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The largest Sikh temple in the country has opened its doors to worshippers after 10 years of planning.

The grand opening of the Gurdwara took place on Sunday in Glasgow and was attended by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and a host of other dignitaries.

Situated on Berkeley Street in the Finnieston area of the city, the construction of the temple is estimated to have cost ÂŁ8m, more than 60% of which came from community donations with the rest being secured with a loan. Almost all of the material used in the construction of the Gurdwara was imported from India.

Throughout the project thousands of Scottish Sikhs have given their time to get the building finished, with many going Continued on page 6

Exit polls predict BJP victory in Assam

Ruling parties may go in TN, Kerala and Assam; Didi likely to stay

The exit polls conducted on May 16, in five different states across the country has good and bad news for different stakeholders. The exit polls predicted a surprising victory for the Bharatiya Janta Party in Congress-ruled Assam and a sure-shot downfall for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

While Mamata Banerjee will retain her seat in West Bengal in all possibilities, Kerala just might see the Left Front shine.

TAMIL NADU With a recorded turnout of 73.76 per cent as against 78.12 in the last elections, two exit polls predicted defeat for the

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ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice |21st May 2016

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to

Manoj Nair

Manoj Nair is a UK based serial entrepreneur. In 20 years of his professional journey, he started out as an executive with an Engineering corporation. Went on to float a start-up aged 21, which he successfully exited at 26. Later he became a civil servant with the Indian Government before going on to head an Asset Management Company in London.

Manoj holds a distinction in Electrical Engineering; Sat for Indian Civil services Examination 2005 with Masters in Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology and successfully achieved All India Rank of 157 and was All India 2nd ranker in Civil Services Interview that year. He is a Gold Medallist in Masters in Business Law and Taxation from NALSAR University of Law and is a High merit scholar (in dissertation and research papers) alumnus of London School of Economics and Political Science and Harvard Business School.

1. What is your current position?

I lead a UK Real Estate Technology (PROP-TECH) venture named RedGirraffe.com, which has recently launched its operations in India.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

None in my entire family lineage had ever ventured into entrepreneurship. So to start a venture aged 21 and be able to successfully exit it at 26 gives me a sense of contentment. Aged 25, I could gift my parents as well as to my younger sister one beautiful property each in New Delhi. I guess that feeling and the accompanied rush that comes along remains pretty high up on my list of proud achievements.

3. What inspires you?

I believe in many ways my journey till date remains a reminder that absolutely nothing is impossible if one were to put heart and soul into realising ones dreams. However I remain

resolved the world we live in is not equitable to all.

Entrepreneurship is my answer to pretty much all the questions out there. Create leaders and they would pull out many others into the world of light. I shall endeavour to contribute my bit by being a global change agent.

This feeling keeps me absolutely charged.

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

Looking at my life you wouldn’t miss that I have been constantly seeking higher challenges nearly every 6-7 years. Be it as an entrepreneur turned civil servant turned head of an asset management company and finally now leading RedGirraffe.com. Heart seems to have come back to where it loves to be the most; Building businesses. Yes, it’s not been easy to be on a contiguous mode of risk taking. You have as many well wishers, friends and family who would advice you against any such risk heavy

Muslim Council of Britain called for the BBC to televise Friday prayers from a mosque, cover Eid and show children attending madrasahs after school for Koranic instruction. But he added: "We would not wish Christians to have any less exposure."

A BBC spokesman commented that the BBC was intending to do "more programming around Christianity and more on other faiths as well", adding that there was "absolutely no question of an 'either or' on our output."

Stephen Evans of the

absolutely unaware of what is coming their way.

Someone had to start a credit-

move. I feel blessed that I could take a considered decision every time I faced such emotional obstacles.

5. Who has been the biggest influence in your career to date?

Without any question, it would be my parents.

They instilled the benefit of non-negotiable values while bringing up both my younger sister and me. The golden words still reverberate in my ears when as an 8 year old, I recollect my father taking me back to a classmate’s home from whom I had stolen a candy. He had said then “There would be many such instances when your character would be tested.

There’s nothing in this life, which is unachievable by a human mind. However the character must never ever be compromised”.

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

We are in the process of building a global company, which takes the pain out of landlords and tenants alike. Ask any (Non resident Indian) NRI and one would note that most of them hold multiple properties in India. Dig a bit further and you would realise that most of such properties remains vacant, as no one trusts the estate agency network in India. There is a huge market gap. Add to it the revenue department has now started the exercise to track the ownership of properties and are sending notices with tax charge going back to last 6 years if the property remains vacant and not let out. Most of the NRI’s are

BBC’s output ‘too Christian’ says head of religion and ethics An internal review has found the BBC's religious output is "too Christian" and recommended an increase its Muslim, Hindu and Sikh programming.

Aaqil Ahmed, the broadcaster's head of religion and ethics, compiled the report following consultation with nonChristians who expressed their belief that the BBC is disproportionate in its religious content.

BBC director general Lord Hall is now examining the report and could make changes to religious output.

Ibrahim Mogra, of the

AsianVoiceNews

National Secular Society agreed that the BBC's religious output has "failed to reflect Britain's changing religious landscape" but said the answer was change the nature of programming rather than creating more "worship-based" content aimed at minority faiths.

worthy technology enabled pan INDIA estate agency to take care of the situation. We felt as JFK had once said” If not us … who? If not now …when? I love the daily rush and hustle as we build RedGirraffe.com brick by brick.

7. And the worst?

Invariably it’s the time. I divide my every month literally in 3 time zones. Don’t get as much time as I would have loved to be with my family and friends.

Hopefully things would settle soon and we are able to hire the right talent so that I could run the organisation from its headquarters here in London.

8. What are your long-term goals?

I intend to take RedGirraffe.com to multiple countries. The problem of lack of trust between the landlords, tenants and estate agents is a global phenomenon.

Take any emerging city and you have a very similar set of tenantlandlord related problem. Take a matured city like London and

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

the problem then becomes more of the exorbitant estate agent commissions related one. We intend to create a company which every landlord and tenant wish EXISTED. 9. If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?

Every country’s growth is pretty much a subset of its people’s productivity. Entrepreneurship, I believe is the sole fuel to the fire called “Gross Domestic Product expansion”. Pick any country which is doing well in the world and simply do a statistical analysis of the number of entrepreneurs such country has viz a viz the general population.

I am very passionate about this subject and hold a considered belief that entrepreneurship is the answer to most of today’s global problems; Be it poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, inequitable distribution of wealth so on and so forth. So I would for sure turn the focus of the country towards instilling the entrepreneurial spirit amongst the members of the society.

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

Mr.Elon Musk, for sure. As accomplished a personality he is I intend to understand succinctly from him as to why does Mars and everything related to that planet remains top on his life’s agenda. I personally believe that so much needs to be and could actually be done here on earth and we need at any point in time to have at-least 500 thinkerdoers like him to focus on this beautiful planet that we so very lovingly call as “Earth”.

Leader of Brent Council denies claims he hid Kilburn councillor’s death to halt a by-election The leader of Brent Council has sent out an email denying claims that he kept the death of a Kilburn councillor secret to avoid a by-election.

Cllr Muhammed Butt said he was “saddened that someone passed an email” alleging he knew of Cllr Tayo Oladapo’s death in January ahead of a public announcement in March.

An article in the Evening Standard claims he tried to “cover up” Cllr Oladapo’s death to avoid last week’s by-election.

Cllr John Duffy, Cllr

Councillor Muhammed Butt

Olapado’s colleague in Kilburn, said: “Today this is all speculation, by tomorrow I think people will be saying this is wrong.

“Cllr Butt told me that Tayo had died around March 8. As far as I’m aware

Councillor Tayo Oladapo died in January

I was one of the first outside the cabinet to be told. The idea he tried to conceal if for a month before that, I don’t know, there’s no proof.”

The 34-year-old councillor had a severe liver condition and died after a long illness.

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Asian Voice |21st May 2016

3

India-Bangladesh hub generates regional growth Silent change is change that rarely invites popular attention, but it is change, nevertheless. For long years, the eastern reaches of the Indian subcontinent were written off as backward and not to be compared with more prosperous areas of the west and south. The new hub of development is the emergent India-Bangladesh partnership, whose commercial impact is now felt in neighbouring Bhutan and, who knows, sooner rather than later, may extend to Myanmar and Thailand. Let us first put flesh on the bones. Ceat Tyres is setting up a plant in Bangladesh designed to take advantage of borders without tariffs for its exports. The Hiranandani Group is planning a floating LNG terminal along the coast that will cater to the demand across countries for gas through a cross-border pipeline. Arrangement are

in place for greater traffic between India and Bangladesh. A bus service links Agartala in Tripura to Dhaka; there are bus and train services linking Kolkata and Dhaka; while transit routes through Bangladesh to India’s North Eastern States for Indian goods and services is work in progress. All this has been achieved circumventing the impediments of SARRC, the preposterously labeled South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. With Pakistan a member and China seeking associate membership, the venture was doomed from birth.

With Myanmar on the cusp of a new era of democracy and economic development the market integration arising from the India-Bangladesh hub have opened up the real possibility of building a future that works.

Pakistan, Nepal: India’s difficult neighbours Pakistan has perceived itself since its founding in August 1047 by Mohammed Ali Jinnah as an existential challenge to India. This duty is widely perceived in the country as an obligation enjoined by a preordained, scriptural prophecy. Its ideologues, its military-intelligence establishment and the broad political spectrum are intoxicated by the continuing jihad that would erode the roots of India’s power and bring about its desired downfall. The subcontinent’s horseman, or camel, of the fated apocalypse is driven by the primeval goal of the self-same goal of the Islamic State of Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, ISIL. What they also have in common are terrorist bombings, frequently carried out by suicide bombers. ISIL has admitted to the latest bombings in Baghdad that have claimed 90 innocent lives. Pakistan’s Inter Services Directorate (ISI) masterminded three assaults on Mumbai: in March 1993, July 2006 and November 2008 in which hundreds of its citizenry perished.

The bravest and most honest Pakistani public figure to have written about his country’s malaise from its genesis to its present state is Husain Haqqani, author and former diplomat, currently an academic at a US university. Speaking to the Hindu newspaper recently, he recounted a conversation, shortly after the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, with thenISI chief General Shuja Pasha in Washington, where Mr Haqqani was stationed as Pakistani Ambassador.

General Pasha made the astonishing admission that ‘our people’ planned the Mumbai attacks but it ‘wasn’t our operation.’ This revelation is included in Mr Haqqani’s forthcoming book. ‘India versus Pakistan: Why Can’t We Just Be Friends?’ He answers his own question in an extensive interview with the Times of India. Whilst critical of Indian actions in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Haqqani says that ‘it is Pakistan

that has erred in adopting a zero sum game’ on Kashmir. He goes on to discuss the national priorities of India and Pakistan, relating how in answer to President Truman’s query to Nehru on how best America could help India, India’ Prime Minister asked for aid in setting up Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and in Indian agriculture; when Truman put a similar question to Pakistani premier Liaquat Ali Khan – Nehru’s counterpart at the time – he demanded substantial military aid. Today, the military holds the levers of political power. Any political leader who talks of peace with India is removed from office. Such was the fate of prime minister Feroz Khan Noon in 1958, who was overthrown by General Ayub Khan’s coup and the pattern continues - a dismal tale indeed.

Nepal is in crisis once more. Its modern history has been one perennial crisis – a sort of karmic cycle from which there appears to be no release anytime soon. The country’s society and political class are deeply fractured. There are deep differences over the country’s constitution and a malaise in its administration that has prevented international aid reaching communities most devastated by last year’s earthquake. The readymade solution for Nepal’s ruling political establishment, which at core constitute a ragbag of Maoist parties, Is to make India a scapegoat for all the country’s woes. This game has gone on long enough. So has blackmailing India with threats to turn to China. The bluff has to be called.

With time the Nepalese masses will see through the subterfuge. There has been little economic and social betterment for decades. If anything, the situation worsens by the day. Let the internecine conflicts in Nepal play out. India should simply sit tight without official comment or gesture. Silence is the surest wisdom.

Screen to bring to life story of a remarkable man A Bollywood film will shortly bring to life the story f a remarkable man and his life’s work. Anand Kumar, a mathematician from Bihar, is the founder of the Super 30 coaching institute designed to provide education but also free board and lodging to poor students eager to crack the joint entrance examination for one of the elite Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). His venture took off in 2002, since then over 350 of his students from Super 30 have entered one of these premier institutions.

Vikas Bahl will direct the film, its producers are Vinay and Preeti Sinha, with Sanjeev Dutta writing the script. These are well established figures in the entertainment with box office hits to their names. Mr Kumar, the film’s central character, says, ‘It is true that for the last few years talks were on for a biopic on my life and some directors and producers were in touch with me, but eventually Reel Life Entertainment was destined to seal the deal.’

Speaking to the media from his house in Patna, he added that the income generated from the film would be used for the expansion of Super 30 to accommodate more young people who lack the wherewithal to pursue a career in education that can empower them, maybe, for life.

Director Vikas Bahl said he was inspired by the story of Anand Kumar and his achievements in the

face of adversity. ‘His life has many interesting dimensions and weaving them into a story for a film would be really fascinating. The actor [playing his role] will have to study Anand Kumar and mould himself in his style. The film will be extensively shot in Bihar to retain the local flavor, but I would like Anand Kumar too to play some part in the film.’

Scriptwriter Sanjeev Dutta says that he been planning, over the past four or five years, to work on a film about Sanjeev Kumar ‘I have already done a lot of research on Anand Kumar and his Super 30.’

Anand Kumar’s international reputation and his teaching methods, which have earned him considerable acclaim at home and abroad, should be mentioned in order to give film venture its appropriate context. More power to his elbow and to the filmmakers who are certain to give fresh impetus to Mr Kumar’s cause for the uplift of the disadvantaged, as they strive to better their lives. Individuals, singly and together, can contribute meaningfully to human welfare as the state, which should not be the sole dispenser of good works. In fact, individuals are able to a give a personal touch to their contributions, which an impersonal state authority is often unable to match. The story of Anand Kumar on screens across India will surely awaken the country to these self-evident truths.

To live each day as though one's last, never flustered, never apathetic, never attitudinizing - here is the perfection of character.

- Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180)

Now even God wants Brexit I write to you after hearing Angelina Jolie speaking at the BBC about EU migration and before my speaking at the EU Fundamental Rights Agency in Vienna next month about Migration and this got me thinking if there is a religious case for Brexit.

One of the viewers of my BBC Newspaper Review then sent me an article making a Christian case for Brexit.

I’m not saying I agree with the arguments…but it was fascinating. This is a summary and you may think it is a good reason for staying in. (In bold below are the headings of the document I was handed – not my words).

EU Membership is a secular nations substitute for trusting in God. The argument here goes that Britain hated her Imperial past and so decided to join the EU as a means of moving away from her own values and historic beliefs. (I don’t find this convincing).

Britain must leave because border controls are a Biblical responsibility The argument here is that boundaries are biblical: Moses said ‘Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark’ Deuteronomy 19:14.

I thought the teachings of Christ meant we should be loving and caring for our neighbour – but apparently there is another perspective.

Britain must leave because membership means taking the financial obligations of others and that is contrary to the Bible As is written in Proverbs, ‘He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it’.

Membership is incompatible with Bible based constitution ‘The anti-Christian French Revolution could lay claim to being the inspiration for “the inaliable rights for the human person”.’ Says the document I was handed. Whereas in Britain the Church is legally established in law and indeed the 1688 Coronation Oath Act stated the Monarch shall ‘to the utmost of her power to maintain the laws of God and the true profession of the gospel’.

Britain must leave because membership does not grant security and is against the Godordained institution of nationhood Israel is the best example in the Bible of God’s will of a world of nations and people’s separated from each other according to faith goes the argument.

All this proves that in all religions you will find exactly opposing views. What I like about Hinduism is it does not propose one right answer at all. And what is clear to me as they we may well want to stay in, if these are the views of those who want to be out.

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UK

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New Hindu free school could open next year Education leaders behind Leicester's first Hindu primary have applied to open an all-through school in the

Nitesh Gor

North East of the city.

The Avanti Schools Trust opened Krishna Avanti Primary, in Evington, in 2011.

Now it has applied to the Department of Education to open a school taking pupils from five to 19 at a different site.

The trust says details of the site are "commercially sensitive" but says it would be purpose built and may require temporary buildings for it to open in September 2017.

Although the school would have a Hindu ethos, it would take pupils from all backgrounds and faiths.

Nitesh Gor, chief execu-

tive of the Avanti Schools' Trust, said: "We applied in March to the Department of Education for permission to open the new school. Given the pressure on places in the city, we feel there's a definite need for this and parental appetite for it.

"Although it will have a Hindu ethos, it will welcome pupils from all backgrounds and faiths in terms of admissions criteria with no specific quota given to any particular religion.

"It's very exciting and we believe we have put forward a very strong business case to the Government and await its

response.

"We've already done something similar to this in Harrow and so we know this model works."

The proposed school does not yet have a name. Free schools can be set up by parents, charities and faith groups. They do not have to follow the national curriculum, but must provide a broad and balanced education. The trust already runs a secondary school in Harrow and three other primaries in and around London.

Krishna Avanti Primary, in Evington, was rated "good"

by Ofsted in May 2013.

Teenager found guilty of assisting suspected killer of Andre Marshall A teenager has been found guilty of helping the suspected killer of Andre Marshall cover his tracks in the aftermath of the gun murder.

Andre, 29, was found dead near St Clement’s Church, Urmston, on the morning of May 20 last year.

He had been shot seven times.

It is believed that he had been killed by a man called Abdul Ahsan, a suspected drug dealer who is said to have owed him £1,600.

Ahsan, 19, of Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, skipped bail and went on the run after being arrested on suspicion of murder last year.

But his boyhood pal and loyal henchman, Daniel Shahid, 19, of Carlton Street, Old Trafford, was tried with assisting an offender at Manchester Crown Court and has now been found unanimously guilty after a weeklong trial.

The verdict puts Shahid in the unusual position of being found guilty of helping a man cover up a murder - when the alleged killer himself hasn’t yet been tried or convicted.

Shahid’s Manchester Crown Court trial heard that in the hour before the murder, Ahsan was a passenger in a BMW 3 Series Andre was

Danny Shahid Abdul Ahsan

driving.

Just before 1am on May 20 Andre pulled up at Manor Park, Urmston, where Ahsan allegedly pulled a gun on him and started firing at him.

Wounded Andre stum-

bled, or was pushed out of the car onto the street. There, Ahsan is alleged to have ‘pistol-whipped’ him with the Colt .45 murder weapon, before removing his phone, attempting to hide his body, and driving off in the BMW, which he abandoned nearby.

Suspended sentence for van driver after failure to pull up handbrake led to death of shopper A shopper was fatally injured by an out-of-control van after the driver failed to pull up the handbrake properly.

Matheeb Iqbal’s Mercedes Sprinter careered across a pub car park in Southam and hit Susan Collins, 65, as she walked past.

Warwick Crown Court heard Iqbal, 22, of Lime Grove, Lozells, Birmingham, failed to put the handbrake on properly as he delivered food to the Bowling Green pub in Coventry Street. He was out of the van when it began to move, leaving the victim with “no chance” of escape.

Mrs Collins’ family made the agonising decision to

Victim Susan Collins

switch off her life support machine on January 8 last year..

Iqbal was handed a 30week suspended sentence after admitting causing Mrs Collins’ death by careless driv-

Matheeb Iqbal

ing. He was also ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for a year.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Griffith-Jones said:

“The words that this is a tragic case hardly do justice to the reality of what I’m confronted with. It is a terrible thing for a family to lose a loved one suddenly and because of the fault of someone else.”

He told Iqbal: “You parked on a car park where there was not an obvious steep slope, and you had either not applied the handbrake at all or had done so wholly inadequately. Mrs Collins had no chance to avoid being struck. Neither you nor, more particularly, her family have the consolation of knowing she didn’t suffer – because we have to face the truth that she did.”

Convicted drug dealer who was found with 15kg of cannabis in boot of car in plea to get back taxi licence A court has rejected a convicted drug dealer’s plea to let him drive a taxi. Mohammed Arfan Zahid was found with a 15kg stash of cannabis in the boot of his car and was jailed for 15 months.

Zahid, who had previously held a taxi licence, has been battling since his release to get his old job back. Tameside council has refused to give him back his licence.

And Zahid, who was jailed in 2011 for his role in a £1m drugs conspiracy masterminded by Fazal Hussain -

known as The Godfather of Oldham - had appealed to magistrates to overturn the decision.

As part of the case, drugs baron Fazal Hussain was jailed for nine years and 11 months and his son Faisal was also jailed for eight years and four months for various drugs offences.

Undercover police mounted an eight-month surveillance operation observing taxi drivers recruited by the Hussains carrying out drug deals, with cannabis, cocaine

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice |21st May 2016

and heroin bought in the south of England.

Following his release from jail Zahid, of Ronald Street, Oldham , had hoped to return to the taxi driving profession in January. But when licensing chiefs deemed Zahid not to be ‘a fit and proper person’ he then appealed to Tameside Magistrates’ Court, with the case heard last Thursday.

Magistrates were presented with detailed evidence of the offence and of Zahid’s history as a licensed driver.

The bench upheld the

decision to refuse the licences and dismissed the appeal.

Coun Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council’s executive member with responsibility for licensing, said: “I am pleased but not surprised that the magistrates upheld our decision not to reinstate Mr Zahid’s licences.

“Our key priority is to ensure the travelling public are protected at all times.

Because of that, Tameside Council will never grant licences to people who are not deemed to be fit and proper.”

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Man arrested in Birmingham over alleged plot to join Islamic State

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of planning to join so-called Islamic State in Syria. He was arrested earlier at an address in Handsworth, Birmingham, after police received intelligence that he was preparing to travel to the Middle East.

Officers are continuing to search the property, which is not his home address.

The arrest was planned and there was no immediate threat to the public, West Midlands Police said.

Police hunt would-be robber who attacked woman in Leeds

Police hunting a man who attacked a woman and tried to steal her handbag in south Leeds have released an E-fit image of a man they want to trace.

The woman was targeted after she used the cash machine at Tesco on Dewsbury Road, Beeston, at around 8.30pm on Friday May 6. She started to walk along Fairford Avenue where she was followed and approached from behind.

The suspect tried to steal her handbag and knocked her to the ground in the process. He fled empty-handed and ran off towards Dewsbury Road. He is described as a 35-yearold 5ft 10in tall Asian man of slim build and unshaven. He was wearing a black wax coat with the hood up, dark blue jeans and dark trainers.

Doctor who worked at psychiatric hospital in Warwick defrauded NHS out of £16,000

A psychiatrist defrauded the NHS out of £16,000 by doing private work while he was supposedly off sick – and by using a Warwick hospital’s facilities to see his private patients.

Dr Nawshad Suleman, who was based at St Michael’s psychiatric hospital in Warwick, had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to three charges of fraud.

But just days before he was due to stand trial he changed his pleas to guilty on two of the charges, and the remaining allegation was allowed to lie on the court file.

Suleman, 65, of Beaminster Road, Solihull, was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

The disgraced consultant, who has repaid the £16,074 he made from his dishonesty, was also ordered to pay £2,800 costs.

Police release CCTV image of man in connection with missing Leamington man Navi Uppal

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to in connection with the disappearance of Sakhminder Uppal from Leamington three months ago.

Mr Uppal, 42, of Freshwater Grove and better known and Navi, went missing at approximately 10pm on Valentine’s Day after he had been picked up from his home address by a taxi and dropped near Victoria Sakhminder Uppal Park.

He is 5ft 8ins tall and of athletic build with short black hair. When he left home he was clean shaven. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, a bright blue jumper, a white t-shirt and tan coloured ankle boots.

UK Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

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5

Khan makes a mark Sadiq Khan the new Mayor of London, has shot to fame after becoming the first Muslim and British Asian man to become the Mayor of a Western city as big as London. He has also offered a new role model to young European Muslims, to those young Muslims who feel, rightly or wrongly that they are socially marginalised. Though he is not the only prominent Muslim in the UK, but the first Muslim Mayor of a major western city- the symbolism is important. At a time of rising Islamophobia, his arrival in City Hall, the son of a Pakistani bus driver and seamsteress, who grew up in the Council estate, is a celebration of multiculturalism and a defeat for radicalism.

He has rejected Donald Trump's offer to 'exempt' him from a ban on Muslims entering the United States and attacked the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's 'ignorant' view of Islam. In fact he has invited Trump to visit him and his family in London to learn about Islam. He added, that Trump's view could risk alienating mainstraem Muslims around the world and play into the hands of extremists.

Besides these, he has taken up some key issues and have already implemented changes that he deems necessary.

Upcoming trip to India

Khan has declared his intentions to stand up for the London's Indian community and further strengthen the city's friendship with India. He called himself the 'most pro-business' London mayor ever, and expressed interest in leading a trade delegation to India, perhaps also meet Indian PM Narendra Modi in Delhi during this visit.

He has made a mark in the community's heartafter he recently put up a post on his facebook, expressing his fondness for the Swaminarayan temple in Neasden. Pictures of Khan visiting the temple days before being elected as the mayor have taken the internet by storm, where he is seen interacting with people from other faiths at the temple. He even holds out his hand for a priest to tie a string around his wrist, in keeping with a Hindu custom.

Bus Hopper Race

Last week the new Mayor of London used his official Twitter account to tweet support for a plan to pit bus users against each other in a race with the clock on public transport. It would see passengers taking advantage of Mr Khan’s new “Hopper” ticket, an innovation announced last week which will allow people to make two bus journeys (at £1.50) within a 60minute window from September.

The race was first suggested by Hackney Labour councillor Jonathan McShane and has since caused a storm of interest online.

Khan weighed in with: “Love the idea of a #bushopperrace - a fun

Mayor and Commissioner revealed that 400 of the 600 officers who had volunteered would complete their training by next April.

Unfair visa restrictions

The New Mayor has also vowed to challenge the present Conservative government's 'unfair visa restrictions' that often make it difficult for businesses to find the best skilled employees.

Questioning Niqabs

On the other hand, speaking about his own community, Khan has reportedly said that there is “a question to be asked” about why some Muslim women in the capital wear hijabs and niqabs. In an interview

AHMEDAB A AD BHUJ VADODAR A A GOA MUMBAI A DELHI C HENNAI A DUBAI NEW YOR O K TORONTTO Y SALE

London Mayor Sadiq Khan performing abhishek with trustee Vinubhai Bhattessa

challenge and great way to explore London.”

People have already been concocting plans to game the system. Many have speculated online about what the furthest journey you could make on this new ticket is. Reddit user Harberton said the longest bus route in London is the X26, which runs from Croydon to Heathrow. Linking another journey to this route would be the best way to travel far on this ticket, according to Harberton.

Extra armed officers

Khan also announced an extra 400 armed officers to be deployed to tackle the terror threat next year, saying: “Nothing is more important than keeping Londoners safe.”

He observed a training exercise to test the response of armed police to a Parisstyle firearms attack on the capital and met Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe who announced last year he would boost the number of firearms officers by 600 to meet the terror threat. The

with the London Evening Standard, he reportedly contrasted the way Muslim women dressed when he was growing up in London in the 1970s and 80s with the way many women dressed today.

The Guardian reported that he said: “When I was younger you didn’t see people in hijabs and niqabs, not even in Pakistan when I visited my family. In London we got on. People dressed the same. What you see now are people born and raised here who are choosing to wear the jilbab [a loose gown] or niqab.

“There is a question to be asked about what is going on in those homes.

What’s insidious is if people are starting to think it is appropriate to treat women differently or that it has been forced on them. What worries me is children being forced to adopt a lifestyle.”

Khan suggested Muslim women should think about whether to wear the niqab, which covers the face, when they interacted with providers of public services.

Paid subscribers of Asian Voice will receive a copy of our latest Asian House and Home magazine with their newspaper this week.

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Asian Voice |21st May 2016

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Sikh Shrine Shines in Scotland

Continued from page 1

ple of all faiths in the city.

Representatives from various religions fill the pictures of the first brick being laid for the new Gurdwara. And on the first floor is a picture of Gurdwara members meeting Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Glasgow

Vandalism

without sleep as the grand opening of the It hasn't been smooth sailshrine approached. ing for the Gurudwara.

As well as being Anti-Islamic graffiti Scotland's largest Sikh has been written on the temple, it is also the largest wall of the new Central religious building of any Gurdwara in Glasgow. kind in Glasgow and Last month members thought to be one of the largest in the country.

Sunday's grand opening of the Singh Sabha Gurdwara began at 11am with a religious procession, which saw the High Priest carry the holy scriptures on his head into the prayer hall, known as The Guru's Diwin located on the second floor. The Guru's Diwin is a large gold structure which raises the scriptures above the congregation.

The opening of the Gurdwara saw a procession into The Guru's Diwin. (Courtesy: STV) The books were then placed on a throne, followed by a short prayer and in 2010. of the Sikh community dissermon.

The three-story buildcovered the green paint The procession ing is beautiful with ornate with the Islamaphobic returned outside for a flagdecorations and paintings message next to a Nazi raising ceremony before of Gurus. swastika sign. heading back into the The marble flooring The Sikh building, with prayer hall, where the First which runs throughout has its gold dome rising over Minister and other dignibeen imported from India, the west end across from taries addressed the conand is a popular choice for the Gaelic School, had the gregation. From there the Sikh temples. words "F**k Islam. No procession went to the Pritpal Singh, who was SHARIAH!" and a Nazi community hall, known as one of the organisers, swastika scrawled on the Langar Hall, for a vegetariexplained about the 16 side, reported community an lunch, where they were years of planning and leaders. again joined by Ms fundraising..

The vandalism was Sturgeon.

He said: “We bought reported to police and the Attendees entering the the site in 1999 and started damage cleared, and the Gurdwara were required to to build in 2010. Sixty per Sikh community said they remove their shoes and cent of the funding has remained committed to cover their heads. come from donations. creating an equal and just Headscarves were providThere are regular donaScotland for all. ed. tions given by the congreIn a statement, Surjit The grand opening was gation who are supposed to Singh Chowdhary, viceopen to all mempresident of Central bers of the wider Gurdwara Singh community and Sabha, said: “The people of all Sikh community faiths, and the completely abhors Gurdwara will the hateful ideology be available to of Islamophobia. the general pubWe are in complete lic when not shock that such disneeded for worgraceful words were ship. put on the walls of The temple this great will be able to Gurdwara. hold 1,500 wor“The Sikh comshippers, and munity's gift to will also contain Members of Glasgow Sikh community met Pope Glasgow has been classrooms, a Benedict XVI in 2010 commandeered as a library, an office platform for the and a ceremonial pool. give 10 per cent of their hateful messages which do It will be open to all to earnings to a charitable not belong in our country. come and eat seven days a cause. And we've had We hope that Glasgow week. fundraising dinners which stands shoulder to shoulThis new building is the have raised £200,000; der with us and we extend first purpose build £130,000 and £70,000. an open welcome to everyGurdwara that the Non-Sikhs have been one to learn about Sikhs Glaswegian Sikhs have equally generous.

A and our Gurdwara. The had, and their important Scottish guy came the only way to challenge hate place in the city is evident other day and loved the is through education to from when you first enter building. He gave us a promote understanding of the building. donation of £10,000.”

Scotland's diverse commuAn exhibition detailing The first Gurdwara was nities.” the history of the Sikh opened in the Gorbals durCharandeep Singh, community in Glasgow ing the 1950s. general secretary of adorns the walls of the The literal translation Glasgow Gurdwara on the foyer and first floor. of the word 'Gurdwara' is south side, added: “These And like seen in 'the door that leads to the words represent ignorance Christian churches across Guru', although in a modat its worst. Unfortunately the country there is a ern Gurdwara the Guru in this climate of rampant memorial to those Sikhs refers to the holy Sikh Islamophobia, members of awarded the Victoria Cross scriptures as opposed to a the Sikh community have during the First and person. fallen victim too. Instances Second World Wars.

Scotland is home to ranging from jeers of There are also pictures around 20,000 Sikhs, with 'Taliban' or 'Bin Laden' showing the Sikh willingthe majority of them living directed at turban-wearing ness to bring together peoin the Glasgow area.

Sikh men, to the firebomb-

Spriha Srivastava

Honorary award for Dr SY Quraishi Former chief election commissioner Dr SY Quraishi has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU). The honour was done by Dr Virender Paul, Deputy High Commissioner of India at an event organised by NISAU and the 100-Foot Journey Club, a new initiative between the Indian High Commission and the London School of Economics, last week.

The event held at the beautiful venues of India House saw guests from all walks of life coming together to discuss topics such as the Indian electoral system, the vote bank politics, electoral representation of various communities among others.

Dr Quraishi, more popularly known as the former chief election commissioner of India joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1971. Born only a few months before India gained independence, Dr Quraishi served as the 17th Chief Election Commissioner of one of the world’s largest democracy. The fellowship was bestowed to him to honour his contributions in shaping the present and future of India.

The premise for the honour was based on the fact that Dr. Quraishi is well known in India and abroad as a development thinker and for his inclusive style of leadership and for bringing harmoniously together wide varieties of groups and institutions for achieving the common objectives of development.

He has represented India at many conferences and has discussed the Indian election system, which is a very unique process, across the world.

“NISAU is delighted to confer our Honorary Fellowship on Dr. S Y Quraishi for his contributions to the betterment of Indian society.

Dr Quraishi is such an inspiration and this occasion has been made even more special by the Deputy

High Commissioner of India Dr Paul bestowing our Fellowship upon him.

We are humbled to associate NISAU with Dr Quraishi.” Miss Sanam Arora, President of NISAU said in a press release.

The presentation ceremony also involved a discussion at the Indian High Commission on elections in India. The discussion revolved around the Indian electoral system and Narendra Modi’s landslide victory two years ago that brought in a great deal of optimism not just for the Indian political system but also for the Indian economy that was considered weak due to issues such as high current account deficit and an alleged corrupt government.

However, many have pointed to the governorship of Dr Raghuram Rajan as a big reason for the Indian economy to have come back on track.

Foreign investors continue to bet on the Modi-Rajan duo in order for the economy to continue to grow.

Dr Quraishi was joined by Dr Mukulika Bannerjee who is the South Asia Centre at the London School of Economics and Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology on the discussion on Indian elections.

Dr Banerjee who is currently completing a book manuscript based on 15 years of ethnographic data of rural voters and their multivalent engagement with elections and voting activities in West Bengal, India, cited examples from her work when talking about rural voters.

ing of a Gurdwara in Kent after the 7/7 London terrorist attacks have beset the Sikh community.

“This episode is a sad reminder that Sikhs, Muslims, Jews and other minorities face public ridicule and criminal attacks which go against

the values of our society.

The perpetrators here are totally ignorant to the values of the Sikh community and the contribution made

by Sikhs over nearly 100 years.

“This sad incident should energise our political leaders and fellow citi-

Dr Bannerjee’s most recent book Why India Votes breaks several new grounds both conceptually and methodologically: it examines the reasons why despite varying odds, India’s voter graph continues to rise, making India the largest electoral democracy in the world.

Voters across 13 states were asked the same set of questions, and their responses compared and woven into a socio-politico-anthropological narrative on the sacredness of participative political behaviour in a country marred by extreme income inequality, skewed access to resources, and dystopic infrastructural developments, intensified by an asymmetrical ruralurban divide.

The event was very systematically brought together by a bunch of young people form The Hundred Foot Journey Club and NISAU. The Hundred Foot Journey Club is a new initiative of the High Commission of India and the London School of Economics South Asia Centre launched on the 10th of May 2016. The club has been launched in view of the proximity of the HCI and LSE. It will host academic events and other activities of mutual interest. It will organise at least 6 events annually, including panel discussions, film screenings etc. either at LSE or India House/Nehru Centre. The event ‘Elections in the World’s Largest Democracy’ was the second event organised by the 100-foot Journey Club, in association with the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at aveditorial@abplgroup.com zens to continue the campaign to root out such hateful beliefs. We will continue our dialogue with the police, local & national politicians to create an inclusive society and celebrate the contributions made by Scottish Sikhs to our country.”

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1972: A Challenging Year

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Bold Beginning

Gujarat Samachar began its journey on 5th May, 1972. A properly printed tabloid newsweekly, was printed via a hand composing facility arranged in Mrs Shah’s garage. Back in those days, there was no photo typesetting available in the Gujarati language.

There were 6-7 big trays with separate boxes, full of characters of the alphabet, separately stocked. The compositor had to manually pick up each character and compose the articles.

Once the articles were ready to print, the compositor pressed the entire form on a papier mâché called a flong. The process was extremely arduous. Then the characters made of lead, had to be dispersed in individual boxes.

In the first few months, the five pioneers of the paper were very happy with the way the community had received Gujarat Samachar. However, they faced challenges from the competition in the field.

The rival took all steps possible, mostly unethical, to create obstacles in the path of the first Gujarati newsweekly.

The UK government was facing advertisers both politically and economically. However, the earlier arrivals of Gujaratis from East Africa were settling down as best as they could.

Asian Migration in East Africa

The end of World War II saw a change in the winds for the British Empire. Its colonies eventually began to disintegrate. Earlier a steady flow of South Asian migrants were flocking towards East and South Africa in significant numbers. They enjoyed an elevated position in these countries. These migrants, who were mostly Gujaratis and Punjabis, worked as artisans, traders, or for the colonial government. A major chunk of the commercial trade in East and Central Africa was in the hands of these settlers.

However, the African countries winning their independence adopted different approaches and policies for their Asian residents. Most of the states wanted the African locals to have an upper hand in the government. In their bid to compensate for the lack of opportunity under the British regime, countries like Malawi and Uganda failed to do justice to the Asian community.

Uprooted Evacuees Arrive

Idi Amin’s obstinate decision to expel the “bloodsuckers” resulted in Asian Ugandans leaving their homes with no property, and a mediocre amount of £55 permitted cash. The dictator, on 4th August, 1972, condemned the entire community, and in a span of 48 hours, issued a decree of expulsion for 60,000 Asians from the country. He also issued a second decree stating that professionals like doctors, lawyers, and teachers were to not leave, so as to maintain an intellectual base in the country. He particularly specified that those professionals who tried to leave would be considered as committing treason.

Amin’s act was his vengeance towards the British government’s refusal for financial aid after his coup. His answer was to kick out the entire community as he fully knew the British had no option but to take them in.

The colonial government earlier had given two options to the Asians in Uganda prior to independence. To choose Ugandan, British or to retain their Indian or Pakistani citizenship. Most chose British citizenship for a potentially secure and brighter future.

Idil Amin’s decision to expel Ugandan Asians put the involved governments in a frenzy. Both the British and Indian government’s issued several pleas and warnings. But the dictator was adamant and Britain had to prepare for the settlement of Ugandan Asians when they reached Britain.

Earlier Britain had appealed to the Commonwealth countries to accept, if possible, Ugandan Asians. Only the Falkland Islands gave a positive response.

However, no one was willing to go and live in the extreme conditions, almost 11,000 miles from the UK. Eventually some 28,000 Ugandan Asians became “Twice-Migrants”, from India to Uganda and then to UK. The Asian community of Uganda left their homes, businesses, jobs and savings with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing.

Dispersal of Ugandan Asians

Some 28,000 refugees arrived in UK, 6000 refugees went to Canada, 4500 refugees went back to India, 2500 went to Kenya, Malawi, Pakistan. West

nations with the help of facilities provided by the Department of Education.

This was a proof that the refugees prioritised their children's future.

Distressed Departure

Germany and the United States took 1000 Asian migrants each. An even smaller number of Asians went to countries such as Australia, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Mauritius, and New Zealand. Even after all the reallocations some 20,000 refugees were left unaccounted for. It is believed most of them returned to India.

Aga Khan Initiative

Aga Khan, Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Community called on his long-time friend Pierre Trudeau, the then Prime Minister of Canada. It was a win-win situation for both the leaders. Aga Khan, in exchange for security and stability of his people pledged significant resources to help his followers including a large amount of $1,000,000 as donation to the Ismaili community in Toronto.

The Canadian response was both to please the British government, and show Canada’s humanitarian side.

Uganda Resettlement Board

It may be interesting for readers to know that in 1971, the number of East African Asians in the UK was 45,000. However, following the Ugandan and Malawian expulsion, and the migration of other Asians from East and Central Africa, the number of “Other Asians” in the 1981 census of UK had now gone up to 180,000.

As of 1968 there were 345,000 Asians resident in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Uganda. By 1984, according to the Miniorty Rights Group (1990), their numbers had fallen to about 85,000, which included 40,000 in Kenya, 20,000 in Tanzania, 3000 in Zambia, 1000 in Malawi and 1000 in Uganda. Recently some business people, professionals migrate there from India, Pakistan etc.

The British Government established the Uganda Resettlement Board who organised the

undermentioned resettlement centres.

Offsprings of those evacuees should enquire from their elders about the conditions go when they arrived first and how the settled. To know one’s roots could be very helpful.

UK Prime Minister Edward Heath's government had a lot on its hands than just the Asians. They were facing pressure from their party and there also was the rising scream of racism to suppress. The Uganda Resettlement Board was a convenient way for the government to not get directly involved.

The first flight landed on a cold windy day at Essex Airport, from where they were taken to an RAF camp at Stradishall in Suffolk. This was one of the several migrant camps the Board had temporarily made for the Ugandan Asians, until they were settled at better and permanent places.

There were a total of 16 camps set up in 1972, all of which closed down in the coming years after the occupants found better alternatives for themselves.

Overall, the British neighbours and volunteers were warm hearted and very helpful.

Most of the rootless people opted to move out of the camps at the earliest opportunity to find their feet. Yet, there were families, who chose to stay back until their children completed their A level examiCentre Kensington Stradishall Hemswell Houndstone Greenham Common West Malling Tonfanau Heathfield Faldingworth Lingfield Plasterdown Maresfield Piddlehinton Doniford Raleigh Hall Gaydon

Ever since Idi Amin's declaration, Ugandan Asians were put through a series of troubles, intimidation, and hardships. I remember reading in Gujarat Samachar of that period the instances of migrants who were as it is dwelling under the apprehensions of their seemingly bleak futures, being roughed up

by Ugandan troops during their last few minutes in the country. Refugees leaving Uganda were put through endless checks and held at gun point. Thugs robbed them, some women were assaulted. They were stripped of all things precious on them, including their dignity.

Things weren't exactly rosy after their arrival in Britain too. They went through health checks at the airport once they arrived and stuffed in already overcrowded centres. Racism was rampant and right at its peak. We all remember Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech given in 1968. The right wing was claiming the surge of the Ugandan Asians would destroy their economy. Those who lived respectfully in Uganda, were often addressed as "monkey", "wog", and "black bastard".

Who would believe that Leicester, which now hosts over 28 per cent of Asians in their total population, was once a no-go area for them? It was also the centre of the National Front- just a political party opposed to everybody non-white. Leicester City Council placed adverts in the papers in Uganda headlined, “Please do not come to Leicester”.

The Ugandan Asians

Date of Opening 6 September 1972 8 September 1972 28 September 1972 30 September 1972 1 October 1972 4 October 1972 7 October 1972 9 October 1972 11 October 1972 13 October 1972 15 October 1972 17 October 1972 19 October 1972 23 October 1972 27 October 1972 28 October 1972

came with almost nothing in their pockets. But they were determined to make their new beginning with hope and confidence. I look through the Gujarat Samachar archives, and read stories of how these refugees, especially women, how they started learning English. This one case in Yorkshire particularly caught my eye. There was a group of European women, who earlier lived in East Africa. They did not know Gujarati, only Swahili. And the Gujarati women in that camp were keen to learn English.

Language was a big barrier to overcome. The only way for the teachers to teach English to these women was through Swahili. A reporter from Gujarat Samachar had gone to one of the camps, and remember this teacher pick up a match box, point it out to them and say Match Box. In Swahili it is called 'Kiberiti'.

There was a thirst for learning and there were genuine people around them who educated them in more ways than one.

The Asians, mostly Gujaratis, started to accustom themselves in the UK. They began by doing any, even menial jobs. I have found the contribution of our women the most striking. I know one such lady, a staunch vegetarian, who overcame her moral dilemma to work in a meat shop to support her family.

By 1974, some of the community members already owned shops. It was their commitment that helped them flourish in the coming years.

There is an interesting read in The Guardian dated 2002, titled 'They fled with nothing but built a new empire'. It talks about the Ugandan Asians, several of whom now enjoy top ranks in the British community.

Date of Closing 23 February 1973 24 March 1973 5 October 1973 16 February 1973 30 June 1973 15 January 1974 28 February 1973 2 February 1973 15 May 1973 15 January 1973 13 December 1972 28 February 1973 24 November 1972 19 March 1973 20 January 1973 16 July 1973

(To be continued) Capacity 250 1500/2000 950/1150 950 1400/1600 840 1400 1100/1200 685 950 800 650 400/500 1125/1225 430 830

UK Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

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Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

The BBC World Service News Producer on how to handle rejection Rickin Majithia produces Newshour on the BBC World Service. It’s the BBC’s flagship daily foreign affairs news programme.

His parents came to England as refugees from Uganda. Rickin’s father had studied dentistry in Mumbai, but his qualifications were not recognized by the UK. Instead, he went into business – running post offices and petrol stations. Mrs Majithia was a housewife who later joined the Civil Service.

Rickin was born and raised in the WembleyHarrow area. He studied a joint degree in Contemporary History and Journalism split between Queen Mary’s and City Universities.

Rickin went to a state school. His parents supplemented his education by sending him and his sisters to private tutors.

However, Rickin often upset his school teachers.

When they told his mother, she persuaded him to apply

Getting into journalism

Rickin Majithia

to the Windsor Fellowship – a scheme that coaches ethnic minority students who are considered to have potential. Result; Rickin’s GCSE grades were in the top three of his school.

“The Fellowship made me shift my mind set. It taught me to take responsibility for myself. Before that I had worked to please my mother.”

But he stresses that his

Petition to stop women being forced to wear high heels gains momentum More than 135,000 people have signed a petition to stop women being forced to wear high heels at work.

It calls current formal work dress codes 'out-dated and sexist.' More than 100,000 signatures ensure the matter is discussed in the Parliament, before a new law comes to enforcement.

The petition comes after 27-year-old Nicola Thorp was allegedly sent home on her first day when she refused to wear high heels at an accountancy firm in London. It calls for dress code laws to be changed so women have the option to wear flat, formal shoes at work.

While it is no secret that women go to extraordinary lengths to appear comfortable in high heels, and the fashion industry often encourage this kind of personal statement in women, one wonders whether high heels are not another covert feminine acknowledgement of continuing patriarchy.

High heels emphasise legs and the female form, but they also come with physical risks. In October 2012, then Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard tripped at Rajghat wearing high heels.

parents were always supportive.

“My parents never put pressure on me to go down a certain career path. I was never forced to be a doctor or a lawyer. They said my sisters and I should do what makes us happy.”

Growing up, Rickin didn’t connect with his Indian cultural heritage until his late teens.

“The first time I went to India was in 2005 when I was 21. I was there to perform my grandmother’s last rights. I was living in Hong Kong at that time as an exchange student.”

Before that, Rickin’s view of India was shaped through the prism of Bollywood movies.

The reality he saw was “Far from the glitz and glam. There was heartbreaking poverty. But I also felt a sense of belonging. For the first time I did not stand out as a minority.”

Thousands of women sprain ankles while walking with heels on uneven surfaces and/or soft terrain. Many have sported broken shoe-heels and courted embarrassment in public places.

In fact as a way to protest against the unwritten dress code at Cannes, where many female actors were kept out last year for wearing flat shoes – ie, shoes without heels, actress Julia Roberts arrived barefoot for the screening of her film Money Monster.

Joining Julia is Business Secretary Sajid Javid, who has said women should not be forced to wear high heels to work, amid growing calls to ban companies from making it a condition of their dress codes. On Sunday, Mr

Javid took to Twitter to add his voice to the growing clamour. Under British law, companies are able to demand that female members of staff wear heels and makeup as part of their dress code. Even in 2016.

A number of MPs have already offered their support to Ms Thorp's campaign. She launched her effort when Portico, the agency which found her work, allegedly said she would need to wear heels to job interviews, because they were considered essential “female grooming policy”.

“I began my petition against high heels because it is blatant sexism that an employer has a right to impose a discriminatory dress code on women,” she said last week.

“But I also think that forcing women to paint their faces is wrong. At many of the sites I have worked at, I would have been sent home if I had turned up without makeup on.”

She has already scored one victory so far, as Simon Pratt, Portico's managing director, said: "All our female colleagues can wear plain flat shoes or plain court shoes as they prefer."

Rickin wanted to be a journalist from a young age; “It was either that or be a lawyer. I liked the intellectual stimulation and the debating aspects of both professions. When I saw my dad watching coverage of the First Gulf War on TV, I realised that informing the public was an important responsibility.

The idea of working on the

most important issue in the world at any given time was alluring. The ability to hold people to account and to witness history were other inducements.”

Challenges

9

six month BBC traineeship with the BBC. That led to two job offers and a staff position.

Rejection

Rickin Majithia’s story shows that you have to give Ricking says the process to get what you want. was hard. While in Hong “The hardest thing is Kong as a student, he dealing with rejection secured an internship when you are passionat CNN ate about someInternational. thing. You put in “I was all your effort, The hardest studying full you don’t do it thing is dealing time and half-heartedwith rejection when working full ly, you do it time.

I you are passionate with your worked six mind and about something. days a soul. When I completed five week: four you’re still days at internships before rejected it CNN, two hurts. I comI got paid days at unipleted five anything versity and internships kept Sunday for before I was paid my coursework.” anything. In total I Rickin was not paid spent more than six but his stories were being months working full-time published. He wrote for the without being paid. When South China Morning Post you’ve done that for someand then went to Delhi on one for two or three another internship for months and they say goodCNN. bye... that kicks your confiBut when he returned dence and you think: ‘Can I to London he struggled to really do this? Am I cut out get a break. Eventually Sky for it? Am I good enough?’

News gave him a short That conversation you placement. Next he found have with yourself is really an indefinite but unpaid important because if you internship at ITN. Soon don’t believe in yourself after he was a paid freethen no one else will. lancer across ITV and Keeping that internal diaChannel 4 News. logue positive is essential After a year at ITN he for everything else that took a pay cut to apply for a comes afterwards.”

10

READERS’ VOICE

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Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Review of crematoria provisions and facilities

Hindus understand that the body is a divine vehicle through which Atma realises both itself and Paramatma. The guidance of our Rishis as to the method by which this divine vehicle is returned to the Mother Earth once “dead” has been the open air cremation, the most environmentally friendly way of “recycling” all 5 elements (Vayu-Air, jal –water, Agni-fire, bhumi-earth, ether- Akash ) to the Earth.

For last 10 years, the Hindu Forum of Britain has consistently raised concerns with the Department of Communities and Local Government that the existing facilities were not compliant with our traditions and that the facilities were usually inadequate at Crematoria across UK and the Chancellor in his last Budget speech committed to start the process of modification and construction to incorporate our needs and wishes .

The HFB and the NCHTUK received the following Consultation communication from the DCLG, a first step towards improving provision of the Crematoria. We have shared details of this with our member organisations and over 5000 individuals so that interested parties and individuals can respond and participate in a very important aspect of our religious life. The consultation commenced on 16 March with the last date to respond being 26 May 2016 and information is available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the above web address.

We shall be submitting a joint response by the 26th and if you would like for us to include your response with our submission than please feel free to send us your comments on either of the following emails : president@hfb.org.uk and info@nchtuk.org .

You can also get in touch with the Department for Communities and Local Government at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review -of-crematoria-provision-and-facilities-discussionpaper at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FQPKTRB. Alternatively you can email your response to crematoriareview@communities.gsi.gov.uk When responding, please ensure you have the words “Review of Crematoria Provision and Facilities” in the email subject line.

Mrs Trupti Patel President HFB

Pandit Satish Sharma Secretary NCHT

Land of hope or strike I thought in politics there was no value of "human lives". But it is now vis versa, the doctors in (UK) those who are supposed to save lives are trying to bury the patients alive across the nation by shutting the NHS in the name of strike. It was very unfortunate to read in the British media (Daily Telegraph Tues, 26 April 2016), BMA comments “it is not the doctors fault if the patients die?”

When the UK Government is facing a debt timebomb of £1.9 trillion the NHS bosses and others are paid millions in bonuses etc? There is an English poverb "stitch in time saves nine". But the debt holes has become so big God forbid, does not bring the same situation like in Greece and in other EU countries?

And make the taxpayer's cover the massive debt of holes created by the past and the present UK government? It really does not add up,when the UK government is facing this kind of big hole, why keep on dropping millions pounds of bomb in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya etc. Are we living in the land of hope and glory or in the land of strike?

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Long live GB!!!

UK has refused to extradite absconder Vijay Mallya on ‘legal’ grounds.

So far UK has refused 131 extradition requests of Indian Govt. on ‘legal’ grounds. It seems, UK is becoming (or, has already become) a criminal’s paradise unfortunately.

Billionaires, rich and powerful violators of Law from all over the world flee to the UK and enjoy ‘legal patronage’ from age-old or ageing and irrational, British ‘justice’ system which continues to facilitate the stay of wealthy and unworthy people in London.

Poor and hard working immigrants are considered illegal and are put to task in the detention centers by UK Home Office.

However, Tycoons and fugitives are not detained at Heathrow, as they bring huge money and buy palatial properties in the UK. Hemang Palan By email

Pakistani Hindus link to India Recently Pakistani Hindus in India have been granted Indian citizen ship.

Before the creation of Pakistan [on the grounds of religion] all were Indians but qualified for migration to India but they are now 80s [ half of them are dead ?] nothing to look forward and death knocking at the door.

The population after creation of Pakistan are Pakistani citizens and have no rights unless on sentimental grounds.

But the Indian government invited Pakistani Hindus in Pakistan to migrate if they wish [like Jewish settlements] and will be looked after well.

This is not discriminatory but preferential treatment to join fellow Hindus in India.

Kashy Moorty By email

Yam Gurung (rtd) By email

Asian Voice in UK for only £29 for one year

Medical Negligence Third Highest Killer

According to a recent article in medical journal, medical errors, if counted as disease or illness, would be the third highest killer in US, exceeded only by heart and cancer fatalities. Medical insurances come in all shape and size, to suit most pockets. Monthly premium ranging from just $50 to $1000 per person, not counting OAPs and those suffering from chronic disease, with vast and varied terms and conditions attached.

But no insurance policy will cover long term illnesses like dementia, long term mental illnesses and similar conditions that would be immensely costly to cover. Only government funded NHS could handle such illnesses.

According to recent reports unfortunately our NHS is moving in the same direction, due to extreme bed shortages, ageing population and immigrants from war-torn countries putting extra pressure on NHS without funding rising in line with demand.

OAPs are discharged without putting in place proper home care, ambulances carrying them in their homes on stretchers, thus many die due to lack care, unable to look after themselves, not even able to feed themselves. Introducing a nominal charge of £10 to see a GP and £50 for A & E visit may raise much needed funds and reduce pressure on these services, especially on GPs, as there is extreme shortage of GPs. Not newly qualified doctors want to become GPs and most GPs prefer to work as locums rather than become partners and take responsibility. I wonder how far we are from a breaking point, a collapse of medical service!

Kumudini Valambia By email

Pride of Asian Community

I have never come across a family where every member is whole heartedly immersed in politics, ready and willing to serve our community, as that of Navin and Rekha Shah.

Perhaps it is statutory obligation to be member of Shah’s family! It will indeed be a proud day for not only Shah family but all British Indians when Rekha is installed as Mayor of Harrow on 19th May. Congratulations to AV for publishing Rekha’s memoir in “Leading Lights” Now it feels we know this luminous family intimately!

Navin who just retained his Brent and Harrow London Assembly seat was Councillor and Leader of Harrow Council for long time before his daughter Aneka took over his Kenton seat, first step on the political ladder to higher aspiration. I hope it will not be too long before their solicitor son follows the family tradition and becomes Councillor.

The most pleasing aspect of Navin and Rekha is that whenever we have approached them for help and assistance, they have willingly taken up our cases, although we may not be Harrow residents. Asian community has also benefitted immensely from family’s involvement in politics. Let us wish Rekha a wonderful and fulfilling year as Mayor of Harrow, although it would be a demanding year for the whole family!

National Theatre’s connections

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

21 years ago teachers and directors began telling the National Theatre that they wanted relevant and challenging new plays for young actors. We responded by launching Connections our flagship youth theatre festival. Since then the NT has commissioned more than 150 plays for Connections, giving young people aged 13-19 across the UK and Ireland access to the very best new writing for theatre.

We want you to join us to celebrate Connections in our anniversary year. We hope to hear from people who have taken part in Connections plays over the last 21 years.

Whether you’re Kevey Bow, from UROCK who performed in Remote at last year’s festival, or Roy Weise, now a trainee theatre director at the Royal Court Theatre (‘Chatroom’ by Enda Walsh in 2004) or Hollywood actor John Boyega (‘Six Parties’ by William Boyd in 2009), we’d love to hear about your Connections experience.

Performing and working backstage as part of a brilliant youth theatre can be a transformative, life-changing experience and we want you to tell us how it changed you. Wherever you are now, and whatever you’re up to, get in touch at yourconnections.nationaltheatre.org.uk and share your Connections memories with us, however big or small, to help celebrate 21 years of the biggest youth theatre festival in the world.

Rufus Norris Director, National Theatre of Great Britain

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Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Thousands of children taught in 'illegal schools' Thousands of children are being taught in unregistered schools across England, many more than previously thought, Ofsted's chief inspector has said.

Sir Michael Wilshaw said a crackdown had found more than 100 suspected illegal schools - half of which were faith-based, Ofsted said.

Roughly a third of them were Islamic and a sixth either Christian or Jewish.

Seven warning notices have been issued to schools in London, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Luton and Staffordshire.

Any school offering 20

hours of lessons a week must be registered.

Unregistered schools are those that operate outside the supervision of the Department for Education, local authorities or Ofsted inspections. They are often run by faith groups and there are concerns about the safety of pupils in their

Ms Bouattia has been accused of making antiSemitic remarks, which she says were part of a political argument rather than one of religion.

Surrey University Student Union has also voted to remain affiliated.

At Exeter 5,334 students voted - just under 31% of those eligible and a high turnout for a student vote.

Indian scholars at Oxford University promise their contributions to India-UK relations

charge.

In a letter to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, Sir Michael said his team of seven experienced inspectors, working closely with DfE officials, had identified more than 100 suspected unregistered schools across the country since January.

Student unions split on leaving NUS in row over president Students at Exeter University have voted to stay in the National Union of Students after those at Newcastle and Lincoln voted to leave this week.

Similar votes are taking place amid concerns of anti-Semitism after Malia Bouattia's election as president.

Oxford and Cambridge are among others planning disaffiliation votes.

11

Of these: - 2,546 voted in favour of disaffiliation - 2,690 voted to remain - 98 said they were neutral or confused.

- this gave a majority of 144 in favour of remaining.

Other student unions planning disaffiliation votes include Warwick, Hull, Cambridge, Worcester, Loughborough, Oxford, and York.

CRISP scholars from India with Deputy High Commissioner Dr Virander Paul and Mr. Richard Briant, International Director of Said Business School, University of Oxford

were contributing enthusiastically to the programme by sharing their observations and experience in their respective fields. He added that the CRISP programme has been working well since it was first announced during the visit of Prime Minister Cameron to India in 2010.

Deputy High Dr. Commissioner, Virander Paul briefed the scholars on the progressively strengthening multi-

A group of 14 “The Chevening Rolls-Royce, Science, Innovation Leadership Programme (CRISP)� scholars from India, currently pursuing a 10-week course at Said Business School, University of Oxford visited the High Commission on May 11, 2016.

Introducing the group, Mr. Richard Briant, International Director of Said Business School said that the Indian scholars

Anoushka Shankar

Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia

Pt. Shivkumar Sharma

faceted cooperation between India and the United Kingdom, particularly focusing on the outcomes of the successful visit of the Prime Minister of India to the UK in November 2015. The scholars expressed interest in setting up a community of CRISP scholars in order to keep their engagement and networking alive with a view to actively contributing to India-UK relations in their specialised areas.

Luva Nahid Choudhury

Dr L Subramaniam

Aditi Mohsin

12

MEDIA WATCH

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

India is truly a paradox. The behavior of some of the country’s legislators in Parliament is what the public normally associates with hooligans on the march. Much the same can be said of quite a number of its politicians. Those who witnessed the election campaign in West Bengal saw or read Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s more incendiary speeches were put in mid of an untamed shrew. Contrast these images with that of President Pranab Mukherjee bowing in obeisance to the widow and mother of a humble jawan, Constable Gautam Koch, who made the supreme sacrifice in answer to the call of duty: he died protecting his country from those who would destroy it, and the values and freedoms which have been its lodestars.

Posthumous awards

The posthumous Kirti Chakras went to Constable Koch from the Assam armed services, and to Naik Subedar Rajesh Kumar from the Mahar Regiment,

enough for the powers that be (Hindu, Times of India May 4)

Modi’s Kerala gaffe

India is the sum of its parts. What may be acceptable in, say, Rajasthan, is unlikely to go down well in Kerala, as the Indian Prime Minister discovered. Addressing an election campaign meeting in the State, he likened the infant mortality among its Scheduled Tribes to that of Islamist Somalia. A swell of public outrage in Kerala followed, spreading quickly to the Gulf states where Kerala supplies a considerable section of the skilled workforce. Kerala is justifiably proud of its literacy levels, which, at 95 per cent plus is Constable Gautam Koch’s wife and mother collecting award from President Pranab Mukherjee the highest in India and Asia and comRashtriya Rifles. Constable Koch pares well with the best in the died of the injuries received in an world. Its social programmes encounter with United have, exceeded the UN’s millenLiberation Front of Assam nium goals well before the set (ULFA) insurgents.

Naik timeline. Modi’s ill-advised Subedar Kumar was killed in a remarks have set off a Twitter search and destroy mission in the storm that may cost his BJP dear Kupwara district of Jammu and in the upcoming polls (Hindu, Kashmir. His award was received Telegraph, Times of India May by his widow and father (Hindu 12) May 8)

Jihadis killed in Kashmir

Three jihadis were killed in an encounter recently with Indian security forces in the Pulwama district of south Kashmir.

Security forces cordoned off a village some 30 miles from the State capital, Srinagar, following intelligence reports that jihadis had taken up positions there. The slain jihadis were identified as Ishfaq Ahmad Dar, Ishfaq Ahmad Baba of the Hizbul Mujahideen, and Habib Ahmad Pasha of Laskar-e-Taiba. Locals protestors participated in their funeral and a shut down in the commercial life of the area followed (Hindu May 8)

Rawat’s olive branch to Centre

Scientists in Chennai, having produced the technology to turn sea water potable, are witnessing the fruits of their technical ingenuity and labour as 6.3 million litres of water every day is being pumped in storage tanks. The pilot plant in Tamil Nadu’s Kalpakkam reactor, built by scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, uses waste steam from a nuclear reactor to purify sea water. They have also developed filtration techniques that eliminate arsenic and uranium in groundwater, and are thus safe to drink. Several such plants have been installed in Punjab, West Bengal and Rajasthan, said K.N. Vyas, Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai (Pallava Bagla, NDTV May 6)

India-Russia upcoming military exercises

India and Russia are to hold three joint military exercises.

‘This year troops from the Eastern Military District plan to participate in three large exercises with the Indian Armed Forces,’ said Roman Martov, spokesman of Russia’s Defence Ministry.

India and Russia have been close partners in military and Technical cooperation over many decades. Both countries are also bonded in science and medicine, as well as infrastructure development and nuclear energy. Such military exercises on land, sea and haven held since 2013, alternating between India and Russia (April 28, Sputnik)

MIG-29Ks replace Sea Harriers

The Indian Navy’s Air Squadron, the ‘White Tigers,’ has started replacing its British-made subsonic Sea Harrier aircraft, bought in 1983, with 45 Russian MIG 29Ks for its two aircraft carriers, the Russian-built INS Vikramaditya and the indigenous

Over the next few months, a series of complex trials will be undertaken to test the full range of the Scorpene’s capabilities. Its state-of-the-art features include superior stealth, with precision guided weaponry, cutting edge torpedoes, tube-launched antiship missiles, both under water and surface. The Scorpenes have been built from special steel capable of withstanding highyield stress with high tensile strength that allows them to bear high hydrostatic force and ensure deep diving for enhanced stealth.

The array of weapons and complex sensors on board the submarine are managed by a high technology management system.

Army to embark on major reforms

Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh has set in motion critical reforms designed to make the force – the third largest in the world – to improve its tooth-totail ratio. This comprehensive review should be a model for peace and war, said a senior commander (Hindu May 9)

India’s digital revolution

In a newspaper interview, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed that rural growth in ‘tele-density has increased 6.62 per cent between February 2014 to February 2016. Therefore the telecom sector is rising and with ‘Digital India,’ it is going to rise further,’ he said. Postal services have become the biggest deliverer of e-commerce. In the two years since he took over the ministry in May 2014, the winds of change blown through its corridors, pending decisions had been cleared and fresh energy injected into the administration, he explained (Business Line May 9)

Tata model has innovation at core

The BJP-led government in Delhi has suffered a blow when the Indian Supreme Court revoked President’s Rule in Uttarkhand, imposed by the BJP-appointed Governor. Harish Rawat, the Congress Chief Minister, in rare

Harish Rawat

gesture of conciliation asked the Centre put the past behind and start afresh in its relations with the State government.

(Hindu, Telegraph, Times of India May 12)

New appointment To bring this vision to fruition, Tata Sons the holding company in 2014, appointed Gopichand Katragadda as the chief technology officer, with extensive experience in the field as Managing Director of US giant General Electric’s India Technological Centre (Telegraph May 5, Business Line May 11)

India, Mauritius treaty loopholes plugged

India and Mauritius have signed a protocol to amend their Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement under which capital gains earned through a Mauritian entry will be taxable in India at the full domestic tax from the financial year 2019-20 onwards. The protocol allows India taxation rights on capital gains arising from the sale of shares acquired on or after April 1, 2017-18 in a company resident in India. Mauritius currently has a nil tax rate on capital gains, hence is likely to lose its edge as a conduit for investments to India (Business Line, Mint May 11)

Son’s thumbs up

Masayoshi Son, Founder Chairman and CEO of Japan’s investment and internet giant, Softbank, having cast his discern-

Masayoshi Son

ing eye across the Indian economy, warts and all, says, ‘India is going to make dramatic growth in e-commerce. People have questioned my investment decisions in the Indian market but they will get the answers soon.’

Investment

‘Softbank has invested $2 billion in the Indian internet space over the past two years. Early this year, at the startup India event, the company said it had plans to invest #10 billion over the next decade. (Business Line May 11) That’s some confidence.

Digitization to power Brand India

MIG 29K aircraft for aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya

Nehru expunged from Rajasthan history texts

It is a sad pointer to the state of divisive politics in India that the name of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first and longest serving prime minister of almost 17 years, has been expunged from the Rajasthan government’s school history textbooks. The State has a relatively low rate of literacy, but apparently not low

Sea water turns potable

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INS Vikrant, now nearing completion at the Cochin Shipyard.

The MIG-29KIs will give the Indian Navy a four-fold increased capability over the decommissioned Sea Harriers, which gave yeoman service for over three decades. (Sputnik, May 5, Hindu May 9)

Scorpene sub’s first sea trial

The first of six French Scorpene class submarines being built at the Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders (Mumbai) was launched for its opening sea trials a fortnight ago.

The $109 billion Tata Group is making technology innovation its core driving asset even as its expenditure on research and development rose to 2.7 per cent of revenue in 2014-15 and the number of published patents doubled in two years. The Group has drawn up a new consortium model to focus on delivering technologies and create breakthrough innovations by harnessing the synergies between Group companies. This has been the key vision of Cyrus Mistry, who took over as Group Chairman from Ratan Tata.

Digitization and smart manufacturing will help build Brand India, according to industry executives and entrepreneurs at the National Business Excellence Conclave 2016 organized recently by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Chennai.

Shift in power

‘Five mega trends will shape the future – digitization, economic power shift from West to East, widening economic disparity, changing relationship between us and our planet and urbanization…These mega trends have brought into focus digitization and smart manufacturing…This will build Brand India, said Kamal Bali, Managing Director Volvo India (Business Line May 11).

UK Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

As I See It

CB Patel

When Cricket First Went to India On Thursday Sri LankaEngland first Test match started. Inevitably there is so much excitement – who will win?

The Indian subcontinent has four countries playing cricket internationally – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Even Afghanistan is coming along very well.

IPL has made India the most lucrative place for cricketers from all the cricket playing nations. English players make more money proportionately playing for four weeks in IPL matches than over the entire year at home. When was the first time English players played cricket in India?

Histories of cricket record the first game on Indian soil was played in 1721 by some English sailors upon one of the creeks off the Gulf of Cambay in Gujarat.

This is avidly written in a 60-page booklet by John Drew who attributes his writings based on another book by Clement Downing (A History of the Indian Wars 1737).

A Dutch picture of Cambay 1679

I recently received this booklet, courtesy Lord Bhikhu Parekh. It's an amazing tale. The booklet is dedicated to the famous Gujarati men of literature who was well-known as “Chanchi” or just “CC”.

Rev. A K Forbes who was once collector at Dabhoi and is one of the most famous Englishmen (or a Britisher) in Gujarat wrote a big volume called “Ras

Mala”. There is so much mention in John Drew's book about Gujarat in the 17th and 18th centuries.

It may be interesting to know that though one East India Company reached Surat (Rander) in 1607 through three sailing ships, very soon there were two East India Companies claiming to be the official company, each denounced the other to the Mughal authorities at Surat as buccaneers. It was perhaps a rare case of both sides in a dispute being right!

John Drew adds that the English were not the only colonial power at this time, they were not even a country power in 1721.

There is one more important revelation. “The company is absolutely dependent on the Indian merchant bankers and brokers who (in the words of Bombay Council) “for many years without control” have held “the absolute management of all the English affairs in Surat”, … Laldas Vitaldas Parikh, confronting scarcity, anarchy and welfare observes, “How ticklish the times are.”

In the Gulf of Cambay, not far from Jambusar, Dhadhar River meets the sea.

The first time the English (the term included any European) playing with Indian sailors – (20 Europeans and 30 Indians) played cricket for the first time on the Indian soil at a place called Chimnaw. At that time the main source of support came from cricketers of Kent.

The book has so much reference to the geography, history, warfare and chicanery – all that for some other time.

But there are names of places which will remind many readers of their ancestors' homes – Bharuch, Surat, Vadodara, Amod, Chimnaw, Kavi, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Vasad, Adas and many other places as well as rivers like Mahi, Sabarmati, Dhadhar, Narmada, Tapti, etc.

13

The Home Office Fee Waiver Policy

The Home Office fee waiver policy is a policy in which the Secretary of State for the Home Department has agreed to waiver an application fee if failure to do so would render an Krishma Bathia applicant incapable of exercising their Human Rights, in particular, Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

The fee waiver policy states that an applicant will qualify for a fee waiver in very limited circumstances whereby an application to the Home Office is made evidencing that an applicant would be rendered destitute by payment of the fees and that they only have enough money to meet their basic living needs. In order to demonstrate eligibility for a fee waiver, an applicant must show that: (a) They have no additional disposable income such that they could either: (i) pay the fee now; or (ii) save the required amount within a reasonable period (12 months) (and it would be reasonable in all the circumstances to expect the applicant to delay their application for this length of time); in either event, without compromising their ability to accommodate themselves adequately or meet their other essential living needs; and (b) They have no ability to borrow the required amount from family or friends; and (c) There is no basis for concluding that the applicant’s financial circumstances are likely to change within a reasonable period (12 months) (and

it would be reasonable in all the circumstances to expect the applicant to delay their application for this length of time); or In order to assess whether an applicant would be eligible for a fee waiver, the Home Office may do background checks to assess whether the applicant fits the criteria for a fee waiver. If an applicant qualifies for a fee waiver, their application form will be passed onto the Home Office Caseworking Team for consideration as per the usual requirements.

However, if the applicant does not qualify for a fee waiver, their application will be returned to the applicant and will be deemed invalid. When this is the case, the applicant will be required to pay a fee in order for their application to be considered.

In recent cases, applicants have made an application for a fee waiver which has been returned as invalid despite the applicant evidencing that they are unable to pay the required fee. In doing so, the Home Office are acting outside of their powers by failing to incorporate the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s policy to individual cases. Therefore, breaching their duty under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, leaving the Applicant with no option but to challenge the decision by way of judicial review.

About the AuthorKrishma Bathia

Krishma Bathia joined Duncan Lewis as an Immigration Caseworker in November 2013. She is currently an accredited Level 2 Caseworker and Trainee Solicitor within the Public Law department.

Modi's radical pledges and performance Prime Minister Narendra Modi completes 2 years on 26th May. Of course, he has been elected for 5 years and he has at least 3 years to go to fulfil his aspirations and projections. In that whirlwind election campaign of 2013/14, Modi made several important commitments. Which politician can fulfil all the commitments made during an election campaign?

Almost all his commitments, projections, expectations are well within his reach or on their way to become a reality except one – to retrieve the billions siphoned abroad through black money is just not possible. Ask the SFO, a very powerful and well-funded British set-up.

The radical pledges are in a way haunting PM Modi, more so they are an opportunity for his adversaries and detractors to continuously challenge him and harass him. Financial Times wrote a big piece on 16th May (page 8) titled “Modi struggles to realise Indian dreams”.

Victor Mallet, the FT man writes from Varanasi that “Resistance from bureaucrats, elections and a tax law have held back the PM's ambitions.”

I take a strong objection to “resistance from bureaucrats”. It is always a privilege of journalists to attack the bureaucrats.

But the Indian civil service is doing a sterling job and I would say by and large their efficiency, integrity and performance have enabled India to have a working democracy along with the rapid development of the country. FT quotes some entrepreneurs who unhesitantly say, “Definitely his (PM's) vision is perfectly okay.”

An unnamed retired banker from

Varanasi is quoted, “Modi's a realist, but he hasn't achieved anything yet.”

Foreign correspondents very seldom make a fair assessment. Perhaps, there may be a reason for it.

Let me quote 3 complete paragraphs from FT. “On Mr Modi's watch, India has accelerated road-building, invested in the ageing rail network, launched an ambitious solar power plan, opened bank accounts for more than 200m Indians without them, and increased the foreign investment limits for sectors ranging from insurance to defence manufacturing.

“But it has failed to repeal the previous government's retroactive tax law, which has targeted Vodafone and Cairn Energy among others and sapped investor confidence. Nor has it so far been able to break the grip of the Congress party on the upper house of parliament to enact a long-awaited goods and services tax that would benefit business and the economy by turning India into a single market.

“For Harsh Pati Singhania, director of JK Organisation, a family-controlled industrial conglomerate centred on Kanpur, the Modi government is on the right course but needs to focus on implementing its plans. 'India,' he says, 'for any government or administration is not so easy to govern'.”

Need I say more? I myself is very optimistic of India's future. Even if half of Modi's pledges are realised, it will be more than what has been achieved in the past 70 years of independence and 180 years of colonial rule.

Man who pushed stranger in front of train sent to mental health unit

A man who pushed a complete stranger in front of a train at Kentish Town station will be detained at a secure mental health unit indefinitely after he pushed a stranger in front of a train.

Devindra Ferguson, 29, attacked Kamlesh Ramji as he waited on a platform at Kentish Town station in December last year. Mr Ramji suffered horrendous injuries and was in a coma for almost a month but miraculously survived. He has since recovered.

Ferguson admitted attempted murder, and was indefinitely detained at a sentencing hearing at Blackfriars Crown Court last week.

PERSONAL LIVE IN CARER REQUIRED Personal live in carer required on a 24 hour basis to provide care and support for an elderly Gujarati lady. The carer must be able to speak Gujarati.

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As well as the care, domestic duties will need to be undertaken, like cleaning, changing bedding, ironing clothes, etc.

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14 COMMUNITY

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Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Punjab National Bank celebrates 10 years of being in the UK Punjab National Bank (International) Limited, celebrated its tenth anniversary of incorporation and ninth anniversary of operations in the UK at the iconic Chelsea Old Town Hall, Central London. The Bank started its operation on 10th May 2007 and is currently serving over 65000 customers across seven branches in UK. A key part of the celebration was mesmerising musical performance by the Indian Classical Maestros Pt. Partho Sarothy on the ‘Sarod’ accompanied by Pt. Rajkumar Misra on the ‘Tabla’.

The event was graced by esteemed customers of the bank, members of the Association of Indian Bank’s in UK, Staff members and their families.

Ms Usha Ananthasubramanian, Managing Director & CEO of the Parent Bank in India and Chairperson of PNBIL extended her heartiest congratulations, via a video message, to all for being a part of the PNBIL Group and unwaveringly contributing in its growth. She further thanked the London team, for shaping their organisation into an embodiment of good service, proficiency, and heritage which the bank will continue to carry forward, partnering in the growth of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director & CEO, Mr Antanu Das thanked the esteemed

explained that the bank already has a range of products such as International Debit Cards, Retail and Corporate internet banking, attractive interest rates, Small Business Accounts and NRI Account Services, and offers free remittance for its customers to any Punjab National Bank branch in India.

Addressing the staff and their families, present at the celebration, he highlighted that at Punjab National Bank Joginder Sanger, Malcolm Mccaig, Dhimant Trivedi and Virendra Sharma MP International Limited, it has been a family like envimented “In UK, we have set guests for joining the ronment for the staff memout to be a trusted name Foundation Day celebrabers who get ample opporamongst the South Asian tion of PNBIL. He tunities to enhance their community and have expressed his excitement banking knowledge and grown progressively as a on taking charge of PNBIL skills. He thanked all the challenger bank. In the in London, the financial staff present for their hard coming years, we hope to hub of the World in a periwork and good performod of considerance. able challenge Finally comfor all banks. menting upon the Speaking about support the Bank the great opporhas received from tunities and chalits customers, lenges, Mr Das during its 10 years commented “The of growth Mr Das banks have been commented “We instrumental in are thankful to all contributing towards econom- Performers at the event: Pandit Rajkumar Misra on our service users and customers for ic development tabla and Pandit Partho Sarothy on Sarod their continued and service to the support and, patronage. further grow our customer society and the expectaWe are committed to base and services to become tions from the banks post ensuring that we continue the one of the leading financial crisis make the to be worthy of your supIndian Origin banks in the role of all those involved in port and trust.”

UK. The bank believes in the banking sector ever The event ended with a innovation and in good cusmore important. I am vote of thanks by Mr tomer service, and accordhopeful that PNBIL can Sadananda Nayak, Chief ingly keeps upgrading its play a key role in helping Operating Officer and products and services to meet these significant chalExecutive Director of the meet the requirement of its lenges."

Bank. customers.” He proudly Mr Das further com-

300 year text on Acharya Ramanuja released at British Parliament The 999th birth anniversary of Acharya Ramanuja was observed in the House of Commons by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence.

Hosted by Bob Blackman MP, the celebrations saw members of 20 different community, spiritual and cultural organisations attending the event. Marking the occasion, a 300 hundred year old Telugu text highlighting the life of Acharya Ramanuja transcribed by Ragasudha Vinjamuri was released in the presence all diginatries. The text was present on 70 palm leaf folios in British Library since 1942, some lightly readable and some damaged.

Informative and electrifying speeches by eminent speakers Executive Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Dr M. Nanda Kumara-, former MP of upper house of Indian Parliament and twice Sahitya Academy awardee Padma Bhushan Dr Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Secretary of National Council for Hindu Temples UK Shri Satish Sharma, Pandit Madhava Turumella, and Minister for Coordination from High Commission of India- Mr A.S Rajan have given insights into Ramanuja’s contributions to the religious and social philosophy of India.

Dr Nanda Kumara, Satish Sharma, Sushil Rapatwar, Bob Blackman MP, Ragasudha Vinjamuri, Padma Bhushan Dr Yarlagadda, Pandit Madhava and Mr A.S. Rajan

Adding to this, Satish Sharma, also representing British Board of Hindu Scholars, highlighted that Ragasudha's years-long efforts in bringing out old texts to public awareness had demonstrated her perseverance and commitment to heritage and culture. Lord and Lady Dholakia who were present on the occasion have also expressed their appreciation for the work done.

Ragasudha gave an account of her 3 year journey spent on transcribing the text and filling up the missing content, during which she had extensively researched and held discussions with scholars and historians in

India to ascertain the author. One of the last folios contained author’s father’s name, scholar Illindala Venkatacharyulu leading to ascertaining the author as Illindala Paravastu Ramanujacharyulu who lived near Tirupathi area.

Annamacharya kirtana dedicated to Ramanuja Gatulanni khilamaina was sung by Sirisha Jammi. Sushil Rapatwar and Sakshi Vishwesh introduced the elite speakers to the audiences. Shri Ram Makloori from Jeeyar Ashram in Shamshabad, Hyderabad has concluded the event with a prayer in reverence to Ramanuja.

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Urban Meditations

Accessing Super consciousness

Jonty Crossick

writes about injecting spirituality into everyday life and living from the heart

We spend much of our time improving our material life. Yet, however successful our material life, it does not bring permanent happiness or peace.

The ancient Vedas, that vast store of ancient treasure of knowledge, teach us the difference between making changes to our material reality and our internal experience of life.

If we explore these Vedic ideas deeply we can unlock the secrets to enduring happiness.

We have physical bodies. We want to survive. Death is always a threat. We are, as humans, inherently vulnerable. Therefore, much of what we do is motivated by our desire to control the uncontrollable.

We fear death.

Therefore, we create a world in which we try to avert death.

Yet, however much technological progress we make, whether this “progress” helps us live healthier, longer and more materially luxurious lives, nothing we do changes the reality that we are all going to die.

Studies show that, once a person has secured a place to live and enough to eat, there is no correlation between happiness and wealth.

Yet we spend so much time in the pursuit of comfort that is well beyond the essential requirements of survival.

So how can we really change our reality? How can we use the wisdom of the five thousand year old Vedas to access this treasure of happiness in this turbulent world?

How can we alter our internal state irrespective of our material situation?

The Vedas explain that you and I are “not the body”. Our body is a temporary vehicle. When we jump into a car to go on a journey then we do

not become the car.

Therefore, our eternal soul, when she (the soul is feminine) takes a body, the soul does not become the body.

We are eternal souls not bodies. Our souls emit consciousness. It is our consciousness that pervades our bodies and fills it with life.

However, when this pure consciousness mixes with the material world, it becomes impure or “conditioned”.

Our soul, while not becoming the body, “identifies” with it.

This is the reason we suffer.

Each one of us is a unique soul, a unique living entity and yet we all get caught up in temporal designations such as “I am British” or “I am in India” or “I am a man” or “I am a woman”.

As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such change.

Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 2 Verse 13 All of these temporal identifications bring us suffering because we become ignorant of our real identity as eternal lovers of God. Our soul is situated in our heart and consciousness is emitted from here like rays of the sun from the sun. Each one of us is a part and parcel of God, a minute and infinitesimal particle of His Infinity.

When we reconnect with our source, when we become conscious of our true eternal identity then everything changes because we can truly understand this material world and not be overwhelmed by its contradictions and challenges.

The Vedas teach us how we can fill ourselves with infinite God-love consciousness. By doing so our actions can be propelled by a superconsciousness that changes our inner world and informs all of our actions.

In my next article, I will explore what the Vedas call the three modes of nature and how awareness of these can help evolve our consciousness.

If you have any questions please email me at jonty@soulventures.com

SP

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Amazing Grace - World faiths unite in harmony for universal peace

Sunday 8th May 2016 marked a landmark event in London that demonstrated the spirit of solidarity, the rich heritage of different cultures and what society wins when we are one.

On this day, at the historic Union Chapel in Islington, Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur UK (SRMD UK), organised a unique multi-faith concert, ‘Amazing Grace’, celebrating 50 glorious years of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai, a spiritual visionary and the founder of this Jain organisation.

Echoing His beliefs of universal love and peace, this event commemorated interfaith harmony through a magnificent display of performances and spiritually uplifting music.

A 600-strong audience comprising of faith leaders and members of nine of the world’s great faiths Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Sikhism, Islam, Zoroastrianism and Baha’i - all convened to celebrate unity in diversity.

Over 60 artists from across these faiths were brought together to host an astounding evening of inspirational music and poetry.

On this auspicious occasion, SRMD UK supported a charitable campaign, S.M.I.L.E., an initiative of Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care, raising funds for underprivileged children in India. A cheque for £50,000 on behalf of

SRMD UK was presented to S.M.I.L.E. on the night

by Mr CB Patel (Chief Editor, ABPL Group) and Ms Seema Menon (Director for Sales in Europe, Africa & Asia for Sony Pictures Networks).

The event was filmed live for Sony SAB TV, the official TV broadcast partner.

Mayur Mehta, President of SRMD UK commented, “We are delighted that all major 9 world faiths united in the spirit of togetherness and peace to celebrate Pujya Gurudevshri’s 50th year.

Each faith expressed their devotion in their unique manner with a beauty that was appreciated and rejoiced by the enthralled multi-faith audience.”

Special Guest speakers included Mr Navin Shah (London Assembly Member for Harrow & Brent), Deacon Reverend Jon Dal Din (Director of Westminster Interfaith) and Respected Samanaji Unnat Pragyaji (Jain Vishva Bharati).

Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur is a global movement with over 80 centres, that endeavours to enhance the spiritual growth of seekers and benefit society.

The Mission Statement is ‘Realise one’s True Self and serve others selflessly’.

The inspiration for the Mission, Shrimad Rajchandraji, was the spiritual guide for Mahatma Gandhi and greatly influenced his philosophy of non-violence. Aligned to this is the message of tolerance, peace and love.

Embarrassing Bodies surgeon sued after 'botching operation'

Cosmetic surgeon Shailesh Vadodaria

A student whose quest for "perfect" looks ended up with her nose "collapsing" is suing one of Britain's top plastic surgeons for tens of thousands of pounds.

Mijin Zahir, 27, took the decision to go under the knife in July 2010, telling leading cosmetic surgeon Shailesh Vadodaria - who

Student Mijin Zahir

has appeared on TV show Embarrassing Bodies - that she wanted him to make her nose "ideal", with "perfect symmetry."

But the student said she was horrified to find that the right side of her nose had "collapsed" due to the cartilage inside her nostril being weakened.

Jayden: Music with a Conscience

TLIGHT

15

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Sunetra Senior

Jayden is an emerging, recording artist whose unique RnBpop tracks carry a modish Desi twist. His striking singles ‘Sun Zara’ and ‘Breath Away’ were hits with the listening public, and eventually got him recognised by the BBC Asian Network: “I would send my songs to DJ Yasser - the guy in charge,” Jayden told us “and he really encouraged my style. He was the one to get me on to the BBC’s Introducing Artists platform.” But it is not the young musician’s particular sound that is the core reason for his gathering momentum. “My songs are very diverse,” he continued “and I don’t like to be pigeon-holed, but that is mainly because I write to communicate a message. It’s not necessarily the melody, but the song-writing that matters. The concept creates the mood. If the lyrics aren’t working out, and the listeners aren’t able to empathise, there’s no point continuing to develop the track. It means my music can be danced to in clubs, be tenderer and more romantic and even used for social awareness.” Indeed, Jayden’s latest release – a cover of Jay Sean’s ‘Down’ – is a loving tribute to a female friend who suffered at the hands of domestic violence. *** “My friend was in a relationship that went sour, and because she couldn't take it any more, sadly ended her own life. I think it got as far as it did because she couldn’t talk about it. There is this standardised attitude, especially in the Asian community, of men being entitled to boss around women, and that really needs to be challenged. She also didn't have the support of the justice system. Steps are being taken to see what more the police could have and should have done to help her and vulnerable people like her.” In tune with his own beliefs and sense of self then, Jayden’s warmth and depth as a person resonates meaningfully with others; to the point, in fact, where he can inspire moralistic action.

Tell us more about your cover of Jay Sean’s ‘Down’, and how you translated to capture your friend’s story?

I felt the abusive relationship she was trapped in got as far as it did because she couldn’t openly talk about it. She already had low selfesteem, and was putting the guy on a pedestal. Not being able to speak up about it either meant she had to find a way to cope; to believe he was worth all this pain. She was controlled by him until the end. What she needed was support and understanding. I sang the tribute as if I was there comforting her. The original Jay Sean track is a very pop heavy; when I sang the lyrics there was complete inversion of emotion. I was thinking about giving my friend a hand; addressing her where she is now among the stars. It was experimenting with words, and infusing the original song with my own sentimental poetry. I released it for free to raise awareness. I’m not making a profit. I want mental health charities, for example, to be able to use it as part of their campaigns.

Have you always been interested in music?

Yes. I’ve always enjoyed playing the keyboard and harmonium, and would always scribble down poetry.

Over time, I started singing too. But my passion isn’t just to be a songwriter; it’s to be an artist. That’s about relaying a deeper concept.

And your lyrics can be so simple with that. It doesn’t need to be complicated. That can actually confuse the thought you’re trying to relay.

Is there a special moment of inspiration you can recall?

I have been composing music for about 5 years now, and there is a

my passion isn’t just to be a songwriter; it’s to be an artist, and that's about communicating a meaningful message

moment with one of my earlier singles – ‘Sun Zara’- that I can recall.

There’s a place where I live in the Midlands, where you can go to see the stars and there’s no cloud coverage. I remember I was hanging out with my friends and the melody just came to me. I recorded it on my phone and a week after I sent it to my producer where after adding the appropriate lyrics, it got signed to TSeries.

Have you faced many obstacles in your musical career?

In the music industry as whole, there is a bias towards promoting what the public find familiar and already established musicians. But really, they don’t need that excess of promotion. It’s the little guys starting out who really need it more. You have to pay for your own PR etc. and that doesn’t make sense.

Name some creative influences of yours?

Bollywood, definitely: singers such as Arijit Singh. I also enjoy languages. For example, I’m fluent in Guajarati, English and Mandarin.

Linguistic skills help engage with lyrics and words at a different level.

Western influences include Jay Sean and Ne-Yo, and finally I have to give a shout out to my incredibly talented producers, Fire Tiger and Shivam.

Are you working on an album right now?

Yes, but we are still in the early stages. There are 2 and half brand new tracks already.

Name three things you need handy in the Recording Studio?

Masala Chai, my notepad and pen, and a very good pair of headphones!

Finally, do you have a good piece of industry advice for others starting out?

Don’t rush! Quality is not worth sacrificing for fame. Wait for the right offer/label to come along for you. I always make music for myself first, in that I don’t sing to accumulate fans. I want people to be a fan of my songs, not me as a personality. Or else I’d be Kim Kardashian! Chasing celebrity results in pressure you don’t need and your music suffers.

W www.jaydenmusic.co.uk @Jaydenartistuk

UK

TOO MUCH EXAGGERATION; EGG ON FACE

16

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

EU REFERENDUM

With five weeks to go to Britain's referendum on its EU membership, as the debate deepens and complicates, so do the possibilities for a split in the Conservative party.

The latest figures revealed by Financial Times shows that campaign for UK to remain in EU, is supported by 46% of voters while those seeking to leave are on 43%. The ORB poll has predicted 55% now support the Remain camp, an increase of 4 points since their previous poll in April. 40% vote Leave, a 3 point decrease. Both the camps have argued many sides of the 'Remain' and 'Leave' campaign.

Prime Minister David Cameron's plea for his party not to tear itself apart during the EU Referendum campaign is looking increasingly hopeless, as the bitter exchanges between senior Tory figures reach a new level.

Ian Duncan Smith, the pr-Brexit former cabinet minister excalated his long standing feud with Chancellor George Osborne by claiming that the Treasury was the worst thing that could have happened to Britain.

As the FT reported, Michael Gove, the justice secretary and co-convener of Vote Leave said Britain's influence has been left 'diminished' by the EU Reform deal struck by Cameron after months of laborious diplomacy.

The Vote Leave campaign has accused David Cameron of being “knee deep in a conspiracy” to keep Britain in the EU, as letters emerged indicating the Prime Minister had allegedly discussed the role big business could play in the Remain campaign before he had even completed his renegotiation deal with European leaders. In an alleged letter (that was reportedly seen

by Daily Mail) to Mr Cameron from Serco chief executive Rupert Soames, sent 11 days before the renegotiation deal was completed, and the EU referendum formally announced, the business leader refers to talks held with the Prime Minister earlier in the year.

The Independent pointed out, following up on the meeting, he planned to contact FTSE 500 companies to urge them to mention the risks of Brexit in their annual reports.

At the time of the meeting and the letter, dated 8 February, Mr Cameron’s official position was that he could still campaign for a Leave vote if his renegotiation failed to secure the changes he wanted.

He told the House of Commons on February 3: “I am not arguing – and I will never argue – that Britain couldn’t survive outside the European Union…If we can’t secure these changes, I rule nothing out.”

Meanwhile the attacks are becoming more heated in the Remain campaign too. Sir John Major, the former Prime Minister

accused leading Brexiteers of morphing into Ukip and playing their 'trump card' of immigration.

With the narrowing gap in the polls, the stakes are getting higher. The issue is the Prime Minister won his 2015 General Election- promising a chance of EU Referendum to his voters- which is of course proving to be a heavy burden on him now.

He is trying to inject passion into the Remain case, by arguing that Brexit would put 'peace and stability' at stake. Boris Johnson representing the Leave campaign has mocked the Prime Minister's warnings as unnecessary hyperbole.

The reality is in this whole mud-slinging match, time is running out for the Leave campaign to make a legitimate case for Brexit over the Remain campaignwith a clearer and simpler message in support of their own case.

History repeats itself?

The greatest divide in Tory party was over the 19th century Corn Laws. The rift was big enough to keep the party out of majority for 28 years and was caused by the repeal of a system of price protection that had been beneficial to landowning Conservative voters.

The FT reported, in the 19th century, Sir Robert Peel, a liberal Conservative, concluded that reducing the price of bread was more important than his party’s interest. This invoked the fury of the parliamentary party, led by the charismatic Benjamin Disraeli and fine tuned by Lord George Bentinck.

Keeping the Corn Laws had been a key platform of the party’s electoral success in 1841, so goimg back on the promises was seen as dishonourable and almost treachery. Ultimately, the law was only changed with opposition votes and the leading “Peelites”, such as William Ewart Gladstone, went off to join the Liberal party.

In 1906 a similar divide over trade led to a disastrous election result. A highly intelligent but distant leader, Arthur Balfour, could not hold his party together against a charismatic populist. Joseph Chamberlain had proposed Imperial Preference — a

Yesterday’s friends, today’s ???

system with many similarities to the EU customs union but with different participants.

Chamberlain led a movement that lobbied aggressively for this scheme, to the distress of other leading Conservatives in a party which by now was primarily free trading. Balfour sat on the fence but found the position increasingly uncomfortable. Although the Tories were only out of sole majority office for 16 years, it was a period that included the first world war and the utter division and ultimate collapse of the Liberal party.

National identity in crisis

When historians get sucked into a political controversy, it is often a sign that the country is undergoing a major identity crisis. In an article by Gideon Rachman, in FT he has widely discussed the affect of politics on historical inferences.

In an academic argument in Germany in 1960, the question whether the country had been responsible for the first world war led to a fercious public debate.

Disputes between historians in Britain have not tended to be so obviously political. Generations of undergraduates have enjoyed or been very passive through arguments about standard of living in the industrial revolution.

Such arguments have of course plucked Marxist historian interests- but have hardly affected daily politics. Perhaps a sign that British is much less sure of its national identity as the historical professionals have got involved in a heated argument about Britain's relationship with the rest of Europe.

Historians for Britain argue, the British Parliament embodies principles of political conduct that have their roots in the 13th century.

The Europhile historians hap-

pily make holes in this narrative. They claim parliamentary sovereignty was not to be seen in Britain till the 17th century. Universal suffrage was only established in 1928- after many European countries.

Speaking about moderation, historians for Britain argue that British political temper is much milder than mainland Europe. But at the same time, historians have challenged that through Britain's history of aggressive imperialismincluding expropriation, slavery, massacres, opression etc. And the arguments continue.

India to benefit?

According to a report by the SBI's Economic Research Department, Brexit may actually strengthen India's position as a truncated EU may have to rework its negotia-

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AsianVoiceNews

tion strategy in order to gain market access.

"This referendum will have geopolitical implications and will affect the relation of the rest of the world with Europe. But, our take is that though such an exit brings up a lot of uncertainty within Europe, it definitely opens up opportunities for India," the SBI report said.

The Economic Times reported, from an India point of view, it is also necessary to appreciate that in the event of Brexit, it is unlikely that UK financial market and its financial expertise will evaporate overnight.

According to SBI, there is one visible fallout of this referendum- it does put a question mark on the future of Indo-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Elephant in the room

The Sunday Times has very clearly pointed out that the decision makers in the EU Referendum are the people or Britain. Technicrats, banks, FTSE listed companies can weigh the pros and cons as much as they wantthe decision ultimately lies in the hands of the people of Britain.

The Vote exit group have claimed that Migration to Britain from other countries in the EU over the past years have doubled the official figures. Fraser Nelson in the Daily Telegraph wrote, Britain is not really with immigration in itself- but with the

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Government's failure to respond to that immigration...And the biggest single problem is political denial.

While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been accused of trying to bully British voters into staying within the EU, Mark Carney, Governor of Bank of England, waded into the Brexit debate warning that a vote to leave the EU could cause a recession in Britain. The Vote Leave camp retaliated over a stinging attack against ITV by some activists, as they were unhappy that Nigel Farage was invited to a debate rather than one of its own campaign members.

Norway enjoys membership of the EEA. And is treated as a full member of the single market. UK could possibly trade with EU as much as the world does, in accordance with the rules of WTO, though UK is far more dependant on its trade with the EU than the US, partly because of proximity, partly because of the history. While Boris Johnson has reached a new low, by comapring EU to Adolf Hitler, he has received ample backing from Brexit camp, while PM Cameron has warned that Isil will be happy with Brexit, as they may find it easy to target UK. Economically speaking, London is not Zurich, just as Toronto can't be the financial capital of the US. Eurozone would do whatever it could to move eurodominated transactions away from the UK. The best of both worlds is a delusion.

RBS pays £10m in damages over alleged mis-sold swap The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has paid out around £10 million to Westgate Healthcare for an alleged mis-selling of an interest rate swap.Westgate Healthcare (a care homes provider), which owns eight homes, wanted to expand its business so it took out a loan with RBS and was then charged high fees after the bank attached interest rate-hedging products.In 2008 the bank added 20year swaps to loans totalling £18m.

By August 2014, the company had paid swap fees of about £6.5m to RBS and was locked in until 2028.Westgate sued RBS, claiming damages of over £30m. The bank recently settled the litigation out of court. It is understood to have paid

roughly £10m to settle the claim but admitted no liability.

The complaint took three years to reach settlement, and the bank would not admit liability. “It has been a long and expensive fight to put things right, as RBS … has never

admitted any fault,” said Richard Langley from Bircham Dyson Bell who represented Westgate

Healthcare.

With revenues of around £15 million, Westgate Healthcare was seen as sophisticated and therefore not eligible for the compensation scheme set up by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2012. The FCA reviewed products sold by 9 banks to 30,000 firms, however 10,000 were excluded due to being sophisticated.This is not the only legal case against RBS concerning the mis-selling of interest rate swaps. It has been said that it is facing over 40 cases of a similar nature, however the bank has declined to comment.

Push Patel, who is the CEO of the Westgate Healthcare, was not available to make any comments.

ASSEMBLY ELECTION SPECIAL Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

www.asian-voice.com

Exit polls predict BJP victory in Assam

AsianVoiceNews

Continued from page 1

ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu but a third said Jaya was set to retain power.

India Today-Axis My India exit poll has predicted 124140 seats to the DMKCongress alliance, 89-101 to the AIADMK, 0-3 to the BJP and 4-8 to others.

News Nation TV exit poll gave 95-99 seats in the 234-member Assembly to Amma's AIADMK and 114-118 to the DMKCongress alliance. The People Welfare Front alliance made up of six parties was set for 14 seats and the Bharatiya Janta Party, four. Nine seats could go to others.

However, the Cvoter exit poll, said the AIADMK would claim 139 seats, leaving the DMK-Congress with 78 and the BJP most unlikely to win any seat in Tamil Nadu. Polling on two seats was postponed by the Election Commission.

Average poll for all the exit polls show AIADMK winning just 103 of the all the seats, while DMK staked at 120. The BJP failed to make its presence in the state.

Overnight rains and the signs of more did interrupt voting hours in southern districts. Political parties including DMK and AIADMK sought the extension of polling hours but it was rejected by election officials who cited rains had subsided during the day. Palacode and Pennagaram constituen-

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

cies in Dharmapuri district recorded the highest turnout with a 88.5 and 87.6 per cent respectively.

Harbour and Villivakkam constituencies in Chennai recorded the lowest with 53 and 54 per cent respectively.

KERALA The Left has made quite the impression in Malluland. The Assembly elections was a considerably drab affair with just a 71.7 per cent voter turn out in comparison to 2011's 75.12 per cent. Stakes seem to be high for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the man realises it. India Today-Axis exit poll gave the Left Democratic Front 88 to 101 seats in the 140member Assembly, and 38-48 to Congress-led United Democratic Front.

It said the BJP could get 03 seats while 1-4 may go to others. India TV-C Voter predicted 74-82 seats to the LDF. An average of the exit polls show 79 seats for the Left, 57 for the UDF, and the BJP sour at just 3. The retreating fan following of the Congress seem to be the result of the surge of crime incidents including the recent rape and murder of a 27 year old Dalit woman in Ernakulam.

Chandy, as he awaits the final results on the 19th, said, “UDF is looking at a comfortable win. If we get a second mandate for our government, the credit for that will go to the unity within the UDF. At the

EXIT POLL PREDICTIONS

Party/ ABP Alliance Nielsen WEST BENGAL TMC 178 Left/Cong 110 BJP 1 Others 5

India Today India TV News X Axis C Voter Chanakya 233-253 38-51 1-5 2-5

153-171 112-128 2-6 1-5

210(+14) 70(+9) 14(+5) 0(+2)

81 33 10 2

79-93 26-33 6-10 1-4

53-51 37-45 14-22 6-14

90(+9) 27(+7) 9(+3) 0(+2)

TAMIL NADU DMK AIADMK BJP Others

-

124-140 89-101 0-3 4-8

74-82 135-143 0-1 13-21

140(+11) 90(+9)

KERALA LDF UDF BJP+ Others

-

88-101 38-48 0-3 1-4

74-82 54-62 0-4 0-4

75(+9) 57(+9) 8(+4) 0(+1)

15-21 8-12 0 0 0-2

10-18 5-13 1-9 0-2 0-4

-

ASSAM BJP+ Cong AIUDF Others

PUDUCHERRY Cong+DMK AINRC AIADMK BJP Others same time, if the UDF falters, as the chairman of the coalition front, I will be answerable.”

WEST BENGAL Exit polls are in favour of 'Didi' Mamata Banerjee,

0 -

with results predicting an explosive return of the All India Trinamool Congress.

India Today-Axis My India exit poll has claimed TMC will retain power in the region with a bigger majority than it had got in 2011.

While the TMC is expected to win a massive 233-253 of the 294 seater Assembly, opposition alliance of the Congress and the Left is likely to reduce to 38-51 seats. ABP Ananda predicted Trinamool is all set to gain 178 seats while the Left-Congress would stand at 110. The BJP would get one seat while others would bag 5 seats. Cvoter has put its stakes in 167 seats for Mamata, 75 for the Left, 45 for the Congress, 4 for the BJP and 3 for others.

Average seat sharing for TMC is 184 and for the Left-Congress alliance is 103.

ASSAM It is seemingly 'achche din' for the BJP as it will dethrone Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's government of 15 years, and get its maiden government in Assam if exit polls are to be believed. My India polls gave the saffron alliance 79-93 seats in the House of 126. Ruling Congress is estimated to get 26-33 while AIUDF is set to get 6-10 seats. Others can get to 1-4 seats. ABP Ananda poll gave the BJP alliance 81 seats, Congress 33, AIUDF 10 and others, 2.

Times Now C Voter has given the BJP 57 seats, Congress 33, AIUDF 18 and others 10. All five exit polls have predicted a sure shot victory for the BJP in Assam, grabbing more than 53 seats.

An average of all the polls shows 73 seats for the

17

BJP, 37 for the Congress, and 12 for the Assam United Democratic Front.

BJP's CM candidate Sarbananda Sonowal said there was no question of joining hands with the AIUDF. “We alone will get absolute majority and with our partners, we will get two-thirds seats.”

However, Tarun Gogoi remained confident of his victory. Addressing the media, he said, “I don't see why there will be antiincumbency. I trust the people of Assam, they know how much development has happened under us.”

PUDUCHERRY Union Territory Puducherry recorded a super voter turnout with 81.9 per cent. With Congress-DMK and the ruling All India NR Congress locking horns for the 30 member House, popularity stays with the DMK headed party. India TV CVoter polls has predicted a slightly lower margin with DMK estimated to win around 10-18 seats.

AINRC is projected to win 5-13 seats, AIADMK 1-9 seats, BJP 0-2 seats and others, 0-4 seats.

India Today-Axis predicted DMK-led alliance set to win 15-21 seats, AINRC to get 8-12 seats, the AIADMK 1-4 seats and others, 2 seats. An average of 16 seats has been recorded for the Congress-DMK alliance, 10 seats for AINRC and AIADMK, just 3.

Predictions give big boost to BJP Pollsters are unanimous that BJP and its allies are headed for a convincing victory, its maiden one, in Assam, with only one saying that the tally of NDA which includes AGP and BPF - might fall short of the majority mark. Should the actual result follow the same trajectory, it will give a big boost to BJP. Besides the satisfaction of wresting yet another state from Congress, a win in Assam will help the party's effort to regain the political momentum it lost because of humiliations in Delhi and Bihar, and will put it in the right shape for the battles ahead, including that for the biggest electoral prize, UP. More importantly, a saffron regime in Assam where Muslims account for one-third of the electorate will represent a success for the strategy of getting around the barrier of Muslim resistance by consolidating Hindu votes, something which will be of crucial importance for BJP. It will also be a boost for Amit Shah who over-

came the shocks inflicted

by Bihar and Delhi and supervised the game plan for Assam, scripting crucial moves like induction of Congress rebel Himanta Biswa Sarma and alliances with AGP and BPF. Coming when the government is nearing the midway point, it should also reassure the Modi regime which was already feeling encouraged by pre-

Coming when the government is nearing the midway point, it should also reassure the Modi regime which was already feeling encouraged by predictions of a normal monsoon.

dictions of a normal monsoon and the growing estimate that efforts to repair the economy might have begun to become evident.

Of course, the Modi-Shah duopoly, which had no challengers anyway, will get further strengthened.

While BJP, which as a bonus might at last open its account in Kerala, has reasons to rejoice, the results should deepen the growing worry in

Congress about the party's future. Pollsters expect it to lose Kerala and Assam, while its much-vaunted alliance with Left in Bengal may fail to match the hype it generated.

True, according to majority opinion among psepholigists, it could, along with DMK, pull off an upset win over the fancied J Jayalalitha in TN. However, a surprise victory in Chennai may not soothe the party's anxious nerves. It is a junior partner of the “scamtainted” DMK. While the stink of corruption around the Karunanidhi clan may appear to have been neutralised by Jayalalithaa's incumbency handicap, the alliance can create embarrassing moments for the party. The 2G cases involving DMK's first family are in advanced stages of trial and the possibility of Congress, already reeling under the AgustaWestland graft allegations, facing awkward moments cannot be ruled out.

Questions about Rahul Gandhi's leadership are

sure to grow and so will the pressure on him to formally take over the party's reins.

Unlike Jayalalithaa, Mamata's standing seems to be made of sterner stuff, and has helped her easily overwhelm the united challenge from Left and Congress. Her victory dwarfs the achievement Nitish Kumar clocked earlier this year, considering that she, unlike the Bihar CM, played solo. Besides the embarrassment of failing despite having supped with the Left, its hostility towards Mamata will mean Congress will have to do without her numbers in Parliament. Mamata, along with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Jayalalithaa, will form the club which wants to be equidistant from both BJP and Congress. The defeat in Bengal is a cause of concern for the Left too. It is expected to win in Kerala but that has more to do with the revolving-door pattern of politics in the state where it swaps assembly benches with Congress every fifth year.

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BUSINESS

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Partnerships built between Indian and UK life sciences companies at a leading conference AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

A major delegation of Indian life sciences companies spent several days in London and Leeds last week to explore investment and partnership opportunities. Nearly 20 Indian companies from the fields of regenerative medicine, biotechnology, oncology, medical technology and healthcare attended the bioConclave, the leading conference in Europe promoting closer links with India in the sector, on 10th May, and visited the University of Leeds on 11th May. At the London conference, nearly 150 delegates gathered to hear about opportunities with India.

The conference was hosted

by MedCity, which promotes the London-OxfordCambridge life sciences cluster globally, and supby University ported

College London and others.

Sakate Khaitan, Senior Partner at Khaitan Legal, said: “There is so much opportunity for the UK and India to be a partners of choice, and this investment is testament to the strong capabilities India is developing.”

In Leeds, companies met with several spinout companies from the University of Leeds and were hosted at a special reception by the Lord Mayor. Specifically, the delegates discussed medical tourism opportunities, the need for advanced data analytics requirements for pharma companies, and how some of the spinout companies could be assisted by Invest India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to break into the Indian mar-

EPG Managing Director and Director – UK for FICCI, Pratik Dattani, welcomes delegates to the Invest India Evening Reception at City Hall as part of the bioConclave

ket.

Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of consultancy EPG and UK Director of Indian trade promotion agency FICCI, said: “London is a worldleader in raising capital,

and Indian companies consider the UK as a springboard for expansion into Europe. It’s important forums such as these, which brings together organisations such as MedCity, One Nucleus,

IIT-Delhi and Invest India, are promoted because as we’ve already seen, they provide a great platform for investment deals to be signed.”

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Dr Virander Paul particularly highlighted the strong links between the two nations in the life sciences area following the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to London in November 2015.

One company attending the bioConclave, Global Gene Corp, an innovative R&D genomics company delivering precision medicine in India, announced a strategic collaboration with Imagen Biotech Ltd in Manchester, UK. Dr Saumya S. Jamuar, Visiting Scientist at Harvard Medical School & Chief Scientific Officer, Global Gene Corp, said,

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

"We are delighted to announce this strategic collaboration, which will deliver cutting edge personalised chemotherapy to cancer patients in India.

Research has indicated that up to 75% of chemotherapy drugs as a class are ineffective, and our combined proposition of personalised chemotherapy, in which optimal drugs are identified for each patient using specialised testing before treatment is commenced, could have a game changing impact."

Dr Anil Wali, Managing Director of IITDelhi’s biotech incubator FITT, said: “It is wonderful to be in London for the bioConclave 2016. Forums such as these bring a practical perspective to bringing SMEs, big pharma, innovators and investors together.”

Sir Suma Chakrabarti elected 6 PSU banks post £700 mn losses for second term of office as the President of EBRD Sir Suma Chakrabarti has been elected to serve as President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for a second four years term.

The UK Chancellor George Osborne welcoming the election said, “I am pleased to welcome the appointment of Sir Suma Chakrabarti to a second term of office as President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

“Building on his track record of success since 2012, Sir Suma is best placed to lead the institution for a further four years, capitalising on a positive and progressive vision for the EBRD that steps up its delivery, investment and impact.”

57 year old Chakrabarti was first elected as President of the EBRD in 2012, the first British President in the EBRD’s 25 year history.

Under his stewardship, since 2012 the EBRD has

acted flexibly to deliver targeted investment across Europe, against a backdrop of challenging economic and geo-political environments.

Supported by the track record of his first term of office, Sir Suma has shown he is the best person to lead the EBRD as it expands new markets and leverages private investment in Europe, including supporting small and medium enterprises to grow and expand.

The EBRD was founded

in 1991 with its headquarters in London. It has 67 shareholders and operates in over 30 countries across Europe, central Asia and the southern and eastern Mediterranean. Governors elect a President for the EBRD every four years by a majority vote following nominations for the Presidency.

Prior to this appointment, Sir Suma was Permanent Secretary of the British Ministry of Justice, and also headed the UK’s Department for International Development.

Suma was born in 1959 in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India, and then moved to the UK, while he was quite young.

He was educated at City of London School; New College, Oxford (BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics); and the University of Sussex (MA in Economics). He is married and has one daughter.

Bribery still prevalent in firms: Survey They say accidents will happen in the best regulated families. Black sheep are there in the most corruptfree organisations and they know how to escape the hawk's eye of the firm.

Small wonder, bribery is still a big issue despite best measures put in place to stamp our the menace.

A survey of 500 board directors in 12 countries by Eversheds, the law firm, found that three in four British company directors

have uncovered bribery or corruption in their organisations despite stringent steps taken to rid the practice.

The study found that almost two thirds of UK directors did not believe that their anti-bribery policies worked, even though they recognised that it was an important issue for the business.

Despite successful prosecutions in Britain under the Bribery Act and in the

US under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, most company directors believe that their companies could be doing more.

Only a third of respondents said that they understood their anti-bribery policy, while only 11% believed that they had done enough anti-bribery training, according to a report in The Times.

Well, ideally, problems like these should not occur, but accidents will happen.

Six public sector banks have reported fourth quarter losses of nearly £700 million, proving that bad loan problem still looms over the banks. Bank of Baroda reported the biggest loss with £323 million. With a profit of £9.7 million in the quarter, Union Bank of India was the only PSU bank to avoid a loss in the results announced last week.

Other lenders, including Central Bank, UCO Bank, Allahabad Bank and Dena Bank reported losses.

The higher thanexpected inflation numbers dashed hopes of any further rate cut by the RBI and the worse-thanexpected results dragged

down share prices even further.

BoB's results were a surprise as the management had made huge provisions in the third quarter of the last fiscal, stating that it has set aside the full amount required in respect of accounts identified by the RBI as non-performing assets. The bank said that its gross non-performing assets rose to 9.99 per cent to its total loans.

Kolkata-based UCO Bank reported a fourth loss of £171.5 million. The bank had reported a net profit of £20.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The bank's gross NPAs rose to 15.43 per cent in March from 10.98 per cent at the

AI Group to add 100 planes to fleet in 4 years Air India group has decided to add 100 planes to its current fleet of 132 in the next four years.

AI chairman Ashwani Lohani said, "By March 31, 2020, AI group will have 232 planes. While nine aircraft are from the prevous order, the rest will be new orders for leasing planes. We are going to grow aggressively and fight for leadership across segments."

The parent company has currently 41 wide-body Boeing aircraft including 747, 777 and 787. "We will induct 14 more wide-body aircraft. By the end of this year when we get some Dreamliners, we will add Delhi-Madrid and have direct connectivity between India and Spain. This will be a first for India," Lohani said. AI will take 40 more

Airbus A-320s on lease for the erstwhile Indian Airlines that works on domestic and nearby international routes. It currently has 66 Airbus family narrow-body planes.

AI's regional arm, Alliance Air, currently has 12 turboprops and five of them will return by the year-end, leaving it with seven planes. "We will order 35 more turboprops," said Lohani. "AI Express, which currently has 17 Boeing 737s, will get 18 more B-737s," the chairman said. He also added the airline will simultaneously start working on crew recruitment and finalising other logistics for the proposed fleet expansion.

end of the third quarter following £120.8 million of provisions, took a fresh hit of provisions amounting to £248.7 million in the fourth quarter. Union Bank was the only one to report a 22 per cent increase in net profit for the fourth quarter. Even though the bank reported an increase in NPA provisions and in the stock for bad loans, the bank's operating profits declined lower than expected.

Subrata Roy's wealth surprises SC

The Supreme Court maintained its stand in the Subrata Roy case, as it scanned details of the Sahara group chief's assets while hearing his plea for an extension of his interim bail to six months. Roy's counsel Kapil Sibal put forth a list of personal wealth and assets to assure the court that Roy would not run away from the court-fastened £3.6 billion financial liability, of which, he has already deposited £1.20 billion with market regulator Sebi. Sibal gave a sealed cover document to a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A R Dave and A K Sikri, listing Roy's personal wealth including immoveable assets in India and moveable assets abroad. The surprised bench, was about to reveal the total value, but Sibal stopped them saying, "Please keep it secret and in sealed cover.”

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Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

REAL ESTATEVOICE Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

The return of the cow

19

My teacher Mr Ali, at Copland High School, was a rare and great teacher. He kept things simple. There were a couple of things he taught me which still help me to date. One thing was that mathematics is simple, even at degree level and beyond. It is merely a combination of four actions: adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. No matter how high and advanced you go, it can always be reduced to these four elements.

The same can be said of property. It is simple, it returns in only two ways: capital growth and rental income. In more simple terms you make money by the property going up in value and it can give you money month on month.

It’s been a while since money could be made month on month in good locations in London. The last time I saw this was in around 2009 when the councils were paying over the odds to attract much needed accommodation. The more central the locations the higher the amounts. They did not discriminate on the property. E.g. A ‘rubbish’ ex- council property would attract the same rent as a new build penthouse apartment as long as it had the same number of rooms. Therefore Westminster were paying the highest rents, being one of the most expensive boroughs to live in.

At this point you could buy a two bedroom, long lease, low service charge, ex council property in Westbourne Grove for £275,000 and expect a rental of £28,600 p.a. A 10% plus yield on your investment and a W2 location.

This seems too good to be true; I assure you non-believers it was true, we were collecting the rents.

The same flat now is worth £550k, with seven years of W2 growth.

There has been a spurt in capital growth in recent years which means a reduction in yield. To give an example we purchased a property in Bryanstan Square, a beautiful property with high ceilings. It is a share of freehold flat in W1 which we bought for £1.3m, we spent around £100k refurbishing it. Now it has become a stunning two bedroom property overlooking the square, valued at £1.75m. However the rental achievable on this property is £850pw. This gives a yield of 2.5%.

As the price of the property goes up the yield will naturally decrease. This is a time of dampened values, given this event the yield of 2.5% is a little rich.

The market is uncertain currently. It is a little dangerous to purchase and commit to high level properties at the moment.

Anything around £500-£750k is safe and is still flying off the shelfs. You cannot get enough of them.

Most people in this market stagnate, meaning they do nothing. Actually the time to move and go aggressive is now, not when everyone is in the market to purchase.

The key to unlocking this market now is to focus again on yield.

Remember there are only two ways to earn from property, growth and yield there is no third. Now is the time to focus on the latter.

Does this mean you should purchase in the North of England,

Real Deal The

where the yields are touching double digits?

No, the majority of the money in property is made from capital growth, and capital growth is driven by location.

So why focus on yields?

Because the capital growth of property above certain values is uncertain in the current climate. the ideal scenario now is to buy in strong locations where there are sound growth factors. BUT to focus on the yield. Therefore you’re earning money on the property on a monthly basis, come rain or shine.

This is the smart way.

There is an angle to being able to achieve this in a legitimate and legal way.

We have been working on a deal which we believe will generate a 8.7% gross yield. This is both achievable and even exceed-able.

The property in its essence is simple, however the things around it can get complex. This is why you need professionals around you to get the deal done and to get the investment producing. It involves being able to coordinate several different areas of expertise, funding, planning, architecture and the legals all have to come together and be singing from the same hymn sheet in synchronicity.

The location of this property is in Homerton, which is a posh name for Hackney. I know the area well having lived there for a year whilst at University. It is only a short bus ride to the City of London, in close proximity to Liverpool Street and Angel which is where my university was located in Northampton Square.

In a nutshell the property will be purchased for £800K, £400k will be spent on the property. Following which it will be producing £102k per annum gross. When the property is completed it will be refinanced assuming a valuation of £1.2m conservatively releasing £780k back.

To keep things simple we assume 50% in cash will be needed to do the deal, this means £400k upfront and another £200k spread over a six month period. The development will take six months.

After this the property will be rented and will be refinanced which will mean you will be able to extract £180k out of the deal.

This means you should only have £420k in the deal.

This deal is a cash cow and is expected to generate an income of £28k after all costs. This has been calculated allowing for an 85% occupancy rate which is generous given the location, 5% on the mortgage interest and £15k pa for all costs as well as a 10% management fee.

When you’re getting a 6.7% return on the money invested, and you are in an area where there will be a strong uplift in price, there is not much more to think about.

Call now if this deal interests you!

Prime St. John’s Wood Property Purchase Price: £450,000 l l l l

A large bright one bedroom flat in a prime location Long lease Probate sale After minor works we expect the value of the property to be around £695k l Massive growth opportunity due to the prime location l Excellent buy and hold opportunity Call us now to reserve!!

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Specialists in

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27 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8HU

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Tips of the Week

l Decision making and speed are two characteristics which separate the investors who make money and those who do not. More people lose money by not making a decision than making the wrong decisions when investing in property. l While renovating a property, try to get multiple quotes. But always be mindful of not just the quotation but the time period as well, as the delay will be costing you in interest and losing you rental income.

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ASIANVOICE

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel

Dear Financial Voice Reader, I get a lot of questions from people asking me about raising finance for their entrepreneurial venture.

First things first. If you need finance, then you will need a business plan with forecast profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow. For most start-ups the choices are going to be simple. You will not need to consider asset based finance, sale and leaseback, supply cha in finance or mezzanine finance.

And you won’t be looking for private equity, venture capital or corporate venturing either as a startup.

So what are your options. The good news is – quite a few. Now the traditional startup way was to max out your credit cards – it’s expensive but quick and no questions asked and no need for a business plan. But the sums are limited of course. What if you want to do th ings a bit more properly?

I rarely meet people going to banks for a business loan for a startup. Most know it would be a personal loan anyway, and that is cheaper than credit cards, so worth considering. Again, as a personal loan it will be few questions asked, but again, a small sum for most people, maybe only £10-20k.

If you are pre-revenue your options are more limited than if you have sales. Your two main options after friends and family, are crowdfunding and angels.

Angel investors are much in demand and you will really need to blow their socks off. Check out London Business Angels, or Envestors for instance. Most do not get funding and if they do, it is from someone who has a special insight in the field. Get your hands on a shareholder agreement before taking money so everyone knows where they sta nd.

What about crowdfunding, where you go out to websites and the crowd funds your idea? The key thing here is it is potentially quicker and easier than an angel, but then again you may not get enough traction because the offering is not attractive enough – which is a great way to test it.

And in case you don’t want to go public with your idea, it may be a sign your idea has little protection from compe tition.

Check out http://www.ukcfa.org.uk/ which lists crowdfunding sites such as the outstanding AngelList, Crowdcube, Hubbub, Seedrs.

There are specialist sites for those looking at investments in emerging markets like https://www.emergingcrowd.com/ and others focussed on property such as https://www.crowdproperty.com/ and https://propertymoose.co.uk/ and https://www.propertycrowd.com/ You may also be looking at ethical investments – you have https://www.ethex.org.uk/ If a gaming startup is your thing then check out http://www.gambitious.com/ and for life sciences there is https://www.futsci.com/ Most are regulated by the FCA or at least signup to a code of ethical practice.

Some crowdfunders even focus on energy, biomass, solar, such as https://www.trillionfund.com/ There are a lot of platforms and ideas chasing money. So although the supply of money is easier, so is the demand – so it’s a little easier to access, but one thing which has not changed is that your business idea still needs to be outstanding.

At least with crowdfunding you can be pre-revenue and more likely to get capital.

Remittances to India drop by $1.5 bn Fresh data released by the World Bank shows that the global economic slowdown and turmoil has led to a decline in remittances. While India continues to be the topmost remittance-receiving country, a dip of around $1.5 billion has been observed.

Declining oil prices, slow US growth, sluggish economies in Europe and adverse currency exchange rates have contributed to

this decline, said Dilip Ratha, head of the World Bank unit responsible for studying global migration and remittances. “India gets remittances from all over the world but the bulk comes from the oilproducing Gulf countries, US and also Europe.

The effect of the oil glut and the resultant downswing of economies in the Gulf countries have had some delayed impact on remittances,” he said.

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Banks seek govt cover to reach deal with Mallya AsianVoiceNews

In a change of attitude, bankers are in talks of settling the loan default with Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines, on the condition that the government is willing to give cover. "Given that highprofile nature of the case, it is difficult if we opt for a settlement below the £900 million that we have been demanding. But if the government provides a protection, we can look at a deal," a senior executive at a large bank said. Another executive said without cover against the action from CAG or CBI, no banker would settle the loan even if it made sense.

Caught up in the Enforcement Directorate's moves to freeze Mallya's assets, is the Kingfisher Villa in Goa. The property has been attached by SBICAP Trustee Company Limited as part of recovery proceedings for loans given by an SBI-led consortium to the now defunct

Vijay Mallya

Kingfisher Airlines. The villa which stands at around £9 million, stretches from the main Candolim-Calangute road right up to the beach. It is mostly known for the lavish parties thrown with guests like Enrique Iglesias present.

The drinks baron, under pressure to repay loans, in a recent statement has said he has every intention of honouring

India, Mauritius seal deal to plug tax holes India and Mauritius have finally agreed to amend their 32-year old bilateral tax treaty in an attempt to check 'round-tripping' of funds and ensure that no entity gets away without paying taxes in either country.

The new agreement also provides an updated system for exchange of information, which will ensure the names of entities investing funds through the island nation are available to tax authorities. With no capital gains tax payable in either country, investors had been routing funds into India through Mauritius, which is the biggest source of inflows into the country.

The revised Double Tax Avoidance Agreement will also impact other treaties such as the one India has with Singapore, where the benefits are linked to Mauritius.

India has been in the works of the Mauritius treaty since 1996, but talks fell through in 2002. They only resumed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up the issue during his visit to the state last year. New international frameworks such as Base Erosion, and Profit Sharing were also included in the agreement to make sure multinationals did not get away without paying taxes across the globe.

commitments and that he has made a new settlement offer to main lender State Bank of India and was hopeful of making quick progress on the matter.

Directors who were present at a United Breweries Ltd board meeting Mallya chaired by video-conference, were positive that amendments would be made.

Kiran MazumdarShaw, an independent board member, said, "We expressed concerns over the various issues and Mallya has assured us that he is in serious negotiations with the banks to repay the loans as soon as possible. He has said he is willing to return to India to answer all questions but

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

he has to be assured of his safety and freedom.

Performance of the company has been extremely good and there is no corporate governance issue that has impacted it owing to Mallya."

Also, the ED has approached the Interpol to issue a red corner notice against Mallya, as the UK informed the government that they cannot comply with their request to deport him, but they are ready to consider his extradition. A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup, said, "The UK Government has informed that under the 1971 Immigration Act, the UK does not require an individual to hold a valid passport in order to remain in the UK if they have extant leave to remain as long as their passport was valid when leave to remain or enter the UK was conferred."

JSW joins race for Tata Steel UK assets JSW Steel is among those who have bid for Tata Steel's British operations. In a statement, the company said it was evaluating UK steel assets but did not name any specific target.

"As part of the company's growth strategy, the company evaluates several opportunities including the current opportunity of UK steel facilities. It is premature to add anything further at this stage."

Tata Steel has, meanwhile, said that seven expressions of interest for its British assets had advanced to the next stage of a sale process it began last month. While it has not named its bidders, Liberty House owned by business-

man Sanjeev Gupta, and a management buyout team called Excalibur, have confirmed submitting their expressions of interest.

JSW Group had a gross debt of around £4 billion as of April, and is one of India's most indebted conglomerates. Infrastructure bankers back home are not too jovial with the debt, and think the company is just testing waters with the Tata bid. One strong deal-breaker is the big pension liabilities of the Port Talbot steel mill in Wales. They said a bargain deal might help JSW turn around Tata's money-losing UK business given their record of making steel efficiently and profitably in India.

After Swamy jibe, Rajan says he has 'more to do' In a reply to Subramaniam Swamy's jibe, RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said he was enjoying every moment of the job but there was "more to do" despite calls from some sections of the ruling BJP against any extension for him. With his current three-year term ending this September, Rajan said, "There is a lot of fulfilment from making things actually happen for improving the environment. I have enjoyed every moment of the job."

BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy had suggested lately that Rajan should be removed from the post of the RBI chief, accusing him of being responsible for "unemployment and collapse" of

about him. He has hiked interest rates in the garb of controlling inflation that has damaged the country. The sooner he is sent back to Chicago, the better it would be."

He said the Governor's actions have "led to collapse of industry and rise of unemployment in the Subramanian Swamy economy. The sooner he is sent industrial activity. Talking back to Chicago, the better to media reporters outside it would." the Parliament, Swami Rajan, who had earlier said, "In my opinion, the also served as the Chief RBI Governor is not approEconomist of IMF and is priate for the country. I known as a key commentadon't want to speak much

tor on financial issues globally, is the on-leave Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

After assuming charge as the RBI Governor in September 2013, Rajan has gradually raised the shortterm lending rate from 7.25 per cent to 8 per cent and retained the high rates throughout 2014. He had earlier kept the rates high, citing inflationary concerns despite intense pressure from the Finance Ministry and the industry for softening them with a view to boosting growth. The Governor began the process of lowering the rates in January 2015 and since then it has come down by 1.50 per cent to 6.50 per cent.

CURRENCYVOICE

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Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX,

Brexit causing some volatility Currency Specialists.

David Cameron and Boris Johnson undertook a sequence of speeches and Q and A’s with regards to the Brexit causing some volatility.

During the speech Boris Johnson launched personal attacks on the Prime Ministers ability to re-negotiate terms in the EU accusing him of getting ‘nothing’ from his EU renegotiation and stating he cannot understand why Cameron isn’t campaigning to leave. In addition, Britain's trade deficit has widened in the first quarter of this year by the greatest amount since 2008, signaling the slowdown in world demand is weighing on the UK’s economy.

British economic growth slowed to a quarterly rate of 0.4 percent in the first three months of the year, down from a previous figure of 0.6 in the quarter before - however lower oil prices tend to reduce Britain's trade deficit as the UK is a net importer. Manufacturing production, industrial production and GDP estimates all missed forecasts, although improved on previous readings. Following the industrial production numbers the figures highlighted that the UK industry has fallen back into recession for the third time in eight years, with the main contributors being the fall in steel and iron production.

The office for national statistics stated that production dropped over

21

Foreign Exchange

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

37% in this sector compared to a year earlier. Manufacturing also contracted contributing to a slowdown in the overall UK economy, Chris Williamson chief economist at Markit stated, "The goods producing sector therefore looks to be on course to act as a drag on the economy again in the second quarter, contributing to a slowing in economic growth to near stagnation."

Mark Carney issued a hard-hitting analysis of the likely effect of Brexit in the final Super Thursday before the referendum on 23 June and the monetary policy committee (MPC) voted unanimously to maintain interest rates at 0.5 per cent for another month.

The statement triggered an unprecedented attack by former chancellor of the exchequer, Lord Lamont, who questioned Carney's judgement in wading in to the debate, warning he could be responsible for triggering an economic crisis.

The labor market conditions index registered a 0.9 decline for April, after a 2.1 fall the previous month. The fourth successive decline and disappointing trend seen for 2016 as a whole will raise fresh doubts whether the Federal Reserve will be in a position to raise interest rates in the short term.

Following the latest declines in

March and April, the index has consolidated its position below the zero level, and the index has only dipped twice below this level since the beginning of 2010, potentially indicating a significant peak in the market.

Last week’s headline employment data was weaker than expected, with ADP reporting private-sector job gains of 156,000 for April compared with a consensus of around 200,000; non-farm payrolls increased also below par at 160,000 as unemployment held at 5.0%.

The US jobs figure showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week to the highest level in more than a year.

Other data also showed import prices increased in April for a second straight month, suggesting that the disinflationary impulse from a strong dollar and lower oil prices, which has helped to hold inflation well below the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target, was fading.

Retail sales jumped in April by the most in a year, indicating consumer spending will help the US economy recover from an early-year slowdown.Healthier household finances, reflecting reduced borrowing and increased savings, mean consumers have the wherewithal to boost spending even as gasoline

prices rise and job growth moderates. The Euro group President met the Greek Finance Minister in Brussels yesterday. Greece stated that it is hopeful it will receive the next installment of its bailout loan from Eurozone nations after their talks. However the Euro group still wants Greece to create a privatisation fund and banking legislation before providing the cash. The discussion also concluded that the Euro Zone will offer Greece a form of debt relief from 2017 if it completes reforms by then.

Germany's trade surplus hit an all-time high in March as its exports surged, according data published by the federal statistics office. Exports grew 1.9% while imports fell 2.3%, pushing the surplus to €23.7bn from €20bn in February. Overall, there will be further concerns that Germany is gaining competitive advantage within the Euro area.

Further, the substantial trade surplus and weakness in imports will also make it even more difficult to push the Euro weaker against other key global currencies. Lastly, Europe focused on the continuing talks surrounding the Greek debt situation that is taking place in Brussels.

Officials are hoping to break a stalemate regarding the €86 billion bailout package with a deadline of May 23rd looming.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 17th May 2016 @ 1pm

GBP - INR = 96.80

USD - INR = 66.93 EUR - INR = 75.70 GBP - USD = 1.44 GBP - EUR = 1.27

EUR - USD = 4.15 GBP - AED = 5.31

GBP - CAD = 1.87

GBP - NZD = 2.12

GBP - AUD = 1.97

GBP - ZAR = 22.62

GBP - HUF = 402.52

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22

WORLD

China raising troop strength on India border: Pentagon Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon has issued a warning saying China has increased defence capabilities and deployed more troops along the Indian border. It also warned of increasing Chinese military presence including bases in various parts of the world, particularly Pakistan.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for East Asia Abraham M Denmark addressed reporters at a news conference after the Pentagon submitted its annual 2016 report to the US Congress on 'Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China'. "We have noticed an increase in capability and force posture by the Chinese military in areas close to the border with India," he said. He added that it is difficult to conclude on the real intention behind this. "It is difficult to say how much of this is driven by

Chinese military buildup near the Indian border.

internal considerations to maintain internal stability, and how much of it is an external consideration."

The Defence department also warned of China's increasing military presence including bases in various parts of the world, in particular Pakistan, with which it has a "long standing friendly relationship and similar strategic interests." The report also said, "China most likely will seek to establish additional naval logistics hubs in countries with which

it has a long standing friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan, and a precedent for hosting foreign militaries."

Talking in context to US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter's recent trip to India, Denmark said he had a positive and productive visit.

"We're going to continue to enhance our bilateral engagement with India, not in the China context, but because India is an increasingly important player by themselves. And we are going

to engage India because of its value."

The Pentagon in its report expressed its concerns about Chinese military buildup near the Indian border. "Tensions remain along disputed portions of the Sino- Indian border, where both sides patrol with armed forces. "After a five-day military standoff in September 2015 at Burtse in Northern Ladakh, China and India held a senior-level flag-officer meeting, agreed to maintain peace, and retreated to positions mutually acceptable to both sides," it said.

The Pentagon said tensions remain with India along their shared 4,057-km border over Arunachal Pradesh (which China asserts is part of Tibet and, therefore, of China), and over the Askai Chin region at the western end of the Tibetan Plateau, despite increases in China-India political and economic relations.

Dhaka hangs Islamist leader for rape, genocide DHAKA: Bangladesh has hanged Islamist party leader, Motiur Rahman Nizami, for genocide and other crimes committed during a 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Nizami who was head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was executed at the Dhaka Central jail just after midnight after the Supreme Court rejected his final plea against a death sentence imposed by a special tribunal for genocide, rape, and orchestrating the massacre of intellectuals during the war.

Five opposition politicians, including four Jamaat leaders, have been executed since late 2013 after being convicted by the war crimes tribunal set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010. International human

rights groups say the trials are supported by many Bangladeshis, the proof of which was given by hundreds of people who flooded Dhaka to cheer the execution. War veteran Akram Hossain said, "We have waited for this day for as long as 45 years.

Justice has finally been served." Three hundred supporters gathered at Dhaka's main mosque to offer prayers in his memory as Nizami was buried in his ancestral home.

Supporters of Nizami said charges against the leader were baseless and called for a nationwide strike. Jamaat group said their dead leader was a victim of political vendetta.

The US State Department said that while it supported justice being car-

US asks public schools to let transgender access to bathrooms The US administration has issued guidance directing public schools to let transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identity.

A joint letter from the Departments of Education and Justice has gone to schools with guidelines to ensure that “transgender students enjoy a supportive and non-discriminatory school environment”, the Obama administration said.

The federal government's guidance was met with praise from parents of transgender students.

“It's heartbreaking that these kids are losing their lives because they can't be

Barack Obama

accepted,” Hope Tyler, who has a transgender son at a Raleigh high school, said in reference to suicides among transgender people.

“Somebody has to speak for the kids.”

So far 12 states have decried Obama's edict.

ried out, it was vital that trials were free, fair and transparent, and conducted in accordance with international agreements. "We still believe that further improvements to the process could ensure these proceedings

meet domestic and international obligations," State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said in a statement. "Until these obligations can be consistently met, we have concerns about proceeding with executions."

Athens to host Morari Bapu's 9-day Ram Katha

ATHENS: Morari Bapu's Ram Kathas are well known across the globe for its way of celebrating the best of mankind. This year, Athens will host a 9-day Ram Katha in July, joining Jerusalem, Mount Kailash, the Vatican and Leicester cities. Morari Bapu specifically chose the place to show the rich and varied history between Ancient Greece and India. Bapu will read the teachings of all the great scholars and help place their teachings within both the Hindu Scriptures, and a modern context.

The nine day Katha will be held from Saturday 23rd July to Sunday 31st July, at the Intercontinental Athenaeum Hotel, on the doorstep of the Acropolis of Ancient Greece. A spokesperson said, "It brings us immense joy that

thousands of years later, Bapu will be sharing the same platform as these world renowned scholars to recite The Ramcharitmanas in this ancient and wonderful city, through his teachings of Satya, Prem and Karuna."

Guests are expected to fly over from all corners of the globe, and the preparations are made up to the scale. The entire programme is being organised by a team of young volunteers with the best experience. Food has been arranged for from the UK and India, as all the guests will be provided with traditional Indian lunch and dinner.

For further information on the Katha or to book your stay at any of the preferred hotels please visit www.moraribapu.org and follow the links to Athens Katha.

www.asian-voice.com

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Judge asks stalker 'to get over it’

Ex-boyfriend of the lead singer of indie band Noisettes, Pardeep Sall, 37, has been told by a judge, “Sometimes, you just have to accept a broken heart and get over it,” after he allegedly deluged Shingai Shoniwa with texts, phone calls, and social media messages after he refused to accept their relationship was over. After a trial, District Judge Susan Williams found Sall guilty of harassing and stalking Ms Shoniwa, and sentenced him to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, and ordering him to pay an £80 victim surcharge. Sall, pictured, will be subject to an indefinite restraining order.

Dangers for the Pharmacy Industry

Pharmacists across UK are providing a valuable services to patients and the NHS. The recent proposal by NHS which substantially reduces the rewards for pharmacies and several other matters have created serious consequences.

In a recent event with the MPs and members of the All Party Pharmacy Group, they have warned between 1000-3000 pharmacies could face closure as the government looks towards a 6% funding cut in the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The Department of Health will reduce pharmacy spending from the current £2.8bn to £2.63bn, part of overall £22bn savings across the health service by 2020. The government has given community pharmacies “time to prepare” with the cuts starting from October 2016.

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar have been approached by several pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies to highlight the consequences of the impending cuts and loss of services to the local communities.

If you have any news or concerns regarding this issue please contact Rovin George at rovin.george@abplgroup.com.

South London hit-and-run driver jailed

BMW driver, 27 year old Mohammed Islam, who hit a pedestrian in South London before speeding from the scene has been jailed.

The 59 year-old victim, Mohammed Omar Sufi, from the Streatham area, died in hospital from his injuries.

Islam, of Norwood, then changed the car’s number plates in an attempt to hide from the police, but the vehicle was traced to a Streatham car park. He later handed himself into a south London police station.

After pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision, Islam, pictured, was sentenced to three years and seven months prison at Inner London Crown Court. He was also disqualified from driving for four years and will have to sit an extended retest on completion of the ban.

Junior doctor selected as Labour candidate for Tooting

A junior accident and emergency doctor who provided cover during the recent NHS strikes against Jeremy Hunt’s new contracts has been chosen as Labour’s candidate for Tooting, after Sadiq Khan got chosen as the London Mayor.

Rosena AllinKhan, who is also deputy leader of Wandsworth council’s Labour group, has said she wants to make the byelection “a referendum on this Tory government’s failures – especially the NHS”.

The mother-of-two is a junior doctor, and was chosen on Saturday at a meeting of the Tooting constituency party, following interviews with Labour’s national executive council on Wednesday.

www.asian-voice.com

Delhi, Dhaka cement power ties with N-deal AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

NEW DELHI: India has concluded a nuclear agreement with Bangladesh in a sign that the bilateral neighbourhood relationship is becoming special.

The core of the new engagement is all 21st century - energy, connectivity, security.

“We are politically aligned, security sensitive and economic partners,” said a top source in India.

The nuclear agreement is a three-document package that has been negotiated between the MEA and the Bangladesh department of science and technology over the past few months.

But this is only a part of the bigger play the two countries are engaged in.

After PM Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina inaugurat-

ed a 100 MW power transmission line from Palatana to Bangladesh, India is now in the works to upgrade it to 500 MW. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who was on a visit to Dhaka lately, has promised to send diesel to Bangladesh from West Bengal.

India wishes to transport LPG and LNG to the north eastern states through Bangladesh. New Delhi has offered Dhaka a stake in this, letting them share LPG and LNG as per their needs, even as they allow transit of energy to Tripura.

India told the neighbour that it wants to generate power in the northeast and have it pass through Bangladesh, offering them an "offtake"

that allows them to take power for their own use from the transmission line.

Indian companies BHEL, Reliance, Shapoorji Pallonji, and Adani, have bid to build power plants in Bangladesh. The Indian nuclear deal will equip and train Bangladesh to import their first nuclear power plant from Russia.

Basically, once all these projects kick in, Bangladesh could be well on its way to becoming a middle-income country in a decade. The comfort factor for both countries is the fact that both land and maritime boundaries are now clearly demarcated.

In this case, certainly, better fences have made better neighbours.

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Indian-American leads Hillary campaign

WASHINGTON: Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign in slamming the economic policies of Donald Trump, and alleging that he poses threat to the economic future of women and families, was led by Indian-American Neera Tanden. Also president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Tanden said, "Make no mistake: Trump's divisive comments about women's health are a direct threat to our dignity and economic security."

Joined by Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Tanden addressed the media, trashing Trump.

"Trump is now trying to cover the bald spots in his economic plan but women can see for themselves and women can see through his comb over." They said that the trillions in tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires and corporations laid out in Trump's tax plan would be an enormous boon for the top one per cent of earners, made at the expense of working families, seniors and the health of the economy.

Tanden alleged that Trump's ideas are not the only risk his presidency would pose for the economic future of women and families around the country. The billionaire's plan would give USD 3 trillion over 10 years or more than 35 per cent of its tax breaks to millionaires, enough money to ensure Medicare and Social Security's solvency for the next 75 years.

Now a Buddhist monk killed in Bangladesh

DHAKA: An elderly Buddhist monk was found hacked to death in Bangladesh, the latest in the string of murders of religious minorities and secular activists in the Muslim-majority region. While no group has claimed responsibility yet, it has the hallmark of the previous murders conducted by Islamists. Jashim Udin, deputy police chief of Bandarban said, "Villagers found Bhante Maung Shue U Chak's body in a pool of blood inside the Buddhist temple this morning. He was hacked to death."

The 75 year old monk is appeared to have been attacked by at least four people at the Buddhist temple in Baishari, 350 km from southeast Dhaka. "We saw human footprints in the temple and found that four to five people entered the compound, Udin said. At least 15 people have been attacked and killed since 2015, prompting several Bangladeshis to seek asylum in the United States and Europe. While the Bangladesh government vouches it is working to stop the attacks, so far it has charged no one in any of the 15 murders.

There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent weeks especially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.

WORLD Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

In Brief

23

Obama honours IndianAmerican teacher

HOUSTON: An elementary teacher of Indian origin from Texas has been honoured by US President Barack Obama at the White House, for her excellent work in the field of education.

Revathi Balakrishnan was also named the 2016 'Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year'. The 53 year old who is based in Austin, has taught in the district's talented and gifted programmes for nine years. "I'm an Indian-American, so I think the Indian community is feeling a lot of pride and joy," she said. "I feel proud to represent those and I can convince a lot of younger generation Indian kids to turn to teaching for a career. So I feel I can actually have some impact on that." Balakrishnan will now represent Texas in the 'National Teacher of the Year' competition.

Pak manager molests Indian woman jobseeker in UAE

DUBAI: A Pakistani manager in the UAE has been accused of molesting a 19 year old Indian woman as per media reports. The 33 year old Pakistani administrative manager who owns a real estate company in Dubai, is accused of luring the Indian jobseeker, a housewife, to his flat where he claimed he wanted to train her on computer skills and molested her. The woman was said to be looking for a job when she was contacted by the man on the internet, identified with only his initials AN. The woman agreed to meet him for an interview at Al Rashidiya locality, where AN took her to a flat he claimed to be the Dubai International City-based company.

He took her into the bedroom where he molested her. Prosecutors accused AN of molesting the woman and said he took advantage of the fact that he and the woman were alone the flat.

Verdict will be given on May 26.

World's oldest person dies aged 116

NEW YORK: World's oldest living person, 116 year old Susannah Mushatt Jones, died last week in New York, passing on her title to Emma Morano-MArtinuzzi, a 116 year old from Italy the title, as per the Gerontology Research Group. Jones, born in Alabama in 1899, was the daughter of share croppers and granddaughter of slaves. After high school, she moved north in 1922, to New Jersey and then New York. The Guinness World Records and the Vandalia Senior Center accounts she worked as a housekeeper and childcare provider. Jones retired in 1965 and said the secret to her long life was lots of sleep and not giving into habits like smoking or drinking alcohol. The oldest verified person was Jeanne Calment of France, who dies in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.

29 militants killed in Afghanistan

KABUL: At least 29 militants were killed during military operations conducted by Afghan security forces in 17, of the country's 34 provinces, the defence ministry said. About 40 militants were wounded and five suspected militants detained in the raids, a media report said.

"The Afghan army launched the raids in close coordination with police and personnel of national intelligence agency. The joint forces also seized weapons and ammunition besides defusing several landmines," the ministry said.

It also added the security forces also confiscated two vehicles and eight motorbikes.

24

INDIA

www.asian-voice.com

Heavy turnout in Kerala, TN & Puducherry Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

CHENNAI: Kerala recorded a voting of 71.7 per cent while in Tamil Nadu the percentage was 69.19 per cent and in Puducherry it was over 80 per cent. Election officials in Kerala said 71.7 per cent is the tentative and it was likely to go up to 75 per cent after finalisation of voter turnout. Around 26 million people were eligible to vote for the 140-member Assembly.

The Congress-led ruling United Democratic Front and the Communist Party of IndiaMarxist headed opposition Left Democratic Front are in a

neck and neck electoral fight in the state where the BJP is striving hard to make a maiden entry into the assembly.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition leader and 93-year-old Communist Party of India-Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan, CPI-M politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, 83-year-old Kerala Congress (M) supremo and former Finance Minister K M Mani were among the 1,203 candidates in the electoral arena.

Tamil Nadu: Barring a few minor incidents, polling went

off peacefully in Tamil Nadu, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said, adding one person was arrested for trying to distribute money. Many constituencies recorded over 80 per cent polling which include Kulithalai in Karur district with 87.55 per cent, Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district 87.61 per cent and Edappadi in Salem district 85.7 per cent, Lakhoni said.

Lakhoni, however, said that there may be some changes in the final tally on the overall turnout since the final figure is being collated in a few

constituencies which include Kolathur and Villivakkam in Chennai. He said in urban regions like Chennai, the turnout was comparatively lower and hence the overall average was low.

Puducherry: The UT comprises Puducherry and its enclaves Yanam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe and Karaikal. There are 941,000 voters of whom 494,000 lakh women. The EC officials said Puducherry registered 72.21 per cent polling, Karaikal 65.49 per cent, Mahe 64.83 per cent and Yanam 77.63%.

Punjabi man throws hat in PM Modi's comments TN poll ring create controversy in Kerala THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has compared the pollbound Kerala to the least developed African nation of Somalia and created a major controversy while addressing an election rally in Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has written a strongly worded letter to Modi, alleging that he had insulted the state and demanded that he show some "political decency" by withdrawing his remarks.

Chandy said that the PM had hurt the feeling of the people.

"I request you to show some political decency by withdrawing your baseless statements against Kerala," Chandy wrote in the five-page letter. "You likened Kerala to Somalia without checking the veracity of the reports, without using the machinery under you." It is baseless to say that successive Kerala govern-

Narendra Modi

ments have "sidelined" the issues of political violence and murders, he further added.

"This is unbecoming of a prime minister and has created a great deal of agony and protest."

"With great deal of regret, let me point out that they (previous Prime Ministers) never attempted anything that brought disrepute to the office of the Prime Minister like you have done," he further said in the letter, a copy of which was released to the media.

Over the weekend, the Prime Minister had been campaigning in Kerala - where the BJP is heading a Third Front.

Cong, SAD 'ruined' Punjab: Kejriwal NEW DELHI: Just ahead of the Punjab assembly polls, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal launched an attack on the state's Congress and SAD, claiming both the parties have "ruined" every household in the state through "corruption" and "drug menace." Kejriwal implied the rampant drug issue is going to be a major poll plank and claimed his party is "going to win the elections" in the state due in 2017.

"Both Congress and SAD have through successive governments installed in the state after Independence have ruined each and every household there," Kejriwal said.

Addressing a gathering at the launch of Punjabi video song 'Ek Nasha: Nashe ke Khilaf' sung by Kumar Vishwas, Kejriwal said, "You see poets like Vishwas tell things through clues. And, you see what clues he has left in the video. But, the enthusiasm you people have shown here,we are finding the same enthusiasm in Punjab, and AAP will win the elections there and for the next government... The issue of eliminating drug menace will be a daunting task but it won't be impossible." He also alleged

Arvind Kejriwal

that the Badal government has "slapped false cases" against people who got involved in drug business.

"We will also make sure that such false cases are withdrawn."

Meanwhile, the song, that directly targets Badals, accusing them of selling sand, roads, canal and field, and trading in heroine, did not go down well with the Badals for obvious reasons. SAD leaders have now threatened to sue Vishwas if the word Jat is not removed from it. "AAP has released this song for political gains. It has maligned the image of Jats who have been shown as drug addicts. We will not tolerate this. If he did not delete this word from the song we will be forced to sue him in the court," said Akali Dal leader Santa Singh Umaidpuri.

CHENNAI: In a rare like free education.

Moreover, I was instance, a 66 year old requested by retired IAS officer, AIMKMK chief native of Punjab, is Devanathan to fight fighting the May 16 the polls and I know Assembly polls in him, he is a good Tamil Nadu for the leader." lotus. Ujagar Singh, When IAS offifrom Khiali, is a candicials from other states date of the Akila Ujagar Singh mostly go back to Indiya Makkal Kalvi their native places after retireMunnetra Kazhagam, a BJP ment, what prompted him to ally, from the Sozhinganallur stay back? He says, “Tamil constituency. people are very kind, nice and A former IAS officer of large hearted, they have no Tamil Nadu cadre of 1977 jealousy and no chauvinism batch, he has held different like you find in some other positions in the state governplaces in our country. Also, my ment and had retired as decision to stay back is in fulSpecial Commissioner, filment of my promise to late Government Data Centre in Chief Minister (AIADMK 2010. While he belongs to the founder) M G Ramachandran, AIMKMK party, he is currenta great humanist who wanted ly contesting on the symbol of officials like me to stay back BJP. When asked why he post retirement,� he says, wants to try his hand in Tamil adding the idea was to continNadu politics, Singh said, "I ue to work for the welfare of was convinced about the welthe people. fare programmes of the party

Those who smoke, drink can't vote in SGPC polls NEW DELHI: Under the amended Sikh law, those who trim or shave beard and hair, smoke or drink alcohol, cannot cast vote in the elections for Sikh religious bodies.

President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 2016, which alters provision of the 91 year old law that regulated the administration of Gurdwaras in Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Earlier,the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925, said that any Sikh aged above 21 and registered as a voter was entitled to vote in the elections to the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee constituted to look after the overall administration and management of the religious shrines of the community.

The amended, new law, has made it clear that "no person shall be registered as an elector who trims or shaves his beard or 'keshas', smokes and takes alcoholic drinks."

The new Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on March 15, and passed the next day. The Lower House passed it on

April 25. During a debate in the Parliament, Singh had said the demand for not giving voting rights to Sahajdhari Sikhs, those who shave their beard or hair, was made by SGPC members and office bearers. The Sahajdhari Sikhs have no religious sanction as per the fundamental tenets of the religion are concerned. The Bill has proposed to remove the exception given to Sahajdharis in 1944 to vote in elections to select members of the Board and the Committees constituted under the Act. The development assumes significance as the law, which fulfils the long-pending demand of the Sikh community to bar Sahajdhari Sikhs from voting, comes ahead of Assembly elections due in Punjab next year.

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Kerala Wins 'Best Family Destination' 2016 Award

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has been yet again named the best family destination in the country at the Lonely Planet Magazine India Travel Awards 2016. Kerala Tourism Director U V Jose received the award at a function in Mumbai. Besides the award, the state was also nominated in the best destination for 'culture' and 'to relax' categories. Kerala Tourism had lately, also won the Ulysses Prize for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation for its contribution as a global leader to sustainable tourism, a release said.

Stalin can be CM only after me, says Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi has ruled out the possibility of his son and party treasurer M K Stalin becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu if the party comes to power. "Mr Stalin himself has not only made it clear that he is not interested in becoming the Chief Minister, but has also reiterated that DMK leader will be the Chief Minister," Karunanidhi said. He said his son can be the CM if "something happens to me." Karuna is contesting the state elections for a record 13th time, and a second consecutive time from his home constituency of Tiruvarur.

1,203 contenders for 140 seats in Kerala

NEW DELHI: A total of 1,203 contestants are competing for the 140 Assembly seats in Kerala, according to the Election Commission. As per their figures, the state has 2,61,06,422 registered voters, with the maximum candidates for Poonjar segment. While no political party is contesting for all the seats, the Bharatiya Janta Party has fielded the maximum, with 98 candidates, followed by Congress and Communist Party of India with 87 and 85 candidates respectively. Other parties in the line are Bahujan Samaj Party, Communist Party of India, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress-Mani, Nationalist Congress Party, Janata Dal-Secular, and Revolutionary Socialist Party. Besides them, there are 782 Independents, and others.

HC stays demolition of heritage buildings

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed an alleged demolition, acting on a petition to protect and preserve heritage buildings constructed under the rule of Maharaja of Patiala. Subhash Kapoor and eight other residents of Patiala moved the high court alleging the action of declaring the area commercial and residential was solely to collect funds before transferring it to the Punjab government to cover "deficit funds and financial difficulty faced by it."

Kirron Kher opposes Chandigarh Metro

CHANDIGARH: Local MP Kirron Kher has once again raised an eyebrow on the Chandigarh Metro project. Addressing the media, she said, "I don't think Chandigarh needs Metro link. It involves a huge budget. I don't want the city to be uprooted. However, it is my personal opinion and I don't want to go against my party's stand, though I will fight for it." Many UT bureaurcrats have agreed to her point that the "Metro is not a financially viable project and will put a huge financial burden on the exchequer."

Rs 5700,000 worth of gold coins found in plane toilet

AMRITSAR: Customs department recovered 246 gold coins valued at Rs 57,00,000 from the toilet of a Doha-Amritsar flight in Amritsar.

Customs Commissioner Capt Sanjay Gahlot said, "Two packets were found hidden inside the rear toilet of the flight that landed from Doha.

When the packets were opened, gold coins were found inside." A case has been registered under the Customs Act-1962 and officials have initiated a detailed probe, he said.

INDIA Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

My one year in Gujarat

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

I arrived in Ahmedabad just over a year ago as the first British Deputy High Commissioner to the Vibrant State of Gujarat.

The UK is the first country to open a diplomatic mission in the State. We did so because Gujarat is important to us. It is important politically. It is important economically. And, with over 600,000 people in the UK of Gujarati origin, it is important socially and culturally.

Gujaratis have been arriving in the UK since the 19th century. Since then, their contributions to politics, the economy, particularly in retail, culture and, of course, food, have been numerous and positive. It Geoff visited Gujudwara at S. G. Highway Ahmedaabad. has been a pleasure for me Met Punjabi community leaders and shared Punjab -UK to see at first hand in the relationship. past week the continued positive contributions being made by the Gujarati diaspora in London, Birmingham, Leicester and even in a small rural community in Somerset.

The UK government network in India is our biggest in any single country anywhere in the world – bigger than even the US or China. Again, this is only right given our historical ties, a common language and our shared values of democracy, respect for the rule of law, tolerance and Geoff meeting Gujarat Governor O. P. Kohli and discussed pluralism. During his visit about UK and Gujarat relations on cultural, educational, to the UK last November, political etc.

Prime Minister Modi described India and the UK as ‘an unbeatable combination’. During that visit, more than £9 billion in commercial deals were agreed. The UK is the biggest G20 investor in India and India is the 3rd largest investor in the UK. The recent opening of the new British Council cultural centre in Ahmedabad is a further example of the UK’s long term commitment to developing and enhancing its relationship with the people of Gujarat.

My first impressions of living in Gujarat have been universally positive. Atithi Devo Bhava is certainly

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more than just a slogan in Gujarat. I have travelled from Bhuj to Vapi, from Jamnagar to Himatnagar, and I have been welcomed everywhere with generous, genuine and gracious hospitality. And it has been such a pleasure to see the renowned Gujarati entrepreneurial spirit in action.

I am looking forward to spending the next three years seeing even more of Gujarat to develop even closer ties to the benefit of both our communities.

- Geoff Wain Deputy High Commissioner British Deputy High Commission, Ahmedabad

Venue: Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD

Tickets

£2.50 rson per pe

10am to 7pm

y per da

le availarb Tickets doo at the

All proceeds from ticket sales go to Shishukunj, the chosen charity for Anand Mela

“I caught her stealing water from our water tank”

HEALTH & WELLNESS EXPO Exhibiting some of the popular hospital groups, medical travel organisations and health services companies

Also exhibiting are well reputed India property developers invited

by ASSET INDIA LTD. an India property specialists based in London

For Stall Booking Call: 020 7749 4085

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INDIA

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Anand Mela brings property investment opportunities to the UK

Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice is set to roll the 'Anand Mela', a spectacular 2-day affair including the 'Assets India Property' show. Scheduled for 11th and 12th June, at the Byron Hall in Harrow Leisure centre from 10 am to 7 pm, the event will share details of properties and profitable investment opportunities that lurk in different cities of India.

Assets India Property Show 2016 From people looking forward to settle in India, to those interested in investing in properties, everybody leaves a winner from the show that is to be conducted in the Masefield suite on both days. Wellrenowned developers and companies including India Bulls, Nirmal Life Style, Ajmera Group, Green Shapes will mark their presence and present their properties.

14 featured stalls will exhibit all properties worth investing and property experts will be present to provide with sound advice related to venturing in the Indian real estate market.

The Assets Property Show will give a clear and detailed picture of investment opportunities available in various

cities of India, high returns, and the best slots to put your money.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'smart city' project and his revised property laws have opened new doors in the market. This steps have seen a surge in stakes for Indian properties. The Assets India Property Show simply looks forward to boost the rising number of financial speculation.

The 'Aarogya Mela' is organised solely with the healthcare needs of residents of the UK in mind.

With the involvement of well-known hospitals, areas of specialities like dental, heart, disc and other fields are covered under the segment. People interested can discuss with the health experts present, and once convinced, can even map our further treatment procedures.

A golden opportunity for businesses in the UK With different sectors under one roof, the Anand Mela also gives businesspeople the opportunity to have their stalls installed. From marketing your products to selling it, people who have a mere idea to sell, are welcome at the Anand Mela.

The main attraction of the fair is the food section.

From traditional Indian food like Gujarati, Punjabi, South Indian cuisines, to Indian street foods like Pani Puri, Dabeli, and Pav Bhaji, guests can make the most of the food they know the best. Entertainment section provides ras-garba, performances by dholplayers, dancers, a fashion show and other miscellaneous such programmes.

This year, Anand Mela has found support from the Shishukunj organisation. Passes will be available at £2-5- per person, and all the proceeds of the event will be forwarded to Shishukunj.

Entry is free for children under the age of 12.

For stall booking and further details, please contact our office at 020 7749 4080.

CM Anandiben on way out?

With the Assembly elections in the offing, the Bharatiya Janta Party is reportedly considering replacing Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

Sources have said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah have crafted a strategy to make sure the party retains its monopoly in the home state.

It is known that the party leadership is exploring different options to replace Anandiben, who will complete two years as the CM on May 22.

Sources in the party said “a big reshuffle in the government is expected” in the state, however, no details were shared. One of the main reasons to push the reshuffle is the protracted Patel agitation where the community sought quota in education and jobs.

Allegations of the “growing influence of her children in the government” is also one of the reasons for the beginning of her alleged downfall. Party insiders in Delhi said, “The decision may be taken after May 19, following the Assembly poll results and also an

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Non-stop AI flight from A'bad to London from Aug 15 This Independence Day, people flying between Gujarat and the US will get freedom from long and roundabout transit flights.

Air India is going to fly direct from Ahmedabad to London Heathrow and the same aircraft will fly to Newark - an airport in New Jersey that is in New York metropolitan area - from August 15, said a senior official. There has been a long-standing demand from the Gujarati community for a direct flight to London and a faster connection to the East Coast.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had during his London visit last November announced that AI will fly from

Ahmedabad to London from December 15, 2015.

AI did start that flight but it was not a direct one.

Currently, we have an Ahmedabad-Mumbai London flight which very often involves a change of aircraft in Mumbai. This means flyers have to often get off the aircraft and then board another plane. From August 15, a Dreamliner will fly direct from Ahmedabad to London, onward to Newark and take the same route on return,” said the official.

Senior AI officials admit that while there has been a compelling business case for this flight but the “inspiration came from the PM and this flight is

Modi's gift to the huge Gujarati community in UK and US.” AI's decision comes close on the heels of Modi's visit to Washington early next month and during his previous visits to US and UK, the PM has announced AI flights to those countries while addressing the Indian diaspora there.

AI has fifth freedom rights in UK, which means its Ahmedabad-UK-US flight can take passengers between London and Newark. “At present we operate from Heathrow's terminal 3. But by September AI will operate out of the Heathrow's Star Alliance terminal, T2,” said the official.

Zara joins mum Hasina Khan on council “I wish to contribute new ideas and encourage younger people, in particular, Muslim young women,” said 21 year old Zara Khan, who was recently elected in Chorley East for the Labour party.

Joining ranks with her mother Hasina who is already a councillor, Zara

emerged victorious with 1176 votes.

“I am overwhelmed by the support the men in my family have shown me, my dad, both my granddads, my uncles, and my brother.

It's very important to have male support as it shows that not all males oppose women in public life. The

communities of Chorley East have shown so much support and have elected me,” the youngest councillor said. “My inspiration is my mum who has encouraged and inspired me into this position, a successful woman who was elected the first Muslim woman councillor in 2006.”

Karjan woman shot dead in South Africa A non-resident Gujarati from Karjan, Vadodara, lost her life after she was shot by a burglar in Johannesburg.

Fazila Moghal, 26, succumbed to the injury while undergoing treatment in a hospital. Family members of the deceased said a burglar broke into a house next to Moghal's. Hearing some

noise, she went near the bathroom and switched on the lights when the robber fired a shot at her.

She suffered bullet injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Her uncle, Altaf Jaali said, “The bullet had split into two parts after entering her body. Doctors said that she underwent two

major surgeries back to back to get the pellets removed. She was conscious after the first surgery and the doctors were preparing for the next operation when she died.” He added, “Her funeral rights will be held in South Africa as we have a large number of relatives there.”

Honorary MBE to Shireen Mistry

Anandiben Patel

Assembly by-election in Talala in Gujarat.”

Meanwhile, Anandiben and senior officials met with Modi in the Capital, to brief him on the drought situation in the State.

Modi, after the meeting, tweeted, “Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and officials met me to discuss drought mitigation and water scarcity situation in parts of Gujarat. Was briefed about extensive efforts towards water conservation in Gujarat. Glad to see progress being made in micro irrigation.”

A report by BJP leader Om Mathur, who was tasked by the PM to assess the ground situation after the debacle in the local polls, had reportedly recommended “overhaul in the government and the State unit” before the Assembly elections.

“It seems that Mathurji, who met local leaders, told the high command to make changes in the top, else the party may suffer in the Assembly polls as it did in the panchayat polls,” a BJP leader in Gujarat

Shireen Dinshaw Mistry, who worked at the British Deputy High Commission, Mumbai for 23 years has been awarded with an honorary MBE. The Queen has approved the award in recognition of her contribution towards building strong relations between India and the United Kingdom. The award was presented to her by His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge during the latter's visit to Mumbai on 11 April 2016.

British Deputy High Commissioner in Mumbai, Kumar Iyer, said: Shireen Mistry has been a powerful and impressive advocate for strong and friendly relations between India and the United Kingdom.

On top of that she has been the link between the media in Western India and the British Government and a popular, high profile member of the British Deputy

Shireen Mistry receiving honorary MBE from his Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge during the latter's visit to Mumbai

High Commission staff.

Shireen is a graduate of Bombay University and of Oxford University

(Somerville College) . She worked as a journalist before joining the British Deputy High Commission.

AsianVoiceNews

HEALTH&WELLNESS

AsianVoiceNewsweekly | Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Yoga can help you to fight obesity FOOD

FITNESS

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oday millions of people of all age groups across the globe are facing the health hazard of obesity. Obesity makes life lazy and sedentary.

Body becomes weak and it decreases the possibilities of longer life span.

Common ailment, bones of buttocks, knees and spinal column becomes brittle. It may have an adverse effect on health, leading to many health problems such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis. Overweight people have an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and other illnesses.

Losing weight reduces the risk.

However, losing weight is more easily said than done. This is surely a universal truth.

The flab seems to stick on by default and as and when you try to get rid of the same, you simple seem to be driving uphill without much support. Thus the repeated efforts leave all your enthusiasm futile and you are exasperated and simply discouraged.

This is where ancient holistic fitness therapies of yoga and pranayama come for aid.

One of the most challenging aspects of combating obesity is incorporating physical activity into the lifestyles of individuals who struggle with limited mobility as a result of their increased weight. In this circumstances yoga thera-

py can play a vital role in shedding excessive fat.

Why Yoga Therapy?

Yoga is absolutely a gift to humanity from our ancestors. In yoga therapy, asanas are not practised for the sake of burning extra calories, but to develop body awareness, to understand the language of body, the way it works, and what suits it best.

Even though the aim of yoga is not just for weight loss, this is bound to happen as an outcome of our increased self-awareness.

However, one must remember 3 Ds i.e.

Discipline, Determination and Dedication in reducing weight naturally and

Asanas for losing weight quickly and easily There are many yoga postures or asanas that can help with weight reduction. Suitably modified poses can be performed from a sitting or prone position as yoga is easily adaptable to fit a person with limited mobility.

Pawanmuktasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Gomukasana, Vajrasana, Paschimottanasana, Trikonasana, Pada Hastasana, Yoga Mudrasana, etc. are few to name. In fact, most yogic postures will help to bring the body to perfect shape and to r e d u c e unwanted fat around the body.

Surya Namaskara or the Sun Salutation postures is one of the most favourite ways of burning calories if done briskly. It is a series of 12 postures performed in sequence. It is a sure way to make the body flexible and reduce weight.

Many people may not be obese, but still suffer from fat around the belly.

This can be reduced by doing asanas like Mayurasana. If one finds Mayurasana difficult to perform, then do Hansasana.

Both postures help to put pressure against the abdomen and relieve belly fat.

How sugar affects your body e know that sugar is bad for us, yet we still use it sometimes in large amounts - on a daily basis. However, if you knew exactly what areas of the body sugar affects and which organs it harms, would it change your unhealthy ways? Sugar can have a myriad of effects on the brain. According to researchers, excessive sugar consumption can exacerbate depression and anxiety by causing energy spikes followed by crashes.

It also messes with the neurotransmitters that help regulate our mood and could contribute towards dementia in later life. An online tool from Benenden shows what else happens to the body when you overindulge on sugary snacks and drinks.

According to researchers, the sweet substance can also play havoc with the kidneys, digestive system and genitals.

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Pranayama to stimulate the metabolism The pranayama practices stimulate the metabolism which helps to burn excessive fat in the body. These include: Bhastrika, Kapalbhati and Suryabheda, which are performed along with balancing practices like Nadi Shodhan and Ujjayi.

Sheetali and Sheetkari are relaxing, cooling practices which influence different hypothalamic centres having control over thirst and the feeling of satisfaction with healthy quantities and qualities of food.

Mindful Eating If the source of obesity is disorder like binging or overeating, yoga's therapeutic approach may be used to manage harmful food behaviours. As food plays major role in reducing obesity, yoga recommends satvik diet regularly. The ideal yoga diet is a vegetarian one, composed of pure, simple, natural and easily digestible foods that promote health and overall well-being. Raw vegetable, fruits and sprouts should be main meals.

Refined and processed food, fast food and non-vegetarian diet should be avoided or reduced as they help in weight gain.

One must understand that fast results are generally prone to relapse.

Hence, one should not aim at shortcuts but maintain yoga as part the life style under trained eyes, positive results are bound to astonish.

Wear sunglasses to avoid eye damage re you suffering from irritation in the eyes? Wear sunglasses to protect your vision from the sun's ultraviolet rays as overexposure to these harmful rays without the right eye protection can result in dangerous health consequences. According to a survey, one in three adults in the US overlook sunglasses and as a result 34 per cent people have experienced symptoms of prolonged UV exposure such as eye irritation, trouble seeing and red or swollen eyes.

The findings showed that only 31 per cent of Americans protect their eyes with sunglasses or other ultraviolet (UV)protective eyewear every time they go out in the sun. "UV damage to your eyes can start in as little as 15 minutes," said Justin Bazan, medical adviser to The Vision Council - the global voice for vision care products and services.

The research showed that even though Americans fear vision loss, taking the protective measure of wearing sunglasses is not a high priority. Only 14 per cent are likely to wear sunglasses while watching outdoor sporting events and only 44 per cent are likely to wear sunglasses at the beach. In addition, the survey revealed that Americans place comfort (65 per cent) and affordability (54 per cent) before UV protection (44 per cent) when purchasing

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sunglasses. Parents are more likely to wear shades always or often (56 per cent) than their children (29 per cent).

Many adults who rarely or never wear sunglasses (25 per cent) report that they skip UV eye protection because they don't own prescription sunglasses (41 per cent). Millennials are least likely to protect their vision: 55 per cent of people in their 20s never, rarely or only sometimes wear sunglasses.

UV radiation is present throughout the year, on sunny days and cloudy ones, too. Further, elements such as water, grass, concrete and snow can powerfully reflect UV light, which can be virtually as harmful as direct UV, the researchers said. "Many consumers purchase sunglasses based on style and comfort, but when choosing a pair of sunglasses, it's vital to check the label to make sure lenses are UVA/UVB protective," added Mike Daley, CEO of The Vision Council.

To mitigate the risks of UV-related eye damage, people should make UV protection a crucial consideration when buying sunglasses and look for lenses and frames that are designed for specific activities and lifestyles. People should purchase sunglasses only from a reputable source and look for a label on the lens or frame indicating UVA and UVB protection.

How to boost your mood naturally f you’ve been out of sorts emotionally, a few simple lifestyle changes could help you feel happier, relaxed, and balanced.

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In women, high blood sugar levels have been thought to contribute to recurring bouts of yeast infections such as thrush.

In men, it can be responsible for erectile dysfunction and lack of sex drive.

Meanwhile, in children, sugar can affect the heart, bones and immune system.

And, of course, it contributes to obesity.

Currently, the recommended daily sugar intake for adults is 30 grams per day. However, many people are consuming almost double this amount - the current average daily intake is 58.8 grams. Still not convinced you need to curb your sugar intake?

www.asian-voice.com

LIFESTYLE

allow his or her awareness to develop in a positive and constructive manner.

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Diet It’s important to try to keep your blood sugar stable.

Emotional highs and lows can be initiated from a diet high in simple sugars that elevates our mood, only to end in a low state. Don’t go for 10 hours and realize you are starving and eat three meals in one sitting. If your blood sugar is stable, mentally you will feel more stable. If certain foods make you feel uncomfortable because they lead to bloating, gas, or indigestion, avoid them. Leafy green

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...

vegetables are particularly filled with nutrients that can impact our mood potassium, magnesium, and a host of trace minerals. These vitamins and minerals provide additional energy that sustains us rather than carb-heavy foods that can trigger the blood-sugar blues.

Exercise Almost anything will do!

Just get out there! As long as you are moving, you are going to lift your spirits.

You don’t have to run a marathon in order to exercise and take good care of your body. If you do something every day, like a 20minute walk, that will impact your mood more than you can imagine. You

may also want to incorporate interval training into your routine. Exert yourself intensely for 30 seconds and rest for a minute. For example, run or bicycle hard for 30 seconds and then walk for a minute and do it again. Do this over the course of 25 minutes and you will notice a change in your muscles as well as your mind.

Meditation The effects of meditation can be profound. Studies have revealed that meditators often experience reduced stress and deeper resilience. Time is often cited as a barrier to regular practice, but even just a few minutes a day can have an impact. A great way to start is to just focus on the breath. Sit in a comfortable spot with the spine straight. Gently close your eyes and place one hand on the heart and one on your belly. Observe your inhales and exhales as you breathe naturally.

Rest When stressed, we tend not to sleep as well. Studies have found that sleep can be dramatically altered when we are stressed and vice versa. It is incredibly important to get a good night’s sleep so be sure and carve out the time to unwind and allow yourself the opportunity for selfcare. Try a warm bath before bed, a bit of lavender aromatherapy, or quiet time for reading with no blue screens (phones, iPads, TVs, etc.) Whatever you do, you must take care of you. By practising this awareness, you will build your sense of self and that will naturally bolster your mood.

Of course, as always when it comes to your health, please consult with a professional. If you are experiencing what you think could be mood disorder, you can talk to a counsellor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

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Amy shakes a Shruti Haasan joins British leg for her guru rock band Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

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my Jackson is busy playing the female lead opposite Superstar Rajinikanth in India’s costliest film ‘2.0’ directed by Shankar.

However, the British beauty has set aside a few days to shoot a special song with Prabhu Deva for her guru A L Vijay’s upcoming Tamil, Hindi, Telugu trilingual ‘Abinetri’. Amy has gushed that it was like being with her family, recalling how Vijay discovered her when she was 16 and introduced her in ‘Madrasapattinam’. ‘Abinetri’ is a horror thriller film which has Tamannaah playing the lead with Sonu Sood and Prabhu Deva in supporting roles.

Cinematography is by Manush Nandan, editing by Antony and S Thaman and G V Prakash Kumar are scoring the music together.

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hruti Haasan has collaborated with a British rock band 'Dinosaur Pile-Up', and will sing and co-write with them for a brand new album. A source close to the actress said, "Shruti has been to London a few times recently to meet and jam with the English Alt-Rock band Dinosaur Pile-Up. She has been jamming with lead singer and guitarist Matt Bigland, drummer Mike Sheils and bassist Jim Cratchley.

When she spent time with them, she enjoyed the vibe of their music and felt it was in line with her own musical inclination." The source also added that, "While she has a flourishing acting career, she wants to ensure she dedicates a sizable chunk of her time this year to her music. She's been working crazy schedules shooting for two south films, pre-production for her tri-lingual film with her father Kamal Haasan."

AsianVoiceNews

Nayanthara's daredevil attitude amazes 'Iru Mugan' crew

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ayanthara i s presently acting in 'Iru Mugan' directed by Anand Shankar. This is her first film with Chiyaan Vikram and the lady has got a bold spy agent character in the film. Sources close to 'Iru Mugan' unit reveal that the actress never hesitated to take part in risky stunt scenes in the film.

The team is currently shooting in high risk spaces of Ladakh and Nayanthara is also reportedly shooting for some stunt scenes in this film. The entire team is excited and encouraged by Nayanthara's daring attitude. This is a mega budget action thriller produced by Shibu Thameens.

Nithya Menen plays another female lead in this film in which Vikram plays dual characters. Harris Jayaraj is in charge of musical score while R D Rajasekhar is handling the cinematography.

Taapsee Pannu in a music video!

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leading music company has approached Taapsee Pannu, to pair with Saqib Saleem for an upcoming music video.

The song, a romantic number that shows a childhood love story between a girl and boy in a small town, is sung by Shaan and composed by Amaal Malik.

Confirming the news, Taapsee said, "It's the first time I'm going to feature in a music video. The names attached to it were so accomplished that I couldn't say no. Music videos are like short stories. So, I'm looking forward to this new experience in beautiful Goa."

'Sarabjit'

RGV shows his fondness for Radhika Apte

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An Indian biographical drama on Indian national Sarabjit Singh, and his sister's journey to find him justice.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

irector Ram Gopal Varma may finally receive the title of creep, something he has worked so hard for. RGV has apparently grown fondness for 'Badlapur' actress Radhika Apte, and has made it abundantly clear on Twitter. He first shared a picture of her on FHM cover with a caption that read, "Ahhhhhhhhh!- The hottest I saw in my last 3 births." He later shared another picture with another caption tagging her, "Hey @radhika_apte What did we poor men do, that you are taking revenge on us like this?"

RGV is known for making his feelings and thoughts public. He had recently come under the media radar for lashing out at Shah Rukh Khan saying he might lose his star status to Salman Khan. However, he clarified his statement later saying he is a big Badshah fan.

No kissing for Sunny Leone

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unny Leone will not be seen locking lips with her coactors in her upcoming movies. The actress has reportedly decided to not indulge in onscreen kissing any more.

However, the actress does not mind doing intimate scenes and will continue to do so if the script calls for it, with a 'no kiss' clause.

Now, considering romance and intimate scenes are incomplete without kissing, the filmmakers are in a fix and confused as to how they would convince Leone to kiss on screen.

'The Jungle Book' becomes UK's biggest film

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irector Jon Favreau’s 'The Jungle Book' became the film of the year in the UK. The film has scored over this year’s previous biggest release 'Deadpool' as well as classics such as 'Gravity,' 'The Life of Pi' and 2014’s smash hit 'Paddington.' Globally the film has earned $800m and is already the 4th biggest movie of the year. In India the film is now the biggest Hollywood film of all time and the third-highest grossing Disney release ever in China. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s story and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, the film is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves.

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www.asian-voice.com

Nargis refuses to dance on a TV show AsianVoiceNews

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argis Fakhri who was recently on 'So You Think You Can Dance' judged by Madhuri Dixit and choreographers Bosco Martis and Terence Lewis, to promote her upcoming 'Azhar', was apparently in a 'nasty' mood. On the show with co-actors of the film, Emraan Hashmi and Prachi Desai, while Nargis certainly didn't win new fans, but might have lost a handful of old ones.

A source from the set said, "She not only refused to shake a leg with Emraan and Prachi, but even refused to comment on a performance by a contestant w h o h a d

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

said she was extremely unwell and was advised complete rest. "However, she ensured she completed everything she had committed to including her appearance on 'So You Think You Can Dance'. But due to a terrible hamstring and knee injury, she had informed the producers she wouldn't be able to perform on the show. But at the last minute she was requested to perform which she had to politely decline as h e r health didn't permit it."

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eteran a c t o r Om Puri hurt his elbow while shooting and had to be undergo a minor operat i o n .

Confirming the news, he said, "I was shooting in Bhopal when I slipped and fell on a concrete floor during a running shot.

There was a big injury on my elbow. I had to undergo a minor operation. I'll be fine fine within 10 days." Not revealing the details of the project, he said, "It is a film based in India, Pakistan and London. It is about the relationship of two friends- a Pakistani and an Indian. It is a pleasant kind of story, a very nice, warm story." Puri had recently lent his voice to character Bagheera in 'The Jungle Book', for which he garnered much praise.

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he paps are in a frenzy!

We all know Iulia Vantur as our current match for Bhai aka Salman Khan. And the Romanian beauty is everywhere.

Well, not every where. Just every where Salman is. At his outdoor location shoots, his international travels, to even intimate family affairs. Most recently, Iulia was spotted exiting Mumbai airport with Salman's mother Salma and his sister Alvira Agnihotri.

With her hand out to support Salma who was walking with the help of a stick, Iulia was the epitome of Indian sanskar. The women made an adorable sight as Salma firmly held on to Iulia's hand showing her fondness for the lady. This is the first time Iulia has made a public appearance with Salman and his family.

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They were returning from Punjab where Khan was shooting for the last leg of 'Sultan' shoot.

Khan has not made any effort to keep Iulia from the public or the media and she, meanwhile, seems to spend all her time bonding with the Khans. If Salman is thinking what we are, a big fat Khan wedding is sure in the offing and it can't come any sooner!

Aishwarya stops Cannes in its tracks

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ishwarya Rai Bachchan has stopped the Cannes in its tracks with her Croisette in a metallic sheath overlaid by a sparkly floorlength cape for her first red carpet appearance at the film festival this year. It was a brave choice for Aishwarya, who rarely experiments with her look, not least because the dress was created by Kuwaiti designer Ali Younes, not Elie Saab, Roberto Cavalli, Armani or any of the other couturiers Ash has worn with great success in the past.

Busy with her new film 'Sarbjit,' Aishwarya has had little time to prepare for what is a Cannes milestone for her - this is the 15th year she has been at the festival.

3 great looks of Mallika Sherawat : The appearance of Mallika Sherawat at the red carpet at the Cannes this year was much appreciated unlike her earlier

danced on her 'Kick' song 'Yaar Naa Miley'."

The source also added that Nargis flatly refused to show off a few moves from her 'Oye Oye' track from the film. "She was arrogant, throwing her weight around, rude to the crew, and the team had a harrowing time."

Meanwhile, the actress' spokesperson

Om Puri injured, undergoes minor operation

Salman's family accepts Prachi seeks an his girlfriend Iulia Vantur image-makeover

Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Arjun Kapoor told to stay away from Malaika?

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fter Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan called it quits, the actress' proximity to actor Arjun Kapoor has been cited as one of the major reasons for the split. While the 'Khan'daan is extremely unhappy with the updates, it is known that Arjun's father, Boney Kapoor is not too elated with the idea himself. A Bollywood report stated that Boney has asked his son in no uncertain terms, to maintain his distance from Malaika. It has also said that the filmmaker is worried Arjun's career might be in danger if he comes on the wrong side of Bhai Salman.

appearances. While the actress was seen wearing Alexis Mabille and Georges Hobeika last year, this year she was again spotted on the red carpet attired in a dress by the latter, as she made a n appearance during the screening of Cafe Society, on the opening day of the festival.

Irrfan wants to do romantic films now

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fter years of playing realistic, tough roles, actor Irrfan Khan wants to explore the romantic genre, and wants to perform roles that are totally opposite to his onscreen image.

"Whatever roles I got, I did. I have played negative roles. I have played positive roles and even humorous ones. Whatever came in my way, I did that. In 'Piku', I showed my romantic side. Right now I'm trying to explore more of romantic films, which I really didn't get a chance to do earlier. I want to explore this genre." Married to screen writer Sutapa Sikdar, Irrfan said despite his busy shooting schedules, he often tries to take time out for his personal life and share the house work load with his wife.

n her eight-year stint in front of the camera, Prachi Desai has managed to almost always play the sweet girl next door. However, setting motion for change, the actress in a recent interview, said she wants to have an image make-over.

"I am actually quite bored of playing simpleton roles. I want to do different stuff so that I can be creatively satisfied. I think my audience has also got bored along with me because I am giving them similar thing again and again and not giving anything interesting to watch." Making a comeback on the big screen this year with 'Azhar' after three years, Prachi said, "I would put the blame on the lack of opportunities because the kind of roles I was getting were nothing different of what I have done in the past.

Secondly, the films which I really wanted do, things did not work out. So, that's how I wasted a lot of time. I think I should do more work now. People should offer me more films so that I can make up for lost time."

Prachi play's former cricketer M o h a m m a d Azharuddin's first wife, Naureen, in the film. Talking about her role, she said, "Giving her a face was difficult for me. The characterisation part, which is the first stage of every film, that itself was the toughest job because how would you form an image about someone that you know nothing about? I was relying on the director for the role. The information, which we had, was very limited."

Priyanka adds another feather in her hat

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t's a wonderful life for Priyanka Chopra, as she adds yet another feather in her hat. The 'Dostana' actress was recently named in the list of 10 Millennial Leaders Around the Globe, matching ranks with Malala Yousafzai, Mark Zuckerberg, Prince William, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen and Kim Jong Un. Pri shared her joy on Twitter, saying, "So nice to be included in such August company. Thank u @usnews."

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UK

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Asian Voice |21st May 2016

Oxford graduate jailed for 'sophisticated and well planned' £1m VAT fraud A company director from Knightsbridge who claimed to trade in designer jeans from the USA has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of attempting to steal £1 million in tax.

Harrow and Oxford educated Sheel Khemka used false names and fake invoices to claim he was selling millions of pounds worth of expensive designer jeans in a crime described as “a sophisticated and well-planned fraud”.

The 42-year-old, from Cadogan Place, set up 12 companies and used them to front his scam. In fact, he only made three importations, worth £24,000, using the same jeans each time he attempted to claim VAT back from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

He was found guilty by

Sheel Khemka

unanimous verdict at Croydon Crown Court on May 11 and jailed for five years. He was also banned from operating as a company director for seven years, and the money he fraudulently obtained has since been paid back.

Khemka submitted 12 VAT repayment claims between May and October 2009, receiving almost £498,000 in refunds. A further 11 claims totalling

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more than £500,000, submitted during 2009, were not paid out by HMRC. Khemka located his sham business premises in London and across various English counties, often renting office and warehouse space at short notice just before a visit by HMRC to check the repayment claims.

The small quantity of designer jeans actually purchased from the United

States were moved from business to business, with new packaging and labels, in an attempt to show that they had just been imported.

The fraud was uncovered after investigators became suspicious about his trading activity and VAT claims. He was arrested in London in November 2011 and later charged with cheating the public revenue.

Top judge cuts Reading woman's sentence for terror crimes

Mohammed Rehman and his wife Sana Ahmed Khan

A Reading woman who was jailed for her part in her Jihadi husband's plot to attack London with a fertiliser bomb has had her sentence cut by the country's top judge.

University graduate, Sana Khan, 24, bankrolled Mohammed Rehman's plan to detonate a device around the time of the 10th anniversary of the July 7 attacks last year. They were

convicted last year of preparing terror acts at the Old Bailey and each were handed life sentences.

Khan was ordered to serve at least 25 years behind bars before she could even apply for parole. But the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, Tuesday slashed that to 23 years in the light of Khan's previously law abiding lifestyle.

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ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 Your inborn drive to be

always pushing ahead receives added impetus during this week. Your energy levels will be high and you will find much scope for taking fresh initiatives and getting fast results - something that always makes you feel good. Your communications are well lit up but be very diplomatic.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You must be careful with money, joint resources, taxes etc., anything linked with your solar second and eighth houses. This area of your life is affected by retrograde Mars. It will be important to watch spending and pay attention to fine print when making purchases or commitments. Though, this is a good time for friendships and networking. Your social life is picking up pace.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Plans can change suddenly,

but the diversion you take now may be helpful overall. There may be some drama regarding a relationship or a significant discovery about one.

It's not the time to push yourself too hard with Mars and Saturn, retrograde in your opposing sign. You should try to get away from mundane realities of life, but choose any escape routes wisely.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Family life appeals greatly now, and you're in need of feeling secure and safe. Mars retrograde will affect you in the areas of creativity, children, recreation, entertainment, hobbies, and romance because Mars rules these areas of your solar chart. This may be a good time to re-assess a love affair.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 There can be some difficult matters surrounding your work and health to deal with. Energy may not be at its best and you could be feeling sluggish or bored. Mercury continues to transit your solar tenth house.

Career matters are busy at this time and it's a good time to analyze your work tasks and to streamline them or improve your skills.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 You could be feeling happy, optimistic, and more confident, especially as your goals are within reach. Others are likely to find you inspiring and they also see you in a good light. Now that Mars is retrograde and for you, this occurs in your solar 4th house of domestic affairs. Watch for passive-aggressive behaviour and patience is also necessary now. Love will also blow hot and cold.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 You may find the pace of your daily life challenging this week, however responsibilities on the home front can be daunting, and finding the time to run errands and handle paperwork may be a challenge.

There can also be some disagreements with siblings, neighbours, or acquaintances. Some of you could experience delays or challenges with education or short inner city travel plans.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 You are more likely to pay closer attention to your physical appearance and mannerisms, aiming to improve and enhance your attractiveness as Venus and Mercury are transiting your opposite sign. Try to steer clear of differences of opinion and other conflicts that threaten to be unprofessional.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 Watch for pent-up anger and passive-aggressiveness in your partnerships. Occurring in your solar first house, Mars retrograde cycle is very up close and personal! Fortunately, Mercury goes direct enhancing your overall communications. You'll have the most success if you bring more creativity to your daily routine or work.

Living in the moment, and enjoying it, without too many expectations is your best bet right now, as long as you don't go overboard. Work is strong now, and you're likely to immerse yourself in it. Private affairs and solitary work might need to be put on the back burner. Any fears or anxieties need to be dealt with as concerns of the past could be part of the picture.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Mercury and Venus are transiting your Solar 4th house of home and family. You are likely to find much joy and pleasure in your family connections and experiences during this transit. Opportunities to buy or sell real estate for financial gain may present themselves. Home improvements and renovations are also favoured.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 Career developments grab your attention this month, and unexpected events trigger new directions. A more creative direction is likely, and you'll find that it suits you very well. Brand-new initiatives are not favoured generally speaking with Mars retrograde. This is a good time for re-assessment and fine tuning anything that you have already started.

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Wrestler Sushil Kumar moves court over Rio berth AsianVoiceNews

Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar moved the Delhi High Court with a plea to direct the Wrestling Federation of India to conduct a selection trial to decide who will represent India in men's 74kg freestyle category at the Rio Games.

"We had no option but to take the matter to the court as Sushil wants a chance to undergo a trial," a source close to Sushil said.

After his name did not figure in India's Rio preparatory camp, Sushil suffered yet another setback as sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal ruled out intervention in the selection battle for the Rio Olympics, saying that the matter is for the WFI to decide.

With the WFI reluctant to conduct trails in 74kg to decide who between Sushil and Narsingh Pancham Yadav would eventually represent India at the Rio Olympics, the former world champion had taken the matter to the doorsteps of

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Sushil Kumar

the Prime Minister's Office.

He, though, is yet to get a response.

He had also appealed to the sports ministry, Indian Olympic Association, WFI and the fans. Even the WFI had sought the sport ministry's intervention to resolve the raging furore but Sonowal made it clear that "Government has nothing to do with it and the Federation, which is an autonomous body, is the final authority."

As a last resort, the 32-

year-old wrestler has finally moved the court. According to the rules, a quota belongs to the country and not to a particular wrestler and, thus, it was expected that a trial would be held in the contentious 74kg category to chose between Sushil and Narsingh. WFI has been giving hints that it is not too keen on holding the trial in 74kg division, fearing demands from other wrestlers in the remaining seven weight categories India has earned quotas for

Rio Games.

Even as Sushil's letter was lying with the PMO, WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had said that the federation would wait for the government to give directions on the matter.

Narsingh has been staking his claim to represent India at the Olympics since last year when he secured a quota place at the World Championship in Las Vegas after winning a bronze in 74kg. Sushil, who missed the event due to a shoulder injury, has been demanding a trial. Sushil has also argued that the government has spent a substantial amount of money on his training and even the federation has been asking him to keep practising. "If it was already decided that the athlete winning the quota place would be the one going to Rio Games, then WFI should have told me and also my name should have been omitted from the sports ministry's TOP scheme.”

Kumble reappointed as ICC Cricket Committee head Former India captain Anil Kumble was re-appointed ICC Cricket Committee chairman for a second term of three years while his onetime team-mate and batting great Rahul Dravid was named member of the top panel.

Kumble, the all-time highest wicket-taker for India, who was appointed as the chairman for his first term in 2012, will now continue to head the panel until 2018. Meanwhile, another former India captain Dravid and ex-Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene have been appointed to the ICC

Anil Kumble

Cricket Committee, adding even more cricketing experience to the list of eminent people already on the panel.

Dravid and Jayawardene have played 1,161 international matches between them from 1996 to 2015, and each has been

appointed for a three-year term. They will attend their first meeting at Lord’s on May 31 and June 1, three weeks before the ICC Annual Conference takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, the ICC said in a statement.

Dravid has been elected by the current Test captains as current player representatives, replacing former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, who has completed his final three-year term. Jayawardene has been appointed as a past player representative and takes over from former Australia captain Mark

Taylor, who has also completed his final three-year term. Former Australia offspinner and ex-Chief Executive of Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA), Tim May, has also been elected by the current Test captains as current player representative, replacing Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, who has completed his three-year term.

Richard Kettleborough, three-time ICC Umpire of the Year, has been appointed as umpires’ representative in the committee and replaces Steve Davis, who retired last year.

Day-night test taking root in Asia

India want to host a daynight Test against Australia early next year, according to a report, as the world's richest cricket board continues its backing of the concept which seems to be taking root in the subcontinent.

Australia and New Zealand played the first floodlit Test last November at Adelaide Oval and have found takers in Asia. India and Pakistan are scheduled to play twilight Tests this year while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are considering following suit pending the results of domestic trials.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) announced last month it would host a floodlit Test against New Zealand when the Black Caps tour later this year and they now want to play one against Australia next year, Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland has said.

"I think there's certainly some positive signals coming out of India and other parts of the world (on daynight Tests)," Sutherland said on Big Sports Breakfast radio.

"Indicatively they've started to talking to us about the prospect of playing a daynight Test match against Australia when Australia tours in February and March of next year. "That's just a pretty strong indicator of where things are at."

BCCI secretary Anurag

Thakur did not respond to message and calls seeking his comment. The first floodlit Test at Adelaide Oval lasted only three days raising doubts if the pink ball can last the duration of the required number of overs in an innings.

But the Test also attracted more than 123,000 fans through the gates at the picturesque ground, a welcome sight at a time when the game's longest format is grappling with dwindling crowds

with the advent of the shortest Twenty20 format.

With authorities across the globe warming up to the idea, the subcontinent, the game's commercial hub, has now embraced the concept.

Pakistan will play a daynight Test in Australia in December and might play one before that, against West Indies in October, provided the Caribbean nations agree to the proposal. Even Sri Lanka, who turned down Pakistan's proposal to play a day-night Test in 2013 citing their inexperience with the pink ball, are now considering the option. “When you look at the big picture it's probably not surprising because day-night Test cricket is just a no-brainer really, giving more opportunities for fans to get along to the cricket and watch it on TV," Sutherland added.

SPORT Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

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Bangla cricketer beaten to death with stump

A teenage cricketer in Bangladesh was allegedly killed by a stump-wielding batsman after he taunted the umpire over a no-ball delivery. Sixteen-year-old Babul Shikdar was wicketkeeping during a neighbourhood match with friends in the capital Dhaka when the batsman was given out, local police chief Bhuiyan Mahboob Hasan said. Shikdar suggested that the umpire might again favour the batsman, by declaring the bowler's delivery a no-ball, allowing him to remain at the crease, after the umpire made the same ruling off the previous ball. "It enraged the batsman who picked up a stump and hit Shikdar on the back of his head. He collapsed on the field and died on the way to a clinic," Hasan said. Police were now searching for the batsman who fled the scene, he said.

Rahman joins Olympic Goodwill Ambassadors’ list

Oscar winning music composer A.R. Rahman agreed to be Goodwill Ambassador of the Indian Olympic contingent, joining cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, ace shooter Abhinav Bindra and Bollywood star Salman Khan. The IOA said that it has also received an official written confirmation from Rahman. “It’s absolutely an honour and my pleasure to be a goodwill ambassador of the Indian contingent scheduled for August 2016,” Rahman said in a release. Welcoming Rahman, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said, “I would like to welcome Rahman on board as a goodwill ambassador of Indian contingent for Rio Olympics. It’s our privilege to have the Oscar winning living legend-music composer on board to spread awareness and promote the Olympic movement.

Rio quotas for two Indian wrestlers

Babita Kumari's fortune changed overnight, literally, as the wrestler, who was banned last month, got a berth for the Rio Olympics in a unique way. Along with Babita (53kg free style), 85kg Greco Roman wrestler Ravindra Khatri also has got a quota as two wrestlers in their respective events were found positive of meldonium after winning gold and silver at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan in March.

Babita was banned by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for forfeiting her repechage match in the 1st Olympics qualifier in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in April.

Former India cricketer Deepak Shodhan passes away

Deepak Shodhan, the first Indian to make a Test century in his debut innings, has died aged 87.

He was India's oldest surviving Test cricketer.

Shodhan passed away at his residence in Ahmedabad. He had been suffering from lung cancer, which was detected in February this year.

An attractive left-hand batsman who bowled leftarm pace as well, Shodhan was given his first India cap at 25, against Pakistan at Eden Gardens in 1952, and made an immediate impact. He walked in at No. 8, with the score on 179 for 6 and no specialist batsmen left, and he walked out with 110 against his name. India claimed a lead of 140 runs, but the match ended in a draw. "I was in the reserves for the series against Pakistan in 1952-53, the historic first Test series between our two newly independent nations," Shodhan had said in a recent interview. "In the final Test match, at Calcutta, I was drafted into the playing XI after our captain Vijay Hazare pulled out unwell. It was Lala Amarnath, who was captaining India in Vijay Hazare's absence, who asked for me to be brought in - 'that tall Gujarati boy who had done so well in the trials and other matches'." Despite that bright start, Shodhan played only two more Tests, on a tour of West Indies in 1953.

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Asian Voice | 21st May 2016

Six teams in fray for IPL playoffs

Season 9 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is actually turning out to be the most closely contested with six out of the eight teams still in contention with just about a week left to the end of the league stage.

Kings XI Punjab and debutants Rising Pune Supergiants are the two teams to have bowed out of the race to the playoffs, while Sunrisers Hyderabad are the closest among the remaining six to end up among the top four.

Practically, Hyderabad may still get ejected despite topping the points table.

Here's how various scenarios line up for the six playoff contenders.

Mumbai Indians Mumbai might be No. 3 on the table at present, but a defeat in their last league match against Gujarat Lions would mean they remain on 14 points and their fate in the hands of results in other match-

Sunrisers Hyderabad

that's if they are at 16 points each with other teams and bank on NRR to take them through.

Matches Left: 2 (vs Gujarat Lions, vs Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mumbai Indians

but are right now towards the middle of the table at No. 4 with 14 points but with a poor NRR of 0.737, which could turn out to be a thorn in the flesh when it comes to final standings.

But if they manage to win both of their final two games, they will go through straight, while one victory would mean they rely on other results to stay alive.

Matches Left: 2 (vs Kolkata Knight Riders, vs Mumbai Indians) Delhi Daredevils The Rahul Dravidmentored Delhi were eyeing one of their best season a while back but are now at No. 6 with 12

Shortly after stepping down as the BCCI president, Shashank Manohar has been unanimously appointed as unopposed Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the body said in an official statement. He received total approval of constitutional amendments which were proposed during ICC's meeting in April.

Manohar, who had earlier also served the BCCI as its President from 2008-2011, was the sole nominee for the position for which the Board had collectively supported his appointment.

According to the election process, each ICC director is to nominate a candidate who is either currently, or in the past has served as a director. With the support of two or more members, the nominee would be eligible to contest the elections. Adnan Zaidi, Chairman of The independent Audit Committee, overseeing the election process, has declared the process complete and had named Manohar a successful candidate. A successful lawyer, Manohar was reelected as the BCCI chief following the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya and said that he had a certain responsibility towards the board due to which he could not refuse.

Commenting on his election, Manohar said: "It

Shashank Manohar

is an honour to be elected as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council and for that I am thankful to all the ICC directors who have put their faith and trust in my abilities. I also take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues in the BCCI who have supported me during my recent time as the BCCI's President.

"These are exciting times for international cricket as we are presently carrying out a comprehensive review of the 2014 constitutional amendments which is aimed at not only improving governance structures, but cricket structures as well. The ultimate objective is to grow our sport and engage a whole new generation of fans and I look forward to working with all stakeholders to shape the future of cricket, which has a proud history and rich tradition."

Priyanka Parmar becomes golf champion

es. Their poor net run-rate (NRR) of -0.082 might not help them get through if they end up tied on points. So they have to beat Gujarat to brighten their prospects and improve NRR. Matches left: 1 (vs Gujarat Lions) Kolkata Knight Riders The other two-time champions in the bunch are Kolkata, who have two matches in hand with 14 points in the bag. If they manage to win both the games, they will cross most hurdles to enter the knockout stage. Their positive net run rate of +0.280 means that they must win at least one of their remaining matches to get to eight victories,

Royal Challengers Bangalore

IPL 2016 points table

Team Sunrisers Hydrabad Kolkata Knight Riders Mumbai Indians Gujarat Lions Royal Challengers Delhi Daredevils Kings XI Punjab Rising Pune Supergiants

Royal Challengers Bangalore Virat Kohli & Co would definitely be eyeing victory in their last two matches, which will give them 16 points and even better their already healthy NRR of +0.640.

And like the two above teams, 14 point and other results in their favour may also take RCB through.

Matches left: 2 (vs Kings XI Punjab, vs Delhi Daredevils) Sunrisers Hyderabad Hyderabad are in the most comfortable position with 16 points at top of the leader board. They have two matches in hand and need to win just one of those to enter the playoffs.

Shashank Manohar elected ICC chairman

M 12 12 13 12 12 11 12 12

W 8 7 7 7 6 6 4 3

L 4 5 6 5 6 5 8 9

NRR 0.4 0.28 -0.082 -0.747 0.64 -0.038 -0.371 -0.078

Pts 16 14 14 14 12 12 8 6

Their NRR is the best right now at +0.413, which means even two defeats may get them through.

However, in that case they need to ensure that their NRR doesn't take a beating.

Matches Left: 2 (vs Delhi Daredevils, vs Kolkata Knight Riders) Gujarat Lions They started their debut season with a bang

points and a NRR of 0.038. But the positive with them is that they have three matches in hand. If they win all, they will go through direct.

Two wins will take them to 16 points and one to 14, in which case they would need big margins of victory to better their NRR in a scenario where they are locked on points with others

Priyanka Parmar, 17year-old golfer from Pinner Hill golf Club, is on cloud nine after she became the Middlesex Ladies County Champion for 2016. She had to overcome tough playing conditions from the beginning as the competition was played under knockout rules. After 2 tightly fought matches on Saturday, she advanced to semi-final and then to the final. Priyanka held her nerve to beat Tara Watters who has a handicap of +1 on the very last hole.

Priyanka was overjoyed as she was able to achieve her goals from the start of the season. She now has her sights set on the English Girls Amateur Open Championship which will be held at the Nottinghamshire Golf Club in July this year. She acknowledges that only hard work will help her in achieving her goal as she wanted to become a full time professional golfer.

Priyanka Parmar