AV 24th April 2021

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE British Hindus disassociate themselves from Coventry temple as devotees accuse cult leader of rape SEE PAGE - 7

There needs to be a public health approach to male violence: Apsana Begum MP SEE PAGE - 16

Not just women but men also find solace in cosmetic care surgeries

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SEE PAGE - 14

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

A grandmother among 4 Sikh victims of US shooting

Amarjeet Johal with her grandchildren

Eight people, four of whom are Sikh, were killed after a 19-year-old white man went on a shooting spree at his former place of employment in Indianapolis last week. The victims of the mass shooting at the FedEx facility, which is predominantly employed

by Punjabis and Sikhs, were identified as: 32-year-old Matthew R Alexander, 19-year-old Samaria Blackwell, 66-year-old Amarjeet Johal, 64-year-old Jaswinder Kaur, 68-year-old Jaswinder Singh, 48year-old Amarjit Sekhon, 19-yearold Karli Smith, 74-year-old John Weisert. Several others were also injured, but their names were not revealed.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police (IMPD) said Brandon Hole, who worked at the facility last year, shot four of the victims outside of the building and four inside. He then turned the gun on himself.

The mass shooting happened during shift change and dinner break for many.

Continued on page 25

Derek Chauvin convicted of murder for killing George Floyd SEE PAGE - 23

24 - 30 APRIL 2021 - VOL 49 ISSUE 50

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

Two Gujarat doctors back to work, hours after mothers’ cremation

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has cancelled his visit, as coronavirus crisis escalates in India. Though India is added to the ‘red list’, Mr Johnson is hopeful that the pandemic will not dampen the spirit of bilateral engagements between the two countries, as the Prime Ministers are now scheduled to meet online.

Dr. Rahul Parmar - Vadodara

Prime Boris Johnson and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s India visit on 26 April for a day has been cancelled due to the escalating coronavirus crisis in India. On Monday, UK added India to the ‘red list’ barring travel from 4am on Friday 23 April including those people who have travelled from or transited through India in the last 10 days.

This list will not include British, Irish and third country nationals with UK residency rights but on arrival they will be needed to stay at a government approved quarantine facility for 10 days.

Continued on page 25

Dr. Shilpa Patel - Vadodara

At 3.30 am her mother passed away in the Covid ICU after a week’s battle with the virus. Six hours later, Dr Shilpa Patel, an associate professor with anatomy department at state-run SSG Hospital, in Vadodara was back in the saddle trying to save other lives. After carrying out the last rites of her 77-year-old mother, Kanta Ambalal Patel, Dr Patel diligently donned her PPE suit once again - staying true to her mother’s words - duty before everything else!

Dr Rahul Parmar too lost his mother, Kanta Parmar, 67, who passed away from age-related issues in Gandhinagar last week.

But Parmar, who as nodal officer for Covid management and part of dead body disposal team at Central Gujarat’s biggest hospital, finished the cremation rituals and rushed back to join duty on Friday.

Continued on page 25

2 UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

24 - 30 April 2021

with Keith Vaz

Bhanu Halai Bhanu Halai came to London from Bolton at the age of 20 when she married her husband Bharat in 1994. Since arriving in London, she has worked with the NHS starting as a GP receptionist; from there she progressed up the ladder and is now an Estates & Facilities Manager managing sites all over Brent and Westminster.

How she got her foot into the NHS is a funny story - she only went in to register for a health check and was asked if she is looking for a job and was offered the job on the spot and could start the very next day and here, she is 27 years later and is still working for the good old NHS. Bhanu is a mum to two daughters, Urvashi 23 and Shreya

21. In her free time, she enjoys trekking with her friends and gets very competitive when taking part in her Fitbit step challenges. She absolutely loves Bollywood, and her favourite old-time oldie idols are Amitabh Bachchan and Parveen Babi.

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are…, 1st are my parents, who are parents to 5 daughters, and our role models. It wasn’t easy for them as my papa was a sole worker and my mum had to give up her job to look after us. My parents taught us hard work, honesty and being humble is the key; never say “I can’t do”; anything is possible if you try. The 2nd person who inspires me is my husband; who has been the backbone and support through all the tough and challenging times. I still remember after my marriage, he took me to the park, and I asked for an ice cream.

He said he didn’t have the money. I was so upset and angry at that time as my childhood memories came flooding of my papa taking my sisters and me to the park and treating us to as many as we could eat. Bharat’s mum had died at a young age; it was very challenging for him, he lived for the day, but he never gave up; he went on to take courses and to progress further, and I glee with pride when I look at him as he is an inspirational role model to our daughters. 3rd is the NHS, and not only because I work for them, it’s because I have seen how they have helped my papa with his kidney disease; the journey starts from his diagnosis through to his transplant and still continues. I have also had first-hand experience receiving healthcare treatments in other countries and can say we often take our NHS for granted.

What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

I love that my job isn’t office-based and not in one area, I’m often travelling from site to site, whether it be walking (building up on my step count), jumping on and off buses and tubes, getting to see London and its changes. I love the people I work with, and it’s never a dull moment in the office.

And the worst?

Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?

It definitely has to be Bolton, where I was born, raised and where my parents still live. Bolton is a small, tight-knit community, so if you were up to no good your parents soon found out about it; luckily, I was a good girl. My parents lived just down the road to where Fred Dibnah (the famous steeplejack) lived, and I loved seeing his old steam engines parked in his front yard; he would often come out to say hello. We would also make weekly trips to the Bolton Town Centre and the Open Market for fresh fruit and veg, which I undeniably hated and looking back, I took it for granted as I realised many years later people would come down on a coach trip to visit the famous Open Bolton Market. I also love India; even though born and raised in the UK and having no place in India to call home, I feel a connection.

What are your proudest achievements?

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My proudest achievement is when I challenged myself to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I actually made a flippant comment to the organiser of the charity “Friends of Kera” to say I would love to do that, and I didn’t think he would remember. When the time came to sign up, again I dismissively signed up, thinking nothing of it, but when I overheard my husband proudly tell his family and friends of what I had signed up for, that’s when it became real to me, and I didn’t want to let him down. The tricky part for me was switching from heels to trainers, believe it or not, up until then I did not own a pair of trainers or joggers (now they have become my second skin). Before the big climb we had to train up and trek at least 4 days a week, some of which would be up to 5 hours or more; some of our training was local - Brockley Hill, which is now a doddle and Harrow on the Hill which still breaks me out in a sweat. Unfortunately, due to illness, I was not able to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro, but I was proud that I had attempted it. My only real disappointment was not being able to hold my heels at the top of the mountain (which I carried for photo purposes), and for those who know me know very well know that I love my 6-inch stilettos!

What inspires you?

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I would like to say the people who inspire me the most

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Well, I never really thought about this at first, but I have noticed in my career when I attend meetings at a senior level, they expect a man (I guess my name being Bhanu which is unisex doesn’t help), and I often find I don’t get taken seriously and that I have to work that extra bit hard to prove my worth, but once you have got past that point it’s all uphill from there.

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

I would like to say my managers past and present, I’ve often been complacent in most of my roles within the NHS, and it’s been my managers that have seen my potential before I have even noticed it and have been given the drive, the boost and encouragement to apply for more senior positions, followed by some tough talk from my husband who has a lot of confidence in me.

What is the best aspect about your current role?

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Hmmm the worst is when I have deadlines to meet, and I don’t get the information requested on time; this is when the angry Bhanu comes out, as I expect everyone to work like me…action the request as soon as it arrives, which I know it’s not always possible.

What are your long term goals?

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At my age, career-wise I have no goals; I like to work as long as I can and hope to retire at a reasonable age and travel the world with my husband and maybe settle down in Mumbai and take part in the laughing classes in the park. I haven’t discussed this with Bharat yet; he can read it when this is published in the ‘Asian Voice Newspaper’.

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

Ha-ha I answer this question all the time out loud when I’m shouting at the TV, but writing it down is proving difficult. I guess everyone thinks they can do a better job than the next person but actually doing it and being in that position is a different story. One thing I would like to change would be to make university tuition fees free.

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

I love this question, definitely Lakshmibai Jhansi Ki Rani; I find her story fascinating, a lady in the 1800’s who led her own army and fought a fierce battle in the war of independence. I believe each and every woman has a Jhansi Ki Rani in them. I remember when my mum was really ill, and she was feeling at her lowest; my grandma was on the phone to her and gave her a powerful Hindi dialogue – “Hind Ki naari khabhi himat nahi harti” (an Indian woman never gives up hope) and although I was very young at the time, I still remember it like yesterday.

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Overseas visa rows compel thousands of doctors to quit the NHS It has been alleged that doctors who come to work with the NHS from overseas have been facing hostile environments and visa issues because many want to bring their parents to the UK to look after them.

An online report by inews said, “Thousands of GPs and consultants have left the NHS over the last six years to move overseas with the row over visas for elderly parents one of the

main reasons behind the “staggering” exodus, according to doctors.”

General Medical Council (GMC) figures revealed more than 2,000 GPs and specialists have left for another country since 2015. They have been asked to be erased from the UK register. More than 4,000 non-specialists, such as junior doctors, have quit their jobs and moved abroad.

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A recent survey by the Association of Pakistani Physicians of Northern Europe (APPNE) and British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) found that 91 per cent of respondents who had tried and failed to bring their relatives to live with them were left feeling anxious, stressed and helpless.

Doctors have faced issues pertaining to severely restricting the number of

adult dependent relative (ADR) visas for elderly parents of NHS staff.

Apparently, the cost of training a doctor to a consultant level is about £250,000 which is far more money to replace the lost doctors with expensive locums while billions of pounds is needed to train their replacements.

The GMC figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information

Act, show that between 2015 and 2020 some 1,695 specialists, 743 GPs and 4,315 non-specialists asked to be removed from the register as they were moving to work overseas.

“A Home Office review of the revised policy found that while 2,325 ADR applications had been granted between April 2010 and March 2011, the number had fallen to 135 in 2014, of which 98 only came after

reviews and appeals. No figures have been published since the 2016 review,” inews reported.

A Government spokesperson went on record to say that, “Those who apply for an adult dependent relative visa need to demonstrate they require long-term personal care which can only be provided by their relative in the UK and without needing to access public funds.

Anti-racism charities apologise for links to slavery Two British charities recently found out tha they were set up with proceeds from slavery. These charities have been tackling racial injustice and have promised to make amends after a report uncovered the source of their proceeds.

Two British charities recently found out tha they were set up with proceeds from slavery. These charities have been tackling racial injustice and have promised to make amends after a report uncovered the source of their proceeds.

The Joseph Rowntree

Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, critiqued the latest Sewell report on race in Britain, have apologised for being oblivious to the fact that their funds came from slavery. These century old charities were set up by money that came from the confectionery giant Rowntree.

“A study, carried out by another arm of the Rowntree family, found that in the early 20th century the company had imported cocoa and other goods produced by slaves in the Portuguese West African

islands of São Tomé and Príncipe,” The Times reported.

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust tweeted that it was “deeply disturbed by many of the findings and recommendations”, adding: “We know, from the work of many of our grantees, about the persistent and harsh realities of systemic racism in the UK today.” It also said it was “taking immediate action to strengthen our contribution to racial justice” and will look for more “forms of reparation”.

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

3

24 - 30 April 2021

United by grief, in memory of the Queen’s ‘beloved' Many gathered around Windsor castle last weekend, to say a final farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh. Though the current Covid rules did not allow public gatherings, the day represented true spirit of a diverse Britain, as people travelled as far as east London to stand by the Queen.

The funeral procession to St George’s Chapel across the grounds of Windsor Castle looked at first more like a military parade, with soldiers of various ranks and battalions taking part in the event. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, had requested a full military procession for his memorial service, including the music to be played, having served as a naval officer during World War II and beyond. The Queen placed a very special wreath on top of the Duke's coffin, and it carried a special note that said: "In loving memory, Elizabeth."

The card was handwritten and edged in black, which follows the mourning rituals of the royal family.

As the Queen sat in a corner of the chapel, all by herself, the picture broke people’s heart. She looked really tiny and lonely – a 94-year-old widow, as her husband of over 70 years and best friend, laid to rest. Queen Elizabeth has faced many challenges in her life, shaping the monarchy, we witness today. A titular head, critics have often questioned the relevance of her position in today’s world, but she has over, and time proved that Britain is a symbol of the strength and grit

Her Majesty has shown for 75 years. As her birthday nears, this will be a difficult one, the first one without her ‘beloved’.

As the Guardian said, part of it was natural human sympathy for a woman deprived of the man she had known for 81 years, who had been her ‘strength’ for 73 years. Traditionally, a monarch is meant to inspire admiration and reverence in those she reigns over. Now there is kindness too.

It is often uncanny, how relevant the Queen has actually remained over time. When the National Liberation Front tore through the country in 1979, starting many riots and racial killings, her message was of unity.

Even during this pandemic, the Queen’s action spoke louder than her words. She kept the funeral a small family affair, and maintained distance from rest of the family, as she sat with glistening eyes. The family spoke of grief and loss during the pandemic- an unlikely kind of solidarity. In a country where double standards have become so common with those in the government having one rule for them, another rule for commoners, the sight of the monarch abiding by the same regulations as the public, sharing their fate, mattered.

The drama of Prince William and Harry walking behind the coffin of their grandfather, separated by a cousin, only later to be seen chatting with each other after the funeral along with Kate, is also what love and death can bring.

We’re almost there We fall, we rise, we make mistakes, and we learn. The UK may have made some mistakes during the past one year due to the pandemic, but after the collective cooperation of the people of Britain and the government amid criticism, Britain is on its way to enter a new era.

Boris Johnson’s long pending trip to India stands cancelled and India is also on the UK’s red list.

PM Johnson was due to meet the Indian PM Narendra Modi to discuss “more than double trade with India to £50bn by 2030” and cut tariffs on British whisky and cars as part of an ambitious plan to negotiate an interim free trade agreement in under a year. India and the UK planned to take their Enhanced Trade Partnership forward also expressing the commitment to relaunch the UK-India CEO Forum. India’s priority, however, was never the trade partnership, but “greater access to UK visas for university students and workers”.

This implies that the UK and India will be exploring more virtual options to connect and strengthen the UK-India partnership. The virtual interactions between the two countries will pave the way for technological exchange and advancement where both nations will be able to explore a territory of technological alliance which may not have been on the top of their agenda before. It is also a great time for both the countries to revisit the Prosperity Fund, Tech Cluster, use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mobilising masses for vaccination, lockdown, tracking down migrants and essential logistics, especially when the government has nationwide access to data via Aadhar cards.

It is undeniable that a country cannot be under a lockdown for a year. It’s only human to crave fresh air and mobility after

a long period of dormancy. India quite successfully did that, like Britain until the last few months. The country saw a gathering of spiritual followers during a postponed celebration of Kumbh Mela while the courts ordered to stop these mass gatherings right away. Leaders of BJP and Trinamool Congress grappled with the election campaign in West Bengal amid rising Covid cases in the country, bringing the election to an abrupt halt.

While people choose and vote for their leader, they have all the right to critique him or her. It is only human to react to untimely and unfortunate events that are occurring around the globe. But, amid all the criticism that the Indian government has been put through in recent times, one has to remember that Modi’s Gujarat model was a huge hit. It still is. We win some and we lose some. To turn the entire Indian subcontinent into a Gujarat based model is a dream that needs a longer life and more conviction. Most importantly, it requires patience and an undeterred spirit to lead with the leader.

In his address to the nation on Tuesday, PM Narendra Modi reiterated that the world’s most inexpensive vaccine is available in India. He also affirmed that he’s trying to make sure that the economy and financial state of the citizens is least affected by the restrictions due to Covid, while getting everyone above the age of 18 vaccinated. Modi rightly reminded the citizens of India that a year ago, no one had a clue about the virus and how to deal with it. A year later, India has built an enormous infrastructure to support Covid patients with PPE kits, makeshift hospitals, ICUs, medicines and most importantly, the world’s largest vaccination drive. We’ve come a long way. We’re close to the finishing line. We’re almost there.

A tricky situation in Afghanistan ?

After spending $2 trillion, the loss of over 2,300 American troops and the deaths of more than 1,57,000 Afghans, the Biden administration has decided to withdraw all military personnel from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan has been greeted with equal measures of relief and dismay in the United States.

Veterans’ groups applauded the president’s decision, but a number of prominent Republicans in Congress have sharply criticised the decision arguing that setting a deadline for a withdrawal without spelling out binding conditions, could allow al-Qaida and other terrorist groups to reconstitute themselves in the country. The US had made a mess of a situation in the country and withdrawing troops will create more problems than what it solves. As per Washington officials, the decision was made in view of the assessment that the US now faces greater threats from other regions of the world. This is most probably from China. The Biden administration has also proposed a transitional peace government for Afghanistan including Taliban and pitched for a UN-led conference to discuss a unified approach. Once the US withdraw from the country, the aid flows to the country may also dry up. Taliban could use this opportunity to push for an all-out battle for control, which would be disastrous for both Afghanistan and the region including India. At the very least, Taliban are going to be part of Afghanistan’s future governance structure. But a large number of Afghan youth today were born after the US military intervention in 2001 and have seen a relatively liberal Afghanistan where women actively participate in public life.

It’s unlikely they will be amenable to Taliban’s puritanical outlook.

Without the presence of American firepower, the Afghan security forces will not prove to be an effective counter to the

ruthless Taliban fighters. It is entirely reasonable to surmise that the Pakistani security establishment in Rawalpindi has already moved into high gear to ensure that its links with Taliban do not fray. To the extent possible, it will now try to play the role of kingmaker in Kabul. Where does this leave New Delhi? Quite frankly, its options are limited and it has to make the best of a bad situation. Consequently, India will find itself at a distinct disadvantage vis-à-vis Pakistan when it comes to protecting its interests in Afghanistan. These obvious limitations notwithstanding, India is not entirely bereft of options. At the outset, it enjoys considerable goodwill among much of Afghanistan’s population because of its developmental role in the country in the post-Taliban era and historical reasons. Accordingly, New Delhi should not be inclined to throw up its hands as it confronts an uncertain future in Afghanistan. On the contrary it needs to move with dispatch to bolster its existing ties, to keep a close watch on the steps that Taliban undertakes in the run up to the American withdrawal, and to reach out to the US to keep abreast of the modalities of its departure from the troubled land. These steps, while hardly a panacea, should nevertheless enable New Delhi to maintain a modicum of influence in the country after September 11 of this year. Therefore, it makes sense for New Delhi to use this goodwill and reach out to the moderate factions of Taliban. This will also help counter Pakistan’s influence over the Islamist group and its strategy of using Afghanistan as strategic depth against India. It is also heartening to learn that Saudi Arabia and Iran are also talking under the mediation of UAE. It will create peace in the region where more that 3.5 million Indian live. It is always better to talk than war as Winston Churchill said. US and China should also now initiate peace talks

There are two ways to be. One is at war with reality and the other is at peace. - Byron Katie

Alpesh Patel

UK India Migration and Success Whilst the PM’s trip to India is postponed and travel banned from India to the UK, it’s a timely reminder of the importance of UK India migration.

I posted on my TikTok channel a BBC interview I did where I said I’d invest in companies with Indians at the helm – Microsoft, Google, Pepsi, Adobe, Mastercard – and indeed my portfolio has done very well. Microsoft going up over 50% since the founders handed to Satya and worth more than all FTSE 100 companies (the 100 largest UK listed companies).

Most people liked the video. Business Insider magazine have done an article about my TikTok channel calling me a ‘sensation’ – imagine! But a couple of people were racist, calling Indians the usual things from the 1960s.

When I consider the G8 meeting representing the world’s largest economies – it’s interesting their relationships with immigrants. Take the US – the largest of the G8 – a land of immigrants – the great melting pot. Or even the Germans – just look at the number of Turks in their team! Or Canada – pleading for more immigrants.

Over 1m people travel between the UK and India annually pre-covid – those are largely tourists. Almost 2m people of Indian origin live in the UK. There are over 40,000 Indian students in Higher Education in the UK. As a former University Governor I know how important their fees are.

The entrepreneurs from India that I deal with are still keen on the UK as much as ever for ease of doing business and global expansion.

Fundamental to the migration issue is an understanding of whether migration leads to economic growth and its impact on cohesion.

The problem with the EU was that its citizens got a free pass whereas those from India who may well be the lowest users of public services and the greatest contributors to taxation and employment and probably the least disruptive to cohesion in the UK given how many are already here – get no recognition at the policy level – until now.

This is why when I was a Board Member of the UK India Roundtable my recommendation was that migration policy should be a little like University entrance. If all things are equal then those from schools (countries) with a track record of delivering outstanding entrants should be preferred. Indeed, that would put an obligation on those here to ensure their behaviour and contribution to the country is outstanding as it will affect their fellow nationals.

Then again, this Patel is not Home Secretary and I no longer dare sms text her either.

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First in-person G7 meeting of Foreign Ministers in two years to be held in May Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab As well as G7 countries announces UK will host G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Foreign and Development Japan, US & UK - plus the EU) Ministers in London for a the Foreign Secretary has also Covid-secure Meeting on 3-5 invited India, Australia, the May. Republic of Korea, South Africa, and the Chair and SecretaryOrganisers will put strict General of the Association of Covid-secure measures in place, Southeast Asian Nations including daily testing to ensure (ASEAN), to join parts of this the health and wellbeing of all year’s G7 Foreign and staff, attendees, and the public.

Development Ministers’ meetAll domestic social distancing Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab ing as guests. guidelines will be in force.

Their attendance will bring The meeting is a crucial broader experience and geographic repreopportunity to revitalise in-person diplomasentation, and demonstrates the imporcy and will look to establish a shared tance of the Indo-Pacific region. approach among the world’s leading democForeign Secretary Dominic Raab said, racies on equitable vaccine access, to agree “The meeting of G7 Foreign and global girls’ education targets, rigorous goals Development Ministers next month is an on climate finance and new measures to opportunity to show how the world’s prevent famine and food insecurity. biggest democracies work together to The last G7 Foreign Ministers meeting ensure equitable access to vaccines, build took place in April 2019 at Dinard and Saintback better from the pandemic, support Malo in France.

girls in the poorest countries get a good quality education and agree ambitious action to tackle climate change.”

Vaisakhi celebration

This year, HSBC UK HQ in Birmingham was lit up in orange, the traditional Sikh colour to celebrate Vaisakhi.

Priti Patel signs Nirav Modi’s extradition order Home Secretary Priti Patel has signed diamond merchant Nirav Modi’s extradition order. While it doesn’t mean that he will go back to India, he can actually appeal in the High Court, and later Supreme court to seek asylum in the UK over a period of 14 days starting from the date of Priti Patel’s signature on the order.

A UK Home office spokesperson said, “On February 25, the District Judge gave judgment in the extradition case of Nirav Modi. The extradition order was signed on April 15.”

The Westminster Magistrates’ Court had ruled in the favour of the Indian government in February 2021, clearing the legal pathway to Nirav Modi’s extradition. Thereafter, Patel’s signature on the order was the final

deal until he could become eligible to appeal.

Nirav Modi is being charged with fraud and money laundering of Punjab National Bank scam case which amounts up to $2Mn. He

was arrested in March 2019 and since then, has been at London's Wandsworth Prison.

“Experts also cite the case of former Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya, who remains on bail in the UK while a "confidential" matter, believed to be related to an asylum request, is being resolved,” Hindustan Times reported.

Nirav Modi had been appearing for a hearing via live streaming while in jail.

Online reports suggested that if extradited, Nirav Modi will be kept at Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail, which kept a special cell ready for him at barrack 12. If lodged in this barrack, earlier prepared for Vijay Mallya, Modi likely to get three square meters of personal space, where a cotton mat, pillow, bedsheet and blanket will be provided.

Get paid £5,000 to be re-infected with the Coronavirus as a part of a study If reports are to be believed, young people strain of Covid-19 from “human challenge studies” who have already been infected by the Wuhan virus will be used so which have been conducted Coronavirus will receive £5,000 if they that scientists can learn more in the past for diseases agree to re-expose themselves to the virus. about it and other variants. including malaria, tuberculoThe study will take phase in sis, typhoid, cholera and flu.

Volunteers will be under quarantine for two phases. The first phase The process will involve 17 days and a hospital will take care of them will involve 64 healthy volunconstant monitoring and until they are not infectious enough to teers, in order to establish the regular check-ups in the year affect others around them. lowest dose of virus which can after reinfection will help The idea behind this audacious experitake hold and start replicatestablish the immune ment is to find out how their immune sysing. After fixing the exact response generated by the tem reacts to the virus again. Volunteers amount of the dose, the virus virus - and this could conwill be of 18-30 age group who were former will be used to infect particitribute to the creation of betCovid patients and they will be exposed to pants in the second phase of ter vaccines, and a greater the virus in a controlled environment. the study, which is expected to start in the understanding of how long immunity lasts.

Termed as the University of Oxford's summer.

It is being reported that the original "human challenge", this trial “hopes to discover what dose of coronavirus is needed to cause a reinfection, and what this may Hospital in the UK. mean for developing Mayur Kotecha lost both his parents in an unfortuChief Executive of London’s Air Ambulance protective immunity nate car accident in India. He spent about eight Charity Jonathan Jenkins said: "A huge thank you to against the disease,” months at hospitals in India and the UK. This year, he is all set to run in The London Marathon in Mayur and all those running the London Marathon Sky News reported. in aid of our charity this year. We are so grateful for Recent research has October, something that doctors thought impossiall that Mayur is doing to fundraise for us, after gone viral on the inter- ble not so long ago. Mayur is also going to launch overcoming adversity beyond which many of us net, sensitising people his memoir dedicated to his parents and the last have experienced. Our charity exists to serve the that those who have month in India titled ‘30 Days in Heaven’ and all people of London, providing an advanced trauma already been infected profits will go to London Air Ambulance Services. team to those who need it most, so for Mayur to be “After spending 8 months in hospital and then are still very much vultaking part in this iconic race as a trauma survivor nerable to the virus and learning to walk again, first with a gutter frame folhimself means a great deal to us.” reinfection.

This lowed by a Zimmer frame followed by 2 crutches You can follow Mayur’s progress on his hypothesis is based on then by 2 walking sticks and now on one walking Facebook Page ‘Mayur Kotecha Marathon 2022’. studies in the US, indi- stick. My story of me dying and being written off by London Air Ambulance Services are not funded by cating that 10% of par- my doctors 3 times All the way to being selected to NHS and are solely reliant on donations. You can ticipants ended up get- run the marathon is on my Facebook page,” his sponsor Mayur in the following link: fundraising website write-up reads. He was twice ting reinfected. https://fundraising.londonsairambulance.org.uk/fu This can be treated given up for death by doctors in Wockhardt ndraisers/mayurkotecha/london-marathon-2021 as a part or extension of Hospital in Rajkot, India and again in Barnet

‘30 Days in Heaven’

in brief in brief PART-TIME GYM WORKER RECEIVES £6,000 OVER BOSS’S SEXUAL HARASSMENT A gym worker Charlotte Newby has been awarded £6,000 after a colleague named David Sanders, commercial director of a gym in Ipswich boasted in front of her that he and his partner “go for it every night of the week”.

Newby said the comment by David made her feel uncomfortable. He also said that he “wouldn’t take any less” than a daily sexual encounter.

Newby was awarded the money after an employment tribunal ruled that by making the comments he had sexually harassed her. The hearing held via video was told that Newby was a student when she worked part-time at the Functional Training Company gym in Ipswich.

LONDON PILOT SCHEME TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ADVICE TO PEOPLE IN DEBTS GPs will now also give sound financial advice to patients with long-term illness.

Under this pilot scheme, in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, doctors will redirect patients to meet financial support link workers so that they can utilise the benefits of essential grants as they navigate through long-term illness and can deal with debts accordingly. The report titled, Impact on Urban Health and the Centre for Responsible Credit said, “Precarious tenancies and poor living conditions pair with ill health, especially mental ill health. We must focus on the private rented sector, making it more secure, affordable and accessible in cities, for maximum impact on health inequity.”

The scheme, called Financial Shield, will be tested with 2,000 people in Lambeth and Southwark until September 2022.

Sangeeta Leahy, the director of public health for Southwark council, said: “We know that financial problems have a negative impact on people’s health and that someone’s health can affect their financial situation, so the breathing space and other support that Financial Shield provides will be so welcomed and could make all the difference to people’s situation, stress levels and in turn their health and wellbeing.”

STRUGGLING TO SEE GP PATIENTS RUSH TO A&E Patients are finding it difficult to see their GP therefore they are heading to A&E departments. This has put immense pressure on the NHS. Data released by NHS England this week showed that there were 1.7 million visits to emergency departments last month, up from 1.3 million in February. 75 percent of people had contacted Healthwatch last year to report negative experiences with managing to reach GP services. When the A&E performance statistics were released this week, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine warned that without action there could be an “unconscionable” return to the days of patients being cared for in corridors of crowded departments.An NHS spokeswoman said: “General practice carried out 275 million appointments throughout the pandemic, over half of which were face to face, and while there is ongoing demand for remote consultations, the NHS will continue to regularly review the process for accessing appointments.”

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OneJain co-hosts webinar to help preventing elderly from falling down OneJain UK and Jain Health Initiative recently held a webinar in Gujarati titled ‘Balance and Ageing Preventing falls in the elderly’ on Sunday 11 April. It attracted an audience of almost 1000 people and has since been viewed over 4000 times on YouTube.

The webinar presented

by Rajvee Punater was to inform the elderly Gujarati

population in UK in Gujarati about this important topic.

Rajvee commented that the feedback received appreciated the professionalism and the clarity with which the information given and was practical.

Rajvee commenced the webinar with Jain prayers in remembrance of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Dr Anuja Shah, a General

Practitioner in Luton then gave an explanation of the common environmental and medical causes of falls and the importance of regular medication reviews.

Optometrist Nehul Shah then described the different causes of sight loss in the elderly and how one can improve their sight, as well as emphasising the importance of regular eye tests.

High Commissioner of India pays tribute to Dr Ambedkar on his birthday On 14 April 2021, the High Commission of India in London paid tribute to Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary at India House.

Babasaheb, as he was popularly known, was born on 14th April 1891. He was an academician, a leading figure in the national movement

Indian High Commissioner putting a garland around Dr Ambedkar’s bust

HE Gaitri Issar Kumar, Indian High Commissioner to UK and Charanjeet Singh, Deputy Indian High Commissioner paying their tribute on Ambedkar Jayanti along with others

for a free India and a strong voice against untouchability.

Dr. Ambedkar was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Maharashtra Government has acquired

the modest building in London at 10 King Henry Road, where Dr Ambedkar lived during his days as a student. It was inaugurated as a museum by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2015.

Sunita Dhanani, with twenty-five years of experience as a carer for her elderly parents-in-law, took the viewers on a virtual tour of her house, giving the viewers practical tips about how to make their home safe and reduce the chance of falls.

This was followed by physiotherapist Sushma Sethna who shared some useful videos showing simple exercises the viewers can try at home to improve their balance and increase muscle strength. She also included a video about how to arise from the floor safely after a fall.

Dr Devesh Shah, a senior registrar specialising in Care of the Elderly at Barnet Hospital gave the viewers insight into what happens in hospital after a fall and helpful tips about always carrying a document with your medical information so hospital staff can be quickly be made aware of relevant medical history and medications.

A q&a session concluded the webinar. This webinar highlighted the significance of preventing falls in the elderly population and risks of fractures.

Women from the diaspora launch Heritage Bengal Global Bengali diaspora in the UK along with a few like-minded people from Kolkata have launched the Heritage Bengal Global (HBG) organisation in the UK. Led by successful women professionals based in the UK, the organisation promises to rediscover the past glory in cultural inheritance of Bengal and promote it across the globe.

The launch on Saturday 17 April 2021, coincided with the 50 years anniversary of the formation of the provisional government of Bangladesh. It was formed on 17 April 1971 in East Pakistan and subsequently moved to Kolkata as a ‘government in exile’.

Directors Anirban Mukhopadhyay and Pradip Chopra (Chairman of iLEAD, Kolkata), highlighted that

the Heritage Bengal Global aims to explore the intellectual and rich legacy of education, trade and commerce, sports, colonial architecture and history of Bengal, especially globally.

In a well-coordinated programme, where participants joined virtually from across the globe, President Milly Basu spoke about how the idea was conceived during the lockdown last year.

Vice President Mahua Bej spoke about the plans of helping rural artisans and craftsmen of Bengal to get international market exposure and limelight.

The programme also featured renowned Bengali author Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay. He was born in Mymensingh but migrated to Kolkata after

Renowned Bengali author Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay speaking to President Milly Basu during the launch

partition and shared interesting anecdotes on the liberation war. Howrah-born eminent graphic designer, Biman Chandra Mullick who moved to London in 1960 and designed the first set of Bangladesh stamps during the ‘muktijuddho’ in 1971, also joined the discussion.

The audience witnessed the official international release of the documentary film, ‘1971 India’s Finest Hour’, produced by iLEAD which traced back the events with real footages leading to

the partition of Bengal in 1947, covering the entire period from India’s independence till the liberation war leading to formation of Bangladesh.

In his comment, renowned Bangladeshi researcher, publisher and essayist Mofidul Hoque, who is one of the founder trustees of the Bangladesh Liberation War Museum in Dhaka said, “The film is interesting and adds another perspective in the history of Bangladesh liberation war.”

What does friendship mean to you?

Rohit Vadhwana Friendship - what does it mean to you?

We have been using this word from childood, introduced by our parents. In childhood, parents connect us to other children in neighbourhood and tell us they are friends.

We play with them and decide that those with whom we spend time on playground are our friends. Thus, friendship begins in the form of playmates in the childhood. It might be with siblings or with others. But that feeling of liking someone's company is friendship.

As we grow and enter school, we have more choice in terms of having more children of our age group. We get to choose whose company we like more and sit near them in the classroom. We share our food with them and start doing mischiefs. But here also, main motive behind the freindship is about playing together and liking the company.

However, when we go to higher standards in school, a new factor of utility gets introduced. Parents and teachers tell us to be friends with bright and good students.

Although it never happens. Because if everyone becomes friend with only toppers and disciplined students, most of the children would remain friendless! But the factor of utility becomes stronger in determining friendship with our growing maturity. Those who can help in solving a maths problem would be prefered friend. The classmate who is willing to help in homework is also one everyone would like to be friend with. Well, this continues in college and furter studies.

When we plunge into professional world, we seek those friends who can handhold us in progress and growth. Or at least we pretent to make friends out of them. Isn't it selfish? Friendship is claimed to be the most selfless relationship but it is not true. If you are successful, you will have many friends. If you have failures on your side, the number will automatically reduce. Now the question is - whether they are real friends? They may not be - but how to identify? One criteria given by people is that childhood friends are the best friends and they have no selfish reason to be with us. But remember, many of the friendships in childhood also are based on selfish motives.

Whatever we may say, but friendship is the most perfect and most powerful relationship we experience in our life. Most perfect because there we do not see faults and flaws of a person. We are friends despite them. Whoever doesn't like us, will not be our friend. Most powerful because in this relationship, there is no compulsion on us. There is only right in friendhip - no duties. Even while helping a friend in his need, we do it as a right, not as a duty. There are no judgements in friendship and no indebtedness. Any other relationship might have some compulsion, but friendship is sponteneous and voluntary relation. No one compels us to continue that friendship unless we want to. It is such a beautiful bonding but we just need to make sure that we maintain friendship with true friends only!

(Expressed opinions are personal) Founding member Bhaskar Bhattacharya announced the revival of the football IFA Shield UK post pandemic with inclusion of women teams for the first

time. This tournament has been recognised by the Football Association of UK and will have NHS as a key partner, to highlight the message of healthy living.

Fladgate appoints Sunil Sheth as new Senior Partner Law firm, Fladgate recently announced the appointment of Sunil Sheth as the firm’s new Senior Partner. Sunil replaces Richard Reuben, who will remain with Fladgate as a Partner in the firm’s real estate practice.

Sheth becomes the first BAME Senior Partner at a top 100 UK law firm.

Sunil will become Senior Partner at a time when the firm is implementing a series of strategic objectives around: diversifying its products and service offering;

Sunil Sheth

digital transformation; market focus; and recruitment as part of its ambitious three-

year strategy. Supporting all of this is an ongoing change programme looking to further embed the firm’s culture and values and build diverse teams. Sunil joined the firm in 2003 and is currently a Partner in the firm’s corporate practice. He co-heads Fladgate’s India team which has established a market reputation as leading advisors to Indian companies and promoters and high net worth individuals. He also has significant experience in advising entrepreneurs on inter-

national tax and estate planning matters as well as wealth management and private funds.

Sunil was Fladgate’s diversity and inclusion Partner for four years and was a founder and former chairman of the Society of Asian Lawyers in the UK. Working with David Rowe (COO) and Grant Gordon (Executive Partner) his objective is to deliver a workplace that champions a personal, friendly, collaborative, entrepreneurial and smart

working environment. Sunil is passionate about leveraging resources and influence to meet the needs of vulnerable people and has led major philanthropic efforts to do so. He has chaired the disability rights charity Sense International since 2011 and been a trustee since 2004. He is also Chair of the Board of Trustees of Anti-Slavery International, established in 1839 and considered to be the oldest human rights organisation in the world. Sunil has also been a trustee of One

World Media and of Victim Support, where he acted as Vice Chair from 2007-2010.

Commenting on his appointment, Sunil Sheth, said, “I am honoured to have been elected by my peers to lead Fladgate at this critical point in the firm’s history.

Looking forward, my priority is also to ensure that we continue to embed a culture that celebrates diversity of thought in all that we do and deliver on our vision and values programme across the firm.”

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in brief WRESTLING CHAMPION’S VISA WOES The UK government has rejected the visa of six time wrestling champion and professional fighter Muhammad Mokaev’s wife’s for the second time. Muhammad tweeted about this and wrote, “Thanks for refusing my wife’s visa, after representing UK for 9 years. 2nd time they refused it , with no rights to appeal.”

He also said that the UK has helped him through his journey in life and in MMA. Therefore, no matter what the Home Office decides against him or his family, “I will never stop raising the flag of England,” he said. He has to make a third application and has spent £2500 so far.

TRAINING TO RECOGNISE UNCONSCIOUS BIAS With an aim to teach the volunteers how to recognise “unconscious bias” National Trust Volunteers may have to undergo diversity training when properties re-open after lockdown which includes staff who does not deal with visitors, says a report.

Several organisations including the civil services have dropped it as the training of sub conscious bias has been considered only marginally effective.

British Hindus disassociate themselves from Coventry temple as devotees accuse cult leader of rape 65 year old Rajinder Kalia, a cult leader, who identifies himself as an ‘incarnation of God’ has been accused of raping four female devotees. He allegedly indoctrinated his devotees to believe he was 'divine'.

The West Midlands Police have charged Rajinder with sexual abuse and criminal offences.

According to court documents, the accused allegedly used his power and influence to groom worshippers as young as four at the Baba Balak Nath temple in Bell Green, Coventry, The Times has reported. He is also accused of instigating his followers to practice 'onslaught of harassment' against any members of the temple who spoke out against him.

Followers used to kiss and touch Rajinder’s feet as he sat on his throne. He apparently threatened women with acid attacks if they spoke up.

Worshippers reportedly claim that Rajinder has magical powers, which is why his son Pavan, 41 is alive despite suffering from cancer for the past 30 years.

Followers apparently used to donate as much as £12,000 per person to him.

So far, four women have accused him of sexual misconduct. The allegations were reportedly filed at the High Court last month by a consultant solicitor at Peacock Law, Clare Kirby. The Times reported that in addition to the four

women, a man and a woman have claimed that they lost £1.1 million, handed over to Rajinder, under his influence and as unpaid servants. Another woman is seeking £520,0000 over similar claims.

Community reacts Following this case, organisations that represent British Hindus have decided to disassociate themselves from the temple. Asian Voice reached out to eminent members of the community to understand the aftermath of this case and its impact on the Hindu community.

Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary/Director, Hindu Council UK shared a statement on behalf of the Council with Asian Voice on this matter. The statement said, “The Hindu Council UK, a National Umbrella faith body representing British Hindus and their temples has suspended Baba Balak Nath Temple in Coventry

affiliation to HCUK after an emergency meeting.”

“Hinduism is the world's oldest religion with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Dharma is an important term for Hindus. In Hinduism it means 'duty', 'virtue', 'morality', Correct action in accordance with dharma is also understood as service to humanity and to God. The true Guru and Shishya relationship is very important in Hinduism and should be one of respect, and also open to interaction. One needs to understand that knowledge and power is channelled through the guru from a divine source and does not originate within the person. Divine power comes in the forms of respect, understanding and acceptance, not through control and misuse.

“The allegations made in the High Court relating to Rajinder Kalia are extremely

serious and also this practice conflicts with Baba Balak Nath theology. Rajinder Kalia’s alleged actions are abhorrent and do not reflect Hinduism or accepted by Hindu Dharma.”

Expressing his thoughts on this case, Davinder Prasad, General Secretary of British Organisation for People of Asian Origin (BOPA) told Asian Voice, “I know many people who are a Davinder Prasad part of the congregation of Baba Balak Nath Temple.

These are very dedicated people. I don’t know why a lot of people get attracted to self proclaimed spiritual leaders. I believe people have got a choice. But when these things are uncovered, there’s always an element of truth. In this case it has not been proven yet, so we cannot speculate.

But if it happened, and if it is true, it is disgraceful.”

Asian Voice has always abhorred spiritual or magic healers and as a part of our ethical policy, we as a publication have let go of substantial revenue that was offered to us in whopping amounts. We encourage our readers to place their faith in the right practices and develop scientific temper.

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Anand Parmar's family requests for condolences to be expressed via messages and calls amid Covid-19 Anand Parmar, 47, was declared dead when he was rushed to the Queen's Medical Centre with serious injuries in a car in Brighton Road in Leicester. In a message to the community shared by The Wanza Samaj, UK, the Parmar family announced with deep sorrow and sadness, the peaceful passing away of Mr Anand Vijay Parmar on Monday, April 12, 2021.

Anand was the son of Vijay Bhagwanji Parmar & Prafula (Damayanti) Parmar. He is survived by his wife Hetal Anand

Parmar and children Bhavic and Bhavni. In this time of grief, his brother Mahul Parmar and his wife Tina Solanki are standing by the family.

Due to the current Covid-19 situation, the family has requested not to visit their residence.

They’ve requested for condolences to be expressed via phone call, messages, and WhatsApp and want everyone to remember the departed soul in your prayers.

22 year old Jeffrey Carew of Leicester was arrested by the

Anand Vijay Parmar

police in the Gwent area of Wales on April 15. He is the fourth man to be charged with

the murder of Anand Parmar who was found breathing his last in a car by the police. A 34 year old woman has also been taken into custody under the "suspicion of assisting an offender".

He has been charged with possession with intent to supply a class A drug and assault by beating – which relates to a different victim. Earlier, Jurrat Khan, 25, of Wakerley Road, Evington, and Renaldo Baptiste, 34, of Marsh Close, Thurmaston, were charged with Parmar's murder.

Manchester City Council reflects on the positive impact the Duke of Edinburgh Awards on young people Ahead of the Prince Phillips funeral on April 17, Manchester City Council reflected over the impact the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme has had on young people in the city. The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is aimed at young people aged 14 and above, and offers them the opportunity to participate in activities that they ordinarily might miss out on.

Ishaa Asim of Loreto College, a Bronze and Silver award holder, who is on track to complete her Gold award, said: “The experience has been one of the best challenges of my life. I was able to learn new skills and push myself to limits I didn’t

know I had. The DofE gave me a sense of accomplishment, to try new things and be open to different ideas. Without this experience, I would not have developed my life skills as much or be able to explore the countryside and see farm animals as I come from a city. I hope to complete my Gold Duke of Edinburgh once the pandemic is over.”

Between April 2019 and March 2020 alone, 2,304 young people participated in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme which requires them to learn a new skill, to commit to regular physical activity and to volunteer in the community. Nearly half of the 2,304 young people were

considered to be from disadvantaged backgrounds, offering young people the chance to get involved in the community as well as the chance to complete an expedition, and at gold level a residential trip. This saw an incredible 33,410 worth of voluntary hours, the equivalent of £145,333.50 in social value.

Volunteering for the scheme ranges from working in a shop, to raising money for charity and general community engagement.

Manchester City Council, Chief Executive Joanne Roney OBE, said: “All those young and old who have taken part in the scheme will feel privileged to

have taken part in it, with many lucky enough to have collected the award from the Duke of Edinburgh himself. The impact of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme will provide a fitting legacy for the Prince Phillip and continue to impact young people’s lives for generations to come.”

Meet the world’s youngest youngest published author Nadim Shamma-Sourgen is now the youngest published author at the age of 5. Previously, Thanuwana Serasinghe was the world’s youngest published male author. He was four years 356 days old when Junk Food came out in 2017.

Nadim was four when he wrote a poem on “brave feeling” which was hung up in his room.

This week, at age five, Nadim will become the youngest commercially published author in Britain when a book of his poems, Take Off Your Brave, goes on sale.

His other poem is about his mother, who “smells like blown candle” and another is about his

Home Secretary Priti Patel thinks that Facebook is “blinding” itself to the issue of child abuse on its platforms. Her concern is backed by the fact that Facebook’s new security guidelines and measures will make it easier for paedophiles to get away with crimes against children.

Patel has plans to rethink all messaging on its platforms to be “end-to-end” encrypted. She will also tell the main technology companies to “take the safety of children as seriously as they do the business of selling adver-

ideal school, with “kittens as teachers”. His mother Yasmine Shamma, who is a lecturer in English at Reading University, has said that the impact of Covid-19 lockdown brought a bit of sadness in Nadim’s poems.

One included the lines “Baddies love their baddie friends/ even very baddie ones.”

In the forward of his book, poet Clanchy said: “When I shared Nadim’s poems on my Twitter account thousands of people liked them and left comments like ‘What a talent!’”

Both Nadim’s mother and father believe that any child can do this. His mother told The Times, “I think there is a lot that can be done to help young kids write poetry ... I think the earlier you can introduce children to the notion of poetry the earlier you will be able to foster a love of that art

that could go on for life.”

“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness’. He is a very chatty kid who presents as super-outgoing but here he was telling me he puts on a brave face,” she added as she explained how he wrote sad poems with a brave face. Nadim's three year old sister also has two of her poems in the book, published

by Walker Books.

tising, phones and online games”.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) will present this demand forward. It was the charity’s report on “end to end encryption” which states that Facebook’s plans will have a “catastrophic” effect on children’s online safety and will remove platforms’ ability to identify harm.

The current policy states that users on Instagram and Facebook Messenger are scanned by the company for

images of child sexual abuse or for signs of grooming, with incidents then reported. End-toend encryption will mean that only the sender and receiver of a message can see its content.

Patel cited that there 4,500 arrests were made last year that took place after tech companies spotted abuse in messages on their platforms.

“The offending will continue, the images of children being abused will proliferate — but the company intends to blind itself to this problem through end-to-end encryption, which

prevents all access to messaging content. This is not acceptable.

We cannot allow a situation where law enforcement’s ability to tackle abhorrent criminal acts and protect victims is severely hampered,” she said.

A Facebook spokesman said: “Child exploitation has no place on our platforms . . . Endto-end encryption is already the leading security technology used by many services to keep people safe from hackers and criminals. We are building strong safety measures into our plans.”

Source: Twitter

in brief UN CALLS FOR ‘RACE COMMISSION’ REPORT BODY TO BE SCRAPPED The latest Race Commission report which was ordered by PM Boris Johnson has irked the United Nations. The UN now wants this body to be scrapped as it continues to be widely criticised for ignoring racial disparities and “shifting the blame for the impacts of racism to the people most impacted by it”. Experts from the UNHRC said, “In 2021, it is stunning to read a report on race and ethnicity that repackages racist tropes and stereotypes into fact, twisting data and misapplying statistics and studies. The report cites dubious evidence to make claims that rationalise white supremacy by using the familiar arguments that have always justified racial hierarchy. This attempt to normalise white supremacy despite considerable research and evidence of institutional racism is an unfortunate sidestepping of the opportunity to acknowledge the atrocities of the past and the contributions of all in order to move forward.” The report allegedly downplayed the concept of “institutional racism” and argued geography, family, socio-economic background, culture and religion have more impact on life chances. A spokesman for Boris Johnson said, “Our view is that this report misrepresents the findings. We remain proud of the UK’s long history as a human rights champion and we encourage everyone to read the original report in full.

This report in no way condones racist behaviour and in fact it highlights that racism and inequality are still problems for our country.”

UK BUSINESS GROUPS CALL FOR MANDATORY REPORTING OF ETHNICITY PAY GAP UK business groups have called for a mandatory reporting of ethnicity pay gap.

This came after the governmentcommissioned race report downplayed the extent of problems in the labour market.

The report said there had been a “broadly positive story” on ethnic minorities’ place in the labour market over the past 25 years, with “a gradual convergence on the white average in employment, pay and entry into the middle class”. A headline gap of 2.3 per cent between the hourly median pay of all minorities and white British employees hides a much bigger gap for certain groups — with those of Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity at particular disadvantage, and black men suffering a far bigger shortfall than black women.

TESCO TO PAY A FINE OF £7.56M FOR SELLING EXPIRED FOOD Priti Patel thinks that Facebook is “blinding” itself to child abuse Supermarket chain Tesco will be fined with £7.56m for selling out-of-date food in three of its stores. Tesco has accepted that it breached 22 protocols of the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations between 2016 and 2017 following an investigation.

This came after Birmingham City Council received reports and sent inspectors to visit the stores. Tesco has said that it was "disappointed" over this incident and will make sure that this doesn’t happen again.

“The company was handed the fine by a judge at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday and was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £95,500. It also had to pay a £170 victim surcharge,” an online news portal reported.

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PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH UK GOVERNMENT

Test and Trace

Four easy stages of a rapid COVID-19 self-test

TESTING, TESTING!

From now on, rapid lateral flow tests, which give a result in around 30 minutes, will be available free online and at testing centres.

1

Set-up: sanitise testing area and hands, unpack kit, read instructions

2

Swab: throat then nose

3

Process test: place swab in liquid in tube, squeeze liquid onto test device

4

Read result: ensure test device is on a flat surface, wait and read result at 30 minutes

As lockdown restrictions slowly lift, regular Covid-19 tests are going to play a major role in keeping the virus under control.

W

e can finally meet up again with our friends and loved ones outdoors, millions of us have been vaccinated and it really feels like the beginning of the end of lockdown. However, now is not the time to let our guard down – Covid-19 is still out there, and it’s more important than ever to follow the rules and the ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ guidelines. But there’s another way we can beat this menace- by testing ourselves regularly for the virus.

This should identify those people with Covid who display no symptoms – around one-in-three cases – but might be spreading the virus without knowing it. From now on, rapid lateral flow tests, which give a result in around 30 minutes, will be available free online and at testing centres.

All adults including secondary school and college students are being encouraged to use them twice a week and self-isolate if they get a positive result. Doing this will help break the chain of transmission, prevent infection and help get our lives moving again.

Along with the vaccine, these tests are a vital tool in combatting the virus- in fact, they’ll work hand in hand for months to come, because millions who have not yet been inoculated are still at risk. Millions of people are already using regular rapid testing to help protect those around them. The tests are free and easy to get from your workplace if available, to test or collect at a local testing site, at participating pharmacies and to order online. So, make sure you pick up or order the devices to do your bit to keep friends, family and co-workers safer as lockdown measures continue to ease. The more of us that take part, the more we can help protect each other.

Tests reassure safety in the workplace Working in a secondary school, music teacher Geoff Pearce has been worried about taking the virus home to his pregnant wife.

Thanks to twice-weekly lateral flow tests, the 37-year-old is now much less concerned.

“The first time, it took me half an hour to figure out how to do the test, but now it’s like brushing my teeth,” says Geoff, from north London. “I can do it in a flash, as part of my routine.”

He picks up a pack of seven kits from his school and tests himself every Wednesday and Sunday; the results come through within 30 minutes, as ‘simple and clear as a pregnancy test’. Since his

school introduced rapid testing, there have been no positive cases in the community.

“Knowing that my colleagues and pupils are all doing the same tests reassures me in the workplace and gives me more peace of mind – especially with my wife being pregnant,” says Geoff.

WHAT TESTS ARE AVAILABLE? There are two types of tests, and they play different roles. They are: LATERAL FLOW TESTS: These quick and effective tests are being offered to people not showing signs of the virus. An estimated one-in-three cases of Covid-19 are asymptomatic, and people can unknowingly spread it.

Free rapid tests are easy to get from your workplace if available, to test or collect at a local testing site, at participating pharmacies and to order online at NHS.uk/ get-tested.

If you test positive, you need to self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test. Whether negative, positive or even void, you should report the result at gov.uk/report-covid19-result or call 119.

PCR TESTS: The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test is only for people who

are showing symptoms of the virus – a high temperature, a new and continuous cough or a loss of taste or smell – or who have a positive lateral flow test result. They are performed at local Covid test centres, or you can have one sent to your home through the gov.uk website.

If you have symptoms, you must self-isolate for ten days or until a test result comes back negative.

To get free tests online go to: NHS.uk/get-tested

10 READERS' VOICE

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Remembering Prince Philip’s visit to Kenya I read the sad news of Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh’s demise in Asian Voice and also on tv in Canada. While watching his funeral processions live on tv, I remembered Kenya’s Independence ceremony. I was very fortunate to witness live in a huge stadium in Nairobi on Dec 12, 1963.

I graduated in May 1963 at an educational rural township V.V.Nagar, Gujarat India and as I had a British Passport. I went to Tanzania after my graduation. In October 1963 I went to Nairobi to stay couple of weeks with my elder sister Sarlaben and her husband Mahendrakumar Patel. He was very lucky to get few tickets of Kenya’s independence ceremony from his friends and we all went to watch. It was mind blowing ceremony with pomp and pageantry and especially for me at the age of 20 once in a lifetime opportunity to cherish forever.

At midnight all lights were dimmed, and Union Jack was lowered, and Kenya’s flag was raised and there were very loud cheers from spectators to welcome much awaited and hard-fought freedom by many who were jailed, tortured and lost their precious lives. There were magnificent fireworks, and I was speechless. Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh in special motorcade circled the stadium and from very close we were lucky to see him and also Hon. Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first Premier and many other dignitaries of the world including Late Indira Gandhi who represented India.

I stayed in East Africa only for one year as I went back to India for further studies, but the true meaning of freedom has been imprinted in my mind and heart ever since.

Suresh and Bhavna Patel Markham, Canada

How to make your child a millionaire It was interesting to read an article by Alpesh Patel “How to make your child a millionaire” in AV 17-23 April 2021. He has suggested some very useful and practical tips. By quoting Warren Buffett he has rightly pointed out that the biggest financial mistake parents make with their children is teaching them financial literacy too late.

There are very few parents who have been teaching their young children about financial management. I think some of the reasons are they themselves are not fully aware of the subject, they think this subject will be learnt by the children automatically at the “right age”, there is a risk of losing money because they might have heard stories of losers only, the government will take care of us so need to worry and it is assumed that the school will teach if it is an important subject.

In some families, the concept of savings has vanished because of various kinds of state / social benefits. They think there is no need to worry about future security. Some people believe in possessing gold which is important for them for social status and future security. To some extent they are right but that is a form of a non-rewarding dead investment.

If the habit of saving a small amount on a regular basis is inculcated in the young children, that will have a significant impact on them in their later life. Financial independence and security will really give a different perspective to children and they can harness their full potential in their life without worrying about daily expenses. Technology and free guidance by experts like Alpesh Patel should be fruitfully used for a bright future. Financial risk in investment cannot be neglected but it can be minimised by taking informed, knowledge-based decision.

Hitesh Hingu London

Stamp design competition for children I hope parents will encourage their children to take part in Royal Mail’s stamp design competition, to honour the heroes of the pandemic. The competition is open to children, aged 4 to 14. Eight designs will be chosen to become stamps which will be on sale across the UK. Children may choose to illustrate frontline workers in health or social care. They may want to celebrate other key workers who have kept the country going, such as refuse collectors, cleaners, teachers, supermarket workers, public transport staff, delivery drivers or, indeed, postmen and postwomen. Or they might highlight the volunteers who have helped in their local communities or raised money for charity, such as Captain Sir Tom Moore.

The competition is open until Friday 28 May. A special panel of judges will select the winners. As with all Special Stamps, the final eight designs will be sent to The Queen before they can be printed and issued as stamps. The winners will be announced in the Autumn.

We cannot wait to see who children choose to honour on their stamp. The past year has been very difficult for everyone, so let’s show the heroes of the pandemic just how much we appreciate what they have done for us.

Full details can be found at www.royalmail.com/stampcompetition David Gold Royal Mail Director of External Affairs & Policy

Best wishes of Ram Navami and Swaminarayan Jayanti to the readers of Asian Voice and those celebrating.

Ignore Chinese threat at your peril Western politicians, most of whom are brought-up in lap of luxury, Oxbridge educated and pampered by their well-off parents, never gone to bed on an empty stomach, look at the world through tinted glasses, are no match to cunning, patriotic, dedicated and ruthless politicians in dictatorial regimes like Russia and especially China where they plan every action, every adventure with military precision where failure is not an option. So often they pay with their lives if their actions fail to achieve the goal envisaged by their political masters.

While China colonized Tibet without a murmur from the West and with the blessings from gullible Indian PM Nehru, China waited patiently to take-over Hong Kong and Macao when the lease expired. India is the only country that can stand between China dominating the world economically and ultimately militarily. But India cannot do it on its own, as India is a fully pledged democracy where every action by Indian government is closely monitored. So often the opposition and the Indian intellectuals are turncoats, enemy within!

China uses every weapon, every trick to humiliate and thwart India’s economy, in the vain hope of subjugating India, the only nation in Asia who could thwart China’s evil conspiracy to dominate the world. West has given China economic weapon it needs, having huge export dominated economy, generating some $3 trillion war chest to dominate the world.

No wonder China’s latest plot is to build a huge 60 mw dam on river Brahmaputra, on Indo Tibetan border, just before the river flows into Arunachal Pradesh, the river known as Yarlung in Chinese occupied Tibet. There are already several small and medium size dams on this river in Tibet but this huge project will be an eye opener, capable of mischief making, creating either floods or water shortages not only in India but also in Bangladesh.

But India has some options which are under consideration. India can build its own dam down river, creating a vast lake capable of holding billions of gallons; even create manmade couple of lakes that can take extra water released by China. It will be expensive, need international cooperation, to outsmart China at its own dirty game. Let’s hope West will wake up in time to eliminate Chinese threat before it becomes a reality!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi London

Invisible lockdown positives Most of us have been hit by the pandemic and lockdown and unable to lead normal family, work, social, sports life etc.

These have or might have contributed to isolation depression, poor health, mental health, or faced and coped with bereavements. It has been worst of times with safety restrictions in place and constraints on our personal normality.

But this crisis has also given us a mirror of invisible positive benefits like a more relaxed lifestyle from normal hectic time, getting more frequently connecting for social, business by many virtual platforms available. Bringing together street neighbours and supporting each other with more caring tone. Then there are no crowded waiting rooms at doctors, hospitals, or long queues at banks since most is now by appointments only.

Personally, I do suspect that everyone’s life will be a little better and we will be moving to the sound of more engaging life harmony and adapt with new logical consideration. We have faced challenges, but we have also discovered our hidden strengths and resilience to cope and embrace the change.

For wife Sudha and I it has been a journey to learn and try making, experimenting new food recipes, learning more about gardening, doing online courses, rekindle the hobbies, cycling and doing long leisure countryside walks. Getting more actively connected back to past school, university community friends. Best of all opportunity for personal downsizing and putting affairs in order. And to think we always found it difficult to manage but now we have been rewarded with time to fulfil those needs appropriately. All of us will be talking about this lockdown times for years to come and it will be a topic that I hope will be able to talk to my grandson.

Jatish S Shah Northampton

KHICHADI Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG Kapil’s

Come Out You Racists Kapil Dudakia The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities has published their 258 pages long report on race and ethnic disparities in the UK. Within minutes every Tom, Dick and Harriet jumped out of their closets to denounce the report.

The usual fake outrage brigade included the Black Lives Matter hooligans, the Extinction Rebellion extremists, the defund the Police gangs, the destroy the statue mobs and our elected representatives playing dirty politics. Their narrative, that UK institutions and society are racist, and UK as a nation is racist.

Where do I stand? Well, all of you know that over the decades I have challenged all forms of discrimination, and from any quarter. I have experienced racism directed at me from the left, the right and the centre of British society over the past 5 decades. However, as a proud British Indian it’s time to challenge those who will do anything to undermine this nation for their own perverted ideology.

I have yet to find a nation, or a people, who don’t discriminate. Since humans came into existence, discrimination has been the basic instinct used to survive, conquer, enslave, govern, and exploit. Those who have jumped on the bandwagon to undermine the UK, are themselves the very root of discrimination that they complain about.

The question an intelligent society needs to ask is, not if there is discrimination – but, to what degree does discrimination (in all its forms) exist, impact and affect all of us, and what do we need to do to address those issues.

Which is what the report attempts to do.

In the 2019 General Election, the vote share was: Conservative 43.6%, Labour 32.2%, Liberal Democrat 11.5%, Scottish National Party 3.9%, Green 2.7%, The Brexit Party 2.0% and UKIP 0.1%. More than 90% of all the votes went to mainstream political parties. Those parties described as right or far right got only 2.1%. Think about it, when the British people are given a free vote, they reject parties that are considered racist. Now let’s compare that with our neighbour France. Current polling shows what the far-right candidates are getting: Le Pen 26%, Mélenchon 11% and Dupont-Aignan 5%. So, in France, some 42% of voters are supporting far-right leaders. Think about it!

My contention being, let us not throw the baby out with the bath water. In the UK we have made good progress, and yes, we have much to do. But let us be clear, discrimination will never cease in any country for the next several hundred years, if ever. Over the past five decades we have seen some ethnic groups not only survive, but they have also become incredibly successful. Success it seems is varied and dependent on your ethnicity, your faith, your colour and your gender – or would it be too controversial to suggest that one’s own aspirations, and a positive work ethic to succeed counts as well? It seems some groups are quite happy to take benefits, contribute nothing to society and then blame everyone for their predicament.

The report suggests that the much-abused term, BAME, should be abandoned, and rightly so. It’s what many of us have been saying for a while now. There are some ‘minorities’ who abuse the system and seek refuge in race discrimination to hide the ills of their own making.

All our institutions must improve. There is much historic restorative justice that needs to be given to those whose lands, culture, language, and history has been decimated. Maybe it’s time Her Majesty begins this process, making her the only Monarch in history to do so. Now would that not be a fitting legacy?

Ramadan of the Muslims Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, began for Muslims on the evening of April 12 and will continue until May 12. Ramadan is observed during the ninth and holiest Islamic month of the same name, a time when the great Prophet Muhammad was said to have received the knowledge of Quran. This hallowed event is marked with fasting, eating small meals in groups, prayers, penitence, self-denial and good deeds.

But shame on the UP government. When festivals of other religions are not allowed to take place in the country because of the Covid-19 situation, how come the Uttar Pradesh government allowed the Kumbh Mela to take place this year with over a lakh seers and sanyasis in Haridwar?

Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai, India We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit. Please keep contributing as always. If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com - AV

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S

everal years ago, in the early nineties, my husband and I were posted at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

The Embassy was located in an old building set in a beautiful campus. Housing for a number of families was located inside the campus. The campus was fairly self-sufficient. It had a petrol pump, a small store for daily utilities, a Kendriya Vidyalaya (Central School) for the children, a basketball court and a football field for them to play in and a small temple, all inside the campus. The campus was surrounded on three sides by fairly thick pine forest.

Looking at Kathmandu from a height, the campus looked like the green lungs of the city.

We lived in a lovely bungalow at one end of the football field. Our friends would joke that the house set the record for having the world’s largest parking. The house had gardens around it and the pine forest at the back. One Sunday afternoon, I woke up with a start, hearing the sound of jackals nearby. I ran out in a panic afraid that my baby son would go to the jackals with the same trust that he had for my parents’ German Shepherd dogs.

Fortunately, I managed to stop him in time and to shoo away the creatures howling at my open gate.

The house also had a patch of bamboo. Bamboo leaves had fallen around this patch over a period of time, making a thick

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and spongy carpet. With two the residents due to the dire last 24 hours to the viral disease, young boys at home, I set about news of escalating Covid-19 the death toll shot to 178,769. cleaning this area after I heard infections in Delhi over the last India reported more than that snakes found a convenient few days. I could sense the same 100,000 Covid-19 cases a day for place to breed in the cavity panic rising inside me. India has the first time on April 5. Since inside bamboo plants. One witnessed to record increase in then, barring April 6, the infecafternoon, the gardener tion numbers have risen came into the house by over 100,000 cases looking frantic as there every day, going over the were four snakes on the 200,000 mark for the pathway next to the first time on April 15. house. The snakes were Daily fatalities have been probably young babies as reported to be more than they hadn’t escaped into 1,000 since April 14. To the shrubbery.

Ever bring the situation under ready to panic at the control, the Delhi govsound of the word ernment announced a ‘snakes’, I rushed to the curfew over the weekgarden. My parents, who end. The curfew has were visiting at the time, been extended for a week came out behind me. starting the 19th of April.

Fearfully, I told the garGiven the sudden spike dener to get a stick and in cases, Delhi encouncall other gardener’s tered an "acute shortage" quickly and kill the of oxygen and beds for Ruchi Ghanashyam snakes.

My father Covid-19 patients. defused my panic and News of the suddenly Mrs. Ruchi Ghanashyam is the former told me in a calm voice deteriorating situation High Commissioner of India to the UK. that snakes were part of has heightened the anxiWith a career in Indian Foreign Service for nature around us. “How ety of citizens.

Not over 38 years, she has been posted in many many snakes will you unlike the empty grocery countries including South Africa, Ghana, kill?” “Just leave them in stores at the beginning of before arriving in the UK. She was only the the forest and they will the pandemic last year in second woman High Commissioner to the go into their natural many parts of the world, UK since India’s independence and during habitat”, he said. As per there’s a strong urge to her tenure, she witnessed a number of sighis advice, the gardener store oxygen cylinders at nificant developments in the UK-India got a stick and carried this time of shortage. It relations. the snakes to the edge of was during one such disthe forest, where they cussion that I suddenly vanished, never to be seen again. daily cases. Over 270,000 fresh recalled my father’s question to I remembered this incident infections were reported across me in Kathmandu so many years last night while going through the country on 19 April, taking ago, “how many snakes will you the WhatsApp group of our the nationwide tally to over 15 kill?” small colony in Delhi. Panic million. With over 1600 people At a time of a health emerseemed to have set in amongst succumbing to the virus in the gency, hoarding non-required

India, a country of enormous strengths

24 - 30 April 2021

UK 11

medical equipment by citizens, ends up creating a shortage mentality that exacerbates the shortage. This creates a vicious cycle between shortage and panic. This ends up denying the lifesaving products to those genuinely in need. In an hour of crisis, the need is for people to try and remain calm and give a chance to the administration to manage the crisis.

My question to myself and my friends in the neighbourhood, thus, was, “how many oxygen cylinders will you store?”

Already, the administration has started action to handle the situation. PM Modi held backto-back meetings with multiple stakeholders. Several actions have been announced vi’s-a-vis vaccines, medicines, incentives for businesses etc. Other stakeholders have started coming forward to lend a helping hand. For example, Indian Railways announced a special ‘Oxygen Express’ to transport liquid medical oxygen (LMO) after several states complained of a shortage. Many manufacturing units pledged to supplement oxygen supplies in the market.

The pace of the vaccination drive will be accelerated. With a decisive push in so many directions, hope can perhaps slowly edge out anxiety! I hope India will show that it’s not only a large country with complex problems, but also a country with extensive and enormous strengths, well able to cope with the emergency it faces.

12 MEDIA WATCH

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SCRUTATOR’S Lucknow covering up the truth Disquieting scenes from the Lucknow crematorium of endless funeral fires and reports of irregularities in the number of deaths have sparked a response from authorities in the Uttar Pradesh capital: Block the view with metal sheets. Workers were seen tying up the metal sheets, often found at construction sites, a day after reports questioned a mismatch between the official figure of deaths because of Covid-19 and the data from the crematoriums. The move also comes a day after a video of the crematorium with a large number of burning pyres was widely shared on social media, triggering concern. Along with the sheets, a new notice put up outside the crematorium announced that unauthorised people were now no longer allowed to enter it since it was a "Covid affected area". Trespassers have been warned of strict action. Lucknow is among the cities in India that have seen an alarming rise in coronavirus cases prompting the state government to announce new restrictions. Lucknow now has over 31,000 active Covid cases, 10 times more than what they were just two weeks ago. (Agency) Yogi, Akhilesh test positive

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and former CM Akhilesh Yadav were tested positive for Covid-19. The CM had isolated himself after at least three members in his team were found infected over the past few days. “Experiencing the early symptoms of Covid, I got myself tested and my report is positive. I have self-isolated and am following the advice of doctors. I am carrying out all my work virtually. All activities in the state are going on as usual. All those who have come in contact with me in the past few days should get themselves tested and take precautions,” Yogi announced in a tweet. The CM had taken his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on April 5. Earlier Akhilesh Yadav also tested positive along with urban development minister Ashutosh Tandon. More than a dozen senior IAS officers are down with the virus in Lucknow itself. (Agency) Gaganyaan: France inks pact with India

French space agency CNES announced a space agreement with Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for cooperation in the Gaganyaan mission that will facilitate French assistance in space equipment, consumables and space medicine. Isro will also be using French expertise in setting up its own space station. The agreement was signed during the visit of French foreign affairs

minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Isro’s Human Space Flight Centre in Bangalore.

Under the pact, CNES will train India’s flight physicians and CAPCOM mission control teams in France for the development of microgravity applications and space operations at CNES in Toulouse and at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Isro has also asked the French space agency to help prepare for Gaganyaan missions by serving as its single European contact in this domain, a CNES statement said. The agreement provides for CNES to support the implementation of a scientific experiment plan on validation missions, exchange information on food packaging and nutrition programme, and use by Indian astronauts of French equipment, consumables and medical instruments. (Agency) Pooja Bedi, slammed for 'flaunting privilege' Actor Pooja Bedi has been accused of flaunting privilege after she and her fiance Maneck Contractor, stationed in Goa, posting tweets about not living in fear. Ever since tweeting a video of herself and Maneck enjoying a boat ride, 'not spent caged and masked for a year', she has attracted criticism. While one person called her a 'birdbrain', another called her an 'entitled A-hole'. She wrote that she isn't flaunting her privilege, but 'expressing freedom'.

"Not everyone can go to a beach, get a boat and just 'enjoy life'.

People are struggling to get food for their families everyday and here you are telling us not to wear masks and live freely.

Seriously?" one person tweeted at her, and she replied, "I'm reiterating the need for lockdown to be lifted and to get people back their lives, freedom and livelihood." Another person wrote, "Wow pooja you are such an entitled rich old A-hole !! The entire nation is gripped with the

virus and hospitals and crematoriums are flooding. And here you are flashing your luxurious life in our faces. Hope you have to suffer the same soon." (Agency) Providing education to underprivileged kids

In order to minimise the impact of Covid-19 on the education of poor children mostly from slum areas, a BSc graduate - Satyender - has started a free coaching facility under the Mayur Vihar phase 1 flyover in Delhi. Around 250 students are taught at the location where like-minded people like Deepak and Kamlesh have also joined Satyender to provide education to underprivileged kids. Young students take their classes sitting on mats laid on the ground while older children have the luxury of benches and desks. "As lockdown came into effect, online classes started and these children from slums did not have any mobile phones for studies. We teach students from KG to Class 10.

The school is functional from 8 am to 2 pm," says Satyender.

Kamlesh says,"I have been teaching underprivileged kids for the past two years. Satyendarji supported me to teach them here. I teach Hindi, English and Maths from 10 am to 1 am. The kids who could not go to schools due to the pandemic are coming here." (Agency) Ambani sends oxygen from his refineries Reliance Industries (RIL) chief Mukesh Ambani is diverting oxygen produced at his refineries to help India battle a savage coronavirus outbreak that's paralyzed Mumbai as daily new infections spike by a record.

Ambani's RIL which operates the world's biggest refining complex in Maharashtra, has started supplying oxygen from

Jamnagar in Gujarat to Maharashtra at no cost, according to a company official.

The state will get 100 tonnes of the gas from Reliance, Eknath Shinde, urban development minister, said in a tweet. India is witnessing a second wave of Covid-19 infections that has caught the Centre and state governments unprepared, with local media reporting that patients are dying due to a shortage of oxygen and hospital beds.

Mumbai is the financial hub of India where the fresh outbreak is most severe.

(Agency) Masks must on railway premises

Not wearing masks on railway premises and in trains can attract a fine of up to Rs 500, with the national transporter now incorporating it as an offence under the Railway Act. This is the latest in a slew of measures that the railways has taken to ensure compliance of the various Covid-19 protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs to restrict the spread of the virus. "One of the specific guideline is to wear masks in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The Standard Operating Procedure for movement of trains as brought out by Indian Railways says that it should be advised to all passengers that they shall be wearing face cover/ mask at entry and during travel." The mandatory use of masks and the fine will now be listed under the Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at Railway Premises) Rules, 2012.

(Agency)

No Ram Navami festival in Ayodhya The Ayodhya district administration has decided to call off the April 21 Ram Navami Mela due to the lethal Covid surge in Uttar Pradesh coupled with fervent appeals from senior Ayodhya seers. The mela witnesses a mammoth gathering at Ram Janmabhoomi and the banks of the Saryu on the last day of Navratra.

Ayodhya’s borders will be sealed and nobody will be allowed to enter. Mahant Jugal Kishore Sharan Shastry, the chief priest of Saryu Kunj temple, said, “Holding the Haridwar kumbh was a big mistake and we cannot afford a repeat in Ayodhya.” The fear was compounded by the surge in Covid cases at the Haridwar Kumbh. The district administration directed devotees to celebrate Ram Navami at home and curtailed pilgrim presence at temples.

District magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said our priority is to break the corona chain.

We have banned all gatherings in Ayodhya.”

(Agency) 2-year-old survives fall from 4th floor A two-year-old girl in Navsari survived miraculously after falling off from the window of her house located at the fourth floor of a residential complex.

The girl named Samaira fell from the window of her house in the Bansari Apartment in Navsari after she lost balance while playing near the window. Locals said that the girl fell on an empty plastic water tank due to which she survived the fall. As the residents of the building heard a loud sound, they rushed to the ground floor and saw the girl.

She was taken to Parsi Hospital from where she was referred to a private hospital for further treatment. Doctors said that the girl’s right hand and leg were fractured. The girl’s father runs a provision store near their house and the family, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, had recently moved to Navsari from Saputara.

(The Times of India)

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24 - 30 April 2021

Pakistani families disproportionately affected The final goodbye by high infant mortality in Birmingham A new taskforce which is being set up to tackle high infant mortality rates in Birmingham has been welcomed by health campaigners as figures show infant mortality rates in the city are nearly twice the national average, with families from Pakistani backgrounds disproportionately affected.

A report released by Birmingham Council’s Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee that was first reported by the Guardian shows the infant mortality rate in Birmingham is seven deaths per 1,000 live births, compared with 3.9 deaths in England as a whole.

Death rates are highest in the areas of the city with the worst deprivation, a key longstanding issue for the city where 28.1% of children live in low-income families compared with 17% nationally.

The data shows one in 188 Asian and Asian British babies were stillborn compared to one in every 295 white British babies. A fifth of all infant deaths are due

to birth abnormalities - the risk of which is doubled by consanguineous marriage (marriage between couples related as second cousins or closer).

Last week Birmingham councillors voted in favour of establishing a new multi-agency taskforce with the goal of reducing infant mortality in the city by at least 50% by 2025. The taskforce will also work with community groups and faith leaders in the city to help minimise risk factors associated with high infant mortality. Caroline Lee-Davey, the Chief Executive of Bliss, the UK’s leading charity for babies born premature and sick, said, “We welcome this new multi-agency taskforce and hope it will help identify the actions that need to be taken to reduce infant mortality rates in Birmingham.

“It is deeply concerning that the infant mortality rate in the city is nearly twice the national average, with families from Pakistani backgrounds disproportionately affected.

“Asian and Asian British babies had a 59% increased risk of neonatal mortality compared to white babies.

“This variation points to ongoing health inequalities which must be addressed as a matter of urgency to ensure every baby born in Birmingham has the best chance of survival.”

Shabana Qureshi, the wellbeing manager at Ashiana Community Project in Sparkbrook, contributed to the report. “In terms of the scientific rationale as to why intermarriage is such a risk, I think there’s some awareness, but it’s limited,” she said.

“There is awareness that when you marry a closer relative, there is a higher risk that your child may have some complications surrounding its birth. But I think that’s often dismissed because the communities we are working with are predominantly of Pakistani origin and in Pakistan 50% or more of the population practice consanguinity. It’s something that’s quite normalised.”

Tablets to treat Covid-19 at home may be ready by autumn A new Antivirals Taskforce has been launched by the government to identify treatments for UK patients who have been exposed to Covid-19 to stop the infection spreading and speed up recovery time.

The Taskforce will search for the most promising novel antiviral medicines that can be taken at home and support their development through clinical trials to ensure they can be rapidly rolled out to patients as early as the Autumn. The Taskforce will also look at opportunities to onshore the manufacture of antiviral treatments. The aim is to have at least two effective treatments this year, either in a tablet or capsule form, that the

public can take at home following a positive Covid-19 test or exposure to someone with the virus. This will be another vital tool to combat any future increase in infections and limit the impact of new variants - especially over the flu season later this year.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “The success of our vaccination programme has demonstrated what the UK can achieve when we bring together our brightest minds.

“Our new Antivirals Taskforce will seek to develop innovative treatments you can take at home to stop Covid-19 in its tracks.

These could provide another vital defence against any future increase in infections and

save more lives.”

Dr Nikita Kanani, Medical Director of Primary Care for NHS England, said, “Alongside caring for 400,000 Covid-19 patients since the start of the pandemic, the NHS has saved lives around the world through its contribution to developing the first ever treatment for Covid-19, dexamethasone, as well as administering the first vaccine for the virus, outside of clinical trials.

“The NHS has put research into reality at record speed during the pandemic and this taskforce will now help us to identify and roll out even more new, convenient treatments for patients with Covid-19.”

imposed in the light of the Covid-19. In her symbolic ode to the Prince, her husband of 73 years, the Queen wore a balck dress with a large diamond and pearl brooch. The Queen and the late Prince Philip had been in a bubble with some members of their household for the last year and so the monarch was not eligible to join a support bubble with other members of her family.

It is also being said that the Duchess of Cambridge became the peacemaker between William and Harry at the funeral service of their grandfather.

Amid speculations of them not seeing eye-to-eye after Harry and Meghan’s explosive Oprah interview, the three were seen chatting with each other and left the service together.

Reports suggest that Harry had a two hour long meeting with father HRH Prince Charles, brother William and his wife Kate to mend their relationship.

“There is no way this is the end of the crisis in their relationships but it’s a good gesture and a nice way to take the first step towards healing. William, Kate and Charles all left after about two hours, which was long enough for the process of getting father and brothers talking again to start,” The Sun reported.

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Prince Philip was laid to rest on Saturday in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel alongside the remains of 24 other royals, including three kings of England. His coffin, draped in his personal standard and topped with a wreath of flowers and his naval cap and sword.

The queen and senior royals accompanied the coffin as it was carried on a specially adapted land rover designed by Prince Philip himself.

The Royal family adhered to all the restrictions

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14 WOMEN'S VOICE

AsianVoiceNews

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24 - 30 April 2021

Not just women but men also find solace in cosmetic care surgeries Shefali Saxena According to the Mental Health Foundation, UK, research suggests that body image may be influenced by our relationships with our family and friends; how our family and peers feel and speak about bodies and appearance.

However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, statistics from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) showed that virtual consultations rose up to 70% during lockdown.

Self esteem and self expression 29 year old Shonali told Asian Voice that she underwent a cosmetic correction surgery under the guidance of a senior dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon who helped her get rid of her warts which initially made her less confident in appearance and mingling with friends at college.

Another woman, the mother of a toddler felt that her husband was cheating on her and she started feeling less confident about her looks and at some point felt “ugly”.

Therefore, she went on to get some fillers on her face and she started wearing make-up (which she never did before) to reignite passion in her marriage. It helped her.

Why only women?

Harriet Hall in her column for The Independent wrote a year ago and said, “Women write about

their cosmetic procedures as if through. Offering skin lightenthere’s empowerment in shaking ing treatment upfront is almost off the stigma, as though they are illegal in the UK. People with embracing their liberated choicdark spots due to acne marks and es and sticking it to the pigmentation can take some man.” treatment and can be Are cosmetic cleared off. The onus surgeries confined goes on us as doctors to only to women? control it and make Asian Voice spoke to sure that we don’t put Dr Puneet Gupta our patients onit for a Dr Puneet Gupta (who has practiced at long term.”

The cost and stigma Harley Street for 12 years According to Dr Gupta, the and now owns the Hunar cost of a wrinkle correction proceClinic) an aesthetic physician with dure is about £300 (3 times a year), more than ten years of experience Fillers go by how many syringes mainly specialising in skin care for are used to help women get big Asian and Black skin. pouty duck-like lips. They cost Dr Gupta said, “Male patients about £250-£300 on an average coming in for chest reduction. and last for about 6 months.

That’s huge now. Among the male Lightening treatments over a community, it’s acceptable to have course of four months, considera bit of a belly, but no man likes to ing Brexit amount to £400 to £500 have m**bs with a chest or breast and laser treatment bills up to on the top of it. I’ve seen a guy £2000. who is in his 50s and has never But how do people approach taken his top off and doesn’t go by cosmetic surgeons? “Some will the pool or by the beach. Now I come alone, some with their parthave grandchildren and they ask ners, some with a younger or me why I have breasts like elder sister, or mother. I had a mummy and then want to go out mother bringing her son for chest and do things with me in the pool reduction That’s a brilliant supand I've found that there’s someport to see. Women in their 40s thing that can be done now.” who don’t want their husbands to Touching upon the Asian know, they come when they are obsession with fair skin, Dr Gupta gone on business trips outside the said, “It is a very well accepted fact city for a couple of days,” Dr in our community that fairness is Puneet Gupta said. associated with being beautiful. I He continued to tell us that, see a lot of requests coming

“Anti-wrinkle treatment and filler enhance your looks and are more aesthetic which make women feel more confident. That’s almost become a day to day life thing, like how we all go for haircuts or regular manicure and pedicure.”

“A huge proportion of my clients of Asian origin come for acne scar reduction. It can be quite daunting for them. It improves their self esteem and it’s not just a cosmetic procedure,” he added.

Addressing myths about Liposuction, he said, “Liposuction is not meant for fat people. If you are fat, no amount of liposuction will help. Doctors who do it in one session, sound very appealing, with that huge amount of fat removed from your body, the body goes into a state of shock and then they die or get serious complications.”

Dr Gupta also said, “Imagine 20-30 litres of fat coming off from both legs, is like walking with a sand bag of 10 to 20 kgs tied to your each leg. You feel like flying after that.”

Meet the woman who introduced Tigernuts in the UK 32-year old Ayesha Grover, launched her first product last year utilising the unique, and relatively unheard of, ingredient - tigernuts. The business has seen incredible growth in its first year, thanks in part to the support from Amazon’s Launchpad and Amazon Small Business Accelerator programmes, and is expected to turnover £300k by the end of this fiscal year.

In an exclusive chat with Asian Voice, Ayesha shared the trajectory of her journey so far and spoke about the food choices of South Asians.

After a number of years working in London, graduating with an MBA in NYC and launching a fitness business in Mumbai, in 2019 when Ayesha finally returned to Lagos, Nigeria, she discovered tigernuts which she calls “an incredible super-ingredient”.

“As someone who has always tried to follow a natural, antiinflammatory diet (free-from dairy, gluten and other nasties) I was intrigued by these allergenfriendly bad boys. After some quick research, I learnt that

Ayesha Grover

tigernuts are a powerhouse of plant-based nutrition.

Of all the various functional health benefits associated with tigernuts, I was particularly intrigued by their ability to enhance gut health,” she said and added that she has suffered from digestive discomfort most of her life.

According to Ayesha, tigernuts contain more fibre than oats and chia, and it also happens to be the best type of fibre called resistant starch. This acts as a prebiotic, which serves as fuel for the good bacteria in your gut.

Ayesh said, “I was surprised by the lack of Tigernut aware-

ness in the UK. A product that helps with these issues AND tastes fantastic surely deserves attention.”

As a woman entrepreneur setting out in the pandemic, what did it take to partner with the Amazon Launchpad programme? “The application was online and a few weeks later I was contacted by a launchpad account manager for an interview. He asked me about the business so far and our plans for the future. He also explained the benefits of the launchpad program as well as the costs associated,” she told the newsweekly.

“Strp'd was going to be a launchpad brand from January 2021, which would mean extra exposure, support and premium content on our product detail page. In advance of launchpad, I quickly set up the strp'd store on Amazon so that I could get familiar with selling on Amazon and ensure that my product detail page was optimized before the launchpad launch,” she added.

When asked how the South Asian community can adapt and

evolve with the changing food options in the vegan market, Ayesha said, “I think it is important for all communities to be open minded to new plant-based discoveries in order to better their health and the planet.

Being a South Asian myself, it is relatively normal for myself and my family to eat vegetarian foods but eliminating dairy is more difficult, especially given it is a large source of vegetarian protein.”

Ayesha also said that being a woman founder is more of an opportunity than it is a challenge. “I do still believe that us women find it harder to celebrate ourselves. That's why at strp'd we encourage everyone to strip off your layers and show off the real you,” she added.

Ayesha continued and said, “I think this is a great time for women to start businesses and am so proud of the long way we have come. I am so grateful for all the work carried out by women entrepreneurs before me, who have made starting a business, as a woman, less challenging than it once was.”

Saira Khan is back with ‘The Big Lunch’ This year The Big Lunch, the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours kicks off on June 5.

Big Lunch Ambassador Saira Khan has been consistently encouraging the nation to get into the habit of safely eating and meeting. She said, “Research from The Big Lunch found that 12 million people are now closer to their neighbours than before the pandemic so what better way to celebrate

that friendship than by having a sociallysafe bite to eat together.”

The Big Lunch, an idea from the Eden Project, supported by The National Lottery and Iceland Foods, Saira Khan attracts millions of people across the UK each year. Last year the event was moved online to adhere to

Covid lockdown measures and over 4 million people took part in some digital dining. This summer The Big Lunch returns from June 5 – July 4 giving people a whole month to have socially-safe get-togethers in their neighbourhood, on the doorstep, over the

fence or online.

This summer The Big Lunch, supported by the National Lottery, returns from June 5 – July 4 giving people a whole month to pick a date for their Big Lunch. It could be a community picnic in the local park, a neighbourhood BBQ in the garden or simply raising a cup of tea to each other from the doorstep.

More information is available on www.thebiglunch.com.

in brief PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE UK CAN NOW TAKE THE VACCINE

Latest reports suggest that more than 90,000 women in the US have received their jabs for Covid-19. They have thankfully not shown any serious safety concerts. With this effect, hundreds of thousands of pregnant women have been given the green light to get their vaccines.

Bereaved families and campaigners are elated with this news.

“All pregnant women would be offered the Pfizer or Moderna jab based on their age and clinical risk group after real-world data from the US showed about 90,000 pregnant women had been vaccinated without any safety concerns, the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said on Friday,” The Guardian reported.

The new research also states that women who are trying to have a baby, recently had a baby or are breastfeeding can be vaccinated with any jab, depending on their age and clinical risk group.

SAMIRA AHMED IS “HAUNTED” BY BBC’S NEWS COVERAGE BBC’s news coverage that may have “built up” Nigel Farage and Ukip haunts presenter Samira Ahmed. Ahmed, the host of the audience feedback show Newswatch on the BBC news channel, cited Robert Jenrick’s role as a housing secretary (who is involved in a £1bn development proposed by a Tory donor called Richard Desmond), Samira has also said that the members of the cabinet “won’t resign over obvious issues that you might have expected them to”. She had successfully sued the BBC for an equal pay case in 2019.

In comments likely to reignite concerns about impartiality, Ahmed, host of the audience feedback show Newswatch on the BBC News channel, also said members of the cabinet “won’t resign over obvious issues that you might have expected them to”, citing Robert Jenrick’s role as housing secretary in a £1 billion development proposed by Richard Desmond, a Tory donor.

Ahmed said, “I’m haunted by that and I remember talking to editors about it,” she said. Hislop dismissed the view that panel shows should invite only people “who are considered absolutely acceptable”. He said: “That’s untenable and slightly dangerous.

And also, there is a problem — and this is the same problem as giving people the vote I’m afraid — that if you allow people airtime, which they probably are allowed, people might like them.”

The BBC has said, “All BBC news and current affairs journalists must avoid appearing to express personal views. We have discussed the video [of the event] with Samira and she is clear that she was referring to being ‘haunted’ by the number of complaints rather than trying to give a wider commentary.”

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in brief in brief

There needs to be a public health approach to male violence Shefali Saxena Sarah Everard's death has prompted questions on women safety. While the government has announced project vigilante, it is imperative to think about the safety of ethnic minority women who are wary of reporting domestic violence, honour killings and sexual abuse.

Asian Voice reached out to Apsana Begum, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse and Chair APPG Domestic Abuse to share her perspective on this matter.

She said, “In any conversations that affect minority or marginalised groups, it’s essential to be intersectional. It’s important to recognise that the threats to women from ethnic minority groups are different to those of white women. Honourbased violence appears in all walks of life, and we have to fight against the dangerous cliché that it exists only in ethnic minority communities or the Muslim community alone or in some communities more than others. Patriarchy may impact all women, but it is usually women with intersectional identities that suffer these worst.

This does not mean that women with any privileges should not be supported but that it is important to recognise that women, for example trans women, suffer more abuse and violence than

cis women.”

Police Crime Bill Speaking about why she is resisting the Police Crime Bill, Apsana told Asian Voice, “I believe that the Police Crime Bill is an assault on our civil liberties and human rights. The right to protest is key to a functioning democracy, as without it many would not have their voices heard. For those marginalised groups who increasingly feel mainstream politicians to be letting them down, protest is an incredibly powerful tool. It is a central tenet of a flourishing democracy. For this a government to have the power of shutting down protests at will is simple authoritarianism, and I will continue to stand against it in Parliament and on the streets.”

Shamima Begum case Shamima Begum is asking for another chance. We asked Apsana Begum to comment on that. She told Asian Voice, “I believe that Shamima Begum should have the right to trial in the UK, the country that she grew up in for 15 years. At the core of this issue is that of citizenship, which by some seems to be seen as a privilege and not a right. Shamima Begum is a UK citizen and there appears to be evidence that she was groomed.

She should be tried by our legal system.”

Hate crimes Boris Johnson is under pres-

sure to consider misogyny as a hate crime. Applauding the work of campaigns and her colleague Stella Creasy MP, she said, “The challenge is now to ensure that this is implemented in practice by authorities when crime is reported. However, I also believe that we must recognise that issues of misogyny and male violence will not be resolved by bolstering the prison system, which has been evidenced to reproduce the harmful impact of misogyny, including serial offenders. There needs to be a public health approach to male violence, and the protection of women and girls, which places restorative justice at its centre, to reach a permanent end to this.”

Ethnic minorities As the MP for a constituency that has a significantly large Bangladeshi population, Apsana said that she has seen how this community has been severely underinvested in and underprotected on the one hand, and heavily policed and excessively surveilled on the other. “I have been calling upon the government for greater protection for ethnic minority communities during the pandemic to stop such high numbers of deaths from continuing,” she said.

Women’s safety Since the murder of Sarah Everard there have been renewed calls for men to be

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INDIAN COOKERY SHOW IN HOT WATER FOR OFFENDING CHINESE Apsana Begum, MP

accountable for their actions and their violence. “I think men need to recognise the privileges they enjoy as men in society including the access and opportunities afforded to them, that women must work at least twice as hard to even be in reach of.

Even the basic right to be able to walk in the street without facing harassment or violence. It is not enough to recognise it, men must ensure that they are not contributing to these trends actively or passively, making the home, the streets, workplaces, and faith spaces inaccessible to women. Not enough men really commit to standing to a side (sometimes quite literally) to make room for women. It’s time that this happened,” Apsana told Asian Voice.

Message for Ramadan believe that Muslims Ramadan holds within it the power to change one’s own destiny. As we begin to emerge out of the pandemic, with our gains and losses, I wish Asian Voice readers the blessings that this month brings, including another chance at life and all new beginnings.

Ofcom rebuked a TV channel after presenters of a cookery show repeatedly used the phrase “ching chong” to express a Chinese-inspired meal.

The recipe for “ching chong usal”, a variation of a popular Gujarati curried bean dish, was broadcast on Colors Rishtey, an entertainment channel popular with Indian viewers in the UK. The watchdog investigated after a complaint that the host and a guest chef on Rasoi Show had used a “mock Chinese accent” to discuss the recipe. The broadcaster insisted the name of the dish was intended to be complimentary to Chinese cuisine and indicate its “fusion” heritage. It added that “ching chong” was not widely understood as a demeaning slur in India.

Ofcom ruled that the phrase, used was “likely to have been understood by viewers in a UK context as having clearly discriminatory connotations towards people of Chinese heritage”.

MILK INTRODUCED AS ‘RACIST ELEMENT An Extinction Rebellion campaigner says that offering milk had a “racist element” and has called on a local authority to introduce two plant based diet days a week in schools. Alison Plaumer’s petition on the Brighton and Hove council website argues that much of the world is lactose intolerant, including many people from ethnic minorities.

Drive for diversity could hinder army recruitment The military’s drive for diversity could mean it struggle to recruit enough personnel, the director of the National Army Museum has said.

Justin Maciejewski, a former brigadier, said that the armed forces must not lose sight of their “core workforce” by focusing too heavily on recruiting candidates from different backgrounds. The military has spent millions on campaigns aiming recruitment from different backgrounds, genders, sexualities and faiths. As a result, the policy could result in a fall in the number of applicants, he warned.

“So I think, in the modern world the army needs to be very mindful of who his-

torically has provided the bulk of the people for the army. Which is of course what we would have called in the old days working class families from right across the country whose sons and daughters have joined the army.”

Maciejewski further

added that the army had always struggled to recruit and that its size, which is to be reduced to 72,500 soldiers by 2025, “pushes the bounds of credibility”, adding that “for a country that wants to be on the UN Security Council it is a very small army”.

Approx 400,000 motorists sign to sue over ‘mis-selling’ of diesel cars A legal industry figure says that 9.6 million vehicles might be affected and the average payout could be £12,000. If one in three owners claim and the cases are successful, the total payout could match the scale of the PPI scandal, which cost banks £38 billion.

Nearly 400,000 motorists have signed up with law firms in the hope

of winning compensation for “mis-selling” diesel cars.

The biggest compensation movement since the PPI scandal is lawyers are promoting on TV and online to convince owners of almost every historic diesel car to register their interest in making a claim after the emissions scandal. The drive to sign up customers comes despite court proceedings

only having started against two manufacturers: Volkswagen and Mercedes.

Some people are already irritated about being “bombarded” with emails forcing them to make emissions claims. Claims firms insist that they comply with data and privacy laws but the industry has been beset by rogue operators over the years.

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Be fit and fearless this Ramadan Ramadan is challenging for all individuals who observe it with diligence. For women like Anum QaisarJaved who is trying to balance her job as a modern studies teacher with fasting and trying to win over the electorate ahead of a byelection next month, it can be a daunting task.

Psychologist Dr Omara Naseem, who is an Eating Disorder Therapist at the NHS has quite rightly appealed to Britons that, “Please remember fasting is not meant for those who are not well enough to do so and there are many other ways to participate in Ramadan.”

Sharing a list of dos and don’ts, Dr Omara listed some key points: Aim to eat complex carbs for Sehri such as oat and milk to keep you fuelled for as long as possible.

Keep hydrated and pace your water intake between Iftar and Sehri and try splitting Iftar into two parts to avoid feeling too full.

Members of the community are leaving no stone unturned to come forward and make the most of this spiritual season. Omar Sacranie, who runs Saints of

Mokha, a cafe in Evington Road has closed his doors to customers during the day in Ramadan and instead opens between 10pm and 2am. His menu includes Lebanese rice pudding, tahini and Medjool date energy balls and baklava overnight oats.

Meanwhile, medical staff and Islamic scholars have assured people that taking the vaccine would not invalidate a fast.

Councillor Mustafa Malik who is a trustee of the Islamic Centre said: "It's one thing saying that the vaccine is safe or suitable, but to host vaccination centres in places of worship gives people that extra trust and confidence."

The month of Ramadan is also known as the Oscar season for production companies in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the UAE, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia rolling out their best content. It is a great way to keep yourself engaged while you fast and navigate through the day while we’re in a pandemic which can be emotionally draining. From VHS to streaming, there are many viewing options available.

Rapper gets jailed for life in plotting solo attack Sahayb Abu, 27, a rapping jihadist from Dagenham in east London has been jailed for life after plotting a solo terrorist attack weeks after he had been released from prison. He bought a gladiator-style sword, balaclava and combat vest as he prepared his attack during the pandemic last summer.

He was arrested on July 9 after discussing guns with an undercover police officer on a group for Islamic State supporters on the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

Abu had previously been jailed for breaking into a

were jailed for collecting and disseminating terrorist documents. In 2015 his halfbrothers Wail and Suleyman Aweys joined Isis in Syria, where they are both believed to have been killed.

Sentencing Abu, Judge Mark Dennis QC said that “he of all people should have learnt from the fate of his younger brothers and jailed relatives. Instead, within weeks of your own release from prison you had sought out and joined other extremists committed to supporting and promoting that same violent cause, and within no time you were

getting ready to carry out your own act of violence on the streets of this country,” the judge said, praising the police for their investigation.

Lyrics sent to his brother before his arrest included: “Man I shoot up a crowd cos I’m a night stalker, got my shank got my guns straight Isis supporter, reject democracy.”

The judge said that Abu had “actively done things” to prepare for an imminent attack. As he was sent down to begin his sentence, Abu addressed the judge, saying: “Thank you very much.”

EVERYTHING YOU NEED THIS RAMADAN

Queues for six-hours are becoming untenable To almost anyone, standing in a queue for six hours is maddening after rules on international travel are relaxed from 17 May, officials have warned.

jeweller’s in a suspected effort to raise finances to travel abroad for terrorism.

Abu denied preparing an act of terrorism when he appeared at the Old Bailey and claimed the weapons and clothing were for use in a rap video. However, jurors found him guilty last month and he jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years.

His brother, Muhamed Abu, of south London, was cleared of failing to tell the authorities about the plot.

Abu’s brother, sister and brother-in-law had been linked to extremism, who

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Chris Garton, chief solutions officer, said that delays at border control were “well in excess of two hours and up to six” despite passenger numbers being a fraction of normal levels. He further added, “Rigorous inspections of each passenger’s paper-work, including the passenger locator form and proof of a negative coronavirus test, will cause bottlenecks, especially as the e-passport gates will be out of action.

The situation is becoming untenable. We want that bottleneck removed as quickly as possible. It will become a much bigger problem after May 17.”

People returning from abroad also face

home visits every day to check that individuals are complying with strict quarantine rules.

At present Heathrow has between 10,000 and 15,000 arrivals a day — 10 to 15 percent of pre-pandemic numbers. All those arriving should comply with the regulations and self- isolate for ten days. Fixed-penalty notices starting at £1,000 and increasing to £10,000 for repeat of- fences will be issued to those violating the rules. At present NHS Test and Trace staff call people in quarantine every day but instruct the police to carry out home visits only if they suspect someone is breaking the rules.

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18 UK - FINANCE

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Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel The Hidden Fees Fund Managers Charge are Killing Your Investments and Retirement Research from SCM Direct has laid bare a pattern of hidden costs charged by fund managers. The wealth management firm, run by Alan and Gina Miller, has been a long-term advocate of greater transparency in the investment industry. However, their findings may come as a surprise to some, with many fund managers charging double or triple their 'at a glance' fees.

SCM investigated the breakdown of fees on Fidelity and Hargreaves Lansdown for the 20 biggest funds in the UK All Companies sector. Their research exposed what they believe is a lack of transparency that is running rampant in the industry.

Hargreaves Lansdown average net charge for funds in the sector was 0.78 per cent. However, when platform and transaction costs, plus performance fees, were added on top, the charge rose almost double to 1.5 per cent.

It was a similar story for Fidelity. On their website site, their fees are stated as 1.07 per cent. However, once performance fees and platform costs were added, this shot up to 1.49 per cent.

Miller's Mission This is not the first time the Miller's have voiced their displeasure at the state of UK fund managers.

Since 2012, their True and Fair campaign has sought reform in the investment and pensions sector. In recent years, Gina has also drawn attention to "price fixing" in the industry. In 2017, she investigated 683 funds with £320bn under management and found that 70% had identical charges.

The Scale of Fees and Lost Returns According to an analysis by Candid Financial, the fees and lost returns involved are considerable. They looked at four investment options: Hargreaves London, Close Brothers, AJ Bell and Interactive Investor.

Hargreaves had the highest fees, with Interactive Investor charging flat fees of £9.99 and £19.99 for ISAS and Sipps, respectively.

If you invested £100,000 with each platform over 30 years, with an annual growth of 5%, this is what you would lose in fees and lost returns.

Hargreaves London: -£121,307 Close Brothers: -£103,144 AJ Bell: -£102,787 Interactive Investor: -£85,962 Fees should be a significant consideration for investors. The lack of transparency among fund managers can make a massive difference to returns.

Why Investors Should Be Cautious About Funds Other hidden fee tricks that funds use were exposed in recent years. M&G and Jupiter were shown to be charging administration fees far in excess of their rivals. Indeed, by applying blanket admin fees and retaining any surplus, these funds were pocketing significant returns at their investor's expense. By indexing their admin fees to profits, each percentage increase saw them draw in more money, despite admin costs being a fixed expense.

The Cost of Investing in Funds In an excellent and comprehensive article by the late Vanguard founder John Bogle, he outlines four separate hidden costs that could lose investors 33% in returns.

Transaction Costs Mutual Funds and ETFs buy and sell shares of funds. These transaction costs can add up quickly because of their high volume, as index funds buy and sell shares as investors enter and exit the funds. Bogle puts these transaction costs at around 0.5%.

Cash Assets Shares should outperform cash. However, many funds keep cash as they await opportunities. This, according to Bogle, means 5% in cash = 0.3% in a missed opportunity for investors.

Sales Loads Buying into a loaded fund can cost around 5%.

Investors can avoid this by using an advisor, which could cost about 1%. However, even if you bypass an advisor, you could be set to face brokerage fees.

Compound losses Bogle suggests these charges total around 2.27%.

This total may not seem huge, but when compounded, they become significant. He suggests that actively managed funds will shave a staggering 1/3 off of your actual returns after 40 years.

I want everyone to learn how to invest for themselves, or at least the right questions to ask their fund manager, or financial advisor. I create a Campaign to teach for free people how to invest better and so they feel they are seated next to me, connect with me on instant messenger and see what I see. It’s all free on www.campaignforamillion.com

Greensill scandal: Probe into lobbying rules involving living ex-PMs The Greensill Capital/David Cameron scandal revolving around the UK's lobbying rules has now knocked on the door of former British prime ministers. In latest updates, a full inquiry could call all living ex-prime ministers as witnesses, along with key figures in the scandal. This involves company founder Lex Greensill, former civil servant Bill Crothers, and former Cabinet Office chief John Manzoni. Other key figures including George Osborne, and Nick Clegg are also reportedly expected to be invited as witnesses.

Chaired by the Tory MP

of conduct. It has already invited Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, John Major, and David Cameron to give evidence.

Revelations are being made almost every week, with former Whitehall chief procurement David Cameron officer Bill Crothers being the William Wragg, the inquiry newest name to be associatby MPs on the public admined with Greensill. Head of istration and constitutional government procurement affairs committee (Pacac) overseeing an annual £40bn may recommend harsher budget, Crothers joined sanctions for those breachGreensill as a part-time ing lobbying rules or codes adviser in September 2015,

two months before leaving the civil service. He later became a director at Greensill in August 2016.

One of three launched by different select committees, the inquiry has agreed it will look at the codes of ministerial conduct, and for special advisers and officials, to see how effective they are.

It will probe the role of the advisory committee on business appointments, which is intended to advise on potential conflicts of interests for ex-ministers and senior officials. It will also examine the role of consultants and contractors within the government.

Sanjeev Gupta splits empire to maximise government Covid benefits Tycoon Sanjeev Gupta reportedly restructured his business empire last year to tap into the UK government's coronavirus lending scheme. A report by The Financial Times reported that companies affiliated with Gupta applied for hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer-backed loans via Greensill Capital, which in turn, tapped the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Gupta's main lender, Greensill's March collapse has left his GFG Alliance breathing for air. It employs

35,000 people, all of whom are at risk of losing their jobs right now. So, while Greensill was authorised to provide only £50m to a single company via the scheme, GFG is not a consolidated legal entity, but a loose collection of businesses owned by the Gupta family.

Gupta incorporated new entities last year to further split up his empire, with the sole purpose of securing more taxpayer-backed loans through Greensill.

The news comes a week after Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed all Greensill loans

have been suspended, while the British Business Bank, which ran the scheme, investigated Greensill's compliance with its terms.

Also, companies owned by Gupta's family members and associates also borrowed money under the scheme.

Meanwhile, Credit Suisse revealed its suspended supply-chain finance funds had $1.2bn of exposure to Liberty Steel. The Swiss lender's four supplychain finance funds ran a total of $10bn of assets when they were frozen in March.

GFG said last week that

Sanjeev Gupta

“many of Greensill's financing arrangements with its clients, including with some of the companies in the GFG Alliance, were prospective receivables programmes, sometimes described as future receivables.”

Sunak launches BoE Greensill wildfire: Top civil officers told to reveal digital currency task force remain a global financial private work centre despite the loss of jobs and business that has

The latest to get caught in the Greensill wildfire, top civil officers of the UK government have been demanded by senior officials to disclose any private work they may take on. A report by The Times reveals Cabinet Secretary Simon Case ordered all departments to tell him immediately if senior civil servants had paid roles or external interests that may conflict with their primary job.

He was quoted as saying there was “acute concern” at the top of White Hall about the “serious issues” raised by David Cameron's lobbying work for financial company, Greensill Capital, that collapsed last month. Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced questions in the Parliament, and seemed defensive on what lines may have been crossed. He said, “I do think it is a good idea in principle that top civil servants should be able to engage with business and to have experience of the private sector. When I look at the accounts I'm reading today, it's not clear that those boundaries have been properly understood.” The Greensill-Cameron scandal has already taken in many top ministers in its clutches. The company's March collapse put thousands of jobs at risk at Liberty Steel's UK plants. Conservative MP and No. 10's anti-corruption champion, John Pen Rose called for an overhaul of lobbying rules, saying the “future of our democracy” was at stake.

He said it was too difficult to “link up who ministers have met with, who the lobbyists are working for, with who is donating money to which political party.”

Matthew Moulding pledges to donate £100 mn for charity Self-made billionaire and The Hut Group founder, Matt Moulding has pledged to donate £100m to the Moulding Foundation, a charity set up to help victims of domestic violence and homelessness. The company revenue soared 41.5 per cent to £1.6 billion in 2020, and underlying profits climbed 35 per cent to £151 million. The decision reportedly came after Moulding met Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Rishi Sunak

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a top-level task force to look into the benefits and risks of a Bank of England digital currency.

Speaking at a financial industry conference, he said a joint Treasury-BoE task force was being set up as part of a range of measures designed to boost the City following Britain's departure from the EU. The task force will be jointly led by the Bank's deputy governor for financial stability, Jon Cunliffe, and the Treasury's director general of financial services, Katharine Braddick. The two would “coordinate exploratory work”, said Sunak. He said he wanted the City to be at the forefront of innovation and to take advantage of regulatory freedom after Brexit. The chancellor is also keen to show that the City will

occurred as a result of Brexit.

BoE said that the task force would engage widely with stakeholders on the benefits, risks, and practicalities. Questions revolving around the move include how the Bank intends to get the new currency into the economy, how households and businesses would use it, and the implications for financial stability. Sunak, meanwhile, said his proposals would enhance the UK's competitive advantage in fintech.

“Our vision is for a more open, greener, and more technologically advanced financial services sector.

The UK is already known for being at the forefront of innovation, but we need to go further. The steps I've outlined today, to boost growing fintechs, push the boundaries of digital finance and make our financial markets more efficient, will propel us forward. And if we can capture the extraordinary potential of technology, we'll cement the UK's position as the world's pre-eminent financial centre.”

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Govt won't go for lockdowns in big way: Sitharaman Amid surging coronavirus cases in India, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it clear that the government would not go for lockdowns in a big way and only resort to local containment. In a virtual meeting with World Bank Group President David Malpass, Sitharaman appreciated the initiatives of the international financial institution to increase the lending space for India to enhance availability of finance for development.

“Even with the second wave, we are very clear that we are not going in for lockdowns in a big way. We don’t want to totally

Nirmala Sitharaman

arrest the economy. The local level isolation of patients, or households which have people in quarantines are the methods through which the second wave

will be handled. There shall not be lockdown,” Sitharaman said.

According to a World Bank statement, Malpass and the finance minister discussed the importance of the partnership between the Group and India, including recent programmes in civil service and financial sector reform, water resource management and health.

They discussed India’s Covid-19 response as well as the country's large domestic vaccine production capabilities, the statement said.

8 entities apply for bank licences in India The Reserve Bank of India released names of eight entities that had put in an application for either a universal bank or a small finance bank (SFB) licence.

Sachin Bansal’s Chaitanya India Finance, former Citibanker Pankaj Vaish and Akhil Kumar Gupta are among the applicants for a bank licence.

Chaitanya India has earlier announced its intent to pursue a banking licence. Non-bank lender UAE Exchange had first applied in 2017 when it was still part of the BR Shetty Group of companies. It has since been sold and renamed Unimoni.

The other applicants are

REPCO Bank - a governmentpromoted cooperative lender operating in the southern states, and Vaish.

Coincidentally, the names were released on the same day that Citi announced its decision to exit consumer banking in India,

among other markets.

The other four applicants for an SFB licence include banking technology provider VSoft Technologies, Calicut City Cooperative Bank, Dvara Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services and Akhil Kumar Gupta.

Last month, the RBI had appointed a fivemember panel to screen the application for new bank licences. The committee is headed by former RBI deputy governor Shyamala Gopinath.

The standing external advisory committee (SEAC) has a term of three years.

Property Surgery

Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

We have just finished refurbishing 6 flats in NW London. The aim is to give them to the council to rent out. The advantage is the tenants we have in mind will probably always be on housing benefit, and thereby they will not have a job to lose in the coming times. I, for one, am pessimistic regarding the economic future.

The sugar coating of the economy will in time brush off, and then the stark reality will be there for all to see.

If this is the case, it’s best to prepare for this outcome now. The downstairs is commercial which has planning for residential conversion, however, the estimates have come in a lot higher than I had hoped for. The conversion cost is at about £300K for 2 four bedroom flats.

Unfortunately, no matter who you hire, it’s your money on the line, and therefore, you have to get a grip on the project to ensure money is not being spent whimsically.

This may take some time to get to grips with and, therefore, you do not want the pressure of high financing costs on one side and time on the other.

It made sense then to refinance the project early, so it will be on a stable BTL term rate, giving breathing space to concentrate both on a cost reduction exercise and to see how we can add further value to the building via planning permission.

As we would be refinancing, the product would be based on a commercial rate, as the downstairs of the building is commercial; albeit, it’s the smaller segment of the building and it has planning for residential.

However, there are only two definitions - commercial or residential. In the same way when you purchase a property, you pay stamp duty according to whether it’s residential or commercial; irrespective of the size of the commercial element. There’s a possible stamp duty strategy buried within this criterion, by the way. The difference in rates between commercial and residential is 1.3% when comparing the 5 year fixed rates. On a borrowing of £1.575M this equates to £20,750 per annum, or over £100K over the 5 year period. This is sizable enough to take the time to investigate how this expense can be reduced.

The property is currently on one freehold title. The 6 flats occupy the 1st and 2nd floors. One could cut the 2 floors from the title and issue a long lease on one title, say 999 year lease. This then would be refinanced on the residential rate, saving £100K over the term of the loan and the freehold would rest unencumbered with the commercial element on the ground floor.

The definition of freehold land, is that one owns the land below to the centre of the earth and all the air right stretching up in to the universe; the definition borders almost on science fiction.

The point here being, if the freehold rests with the ground floor commercial property, the rights to develop the upper floors of the building rest with this title.

The other major advantage is if the whole building was refinanced on a commercial rate, at the time of further development the whole building would need to switch to bridging rates. This would cost several hundred thousand pounds extra.

Tata Sons exits BPM biz, offloads Conneqt stake Tata Sons has sold its remaining 30% in the business process management (BPM) unit Conneqt to Quess Corp majority owned by IndianCanadian businessman Prem Watsa - for £20.8 million.

With this, Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has exited the BPM business it founded in 2004.

The exit is a result of it pruning its non-strategic portfolio. In November 2017, Tata Sons had sold 51% of Conneqt to Quess. Two years later, its stake in the Hyderabad-based company fell by 19% after it didn’t participate in an equity funding programme of Conneqt. On the other hand, Quess’s interest in Conneqt increased to 70% from 51%.

Since Conneqt came into Quess’s fold, the BPM unit has expanded. Revenue grew to £97.6 million in fiscal 2020 from £73.9 million in fiscal 2018. Tata Sons has sold Conneqt shares for Rs 46.4 apiece to Quess pursuant the exercise of its put option. The transaction values Conneqt at nearly £70 million.

Complete ownership over Conneqt will allow Quess to realise synergies between its BPM businesses better.

Though Tata Sons has exited Conneqt, it continues to have an interest in BPM through TCS’s cognitive business operations (CBO).

During the Q4 of fiscal 2021, the CBO won multiple firsttime outsourcing deals, said TCS, in which Tata Sons owns over 70%. BPM, for the uninitiated, is the new avatar of BPO. It is the preferred acronym as BPO had acquired connotations

of low-end call centre work, denting its public image.

Also, the business model has changed with players offering a whole range of non-voice services including handling of high-end tasks.

TCS’s CBO is a service line and not a separate business unit as it was in the past. In 2013, TCS had acquired Citi’s back-office operations for $505 million, which was the largest M&A in the sector. Conneqt, on the other hand, has emerged as the second largest BPM player in India with 21 delivery centres and employing over 29,000 people.

TESLA URGED TO START MANUFACTURING IN INDIA Union minister Nitin Gadkari has suggested Tesla to start its manufacturing facility in India so that it “doesn’t miss a golden opportunity”. Sources said the minister has told the company not to “undermine” the capability of Indian manufacturers in the EV space. Gadkari had a web-based interaction with some of the senior representatives of Tesla recently. He said the American company has plans to start selling its cars in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. A source said while Gadkari welcomed Tesla’s plan to make its products available to Indian buyers, he told the company that Indian car makers are also making huge progress in the EV segment and would be able to give competition to Tesla in the next few years. “Tesla is already taking a lot of components from the Indian manufacturers. So there will be availability,” the minister said, adding, the government will provide support, if the company manufactures its products here in India.

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20 WORLD

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Hardliners take 11 cops hostage in Pak, later free them ISLAMABAD: Eleven Pakistani police officers seized by supporters of a radical Islamist group as part of their campaign to get the French ambassador expelled have been released, officials said.

The officers were grabbed as hostages on Sunday by supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) during violent protests in Lahore.

Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Monday announced that after a successful round of negotiation with TLP, the banned outfit had released 11 policemen taken hostage from Lahore a day earlier. “First round of negotiations have been successful which have led to TLP releasing the policemen it had held hostage.

The second round of negotiations will begin after ‘sehri’,” The Express Tribune quoted the Minister as saying in a video message.

The 11 hostages included a Deputy Superintendent of Police. On Sunday, clashes erupted between TLP members and police at Multan road in Lahore, leaving “a few” group

supporters killed and more than 100 injured, according to sources. For at least three days, TLP protesters have choked Pakistan, staging sit-ins at the main highways.

Angry mobs have had violent confrontations with the security forces, resulting in martyrdom of three police officers, while a hundred others were critically injured due to the torture and assault they suffered in the hands of the TLP protesters. On April 14, the Pakistan government decided to put a ban on TLP under the anti-terrorism law, the summary of which was later approved by the Prime Minister.

In November last year, the TLP had staged a sit-in in

Rawalpindi demanding expulsion of the French Ambassador over publication of blasphemous caricatures. The protest brought the capital Islamabad and other major cities to a complete standstill as highways were blocked by the protesters and violent confrontations with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons were used by security forces to disperse the mob.

However, the group ended the protest after reaching an agreement with the government, claiming that all of its four demands had been accepted. The government had agreed to involve Parliament to decide the matter of expulsion of French Ambassador within three months. As the deadline ended on February 16 and the government failed to meet the agreement terms, TLP decided to take to the streets again with the same demand.

France asks citizens to leave Pak Meanwhile, the French embassy in Pakistan advised its

nationals and companies to temporarily exit the country after cadres of TLP) indulged in violence in all major cities, smashing private vehicles, thrashing policemen and blocking traffic to protest against the arrest of their leader Saad Hussain Rizvi from Lahore.

The French advisory was issued even as the Pakistani cabinet approved a summary to ban TLP by declaring it a “terrorist” organisation. Interior minister Sheikh Rashid said a notification in this regard will be issued shortly. Anti-France sentiment has been at the centre of TLP’s agenda since it held protests last November against comments of President Emmanuel Macron over the publication of cartoons in France depicting Prophet Muhammad.

According to media reports, the French embassy confirmed that, due to the prevailing situation, all French citizens and firms were advised to leave the country temporarily. “The departures will be carried out by existing commercial airlines,” an embassy official said.

US imposes visa restrictions on Ugandan govt officials WASHINGTON: The United States has imposed visa restrictions on Uganda officials who allegedly undermined democracy and respect of human rights during the recent general elections. Antony J. Blinken, the US Secretary of State, said the restrictions have been imposed on those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Uganda, including during the country’s January 14 general elections and the campaign period that preceded it.

“The Government of Uganda’s actions represent a continued downward trajectory for the country’s democracy and respect for human rights as recognized and protected by Uganda’s constitution.

Opposition candidates were routinely harassed, arrested, and held illegally without charge,” Blinken said in a statement.

“Ugandan security forces were responsible for the deaths

and injuries of dozens of innocent bystanders and opposition supporters, as well as violence against journalists that occurred before, during, and after the elections. Civil society organizations and activists working to support electoral institutions and transparent electoral processes have been targeted with harassment, intimidation, arrest, deportation, and spurious legal charges and denial of bank account access.”

The Secretary of State further stated that the government of Uganda limited accreditation for international and local election observers and civil society, but those who were able to observe the process noted widespread irregularities before, during, and after the election, which have undermined its credibility.

He added that the electoral process was neither free nor fair. “Nevertheless, we continue to urge all parties to renounce violence and respect freedoms

of expression, assembly, and movement. The Government of Uganda must significantly improve its record and hold accountable those responsible for flawed election conduct, violence, and intimidation.”

Blinken also warned that the US government will continue to evaluate additional actions against individuals complicit in undermining democracy and human rights in Uganda, as well as their immediate family members. ” The United States also emphasizes that we strongly support the Ugandan people, and we remain committed to working together to advance democracy and mutual prosperity for both our countries.”

UN tells Uganda to end crackdown Earlier, UN human rights experts urged Uganda to immediately stop the brutal crackdown on the political opposition which began in the lead-up to January's general elections and intensified after the disput-

in brief INDIAN TRUCK DRIVER GETS 22- YEAR JAIL

A 48-year-old Indian-origin truck driver was jailed for 22 years for ramming his vehicle into Australian police officers and killing four of them last year on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway. Mohinder Singh pleaded guilty to four counts of culpable driving causing death, three charges of trafficking a drug of dependence, and one charge of possession of a drug of dependence at the trial at Victoria’s Supreme Court. Singh was fatigued and drug affected. He stopped on his route to do a drug deal, before veering into the emergency lane of the freeway in Kew and ploughing his 19-tonne prime mover into officers and their stationary vehicles last April, Australia’s The Age newspaper reported.

2 EVER GIVEN CREW TO RETURN TO INDIA Two crew members on board the cargo vessel that blocked global shipping in the Suez Canal last month will be allowed to return to India owing to urgent personal circumstances, the Suez Canal Authority said.

The Ever Given has been anchored in a lake between two sections of the canal since being dislodged on March 29 and is caught in a legal dispute linked to a $916 compensation claim made by the SCA against the ship’s Japanese owner. The SCA said it was “sparing no effort to ensure the success of the talks” and was cooperating with the shipping agency to make sure the crew’s needs are provided for. The 400metre vessel was stuck in the canal for six days, holding up passage of more than 400 vessels.

Antony J. Blinken

ed vote. "We are particularly alarmed by the reports of widespread and continued repression against opposition leaders and their supporters," the experts said. "More than 50 people have been killed as a result of the brutal policing methods, including the use of live ammunition fired without warning, and at least 20 others have lost their lives in incidents linked to the electoral context."

Veteran ruler Yoweri Museveni was declared winner of the disputed election results.

Egypt seizes container for blocking Suez, demands $900 mn

Myanmar forces arrest top leader of anti-coup protests

CAIRO: Egypt is demanding $ 900 million in compensation after the blockade of the Suez Canal at the end of March, and the container ship that caused it has been seized in the meantime, the government said. The head of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) had sought a compensation for the damage suffered when Ever Given was stuck near 'a week across the canal, crippling traffic on this crucial seaway.'

Egypt made 'mistake' in this incident, he said, by blaming the ship. 'The negotiations are continuing and there are still many points (of stumbling block) with the company and the insurance', starting with the 'sum,' said Admiral Ossama Rabie. A source within the SCA confirmed that negotations with the Japanese company Shoei Kisen, owner of the ship, and insurance companies are continuing.

The admiral indicated that his country wanted the payment of 900 million dollars. 'ThePanamanian ship Ever Given was seized due to the non-payment of the sum of $ 900 milliondollars by virtue of a judgment rendered by the economic court of Ismailia', he said. The amount corresponds, according to the same source, to 'losses caused by the boat to the Authority in addition to its refloating and maintenance operations'.

MANDALAY: Myanmar security forces arrested one of the main leaders of the campaign against the military rule after ramming him with a car as he led a motorbike protest rally, friends and colleagues said.

Opponents of the February 1 coup that ousted an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi have kept up their campaign against the military with marches and various other shows of defiance.

“Our brother Wai Moe Naing was arrested. His motorbike was hit by an unmarked police car,” Win Zaw Khiang, a member of a protest organising group, said on social media. Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year old Muslim, has emerged as one of the most high-profile leaders of the anti-coup rallies.

Some colleagues said they feared for Wai Moe Naing’s safety. The Swedish embassy said it was following his case and urged that all detainees be allowed proper health care and their human rights be respected. The US embassy also condemned the reported incident. A spokesman for the junta could not be reached for comment. Earlier, soldiers opened fire in Mandalay to disperse protesting medical workers and one man was killed and several wounded when security forces fired in a nearby neighbourhood, media reported.

LANKA BANS 11 MUSLIM ORGANISATIONS Sri Lanka has banned 11 Muslim organisations, including the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, a week ahead of the second anniversary of the Easter Sunday suicide blasts (April 21). Anyone linked to the groups - the other nine of which are local religious and social organisations - faces up to 20 years in jail, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in a gazette notification.

Some of the groups banned had previously been linked to the lead bomber. The move, made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, was “in furtherance of the efforts of the government made in good faith for the purpose of ensuring the continuance of peace within the country,” Rajapaksa said.

The notification specifies that any person who acts in contravention or conspires to act would be sentenced to jail terms between 20 and10 years.

INDONESIAN CYCLONE DEATHS REACH 181 The death toll from the tropical cyclone Seroja that recently hit Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province has increased to 181, while 47 people remain missing, according to the latest official data. At a virtual press conference held by the country’s disaster mitigation agency, the province’s deputy governor Josef Nae Soi reported that at least 250 people are still suffering injuries caused by the flash floods and landslides triggered by the cyclone earlier this month, reports Xinhua news agency. The number of evacuees, according to him, was nearly 50,000 people.

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in brief EXHAUSTED BY BATTLING COVID, MINISTER QUITS Austrian health minister Rudolf Anschober of the Greens, the junior partner in the conservative- led coalition, said that he is stepping down, exhausted and sick from battling the Covid pandemic. “I ... do not want to break myself,” he said, describing blood-pressure problems that have caused him to take sick leave twice recently. “In the worst health crisis in decades the republic needs a health minister who is100% fit. That is not currently me." Anschober, a 60-year-old former journalist and teacher, is one of the country’s most popular politicians. He has also, however, often been a lone voice in government calling for stricter lockdown measures in the face of high infection numbers. That has meant clashing with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's conservatives.

EVIAN FLAYED FOR APOLOGY TO MUSLIMS Evian has been criticised by French conservatives after its apology to Muslims for an advert posted on social media on the first day of Ramadan. The company, owned by the Danone group, was accused of bowing to American-style “woke” pressure when it withdrew a marketing post that said: “Retweet if you have already drunk a litre of water today.” The post had prompted accusations of Islamophobia on social media and from commentators because Muslims are forbidden to drink or eat anything in the day time during Ramadan. Gilles Verdez, a commentator on the C8 television channel, said: “Evian’s message is commercial Islamophobia.” Within hours, Evian apologised.

“Sorry for the clumsiness of this tweet which was not in the least intended as a provocation,” it said.

That triggered a much bigger storm from conservatives.

CANADA MP APPEARS NAKED ON PARLIAMENT ZOOM A Canadian lawmaker left red-cheeked after appearing stark naked on a House of Commons Zoom conference call has apologized to his colleagues. William Amos, a Liberal MP, was caught covering his nether regions with a mobile phone and in a state of nature between the flags of Quebec and Canada when his laptop camera turned on during the virtual session. "I made a really unfortunate mistake today & obviously I'm embarrassed by it," the 46-year-old tweeted after the incident in his office was made public. "My camera was accidentally left on as I changed into work clothes after going for a jog. I sincerely apologize to all my colleagues in the House. It was an honest mistake + it won't happen again."

US COP WHO SHOT BLACK MAN TO BE CHARGED The white Minnesota police officer who fatally shot Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old black man, after appearing to mistake her handgun for Taser will be charged with second-degree manslaughter, a prosecutor said, following three nights of protests over the killing. The charges against the officer, Kimberly Potter, come a day after she and the police chief both resigned from the Brooklyn Center police department. Hundreds of people have faced off with the police since Wright’s death as Americans prepare for a verdict in the trial over the murder of George Floyd by a cop.

Wright was shot after being pulled over “expired car registration.” Officers found there was a warrant out for his arrest, and Potter accidentally drew her pistol instead of her Taser.

Trump supporters used deceptive tricks to make unintended donations Washington: Former US President Donald Trump’s fundraising campaign used deceptive tactics to trick supporters into donating millions of dollars that they never intended, according to a media report.

According to The New York Times report, Trump’s supporters ended up making more donations than they intended as the campaign used pre-ticked boxes on fundraising emails, tricking them to make repeat donations while they intended to make just one-off payment.

As people started complaining that more money was deducted from their accounts than they had made payments for, Trump’s re-election campaign was forced to issue $122.7 million in refunds to supporters in 2020, amounting to nearly 11 per cent of the money it raised,

said the report.

The Trump campaign and the company that processed its online donations, WinRed, had begun using dark patterns by June 2020. This refers to computer interfaces that the campaign designed to trick people to make repeated monthly and weekly donations by pre-checking the checkboxes for such options, thereby burying the fine print under paragraphs of bold text.

Thus unless donors inspected the fine print of an online disclaimer and manually untick the pre-checked boxes, they were forced to pay far more than they intended until Election Day arrived. One Kansas City supporter account got tapped for $3,000 one month when the person intended to make donation of $500.

For another supporter, a $990 donation had become $8,000. Playing down the claims of widespread fraud, Trump spokesperson Jason Miller said that internal data determined 0.87 per cent of its WinRed transactions were sub-

ject to “formal” credit card disputes. “The fact we had a dispute rate of less than 1 per cent of total donations despite raising more grass-roots money than any campaign in history is remarkable,” Miller was quoted as saying.

US seeks greater role of India, other regional powers in Afghanistan W A S H I N G T O N : Acknowledging that India among other countries in the region has a significant stake in Afghanistan, the Biden administration has pledged to ask regional nations to do more to support Kabul even as Washington packs up from the strife-torn country by September 11 after a failed 20year effort to defeat the Taliban.

US secretary of state Anthony Blinken, on his way to Kabul following the announcement of the US pullout, said during a stopover at the Nato headquarters in Brussels that despite some differences there are some shared interests across a number of countries, whether it is Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and others, in not seeing Afghanistan

descend back into civil war.

“The risks that could pose to them, including potentially extremism and terrorism directed against them, refugee flows heading in their direction, drugs as well, all of those argue that countries will have an interest and also some influence with the parties in Afghanistan to try to keep things moving in a positive direction (sic),” he noted, without mentioning the Pakistan military’s widely known and well-chronicled role in subverting Afghanistan through its Taliban proxies for its strategic goals. “I think countries will now have to look hard at the interests that they have, look hard at the influence they have, and decide whether to use that in ways that ensure that Afghanistan is not a source of

instability and a source of terrorism and extremism,” he added.

Blinken was following up on similarly vague remarks by President Biden in a national address in which he said Washington “will ask other countries in the region to do more to support Afghanistan, especially Pakistan, as well as Russia, China, India, and Turkey” since they all have a significant stake in the stable future of Afghanistan. Biden did not mention Iran, which has a long and unstable border with Afghanistan. The basket of countries also have different interests and stakes in Afghanistan, with India alone devoting huge resources in an effort to put the country on track to be a modern and plural

democracy to account for its diversity.

The upcoming US pullout without specific plans to shore up a weak government in Kabul has caused concern in New Delhi, where there is apprehension that a vacuum, in the words of India’s chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat, could create “space for other disruptors”.

Afghanistan is a nation which is rich in resources, and there are nations “that tend to exploit resources for their own benefit without the benefit going to the community of that nation,” Rawat noted at the Raisina Dialogue 2021 without mentioning either Pakistan or China, calling on international community to ensure “Afghanistan is for the Afghans”.

Indian vaccine maker urges Biden to lift embargo on raw material exports WASHINGTON: The boss of India’s Serum Institute, the world’s largest maker of coronavirus vaccines, has asked President Biden to lift a US embargo on exporting raw materials needed to make jabs.

Vaccine makers and experts in India have recently expressed concerns that America’s Defense Production Act is resulting in the export of critical raw materials being stopped. This is hobbling vaccine production in other parts of the world, they say.

“If we are to truly unite in beating this virus, on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the US, I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the US so that vaccine production can ramp up,” Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute, said.

He added that pivoting away from suppliers in the US could result in a delay of up to six

Adar Poonawalla

months for the production of the Covid-19 vaccine developed

by Novavax. The Serum Institute and Novavax have signed a deal to supply 1.1 billion doses of the vaccine to the UNbacked Covax facility to distribute it equitably across the globe. However, the institute recently paused exports to Covax after a devastating surge of infections in India resulted in

increased domestic demand.

More than 250,000 new infections have been detected in the Indian now. Hospitals are overwhelmed and authorities are scrambling to try to vaccinate enough people to slow down the spread. But in doing so, India relies heavily on AstraZeneca shots made by the Serum Institute of India.

Poonawalla had said the

unavailability of the raw materials, such as the specific medium needed to grow microorganisms, would prevent the Serum Institute from scaling up the production of the vaccine developed by Novavax.

The company had been planning to make up to 40 million shots of the vaccine monthly. Ramping up production of this shot could also help India.

Novavax has applied for emergency use of the vaccine to regulators in Europe, the US and the World Health Organisation. If approved, India would be able to use the shot under new regulations that make it easier to give the go-ahead to vaccines that have received the nod from the UK, US, Europe, Japan or WHO. Earlier this week, Stephane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, said that export embargoes were also preventing US vaccine makers from exporting shots globally and resulting in shortages.

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“Theplas are ready to deliver” Meet the 77-year-old grandmother and owner of ‘GujjuBen Na Nasta’ Kunjal Zala “I truly believe that if you're healthy - age is just a number,” says 77-year-old grandmother Urmila Jamnadas Asher who has become the family’s strength at this age. Every stage of her life made her stronger and motivated to do more for her family.

She had three children, all of whom have passed away. Her daughter was around 2-yearsold when she accidentally fell off a building and died, her older son died of brain tumour and the younger one died due to heart failure. She was the one who held the family together and motivated all to not lose hope. When her only grandson, Harsh Asher met with an accident and disfigured his face, once again she became the family’s strength.

Currently, Urmila is helping Harsh set up his future with

'GujjuBen Na Nasta', a small food business where they deliver fresh, home-cooked snacks all over Mumbai. In conversation with Asian Voice, Harsh shares their story and plans ahead.

1. Why did you name the startup 'GujjuBen Na Nasta'?

It came naturally. Gujaratis love to travel and one of our favourite travel companions is ‘theplas’ and loads of other ‘nasta’ (snacks). Our mother and grandmother never forget to slide in that pack of khakras and theplas into the trolley bag.

Hence, this name is not only dedicated to all the mothers and grandmothers who lovingly make their nasta and cherish it, but also a testimony to my grandmother’s dedication 2. At the age of 77, what motivates your grandmother to work for 80 hours a week?

What cricket is to Sachin, cooking is to my grandmother.

She does not require any

motivation. She's so passionate about cooking that she forgets about time. She starts working at 7 in the morning and leaves the kitchen at 9pm, after all orders for the day have been delivered.

3. How do you manage so many orders at a time?

It started with a very small idea and we were not aware that this would take off so well.

Initially, we were making dry nasta like ‘chivdas’ but now we also serve healthy and hygienic home cooked Gujarati meals. We have divided the work smartly.

Daadi (grandmother) is usually in charge of the kitchen along with few other members and is always keeping a tab on what's more, while we selling grandchildren take care of the marketing and business development.

4. Did you ever think that your grandmother’s hobby would turn into a full-fledged startup,

Kumbh camps wear deserted look as seers, pilgrims leave A day after PM Modi’s appeal to hold Kumbh mela in a symbolic manner, most of the camps bore a deserted look as seers of prominent sanyasi akhadas like Juna, Atal, Agni, Ahavan, Niranjani and Anand – who have announced closure of Kumbh for their seers – started leaving their camps. Those who could not, were planning to do so in view of the state-wide lockdown that has now been imposed in Uttarakhand on Sundays.

Mahant Hari Giri, patron of Juna Akhada said that almost 80% of seers from his akhada had already left Kumbh and only a few seers will take a symbolic dip on the last shahi snan on April 27. “We do not want to risk the lives of the seers and pilgrims coming to Haridwar at a time when Covid cases are rising phenomenally.

Therefore, a collective decision was made regarding closure of the Kumbh by our akhada,” he said. Juna Akhada - the largest of the 13 sects of seers in the country - had pulled out of the religious festival after convening a meeting of its core committee on Saturday.

Meanwhile, seers of the Bairagi and Udasin sects reiterated that they will continue to stay on in the Kumbh mela and will participate in the last shahi snan.

According to estimates, around half of the seers and most of the devotees from the Bada and Naya Udasin akhadas had left the Kumbh mela area. While the Bairagi seers were camping on, presence of devotees in their camps - where religious discourses and skits are being organised ahead of Ramnavami - was extremely low. Presence of devotees at the evening Ganga aarti at the Har-ki-Pauri ghat, which draws millions of pilgrims, was also minimal on Sunday.

“Even though some seers are saying that they will stay for the last shahi snan, most of the camps are almost empty. The Kumbh is more or less over and we estimate that the devotee numbers will further decline in the next few days,” said an official from the mela administration.

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to its chief Avadheshanand Giri to wind up the rest of the Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, Juna akhada - the largest

of the 13 sects of seers in the country pulled out of the religious festival. Juna is the third akhada, after Niranjani and Anand, to withdraw from the event, scheduled to continue till April 30, citing concerns about Covid-19, and its decision was quickly followed by pullout calls by two other fellow Shaivite akhadas - Avahan and Agni.

The decision to conclude the Kumbh by the akhadas concerned came in the backdrop of fear about spread of Corona infection among the droves of devotees.

The death of Mahanirvani Akhada’s head, Mahamandaleshwar Kapildev Das, earlier this week had intensified the fear. Although some of the akhadas, especially the Vaishhnavaite ones, are averse to the idea of calling off the celebrations prematurely, the step taken by Juna akhada is likely to be a goad for them to pare down the festivities.

Nirmohi akhada chief mahant Rajendra Das said, “All three Bairagi akhadas appreciate PM Modi’s advice but it is not possible to take a bath symbolically on the last shahi snan. We are asking our followers to not arrive in large numbers. Only seers will take a dip on the last shahi snan,” .

Avadheshanand Giri said that consensus was emerging among other akhadas and seers to conclude the celebrations shortly or, failing that, prune its scope.

At any rate, the decision of akhadas is likely to also ensure that devotees drop the idea of taking the holy dip at Haridwar, thus relieving the authorities of the worry of thousands getting infected and turning into carriers of the virus. “About 400 of our seers have left the camp on Saturday,” Hari Giri, who is also general secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, said.

that too in the unprecedented times of pandemic?

Honestly, it started more like a passion inherited from my super enthusiastic grandmother.

Daadi inspired me with her dedication for making of delicious food recipes and her mission of encouraging people to have "strictly homemade food".

We innovated to attract the taste buds of today's youth with dishes like Manchurian Sticks, Vadapav Khakra, Mini Paneer Samosas, Wheat Chips and a lot more.

5. What are the future plans of expansion?

We want to take Daadi's love for cooking and her tasty and comforting nasta across the world so that Gujaratis as well as Indians don't miss out on the authentic, home cooked meals.

We would also like foreigners to try out Daadi's delicious snacks & meals because we are confident that it will be loved by one and all.

Urmila Jamnadas Asher

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Investors knocking at doors of Manmohan Singh tests positive J&K, influx likely after April: Sinha Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that large number of investors are knocking the doors of Jammu and Kashmir for investments following approval of Industrial Policy and there could be huge crowd of investors after April for which the Land Policy has been drafted and approved by the Administrative Council.

“There is going to be huge crowd (of investors) after April,” he said, adding the Government has been completing all requisite formalities for the purpose of investments by April. Sinha said the Union Territory Government has undertaken series of reforms to facilitate investments, including developing a real single window system.

“The Land Policy (for attracting investments) has been drafted and approved by the Administrative Council and is now in public domain,” the Lieutenant Governor said. “With a ready Land Bank and plethora of opportunities waiting for them, the investors will find Jammu and Kashmir a promising and lucrative destination for their investments. A £2.84 billion worth New Industrial Development Scheme will certainly boost the morale of entrepreneurs and investors,” he added.

He expressed confidence that private players will also come in the healthcare sector in Jammu and Kashmir. “All efforts would be made to bring the big players in the healthcare sector in the Union Territory,” he said, adding investors from across the globe are eyeing Jammu and Kashmir as their preferred investment destination.

The Lieutenant Governor announced release of £25 million worth second installment

Manoj Sinha

of five per cent interest subvention across the board as part of £95 million Industrial Package given in October last year.

He said the Jammu and Kashmir Bank has utilized first installment of £25 million interest subvention and, now the second installment of an equal amount has been released. “When this amount is utilized, we will release third installment,” he added.

Sinha said 16,800 youths have so far been given financial assistance to the tune of £26.4 million under ‘Back to Village’ (B2V) and ‘My Town My Pride scheme for becoming entrepreneurs.

He termed the initiative as Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s home delivery of services to the aspiring entrepreneurs. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor handed over a cheque of £25 million to Jammu and Kashmir Bank as second instalment of five percent interest subvention under economic package as a relief for the business sector in Jammu and Kashmir.He said around 341,000 small and big businessmen and business establishments have availed the benefits of interest subvention.

Govt eases rules for OCI cardholders Easing the rules for overseas citizen of India (OCI) card holders, the government has dispensed with the requirement of getting one’s OCI card re-issued each time a new passport is issued to him/her up to 20 years of age and once after attaining 50 years of age. A person registered as an OCI cardholder before turning 20 now needs to have the card re-issued only once after completing 20 years of age, so as to capture his/her changed facial features.

For those issued OCI cards after 20 years of age, they will not need to get the card reissued.

However, they will be required to upload a copy of the new passport containing their photo and also a latest photo on the online OCI portal, each time a new passport is issued up to 20 years of age and once after completing 50 years of age, says the new OCI card regulations approved on the directions of home minister Amit Shah.

The documents may be uploaded by the OCI cardholder within three months of receipt of a new passport. Those registered as OCI cardholders as a foreign-origin spouse of an Indian citizen or OCI cardhold-

er, will be required to upload a copy of the new passport containing the photo of the passport holder and also a latest photo along with a declaration that their marriage is still subsisting, each time a new passport is issued. These documents may also be uploaded by the OCI cardholder spouse within three months of receipt of his/her new passport. A home ministry release said the new details will be updated on the system and an auto acknowledgment sent through email to the OCI applicant. There will be no restriction on the OCI cardholder to travel to/from India during the period from the date of issue of new passport till the date of final acknowledgment of his/her documents in the web-based system. All the above services of uploading documents will be provided free to OCI cardholders, the ministry said.

The OCI card is very popular among foreigners of Indian origin, and foreign origin spouses of Indian citizens or OCI cardholders, as it helps them hassle-free entry and unlimited stay in India. So far, about 37,72,000 OCI cards have been issued.

STOP PRESS

Derek Chauvin convicted of murder for killing George Floyd Former police officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder for killing George Floyd, for kneeling on his neck for more than 9 minutes- a crime that prompted wide spread Black Lives Matter protests in the US and across the world. Derek now faces up to 40 years in prison, but is likely to receive a shorter sentence according to legal guidelines, The Guardian reported.

The jury swiftly and unanimously convicted Mr Chauvin of all the charges he faced - second and third degree murder,

George Floyd and Derek Chauvin

and manslaughter. A lack of oxygen in turn caused brain damage, heart failure and death of Mr Floyd.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Monday after testing positive for Covid-19. “Wishing our former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh ji good health and a speedy recovery,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a statement said, “I am deeply concerned to learn that Manmohan Singh is unwell & has been hospitalised. On behalf of all of us in the Congress Party I send my good wishes to him for a speedy and complete recovery.”

As the country struggles with the rising number of Covid cases, it seems the political class of the country is not safe from the virus either. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tested positive. The leader on Tuesday informed about the development on Twitter. He urged people who came in contact with him recently to follow all safety protocols.

In another development, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went on self-isolation as a precautionary measure after his wife Sunita tested positive. These two leaders join a growing list of politicians who have now tested positive for the Coronavirus.

Here is a list of all political leaders who have contacted the virus in the last few days.

Jitendra Singh Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, tested positive on 20 April. He announced on his Twitter that he had tested positive with symptoms and urged those who came in contact with him get themselves tested.

Akhilesh Yadav Former UP Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader tested positive for the virus on 14 April. He is currently in home isolation.

K Chandrashekar Rao Telangana Chief Minister tested positive on Monday, 19 April. He had been suffering from mild fever and other symptoms before getting tested. The Chief Minister is in home isolation at his farmhouse under the watch of

a team of doctors.

Kiren Rijiju Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju contracted the Covid virus which came to light on 17 April. He announced on Twitter that he was feeling ‘fit and fine’ and following the advice of the doctors. He is in self-quarantine.

Prakash Javadekar Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on 16 April tested positive.

He requested whoever met him in the last 23 days to get tested.

H.D. Kumaraswamy Former Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy tested positive for coronavirus on 17 April. His mother too had tested positive recently while his father is in isolation as a preventive measure.

B.S. Yediyurappa Chief Minister of Karnataka, B.S. Yediyurappa tested positive for the second time on 16 April. Though he was doing fine, he was hospitalized on the advice of doctors.

He is under the watch of his family doctor.

Yogi Adityanath UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was found positive on 14 April. His test results came a day after few staff members at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) were found to have got infected. Following this, the Chief Minister had gone into isolation.

Omar Abdullah Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah tested positive on 9 April. He informed via Twitter that he was ‘completely asymptomatic’. He went on selfisolation after the test. Last month, his father Farooq Abdullah had also tested positive.

Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan tested positive for the disease on 8 April, around the initial phase of the second wave.

Though he had no symptoms, he was moved to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital to be monitored.

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Karnataka records biggest single-day spike of Covid-19 cases BENGALURU: Karnataka logged its biggest single day spike of 19,067 new cases of Covid-19 and 81 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 11,41,998 and the deaths to 13,351.

The state had previously reported its biggest single day spike of 17,489 cases earlier.

Bengaluru Urban alone accounted for 11,404 new cases, a health department bulletin said. The day also saw 5,565 patients getting discharged after recovery, taking the total discharges to 10,09,549.

According to the bulletin, out of 1,19,160 active cases,1,18,571 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and stable, while 589 are in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Among the deaths, 43 are from Bengaluru Urban, Hassan and Mysuru (8), Kalaburagi and Tumakuru (3), Ballari, Bidar, Chamarajanagara and Dharwad (2), and one each from C h i k k a b a l l a p u r a , Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Kolar, Mandya,

Shivamogga and Uttarakannada.

Mysuru accounted for 811 fresh cases, Kalaburagi 560, Tumakuru 507, Bidar 359, Ballari 355, Dakshina Kannada 309, followed by others.

Kerala sees 18,000 new cases Kerala has reported the highest single-day spike of 18,000 new Covid-19 cases in a day. The state has also registered 25 deaths in the same time span.

The state has also recorded 4,565 new recoveries in 24 hours. The current total death toll of the state stands at 4,929. A total of 11,40,486 Covid-19 patients have been reported in the state, so far.

Kerala health department has claimed that everyone coming to Kerala from other states should register on eJagratha portal. The department also said that those who have been vaccinated also should carry out RT-PCR test within 48 hours before arriving in the state. The department further added that those who are not vaccinated should undergo RTPCR test as soon as they arrive in

Kerala and remain in room isolation at their place of residence till the results of the examination are received.

10,694 fresh cases in TN Tamil Nadu 10,694 recorded positive cases on Sunday, bringing the state tally to 9,91,451. Among these, Chennai reported 3,304 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 2,83,436. The state recorded 42 deaths, putting the state toll at 13,113. Thirty five of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 5,925 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 9,07,947.

According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 2,11,87,630 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 1,10,130 samples having been sent yesterday.

There are 263 Covid testing facilities in the state, out of which 69 are government and 194 are private facilities.

Meanwhile, the state government issued a set of fresh restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19. The restrictions include a night curfew from 10 pm to 4 am and full lockdown on Sundays. As per the fresh restrictions, public and private bus transport, including autorickshaws, taxis, and other vehicles, will not be allowed to ply during the night curfew hours and on Sundays. Essential services will be allowed to function during the curfew hours.

PUNJAB

Punjab imposes stricter curbs as Covid-19 cases rise CHANDIGARH: As Covid-19 cases continue to rise rapidly across the country, including in Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered stricter restrictions, including extension of night curfew timings (8 pm to 5 am), closure of all bars, cinema halls, gyms, spas, coaching centres, sports complexes, with restaurants and hotels to be open only for takeaway and home delivery from Monday to Saturday.

Rates for RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) by private labs have been reduced to Rs 450 and Rs 300 respectively (with additional charges for home collection of the samples), in a bid to promote increased testing.

Gatherings of more than 20 persons, including for weddings/cremations, have also been banned across the state.

Prior approval of the district administration needed for all

gatherings of more than 10 persons, except for cremation.

The new restrictions, which also include closure of all malls, shops and markets on Sunday, coupled with the ones imposed earlier, will remain in effect till April 30, announced the chief minister, directing the police department to strictly enforce the restrictions, taking support of civil society organisations wherever needed. All weekly markets have also been ordered to be shut down.

The chief minister also ordered that all people flying into

Punjab should have a negative RT-PCR not more than 72 hours old, else they would have to undergo RAT testing at the airport. He also ordered that people who have attended large gatherings anywhere (religious/ political/social) to be mandatorily home quarantined for five days and tested as per protocol.

The chief minister directed the transport department that number of people in buses, taxis and autos be restricted to 50 per cent of the capacity. In a bid to check inbound travellers, the chief minister also directed that Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) booths should be set up at bus stands and railway stations and all passengers checked. All eligible persons should be also be vaccinated.

The chief minister ordered postponement of the recruitment exams for Patwaris and directed

the Medical Education Department to hold online examination for 1st, 2nd & 3rd year MBBS/BDS /BAMS and 1st year Nursing students. The chief minister reiterated his appeal to all religious, social and political leaders to desist from organising large gatherings, encourage vaccination and motivate people for Covid appropriate behaviour, especially wearing of masks and avoiding gatherings.

He further said that military hospitals in the cantonments in Punjab had assured the state government of all possible help to tackle the surge, while private hospitals had already been directed to reserve 75 per cent beds for Covid patients. He said that no elective surgeries should be conducted in any government or private hospitals till May 15 and all OPD patients must be tested, besides encouraging them to get vaccinated.

WEST BENGAL

EC firm on not clubbing remaining phases in Bengal NEW DELHI: Refusing to club the remaining three phases of elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission on April 16 reduced the time for campaigning by three hours in view of the renewed Covid-19 crisis. The poll panel ordered that campaigns now go on until 7 pm. Earlier the limit was 10 pm.

It also extended the silence period from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three of the eight phases of the West Bengal assembly polls to be held on April 22, 26 and 29.

During the silence period, which is usually for 48 hours, parties and candidates cannot hold rallies and meetings.

Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamool Congress was

sidelined in an all-party meeting held to raise the demand of clubbed phases on April 16. “There will be no rescheduling of the remaining phases of polling in West Bengal,” a senior official in the state CEO’s office said after the meeting.

The decision came on a day when Revolutionary Socialist Party’s Jangipur candidate Pradip Kumar Nandi died of Covid-19 at a hospital in Berhampore, the second candidate in West Bengal to fall victim to the ongoing pandemic after Congress’ Samsherganj candidate Rezaul Haque.

Political parties were asked

by CEO Ariz Aftab to strictly follow the Covid-19 protocol of wearing masks and maintain

physical distancing while campaigning for the remaining phases. In the first 15 days of this month, West Bengal registered 49,970 new cases of the contagion and 151 fatalities.

“This meeting was not called to discuss rescheduling, though we had a request from one political party on that.

(However) no decision was taken to reschedule the remaining three phases of polling,” the official sais.

The organisers of the public meetings and rallies will be responsible for providing the masks and sanitisers to all attending them at their cost, the official added. The meeting was called by the CEO following a Calcutta high court directive to ensure strict

implementation of Covidrelated protocols amid political campaigns for the remaining phases of polling here.

TMC leader Partha Chatterjee said that in order to save lives and control spread of the pandemic, the last three phases may be clubbed, while ensuring democratic rights are upheld.” The BJP, however, sought continuation of the eight-phase election plan. “A level playing field has to be maintained…We have advised the Election Commission to balance the need for a robust democratic culture with safety norms, BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta said after the meeting. The Left Front too wanted to continue with the eight- phase polling schedule.

in brief FOUND GUILTY, KERALA MINISTER QUITS More than two years after allegations of abuse of power first surfaced, and four days after the Kerala Lokayukta found him guilty of nepotism and violation of oath of office and held that he should not continue in his post, higher education and minority welfare minister K T Jaleel resigned last week. In a Facebook post, Jaleel said he was resigning on “moral grounds” but it is reliably learnt that CPM and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, both of whom had supported the minister even at the height of the opposition’s campaign against him, finally decided that it was time that the minister stepped down. “I am happy to say that those who had been baying for my blood can be relieved for now. I have submitted my resignation to the chief minister. Since the past two years, I have been facing a media onslaught,” Jaleel said in the post.

KARNATAKA CM TESTS POSITIVE FOR SECOND TIME Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted to say that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. In a brief post, Yediyurappa said that he was fine but had been hospitalised on the advice of doctors.

The 78 -year-old was earlier hospitalised on August 2, 2020 after he tested positive for coronavirus. The chief minister had been campaigning over the last few days in the north Karnataka constituencies that are voting in by-polls. The announcement came a few hours after Yediyurappa chaired an emergency meeting with Health Minister K Sudhakar and top officials to discuss the Covid situation in the state. Yediyurappa has so far ruled out a lockdown but curfew is in place in seven cities till the 20th.

SIDHU URGED TO ACT AGAINST SACRILEGE CASES Senior lawyer HS Phoolka has asked Congress MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu to take action as justice has not been done in the 2015 sacrilege incidents. The government has come under fire after the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state to reconstitute SIT without IPS officer Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh. On October 14, 2015, the police had opened fire on those protesting sacrilege, killing two persons. In a letter written to Sidhu, he appreciated him for his stand on righteousness, be it against his own party. The former AAP MLA reminded Sidhu that how both of them together defended Justice Ranjit Singh’s report in the assembly in August 2018 and requested the government to initiate action.

Questioning the ‘accountability’ of the government, he said, “after two-and-a-half years, action from the government is still awaited.”

78.36% VOTING IN BENGAL PHASE 5 ELECTION In Phase 5 of assembly elections held in West Bengal on April 17, 45 constituencies in the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Bardhaman saw enthusiastic voter turnout. As many as 319 candidates, including 39 women were in the fray. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the key players in the poll battle. Among the 45 constituencies, Maynaguri reported the highest turnout of voters with 85.65 per cent, while the Matigara-Naxalbari constituency recorded 81.65 per cent and Barasat recorded 77.71 per cent. Bidhanagar saw 61.10 per cent of voters and Siliguri saw 74.83 per cent turnout. Locals in Kurulgacha area of Deganga assembly constituency allege that Central Forces opened fire, but Barasat SP submits a report saying that the allegations were not based on facts.

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THIS TOO SHALL PASS Continued From page 1 A joint statement by the UK and India announced, “In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not be able to travel to India next week.

“Instead, Prime Ministers [Narendra] Modi and Johnson will speak later this month to agree and launch their ambitious plans for the future partnership between the UK and India. They will remain in regular contact beyond this and look forward to meeting in person later this year.”

On last Friday, despite No 10 insisting that the trip would go ahead after cutting short from 4 days to a day, they decided to entirely drop the plan, after a total of 103 cases of the Indian variant have been detected in the UK The trip that aimed at boosting trade and investment ties and signing of the UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership, had originally been due to take place in January. But it was called off because of the UK lockdown.

During the 4-day visit plan, Mr Johnson was meant to go to Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai, besides New Delhi and was also meant to be joined by a delegation consisting of businessmen and journalists from the UK. Mr Johnson said it was frustrating to have to call off the trip but said much of the work could be done remotely before they met in person.

Though many details about the strength and major characteristics of this variant (officially known as B.1.617) is unknown, some scientists believe UK is already late from preventing another surge by delaying the decision to close border to India.

As hospitals in India run short of bed and oxygen, India has widened its vaccination programme to all adults over the age of 18, who will be offered a coronavirus jab starting from 1 May. However, with vaccines in short supply in many states, it is unclear where these additional doses will come from.

Fight to save India from complete lockdown: PM Modi As more states went for lockdown-like

restrictions to battle the raging second Covid-19 wave, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed that use of lockdown should be the "last resort" and that the focus should rather be on microcontainment zones. Modi's remarks in his address to the nation where he also said the second wave has become a major crisis came on a day when India's active Covid-19 cases crossed 2 million after India sees more than 259,170 new infections and a record 1,761 new fatalities.

PM Modi said the Centre, state governments and the private sector are working together to make oxygen available to all those who need it. Efforts are on to increase the number of beds for Covid patients in hospitals, he added.

Earlier, during a meeting via video conference, Modi asked vaccine manufacturers to scale up production capacity to vaccinate all citizens in the shortest possible time. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said all ministers have requested Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to impose a complete lockdown in the state from 8 pm tomorrow. “We have made our request. Now it is up to the CM to take the final call,” Tope was quoted as saying. Curfew-like restrictions on the movement of people in the state were already imposed on April 14 and would be in effect till May 1.

The new fatalities include 503 from Maharashtra, 170 from Chhattisgarh, 161from Delhi, 127 from Uttar Pradesh, 110 from Gujarat, 81 from Karnataka, 68 from Punjab, 66 from Madhya Pradesh, 50 from Jharkhand, 42 each from Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, 29 from Haryana, 28 from West Bengal and 25 from Kerala. Since the number of cases increase alarmingly, there is acute shortage of hospital beds, oxygen and medicine in almost all states.

Gujarat on tenterhooks Gujarat added yet another record high of 11,403 Covid cases and 117 deaths. The flood of cases on a daily basis has manifested in queues which are getting longer outside designated Covid-19 hospitals across the

A grandmother among 4 Sikh victims of US shooting Continued From page 1 According to IMPD, at least 100 people were in the building at the time.

One of the workers Amarjeet Johal, a grandmother, who was getting ready to leave work when the shooting took place. “When they went to identify her body, she had her paycheck in her hand. She was ready to go,” said Komal Chohan, the grand daughter of Amaarjeet.

Amarjeet, whom Komal described as a maternal figure to everyone in her family, was supposed to be celebrating one of her grandchildren’s birthdays, but she did not make it home. She was also eagerly talking about the younger Johal’s roka (engagement ceremony). “She was so excited. She was going to have the day off tomorrow,” said Johal. “It’s so hard. This is reality. This is something that really happened,” said Johal.

According to police, Hole was armed with a rifle. They said the rampage was over within minutes. There was no confrontation as Hole quickly got out of his car and began shooting.

Johal’s uncle, also an employee at the facility, was working at the time. Police have not released any details about a motive; however, members of the Sikh and Punjabi community are calling it a targeted act of violence and domestic terrorism.

Komal said her grandmother overcame many challenges in her life. She, like many Sikhs, fled India after the 1984 Sikh genocide.

“They fled being persecuted because of who they are. It’s why most of them left India.

They wanted better lives for themselves. They come here and end up in similar situations.

It’s just terrible,” said Johal.

“She didn’t need to work. She just did it because she wanted to buy things for her

grand kids,” said Johal. Johal described her grandmother as a woman of few words.

When she spoke in her soft-spoken voice, she would shower those around her with words of love. Her mere presence would light up a room.

Sikhs call for gun reforms Members of Indianapolis’ Sikh community joined with city officials to call for gun reforms as they mourned the deaths of four Sikhs in the mass shooting at a FedEx warehouse. At a vigil attended by more than 200 at Indianapolis, Aasees Kaur, who represented the Sikh Coalition, spoke out alongside the city’s mayor and other elected officials to demand action that would prevent such attacks from happening again. “We must support one another, not just in grief, but in calling our policymakers and elected officials to make meaningful change,” Kaur said. “The time to act is not later, but now. We are far too many tragedies, too late, in doing so.”

The attack was another blow to the Asian American community a month after authorities said six people of Asian descent were killed by a gunman in the Atlanta area and amid ongoing attacks against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kiran Deol, who attended the vigil said loopholes in the law that make it easier for individuals to buy guns “need to be closed now,” and emphasized that anyone who tries to buy a firearm should be required to have their background checked. “The gun violence is unacceptable. Look at what’s happened … it needs to be stopped,” Deol said. “We need more reform. We need gun laws to be harder, stronger, so that responsible people are the ones that have guns. That’s what we want to bring awareness to.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

state. Experts said that the widening mismatch between people falling ill and those recovering has triggered a crisis of hospital beds with oxygen with almost all government and private facilities conceding they are bursting at the seams with the overload of patients. By Monday evening, 88% of the beds across Gujarat were reported occupied. In Ahmedabad, out of 5,578 beds in 160-odd hospitals, 97% were occupied with only five beds available in a ventilator or ICU. Even the MediCity had 2,300-plus patients, indicating 98% occupancy with no ICU or ventilator available.

Delhi placed under lockdown for a week A beleaguered Delhi government has imposed a week-long lockdown in the city from 10 pm onwards on Monday till 5 am on April 26 to arrest the alarming rise in Covid cases. The surge has left the healthcare infrastructure stretched to its limits and caused acute shortage of oxygen. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal warned that if strict measures were not taken now, the healthcare system could collapse. All nonessential movement will remain shut with the aim to break the chain of coronavirus transmission.

Yogi govt rules out lockdown The Uttar Pradesh government refused to go for a lockdown, saying it was necessary to protect livelihoods of people, after the Allahabad High Court directed the state government to enforce closure of government and private establishments in

five cities - Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur and Gorakhpur - till April 26 to break the lethal Covid chain.

Hours after the high court directive, the UP government issued a statement, saying a “full lockdown would not be implemented in cities right now. People are voluntarily shutting establishments.” “In light of high court order, it is to be said Corona cases have gone up in the state and there is need for strictness in controlling spread of the virus.

The government has taken several steps and in future will also take more severe steps,” a government spokesperson said.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials to check black marketing of remdesivir and other Covid-19 medicines, and invoke the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against those found guilty. During a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the state, Adityanath said one lakh more vials of remdesivir have been ordered and over 30,000 will be brought to the state in the next two to three days.

Positivity rate double Amid a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, the daily positivity rate in the last 12 days doubled from 8% to 16.7%. A consistent rise was seen since April 12 even as tests increased only marginally. Chhattisgarh recorded a phenomenal 30.3% infection rate.

The national weekly positivity rate has increased from 3% to 13.5% in the last one month. Besides Chhattisgarh, states and UTs like Goa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Ladakh also reported high positivity during April 11-17, depicting a steep rise in weekly positivity as compared to a month ago (March 11-17). Goa (24.2%), Maharashtra (24.1%) and Rajasthan (23.3%) have weekly positivity above 20%, indicating the need for much more testing and containment.

Two Gujarat doctors back to work, hours after mothers’ cremation Continued From page 1 “It was a natural death. I finished the cremation rituals with my family and returned to Vadodara,” said Parmar, who is with Preventive and Social Medicine Department at SSG. Officer on special duty for Covid-19 in Vadodara, Dr Vinod Rao, said the Covid warriors displayed great personal commitment and devotion to duty even amid their mourning. But for warriors like Dr Patel or Dr Parmar, service to humanity is literally their only form of worship at the moment. Dr Parmar had to fight a personal battle with coronavirus last year when he got infected in December while on duty. “I was admitted for five days here (in SSG) itself. I was administered remdesivir and after 14 days’ quarantine period, I had rejoined duty,” said the doctor who has been handling the tough task of coordinating and handing over bodies of Covid-19 victims to their immediate

families for more than a year now.

Dr Shilpa too has been on Covid-19 duties on rotation every month since the beginning of the pandemic. “We had shifted my mother from Mehsana to Vadodara after the private practitioner there told us that we will have to arrange for remdesivir ourselves. Since she was admitted at the SSG only, I could at least keep visiting her,” said Dr Shilpa, adding that her mother was admitted on April 7 and she died on April 15. She, along with her brother, carried their mother’s body wrapped as per Covid protocol in an ambulance and cremated her at Akota crematorium.

Recalling how her parents always taught her to work with dedication, Dr Patel said that her mother had insisted that she should stop worrying about her and concentrate on her duty just a couple of hours before she passed away. Dr Patel said, “Based on rotation, my Covid duty was supposed to begin at 9 am on Thursday, but mom departed before that.

Vaccine for all above 18 starting May 1 Vaccinations will be opened to all above 18 from May 1, the government announced after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings over India's response to record daily surges in Covid cases. All adults can get Covid shots and states can buy doses directly from vaccine-makers in the "liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination", the government said, on a day the country reported 273,000 new daily cases in the highest spike since the pandemic broke out a year ago.

India began inoculating people in January using two Covid vaccines - Serum Institute of India's Covishield developed by OxfordAstraZeneca and Bharat Biotech's made-in-

India Covaxin. So far, the government had allowed vaccinations only for health workers, frontline workers and those above 45 in a centrally-controlled process.

26 ART & CULTURE

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“How can you say that people like regressive shows in 2021?” - Anup Soni Shefali Saxena Actor Anup Soni, an NSD (National School of Drama) graduate, was born and brought up in Punjab. When Anup came to Bombay (now Mumbai) in the late 90s, cinema was very different from television. Speaking to Asian Voice, Anup said, “I was always offered some hero’s friend or small role which I thought wasn’t the correct way in my journey. That was the time when television was emerging beyond Doordarshan.

Satellite channels like Zee and Sony were already there. Star wasn’t a 24X7 channel, but they had a weekly programming schedule.”

Anup also mentioned that he doesn’t belong to a film family. In the late 80s when he was studying in Jaipur, he knew he liked acting. He said, “I joined the theatre circuit. I was doing LLB. I used to work with small theatre groups. There was no plan of becoming a professional actor. I then joined the National School of Drama. We were a regular common middle class family of India.”

“My base is theatre,” he said and shared that he’s done plays like classical Indian drama, based on Ramayana which was very contemporary. He also did a mix of international scripts also. “Later on when I came to Bombay I still kept in touch with theatre,” he said.

Anup’s first big and successful break was a show called SeaHawks that was directed by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha.”I had a brilliant role in that show. That was my turning point and the show was very successful,” he said.

Speaking about his revolutionary show Balika Vadhu that changed the dynamics of Indian television, Anup told Asian Voice that it was April 2008 when he began

working on it.

“I was approached in November 2007 for Balika Vadhu. I desperately wanted to take a break from TV and wanted to introspect as an actor where I’m going. I got the offer twice and told them I don’t want to do anything for the next four months.”

He rejected Balika Vadhu twice, only to be convinced by co-actor and good friend Smita Bansal to take up the outdoor schedule of the show and it became a revolution. “The writing, dialogue, and screenplay were very thoughtful.

We had a sense that this was something different,” Anup said.

Evolution of television Sharing his perspective on the evolution of television from the time he started to 2021, Anup said, “Change is constant.

Television has come a long way.

Technology has played a very important role in the range of work we do. TV shows are now shown in 100 countries.

When I was doing Balika Vadhu and I traveled to the USA or UK, or even in a place like Mauritius, SriLanka or Canada, you just can’t imagine, people recognised you on the road.

Doordarshan days are gone.

Satellite channels had taken TV to a different level and reach.

Now you have daily soaps that have one episode every day.”

Anup further explained that back in the day, Television was close to realism and cinema was

primarily imaginary and fictitious with more dreamy stories. “Today the change is that television is far away from realism (due to daily soaps), and cinema has come back to realism, including the OTT platforms,” he said and continued, “The reason why television was so successful is because of the writing. The content was liberating, thought and very provoking revolutionary. I did a show called Kartavya in those days and I got recognised for it in NewYork which was an afternoon show about a family.

Content was very rich in television in those days.”

The paradigm shift But what’s the actual paradigm shift in content viewing? Quite aptly articulating that, Anup said, “Today, because we are catering to a different kind of audience, the makers and platforms will say that this (daily soaps) is what the audience is liking. But my logic is that we are talking about 2021 when the generation is 100 times more smart than it was in the 2000s. If they used to like progressive shows back then, how can you say that they like regressive shows in 2021? I feel it’s a very catch 22 situation where you’ve addicted the audience with regressive shows.

We’ve come back to daily soaps and Naagin, which are regressive shows. So if you have 100 shows out of which 99 are regressive, and you put one progressive show and it doesn't work, you can’t blame the latter. You have to create 95 progressive shows out of 100 (with five regressive shows) to be able to judge what the audience really likes today.”

For the love of theatres His latest film on Zee5, Raat Baaki Hai is based on a play called Ballygunge 1990 which Anup started doing in 2018. “We were performing till

18 Feb 2020. We’ll perform that play again. Plays will always be part of my work. But right now my focus is on OTT and films. I’m not doing TV,” he told Asian Voice.

Talking about the importance of theatrical plays, he said, “The beauty of theatre is live performance. Yes producers record the play. It’s a live art. You can’t replace it with digitisation at all. Theatre is going to be here. The live performances are never going to die. If theatre had to be dead, this was the time because you have so much to watch on OTT. We have kept tickets for Rs. 2000 , our minimum ticket price has been 500, a movie ticket is lesser than that. We’ve done housefull shows.”

Advice on choosing acting as a profession Sharing his two cents on young aspiring actors, Anup said, “Don’t come to this industry just because you’re enamored with the glamour of this profession. If that is the focal point, then you might achieve that, but the fact of the matter is that it is not permanent. It will fade sooner than you think. You will not be able to handle it.” Anup said that he has also gone through days when he’s been low but he managed because he’s truly passionate about acting.

“Parents are very smart and sharp enough to judge whether their child is just enamored or actually passionate about this profession. Judge yourself and go by your gut feeling,” he added. After a solid body of work in films, TV and theatre, Anup rightly wants to be known as an actor. “I don’t want to be known only as a television actor. I don't like when people introduce me as a TV actor. I am an actor and I can act anywhere,” he signed off.

World Book Night World Book Night, the annual celebration of reading, took place on Friday April 23, 2021.

This year’s theme, “Books To Make You Smile” was a response to the impact of Covid-19 on mental health, highlighting the proven power of reading and the benefits it brings to well-being. “Over the last ten years, The Reading Agency has distributed over 2,800,000 books to help spread the joy of reading, with 245 titles by 205 authors distributed by over 90,000 volunteers and organisations across the UK,” a press statement read. Last year, the estimated

social media reach of #WorldBookNight and #ReadingHour was 14.3 million.

To mark its 10th anniversary this year World Book Night hosted a number of virtual events, book giveaways, online activities, exclusive releases and promotions, calling for the whole nation to celebrate reading for pleasure. Celebrations on World Book Night were live streamed in partnership with The British Library, hosted

by World Book Night Ambassador Sandi

Toksvig and featuring best-selling authors David Nicholls and Bolu Babalola, and World Book Night founder and Canongate CEO Jamie Byng (8-9pm).

AR Rahman releases “99 Songs” in three languages Academy and Grammy Awardwinning composer AR Rahman’s latest soundtrack for his own production “99 Song” features music icons such as Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal and Alka Yagnik as well as budding musical talents such as Armaan Malik, Shashwat Singh, Shashaa Tirupati and more.

Rahman is also the co-writer.

The film charts a passionate love story that’s tested by a

musical quest. A romantic musical, “99 Songs” is all set to release in theatres on 16th April 2021 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. “99 Songs” is perhaps music maestro Rahman’s most ambitious storytelling project yet.

The “99 Songs” soundtrack is available in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Composed by Rahman, the album has struck a chord with listeners; its multi-lingual

songs have been resonating with people across India and the globe. The 14-track album features established music icons such as Arijit Singh, Shreya Ghoshal and Alka Yagnik as well as budding musical talents such as Armaan Malik, Shashwat Singh, Shashaa Tirupati, Poorvi Koutish and Sarthak Kalyani, among others.

The lyrics have been penned by Navneet Virk.

in brief NOBEL LAUREATE ABHIJIT BANERJEE TO LAUNCH POEMS BY NABANEETA DEV SEN

The Indo-American Arts Council is presenting Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee in conversation with writer-actor and activist Nandana Dev Sen on the book launch of Acrobat - Poems by Nabaneeta Dev Sen. the book is translated and introduced by Nandana Dev Sen. A radiant collection of poetry about womanhood, intimacy, and the body politic that together evokes the arc of an ordinary life. Nabaneeta Dev Sen's rhythmic lines explore the joys and agonies of first love, childbirth, and decay with a restless, tactile imagination, both picking apart and celebrating the rituals that make us human. When she warns, "know that blood can be easily drawn by lips," her words tune to the fierce and biting depths of language, to the "treachery that lingers on tongue tips."

At once compassionate and unsparing, conversational and symphonic, these poems tell of a rope shivering beneath an acrobat's nimble feet or of a twisted, blood-soaked umbilical cord – they pluck the invisible threads that bind us together.

LIFE IN THE CLOCK TOWER VALLEY Published by Speaking Tiger Books, the novel by debutant author Shakoor Rather highlights fascinating historical and political information about Kashmir. Speaking Tiger Books has announced the launch of Shakoor Rather’s debut novel ‘Life in the Clock Tower Valley’, a book about Kashmir’s pristine past, its grievous present, and always uncertain future. The novel is set in the picturesque Srinagar, and provides an insider’s view of everyday life and emotions in the conflict-ridden valley. The book highlights fascinating historical and political information about Kashmir as well as environmental issues that are seldom talked about. ‘Life in the Clock Tower Valley’ is a requiem for our past that we hold closer and long for. It is about nostalgia, love, and loss,” said Shakoor Rather. “Delicate and sensitive, the novel travels between Kashmir’s pristine past, its grievous present, and always uncertain future, providing an insider’s view to everyday life and emotions in the conflictridden valley. The issues are depicted through symbolism, wit, and humour. Rather said many past books have shone a light on the conflict in Kashmir, however, “Life in the Clocktower Valley takes a different approach by depicting the life that we all live amidst this conflict. It highlights the uncertainty in our lives,” he said

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Hungry all the time? Check your blood sugar level A recent study published in Nature Metabolism from PREDICT, finally has the answer to your constant hunger pangs. The research revealed people who experience big dips in blood sugar levels, several hours after eating, end up feeling hungrier and consuming hundreds of more calories during the day than others.

A research team from King's College London and health science company ZOE (including scientists from Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Nottingham, Leeds University, and Lund University in Sweden) found why some people struggle to lose weight, even on calorie-controlled diets, and highlight the importance

of understanding metabolism when it comes to diet and health.

The team collected detailed data about blood sugar responses and other markers of health from 1,070 people after eating standardised breakfasts and freely chosen meals over a period of two-weeks.

The breakfasts were based on muffins containing the same amount of calories but varying in composition in terms of carbohydrates, protein, fat and fibre. The participants also participated in a fasting blood sugar response test, to measure how well their body processes sugar.

Researchers also recorded levels of hunger and alertness using a phone app, along with exactly when and what they ate over the day. After analysing the data, the

team noticed that some people experienced significant “sugar dips” 2-4 hours after this initial peak, where their blood sugar levels fell rapidly below baseline before coming back up.

While big dippers saw a nine per cent increase in hunger, and waited around half an hour less, on average. Big dippers also ate 75 more calories in the 3-4 hours after breakfast and around 312 calories more over the whole day than little dippers. This kind of pattern could potentially turn into 20 pounds of weight gain over a year.

The study quoted Dr Sarah Berry from King's College London as saying, “It has long been suspected that blood sugar levels play an important role in controlling hunger, but the results from previ-

ous studies have been inconclusive. We have now shown that sugar dips are a better predictor of hunger and subsequent calorie intake than the initial blood sugar peak response after eating, changing how we think about the relationship between blood sugar levels and the food we eat.”

Professor Ana Valdes from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, who led

the study team, said: "Many people struggle to lose weight and keep it off, and just a few hundred extra calories every day can add up to several pounds of weight gain over a year. Our discovery that the size of sugar dips after eating has such a big impact on hunger and appetite has great potential for helping people understand and control their weight and longterm health."

Make the most of your lockdown Engaging in household chores may improve brain health with these at-home workouts The Covid-19 lockdown and safety measures seem to be unending. How well are we utilising this time to tone up our bodies? When executed correctly, using just your body weight can work wonders! All you need to do is make some space in your living room and you can get to work.

The seven body weight moves detailed below can help you get on the right path to fitness. Below mentioned is a series of beginner body weight exercises.

Complete two sets of 10 to 15 reps of each exercise, with one minute of rest between each move, it should take around 15 minutes.

BRIDGE This is a great exercise to use as a warm up and activate your core and posterior chain. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, and your arms extended by your sides.

Raise your bottom off the ground by pushing through your feet and bracing your core, until your hips are fully extended, squeezing your glutes at the top. Slowly come back to your starting position and repeat.

CHAIR SQUAT Stand in front of the chair with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointed slightly out. Hinging at your hips and bending your knees, lower back and down until your bottom touches the chair, allowing your arms to extend out in front of you. Push up through your heels and return to the starting position.

KNEE PUSH UP Get into a high plank position from your knees.

Maintaining a straight line from your head to your knees, bend your elbows to lower yourself down to the ground. Keep your elbows at a 45-degree angle. Push back up to start. Stationary lunge.

Hit your quads, hamstrings, and glutes with a stationary lunge.

STATIONARY LUNGE Split your stance with your right leg in front. Your right foot should be flat on the ground, and your left foot should be up on its toes.

Bend your knees and lunge, stopping when your right thigh is parallel to the ground. Push up through your right foot to return to the starting position. Repeat for desired number of reps, then switch legs.

PLANK TO DOWNWARD DOG Get into a high plank position, with your hands stacked underneath your shoulders and your feet close together. Keeping your core engaged and your hands and feet stationary, pike your hips up and back into the Downward Dog pose. Your body should form a triangle with the ground. Keep your neck neutral. Your gaze should be directed toward your feet.

Hold here for a second, then return to the plank. Repeat.

STRAIGHT-LEG DONKEY KICK Get on all fours, with your hands aligned with your shoulders and your knees aligned with your hips. Keeping your back straight, push your right foot out to the imaginary wall behind you while keeping your leg straight. Your foot should remain flexed (toes pointing down to the floor) throughout. Take care to keep your hips square to the ground. Squeeze your buttocks at the top. Return to the starting position.

Repeat for the desired number of reps. Repeat on the other leg.

BIRD DOG Get on all fours, ensuring your hands are directly underneath your shoulders and your knees are underneath your hips. Keeping your neck neutral, simultaneously extend your left arm and right leg, keeping your hips square to the ground.

Pause here for 2 seconds.

Return to the start position.

Repeat with your right arm and left leg.

Engaging in household chores may be beneficial for brain health in older adults, if studies are to be believed.

A new study found that older adults who spent more time on household chores showed greater brain size, a strong predictor of cognitive health. Published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, the researchers of the study looked at the links between household chores, brain volume and cognition in a group of 66 cognitively healthy older adults living in the community.

Participants attended three assessment visits, including a health evaluation, structural brain imaging and cognitive assessment.

Participants were asked details about their household chores, such as tidying, dusting, meal preparation and clean up, shopping, heavy housework, yard work, home repairs and care giving. Scientists found that older adults who spent more time engaging in such activities had greater brain volume, regardless of how much exercise they did. This was derived in the hip-

pocampus, which plays a major role in memory and learning, and the frontal lobe, which is involved in many aspects of cognition.

Lead author of the study, Exercise Physiologist and Project Coordinator at Baycrest's Rotman Research Institute (RRI), Noah Koblinsky said, “Scientists already know that exercise has a positive impact on the brain, but our study is the first to show that the same may be true for household chores. Understanding how different forms of physical activity contribute to brain health is crucial for develop-

ing strategies to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.”

Dr Nicole Anderson, Senior Scientist at the RRI, Director of the Ben and Hilda Katz Interprofessional Research Program in Geriatric and Dementia Care, said, “Besides helping to guide physical activity recommendations for older adults, these findings may also motivate them to be more active, since household chores are a natural and often necessary aspect of many people's daily lives, and therefore appear more attainable.”

Nutritional and health benefits of sunflower seeds Sunflower seeds are popular health foods that people commonly consume as a snack. They contain beneficial nutrients, including healthy fats, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. As the shell is difficult for humans to digest, they usually eat the hulled seeds.

People can also grow sprouts from the sunflower seed kernels, which can increase nutritional benefits.

The seeds are edible and manufacturers use them for foods and producing sun-

flower oil. As such, sunflower oil ranks as the fourth most produced oil in the world. Farmers use sunflower seeds for livestock food.

Health benefits It is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and wound healing. The beneficial effects are due to compounds such as phenols, tannins, and saponins.

However, many of the studies involve animals or laboratory research, so scientists need to conduct more studies to draw firm conclusions

about the effects on humans. The seeds are a rich source of carotenoids and tocopherols that act as antioxidants, which help prevent damage from free radicals.

People can not synthesize tocopherol or vitamin E in the body and need to obtain it through their diet.

Therefore, including sunflower seeds in the diet is a suitable way to increase a person’s vitamin E.Eating sunflower seeds in moderation as part of a healthy diet can have multiple benefits.

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Priyanka set to launch Kabir Bedi autobiography Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas is all set to launch the autobiography of actor Kabir Bedi titled 'Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life Of An Actor'. The launch event will be held virtually, featuring both the actors.

They will release and discuss the book on Bedi's social media accounts.

The book talks about the “highs and lows of Kabir Bedi's professional and personal life, his exciting stories of Bollywood, Hollywood, and stardom in Europe, his tumultuous relationships, his deep loves

and lingering losses, why his beliefs have changed, his wrenching setbacks, and how he made India proud. It's the story of his making, breaking and re-making as a man.”

Bedi debuted with the 1971 film 'Hulchul' and has been in the film industry for half a century. He is also known for his performances in overseas films and television shows. One of his notable overseas works is the role of villain Gobinda in the 1983 James Bond movie 'Octopussy'.

Ishaan Khatter, mom Neelima's banter over chocolate Actor Ishaan Khatter recently shared a hilarious video on Instagram featuring his lockdown realities. Captioned 'Instagram vs Reality (lockdown edition) ft. Mia madre Neelima Azeem', the video shows Ishaan watching over his mother's health. From context, we come to know that he has taken away her chocolates, and she is not very happy with it.

In the video, we hear Neelima shouting at Ishaan at the top of her voice. She is heard saying, “Why have you kept my chocolate out? Who are you to do it? I want my chocolates now. Don't do this to me. I have no life. I sit in my room the whole day.”

Khatter, in return is heard arguing about how she has gained weight in just a week because of the habit. The most adorable part of the conversation comes when Neelima says she needs chocolate before yoga, but with Ishaan not budging she says, “Okay, I won't do Yoga and I will tell Sasha (her elder son, and actor Shahid Kapoor's nickname) that you are putting this pabandi (restrictions) on me.”

The video garnered a lot of comments and reactions. Shahid tagged the video as “the legend of mommy”, while his wife Mira Rajput could not stop laughing out loud.

Celebrities like Ayushmann Khurrana, Aparshakti Khurana, and Siddhant Chaturvedi also posted their reactions.

Sushmita gets National Award for social welfare, women empowerment Actress Sushmita Sen was honoured with a National Award for her contribution to social welfare and women empowerment. She celebrated her win with boyfriend Rohman Shawl and her daughters Renee and Alisah.

Sharing some pictures on her Instagram account, Sushmita wrote, “Thank you @championsofchangeawards for this National Award for Social welfare & Women empowerment. I receive it on behalf of our Nation's strongest backbone, WOMEN!!! Thank you for honouring us!!!

Let's continue to take small steps & big changes will follow!!! Love, Gratitude & Respect!”

The actress also went live on her Instagram account to celebrate the win with her fans. She spoke about what the award means to her and how it is a proud moment for her father. Sushmita said, “When our country recognises women, they empower women. To be born a

woman is a gift but to be at the service of women is a privilege. To get awarded for the same is a humbling experience.”

On the work front, Sushmita made her OTT debut with 'Aarya' last year. The shoot for its second season has halted for a while, but Sushmita says they have almost finished the series.

Kartik Aaryan exits Kjo's 'Dostana 2' Karan Johar's Dharma Productions released a statement over the weekend informing fans that they will be recasting its upcoming much anticipated film 'Dostana 2'. The statement posted on social media said, “Due to professional circumstances, on which we have decided to maintain a dignified silence – we will be recasting Dostana 2, directed by Collin D'Cunha. Please wait for the official announcement soon.”

The official statement came after reports revealed that Kartik Aaryan has stepped out of the project due to “creative differences” after shooting for almost two weeks. The movie originally starred Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Laksh Lalwani. A media report quoted a “source” close to Dharma as saying, “Yes, Kartik has walked out of Dostana 2 over creative differences, even after going through the script before agreeing to do the film, and then also shooting for the film for over two weeks.”

Aaryan and Janhvi had begun shooting for the movie in Amritsar in November 2019. It was

later halted due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

'Dostana 2' is a sequel to Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan, and John Abrahamstarrer 'Dostana' (2008).

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Genre: Comedy Horror Duration: 134 Minutes Streaming On: Netflix

When horror meets comedy in a love triangle Two small town boys fall in love with the same girl but all is not what it seems. One is in love with the girl and the other is in love with a spirit that is trapped in her body.

Janhvi Kapoor spends the weekend with her friends by the pool Actress Janhvi Kapoor appears to have one of the best weekends of her life as she sneaked off for a getaway with her friends. In her latest Instagram reel, the actress is seen having a blast by the pool, dancing to the beats of Cardi B's 'Up', trying to match steps with her gang. She captioned the video, “I really wish we were cooler than this but.”

The clip begins with individual pan shots of her friends, until all of them

gather in the end to feature some moves next to a pool.

The video also features her Pilates trainer Namrata Purohit and other team members. An active social media user, Janhvi constantly gives a sneak peek into her personal life via Instagram.

On the work front, Janhvi was last seen in horrorcomedy 'Roohi' alongside Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma. She also has films like 'Dostana 2' and 'Good Luck Jerry' in the works.

Sonu Sood tests positive for Covid-19 Bhawra played by Rajkummar Rao and Kattanni played by Varun Sharma are from a small town where it is custom for any guy that wants to marry a girl to have her kidnapped. These two are given the task of kidnapping Roohi played by Jhanvi Kapoor for a guy who has hired them and wishes to marry her. After kidnapping her they find out they must now hide her for a while as there has been a death in the boy’s family and he cannot marry her yet.

Whilst they are here Bhawra falls in love with Roohi and tries very hard to coax the spirit that is within her body to come out, but Kattanni has fallen in love with that spirit called Afza and wants her to remain. The two of them then find out that the spirit is a Mudiyapuri which is a with backwards feet and she will not leave the body until the woman she has possessed gets married. The only way to get this

Actor Sonu Sood has tested positive for Covid-19. Sharing his diagnosis on Twitter, he said, “This is to inform you that I have tested positive this morning for Covid-19.

As a part of precaution, I've already quarantined myself and taking utmost care. But don't worry, this gives me ample time to solve your problems, remember that I'm always there for you.”

The actor has been at the forefront of helping people since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in 2020. Hailed for his humanitarian work for helping patients suffering from the virus, arranging transport for displaced migrant workers, Sood expressed helplessness over not being able to help more people.

He took to Twitter to urge people to come forward and help the needy. He tweeted, “Since morning I haven't kept my phone down, thousands of calls from all over India for HOSPITAL BEDS, MEDICINES, INJECTIONS and still not able to provide to many of them, I feel so helpless. The situation is scary, pls stay at home, wear mask and prevent yourself from infection.”

He added, “All said and done, I am still on it, I am sure together we can save many more lives. It's time not to blame anyone but to come forward for a needy who needs your help. Try to provide medical needs to the ones who don't have an access. LETS SAVE LIVES TOGETHER. Always there for u.”

Abhishek all praise for wife Aishwarya, says she 'puts life into focus' In a recent interview, 'The Big Bull' actor Abhishek Bachchan spoke about the coronavirus-induced lockdown and how it has taught him a whole new meaning of success and how futile it is to run after materialistic things. He said it's his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who “puts life into focus”.

Abhishek said, “Some people ask, ‘Oh what did you do during the lockdown? What have you learned?’ Some people have learned to cook, some have picked up a new hobby, language, new skill set. I feel very overwhelmed, and I was speaking to my wife about it. And as all wives do, they put your lives into focus, they put you back on track. She said yeah

spirit out of Roohi would be to trick the spirit Afza into marrying a man who is already married, this would make her a mistress and that would force her to leave the body.

Bhawra decides to marry a dog in a village so that he can then marry Roohi but the villagers get angry with him for bringing a witch into their village. Will Bhawra and Kattanni be able to save Roohi and get rid of Afza?

Roohi has a good share of laughs within it aswell as the horror of a ghost story. This brings forth the comedy horror genre which Bollywood steered away from for a long time. Overall the film packs a punch and you will enjoy the humour in it. Jhanvi Kapoor has really come into herself and her acting skills really show through the film.

You can get in touch with Vallisa: djvallisa@gmail.com

but put it this way for the first time in your life you got to spend the entire year with your family. And your family is safe and healthy today. And when she said that, apart from being appreciative of having such a wonderful and sensible wife, it’s so true. We get to do what we love doing all day, and go home to a healthy and happy family.”

For the actor, success now means getting to do what you love and going “back to a healthy and happy family.” He feels, “It doesn't matter if you are living in a mansion or a hut. As long as you can smile or put a smile on the face of your loved ones what else matters?”

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Raiza Wilson blasts dermatologist for unnecessary treatment Tamil actor Raiza Wilson blasted a dermatologist on social media after being “forced” to undergo a treatment that she “did not need”. The procedure apparently went wrong and left her with a swelling under her eye. The actress took to Instagram to name and shame the doctor. Sharing a picture of her face after the treatment, she wrote,

“Visited @drbhairavisenthil yesterday for a simple facial treatment, she forced me to do a procedure which I did not need, and this is the result.”

Raiza said the dermatologist is now avoiding her. She wrote, “She refused to meet me or talk to me today. Staff said she's out of town.” The actress also shared screen-

shots of messages she received from her followers, who came forward with their own stories. Raiza wrote, “My inbox is flooded with people who have faced similar issues with this doctor, tragic.”

On the work front, Raiza has number of films in the pipeline, including 'Alice', 'Kadhalikka Yarumillai', and 'Hashtag Love'.

Popular Tamil actor, comedian Vivekh is no more Popular Tamil actor and comedian Vivekh died in a Chennai a hospital, hours after he was admitted after a cardiac arrest. The 59year-old was reportedly critical after a cardiac arrest on Thursday morning. He was brought in unconscious, was resuscitated, subsequently underwent a coronary angiogram and then angioplasty. A medical bulletin said he was critical on ECMO support, which pumps and oxygenates blood outside the body, but died on Friday. He was cremated with full state honours on Sunday. On Thursday he had taken the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

The hospital clarified that he suffered an acute coronary syndrome with cardiogenic shock. There was 100 per cent blockage in a vessel and his cardiac arrest may not be due to the vaccination.

Several popular celebrities such as actor Suriya, Trisha and filmmaker Shankar, among others, paid their last respects to his mortal remains. Vivekh's last rites in were performed at Mettukuppam,

TV Listing

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 26 APR FRI 30 APR 2021 14.30 KASAM 16.00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 18.30 BEST OF COOKERY SHOW THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 19.00 UDAARIYAAN 19.30 CHOTI SARDAARNI 20.00 SHAKTI

20.30 MOLKKI 21.00 PINJARA KHUBSOORTI KA 21.30 BAWARA DIL 22.00 NAMAK ISSK KA SATURDAY 24 APR 16.00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 18.30 BEST OF COOKERY SHOW DESI BEAT RESET 19.00 UDAARIYAAN 19.30 CHOTI SARDAARNI 20.00 SHAKTI 20.30 BEST OF DESI BEAT 21.30 DANCE DEEWANE 3 SUNDAY 25 APR 16.00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 18.00 CHOTI SARDARNI 20.30 BEST OF DESI BEAT 21.30 DANCE DEEWANE 3 22.00 ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 3

SATURDAY 24 APR

11.00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2

16.00 SILSILA BADALTE RISHTON KA 16.30 THE RASOI SHOW 17.30

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 26 APR FRI 30 APR 2021 8.300 BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN

16.00 SILSILA BADALTE RISHTON KA

16.30 THE RASOI SHOW 17.30

CHHUTA CHHEDA

18.00 TUM KAUN PIYA 18.30 DIL KA RISHTA

19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA

20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK

20.30 BARRISTER BABU

21.00 BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE 21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

CHHUTA CHHEDA

18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK

20.30 BARRISTER BABU

21.00 BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE

21.30 SASURAL SIMAR KA 2

SUNDAY 25 APR

11.00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2

16.00 SILSILA BADALTE RISHTON KA

16.30 THE RASOI SHOW

17.30 DESI BEAT SEASON 3

18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA

20.00 MIRCHI MUSIC AWARDS 2021

Virugambakkam and was given full state honours by the government for his contribution to art and social reforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned Vivekh's demise via a tweet. He wrote, “The untimely demise of noted actor Vivek has left many saddened. His comic timing and intelligent dialogues entertained people. Both in his films and his life, his concern for the environment and society shone through.

Condolences to his family, friends and admirers. Om Shanti.”

Veteran celebrities Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, AR Rahman, R Madhavan, and Vikram shared their condolences. A popular comedian with a career spanning across 200 films over the last three decades, Vivekh was a Padma Shri recipient, a social activist and had worked closely with former president APJ Abdul Kalam.

Samantha Akkineni takes a dig at media for criticizing actors Actor Samantha Akkineni recently participated in the 'What did she say' challenge and took the opportunity to take a dig at media who criticise actors for not voicing their opinion on important issues. The text on video read, “Them: We need your opinion on “this important topic”.

Me: Wondering since when did actors' opinions matter soooooo much.”

The caption with her post read, “We're entertainers, Not fact-checkers. Why are actors crucified for having an opinion about the important matters pertaining to the world? We are humans too and We make mistakes too. But canceling us for speaking out or

not speakings out aloud on each & every topic is a bit unfair, don't you think? Let us stick to what we do best .. making you fall in love with our performances #whatddishesay is a fun way to speak your mind .. what's on your mind ? #reelit.”

The post garnered a lot of appreciation from fellow celebrities who supported her on the matter. Yami Gautam wrote “spot on”, while Pragya Jaiswal said “hahah..love it!!”

On the work front, Samantha will be seen in 'Shaakuntalam', a mythological drama film. She will mark her digital debut with the second season of the popular Hindi series 'The Family Man'.

Vishnu Vishal confirms wedding date with fiancee Jwala Gutta Actor Vishnu Vishal and fiancee/shuttler Jwala Gutta have finally confirmed that their wedding will take place on April 22. The actor took to Twitter to make the announcement and confirmed that it will be a private affair with only near and dear ones. The couple have been dating for quite a few years. Last September, they got engaged in a close-knit ceremony.

In a social media post, he wrote, “LIFE IS A JOURNEY.... EMBRACE IT... HAVE FAITH AND TAKE THE LEAP.... Need all your love and support as always...@Guttajwala#JWALAVISHED”.

In a statement, he said, “With the blessings of our families, it gives us immense joy in sharing the news of our marriage. In a private affair, in the presence of near & dear we are getting married.”

Vishnu was married to Rajini Natraj and the

couple has a son named Aryan. They got married in 2010, and got divorced in 2018. Jwala was married to fellow shuttler Chetan Anand for six years. They got married in 2005 and divorced in 2011.

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Chennai spinners rock Rajasthan Royals Ravindra Jadeja (2-36) and Moeen Ali (3-7) helped Chennai Super Kings to score a 45-run win over Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai on Monday. After scoring 188-9, CSK restricted RR to 143-9. The huge margin of victory will be a big boost for CSK’s NRR (Net Run-Rate). RR remained in hunt thanks to a fine effort by opener Jos Buttler (49) who kept the CSK bowlers at bay. Buttler’s six in the 10th over off Jadeja saw the ball being changed.

Subsequently, CSK skipper MS Dhoni was heard on the stump microphone telling his spinners that the dry ball will take spin. That’s exactly what happened. Buttler’s 35-ball innings ended when he was cleaned up by Jadeja in the first ball of the 12th over. Jadeja then trapped Shivam Dube (17) legbefore as RR slipped to 90 for 4. David Miller (2), RR’s saviour in their previous game against Delhi Capitals, didn’t stay long as he was trapped in front by Moeen Ali in the 13th over to leave RR in trouble at 92 for 5.

Moeen Ali wasn’t done yet. He then dismissed Riyan Parag (3) and Chris Morris (0) in the 15th over as RR were in dire straits at 95-7. Rahul Tewatia (20) and Jaydev Unadkat’s (24) efforts didn’t matter much as CSK coasted to a comfortable victory. Apart from the two spinners, left-arm pacer Sam Curran was on the money with figures of 2-24 from his quota of 4 overs.

Shikhar leads the chase down On Sunday night, Shikhar Dhawan brought together all his experience and skill to enable Delhi Capitals to chase down 196 against Punjab Kings with consummate ease. DC notched their second win with 10 balls and six wickets to spare. Dhawan’s 92 off 49 balls was a statement that he is at the peak of his T20 powers at 35 years of age. Known for being sublime through the off-side, Dhawan opened up the onside too against Punjab, sending their inexperienced attack into a tizzy. He moved around the crease and worked each of the bowlers through the on-side with disdain. None of his shots were ugly and in fact matched his famed off-side play. When he lost his stumps in the 15th over of the chase, trying to paddle Jhye Richardson down to fine-leg, he had already stabbed a dagger deep into the heart of the Punjab Kings challenge.

Maxwell, AB seal the deal for RCB Glenn Maxwell (78) and AB de Villiers (76) were the game changers as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 38 runs to start the season with a hat-trick of wins. Opting to bat at Chepauk on Sunday afternoon, RCB rallied from early hiccups to amass a massive 204/4. In reply, KKR mustered only 168/8, most of their batsmen failing to build on starts. When Maxwell made his way into the RCB fold, there were doubters aplenty, and with good reason. The previous season, turning out for what then was Kings XI Punjab, he had made a frugal 108 runs in 13 matches. But this season the turnaround has been phenomenal, with the Australian racing to 176 runs in just three innings.

3rd consecutive loss for Sunrisers Producing a clinical performance, the Mumbai Indians downed Sunrisers Hyderabad by 13 runs to record their second win in IPL-2021at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday night. The

Dream Big Desi Women Shruti Saujani, ECB Senior Manager – Cities Programme & Volunteers

Sunrisers have thus lost their first three games of the competition, the first time that they’ve been off to such a poor start. Chasing 151, SRH were off to a flying start with skipper David Warner (37) and Jonny Bairstow (43) racing to 67 in just 44 balls before the Mumbai Indians bounced back by getting both the openers. As the Sunrisers folded up for 137 in the final over, a big role was played by Hardik, who pulled off two sensational direct hits to run out Warner and Abdul Samad. Earlier, Kieron Pollard bludgeoned sixes off the final two balls of the innings

by Bhuvneshwar Kumar to take the Mumbai Indians to 150 for five. In a T20 game, though, a small mistake can even cost you the match.

Royals find out Morris' net worth!

Two South Africans – Chris Morris and David Miller – ensured Rajasthan Royals chased down a tricky 148-run target against Delhi Capitals to put their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign back on track. The Royals defeated Capitals by three wickets with two balls to spare on a sticky Wankhede Stadium pitch on Thursday. With 27 runs remaining from 12 balls, Morris, with his 18-ball 36, proved why he deserved to be the biggest buy of the IPL this season, hitting two sixes each in the 19th and 20th overs to help the Royals cross the line in a game where margins were thin and fortunes swung rapidly. Morris was ably supported by Miller, who replaced the injured Ben Stokes and scored an allimportant 43-ball 62 even as the top-order including Manan Vohra (9), Jos Buttler (2) and skipper Sanju Samson (4) went cheaply, putting the onus on the lower order to take the team across the line.

Knight Riders gift Mumbai a win Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen committed harakiri at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday night, going down to Mumbai Indians by 10 runs as their chase of a paltry 153 ended at 142/7. It was a match for KKR to lose after bowling out the rivals for only 152, but they threw their wickets away rather unnecessarily to hand over the tie to the defending champions on a platter. Early wickets were the key when it came to defending such a low total, but it was MI’s death bowling, a period in which they picked up three wickets for 20 runs, that sealed the tie in their favour.

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Nagaland cricketer Jonathan leaves for UK to play for Morecambe CC Nagaland Cricket Team captain, Jonathan Rongsen Longkumer left for the UK to join Morecambe Cricket Club at Lancashire for the 2021 season. Jonathan on March 29 last had signed to play for UK-based cricket club Morecambe CC for the 2021 season.

Established in 1889, Morecambe Cricket Club is one of the oldest English cricket club based in the Jonathan Rongsen tourist resort of Morecambe, Lancashire in the UK. The 34-year old Jonathan, a resident of Akhoya village in Mokokchung district of

Nagaland is an all-round; right-hand batsman and medium pacer.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio took to Twitter to express his best wishes to the cricketer ahead of his journey. Born on October 4, 1986, Jonathan made his first-class debut for Railways in the 2013–14 Ranji Trophy on December 6, 2013. Ahead of the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy, he transferred from Railways to Nagaland cricket team. He scored a century in the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Nagaland and Manipur.

Over the past year, society has once again wrestled with its response to questions of social justice, racism and inequality. It is clear there is still much work to be done. With a central role in our national life, it’s meant tough questions have been asked of cricket too.

Like many organisations, the ECB has been working hard to take Shruti Saujani steps to tackle discrimination and promote greater inclusion and diversity across the game. It’s work which has been under way for some time, but it is clear there is much more to do to make our sport open and accessible to everyone. Through the changes we are making we want to encourage people from all backgrounds to get involved and feel welcome within cricket.

For example, in the past six months a new Anti-Discrimination Code has been put in place across the professional game and will be rolled out across recreational leagues and clubs that fall under the ECB’s jurisdiction as the season gets underway. The inception of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket was announced, and bursaries have been introduced to enable people from underrepresented groups to gain coaching qualifications.

This all builds on a significant amount of work which was already under way. One of our longer-term plans has been the South Asian Action plan which began in 2018 aiming to help remove barriers to involvement and help build stronger relationships with British South Asian communities.

A key part of the programme has been the Dream Big Desi Women project which is helping introduce more than 2,000 British South Asian women into cricket. The programme trains volunteers to become Activators meaning they can deliver cricket in their communities. We are seeing women help children learn, play, have fun and create memories together that will last a lifetime through our All Stars Cricket and Dynamos Cricket programmes.

Sabah Hamad, who was introduced to cricket through this programme said, “Dream Big has not only empowered me but it’s empowered those around me and helped me truly say that cricket is a game for me. It helped me grow my network, nurture my community and helped put the power of cricket in the hands of children. I have never had as much confidence in myself than I do now and for that I am truly grateful.”

The 2021 programme launches this week and is looking to build on the initial success and welcomes anyone wishing to get involved. Visit ecb.co.uk/dreambig to find out more and get involved.

We know we still have more to do, but we are committed to making cricket truly a game for everyone and will continue our work to engage with South Asian communities whilst striving for equality and diversity throughout the game.

Kohli is Wisden ODI cricketer of the decade India captain Virat Kohli has been named Wisden Almanack's ODI player of the 2010s, while England allrounder Ben Stokes was declared the 'Cricketer of the Year' for a second successive time by the highly-rated annual publication.

The 32-year-old Kohli, who made his ODI debut in August 2008 against Sri Lanka, is among the finest batsmen of all time, and has amassed a staggering 12,169 runs from 254 ODIs. "To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first ODI, five ODI cricketers of the decade have been named in the 2021 edition of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack," the reference book, often described as Bible of Cricket, stated. Kohli, who was part of the 2011 World Cup winning Indian team, made more than 11,000 runs in the 10-year stretch, averaging over 60 and scoring 42 centuries.

Apart from Kohli, Wisden also

Virat Kohli

named legendary Sachin Tendulkar as the ODI Cricketer of the 1990s. Sachin, in 1998, made nine ODI hundreds, more than any other batsman in a single calendar year. India's World Cup winning former captain Kapil Dev too featured on the list when he was named as the ODI Cricketer for the 1980s.

Meanwhile, Stokes was declared the 'Leading Cricketer in the World' for the second year in a row.

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