department under Right to Information (RTI) by Lucknow based RTI activist Nutan Thakur.

The record for maximum transfers among IPS officers is currently held by 1983 batch KL Meena who has been transferred 59 times, followed by Kamal Saxena 48 times and Vijay

Singh 47 times. As per these records, Rajiv Kapoor, a DG rank officer, was transferred seven times, followed by MK Sinha (9 transfers), possibly because they opted for central deputation very early in career.

Among other 'less transferred' officers are Bhagwan Swaroop Srivastava (13), Tanuja Srivastava (15) and Bhanu Bhasjar (15).

Due to these frequent transfers, the average number of transfers of 14 DGs in UP comes out to be 36.4.

An IPS officer becomes DG after 32 years of service. Hence, on average these DGs were transferred at least once in a year.

Similarly, the ADGs in UP have been transferred on an average of 35.9 times so far in their careers. This figure stands at 31.8 for IGs and 29.7 for DIGs. This is the ground reality in UP as opposed to the Supreme Court order in Prakash Singh case which says that the minimum tenure of police officers shall be 2 years. The list include IPS officers -DGs: Vinod Kumar Singh (43 times) and Arun Kumar Gupta (45) (DGs).

ADGs: Sulkhan Singh

(43), Vipan Kumar (41), Vijay Singh (47), Surya Kumar (42), Ram Deo (44), RN Singh (45), KL Meena (59), Jagmohan Yadav (44), Alok Prasad (40), Gurdarshan Singh (45), AKD Dwivedi (40), GP Sharma (40), RP Singh (40) and Jawed Akhtar (45).

IGs: GL Meena (43), Anil Agrawal (40), Kamal Saxena (48), Brij Raj (40), MK Bashal (40), BP Singh (41), Braj Bhushan (44), Abhay Prasad (44), Dipesh Juneja (41), Aay Anand (40), Anand Swarup (41), R K Rai (41) and Rajiv Sabharwal (41).

DIGs: Raja Srivastava (42) , LV Anthony Dev Kumar (43), Ashok Mutha Jain (41), Gyan Singh (43), RK Swarnkar (40), P K Mishra (46), Rajesh Srivastava (47), DC Mishra (41), MD Karndhar (45), VK Garg (41).SPs: Navneet Kumar Rana (42), DK Rai (44), Mukesh Mishra (44) and Rakesh Pradhan (45).

Earlier, RTI query of Thakur had revealed that the average term of an officer of provincial police service (PPS), the second rung after IPS, in UP on a posting is two and a half months.

after the resolution of the military standoff in Depsang area, where Chinese troops had intruded 19 km inside Indian territory and pitched tents on April 15, and just a couple of days before Chinese premier Li Keqiang came visiting India.

Army sources said there was “nothing unusu-

al'' about the May 17 face-off. “Six to seven such incidents take place in that area every month, with both sides patrolling up to what they perceive to be their territory along the LAC... there was no activity out of the established pattern witnessed there,'' a source said.

There were reports that the PLA had constructed a metal-top road five km deep into Indian territory across the LAC in the area, claiming that it was part of the Aksai Chin region held by them. But Army sources here said China had constructed no new roads in the sub-sector since 2008, and that the Sri Jap area “fell under the Chinese side of the LAC''.

Chinese troops intercept Indian army patrol in Ladakh

India and China may have restored “status quo ante'' after a 21-day military standoff in the Depsang Bulge area in the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector of Ladakh but regular face-offs between the rival troops all along the undelineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) continue as before.

In the latest such incident that has come to light, People's Liberation Army soldiers intercepted an Indian Army patrol and prevented it from going up to what India perceives to be its territory in the Finger-VIII or Sri Jap area, situated north of Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh, on May 17.

This was just 12 days

Anyone can record a dying declaration, Supreme Court rules You need not be a police officer, doctor or a magistrate to record the dying declaration, a statement accusing those responsible for the death of the person making his last possible statement.

The Supreme Court has found this to be true in law, at least in cases where the person dies of burn injuries. "The law on the issue can be summarized to the effect that law does not provide who can record a dying declaration, nor is there any prescribed form, format or procedure

for the same," said a bench of Justices B S Chauhan and Dipak Misra while reversing the high court ordered acquittal in a dowry death case.

While indicating that any member of public could record the statement of a dying person, the bench said the only caveat was that the person recording the dying declaration must be sure that the one making the statement was in a proper mental condition to do so.

"The person who records a dying declara-

tion must be satisfied that the maker is in a fair state of mind and is capable of making such a statement," said Justice Chauhan, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench.

But, how does a lay man understand that a

dying man is in a proper frame of mind to make the statement?

The court left it to the discretion of the individual recording the statement and said a doctor's certificate about the dying man's mental condition was not necessary to make the dying declaration acceptable as evidence.

"Moreover, the requirement of a certificate provided by a doctor in respect of such state of the

deceased, is not essential in every case," the bench said.

In the case at hand, a Damoh trial court had convicted one Dal Singh and his wife for setting ablaze their daughter-inlaw, who had been subjected to cruelty in the matrimonial home. However, finding that she had suffered 100% burn injuries, the Madhya Pradesh High Court acquitted the accused doubting the veracity of the woman's dying declaration.

MP's standing counsel

Vibha Datta Makhija argued that the HC was not justified in doubting the dying declaration as there were sufficient evidence on record to show that the daughter-in-law was ill-treated by her parents-in-law and were responsible for her death.

"A person having 100% burns can make a statement, and a certificate provided by a doctor is not a condition precedent for placing reliance upon a dying declaration," she said and argued for reversal of the acquittal.

28

travel & women

Air France’s CityJet Opens Up Westphalian Delights

Roger Aitken ielefeld, affectionately known as ‘pudding town,’ is at the centre of a longB running conspiracy theory (the ‘Bielefeld

Verschwörung) started jokingly by university students that suggests this northern German city does not exist or is located on ley lines between Los Angeles and Sydney.

The truth, however, is that this Westphalian city with a 325,000 population is very real. And, now with Air France’s CityJet having started flights from London City airport late this April to Paderborn airport - 50 km distance - it is much easier to get to than flying to Hanover (over 100 km away).

Ranked as one of the top 20 German cities, Bielefeld has some interesting attractions. They include the imposing thirteenth century Sparrenburg castle that towers above the city, which is next to one of Germany’s most beautiful ridge walks, the 150 km Hermansweg. It has a charming old town with patrician houses, an opera house, theatre and various museums. Each year a medieval festival takes place using the backdrop of the castle.

A main attraction in the Old Town square is the Crüwell House with its late Gothic stepped gable dating from 1530.

The staircase is decorated with 7,000 Delft

tiles dating from the sixteenth century.

The city’s Kunsthalle contains fine examples of expressionist and modernist art including a large Henry Moore sculpture.

Dr Oetker Welt pays homage to the eponymously named and world famous maker of baking powder who established here in 1891. Buying the Bielefeld Tourist Card (€8 for 1 day/€13 for 3 days) makes sense and provides free entry to eight museums as well as free travel on buses and trams amongst a host of discounted offers.

Paderborn, founded as a bishopric by Charlemagne in 795, is home to the world’s largest computer museum, the Heinz Nixdorf Museums Forum( www.hnf.de/).

There are a dozen other museums besides including a tractor and model car museum. A short walk of the town makes sense to take in the medieval cathedral and the Pader river, the shortest river in Germany at just 4 km.

Getting There: Air France’s CityJet( www.cityjet.com ) flies six times a week to Paderborn Lippstadt airport (c.£120 return). Buses to the town centre take 20 minutes, with a train to Bielefeld taking some 40 minutes. A stay at the 3-star Mercure Bielefeld City hotel in the old town brings you close to the sights and some excellent Westphalian cafés and restaurants.

She wins the battle with rare brain tumour

hree years ago, when little Angel (name T changed) came to India for

the first time, she could barely walk. Her brain couldn't control the movements of her left limbs and she had lost the power to recognize things.

"There was a total lack of coordination between her brain and other body parts.

While eating, Angel's hands couldn't locate her mouth and it was heart-wrenching to see my child searching for it. She couldn't even recognize me," says Angel's mother Ayodele Loveth from Africa.

Ayodele discovered her daughter is suffering from some problem when she was two years old. "While dressing her up one day, I found out her left leg is shorter compared to the right one. I grew suspicious and went to a general hospital in Nairobi only to listen to doctors saying, 'everything is fine'. Angel started going to a school after that. She appeared healthy till the day we spotted her limping. There was no pain, but it got worse. I could see the weakness that developed in her feet was now spreading upwards. Soon, Angel's left hand was also not under her control. The

child could barely keep her head straight," says Ayodele.

This African family's world came crashing down when Angel was later diagnosed with 'brainstem glioma', a complicated brainstem tumour. The paediatrician referred her to Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Bangalore.

"When Angel came to us in 2010, the tumour was in its second stage and was pressing over her critical areas. Due to this, there was loss of balance and she had trouble walking. The child was suffering from inappropriate laughter, crying and urinary urgency. It was a critical case as the biopsy of brainstem tumour increases the chances of neurological disorder," explains Dr Sandeep Jain, consultant radiation oncologist, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital.

Angel underwent surgery in October 2010 that involved removal and decompression of the lesion. "My daughter had to undergo 33 sittings of intense radiotherapy after a year of the operation.

Radiotherapy was over by April 2011. Anybody would have gone crazy when the hospital handed

over a bill of $22,000. But we wanted to give it a try and today I am happy for it," said Ayodele.

Three years into the treatment, Angel is all set to lead a normal and healthy life. The eightyear-old has started going to school again and regained control over her limbs. "Although she lost a couple of years due to the treatment, she is back to normal life. She still limps a little, but there has been a lot of improvement," says Ayodele.

According to experts, treatment of brainstem glioma is difficult. "We get 10-11 such cases in our hospital every year.

Surgery for this kind of tumour is difficult as biopsy is dangerous. It may lead to neurological disorders, and thus it's a miraculous survival," says Sandeep.

Know about Brainstem Glioma: It accounts for 15% of paediatric brain tumours.

Biopsy can increase risk of neurological disorder. Symptoms include paralysis, swallowing difficulty and breathlessness.

About 42% of all brain tumours, even benign ones, are gliomas, while 77% of malignant brain tumors are gliomas.

www.abplgroup.com - asian voice 1st June 2013

Haji Pir - A story of faith and unity

AV Correspondent uslim saint Haji Pir is believed to have origiM nally come to India as a

soldier in the army of Shahbuddin Ghori.

Originally he was named Ali Akbar. After giving up the service, he settled near village "Nara" and spent his days in the service of people. He laid down his life while trying to recover cows driven away by dacoits. After performing the Haj, he was known as Haji Pir and also known as Zinda Pir. People worship at Haji Pir Dargah and then proceed to Karol Pir Dargah, 5 miles away.

Haji Pir is an important shrine strategically and culturally. Being close to the border between India and Pakistan, this shrine attracts devotees from Pakistan. Haji Pir has tremendous following among people of all religions. They say that whoever donates towards the construction, expansion and repair of the dargah, multiplies his own wealth.

There are several such stoIngredients : 1. 1 cup of gram flour / besan - Fine powder is good. 2. 1 spoon of sooji / rawa (optional).

3.

1-2 florets of Cauliflower - Grated and dried off water 1 medium size Onion - Finely chopped 5. Cooking Oil .

Salt to Taste 1 - 1.5 cups of water Serves : 2 Cooking Time : 15 minutes Method : Use a non stick pan / griddle for cooking , do not forget to coat it with little oil as oil helps in making the chilaas crisp . Mix the flour/besan , cauliflower , onion in a bowl and add water just enough for all these contents to make batter that flows smoothly but slowly out of the spoon. Ensure that there are no uneven flour lumps in the barter. Add a spoon of sooji / rawa to the batter, this adds to the crispness of the chilaas. Let the batter rest for 3-4 minutes

ries of devotees and donors to the dargah having become richer after the donation.

There is a pond next to the shrine, the appearance of which is attributed to the miraculous powers of Haji Pir. On his arrival in Kutch, he was obstructed by the local Rajputs (Solanki caste leaders). But Haji Pir won them over along with the common people by developing a water body in the middle of the desert. It provided relief to the droughtstricken Kutch. People still believe that the mud at the water-bed has healing properties and it is used to

cure many illnesses. The pond is called ‘Sadharna’ as it was dug by a hundred Rajput soldiers. The shrine has many Hindu followers, it is about two km from the Pakistan border and one can see army posts between the two countries.

The dargah is located in a village which has only one Muslim family and is regarded as the patron saint of the Bharwad or the pastoralist community, who visit his shrine with the hope of curing their animals. Haji Pir Fair is celebrated at Haji Pir (Banni) on 1st Monday of Chaitra (April).

Besan Chilaa

before starting the cooking. . Switch on the flame and pre-heat the griddle for about one minute.

Coat the pan with cooking oil ( about 1 tsp for each chilaa ) and maintain the heat on low to medium flame ( and ensure the oil coating doesn't steam off ). . With the help of a katori / small bowl / scoopedladle spread a fourth portion of this batter evenly on the heated pan . After cooking on one side, flip partway through to cook the other side. The chilaa is to be considered cooked when both the sides turn to golden yellow and crisp.

Carefully transfer the cooked chilaas to a plate

and serve hot.

Health Benefits: Due to the low glycemic index of Besan, it is a great food for diabetics. Use it in your rotis, parathas as a replacement for flour.

Besan has a high soluble fiber content and is beneficial for heart health. Due to lower low calorie count, besan is often used as a low calorie food for those trying to lose weight.

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 1st June 2013

CALCIUM + Magnesium + Vit. D3

I

f you want to lower your blood pressure, then bananas are a great option.

They are cheap, available all throughout the year and are loaded with potassium. Potassium helps to lower your blood pressure by 2 to 3 points and helps to lower the risk of stroke.

Banana is one of the best foods, as it is loaded with potassium.

Potassium helps the kidney to filter more pressureboosting sodium out of your bloodstream and helps tiny blood vessels relax and make pressure in the artery walls function more efficiently.

Want to lower your blood pressure, then sip in a glass of skimmed milk every day. Skimmed milk will do wonders for your body, as it loaded with calcium and vitamin D. These two nutrients work as a team and help to lower down your blood pressure and strengthen your bones.

Besides, it also helps to reduce the risk of various cardiovascular ailments.

Oranges is another best food you should indulge in, to lower down your risk of developing high blood pressure. Opt in for a glassful of orange juice or eat the whole fruit to load yourself with fiber and vitamin C. Watermelon is not just a summer-refreshing food, but it is also a heart health promoting food.

Watermelon is loaded with fiber, lycopenes, vitamin A and potassium. All these nutrients have blood pres-

tress is always thought as a really bad thing, S but researchers say it’s

not. While too little stress can lead to boredom and depression, too much can cause anxiety and poor health.

But the right amount of acute stress tunes up the brain and improves performance and health.

“Some amounts of stress are good to push you just to the level of optimal alertness, behavioral and cognitive performance,” said Daniela Kaufer, associate professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

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Popeye's favorite green leafy vegetable - spinach, is loaded with hearthealthy nutrients. It is low in calories, high in fiber, potassium, folate and magnesium. All these properties help in maintaining and lowering blood pressure levels.

Sweet potatoes is loaded with potassium.

Richness in potassium helps to keep the sodium levels low and thus drives down the blood pressure.

Sip in grape juice, after your workout to reduce your blood pressure.

Wondering why? Grape juice includes polyphenols, which helps to lower down the level of your blood pressure considerably.

Polyphenols trigger the production of nitric oxide, which helps to dilute blood vessels and thus helps to lower blood pressure.

Including beans like kidney beans or black beans is one of best ways, to load yourself soluble fiber, magnesium and potassium. All these nutrients are excellent ingredients for lowering blood pressure and improving overall health.

Add all types of berries to your diet, as they are packed with polyphenols, flavonols and anthocyanins. Besides, they are also loaded with vitamin C, float, potassium and fiber.

Just add handful of berries each day to boost your heart health, to lower your blood pressure and to spike your good cholesterol.

Stress not always bad

more alert, and you perform better when you are alert,” she said.

Kaufer is especially interested in how both acute and chronic stress affect memory, and since the brain’s hippocampus is critical to memory, she and her colleagues focused on the effects of stress on neural stem cells in the hippocampus of the adult rat brain.

Brain cells called astrocytes (pink) appear to be key players in the response to acute stress. Stress hormones stimulate astrocytes to release fibroblast growth factor 2 (green), which in turn lead to new neurons (blue).

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...

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Oranges is another best food you should indulge in, to lower down your risk of developing high blood pressure. Opt in for a glassful of orange juice or eat the whole fruit to load yourself with fiber and vitamin C. Dark chocolate will help to lower down blood pressure readings, because of their richness in flavonoids - they are the natural compounds that cause dilation of the blood vessels. Sunita recommends, choose dark chocolates, which have approximately 50 to 70 percent cacao.

Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E, folic acid, protein and fiber. Just a handful of sunflower seeds consumption, will helps to lower your blood pressure and promote your heart-health. Sunflower seeds, release a peptide that inhibits the body's production of enzymes that's known to raise blood pressure. So start munching in salt less, sunflower seeds to promote your health.

Indulging into whole grain rich breakfast like cereals and oats is one of the best ways to promote good health. Eating oatmeal or wheat for breakfast, not only helps us to stay full for a long time but it also helps to lower down your blood pressure. So, if you have been diagnosed recently with blood pressure, then start taking you breakfast as the most

In studies on rats, they found that significant, but brief stressful events caused stem cells in their brains to proliferate into new nerve cells that, when mature two weeks later, improved the rats’ mental performance.

“I think intermittent stressful events are probably what keeps the brain

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Exciting debates at the Lords

Caste Legislation debate

Some Peers of Indian origin have participated in very interesting debates at the House of Lords. Asian Voice will briefly speak about those debates in future issues of Asian Voice.

'Caste Legislation' has generated numerous letters.

Some have focussed on individuals rather than on the main issue. One or two were totally attacking other individuals or even the House of Lords itself.

Asian Voice would welcome intelligent debates on the subject without any unwarranted diversification.

The invention of the internet is a very useful tool.

The inventor was so honourable that his whole creation is selflessly devoted to the mankind. Instant and impulsive use of the internet or email, though easy, it is not conducive for a sensible discussion, as I have noticed in some of the ill tempered communications.

All the same, I appreciate your inputs but please accept my responsibility to use my discretion to the best of my ability.

- Editor

Coming Events l All are very welcome to our ‘Big Lunch’ from 1:30 to 3:30pm on Sunday 9th June 2013 in Parkhill Park – a great afternoon out! Bring your own picnic and something to share with others, to meet Croydon’s people of faith, make new friends, and share a lovely picnic together!

Email: faithstogetherincroydon@gmail.com l The Musical Evening with dinner Bhuli Bisri Yadde with Arpankumar &Mittal, Saturday 8 June 2013, The Archbishop Lanfranc school, Mitcham Road, Croydon CR9 3AS. Dinner: 6.30 pm7.45pm, Music : 8.00pm till late.

Contact: Jyotsnaben ph 0208 662 1753 l 31 May 2013, 6:30, Arpan Kumar and Mital Patel sing live to pay tribute to Bollywood’s Great lyricists. The theme of the evening would be a tribute to great Hindi film lyricists like Shailendra, Sahir Ludhianavi, Kaifi Azmi, Shakeel Badayuni, Gulzar, Javed Akhtar and others. The Nehru Centre, High Commission of India, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF, 020 7491 3567 / 020 7493 2019 ext. 21 l Shree Indirabetiji Mahodaya Shreeji Dham Satsang Mandal Welcomes P.P.G.108 Shree Indirabetiji Mahodayashree (Pujya Jiji) On Saturday 1st June 2013, at 4:00pm - 6:30 pm. Mala, Tilak. For more information contact, Shreeji Dham Haveli: 0116 212 2827 shreejidham.haveli@gmail.com l Lota Utsav at Shree Jalaram Mandir Greenford on Sunday, 19th May 2013. Where approximately 3000 people attended the event starting with Puja from 9am and Raas Garba/Bhajan till 10pm at night. Prashad was served all day. l Sanatan Hindu Sanskaaras Open Forum, Sunday 2 June, Mata Da Mandir, 57-59 King Street, Dudley, DY2 8PX. 11:15 am-3pm l Bhajan Kirtan evenings, 5-9 June, 7:309:30pm. Contact: Chandubhai Nayee 01293519130 l AMC Music Circuit presents Yogeswaran and The carnatic Music Ensemble Recital, 7 June, 1 Bradford Road, London W37SP l Apple Tree Centre, Gurjar Hindu Union presents AGM, Sunday 23 June, 2pm. l SSGP presents Hindu Lifeline Seminar, Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community Centre, Northolt, UB5 6RE, Friday 5 July, 5pm-1pm Satsang Vicharan, 1-3 June, SKLPC, Bolton, BL3 6AS, 4-9 June, SKS Swaminarayan Temple, East London. Contact: 020 883 84900 l Shree Gurjar Kshatriya samaj proudly presents Lok Sahityo no dayro, Sat 8 June, 5-10pm.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Chief Accountant: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nihir Shah - Email: nihir.shah@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4089 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Kalpesh Shah Tel: 07539 88 66 44 Email: kalpesh.shah@abplgroup.com Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960

Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, Leicester LE4 6LF. Contact 01162610248 l Shivam presents Lottery Lottery, Waterman Arts Centre- 30 May-2 June, 7:30pm Contact: 020 8232 1010 Peepul Centre, Leicester 7-9 June, 7:30pm, contact: 01162616000 Patidar Theatre 13-16 June 7:30pm, 0208795 1648 l Maari Honyene Bhave Money. Sat 15 June, 8pm onwards, dinner 6:30pm onwards Hariben Bhachubhai nagrecha Hall, Leyton.

Contact: Umiben 07760388911 l Nehru Centre presents: Tue 4 June, 6:15pm past Lives Exhibition by Goan Association UK Wed 5 June, 6:30pm dance saMkSepa- an exposition, Dr Annapoorna Kuppuswamy Thu 06 June, 10am, South Asian Archive- UK Launch and Research Forum Friday 7 JUne, 6:30pm- Sir Syed Foundatio Launch l Maari Honyene Bhave Money. Sat 15 June, 8pm onwards, dinner 6:30pm onwards Hariben Bhachubhai nagrecha Hall, Leyton.

Contact: Umiben 07760388911 l Nehru Centre presents: Tue 4 June, 6:15pm past Lives Exhibition by Goan Association UK Wed 5 June, 6:30pm dance saMkSepa- an exposition, Dr Annapoorna Kuppuswamy Thu 06 June, 10am, South Asian Archive- UK Launch and Research Forum Friday 7 JUne, 6:30pm- Sir Syed Foundatio Launch

Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion, Sun and Mars are transiting your solar third house. During this period educational and communication opportunities present themselves and your ideas will be well received. The ability to express and communicate your ideas is extremely important to you at this time.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Jupiter, Sun and Mars transit your solar second house. During this cycle, you are likely to see and enjoy benefits to your earning power and this will boost your own sense of security and wealth. Money problems from the past may clear up, if you manage your resources properly.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

Jupiter, Sun and Mars transits your sign. Your charisma, appearance and selfexpression are to the forefront. This transit heightens your optimism and generosity, and the entire cycle has the potential for being a relaxed, fortunate, and hopeful time in your life.

Furthering your personal ambitions comes more easily.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

Jupiter, Sun and Mars transits your solar twelfth house. This transit brings benefits to activities that take place "behind the scenes". Meditation and retreats may be particularly helpful to you now, as they regenerate and invigorate your spirit.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 With Jupiter, Sun and Mars riding high in your 11th house, yo u 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.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 With Jupiter, Sun and Mars in your solar 10th house, your career is lit up and bodes well for the coming weeks. Some of you will be in a reflective mood and taking stock of your lives and working out the best direction to take. This is a good time to re-assess your home and work balance.

Expansive Jupiter, Sun and Mars in your Solar 9th house of travel and spirituality is good for widening your horizons. Business dealings, particularly long-distance ones and those involving publicity and promotion, are likely to be profitable now.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

Jupiter, Sun and Mars transit your solar eighth house of joint finances, loans, taxes, sexuality, and psychological matters. This is a time of increased accumulation of wealth and in some cases, a significant tax refund or inheritance, or other such benefits.

Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com Consulting Editor: Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar,Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Hardik Shah (M) +91 99250 42936 Email: hardik.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Neeta Patel (Vadodara) M: +91 98255 11702 Email: neeta_abplgroup@yahoo.co.in Assistant Marketing Manager: Manish Shah (Vadodara) M: +91 96876 06824 Email: manish.shah@abplgroup.com Assistant Marketing Manager: Krunal Shah (Ahmedabad) M: +91 98243 67146 Email: krunal.shah@abplgroup.com Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com Prashant Chanchal (Rajkot) M: +91 98250 35635 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group (South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 44 9311581597

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Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Advertising Sales: 020 7749 4085

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Jupiter, Sun and Mars in your opposite sign makes you feel invincible, but the way to utilise this transit is to sift through all the opportunities that come your way. You know you have no choice but to streamline and reassess your priorities. Try to create a balance between expansion and conservation.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

If your ambitions have been undefined, don't worry as from now on, you understand exactly what kind of impact you need to make on the world. Jupiter, Sun and Mars in your work sector rules your daily life.

All those little details should run perfectly, without you constantly worrying. Health-wise you will be feeling fit and relaxed.

Jupiter, planet of growth and expansion, Sun and Mars are transiting your solar fifth house. You are likely to see benefits, and experience growth, in the areas of romance, creative expression and children. For single Aquarians, meeting a special person is highly likely.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 Jupiter, the planet of plenty graces, Sun and Mars in your solar 4th house for some time to come, bringing noticeable improvements to your environment. This is a time when you put down roots and seek to belong. Besides, the focus can be on cultivating and nourishing your inner foundations that support you and your growth.

Sport World

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

31

Spot fixing scandal: BCCI chief Srinivasan refuses to quit A defiant and combative BCCI president N Srinivasan, who has decided to hang on to his position despite the IPL spotfixing scandal, said his resignation was being sought only by a "hounding media."

Srinivasan, whose sonin-law and Chennai Super Kings CEO Gurunath Meiyappan has been arrested for alleged involvement in betting, reached Chennai after attending the IPL final on Sunday in Kolkata, where the crowd booed him during the presentation ceremony.

"The press is hounding me, the media is hounding me. I have already clarified everything in the press conference. I have no reason to resign," Srinivasan retorted when journalists at the airport asked him about the scandal and whether he should resign on moral grounds.

Srinivasan held a press conference hours before the final to declare that he

would not step down. He also announced the setting up of a three-member inquiry panel to investigate the scandal that led to the arrest of three Rajasthan Royals players. The BCCI president asserted that he has done nothing wrong and rejected reports of a revolt against him in BCCI. He made it clear that he would not be "railroaded, pushed and threatened to quit".

"My support is complete and not one member in BCCI has asked for my resignation", he had said.

"I have a job and we will act strictly. I assure you, the BCCI will act without fear or favour to investigate and if player, franchise or owners have breached any rules, action will be taken", he said.

The three-member inquiry commission will consist of two members of the IPL Operations Committee and an independent person in whose appointment he will have

England to host 2019 Cricket World Cup

Flintoff to return to cricket duty with 'yesteryear stars'

England has been confirmed as the host country for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday. The tournament, scheduled to involve 10 teams, will be held in June at 10 different venues which will be announced later. "The ECB is honoured to have been selected to stage one of the largest and most important global sports events which will be a wonderful boost to sport and cricket in particular throughout England and Wales," ECB chief executive David Collier said in a statement. ICC chief executive David Richardson said the World Cup attracted a broadcast audience in excess of 1.5 billion people.

"England and Wales boasts a number of high quality cricket venues providing players, officials and spectators with excellent facilities," Richardson said.

Former England captain Andrew Flintoff is set to make a comeback to cricket with two Twenty20 matches involving yesteryear English and Australian cricket stars, with the back-to-back Ashes series underway.

Flintoff, who has been victorious in his one-bout boxing career, which he adopted following his retirement from cricket, will be back on more familiar territory and will join former Test cricketers Mark Ramprakash, Devon Malcolm, Dominic Cork, Gladstone Small and Phil de Freitas, the Sydney Morning Herald said.

The cricketers will be a part of Flintoff's English side, the report further said. According to former Lancashire and England batsman Neil Fairbrother, who is also Flintoff's agent, Flintoff will be ready for the event, adding that even though he was forced to retire from the game at the age of 30, he

N Srinivasan and Gurunath Meiyappan

no role. The five members of the committee are Arun Jaitley, Rajeev Shukla, Sanjay Jagdale, Ajay Shirke and Ravi Shastri.

Srinivasan's son-in-law arrested: Meanwhile, Mumbai police arrested Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of Srinivasan and Chennai Super Kings CEO, in connection with IPL spot-fixing scandal following the arrest of three cricketers. His name was revealed by Vindu Dara Singh, the actor son of late wrestler-cum-actor Dara Singh, who was ear-

will be determined to show that he has not lost his skills, even now at 34.

The report further said that former Australian Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie, now the coach of Yorkshire, would captain the Australian legends with his side to be announced soon.

Flintoff's pace bowling and aggressive batting made him the star performer when England regained the Ashes in 2005, and he took five for 92 in England's first Ashes win at Lord's since 1934 in 2009, in his final Test series before his body could no longer stand the strain, the report added.

lier arrested for his role in the scandal..

"We have gone through questioning him in detail and after due deliberation, we've come to the conclusion that there is evidence of his involvement in this offence that we are investigating..." joint commissioner of Mumbai Police Himanshu Roy told reporters.

Mumbai cops raid Meiyappan's residence again: A team of Mumbai Police again raided Meiyappan's residence in Chennai in connection

with the scandal. Mumbai cops had earlier raided Meiyappan's residence for eight hours on Sunday.

Police have recovered business cards that show Meiyappan as the owner and team principal of the Chennai Super Kings.

According to TV reports, many visiting cards and identity cards were recovered during the raid at Meiyappan's Chennai home.

On Monday, Mumbai cops had conducted a search on a luxury yacht owned by Meiyappan.

Six bookies arrested in Goa: Six bookies allegedly involved in the scandal were arrested by Goa police on Monday. Delhi Police picked up another two bookies from Hyderabad and one from Greater Noida. The bookies from Goa are Mumbai residents and were involved in taking bets through the high profile league's matches, including the final match

between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. They had been camping in Goa for about 45 days to collect bets for the IPL," Goa police said.

ICC withdraws umpire Asad Rauf from Champions Trophy: Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf has been withdrawn from next month's Champions Trophy tournament in England amid media reports he was under Indian police investigation for spot-fixing, the ICC said.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said the decision was made after media reports said "that the Mumbai police are conducting an investigation" into Rauf's activities. " ... we feel that it is in Asad's best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the Champions Trophy," the ICC said in the statement.

Mike Hussey is Mr Cricket in T20 too

You are unlikely to think of him while discussing batsmen with the ability to clear fences. Forget six-hitting, he is certain to not feature even when it comes to talk of the biggest entertainers with the bat in the IPL. Nor is his style of batting ever going to keep opposition teams awake through the night.

But while the curtains finally fell on the controversy-ridden sixth edition of the IPL on Sunday, Hussey had finished head and shoulders above every other superstar name in the tournament. But achieving unprecedented and remarkable success without really hogging the limelight has always been Hussey's niche.

With 733 runs at an average of 52.35, including six halfcenturies, countless matchwinning knocks and an admirable strike-rate of 129.50 for an opener, he has done just that, once again.

In the midst of Chris Gayle's bazooka-wielding exploits, David Miller's explosive cameos and Shane Watson's destruc-

tive hitting, it's easy to forget Hussey's calculated and unruffled essays for CSK. There's always been a touch of anonymity about his presence at the crease. At times you are forced to double-check the figures appearing next to his name on the scorecard.

Superb Contribution: But his Chennai teammates and the team's fans are unlikely to forget his contributions with the bat anytime soon. For the umpteenth time in his sixyear association with Chennai, he's been their go-to man. He has reached 40 nine times in his 17 innings, and has been out for single-digit scores four times. He's more often than not provided the big-

hitters in the middle-order a great platform to unleash their pyrotechnics from.

And he's done so in tandem with both opener Murali Vijay and one-drop Suresh Raina. Hussey and fellow left-hander Raina have averaged 57.80 per partnership this season, at a run-rate of 8.96.

While he may not possess the pummelling prowess of some of the batsmen in the league, Hussey has a great understanding of his strengths.

Though he's not a brazen innovator like some others in the CSK lineup, Hussey hasn't been shy about attempting an audacious shot or two, case in point his paddle-swept six off a Lasith Malinga full toss in the league match against Mumbai Indians. He plays spin better than most Australians have done in the last few decades.

The cover drive might be counted amongst the most exquisite of shots in a batsman's repertoire. But few play it with as much intent as Hussey.

India should legalise betting to stop corruption: Geoffrey Boycott India should legalise betting to stamp out corruption in cricket, says former England captain Geoffrey Boycott who feels the menace of fixing, which has currently dented the IPL's reputation, emerges more frequently in the Asian countries.

"The way to stop it altogether is this business of making betting legal in India.

It's illegal, so people do it," Boycott told a sports website.

"When beer was illegal in America during prohibition, you had all this illegal drinking and all these mafia-type people and so forth involved. And so you'll get the worst type of society involved in betting, from the bookies and that sort of people, when you have something that people want to do but it's illegal," he explained.

But Boycott said it would take a lot

out of the Indian government to decriminalise betting given that it doesn't "like change." "Many people have suggested to the Indian government that making betting legal at cricket, like it's legal in horse-racing and so on, would stamp most of it [corruption] out," he said.

"But you know what it's like. Trying to explain to the Indian government, they think you are telling them something, they don't like it and they don't like to change," he added.

Indian cricket has been left shaken to the core by the ongoing IPL spot-fixing

scandal, which has led to the arrest of three cricketers, including India Test pacer S Sreesanth, and several bookies with underworld connections.

The former batsman and noted commentator felt that the problem seems to creep up more frequently in the Asian region than any other part of the cricketing landscape. "We don't seem to get it in other countries. It seems to be around in Asia. And that's not me being against Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis. You know me, I love that part of the world.

They are very kind and good to me, particularly the Indian and Pakistani people, where I've been a lot," Boycott said.

"But I'm telling you the truth, it seems to surface in Asia. And once you've got all this money floating around in a huge game with millions and millions involved,

you're going to get problems. It's going to resurface again," he added.

The Englishman, however, conceded that it would be impossible to completely root out corruption from the game. "...Irrespective of how many safeguards or preventive measures you introduce, human nature being what it is, there'll always be the off person that tries to beat the system, tries to do something illegal, that's always going to happen. It's not just about cricket. In anything, it's always going to happen," he insisted.

"But it is coming up too often and it's still there. And whether we like it or not, it comes up with Asian players. It came up with the Pakistani lad playing for Essex (Danish Kaneria), didn't it, the leg spinner? So it always concerns me and should concern everybody...," he added.

32

Mumbai Indians finally annexed their maiden Indian Premier League title upstaging a jittery Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs in the final at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Mired in spot-fixing controversy after the arrest of owner N Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, Chennai Super Kings found the 149-run target, usually an easy task by their standard, a little too much as they finished on 125 for nine on a difficult track.

Kieron Pollard (60 not out) was the man-of-the-match for his all-round effort.

As soon as the last delivery was bowled

by Pollard, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting along with team mentor Anil Kumble rushed to the ground. Just like 2011 World Cup final, Tendulkar did a lap of honour with the teammates like Harbhajan carrying him on their shoulders.

Lasith Malinga (2/22) and Mitchell Johnson (2/19) set the tone before Harbhajan Singh (2/14) joined in the act as it was a rare batting disaster for the IPL heavyweights who featured in four straight, five overall, finals.

Four of their batsmen including Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja got out for noughts while tournament top-scorer Michael Hussey (1) was dismissed firstup by a perfect Lasith Malinga toe-crusher to set the tone.

With the team reeling at 57 for seven after 11th over, there was no chance for the 'Men in Canary Yellow' to make a comeback although Dhoni did try his best. For Mumbai Indians, Eden Gardens remained a happy hunting ground with six wins from seven outings.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 1st June 2013

Down with a wrist injury, Tendulkar, however, celebrated every moment of their triumph as the trophy was like a 'farewell gift' for the 40-year-old who may not be around in the next season.

Mumbai Indians earned a prize purse of Rs100 million, while runners-up Chennai Super Kings were awarded Rs 75 million in the Rs 250 million prize money tournament.

Mumbai Indians found themselves at 'home' even while defending a modest 149.

The intent became quite clear in the very fourth ball when Malinga, 'the slinger', bowled Michael 'Mr Cricket' Hussey (1), the 'Orange Cap' holder (733 runs), with his typical toe-crushing yorker.

A second wicket in the next ball when Suresh Raina (0) was dismissed softly had the Eden crowd on its feet with chants of 'Mumbai Mumbai' all over the stands as Malinga had an ominous first spell that read 2-0-8-2.

It was then Johnson's turn to join the party as the Aussie deceived Subramaniam Badrinath (0) with his away swinger as he chased the delivery down to Karthik to make it 3/3 in the second over.

Dwayne Bravo (15) and Murali Vijay (18) looked to repair but it seemed to be a Mumbai Indians day. Skipper Rohit Sharma brought in young Rishi Dhawan and he dismissed Bravo who was looking dangerous with three boundaries.

Chennai once again lost three wickets in a huff - Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja (0), and Murali Vijay (18) in four runs - to be reduced to 39/6 in the eighth over.

Kieron Pollard

Surprisingly when it needed the most, Dhoni dropped him to no 7 and had his blitz but it was too late with him waging a lone battle as the task became improbable with 58/8 and the asking rate climbing past 11-mark.

Earlier, Kieron Pollard stood tall among the ruins with an unbeaten 32-ball 60 as Mumbai Indians posted a modest 148/9.

It was a good toss to lose for Dhoni as his seamers duo of Mohit Sharma and Albie Morkel (2/12) rocked Mumbai Indians top order with 16/3 in the fourth over.

Later, it was Bravo who earned the 'Orange Cap' in style with his four-wicket blitz in 42 runs that rattled the Mumbai Indians batting as the West Indian became the leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps in season six.

The two-time defending champions

played to their reputation as the Dhoni's men played without being affected by the controversy and the script just went their way.

The embattled Super Kings could not have asked for a better start with season's 'find' Mohit dismissing Dwayne Smith (4) in the first over. The danger man Smith was trapped right in front when an in-cutter had him plumb in the fourth ball.

Aditya Tare's (0) stint lasted for one ball with Morkel rattling the youngster's leg stump in the first ball, and came back in the next over to dismiss Rohit Sharma (2) in a soft manner as the Mumbai skipper's woeful run continued with the bat.

Morkel ripped apart the top order in a fine first spell (3-0-12-2) that ensured that Mumbai Indians were under pressure going less than six runs an over at midway stage.

From Mumbai's perspective, Rayudu (37) did not do anything silly as he along with Pollard stitched an important 48-run fifth wicket partnership that came off 34 balls.

Before it could ring an alarm bell Dhoni brought in Bravo to effect as the West Indian uprooted Rayudu's middle stump. The scalp earned Bravo the Orange Cap by being the leading wicket taker with 32 dismissals.

But Bravo went on to concede 17 runs in the 18th over with Harbhajan Singh's eight-ball 14 to help Mumbai's run-rate go past seven-mark. That Pollard stood tall at the other end became the difference in the end as they upstaged the two-time former champions in style.

Last IPL for Sachin, Dravid and Gilchrist India’s batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid and Australian legend Adam Gilchrist have retired from the IPL at the end of 2013 season.

Tendulkar who called it quits from the IPL after Mumbai Indians lifted the title, said it was the perfect time to retire from the Twenty20 event as he has to "face the reality" after turning 40.

"I think this is the right time to stop playing IPL. I am 40. I have to face the reality. I had decided that this would be my last season. And now the ending is perfect," Tendulkar said after Mumbai beat Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.

Tendulkar, who played 78 IPL matches accumulating 2,334 runs at an average of 34.83, had to stay out of the final after failing to recover from a left hand injury that he picked up a fortnight ago in a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Rahul Dravid who announced his retirement said, "At 41, 12 months is a long way away. Luckily we have qualified for the Champions League (in October) which is a few months away. You know, I think that would be it," the 40-year-old said after

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Adam Gilchrist

Rajasthan Royals went out of the IPL following a four-wicket loss to the Mumbai Indians in the second Qualifier.

Dravid enthralled his fans showing some great agility and a new-found aggression in leadership especially at a time when his team was battling spotfixing allegations, which led to the arrest of its three players.

Starting out as a dark horse, Rajasthan Royals enjoyed a fairytale run as it challenged all the big teams, had a dream eight out of eight home wins and almost made the final before losing to Mumbai Indians in a nail-biting penultimate ball finish on Friday.

"It's always disappointing when you lose a game.

It was a close game, one of those which could have gone either way.

Unfortunately we ended up on the losing side. But all the boys should be proud with the way we fought today and ended our campaign," Dravid said.

Poor form and dwindling fortunes of Kings XI Punjab in the tournament forced its captain Adam Gilchrist to call it a day.

However, he will play in the inaugural edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). During a press conference at Dharamsala, the Punjab captain answered a query regarding his continuation: "I am looking like a 22-year-old, you say?" "I am not feeling that way.

And for the first 50 runs against Bangalore, I felt like a 52-year-old. But it's great. Last year, I sat here and said I am finished, I probably won't come back, but I came back. I am not looking for any grandstand finish but in two days, it will be last time I play on this ground. Little things like that are really extiing and lift your enthusiam levels. I just love this place, this region, it's been one of the greatest experiences of my cricketing life, to be able to come up here and play cricket," he said.