AV 27th August 2016

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe Price 80p

Vol 45 | Issue 17

Legal advice you can trust

Our areas: mJN specialist LQ\^X`UXLK `N\`La ! x`TXUF q`H ! lNRQ\NKF q`H ! zXLQJK\L ! tTTXZN`KXRS G

G

G

G

020 8951 6989

www.axiomstone.co.uk info@axiomstone.co.uk

Kashmir Mayhem: Anarchy for 'Azadi'

Axiom Stone Solicitors is the trading name of Axiom Stone London Limited. Company Registration No. 6546205. We are Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Mayor appoints Indian-origined lady as deputy

London mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed Shirley Rodrigues, pictured, as the deputy mayor for environment and energy, making her the second Indian-origin person named to such a post after Indoreborn Rajesh Agrawal was appointed for business in June.

The mayor’s office said Rodrigues will also oversee the delivery of the “Energy for Londoners” project, helping residents generate more low-carbon electricity and help boost recycling rates and cut landfill.

Khan said: “Shirley Rodrigues brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience and is the perfect person to deliver my agenda to make London a cleaner and greener city.”

Continued on page 6

27th August to 2nd September 2016

An Azadi rally at Salia Seer in Anantnag district

With protests sweeping across the turbulent region of Jammu and Kashmir, four districts have effectively seeped into a state of mobocracy as the absence of police forces made space for thousands of protesters to hold 'azadi' rallies every day. Reports state the Army and the CRPF stand guarding empty stations, from the raging locals.

One of the consequences of the escalating mob violence, cops have left their stations and

Luxury Wedding & Events Venue in North London 020 3700 2727 www.meridiangrand.co.uk

46 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex, London HA7 4AH

email@travelinstyle.co.uk

Urjit Patel is new RBI governor

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

sources said the police department has shut down "for the time being". A news report said that with the forces playing silent spectators, the crowds are taking over the streets, and vandalising government property. After violence ensued following the encounter death of Burhan Wani, on July 12, a mass of people attacked the Hanjipora police station in Kulgam district, north Kashmir, leaving with 70 semi-automatic and auto-

matic rifles. They even took two Damhal Hanjipora policemen hostage.

While the two policemen were later released, the guns were never recovered. A police officer said, "We hope these weapons haven't fallen into wrong hands. Some local militants were seen carrying weapons in one of the 'azadi' rallies in Anantnag," a police officer said. He also said that sensitive documents and police wireless Continued on page 26

Ending weeks of speculation, the Modi government has named Urjit Patel as the 24th governor of the Reserve Bank of India and to successor to Raghuram Rajan. At present he is working as key deputy to Rajan. The announcement was made on a day markets were closed, a style similar to what Rajan adopted in June to announce his decision to not seek a second term.

The second Gujarati, and a Patel, to hold the seat, Urjit was selected from a list of five contenders, including chief economic adviser Arvind Subramaniam, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das, and former World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu.

The task to select the next RBI governor was in the hands of a selection committee, who shortlisted candidates. The final decision however, was left with Modi in consultation with finance minister Arun Jaitley. No stranger to the workings of the RBI, Urjit has been involved with all important decisions at the bank; right from rework-

See page 25, 31 & 32 for Olympics stories

Urjit Patel

ing the way key policy rates are decided to modernising the way RBI functions.

A government official said Patel's rapport with Modi helped weigh the decision. "They have known each other for long with Patel agreeing to join the board of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation at a time when Modi was Gujarat chief minister and a distant PM prospect and when few people with Patel's academic credentials were willing to take the risk of associating Continued on page 26

2

ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice 27th August 2016

www.asian-voice.com

to

Amit Shah

Amit is an NHS clinician who has specialised in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and currently works as a Microsurgery and Reconstructive Senior Clinical Fellow in London.

Amit has worked in the NHS for over 13 years and completed assignments in California, Mayo Clinic, Toronto and at various private hospitals in Sydney. He has also spent a year as Chief Resident for the Division of Surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Throughout his career to date, Amit has been awarded multiple awards in healthcare innovation and sciences and enjoyed teaching and lecturing medical students, allied health professionals and fellow doctors. Amit gained his medical degree at the University of Cambridge, UK and prior to that attended St Paul’s School in Barnes, London.

1) What is your current position?

Amit is an NHS clinician who has specialised in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and currently works as a Senior Clinical Fellow in a London teaching hospital. Amit is also CEO and Co-founder of an online digital telemedicine and therapy platform called ‘Twealr’, designed to create better access to doctors, counsellors, psychotherapists and nutritionists online through voice and video consultations and health Q&A fora.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

(a) Co-inventor of the thinnest free tissue transfer (1.01mm) in the body used for microsurgical reconstruction. Free tissue transfer is used in plastic and reconstructive surgery to rebuild any area of the body ravaged by trauma and/or cancer. (b) Co-founding Twealr with my wife and partner, to create better access to healthcare for all.

3) What inspires you?

Those living with adversity who still manage to go out and face every day with a smile.

Particularly those who live with a chronic condition whether it’s to do with their physical or men-

tal health, they inspire me, because of their resilience.

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

Funding constraints and limited infrastructure that prevent healthcare professionals from delivering much needed care and support to patients and communities. Slow adoption of new innovation and lack of cross talk that would otherwise dramatically improve patient care, one of the principal reasons Twealr was borne.

Victim Jalal Uddin

while his friend Kadir struck the fatal blows to kill and also 'humiliate' the Muslim scholar, it was said.

Mr Uddin died 'without ever regaining conscious-

The funeral of Jalal Uddin

Syeedy, who is on trial for murder at Manchester Crown Court, denies murder and his alleged accomplice Kadir has apparently fled abroad and could be in Syria.

Mr Uddin was found with severe fractures to his skull administered with a hammer as he walked past a children's play area near Rochdale town centre.

Syeedy is said to have driven the getaway car

ness and without ever being able to say who had attacked him, or why', the court heard.

Mr Uddin was a practitioner of a form of Islamic faith healing called Ruqya which involved the use of charms to bring good luck, good health and deter evil spirits. Jurors were told that Syeedy and Kadir had been ISIS supporters and believed that those who practised Ruqya should be

7) And worst?

Atul Gawande, a prominent general surgeon and public health researcher, particularly his pioneering work on modern surgical practices and medical ethics including his role as director of the World Health Organisation’s effort to reduce surgical deaths.

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

As CEO of Twealr, the freedom to innovate and implement new

killed. The men appear to have spent several months following and photographing their victim before they finally beat him to death in February this year.

Addressing the 12 jurors, prosecutor Mr Paul Greaney QC said: 'ISIS regards this practice as black magic and adheres to the view that those who engage in it deserve severe punishment even death.'

He added: 'Who hated a decent man like Jalal Uddin with such virulence?'

He continued: 'The answer to that important question is to be found in the twisted ideology of ISIS, sometimes known as Islamic State'.

Syeedy and Kadir had discovered that Mr Uddin was a Ruqya practitioner in the summer of 2015 and began to stalk him having 'developed a hatred of him', he said. Jurors were shown samples of some of the images and videos which had been recovered including images of a child brandishing a knife in front of an ISIS flag, pictures of a fighter carrying an ISIS flag and men raising a single index finger to the sky which has been adopted by ISIS. They were also shown pictures of the defendant and his friends making the ISIS salute and asked to consider if they were making a legitimate religious gesture or whether they are demonstrating their support of ISIS. The court heard that the defendant had also received images of Mr Uddin.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

health policy, specifically mental health advocacy. To make a big enough impact through innovation to drive changes in health legislation and current models of service delivery.

technology that improves access to h e a l t h e x p e r t s o n l i n e , potentially on a global scale.

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

the

Free childcare for all parents of children aged up to 12 years.

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

Muslim religious leader, Uddin Jalal, stalked

by ISIS supporters before being murdered Two ISIS supporters used a hammer to beat to death a Muslim leader in a Rochdale park because they believed he was a black magician, a court heard Tuesday.

Jalal Uddin, 71, was allegedly murdered by Mohammed Hussain Syeedy, 22, and Mohammed Abdul Kadir, 24, who had been 'motivated by hatred' for him and his faith healing.

The men allegedly 'stalked' their victim in a car before caving in his skull and face after he left his local mosque following evening prayers.

AsianVoiceNews

The frustration from the limitations of the 24-hour day, juggling commitments across the NHS, Twealr and at home.

8) What are your long term goals?

To grow Twealr and expand beyond the UK, to Europe, Asia and Africa, to reach out and help as many people as possible, giving them access to British doctors and mental health experts.

To serve within UK public

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

Robin Williams. He would be the most likely person through his unprecedented charm, charisma and wit to make me forget I was marooned and helpless. I admire his resilience and ability to help others in the face of his own internal plight.

Perhaps I could help him through Twealr in return for his endless infective laughter.

Birmingham experts help coaches boost Indian sports performance Coaches and sports scientists from India have teamed up with experts at the University of Birmingham to learn how their athletes can boost their performance, following Team GB’s outstanding Olympic success.

The 25-strong party includes ‘India’s fastest man’ 100 metres national record holder and former Olympic athlete Anil Kumar Prakash, now an athletics coach. The group will spend two weeks exploring how they can combine coaching and sports science techniques.

Experts from the School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences and University Birmingham Sport have put together a comprehensive programme for the visitors.

The group includes coaches from a range of sports including athletics, volleyball, kabaddi, swimming and gymnastics.

Indian sports scientists from a range of disciplines including nutrition, sports medicine and physiology have travelled to Birmingham.

Put together by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the group’s arrival in Birmingham follows Dr Martin Toms’ discussions with the Indian Government’s Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and SAI about how the University of Birmingham could help the country’s athletes boost their performance.

Lord Bilimoria,

Boxing coach Abishek Malviya at University Birmingham Sport testing an anti-gravity treadmill, as used by Olympic athletes such as Mo Farrah and Paula Radcliffe to speed rehabilitation from injury.

Lord Karan Bilimoria

Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and the first Indian-born Chancellor of a Russell Group University in the UK, said: “Following team GB’s phenomenal success in the Rio 2016 Olympics, where Britain has emphatically shown that it is it is one of the world’s top sporting nations, and with the University of Birmingham’s pedigree as one of the top sports universities in the UK, there is no better time for this interaction with Indian coaches to take place.

“It is wonderful to hear that the University of Birmingham is working with India’s best coaches to boost athletes’ performance. The UK and India

have a long history of sharing expertise to our mutual benefit and I am pleased to see Birmingham continuing this tradition. India is a country with undoubted sporting talent, and I am hopeful that this initiative will be instrumental in helping Indian athletes realise their full potential in future sporting events.”

Anil Kumar Prakash, who competed in the Sydney and Athens Olympics, said: “I’m looking forward to returning to India equipped with knowledge that will help to improve the performance of the young athletes I am coaching, as we prepare for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo.”

Hockey coach Piyush Kumar Dubey said: “Indian hockey has a glorious history and our performances are improving. I hope the experts at Birmingham will help us achieve our goal of winning hockey medals at future Olympics.”

C MMENTS

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice |27th August 2016

Tackling Pakistan: India raises stakes The Pakistan High Commissioner, Basit Ali cannot be faulted for his accustomed impertinence on which job depends. It took some gall to dedicate his country’s Independence Day to the success of the Kashmiri jihadi movement (for such it is) and risk expulsion. Expulsion might have been emotionally satisfying on both sides of the border but it would have achieved little of substance.

By assuring the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Baltistan of India’s support in their struggle against Pakistani oppression, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised the stakes for the failing state next door, much to the discomfiture of the grieving Salman Khurshed and Mani Shankar Aiyer, both former ministers in a Congress government. Mumbai terror attacks – mounted from Pakistan - in which some 500 innocent citizens were killed, and terror attacks elsewhere in India, have been of little consequence in the larger picture of an IndoPakistan dialogue, which has continued without let or hindrance for the past 70 years with no tangible results.

The spectacle of a state basing its diplomacy on the export of terrorism to India and Afghanistan and getting away with such criminality because of the indulgence shown to its perpetrators by the United States of America and China, is quite extraordinary. Washington calls supinely for talks after every jihadi outrage in India, without ever considering the consequences of similar hypothetical exports from, say, Mexico or Canada into the US. All hell would break lose, would it not? But India, being India, is expected to suffer in silence.

Mr Modi has at last messaged Pakistan and its patrons that the ball game henceforward will be played according to rules drawn up by India. Talks with Pakistan would be possible only if trans-border terrorism in Kashmir was the subject. Nothing else would be acceptable.

Reverting to basics, the ruler of the princely State of Kalat in Balochistan refused to opt for the new Pakistan in 1947, arguing very legitimately, that his treaty acceding to British India was negotiated with the British Government in London, and not its India-based subsidiary in Calcutta.

Constitutional propriety was never the issue in this instance. The Pakistani government of Mohammed Ali Jinnah dispatched the Pakistan army, with full support

from Whitehall, deposed the Khan of Kalat and took over his State. A plebiscite in Balochistan on self-determination would surely be the appropriate solution to the present unrest there. That would be the most human alternative to unlicensed governance imposed from Islamabad.

A similar solution should be open to Gilgit. The Pakistan flag was hoisted there by a British military officer in June 1947, six weeks before the establishment of Pakistan itself. The flag-hoisting ceremony was thus null and void in law.

Of considerable interest now is the support that Modi government has received from Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina’s government has voiced the demand that Balochistan, which is undergoing the same experience the masses of Bangladesh suffered in 1971 under the genocidal military regime in Pakistan headed by Yahya Khan. Bangladesh has proposed a joint documentary film with India should be made; and has expressed cordial agreement. The film will no doubt also expose the nefarious roles of Nixon and Kissinger, Mao and his sidekick Zhou Enlai.

Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan has added his voice to the swelling chorus of support for Mr Modi’s stand on Balochistan. Baloch leaders across the world have expressed their warmest appreciation to him.

Truth is that Pakistan from its inception was a selfproclaimed jihadi state at war with ‘Hindu’ India. It was this vision that propelled Jinnah and his cohorts to send their tribal hordes into the Kashmir Valley in October 1947, its first foreign policy act as a sovereign state, a campaign of rape and murder. V.P.Menon, Sardar Vallabbhai Patel’s most trusted aide, drew attention to this fact in his masterly work, ‘Integration of the Indian States.’

‘Srinagar today, Delhi tomorrow,’ he wrote.

The jihadis in Kashmir perceive its secession from India as simply the first step in the demolition of India as a secular democratic republic under the rule of law and its replacement by an Islamic caliphate and the sharia.

The Indian state has, presumably, no desire to preside over its own liquidation. It would be wise, therefore, to adopt Napoleon’s injunction of a ‘whiff of grapeshot’ to subdue unruly mobs.

Gujarat’s red carpet to post-Brexit investors Gujarat is at the top table in attracting post-Brexit British investors. The State’s leading bureaucrats and industrialists have visited Britain to promote next year’s “Vibrant Gujarat Summit. ‘Gujarat: Connecting to India’ is the label they took with them for their pitch to British audiences. Free of the shackles of EU rules and regulations, Indo-British economic ties could reach for the skies.

‘Our delegation’s objective is to strengthen the relationship between the UK and and India, where Gujarat will play an important part and we have had a phenomenal response. Gujarat will assist in strengthening their business propositions and investments in India,’ said Mamta Verma, Gujarat Industries Commissioner, who led the delegation earlier this month.

Sunil Parekh, Zydus Group Advisor and a leading member of the delegation, said the UK’s vote for Brexit was the driving force behind the visit. He declared: ‘The tone and tenor of the meetings we had in the UK is that people are now looking at the post-Brexit situation for the UK. They want to build aggressive relationships for trade and investments with non-EU groups and India is one of the major elements.’

The ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ meet is held every two years

and highlights the State’s investor-friendly policies and its top ranking by the World Bank and the Government of India, for ease of doing business among all of India’s many states, said Mr Parekh.

Manu Srivastava, Director, Gujarat Agro Infrastructure Mega Food Park, explained: ‘The UK is at a very interesting juncture in a post-Brexit world.

Vibrant Gujarat is where businesses from all across the world come and collaborate. It opens doors to not just Gujarat but to the whole of India.’

Apart from London, the delegation travelled to Birmingham and Manchester to meet local government officials and business representatives. They discussed chemicals and petro-chemicals, electronics, aerospace and defence, renewable energy technologies, financial services, pharmaceuticals and textiles.

Vikas Nath, CEO, UK & Europe Adani Global PTE Ltd, added: ‘The scope for collaboration is immense, and the time has never been better for Gujarat to capitalize on business opportunities from the UK.’ Vibrant Gujarat will be held in January 10-13,2017 at Mahatma Gandhi Mandir, Gandhinagar, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s commercial capital.

Indian physicist Sibaji Raha in global spotlight Kolkata-born physicist and former head of the city’s Bose Institute, Professor Sibaji Raha, who received his PhD under John Wheeler, an eminent theoretical physicist, from the University of Texas, Austin, was elected unanimously as Founding Chairman of the Joint Scientific Council of the GSI Helmholtz, Centre for Heavy Ion Research (FAIR) and the upcoming Facility for AntiProton and Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany ‘While CERN discovered the Higgs Boson, a particle that explains just five per cent of the mass of matter and the evolution of the universe following the Big Bang, FAIR will study the origin of the rest of the mass.

Professor Raha will lead scientists from the United States, France, Italy, Poland Japan, Sweden South Africa, Germany, Russia, Spain, Austria and India in the Advisory Council. He said: ‘It will be a challenging task and I will be dealing with world renowned scientists who are also my

peers. Being at the head of such cutting edge research, I will have the scope to see and assess the many possibilities of research for our community of scientists in India.’

For Kolkata scientists, being part of the team designing and making contributions to the new state-of-the-art accelerator complex in Germany, is an achievement to savour.

Professor Raha commented: ‘This is the first time Indians will help build the actual accelerator at FAIR. Our involvement is at an intensive level here, much more than our role at CERN, where we were doing some tests for the support system.’

Two prototypes of power converters designed by scientists at the Variable Electron Cyclotron Centre at Kolkata’s Salt Lake, along with other labs, were shipped to Germany for FAIR in the first week of July. Professor Raha has turned world attention to India’s advances in cutting edge theoretical physics. His honour is India’s pride.

3

We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.

- George Bernard Shaw

Alistair Carmichael MP Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson

Time to re-thing the governments counter-terrorism strategy The Prevent strategy has been controversial for many years, some would argue since its introduction by the Labour government in 2003.

The objective - to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, is one that no rational person could oppose. More and more across the West we have seen how terrorist attacks have been perpetrated by those who were born and raised in the countries that they then turned against. But, to tackle that by singling out a single community and treating everyone as suspect is likely to cause more division and in fact breed grievance that can be exploited by radical preachers.

The recent report by the Women and Equalities Committee of the House of Commons highlighted this problem. It revealed that in the course of their inquiry into Employment Opportunities for Muslims in the UK they “came across individual Muslims who were reluctant to engage with us for fear that our inquiry was part of the Prevent programme” and some Muslims “felt they were being treated as a suspect community.”

This was a view previously expressed by the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, David Anderson QC, who said “the lack of confidence in aspects of the Prevent programme… is clearly suffering from a widespread problem of perception.” How does the Government expect to stem radicalisation and counterextremism if it cannot even properly engage with the most affected communities and rather than building bridges seems to be creating gulfs of distrust?

In 2011, Liberal Democrats in the coalition government attempted to reform Prevent, recognising the flaws that had been left to fester under Labour. We increased the monitoring and evaluation of projects to have a clearer idea of what

works and what doesn’t. We attempted to be clearer about the purpose of prevent and the methods used. We did all of this to increase trust but now, five years on, we can clearly see it has not worked.

How many more reviews and reports need to be written before the Prime Minister has the courage to say Prevent has not worked and must be disbanded? We all know she is risk-averse but she must see that continuing down this road is more dangerous. We may be radicalising the next generation of home-grown terrorists if we do not act, and what could be riskier than that?

The Liberal Democrats have nailed our flag to the mast. A policy, to be endorsed by our party conference this September, calls for Prevent to be scrapped.

It is so discredited that a simple rebrand won’t do.

Instead the millions that have been wasted should be channelled into more community policing and projects run by grass-roots activists.

By removing absolute control from the Home Office and decentralising funding, we empower local communities and disassociate counter-narrative building and the promotion of integration from central government. Meanwhile, more community building builds trust and benefits communities as a whole.

Concerns about extremism could then be communicated in the same way as concerns about involvement with gangs, child abuse or grooming.

This stops the targeting of specific communities and the perception that Prevent attempts to create neighbourhood spying networks.

These radical changes would not only help cohesion, one of the purported aims of this Government, but help keep us all safe and free. There are plenty of ideas out there, it is time that Theresa May stepped out of her control tower and listened to them.

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

4

UK

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice |27th August 2016

Terrorist Junaid Hussain linked to US terror trial teenager A US teenager accused of plotting a terror attack exchanged chilling messages with Birminghamborn Islamic State terrorist Junaid Hussain, it has been claimed.

Justin Nojan Sullivan, from North Carolina, allegedly spoke with Hussain last June through social media about making a video of a terror attack for ISIS, an indictment filed last week said.

The original indictment accused Sullivan of killing his neighbour John Bailey Clark, 74, and stealing his money to buy an assault rifle to enable him to carry out an IS-inspired shooting at a crowded concert or nightclub.

The 19-year-old, who was arrested in June 2015, “planned to carry out his attack in the following few days at a concert, bar or club where he believed that as many as 1,000 people could be killed using the assault rifle and silencer.”

Computer hacker Hussain was killed in a US drone strike in Syria last August. The US military

Junaid Hussain's Islamic State documents have been revealed by Sky News

has said he had been recruiting sympathizers in the West to carry out lonewolf terrorist attacks.

Using the name Abu Hussain al-Britani, he was believed to be leading the terror group’s own branch of hackers as well as acting as a key recruiter.

The 21-year-old, was third on a Pentagon hitlist of IS members and had fled to Syria in July 2013 after serving time in jail for stealing personal information on Tony Blair.

Former student Hussain once led a group of teenage hackers called Team Poison and blocked a police anti-terrorist hot-

Justin Sullivan

line after bombarding it with more than 100 prank calls. He was on police bail for an alleged violent disorder offence when he fled the UK and joined ISIS.

A grand jury indicted Muslim convert Sullivan in February on a murder charge in the death of Mr Clark, who lived a few doors down from him.

The indictment also said Sullivan offered an undercover FBI employee money to kill his parents, who he believed would interfere with his plans.

It charged Sullivan with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State and trying to use social media to have his parents killed. He also faces firearms charges.

Investigators said that during one of his social media conversations with Hussain he said planned to buy ‘an AR-15 assault rifle’ at a gun show, and attempted to buy hollow point ammunition from a gun dealer. It also said that he had researched how to make silencers and asked the undercover operative to make one for each of them.

“Our attacks need to be as big as possible,” Sullivan is quoted as telling the person.

Victim's father in trial outburst Barker, who drove off at speed after hitting Shahzaib Hussain, pictured, refused to accept he had been speeding, and claimed not to have been aware of how fast he was going.

Clearly overcome by emotion, Mr Hussain, who had sat with his wife by his side in the public seats at the hearing in Minshull Street Crown Court, shouted "liar" to him, then jumped to his feet as Barker walked in front of him as he returned

The father of an 11-year old boy who died as the result of a hit and run crash early this year, lunged at the driver involved, as he finished giving evidence to a trial jury in Manchester.

Henry Barker (20), who pleads not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, had just been accused of "not giving a damn" for innocent pedestrians when he drove a friend's Mercedes car at twice the 20mph speed limit in February.

to the dock from the witness box. He was restrained by family and police officers sitting alongside, and was then led outside the courtroom until he had regained his composure.

The trial jury was told that Barker, who had admitted causing death by careless driving, had admitted driving dangerously after the incident on the afternoon of February 29 - but not before.

The trial continues.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Tanveer Iqbal murder trial: Defendants knew conversations were being recorded

Tanveer Iqbal managed Hi-Tech Music

A woman and a teenager were secretly recorded agreeing to say they were not present when her lover was strangled at a house in Birmingham.

Zatoon Bibi told the 16year-old to say that they had been hiding in a bathroom while her former husband had killed music shop owner Tanveer Iqbal downstairs.

During the conversations both Bibi and the codefendant indicate that they are aware that the calls were being monitored.

Bibi, 37, Gul Nawaz, 44, and the teenage male have denied murdering 33year-old Mr Iqbal.

Sally Howes QC, prosecuting at Birmingham that both women were aware of what was going on but cracks started to appear in the “unconventional”

arrangement and that Bibi had started to try and stir up trouble between the victim and his wife.

Matters culminated on January 31 this year when, it is alleged, Mr Iqbal was lured to Bibi’s address for a birthday celebration where he was killed and his body put in the boot of his car.

Mrs Howes said Bibi had then driven the vehicle to Portland Road, Edgbaston, where the victim’s body was found crammed inside a cardboard box.

Transcripts of the calls made between Bibi and the 16-year-old were read to the jury during which the woman tells him to say that Mr Iqbal had come to the address, had got into an argument with her ex husband and that they had fought.

The trial continues.

Circus Raj acrobat knocked out after tightrope fall

Mela brightens up Leicester city centre The sights and sounds of India filled Leicester last Sunday as the annual Mela celebration took place.

However, the weather made it feel a bit like monsoon season.

The whole of the market was turned into a bazaar filled with stalls

selling Indian food, crafts and clothes, while more stalls lined Gallowtree Gate. Two stages were set up in Humberstone Gate and by the Clock Tower, where musicians and dance groups took turn to perform, including Nupur Arts, the popular Shiamak

Tightrope walker takes a tumble at Jubilee square event

Mortgages.....Mortgages......

Major Estates Finacial Services

• Residential Mortgages • Buy to Let Mortgages • Re-Mortgages • Life Insurance

For further enquiries please call Dinesh Shonchhatra

Major Estate 77 High Street, Wealdstone Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 5DQ

020 8424 8686/ 07956 810 647

group, Andrea's Oriental Dance, Kuntal's School of PBV

Bollywood Dancing and many more.

Are you looking for a reliable partner in USA for your exports from UK/Europe to USA?

• Look no further. We are an Int’l Freight Forwarders and Licensed Customs brokers located in Chicago, il, USA • We are reliable, dependable and honest • Specialize in imports/exports of air, ocean and truck b/w Canada/USA & Mexico/USA • Visit our website at www.pbvshippingusa.com • Email us at info@pbvshippingusa.com

Contact Poonam Parekh @ 630-929-2227

An acrobat fell and appeared to be knocked unconscious as he performed a tightrope walk Monday.

The Circus Raj performer was knocked unconscious after he fell as he tried to walk across a rope suspended 15 feet in the air in Jubilee Square, Leicester.

The man was tended to by fellow performers and a first-aider after he fell and landed on his head at about 1.30pm in the display, which was part of the City Festival. He regained consciousness quite quickly and was not taken to hospital for treatment.

A crowd looked on as the acrobat tried to perform the tightrope stunt in windy conditions.

A witness said: "It was his second attempt to walk

across the tightrope. In a previous attempt he slipped off but was able to control his landing.

"The second time he was trying to walk across and the wind got up. He crouched down to try to regain his balance but then fell off. He landed on his head it looked quite nasty."

A spokesman for Leicester City Council, who gave the troupe permission to perform in the public area, said the acrobat was not hurt.

He said: "Fortunately, the performer was uninjured. He was tended to by an on-site first aider and a hospital visit was not required."

The acrobat was performing as part of a 90minute display by Circus Raj – a street circus troupe from Rajasthan in India.

www.asian-voice.com Asian Voice | 27th August 2016 AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

5

Re-building trust in the economy is essential to a successful post-Brexit future

By Sonny Leong CBE, Co-Founder SME for Labour and Chair, Chinese for Labour and Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

There is no doubt that the 23rd June 2016 was a watershed moment for our country.

But what type of watershed will it be? Will Brexit signal the decline of the UK as a global power, a potential break-up of the Union and a voluntary resignation from the world stage with a shrinking economy and a divided population?

Or will it force us to confront some stark realities and bridge some of the deep fissures in our society and in our economy? Can we use Brexit as an opportunity to think afresh about how to create a more united society, a more just economy and forge a new role in the world?

The referendum was incredibly divisive families were split between Leavers and Remainers and the bitterness threatens to linger.

For one of us, as a ChineseMalaysian immigrant and a serial entrepreneur; the decision to leave and the racist backlash that followed made him question whether he really belonged here.

It feels very personal and of course it is, because it is about our country: our home and our future. The Brexit vote has shown that public attitudes to business and commerce, politicians, immigration, freedom of movement and a host of related issues are more hostile than many of us had expected.

As the Labour leadership contest continues over the summer, both candidates should reflect on the vital role business can and must play as the party frames it response There are steps we can take immediately to restore public faith in business and persuade the electorate that Labour wants to build an economy that works for all, some of which we outline in this article.

But it is important to understand how we arrived at this point. It is well-established that there has been a complete breakdown of public trust in many of the institutions and public bodies that once enjoyed widespread support, including Parliament and MPs. Some of the wilder statements issued by both sides in the referendum campaign may have led to a further erosion of that trust, but the reality is the reputation of politicians has still not recovered from the MPs expenses affair seven years after it took place.

Subsequent scandals have exposed a similar lack of faith in the banking system, the police, the media and many of the public bodies that failed to act on evidence of systemic child abuse. Michael Gove s famous remark during the election campaign that the country has had enough

of experts was a clumsy attempt to articulate that sense of disillusionment.

There were many reasons to vote for Brexit, including a similar disdain for politicians and bureaucrats based in Brussels. But a perception that those in power were both out of touch and somehow immune from the effects of a prolonged recession were decisive factors in Leave s victory.

Re-building trust in the economy is essential if we are to tackle the challenges of Brexit together, but we are facing a more challenging economic climate now than we were a year ago. Economic inequality and lack of opportunity were both motivations for voting to leave, but the economic consequences of that decision are already being felt with companies leaving the UK, reduced growth forecasts and disrupted trade relationships.

We need to develop a new economic model that generates headline growth at a national level while enabling all of us to pay our bills, afford a home, save some money and raise a family if we chose to. The challenge for a party that has always redistributed wealth and power is to ensure the prosperity we create as a country is shared by everyone.

This is where Labour has the chance to chart a different, more ethical course than this government can or will We have seen the result of an anything goes economy too frequently over recent years from the behaviour of unregulated banks to the scandalous treatment of workers at Mike Ashley s Sports Direct or the unscrupulous behaviour of Philip Green at BHS. It tends to be that the boss or the wealthy walk away with a slap on the wrist (or a knighthood) and an enormous amount of money, while the workers or the poor suffer the insecurity and devastation of the real-life impact.

It has happened in the recession, it has happened as a consequence of austerity policy and the likelihood is that if we don t take preventative positive action, it will happen as a fallout of Brexit.

Almost every economic indicator has been negative since we left the EU at the end of June.

We cannot re-build trust in communities up and down the country, unless we can persuade those people, many of whom work longer hours for less money than they did a decade ago, that we can build an economy that will bring

real improvement to their lives.

Take the example of corporate misbehaviour. It is only when workers in the manufacturing or finance industry see corporate leaders held to the same ethical standard as they are that trust can be rebuilt. It is only when executives act and invest for the long-term,, that our economy will be durable and sustainable and jobs become more secure. It is only when corporations that make sizeable profits in the UK contribute to our society by paying their taxes in full that people will be convinced the economy is run for benefit of all of us, rather than the members of a small corporate elite.

There are some simple measures that could take us in the right direction: n Introduce custodial sentences for crimes committed by officers of a corporation, including attempts to defraud investors and employees and n examples of aggressive tax avoidance and evasion. Too many white collar crimes are punished by fines or relatively lenient jail terms. n Establish statutory corporate tax liability for Companies registered in the UK irrespective of where their headquarters are based when at least 75% of their total revenues are earned in the UK. n Makes change to the honours system so that businessmen and women are not eligible for knighthoods if they are or have been non-domiciled in the UK for tax purposes at the time of investiture, and consider applying that ban retrospectively should their tax status change. We should only bestow the highest honours on those who play a full part in public life and pay their taxes in the UK. n Push ahead with Treasury proposals to fine accountants and tax advisers involved in illegal tax avoidance. Labour will support these measures if the Government introduces legislation when Parliament returns next month.

These measures may not be enough on their own to restore public faith in how the economy is run, but they signal a determination to overhaul a system that too often favours the powerful. They will help to tackle the widely held view that those with money and status have in some cases freed themselves from the obligation to act as responsible citizens This is where Labour must take the lead as it seeks to create a more equal, fairer and more caring society in which business generates the wealth that is shared fairly amongst those who help create it.

Only an economic model that recognises that corporate growth, decent wages, workers rights and corporate responsibility are mutually enhancing can repair public trust and start to heal the divisions that Brexit caused.

fr £667 pp p

INDIA Khajuraho & Golden Trriangle, 8 Nights Incl. Flights|B&B

fr £1097 7 pp

CHINA Beijing & Shanghai 6 Nights Incl. Flights|Half Board d

fr £1270 0 pp

MONGOLIA Khustai-Kharkhorin 5 Nights Incl. Flights|Full Board d

fr £1651 pp

SRI LANKA Wildlife Luxury 9 Nights Incl. Flights|B&B

fr £2849 9 pp

SOUTH AFRICA Cape To own, Blue Trrain & Safari, 8 Nights g 5* Incl. Flight

fr £3179 9 pp p

AUSTRALIA A&N NZ East Coast Adventurre e 11 Nights Incl. Flights

AHME A HME EDABAD BHUJ GOA DELHII MUMB BAI CHENNAI

£ £379 fr £401 £ fr £383 £ fr £354 £ fr £336 £ fr £370 £ fr

20 Airlines & 400,000 200 0,000 Hotels. Price matcch guaranteed!

PLUS

£ £20 0 FR FRE E EE E LYC LY CAMOBI M LE TOP P-UP P U UP *T&Cs &C Css apply

CALL L 0207 0 1 132 32 3 32 lin nes open 24x 7

6

UK

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice |27th August 2016

Re-discovering India’s agricultural benefits with the Prithvi Foundation On Monday, Dr Sheela Taori and Mr Kamal Taori visited the offices of Asian Voice during their month long visit of the UK. Dr Sheela sat down to speak with us about the Prithvi Foundation, a public private panchayat partnership based in Delhi for the past 10 years.

Dr Taori has been a teacher for most of her life and conducted teacher training who strongly believes education changes people. She took up teacher eduction as a mission and a passion.

Her owes her strong background of science and Sanskrit to her teachers and parents, especially her father. Due to this she has a strong faith in the traditions of India and its ancient history. The ancient Sanathan Dharma, as it is not bound by any national boundaries, nor does it bind or divide people into groups.

The vedas don't teach to take anything for free.

Until 2010 she was in regular service, moving between different cities due to her husband’s transferable job. She used to train people in Human Resource Development areas for example, on how to communicate well, how to develop one’s personality, how the mindset should be changed, how attitudes are important.

While she admits she

Dr Sheela Taori

isn’t a great scholar of the vedas, she is trying to understand the message go vedas. She wonders why is India going through such turmoil like the incident in JNU and other incidents. India and Bharat are 2 different things she feels, she adds Bharat is the real India based on agriculture and the agricultural produce, its value addition and the equitable distribution to all. This made India happy. The benefits of the cow and bull are obvious to see, they provide transport, provide milk to keep us healthy, they produce dung which is helpful to the soil and help plants grow, and for those who drink its urine, its has disinfecting qualities.

Our forefathers took care of everything but now she says as a country we have gone against nature

by importing western ideas as it is. Using chemicals and fertilisers in the soil.

This contamination of ground water with extra chemicals has become a vicious cycle which has lead to affecting our health.

As a country we have abandoned the traditional methods of farming. 80% of Indian farmers are small land owners who have less than 2 hectares of land who have nationwide abandoned traditional methods of farming. Instead relying on tractors which are made in factories, which in turn is polluting the air, the vehicles run on diesel which is again polluting the air and they cannot be used effectively in the small land held by farmers.

Dr Taori and her husband are in the UK for a month spreading awareness, meeting the cream of UK asian society seeking guidance and also educating on the economics, ecology and sociology. Mr Toari says that we all have a role if we all go a little beyond. Those who are performers must think of how can they further the cause of marketing the un-marketed not on emotion but on ecology and holistic economics.

Mayor appointments Indian-origin as deputy Continued from page 1 Rodrigues added: “Sadiq has already proposed a radical and wideranging approach to clean up London’s dirty air and I feel privileged to be able to lead on this vital piece of work that will boost the quality of life and health for millions of Londoners.”

As deputy mayor for business, entrepreneur Rajesh Agrawal, 39, has been tasked with championing London’s interests following the June 23 EU referendum in which Britons voted to leave the European Union, and protecting jobs and growth while the Brexit negotiation process takes place.

Ms Rodrigues was born

in Nairobi and her family has roots in the villages of Siolim and Aldona in Goa. The family migrated to Britain in 1967. As deputy mayor, she will push forward Khan’s agenda for a cleaner and greener London.

Before her appointment, Rodrigues was acting executive director for climate change at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, a charity that works to transform the lives of poor and vulnerable children in developing countries. She oversaw a £155 million global strategy and portfolio.

Rodrigues has a track record of developing and implementing new environmental policies in

Rajesh Agrawal, newly appointed deputy mayor for business

London, having worked in senior policy roles from 2005 to 2009. She helped to implement the London Low Emission Zone and programmes to retrofit the city’s residential and commercial buildings.

Predatory paedophile abducted 14-year-old Leeds girl An ‘extremely manipulative’ predatory paedophile abducted a 14-year-old girl before taking her to a remote location and having sex with her in a caravan.

Javed Iqbal, 48, was handed an eight year sentence after a court heard how a manhunt was sparked after the victim’s

mother reported her missing. Iqbal drove the girl from Leeds to farmland near Grimsby where he was arrested by officers from Humberside Police.

He must serve a minimum of two thirds of a four-year custodial term followed by four years on licence.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Paddington train derailment caused by fasting driver After a train derailment at Paddington station caused panic in the city on June 16, railway safety officers say the accident may be caused by the driver who had been fasting for Ramadan.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch released a report into the incident stating the driver told investigators that "he had awoken during the night before the accident at 2:30 am, to eat a light meal, as part of his observance of Ramadan. He went back to bed at 3:30 am, slept for a further seven hours before coming on duty at 1:07 pm and had not had anything else to eat or drink before the accident occurred."

The report even highlights research showing how fasting can "affect people's concentration levels" and has published guidance for the rail industry on the matter.

The driver of the twocar Great Western train had "formed the impression in his mind" that a nearby signal meant it was clear for him to move off and enter platform 1. The signal which showed red, meaning stop, was misunderstood and he "drove past it although it was showing the two red lights". By the time he realised the train was being diverted, it was too late and the first three set of wheels derailed at a set of points.

A spokesman for the

Great Western Railway said, "We have cooperated fully with the RAIB in their investigation into this very unusual event and note the publication of the report.

Such incidents are extremely rare and the safety arrangements in place at the location prevented a more serious event. We continually brief our drivers, regularly monitor their competence, and will continue to work with our industry partners to improve the safety of the railway."

National Hindu Welfare Support presents Grooming & Entrapment Seminar National Hindu Welfare Support (NHWS) and its team presented a seminar on ‘Grooming & Entrapment’ at the Shree Prajapati Association Centre in Birmingham on Saturday 6th August 2016.

The Seminar held was very informative and touched upon how young girls/boys and even adults are groomed and entrapped.

Grooming starts with the offender targeting and profiling suitable girls / boys to be exploited or converted.

Over time the girls/boys trust may be gained by attention, flattery and gifts. The intention is to draw the girl in more deeply, by making her feel special and then to isolate her from friends

and family. Groomers often seek out girls using social media. Once the relationship is sexualised the offender will take advantage by threats, blackmail and exposure unless demands are fulfilled.

NHWS was established on ‘Raksha Bandhan’ 2015. All members on the team are volunteers from

the Hindu faith and works with communities, families and girls / boys to raise awareness about grooming and provides assistance and support. They have a 24 hour helpline 0207 341 6279, where they can be contacted concerning issues with grooming and conversions. They provide also advice, assistance and counselling service.

CORRECTION In last week’s news item, 'Largest Indian Flag outside India to be painted for Independence Day Celebrations in London’, which appeared on page 18, it was mentioned the UK Asian Business Council (UKABC) were the co-hosts of the flag painting event in associa-

tion with the Indian Gymkhana Club.

In fact, it was the UKABC which organised and hosted the event.

Also the artist Mr Jignesh Patel was contracted by the UKABC to paint the flag and had over 1,000 people participate.

Hindu Council of Wales celebrates Rakhi festival with Armed Forces On August 10th, the Hindu Council of Wales celebrated Rakhi festival with UK Armed forces at Sanatan Dharma Mandal and Hindu Community Center, bringing together British Hindu youth and the British Armed Forces in the spirit of friendship, brotherhood and mutual support and protection.

This was the first ever event that HCW celebrated with UK Armed forces.

Some of the young girls and the catering volunteers of Sanatan Dharma Mandir tied rakhi to the armed forces hindus and non hindus who attended the event, establishing

bonds of friendship, brotherhood, and mutual protection and support between the Wales Hindu community and their Armed Forces Normally sisters tie rakhi on their brothers on Raksha Bandhan as a bond of protection but never

think about the Army and Navy personnel who risk their life for us each and every day.

The whole event was festive, informative and spiritual, but mostly a fun way to celebrate the Raksha Bandhan with UK Armed forces.

www.asian-voice.com

Ministry of Defence celebrates AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Raksha Bandhan in London temple

UK Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

7

YouTube fails to stem web hate Videos Following the arrest of radical preacher Anjem Choudary, it has emerged that many of his videos are still available online. Many of his followers can still view videos via YouTube and Google searches.

Videos including calls for fellow Muslims to take up arms to fight non-believers, the glorification of Isis, demands for Sharia law across the world and many more have not been taken down.

Counterterrorism experts say the revelation is alarming because Choudary, was extremely successful in using the

internet to spears his messages of hate. Until Tuesday 16th August, he was not subjected to sanctions by internet companies. Twitter deactivated his account which had over 30,000 followers. It is said some videos on YouTube might have been uploaded again after the company removed them. The former head of counterterrorism at Scotland Yard, Richard Walton said “There should be some way of restricting behaviour that is not necessarily criminal but is clearly on the cusp, is grossly antisocial and grossly offensive.”

Race Hate crime on Trains sore Aaditya Kaza

have played in defending the Britain and her interests. During On Friday 12th August, the Ministry WW1, an estimated 750,000 of the Defence concluded its week Hindus were deployed overseas as long Rashka Bhandan celebrations part of the British Indian Army, at the Shree Swaminarayan Temple earning 8 Victoria Crosses – the in Kingsbury, North most prestigious London. The celebraaward within the miltions took in the sights itary; 3 Hindu RFC of several major UK fighter pilots fought cities and key military in WW1 earning 1 bases.

Distinguished Flying Among the digniCross; Hindus also taries attending the served in Royal event at the temple was Indian Marine and as the Minister for ‘lascars’ (seamen on Defence and Deputy merchant and Royal Leader of the House of Navy ships) around Lords, Rt Hon The Earl 20% of British marHowe PC, Vice Chief of itime strength of Defence Staff, General WW1 was Indian.

Gordon Messenger, During WWII, over Bob Branford from the 1.25 million Hindus Members of the Armed Forces showing their Rakhi bands RAF, Dr Manish Tayal fought in British Surgeon Lt Cdr of the Royal Navy, Indian Army, across Europe, Africa that reason that we are hugely honBarry Gardner MP, Brent councillor and Asia earning 18 Victoria oured to host the Armed Forces Muhammed Butt, Naval Advisor to Crosses; Hindu pilots flew in both Hindu Network’s flagship Raksha the High Commission of India RAF and Indian Air Force, includBandhan event here today.”

Commodore Sameer Saxena, and ing during Blitz; the Royal Indian Following the rakhi tying cerekey officials of the Temple.

Navy played prominent role in mony guests Later the guests made The dignitaries received rakhi European operations. Today there speeches praising the link and work bands tied by young children and are currently around 950 Hindus between the Hindu community of key members from the community. serving in UK Armed Forces.

Britain and the armed forces Alongside the dignitaries, Armed through the ages. Chair of the Forces personnel who accompanied Armed Forces Hindu Network, Dr Asian in the UK Armed Forces: Facts the VIPs also received rakhi bands.

Manish Tayal said values of the l 1.5% of the UK population are Asians During the ceremony the VIPs Armed Forces such as courage, l 0.6% of Asians are in the Armed Forces guests were also invited to perform commitment, discipline, respect, aarti while chanting to devotional integrity and loyalty are a reflection l 1% in the Army payers. Temple Trustee, Dr Mahesh of Hindu core values as illustrated l 0.1% in the RAF Varsani said, “Our Armed Forces are in many Hindu epics and scriptures. at the vanguard of protecting us and During his presentation he also l 0.04% in the Royal Navy we should never take them for spoke of the historical link Hindus granted. Our global spiritual leader, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj often visits military installations in India to remind us of the selfless and valiant job that these courageous servicemen and women do. It is for

AFHN dignitaries with members of the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band outside the temple

Figures show the number of suspected race hate crimes on Britain’s railways risen sharply in the aftermath of the EU referendum. British Transport police (BTP) recorded 119 incidents which included allegations of racist abuse and attacks at stations equivalent to eight a day, in the fortnight after the vote. The number of alleged race hate offences logged by the force between 24 June and 7 July accounted to a 57% increase on the previous two weeks, and an even sharper rise of 78% on the equivalent period in 2015.

These figures reveal a worrying trend which coincides with figures from police forces across the country and reflect a wave of xenophobic abuse reported following the Brexit vote.

The Press Association obtained the BTP statistics for the two weeks following the referendum through a freedom of information (FoI) request.

It shows that there were 11 alleged race hate offences a day after the outcome of the vote was announced.

Public order crimes were the most commonly recorded incidents, with dozens of suspects said to have made racist comments towards passengers or staff. There were three alleged instances of racially or religiously aggravated actual bodily harm, including one in which the victim was “perceived to be attacked due to their nationality”. At the time the FoI response was

issued earlier this month, 22 people had been arrested in relation to the cases.

Rose Simkins, the chief executive of charity Stop Hate UK, said: “We consistently hear from victims that one of the reasons they do not report incidents is a lack of confidence in authorities to deal with the issue. We would encourage BTP to look closely at the type of incidents being reported and take the opportunity to assess how effective their hate crime strategies are.”

Supt Chris Horton from the BTP said: “We are aware that hate crime is under-reported and so in order to tackle it effectively, we need the public to stand up to those committing these sickening acts and report it to us. We will take every report seriously. We will always work tirelessly to ensure those who threaten or intimidate passengers are brought to justice.” Last month hate crime reports to police across Britain in the week before and the week after the 23 June vote increased by 42%, to more than 3,000. In the four weeks from the middle of June over 6,000 alleged hate crimes and incidents were reported to police across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. There was a slight fall, but the volume of reports was still about a third higher than the same time last year.

BTP polices Britain’s railways as well as a number of urban networks such as London Underground.

8

UK

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Labour Leadership contest heats up as ballot papers go out In a week when the Labour party sent out its ballot papers to party members, the leadership challenge is hotting up. The two contenders for the party leadership have urged members to back them as ballot papers begin to be sent or emailed to nearly 650,000 people. The Labour party said the voters are made up of about 350,000 members, out of which 129,000 people paid £25 each to be registered supporters, and 168,000 people from the unions and other organisations.

It has emerged that thousands of party supporters might face suspension or even be expelled as allegations of abuse and antisemitism have surfaced. Some 6000 members have been reported to the Party’s NEC in a bid to stop bad behaviour.

Now a few party members are thinking of setting up a rebel group to co-ordinate a mass defiance if Jeremy Corbyn should succeed retaining the leadership. This ‘party within the party’ is structured on the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs. Rebel shadow ministers believe the creation of this new group will enable them to appoint

Sadiq Khan

their own whips to help coordinate rebellions against Corbyn, to sign up over 100 MPs to Labour’s ‘sister party’, the Co-operative party, using it as an official opposition, and to change the rules on appointing the Labour front bench to “Surround and Smother” Corbyn.

Since 1927, the CoOperative party has had an electoral agreement with the Labour party to put forward joint candidates during elections. there are some 25 MPs from Labour who are also members of the Co-op party, including Stella Creasy, Jonathan Ashworth, Gareth Thomas, John Woodcock and Louise Ellman.

In an unexpected move, the Mayor of London Sadiq

Khan, broke his stance of neutrality and publicly endorsed Owen Smith for the party leadership over the weekend. The mayor writing in the Observer said that Corbyn “failed to win the trust of the people and respect of the British people” and claimed the leader “proved that he is unable to organise an effective team.” This new support has raised hopes with the Smith camp of his chances of becoming the new leader. Another leading figure backing Mr Smith is Labour’s Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale, In another development, Chi Onwurah, a shadow culture and business minister along with another female MP has claimed Jeremy Corbyn’s disastrous management has made it impossible for the ethnic minority MPs to do their jobs. She urged her fellow members not to reelect Corbyn.

The result of the leadership contest will be announced on 24 September.

Are you looking for a more rewarding career?

Media Advertising Sales Representative

Media Advertising Sales Representative positions are available with Asian Business Publications Ltd - publishers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, the leaders in ethnic media.

Using a mixture of face to face, telephone and electronic contact, the position will entail selling advertising space for both Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, theme based specials, sponsorships for various events we conduct through out the year.

We are seeking confident assertive, energetic, and goal-oriented individual with or without previous experience in sales. Position is responsible for building effective consultative business conversations with decision makers and win business. Selected candidates will receive a competitive salary and commissions. For consideration please email resume with references.

LOCATION: JOB TYPE:

Central London Permanent

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar are the largest selling Asian news weeklies, now in their 45th year with paid subscription of almost 25,000 and additional 5000 copies sold through retail outlets. Visit us @ www.abplgroup.com

Send your CV with a covering letter to: Mr L. George Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House 12 Hoxton Market (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW or email: george@abplgroup.com

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Cllr Rabi Martins

Watford Borough Council

Reflecting on Our Olympics Triumph Didn’t we do well in Rio to win 67 medals? For a while at least we can put the Brexit blues behind us and bask in the glory that these dedicated athletes have brought to our country. I naturally made most of the best excuse I have had in a while to celebrate with a glass or two of the Indian wine.

But then in the cold light of the following morning I found myself pondering on some of the wider aspects related to the games and Team GB. Why for example were there no Asians amongst the medal winners – or come to think of it in the team as whole?

Does the 950 thousand pounds per medal won represent good value for money? Does it matter that team GB was made up of elite athletes who were hand picked soon after the 2012 games and then given access to the best facilities and top coaches available The first question is probably easy to answer. Sport as a career is not something Asian parents generally invest in.

There are exceptions of course but they are few and far in between I once asked Graham Tailor, the former Watford FC (and England) manager when we could expect an Asian – specifically Indian or Pakistani – player in the first team squad His response was - when Asian parents accepted a professional sports person was just as worthy a profession as a doctor, lawyer or engineer, few would disagree with him.

The second question is more difficult to address. On first thought using Lottery money to fund Team GB is better than raiding the government purse But then, when you consider that the money is targeted at a privileged few

picked from a small pool the justification begins to wear a little thin. After all, the majority of lottery ticket buyers come from the low income groups. It is unlikely the potential Olympic squad members will come from this group.

That is because participation in sport has been gradually eroded and is under constant attack. This is a direct result of government cuts which force local councils to sell off playing fields and reduce access to leisure facilities to ordinary people.

And it is precisely because this scheme is so selective and restrictive that I think our system of building Olympic squads needs to change Sport should be available and affordable to all, the money from the National Lottery should be more evenly spread between would be Olympians and the rest of the community.

If just a fraction, say 20 percent or so of the 65 million spend on the small Olympic Squad this year could be diverted to School and Community sport provision, we could have a bigger pool of potential gold medal winners to pick from and even if not, the result would be a much healthier nation. Just think how much the National Lottery could save the nation on reduced health care bills.

Oh and there is one other thing, these Gold (and indeed silver and bronze) medal winners who stand to earn thousands if not millions from sponsorship deals should be required to pay back some of the money we all paid to help them get them get to the top.

We make students pay back when they earn a certain level, so why not Olympic Medal Winners?

Into the night with the Night Tube After many years of campaigning, this weekend saw the first ever Night Tube service on the London Underground.

The service now sees the underground trains run 24 hours a day. Official figures from the Transport of London reveal the weekend saw just over 100,000 journeys completed. The Victoria and Central lines on the which the service was introduced saw 100,300 trips on Friday and Saturday night.

The British Transport Police (BTP) said one person was arrested but added the service was "safe and trouble-free”. The night was also marked with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan travelling on the service among revellers and other commuters. He said the service had "changed the face of weekend travel forever”. Security and safety of passengers was managed with some 100 police officers patrolling stations and platforms as services were extended between 00:30 and 05:00 BST.

However, Ch Insp Dominique Ioannou said the Night Tube was "a historic event for London" and hailed the "great atmosphere throughout”.

There were no major problems apart from a signal failure, delaying trains between Woodford and Loughton on Saturday

morning.

Passengers who used the Night Tube said they were impressed with the service. It is predicted 200,000 people will use the Night Tube once the service is extended to the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Northern lines later in the autumn.

UK Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Rani

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

his current position? He attributes his growth to experimentation, experience and having a keen interest in being a part of the start-up industry.

Singh, Special Assignments Editor “Chartering unknown areas, wanting to learn and not going for the obvious,” was a driver, he told us in a sit down interview.

“People were just starting to talk about the media when I started. People did not know where India, Star Den Media it would lead, if it services (a cable operwould grow or ator). Prior to that, he just go back to was the President of public broadcastSet Discovery Pvt. Ltd, i n g ; a joint venture Doordarshan. between Sony People would Entertainment and look at you and D i s c o v e r y say ‘what are you Communication. doing? Why are Awarded the title you not with of the Best more established Distribution Head in companies, like 2005 and Best Unilever?”

Distribution Executive To make matin 2002, Anuj Gandhi ters more confushas also been an active ing for the member of the naysayers, Anuj D i g i t i s a t i o n started dabbling Committee set up by with the the Indian Distribution Government/ Business. “‘Mom Regulator. and pop operaFormative years as it Anuj Gandhi tors’ Born in Delhi, Anuj appeared; people exuded sparks of an Management Studies. After said, ‘why are you dealing entrepreneur from an early a stint in finance, he joined with mafia?’” age. After having been eduthe Hinduja group and But joining the cated at Sardar Patel School found his foothold and callDiscovery Channel thereand graduating from Delhi ing in the media industry after brought credibility.

University, he soon clinched soon after.

“People looked at me differhis MBA degree from Trajectory ently with a brand like Mumbai’s SP Jain Institute So what got Anuj Gandhi to Discovery in my resume.” of Management in

Anuj Gandhi, Group CEO, IndiaCast ~ A name to reckon with in an ever changing media industry As the Group CEO of IndiaCast, a joint venture between TV18 and Viacom, Anuj Gandhi’s lack of pretentiousness belies his power, for Anuj’s record and reach is awe-inspiring.

Residing in Mumbai, he leads the India’s only Content Monetisation Company and is touted as the (gentle) big beast of the media world.

His portfolio requires him to expand the bouquet of channels of the Network across territories and distribution arenas. To do this, Anuj leads a team of ace professionals working across traditional and new media platforms. Currently Anuj is also working with Reliance Jio Infocom and playing a crucial role in content acquisition for them.

Formerly, as the CEO at Den Networks Ltd, Anuj’s responsibilities included building India’s largest Cable TV Company and setting up a joint venture with the Murdoch- owned Star

Achievements Anuj takes immense pride in IndiaCasts’ growth in the International markets. “It’s grown four times in less than five years,” he asserts.

He further added, “Our international business was in its infancy when I started.

I’ve hand-held it. It’s now worth $60-65 million. I’ve overlooked the business from all aspects, adapted to newer mediums, new-age technology and got on-board a task force who have taken the venture from strength to strength. We know the pulse of the viewers and we know where to make money from.”

Laying high emphasis on New Media, Anuj says, “It’s a combination of You Tube and also the individual networks that are coming up.

We have our own ‘Over the Top’ platforms like You Tube, Sky Go, in India where we’re going to monetise our content. You’re basically riding the internet.”

Biggest Challenge “For me the biggest challenge is the adoption of technology. The way in which the media industry is changing at a fast pace, we need to be on our toes all the time and constantly evolve. For example, this mobile is the screen I look at when I first get up in the morning and the last thing I see when I sleep, this screen will probably be the largest and biggest screen where people will watch content going forward. So the biggest challenge is to

9

stay ahead of what’s happening. The next few years will be the challenge that we’ll all be facing in the industry,” declares this media mogul.

So what is Anuj’s solution for this test?

“Read a lot, be aware of what’s happening around you. There is no other solution because it’s not something that’s in your control.

For example, if the Netflixes and the Amazons of the world are going to be doing high grade production and putting it on the net, you have to deal with it. At some point in time they will start eating into your revenue. So either you compete with them, or you say ‘they are there, and I will do something different.”

Anuj says it is important to keep abreast of what’s happening in the rest of the world, “so that when it comes to India, or when something comes out of India, you know how to deal with it.”

He has a simple solution to any perceived threats posed by Amazon and Netflix.

“Do it yourself, do originals yourself. So when it comes to India, you’re already doing it.”

The Indiacast CEO is now looking forward to September 29th 2016, when the first Hindi movie channel from Viacom18’s stable, Rishtey Cineplex will launch in the UK, to sit alongside already popular channels, Colors TV and Rishtey.

‘THE WORLD’S GREATEST BATSMAN’ SACHIN TENDULKAR AN EXCLUSIVE SACHIN TENDULKAR COIN COLLECTION Struck to the highest quality in Gold and Silver with a special edition presentation box and certificate of authenticity

1oz Gold Coin at £1995.00

1/4oz Gold Coin at £654.00

1/2oz Silver Coin at £84.00

Available to purchase and view across London WEMBLEY

Kenya Jewellers Tel. 0208 902 2106

EAST LONDON

Pure Jewels Tel. 0208 470 1221 www.purejewels.com MAYFAIR

The East India Company Tel. 0203 205 3390 www.theeastindiacompany.com

TOOTING

Minar Jewellers Tel. 0208 767 7627

10

READERS’ VOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Legacy of a living saint I consider myself very fortunate for receiving Pramukh Swamiji's blessings over the years. Future generations will look at Swamiji's work and marvel at how much he achieved in a lifetime. Indeed it is impossible for ordinary mortals to achieve what Swamiji achieved.

Historians in future will acknowledge that Swamiji brought about a renascence of Hindu dharma. Indian art, history, culture, unique temple construction according to Hindu scriptures, all was revived by Swamiji. He motivated millions of people to lead spiritual lives all over the world.

During the times of national calamities brought about by earthquakes or droughts and wars Swamiji inspired armies of people to serve the victims with love and compassion. Opening schools, colleges, hospitals and over a thousand temples in different parts of the world, visiting tens of thousands of villages and homes, writing letters to devotees and personally helping solve issues faced by devotees, it is a miracle of our times.

The state of Gujarat in India is a land of great thinkers, poets, valiant kings and saints and sages.

Whenever mention will be made of India's great spiritual heritage Swamiji and his divine life will be remembered with awe and wonder.

Nitin Mehta MBE Founder Indian Vegetarian Society

Olympics in Rio

We must thank Brazil for successfully hosting the RIO 2016 0lympics.

Despite all the negativity about Zika virus and poor infrastructures not least the disruptive behaviour by the American athlete.

Games like the Olympics must be purely based on goodwill not on bad politics or egos.

Russian athletes paid a heavy price for not being the poodle of America and it's cronies.

Hope politicians and athletes learn the lessons from the RIO 2016 Olympics and try to create a healthy and pleasant environment in the 2020 Japan Olympics to establish peace and harmony across the globe not wars.

Yam Gurung (rtd) By email

Zika Epidemic

No epidemic in recent years has been so widespread, affecting 70 countries, mainly in Africa, Latin America and Pacific Islands. But even European holiday hotspots like Spain and Portugal are not immune to Zika. Florida is the latest to report infection from mosquito bites, while 53 cases have been reported in UK, affecting people who have travelled to South America.

UK government has advised people, especially pregnant women, not to travel to Florida, the favourite long-distance holiday destination for Britons. The worse affected country is Brazil where current Olympic Games are taking place. Many golf and tennis players have withdrawn from the games, as they consider their health more important than participating, even winning Gold Medal.

Although Zika is no threat to young, healthy men, especially if we take right precautions, such as staying on high floors and avoid going out at night to leafy, wet places, people have different priorities, believing in precaution, avoiding infected destinations rather than cure.

It is only a question of time before tropical destinations like India, China, Thailand and Middle East countries are affected. So take medical advice before booking a holiday to these exotic destinations, especially our elders who prefer Indian sunshine and warmth to our cold, damp winters.

Kumudini Valambia By email

Subscribe Today Asian Voice in UK for only £29 for one year

Elected government In an interview [Indira Gandhi-Interview-TV Eye-1978, accessible on Youtube], Mrs. Gandhi asked “In a parliamentary democracy, is a judge competent to override what parliament has done?” With the Indian courts increasingly trying to meddle in all aspects of the government, I think her question is very relevant today. It is not for the courts to try to set up a parallel government. The judges are not elected by the people, the government is.

SK Shah By email

Betrayal of OAP savers

Bank of England (BOE) reduced interest rate to 0:50% in 2009. It was supposed to be temporary measure to boost economy. It lasted seven years until it was further reduced to 0:25% to the delight of borrowers but dismay of savers with Hobson’s choice to OAP savers whose income have been decimated, forcing them to dig deep in their savings to make ends meet, depriving average household of £6000 in lost interest. It is indeed a shame on politicians who profess to be OAP friendly but ready to stab them in the back, although BOE is supposed to be independent! In order to seek reasonable reward, savers become victims of fraudsters who promise unbelievable high rate, losing their life-savings. is Government launching lifetime ISAS next year which should be brought forward, along with pension bonds, offering reasonable interest rate, around 4% as per financial experts. As OPAs are most dedicated voters, they should be able to exert pressure on politicians, make them respect and treat OAPs fairly with balanced approach, especially as savers outnumber borrowers five to one.

Perhaps AV should publish best interest guide to help readers get best reward on their savings.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

India’s 70th Independence birthday

Since 1947 India has completed 69 years of independence from the British Raj and celebrated its 70th Independence Birthday on 15th August 2016. In AV’s editorial ‘India at 70: Future prospects and challenges’ (AV 20th Aug) the author has made a very important contribution informing readers and the wider public how India has been making economic success and sustaining democratic system despite virtually non-stop aggression and terrorism from Pakistan.

As the piece has suggested it is time for reflection and reminiscence on the past history and plan and work for the future by all Indians especially the Majority Hindus.

Celebration of independence is an annual reminder to all Hindus that their motherland was under foreign rule for nearly 800 years, first as a Muslim colony and then as a British one. What happened during the colonial period has been interpreted by some historians as a form of slavery. However, the most astonishing fact about all this is the miraculous survival of Hindu culture, tradition and philosophy. Despite all this, economic success and scientific advance India is still riddled with many social and political problems. However, given the right approach and commitment India can solve almost all these problems.

Jatindra Saha By email

Rakshabandhan gaining popularity

It is indeed encouraging to acknowledge that our rich cultural heritage is gaining popularity among wider section of not only ethnic minorities but indigenous people of this great nation. Lustre Hindu festivals like Diwali, Navratri, (Harvest festival) Janmastami (Lord Krishna’s birthday) and now Raksha Bandana is fast gaining popularity. It is mainly due to the influence of Hare Krishna and Swaminarayan temples who celebrate these festivals with panache in long established Hindu tradition that goes back to Lord Rama and Krishna’s time.

Young worshippers from Kingsbury temple celebrated this occasion by inviting members of armed forces from all three divisions, Army, Navy and Royal Airforce who were treated with cultural programme and special vegetarian lunch after the ceremony, wishing them good health and long life. MOD Minister Rt. Hon. Earl Howe appreciated this occasion symbolising special bonds and good wishes that such tradition bestows on members of all faiths, expressing his desire that this will become an annual event, bringing all communities together for common good. This programme was initiated by Hindu network of the Armed Forces who are cementing relations between Army and Hindu community that may encourage our community members to serve in our defence force.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

Hate crime

Jal Framji has supplemented letter by Sudha Rasik Bhatt. Inter human struggle is going on since times immemorial. Scriptures describe inter human struggle in various terms.

Scriptures also describe the end of struggle as Armageddon/ defeat of Anti Christ and as removal of ignorance, darkness and foulness. This clearly shows that humanity is still savage. Civilization and values are skin deep. This veneer is cast off exposing terror, horror and fear. Current world is divided in haves, have nots and innocent by standers.

Root of current hate crimes, terror, horror lies in blatant display of lust, anger, greed, pride and attachment between haves and have nots. These vices which are innate in human nature that need to be fought off. But in this struggle to deprive have nots of basic necessities of life, innocent by standers get hurt. Instead of sharing, both parties want to hoard more than they need. They forget that there is enough for every ones’ needs, but not enough for greed. Fear of poverty segregates the humanity. The remedy is for all humans to consider each other a friend, brother or neighbor to liberate the world from terror, horror and fear.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

The health and wellness column

I am an avid reader of the health and wellness column which is presented on page 27 of Asian Voice. It is informative and is presented in a way that even a layman can understand and grasp the contents.

My congratulations to the author for the brilliant account of what happens before a heart attack in last week’s AV. This is very important for us Asians who are more prone to heart disease and diabetes. I am particularly taken by the photo of the lady doctor with a stethoscope in one hand and a model of a human heart in the other!

As far as Gujarat Samachar is concerned, nothing can beat its crossword puzzle in the “Hinke Betha” page. It feeds the brain and stimulates the grey cells which is particularly necessary in these days and age with more people being diagnosed with dementia and Alzhaimer’s disease. How appropriate it is in this day and age when, because we live longer with the aid of modern medicine, if we do not regularly exercise our brains, we are sure to succumb to various mental illnesses.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

ASIAN VOICE

Tel: 020 7749 4080

(Off Coronet Street)

Rates Valid from 1-10-2015

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below

Karma Yoga House Fax: 020 7749 4081 E-mail: support@abplgroup.com 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

UK EUROPE WORLD 1 Year £29 £77 £92 2 Years £52.50 £141.50 £169 Subscriptions are non-refundable after 30 days

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com NAME

ADDRESS POST CODE Email:

TEL:

I'd like to be kept up to date by email with offers and news from ABPL

Please charge my VISA / MASTERCARD / CREDIT / DEBIT CARD for £

Card No:

Signature

Card Expiry date

Date

EDUCATION

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Record university offers as top A-level grades slip Record numbers of UK university places have been offered - as A-level results show a marginal fall in top grades for the fifth successive year.

The proportion of A* and A grades was 25.8%, down by 0.1% on last year.

The pass rate of 98.1% remained the same.

The Ucas admissions services says 424,000 places have been offered, up by 3% on results day last year. There are predictions of many places still being available through clearing, including in leading universities.

Universities say this year could be a "buyer's market" for applications with universities competing to attract students.

As well as the removal of the cap on university places in England, there is a decline in the number of 18 year olds. There are more university places on

Universities are expecting to have more places available in clearing this year

offer through clearing this year.

This is the process which matches students with available places, after results have been published. By this afternoon there had been more than 200,000 course searches on the Ucas website, with economics, law, psychology, business and nursing among the most popular courses. There also places available at some leading Russell Group universities, including Birmingham,

Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Warwick.

Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial UCL and LSE continue not to take part.

Sheffield University says its clearing service took 1,800 calls in the first two hours, leading to 360 offers.

"There's never been a better year to be applying to university in terms of your chances of getting a place, said Sheffield's head of admissions Lynsey Hopkins.

Mayor declares #LondonIsOpen for culture and visitors London remains a top international destination, according to new research, as London’s leading museums and galleries have seen an 11 per cent increase in visits from overseas since 20121.

In 2015 overseas visitors made 18.7 million visits to the city’s best known cultural institutions, which is 1.8 million more than in 2012, according to the research released to highlight London’s Autumn Season of new cultural exhibitions and events.

Last Wednesday at London’s Science Museum, Mayor Sadiq Khan officially launched London’s Autumn Season of cultural exhibitions and

Labour promises return of student maintenance grants

Labour says it would restore grants to help young people in England stay in further and higher education. This would mean a return for education maintenance allowances (EMA) scrapped by the coalition government in 2010. It would also mean reversing the decision to turn maintenance grants for poorer university students into repayable loans. Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said it showed a commitment to "investing in our young people". Labour says it would pay for the support for 1.25 million poorer students by increasing corporation tax by up to 1.5%.

events, supported by the British Government’s GREAT campaign, which aims to promote the UK internationally.

Sadiq Khan said: “Our city’s world-class museums, galleries and exhibitions have firmly positioned London as one of the most welcoming and culturally rich cities to visit. Not only does our unique cultural scene make a substantial and vital contribution to our city’s economic prosperity, but I’m delighted to see that London’s creative sector plays such an important role in entertaining tourists from home and across the world.

“The many millions of visitors who come here

time and time again are sending out a clear signal that London is truly open to everyone, and this is the message we will continue to send around the world.”

BEST PRICES IN CRYOGENICS & LASER TREATMENTS IN LONDON

ATELIER M CRYO-LIPO & LASER CLINIC

STUBBORN FAT REMOVAL STUBBORN FAT REMOVAL (CRYOLIPOLISIS) LOSE INCHES FREEZING IT (AREAS; TUMMY, THIGHS, ARMS, BACK, WAIST, LEGS.) NO DIET. NO GYM. NO DOWNTIME. 2 AREAS FROM £200 (FREE CONSULTATION)

LASER HAIR REMOVAL ALSO FROM £99 (MENS BACK OR CHEST, LADIES FULL LEGS & BIKINI: 6 SESSIONS FROM £399)

LATE EVENING APPOINTMENTS AND WEEKENDS INC SUNDAYS 10-9PM

209 LOWER RICHMOND ROAD PUTNEY SW15 1HJ

020 8785 4759 / 07808 662580

11

Another excellent set of A-level results at Habs Boys On Thursday 18 August, Peter Hamilton, Headmaster of The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, warmly congratulated every member of the Sixth Form on outstanding A-level results.

With almost 40% of all grades being A* and 78.5% of grades being A*A, these results are absolutely stunning.

More important are the individual boys’ successes with most gaining access to their chosen university.

Popular destinations for Habs boys include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Warwick and Bristol, amongst other Russell Group universities, as well as universities abroad.

Peter Hamilton, Headmaster, said: “I am delighted for the boys on attaining tremendous Alevel results. They have worked incredibly hard and have been rightly rewarded with top grades.

We have a track record of achieving excellent results and this year is no different. Well done to all our pupils and staff.”

Shamil Shah, Upper Sixth pupil who achieved

L to R: Vini Vaseekaran, Omar Todd, Shamil Shah and Roshan Panesar

4 A*s, said: “I’m really happy with my results, the teachers have helped me achieve my potential. I’m now looking forward to studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge.”

Ramandeep Singh, Upper Sixth pupil who achieved 3 A*s, said: “The teachers have helped me during my time at the School and I’m very thankful to them. It’s great when hard work really pays off.”

These terrific results at Habs are once again viewed against a backdrop of superb performances in sports, drama, art and music.

Alongside their impressive academic suc-

cesses, the boys’ engagement in the School’s diverse co-curricular pursuits and extensive leadership opportunities has produced a cohort who are ready to take the next step into becoming future leaders of our society. To do so, they require a good set of examination results and it is clear they have achieved these.

The School congratulates each boy on his achievements and looks forward to hearing the progress that they have made after finishing their enjoyable time with us.

The boys are always welcome back to visit and will always remain part of the growing Habs community.

12

MEDIA WATCH

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Basit Ali, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India, came perilous to being declared persona non grta thrown out of the country, following his brazen public announcement on August 14, Pakistan’s Independence Day, that the anniversary would be dedicated to Kashmir’s jihadi separatist groups’ bid for power.

There were calls for his expulsion from certain sections of Indian opinion, but cooler heads in Delhi decided to put the Pakistan government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the rack and keep it there for some time. Prime Minister has decided to turn the screw with sympathetic references to the struggle of the Baloch people against Pakistani oppression, and similar movements in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir including Baltistan in the far Pakistan High Commissioner to India Basit Ali north. (see comment page 3) The fine art of diplomacy is pivoted on economic strength and military power. As a failing state torn asunder by myriad insurgencies, Pakistan lacks the desired proportion of supply-side economic and military durability.

Hence the country’s reach exceeds its grasp. The screws must be tightened and the quantum of pain substantially increased on Islamabad and its political class until they are unable to bear the costs of their criminal behaviour.

The time for marathon talks operating in a moral void is long past.

The time to bite the bullet has arrived (Telegraph, Hindu, Times of India August 15)

Bihar passes GST Bill

Bihar became the first non-BJP State to ratify the Goods and Services Bill. Its legislative assembly approved the landmark measure together with BJP-ruled Assam to do so. The central government in Delhi needs 16 States to do likewise. At present 14 States are BJP-ruled. The hurdles hereon should prove less daunting (Mint August 17)

Karnataka leads in IT investments

Karnataka attracted Rs 53,396 crore investments in the software sector for the last fiscal ending March 31, around 25 per cent of the total private and public sectors across India. Clocking a compounded annual growth of over 14 per cent in IT investments from 2005-06). .

Gujarat second, Kerala third

Gujarat is ranked second today in the IT category, having registered an explosive 48 per cent growth in IT investments since 2005-06.

Kerala is third with 13 per cent in IT investments, followed by Andhra Pradesh (12 per cent), Tamil Nadu (7 per cent), Haryana (5 per cent), Maharashtra (5 per cent) West Bengal (4.8 per cent), Telangana (4 per cent, and Odisha (3 per cent) (Business Line August 17). (see comment p 3)

IIT Hyderabad eyes $15 million funding

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) aims to attract $15 million in research funding in the next two years. Since its estab-

are of premium quality they would hopefully be open to more companies,’ said Devendra Shah, Chairman and Managing Director, Parag Milk Foods (Business Line August 15)

Premji, Nadar in Forbes tech list

Wipro Chairman Azim Premji and HCL co-founder Shiv Nadar are on the Forbes list of the world’s 100 wealthiest technology industrialists. They are the only two Indian billionaires in the top 20 of this category, ahead of Google boss Eric Schmidt . Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, tops the list with an estimated fortune of $78 billion.

Premji is 13 th with a net worth of $16 billion, and Nadar ranked 17, with $11.6. ((Business Line August 12)

IIT Hyderabad campus

lishment in 2008, it has bagged $20 million of sponsored research projects. ‘We are already working on a series of projects and our target may even reach, $35 million in the next two years, IIT Hyderabad Director. U.B. Desai. (Business Line August 17)

IKEA starts first Indian store

Swedish furniture giant IKEA has commenced work in Hyderabad for its first Indian outlet. The store is scheduled for service by mid-2017, with a built-up space of 400,000 square ft and will feature 7, 500 home furnishing products, apart from a 1000seater restaurant. IKEA plans to set up a chain of 25 stores in the country by 2021. Addressing the media at a ground breaking ceremony, IKEA CEO India Juvencio Maeztu, said: ‘This is a big milestone and the first store in India… We hope to bring out unique home furnishing products… We are committed to hire 50 per cent women in our workplace.’

(Business Line August 12)

Russia to source Indian dairy products

Russia has agreed to Indian dairy exports for its domestic markets.

The Russian agency for food security, having made on-thespot cheks of local production facilities and hygiene standards has given the go-ahed for exports to begin. With Russia continuing its ban on European dairy imports in retaliation for European economic sanctions, the potential for Indian exports in the large Russian market is huge. ‘We are ready to meet all conditions laid down by the Russians. We want them to give us the opportunity…Once they realize items such as hard cheese

Modi’s improved rate card

During his Red Fort address to the nation on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his mantra was to ‘reform, perform and transform.’ He pro-

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Achievements

Forward positions

Among them are legally binding monetary policy to a formal inflation target. Second, the Aadhar Bill which ensures that welfare schemes reach those most in need. Finally, the passage of the Goods and Services Bill through Parliament, which will radically alter India’s cumbersome tax system and create a unified national market, underwriting India’s openness to business. There are problems aplenty that need sorting, but an encouraging start has been made to break the mould and create a more economically efficient and socially just order (Mint August 17)

In Ladakh, the Daulat Beg Oldi and Nyoma landing strips. Sukhoi30MKI aircr4aft heavy lift transport Hercules -130, and T 72 tanks are in place, while Poseidon 81 maritime anti-submarine and surveillance aircraft and helicopters are being deployed in Andaman/Nicobar bases. Sukhoi30MKI fighter aircraft are being deployed in forward positions. Two new infantry divisions (36,0 00 men in all) were raised in Likabali and Missamari in Assam, while the Mountain Strike Corps of over 90,000 troops are to be fully raised by by 2021 (Times of India August 18)

Military build-up continues apace

India’s military build-up along the Himalayan border and the Andaman/Nicobar archipelago continues apace with new air and army bases and naval hubs in the Bay of Bengal as it touches the Indian Ocean. Bald statistics of size and defence budgets of India and China can be misleading; more telling are their disparate geographies. China has 14 neigbours across a continuous land frontier around 4,000 miles and a maritime coastline almost as large. It faces the United States and Japan in the Pacific Ocean.

New landing strips

That said, India’s naval capabilities have been significantly enhanced by warships, submarines, aircraft,

Indians online 730 million by 2020

The number of Indian internet users is expected to double to 730 million by 2020, according to a new report issued by trade body Nasscom, entitled ‘The Future of Internet in India.’ India, which has an internet user base second only to China, will remain the fastest growing market, says the report. Of the new users, 75 per cent are expected to come from rural hinterland.

E-commerce

In 2015, Indian e-commerce shoppers numbered 17 million, in 2020 the figure is expected to grow to 34 million. By 2020, India will have 702 smartphones in use and mobile phones will emerge as the as the preferred device for e-commerce.

(Hindu August 18)

More cold chains, food parks

Government plans to set up 100 new cold chain projects has made an encouraging beginning, hence is inviting investors to set up six new mega food parks , in a bid to boost rural incomes by establishing farm to fork linkages. More than $1billion foreign direct investment (FDI) has entered the sector in the past two years, including some of the biggest names such as Kellogg’s, McCain Foods and Mars International. (Hindu August 18)

Indian steel firms increase profits

PM Modi speaking from Red Fort

vided an impressive list to support his claim. These include easier access to government services, faster approvals of new business enterprises, reducing the stranglehold of middlemen over appointments of new entrants to lower level government jobs, less harassment of taxpayers by officials and much else.

drones and missile systems. New forward airstrips have been established at Ziro, Along, Pasighat, Walong, Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh, with Tutling scheduled to be operational by December and Tawang by April next year.

According to Moodys, Indian steel companies such as Tata Steel and JSW Steel are likely to outpace their regional peers in profitability following increasing domestic demand cresting on 7.5 per cent GDP growth. India’s economic reforms plus policy support for infrastructure, and rapid urbanization have placed the country’s steel producers in pole position (Hindu August 18).

Good administrator

The Prime Minister’s administrative skills are widely recognized.

His popularity far exceeds those of the Opposition leaders, most notably, the Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who lacks any credibility as a future prime minister. ‘Since the beginning of this year, the Modi government has pushed through several landmark changes that can be game-changers.’

Badminton silver medallist P.V.Sindhu at Rio Olympics

UK Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Inquest opens into death of Hounslow student killed by punch during night out An inquest into the death of a Hounslow student who died after being punched by a professional boxer began this Monday Jagdip Randhawa died on October 17, 2011, five days after being felled by a blow from Clifton Ty Mitchell in Leeds during a night out.

Mitchell, then 21, of Derby, was jailed in 2012 for the manslaughter of the 19-year-old Leeds University, who was a former head boy at Cranford Community College .

An inquest at Wakefield Coroner's Court is due to consider whether possible failings by Derbyshire Police Service and Leeds NHS Hospital Trust may have contributed to the teenager's death.

The human rights group Liberty, which is representing Mr Randhawa's family said the inquest will take place before a jury and is scheduled to last for three weeks.

Huge crowds turned out to pay their respects at a memorial football tournament held at Mr Randhawa's former school in July.

Speaking at the inquest Mr Randhawa’s sister Majinder made an emotional appeal for answers surrounding his death and told the jury that medical experts said her brother could have survived his injuries if it was not for

Jagdip Randhawa

what had happened at Leeds General Infirmary.

Frequently breaking down as she gave evidence, Ms Randhawa said her brother had been placed on the faulty ventilator for 46

She replied: "He said what was a survivable injury was not survivable because of what happened at hospital."

The inquest also heard that Mitchell, whose bail conditions required him to live and sleep at his parents' address in Derby, had breached his bail on a number of occasions and was arrested in Leeds in the early hours of the morning after the fatal attack. Ms Randhawa said her brother, a keen American footballer, had just begun his second year of studying English at university in Leeds and want-

Jagdip Randhawa's sister Manjinder with the organisers of a memorial football tournament held in her brother's honour

minutes, during which time alarms to alert staff to a problem sounded constantly. She said one doctor told the criminal trial it was the "worst level of care he had seen in his 27-year career".

Raj Desai, representing the family at the inquest, asked Ms Randhawa: "The expert evidence was that if it hadn't been for the ventilator, your brother could have survived?"

ed to be a writer. She said: "He was funny, really quick, confident, just a good guy. My brother was 19. We didn't get to see his 21st birthday. We didn't get to see him graduate. All the things parents would want for their children, my parents haven't got that any more. Our lives stopped when Jag died."

The inquest is expected to last for three weeks.

Ritu Sethi of The Sethi Partnership Solicitors shortlisted for Law Society award The Sethi Partnership Solicitors are celebrating Ritu Sethi, pictured, being shortlisted for a Law Society Excellence Award in the Woman Lawyer of the Year category.

Ritu established The Sethi Partnership Solicitors in 1994 in West London and is a Senior Partner and Head of the Criminal Litigation Department.

"We are thrilled that Ritu was not only nominated, but has now been shortlisted for the Woman Lawyer of the Year Excellence Award," said Shreeti Rajdev Partner and Head of Family Law at The Sethi Partnership Solicitors "To be recognised as among the top in our profession in this way is a real tribute to the hard work, dedication and skills that Ritu brings to her legal work, as a Woman and a Lawyer.The whole team are extremely proud of her."

The Excellence Awards, now in their 10th year, recognise the best and brightest of the solicitors’ profession across a range of categories.

The finalists have been

chosen by a panel of senior legal experts. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 20 October.

"The Excellence Awards are always a highlight in the legal calendar.

This year we look forward to celebrating our senior partner being amongst those being recognised for their exceptional contributions and achievements" said Shreeti Rajdev.

The Sethi Partnership Solicitors based in The Barn House in Ruislip practices Commercial & Residential Property, Conveyancing & Leases, Commercial & Civil Litigation, Business / Corporate Matters, Matrimonial, Divorce & Childcare, Landlord &

Nationwide Housing Advice is Drying Up The Law Society has helpfully compiled a heat map showing the availability of h o u s i n g advice covered by Legal Aid in each town and James de Vere Moss city across the UK, using data provided by the Legal Aid Agency in March 2016. It has become apparent that, due to the cuts made to the legal aid budget in April 2013, the numbers of providers are set to diminish further.

In a more recent article, the Law Society has talked about ‘legal aid deserts’ to indicate the lack of availability of state funded housing advice in England and Wales.

Facing the scarce provision of legal aid housing advice, tenants may find it difficult to handle in relation to housing disrepair such as condensation dampness, claims against landlords, housing disrepair compensation claims. Often these cases can be very complicated and the local Environmental Health Officer may be contacted to provide an official report on the housing condition.

Tenants who wish to complain against their landlords or, tenants who are facing harass-

Tenant Matters, Probate, Wills & Affairs of the Elderly, Professional Negligence & Personal Injury, Crime & Road Traffic Matters and all Immigration Matters.

The Bhavan’s Open Day New Academic Year 2016/17 Sat 10 September 10.30am - 4.30pm 2 2 Co u r s e s i n I n d i a n M u s i c , Da n ce , Yoga, Languages Taster Cou rses| Street Food Meet the Teachers | Cou rse Registration 020 7 3 81 3 0 8 6/46 0 8 w w w.bhavan.net T h e B h a v a n , 4 a C a s t l e t o w n Ro a d , Wes t Kensington, London, W1 4 9 HE

13

Step inside and disc cover tth he beauty of IIn ndian arts

ment from other tenants will often need to follow strict procedures. In some cases, the Housing Ombudsman will be involved.

When it comes to housing legal disputes, timing is often very important. In cases of possession, a housing provider will need to be contacted as soon as possible. It is advised that you seek a specialist Housing Solicitor as soon as possible.

When working with tenants, we find that the more time we have to prepare their case, the better the outcome can be for our clients. For instance, organise all the documentation before the meeting can allow to satisfy the Legal Aid Agency that you are financially eligible for legal aid.

About the author: James de Vere Moss James is a Director in the Duncan Lewis Housing Department specialised in housing law covering landlord and tenant, possession actions, homelessness, illegal evictions, disrepair, neighbour disputes, property disputes and harassment. Duncan Lewis' housing team has been recognised by Legal 500 2015 Edition as a leading practice in social housing law matters and acknowledges Duncan Lewis for its "standout expertise in possession and unlawful eviction cases".

Seeking qualified

TELESALES STAFF for Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice

Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice the wellknown weekly publications, enjoying strong readership in the UK, Europe, and the US are looking for skilled telesales staff members to effortlessly market both the papers.

• Require good knowledge of both English and Gujarati languages.

• Considerable experience in telesales will be an added advantage.

Candidates will get the opportunity to work from home and put their expertise to test to promote. Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice on phone and earn attractive remuneration.

Please send in your résumé to L George at

george@abplgroup.com

14 COMMUNITY

www.asian-voice.com

India Connect

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Announcement of Biometric enrolment This is to announce that Biometric enrolment will be mandatory with effect from August 19, 2016, for applicants applying for the following seven visa categories: (i) Employment Visa (ii) Journalist Visa (iii) Research Visa (iv) Student Visa (v) Visit Visa (applicable for Pakistani nationals only) (vi) Project Visa (vii) Missionary Visa The above Biometric enrolment will involve capture of facial and finger print data. Exemptions from Biometric enrolment will be allowed in the following cases only: (i) Age of applicant is under 12 years or more than 70 years (ii) Applicants with poor or no finger prints (in such cases facial traits would be captured) (iii) Applicants with less number of fingers would be required to give Biometrics of existing fingers only Biometric enrolment would be conducted during the process of submission of visa application at any of the 14 ‘Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) being operated by our sole service provider, VFS. A list of these IVACs is website VFS on available (http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/ ).

Personal presence of applicants for the above seven visa categories would be mandatory at the time of submission of visa application at IVAC, with effect from August 19, 2016.

For further queries please contact our sole service provider VFS. Contact details are available on their website, http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK// .

Journalist Visas All foreign journalists, regardless of the purpose of their visit, should apply for a “J” (journalist) visa, for up to three months' stay in India. “Journalists” for this purpose would include a professional journalist, columnist, cartoonist, editor, correspondents of media organizations, photographer, film producer or director (other than that of commercial films), a representative of a radio and/or travel organization, television writer/travel promotion photographer etc or any professional journalist/owner working for an association or a company engaged in the production or broadcast of audio visual news or current affairs programmes through the print, electronic or any other electronic form. In other words any professional who is directly or

indirectly engaged in the process of creation, management or dissemination of contents for a media organization shall be treated as Journalists.

It is also clarified that non-professional, administrative or support staff working in media organizations (such as clerks, accountants etc.) need not necessarily apply for a Journalist Visa.

Similarly, producers/crew in commercial film production houses are not necessarily considered for Journalist visa. They may apply under other appropriate visa categories (such as Entry, Tourist, Employment etc) when they are not engaged in film making in India.

However, Journalist visas would be issued to these professionals whenever they travel to India for filming, pre-filming or business meetings in regard to proposal for making documentary films.

All foreign Journalists need to apply for a Journalist visa, regardless of purpose of visit. For instance, a foreign Journalist visiting India for Tourism should also apply for a Journalist visa. All such applicants are required to apply along with a letter from their organization describing clearly the job title of the applicant and the nature of their work and whether they are travelling on work or as tourists. Visa application will not be accepted in absence of this supporting letter.

Celebrating Krishna Jayanti Celebrated on the 8th day of the Krishna Paksha, Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated across India, with fervour and intense devotion. Lord Krishna was the 8th son of princess Devaki and Vasudeva, in Mathura. Devaki's brother King Kansa, had locked up the couple in a prison, afraid of a prophecy that claimed his death at the hands of Devaki's eighth son.

Krishna was born after Kansa killed the first six children, and Devaki had a miscarriage of the seventh. Lord Vishnu, after baby Krishna's birth, asked Vasudeva to take the child to Gokulto Nanda and Yashoda, where he could live a safe life. He did as was told and returned with Yashoda's daughter, who was killed by Kansa assuming she was the eight child. However, on throwing the child on a stone, she rose into the air and turned into Yogmaya, only to warn Kansa about his death. A mischievous child, Krishna grew up in Gokul with his brother Balram.

For more information please contact us on our helpline numbers: +44 203 793 8629 / +44 203 788 4666 Monday – Friday 8:30 – 15:30 (except for Consular Holiday)

Alternatively applicants can also call : 09057 570 045* * Please note calls to this number will be chargeable at the rate of 95p per minutes plus a connection charge from a BT landline. Calls from mobile phones may cost considerably higher.

For Email inquiry please email us: OCI: info.ociuk@vfshelpline.com Visa: info.inuk@vfshelpline.com Consular & Passports: Info.ppt-Consularuk@vfshelpline.com

India Connect - your questions answered on India visas” a service offered by

Tamil Nadu

Enthusiasts decorate the floor with kolams- designs drawn with rice batter.

Devotional songs including Geetha Govindam are sung in praise of the Lord.

They draw the footprints of Lord Krishna from the threshold of the house till the pooja room, a depiction of the arrival of the Lord into the house. Bhagwadgits is recited, offerings are made to Krishna which include fruits, betel and butter.

Special food items prepared include Seedai, Sweet Seedai, and Verkadalai Urundai. Most people observe a strict fast and eat only after midnight.

Andhra Pradesh

Employment Visa An Employment Visa is granted to those who are an employee of an Indian company / or those who intend to do honorary work (without salary) with Registered NGOs in India. The grant may Embassy/Consulate Employment visa valid for a limited validity irrespective of the duration of the contract. Further extension up to 5 years could be obtained from MHA / FRRO in the concerned state in India.

Please note that the validity of the visa begins from the date of issue by the High Commission of India and not from the date of travel on your application form.

The duration of the visa is at the sole discretion of the Issuing Authority. All visa fees once paid are non-refundable irrespective of the outcome of the visa application and duration granted.

Non-UK Nationals and Extension of Employment Visa A Non- UK national who has been a resident of the UK for less than Two years should apply from the Country of Origin.

Extension of Employment Visa can only be done by the FRRO in India in the city where employed. High Commission of India and its consulates in the UK will not accept any applications for renewal of the Employment Visa.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Krishnashtami is celebrated in different ways in different regions of India.

Mathura and Vrindavan specially organise the Raas Leela, a dramatic enactment of Krishna's life. The Dahi Handi is also conducted, where men form human towers to reach a high-hanging pot of curd to break. At midnight, a statue of baby Krishna is bathed and placed in a cradle, which is rocked amongst blowing of conch shells and ringing bells.

Gujarat

People of the state have a close affection for the occasion, especially in Dwarka, the place that was founded by Lord Krishna. One of the popular events, an age old tradition is to play cards and place bets. Fasts are kept all day and cold food is consumed.

Maharashtra

Based on the legend of a young Krishna stealing butter, Dahi Handi is a popular event celebrated in the state. A human pyramid is made, which tries to break an earthern pot filled with curd. The main participant of the festival is called a Govinda or Govinda pathak. Many such people compete with each other for the prize money which amounts to lakhs of rupees. Some of the popular handis are conducted at Dadar, Lower Parel, Worli, Mazgaon, Lalbaug, Thane and Babu Genu.

Northern and Eastern India

As Uttar Pradesh is associated with Krishna's childhood, Mathura, Gokul and Vrindavan attract tourists by the dozen, who visit the places to participate in the celebrations. People visit the Dwarkadhish temple and worship the Lord. Kite flying is an important part of the celebration in Jammu. People fast and worship until midnight in the eastern state of Odisha, around Puri. Purana Pravachana from the Bhagavata Purana are recited from the 10th Skandha.

People break their fast and celebrate Krishna's foster parents Nanda and Yashoda, the next day which is called the Nanda Utsav.

Shlokas and devotional songs are recited, while young boys are dressed up as Lord Krishna. Different kinds of fruits and sweets are first offered to him, and once the puja is over, they are distributed among the visitors.

People also flock popular south Indian temples dedicated to the Lord including Rajagopalaswami Temple in Mannargudi, Tiruvarur, Bala Krishna temple, Udupi, Pandavadhoothar temple, Kanchivaram, and Krishna temple, Guruvayoor.Guruvayoor holds major importance and legend says the idol installed in the temple is from Dwarka believed to be submerged in the sea.

Nepal

With more than 80 per cent of the Nepalese population identifying themselves as Hindus, the natives celebrate Krishna Janmashtami by fasting until midnight, similar to other regions. They chant slokas and sing religious songs.

Other observances include people sitting closely together with their bodies rocking as women chant the many hymns of the Lord.

With Janmashtami to be celebrated on the 25th of this month, cities are already under reeling under massive preparations. Week-long Janmashtami celebrations have already begun in Rajkot with the district's Maro Rangilo Lokmelo- 2016 commencing at Race Course ground. The fair was inaugurated

by Gujarat's Food and Civil Supplies Minister Jayesh Radadia.

Temples in Vrindavan buzz with the excitement of hosting yet another anniversary of Lord Krishna's birth.

Located 15 kilometres away from Mathura, the city has hundreds of temples dedicated to the Lord. One of its oldest, the Dwarkadhish is one of the mostthronged temples. Member of the managing committee at the Dwarkadhish Temple, Hirendra Kumar Pushkar said, "We started preparations 10 days in advance, since everything needs to be perfect. We estimate a footfall of over 2.5 lakh on Janmashtami. Hotels are fully booked and we have gathered a large number of volunteers to help out in the preparations as well."

SP

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

stalking under new laws passed in 2012.

Dan was bailed by Wimbledon Magistrates but resumed her vicious campaign against the victim by contacting his business associates and publishing allegations of domestic abuse. She was arrested and further charged in March 2014. Police received a separate allegation of harassment from a man in his 50s which led Dan to be charged with stalking again a month later. During her trial at Kingston Crown Court, Dan admitted stalking the man in his 40s and was found guilty of the offence. Previously found guilty of stalking the man in his 50s in February last year. Investigating officer PC Vincent Chan, said: "This has been an extremely complex case of stalking with Dan using a number of aliases via multiple social media accounts and mobiles in a planned and co-ordinated effort to utterly destroy the home, social, religious and work life of one of her victims. Dan’s sentence is a reflection of how seriously the judicial system, and more importantly, society acknowledge such criminal behaviour.

The amendment to the harassment laws in 2012 was designed precisely to acknowledge and recognise this style of severe and malicious behaviour to disrupt a victim’s day-to-day life. The legal system understands the psychological impact of such campaigns of stalking as much as the more obvious forms of violence and physical threats.”

AI inaugural Direct flight deemed a success

Air India were overwhelmed by the support they received for Air India’s Departure at Heathrow Terminal 4 for the first direct, non-stop flight from London to Ahmedabad that took place on Tuesday 16th August 2016.

It was full flight with many passengers going back disappointed who could not make it on this flight but Air India are looking forward to continuous support from the public to make this flight a great success over the forthcoming years.

15

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Obsessive stalker jailed for five years An obsessive woman has been jailed for five years after she tried to destroy the life of a businessman after he turned her down for sex.

Farah Dan, also known as Farah Damji, 49, from Pimlico, harassed an engineering director and volunteer church warden after he twice refused her advances after they met in October 2013. Police said the man, aged in his 40s, lost his job while his home life was severely affected by a “coordinated” effort to destroy his life.

They met on a business arrangement through an internet site, following which, Dan made 186 hoax calls and texts within three weeks to her victim after he refused sexual contact with her at a Christmas dinner two months later. She had tried to seduce the man during their first meeting to discuss social housing but the pair decided to keep their relationship professional.

Using fake aliases to report issues at the company the victim worked for, Dan sent sexually explicit messages to his 16-year-old son and emailed his wife claiming she had “compromising” pictures of him with several women. In a separate message, she warned the wife, "Look after your children."

Kingston Crown Court heard the victim also received several threats of sexual violence which included his six-year-old daughter.

Additionally, Dan made contact with the vicar at the victim’s local parish claiming he was having an affair and that she was pregnant by the victim. She also contacted the press using a fake name, asking them to write a story which exposed the victim as a married churchgoer who used dating websites. Police attended her home in January 2014 to arrest her but she handed herself into police four days later. She was charged with

TLIGHT

making even the smallest difference is always worthwhile

Upma Arora: A Taste of the ‘Old Country’

Sunetra Senior

With the easy-eat, no frills Dhaba Lane, founders Upma Arora and Arti Bareja, are bringing genuine, home-cooked Indian dishes to London’s urban space. The menu consists of refreshing Chai, local snacks and delectable, traditional mains, such as light curries and playful sandwiches, the likes of which are enjoyed by travellers from the Dhaba shacks of old. A farmer’s daughter who spent her childhood in rural India, Upma would enjoy the fresh and welcoming meals of these Dhaba families, who having lost their land to industrialisation’s highways, had seized the opportunity to set up their rustic food stops, and become a second home to nomadic passers-by. Upma took this vintage sense of entrepreneurship to the UK with her, and with another kindred spirit, Arti, started one of the finest lunchtime services in the country’s biggest metropolis: “We borrow those flavoursome homeland preparations,” the creative brain of the team, Upma, told us, “and add a kind of luxurious modern twist. By that I mean the experimenting with and boosting of the base recipes, not the inspiring roots of the cooking itself. In fact, that’s what makes our service unique; we don’t deal in ceremony and always put the comfort of people and the quality of their meals first.” In the vein, or should I say measuring spoon, of an adaptable caterers Dhaba Lane delivers to London offices as well as privately in the city, and has already been asked to partner with Uber Eats as one of their few production kitchens. Harper’s Bazaar has also listed them in their top 5 gourmet lunches. As Upma rounded up: “making even the smallest difference to people’s lives, is always worthwhile.”

Warm and carefully crafted, Dhaba Lane isn’t just an ordinary eatery, it’s as it says on the tin: a home-away-from-home..

You and business partner Arti do have a corporate background; what finally brought you to the organic and tasty world of homecooking?

We always knew we wanted a business to call our own and our love of organic food grew just that way with our friendship; naturally, easily. We both come from foodie families and genuine, home-cooked Indian cuisine has always been close to our hearts.

My grandma for example would make ketchup, if it came to it, from scratch! Arti and I work very well together too because we both have a tremendous trust and bring our own talent to the outfit. I’m dreamier and more artistic and she’s more rational and razor-sharp with her maths. That works really well when you do have such a variety of jobs to do: scaling up recipes, discovering your market, how the customer might react. I couldn’t think of better person to have grown my love of cooking with.

What has been your harshest critique?

Probably the feedback we received about our initial branding. We were very much focussed on the credibility of the recipes, but of course the way that you represent yourself is very important. It helped us achieve the incredible position we’ve got ourselves to today.

What exactly is the modern twist in your food?

There is a lot of plumping of the ingredients, for example our sandwiches only have the finest artisan breads: ciabattas and granary roles.

We have many traditional Indian dishes and put an Indian spin on the salads and lunchtime sandwiches too; for example substituting fresh chutneys such as mango and apple for the traditional English cheese and mayo type fillings. It’s a natural reflection of how cosmopolitan we are as a London culture. As long as you cook with your heart, it’s going to turn out deliciously.

What’s your favourite part of the cooking process?

You know, I really enjoy going to shop for the vegetables; nowadays we have a supplier, but I still go to talk to him to see how he does it.

Because of my agricultural heritage, I am drawn to fresh fruits and vegetables, and sourcing Indian vegetables in London is very, very exciting. I love trialling the possibilities at home. For example, Jackfruit Pakoras which is basically pulled jackfruit! That’s another element that’s fun: thinking on how meat dishes could be made into vegetarian ones.

How has your previous role as a business development expert helped with your cooking business?

Because I worked for a university – Middlesex University – I gained a lot of valuable knowledge under a public organisation, about how to get on in an intimate working space. It was a smaller workplace than say a large corporation, but that teaches you to do more and take more responsibility. You have to be on top of everything. Between Arti and I, we have pulled some long hours!

We borrow those flavoursome home country recipes What was a key element you thought about when designing your website?

We made it very colourful to reflect the style and ethos of our food. Arti and I both like very bright colours; we’re not afraid to wear bold pinks, greens and oranges. That works really well for Dhaba Lane as we work with very beautiful, eye-catching spices. Food is also about being joyful and we wanted to demarcate ourselves as a modern, young and friendly provider.

And now you have been approached by NDTV to do a documentary; how does that feel?

Excellent: it’s shown that all our hard work has paid off. NDTV were looking for a keen UK start-up to follow and that really is a marker of how steadily but surely we’ve grown. We never wanted to accelerate at the cost of our quality so though it may have taken longer to get a wider platform, we have stayed careful and diligent In this crazy world, where everyone is fighting to get to the top, it’s easy to forget that the little things the little steps and the little things that you can do for people – as what really matters.

W

www.dhabalane.com

16

INDIA INDEPENDENCE

India's 70th Birthday

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Dr Rami Ranger CBE, Chairman, The British Sikh Association Congratulations to my fellow Indians on the anniversary of India's 70th Independence day. This is a happy occasion for over a billion people who are now living in many parts of the world and making a positive contribution. In just 70 years India has gone to Mars and become a nuclear power. It has become a magnet for investment for every developed country due to the strength of economy and the hardworking nature of its people.

In 1947 two countries were created by the then British rulers; one to promote people on the basis of their religion and the other to promote people regardless of

their religion in a secular nation.

Unfortunately the country based on religion broke into two in 1971 and a new country, Bangladesh, was born after a bitter war. This showed that religion does not have the strength to hold people or countries together and as a result, use of religion to create countries is not a sound base.

No country can progress whilst systematically discriminating against a section of her own population on the basis of their religion or gender. We Indians are indebted to our leaders as they opted for a secular India where equality for all is enshrined in the constitution regardless of race, religion or gender. The result, no Indian uses the religion card to surge ahead and instead we Indians use merit to be the best amongst the rest.

Indians under a secular constitution develop wholesomely with an ability to integrate into any society easily and quickly. We can see how Indians throughout the world as an integrated community punching above its weight to benefit all

mankind. The Indian diaspora is now the most respected throughout the world with political, economic and cultural contributions to their respective adopted countries.

Indian leaders are inspiring the world with their peaceful and progressive policies.

India is the largest democracy in the world and a home of tolerance and non-violence.

Whilst we are celebrating our independence we must be mindful of the supreme sacrifices our countrymen and women paid with their lives for the day when their motherland, India, would be free. It is due to their vision, commitment and sacrifices that we are equal in the world and receive the respect due to us. I shudder to think if India had not produced patriots whose love for Mother India was greater than that for themselves and their families then what our status in the world would be today.

Whilst we rejoice on our Independence Day, we must also bow our heads to pay tribute to the great sons and daughters of India who made this day possible.

Jai Hind.

New York celebrates independence Thousands of Indians in traditional finery celebrated India's 70th Independence Day here at one of the largest parades outside the country with the iconic Empire State Building lighting up in Indian tricolour.

The 36th India Day Parade by the Federation of Indian Associations - New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Sunday ran through about 13 streets in Madison avenue in Manhattan and featured tableaux by various IndianAmerican groups, marching bands, police contingents and cultural performances by young Indian-Americans.

Chief Guest at the event Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said India represents the glory of the past, the present moment's strength and is moving forward with hopes and dreams of a brighter future. Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, the Grand Marshal of the parade, said it felt "wonderful" to be the part of India's Independence Day celebrations in New York. Tamil actor Vikram was also the Chief Guest at the parade.

Indian Independence Day set to spark huge boost in trade with Wales

The 70th India Independence Day was celebrated in Cardiff last Monday with an official ceremony at the majestic Mansion House in Cardiff which was attended by several dignitaries.

The Honorary Consul for India in Wales, Mr Raj Aggarwal gave a speech at the Lord Mayor of Cardiff’s official residence, saying that recent legislation passed by the Indian government would open the way for a huge increase in trade with Wales.

He said: “Prime Minister Modi has a very strong mandate of economic outreach, sustainability, and equality and all this will work in favour of Wales.

“Recent passing of the Goods and Services tax by the Indian Parliament is a giant leap towards improving the ease of doing business in India and this will benefit Wales hugely.

“When I was with Prime Minister Modi in London last November I extended an invite for him t o visit Wales and I hope this happens in the near future.

And Mr Aggarwal added: “The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukerjee and the High Commission in

Below are some insights on the UK and India relationships:

witnessed the floats and celebrities from the barricaded pavements along the parade route. Indian music and popular Bollywood songs reverberated through the air as people celebrated with a fervour of patriotism.

Families had travelled from nearby states such as Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts to witness the parade, which has been an annual fixture in the city's calendar since 1981.

Other cities that celebrated India's independence included Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, San Francisco and Minneapolis.

PRESENTS

ASIAN ACHIEVERS

AWARDS

The people’s choice awards

Company name: Withy King Solicitors Name: Bhavesh Patel Job title: Solicitor

After Brexit, there is an exceptional opportunity for the INDO-UK relationship

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

London send their greetings and best wishes on this auspicious occasion to the people of Wales.

They are proud of the massive contribution you all make for the success and prosperity of Wales and India.”

Mr Aggarwal is the most senior Indian diplomat in Wales and is the official representative for the Indian High Commission in Cardiff. He hoisted the Tiranga Jhanda (Indian National flag) at 11am on the day and was joined by the several Welsh dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith, Members of Parliament Craig Williams and the Leader of the Welsh Conservative Party Andrew Davies, the Counsel General of Wales Mick Antoniw, as well as several Welsh Assembly members. Several other nations were represented by their Honorary Consuls, and the police by South Wales Police Chief Superintendent Belinda Davies. There were also various business and education leaders from the Indian community in Wales in attendance – in particular industrialist Mr Gupta,

whose SIMEC company launched a multi-million pound power station in Uskmouth, south Wales a year ago, creating several jobs in the area.

Mr Aggarwal, made a moving speech in which paid tribute to the Indian community in Wales and their contribution to the country.

He said: “The Indian diaspora are happily settled in Wales. They are successful, hard working and integrate well with the local community, they are peace loving and law abiding and are committed to the prosperity of Wales.”

Mr Aggarwal took the opportunity to point out that new legislation passed by the Indian government would strengthen trade between the two countries.

He said: “Prime Minister Modi has a very strong mandate of economic outreach, sustainability, and equality and all this will work in favour of Wales.

“Recent passing of the Goods and Services tax by the Indian Parliament is a giant leap towards improving the ease of doing business in India.

“When I was with Prime Minister Modi in London

last November I extended an invite for him to visit Wales and I hope this happens in the near future.

A nd Mr Aggarwal added: “The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukerjee and the High Commission in London send their greetings and best wishes on this auspicious occasion to the people of Wales. They are proud

of the massive contribution you all make for the success and prosperity of Wales and India.” But Mr Aggarwal did call for more Anglo-Indians to join the police force so that they would be better represented in law enforcement in the region.

Mr Aggarwal added: “I know the constabulary would like more Indians to

join the force and follow a very rewarding career.

The talented singer, Liza Mukhopadhyay, led the singing of the National anthem as part of the celebrations to mark the Independence day, and Raj Puri (pictured above) sang the patriotic Indian song Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logo - The People of My Motherland.

to grow and develop, especially within the legal sector.

India is an attractive destination with one of the fastest growing economies in the world. With an ever growing population already surpassing a billion, there is significant scope to expand your portfolio and enter a rapidly growing market and client base. The liberalisation of the Indian legal market has been discussed for a number of years, but after Brexit, it seems it is now only a matter of time before UK lawyers will be able to practice in India. This will not only create international practice opportunities, but also boost local opportunities for legal professionals in India, as well as increasing the global footprint into an economy with significant growth potential for legal firms. The

UK’s legal sector is an example, of how access to international legal advice, for businesses can strengthen links between the countries, further providing expansion opportunities for businesses.

If India follows this path, it will inevitably lead to the development of a positive relationship with the UK as well as creating economic opportunities of mergers and acquisitions between the two countries. *** Company name: Aardra System Name: Meena Joshi Job title: Founder, CEO Aardra Systems Ltd launched the water management product early this year and to its astonishment, Indian customers showed lots of interests in the product that compelled us to raise our priority in approaching the whole India

as a country.

From the Indian government’s point of view, the project has been very welcomed in all quarters and states added with some lacking issues · Clarity of government policy of subsidising agriculture and horticulture water related equipment is not as expected. · Bureaucratic and business culture practiced in India tends to exhaust the intended investors from investment.

None the less, the project on the other hand has been well received by end users and local agriculture/horticulture communities from a surveyed point of view.

Aardra Systems principle are to benefit the agriculture/horticulture communities on two accounts A) Financially, that would be that agriculturist/

horticulturist will have the product subsidised.

B) Economically with the water management product they will able to disperse water in their farms adequately and would be practising water conserving exercise. *** Company name: Vedanta Hedging Name: Abhishek Sachdev

Job title: CEO We are delighted that commercial trading relationships between India and the UK continue to strengthen; the UK is already the largest G20 investor into India.

There is a lot of room to grow this important historical relationship, and in particular for British SMEs to have the confidence to export to the huge Indian domestic market.

We are increasingly advising a number of British companies on how to do this (with respect to hedging the currency risk of GBP-INR).

Indian investment into the UK continues to be strong, but still remains dominated by property investment which again, we help to advise on, to ensure that the Indian investors achieve the net returns they expect during the life of their investment.

Best wishes

Organisers of the event said they were expecting a crowd of about 75,000100,000 people for the daylong celebrations, which also included special food stalls, cultural extravaganza and special floats by various Indian organisations based in the US such as Air India and State Bank of India.

On the occasion, the iconic Empire State Building was lit up in the Indian try-colour. People chanted patriotic slogans such as 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind' and carried banners, placards along with Indian and American flags as they

INDIA INDEPENDENCE Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

L to R - Avarni Aggarwal (7 years) , Lord Lieutenant Morfudd Meredith, Chief Supt of South Wales Police Belinda Davies, Senior Royal Navy officer Tim Street, High Sherriff John Williams, Squadron leader Jill Pritchard, Raj Puri (singer of the Patriotic song),Deputy Lord mayor Rt. Hon Georgina Phillips and Hon Consul General Raj Aggarwal

Crowds cheer India home rule Celebrations took place in Oldham last Thursday to mark India's 69th independence day.

The Queen Elizabeth Hall was packed with huge crowds from all over Greater Manchester to join in the celebrations on Monday evening.

The day commemorates India's independence from the British Empire on August 15, 1947. Pakistan celebrates its independence day on August 14.

Award-winning Indian singer Navin Kundra made the crowds go wild, while up and coming young singer Shyam Panchmatia from Stockport performed brilliantly for the occasion.

The president of Indian Association Shashibhai Mohandas welcomed every-

Indian Independence Day celebrations at Q.E Hall Centre Mayoress Di Heffernan, Association President Shashi Mohandas,Secretary Sasi Patel and Mayor Cllr Derek Heffernan

one and reminded everyone of the long struggle for independence and the incredible progress India has made since.

He said despite numerous problems faced by natural calamities, India has now become one of the fastest

growing economies in the world.

Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham Derek and Di Heffernan are pictured (front) with Association president Shashi Mohandas, secretary Sasi Patel and other guests.

High Commission marks 70 years of India’s Independence Under the blanket of cloudy skies on Sunday 21st Aug, the High Commission of India celebrated India’s 70th Independence Day. To mark the occasion like in previous years on the grounds of the Indian Gymkhana Club in Osterley, west London. The flag was hoisted at 11am by H. E. Mr. Navtej Sarna alongside the chief guest, the Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, with the chorus of people gathered singing the national anthem in the background. The dignitaries were later joined on the stage by Mr Virendra Sharma MP, Seema Malhotra MP, Mr Rami Ranger and others.

The High Commissioner said in his speech, “That nobody in the world despite its huge challenges it faces is a uniquely successful democracy. Being present with such a large presence of the Indian diaspora underlines for me the important of the diaspora in the India-UK relationship.

You form only 2% of this country’s population but you contribute 6% to its GDP. 1.5 million people of Indian origin, another 325,000 people who are Non Resident Indians have become a significant factor in the policy of this country as is obvious by present of the distinguished leaders on stage with me.”

The Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan,who addressed

the crowd in Hindi, thanked everyone gathered to mark the occasion on India’s Independence. He said “I knew the High Commission in UK was big, having visited it several times. But this large gathering of people today is something I had not expected. I, on the behalf of the motherland and on behalf of freedom am glad to see the dedication, love and even though www have be away from our homeland but the heart is still rooted.”

Mr Rami Ranger on the occasion read out a statement sent by Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for International Development.

The message “India is the world’s rising star. It is driven by the spirt of its people and the power of tis global vision which is why India is shaping today’s world. The visit by PM Modi last year marked a new era of the UK-India relationship. We are two outward looking nations shaping a global future. The

world’s oldest democracy working hand in hand with the world’s largest democracy.”

The walk-in event saw hundreds of people descend on the grounds of the Gymkhana during the course of the day. Following the speeches the day was packed with entrainment in the form of singing, dancing, and playacts by people representing the different states of the republic. Alongside the entertainment there were stalls from various community organisations and official organisations like Air India, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Indian banks, mobile service providers, food providers and restaurants. On the other side of the Gymkhana, on the hockey pitch, participants took part in the painting the largest Indian Flag outside India on a giant canvas. The event by the UK Asian Business Council is set to be recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Call and book your place NOW! 020 7749 4085

Join us at the 16th Asian Achievers Awards Venue: Central London 16 September 2016 th

Nitin Ganatra

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

Sponsors

Sponsored Charity

Official Photography Partner

17

Partners

Event Management

Official Caterer

Farrah Storr

16

INDIA INDEPENDENCE

India's 70th Birthday

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Dr Rami Ranger CBE, Chairman, The British Sikh Association Congratulations to my fellow Indians on the anniversary of India's 70th Independence day. This is a happy occasion for over a billion people who are now living in many parts of the world and making a positive contribution. In just 70 years India has gone to Mars and become a nuclear power. It has become a magnet for investment for every developed country due to the strength of economy and the hardworking nature of its people.

In 1947 two countries were created by the then British rulers; one to promote people on the basis of their religion and the other to promote people regardless of

their religion in a secular nation.

Unfortunately the country based on religion broke into two in 1971 and a new country, Bangladesh, was born after a bitter war. This showed that religion does not have the strength to hold people or countries together and as a result, use of religion to create countries is not a sound base.

No country can progress whilst systematically discriminating against a section of her own population on the basis of their religion or gender. We Indians are indebted to our leaders as they opted for a secular India where equality for all is enshrined in the constitution regardless of race, religion or gender. The result, no Indian uses the religion card to surge ahead and instead we Indians use merit to be the best amongst the rest.

Indians under a secular constitution develop wholesomely with an ability to integrate into any society easily and quickly. We can see how Indians throughout the world as an integrated community punching above its weight to benefit all

mankind. The Indian diaspora is now the most respected throughout the world with political, economic and cultural contributions to their respective adopted countries.

Indian leaders are inspiring the world with their peaceful and progressive policies.

India is the largest democracy in the world and a home of tolerance and non-violence.

Whilst we are celebrating our independence we must be mindful of the supreme sacrifices our countrymen and women paid with their lives for the day when their motherland, India, would be free. It is due to their vision, commitment and sacrifices that we are equal in the world and receive the respect due to us. I shudder to think if India had not produced patriots whose love for Mother India was greater than that for themselves and their families then what our status in the world would be today.

Whilst we rejoice on our Independence Day, we must also bow our heads to pay tribute to the great sons and daughters of India who made this day possible.

Jai Hind.

New York celebrates independence Thousands of Indians in traditional finery celebrated India's 70th Independence Day here at one of the largest parades outside the country with the iconic Empire State Building lighting up in Indian tricolour.

The 36th India Day Parade by the Federation of Indian Associations - New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Sunday ran through about 13 streets in Madison avenue in Manhattan and featured tableaux by various IndianAmerican groups, marching bands, police contingents and cultural performances by young Indian-Americans.

Chief Guest at the event Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said India represents the glory of the past, the present moment's strength and is moving forward with hopes and dreams of a brighter future. Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, the Grand Marshal of the parade, said it felt "wonderful" to be the part of India's Independence Day celebrations in New York. Tamil actor Vikram was also the Chief Guest at the parade.

Indian Independence Day set to spark huge boost in trade with Wales

The 70th India Independence Day was celebrated in Cardiff last Monday with an official ceremony at the majestic Mansion House in Cardiff which was attended by several dignitaries.

The Honorary Consul for India in Wales, Mr Raj Aggarwal gave a speech at the Lord Mayor of Cardiff’s official residence, saying that recent legislation passed by the Indian government would open the way for a huge increase in trade with Wales.

He said: “Prime Minister Modi has a very strong mandate of economic outreach, sustainability, and equality and all this will work in favour of Wales.

“Recent passing of the Goods and Services tax by the Indian Parliament is a giant leap towards improving the ease of doing business in India and this will benefit Wales hugely.

“When I was with Prime Minister Modi in London last November I extended an invite for him t o visit Wales and I hope this happens in the near future.

And Mr Aggarwal added: “The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukerjee and the High Commission in

Below are some insights on the UK and India relationships:

witnessed the floats and celebrities from the barricaded pavements along the parade route. Indian music and popular Bollywood songs reverberated through the air as people celebrated with a fervour of patriotism.

Families had travelled from nearby states such as Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts to witness the parade, which has been an annual fixture in the city's calendar since 1981.

Other cities that celebrated India's independence included Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, San Francisco and Minneapolis.

PRESENTS

ASIAN ACHIEVERS

AWARDS

The people’s choice awards

Company name: Withy King Solicitors Name: Bhavesh Patel Job title: Solicitor

After Brexit, there is an exceptional opportunity for the INDO-UK relationship

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

London send their greetings and best wishes on this auspicious occasion to the people of Wales.

They are proud of the massive contribution you all make for the success and prosperity of Wales and India.”

Mr Aggarwal is the most senior Indian diplomat in Wales and is the official representative for the Indian High Commission in Cardiff. He hoisted the Tiranga Jhanda (Indian National flag) at 11am on the day and was joined by the several Welsh dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan Morfudd Meredith, Members of Parliament Craig Williams and the Leader of the Welsh Conservative Party Andrew Davies, the Counsel General of Wales Mick Antoniw, as well as several Welsh Assembly members. Several other nations were represented by their Honorary Consuls, and the police by South Wales Police Chief Superintendent Belinda Davies. There were also various business and education leaders from the Indian community in Wales in attendance – in particular industrialist Mr Gupta,

whose SIMEC company launched a multi-million pound power station in Uskmouth, south Wales a year ago, creating several jobs in the area.

Mr Aggarwal, made a moving speech in which paid tribute to the Indian community in Wales and their contribution to the country.

He said: “The Indian diaspora are happily settled in Wales. They are successful, hard working and integrate well with the local community, they are peace loving and law abiding and are committed to the prosperity of Wales.”

Mr Aggarwal took the opportunity to point out that new legislation passed by the Indian government would strengthen trade between the two countries.

He said: “Prime Minister Modi has a very strong mandate of economic outreach, sustainability, and equality and all this will work in favour of Wales.

“Recent passing of the Goods and Services tax by the Indian Parliament is a giant leap towards improving the ease of doing business in India.

“When I was with Prime Minister Modi in London

last November I extended an invite for him to visit Wales and I hope this happens in the near future.

A nd Mr Aggarwal added: “The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukerjee and the High Commission in London send their greetings and best wishes on this auspicious occasion to the people of Wales. They are proud

of the massive contribution you all make for the success and prosperity of Wales and India.” But Mr Aggarwal did call for more Anglo-Indians to join the police force so that they would be better represented in law enforcement in the region.

Mr Aggarwal added: “I know the constabulary would like more Indians to

join the force and follow a very rewarding career.

The talented singer, Liza Mukhopadhyay, led the singing of the National anthem as part of the celebrations to mark the Independence day, and Raj Puri (pictured above) sang the patriotic Indian song Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logo - The People of My Motherland.

to grow and develop, especially within the legal sector.

India is an attractive destination with one of the fastest growing economies in the world. With an ever growing population already surpassing a billion, there is significant scope to expand your portfolio and enter a rapidly growing market and client base. The liberalisation of the Indian legal market has been discussed for a number of years, but after Brexit, it seems it is now only a matter of time before UK lawyers will be able to practice in India. This will not only create international practice opportunities, but also boost local opportunities for legal professionals in India, as well as increasing the global footprint into an economy with significant growth potential for legal firms. The

UK’s legal sector is an example, of how access to international legal advice, for businesses can strengthen links between the countries, further providing expansion opportunities for businesses.

If India follows this path, it will inevitably lead to the development of a positive relationship with the UK as well as creating economic opportunities of mergers and acquisitions between the two countries. *** Company name: Aardra System Name: Meena Joshi Job title: Founder, CEO Aardra Systems Ltd launched the water management product early this year and to its astonishment, Indian customers showed lots of interests in the product that compelled us to raise our priority in approaching the whole India

as a country.

From the Indian government’s point of view, the project has been very welcomed in all quarters and states added with some lacking issues · Clarity of government policy of subsidising agriculture and horticulture water related equipment is not as expected. · Bureaucratic and business culture practiced in India tends to exhaust the intended investors from investment.

None the less, the project on the other hand has been well received by end users and local agriculture/horticulture communities from a surveyed point of view.

Aardra Systems principle are to benefit the agriculture/horticulture communities on two accounts A) Financially, that would be that agriculturist/

horticulturist will have the product subsidised.

B) Economically with the water management product they will able to disperse water in their farms adequately and would be practising water conserving exercise. *** Company name: Vedanta Hedging Name: Abhishek Sachdev

Job title: CEO We are delighted that commercial trading relationships between India and the UK continue to strengthen; the UK is already the largest G20 investor into India.

There is a lot of room to grow this important historical relationship, and in particular for British SMEs to have the confidence to export to the huge Indian domestic market.

We are increasingly advising a number of British companies on how to do this (with respect to hedging the currency risk of GBP-INR).

Indian investment into the UK continues to be strong, but still remains dominated by property investment which again, we help to advise on, to ensure that the Indian investors achieve the net returns they expect during the life of their investment.

Best wishes

Organisers of the event said they were expecting a crowd of about 75,000100,000 people for the daylong celebrations, which also included special food stalls, cultural extravaganza and special floats by various Indian organisations based in the US such as Air India and State Bank of India.

On the occasion, the iconic Empire State Building was lit up in the Indian try-colour. People chanted patriotic slogans such as 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind' and carried banners, placards along with Indian and American flags as they

INDIA INDEPENDENCE Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

L to R - Avarni Aggarwal (7 years) , Lord Lieutenant Morfudd Meredith, Chief Supt of South Wales Police Belinda Davies, Senior Royal Navy officer Tim Street, High Sherriff John Williams, Squadron leader Jill Pritchard, Raj Puri (singer of the Patriotic song),Deputy Lord mayor Rt. Hon Georgina Phillips and Hon Consul General Raj Aggarwal

Crowds cheer India home rule Celebrations took place in Oldham last Thursday to mark India's 69th independence day.

The Queen Elizabeth Hall was packed with huge crowds from all over Greater Manchester to join in the celebrations on Monday evening.

The day commemorates India's independence from the British Empire on August 15, 1947. Pakistan celebrates its independence day on August 14.

Award-winning Indian singer Navin Kundra made the crowds go wild, while up and coming young singer Shyam Panchmatia from Stockport performed brilliantly for the occasion.

The president of Indian Association Shashibhai Mohandas welcomed every-

Indian Independence Day celebrations at Q.E Hall Centre Mayoress Di Heffernan, Association President Shashi Mohandas,Secretary Sasi Patel and Mayor Cllr Derek Heffernan

one and reminded everyone of the long struggle for independence and the incredible progress India has made since.

He said despite numerous problems faced by natural calamities, India has now become one of the fastest

growing economies in the world.

Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham Derek and Di Heffernan are pictured (front) with Association president Shashi Mohandas, secretary Sasi Patel and other guests.

High Commission marks 70 years of India’s Independence Under the blanket of cloudy skies on Sunday 21st Aug, the High Commission of India celebrated India’s 70th Independence Day. To mark the occasion like in previous years on the grounds of the Indian Gymkhana Club in Osterley, west London. The flag was hoisted at 11am by H. E. Mr. Navtej Sarna alongside the chief guest, the Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, with the chorus of people gathered singing the national anthem in the background. The dignitaries were later joined on the stage by Mr Virendra Sharma MP, Seema Malhotra MP, Mr Rami Ranger and others.

The High Commissioner said in his speech, “That nobody in the world despite its huge challenges it faces is a uniquely successful democracy. Being present with such a large presence of the Indian diaspora underlines for me the important of the diaspora in the India-UK relationship.

You form only 2% of this country’s population but you contribute 6% to its GDP. 1.5 million people of Indian origin, another 325,000 people who are Non Resident Indians have become a significant factor in the policy of this country as is obvious by present of the distinguished leaders on stage with me.”

The Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan,who addressed

the crowd in Hindi, thanked everyone gathered to mark the occasion on India’s Independence. He said “I knew the High Commission in UK was big, having visited it several times. But this large gathering of people today is something I had not expected. I, on the behalf of the motherland and on behalf of freedom am glad to see the dedication, love and even though www have be away from our homeland but the heart is still rooted.”

Mr Rami Ranger on the occasion read out a statement sent by Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for International Development.

The message “India is the world’s rising star. It is driven by the spirt of its people and the power of tis global vision which is why India is shaping today’s world. The visit by PM Modi last year marked a new era of the UK-India relationship. We are two outward looking nations shaping a global future. The

world’s oldest democracy working hand in hand with the world’s largest democracy.”

The walk-in event saw hundreds of people descend on the grounds of the Gymkhana during the course of the day. Following the speeches the day was packed with entrainment in the form of singing, dancing, and playacts by people representing the different states of the republic. Alongside the entertainment there were stalls from various community organisations and official organisations like Air India, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Indian banks, mobile service providers, food providers and restaurants. On the other side of the Gymkhana, on the hockey pitch, participants took part in the painting the largest Indian Flag outside India on a giant canvas. The event by the UK Asian Business Council is set to be recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Call and book your place NOW! 020 7749 4085

Join us at the 16th Asian Achievers Awards Venue: Central London 16 September 2016 th

Nitin Ganatra

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

Sponsors

Sponsored Charity

Official Photography Partner

17

Partners

Event Management

Official Caterer

Farrah Storr

18

FINANCIAL VOICE

www.asian-voice.com

India is world's top exporter of Information Technology Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

India is the world's top exporter of information and communication technology as per a United Nations agency report.

India has jumped 14 places from the 85th rank last year to 61st in the latest Global Innovation Index released in Geneva by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, along with the Confederation of Indian Industry.

WIPO, a specialised agency of the UN worked along with Cornell University and INSEAD, international business school, to make the ninth edition of the index. India ranked 8th in the world for producing graduates in science and engineering and showed the most significant improvements in human capital and research moving up 40 places to 63. The report said that its culture of "frugality and sustainability" can help it capture global markets. "For this to hap-

pen, however, India's industries need to have the hunger to be at the top of the value chain, its customers have to be more demanding, its policies have to be more transparent, and its talent pool has to get more hands-on experience while simultaneously growing to leverage the global talent pool," the report said.

CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said, "The commitment of India

to innovation and improved innovation metrics is strong and growing, helping to improve the innovation environment.

This trend will help gradually lift India closer to other top-ranked innovation economies." The report recommended that the industry double its research and development investment and the government provide R&D grants to industry.

WIPO Director-General Francis

Gurry said, "Investing in innovation is critical to raising long-term economic growth. In this current economic climate, uncovering new sources of growth and leveraging the opportunities raised by global innovation are priorities for all stake holders."

Among innovators in India, measured by the number of patents registered in the last five years, Infosys came first with 281, followed by TCS with 244, Ranbaxy with 196, and others. During this period, about 2,000 patents received by GE had Indian inventors, the report said.

IBM came next with Indians involved in nearly 1,900 patents. Overall, Switzerland ranked first globally as the most innovative economy on the index. It was followed by Sweden, Britain, the United States, Finland and Singapore. China for the first time muscled its way into the ranks of the top 25, just landing the spot.

Bad loans of Indian banks almost double Banks trying to clean up their balance sheets have come out with a whopping 96 per cent jump in nonperforming assets or loans which remain overdue for a period of more than 90 days, to £62.97 billion as of June 2016, as against £32.05 billion in the same period last year.

State Bank of India led the list with its gross NPAs hitting £10.15 billion during the June quarter from Rs £564.07 million in the year-ago period. For the current quarter, the gross NPAs of banks had almost doubled with the ratio of gross NPAs to advances increasing sharply from 4.6 per cent to 8.5 per cent of their advances. "These high numbers were accounted for by the PSU banks which had witnessed 100 per cent growth in NPAs and virtual doubling of the gross NPA ratio from 5.3 per cent to 10.4 per cent," a study said.

Bad loans of PSU banks rose from £8.57 billion last year to £57.14 billion by June 2016, indicating that the RBI's asset quality review has unearthed

£859.5 million bad debts in their books. A banking source said, "Banks had to stop window-dressing their loan accounts following the strict monitoring of the RBI. There was no ever greening of loans in the last two quarters." Private banks were also under pressure with 68 per cent rise in gross NPAs from £3.48 billion last year to £5.83 billion this year and their NPA ratio increased from 2.15 per cent to 3.03 per cent.

"Some banks, especially in the public sector had to make higher provisions in a bid to clean up their balance sheets. Others were pressurised by their move to shrink their balance

sheets which in turn increased the NPA ratio.

These moves have been undertaken as part of the consolidation drive by banks to put their accounts on stronger footing. It is expected that these NPAs will tend to decline in the next two quarters," Care Ratings said.

However, bankers said the bad loan issue would blow over in the next two quarters. "I think the pain will continue for one or two more quarters and it will vary from bank to bank based on their exposure to stressed borrowers and sectors. In the case of genuine borrowers, they are monitoring stressed assets

closely to resolve various issues and giving support. I am sure that if genuine borrowers are supported, they will shortly come out," said Indian Banks Association chairman Ashwani Kumar.

The RBI said the cleanup of PSU banks would be over by March 2017.

"Unfortunately, too many projects were left weakly monitored, even as costs increased. Banks may have expected the lead bank to exercise adequate due diligence, but this did not always happen. Moreover, as a project went into distress, private banks were sometimes more agile in securing their positions with additional collateral from the promoter, or getting repaid, even while public sector banks continued supporting projects with fresh loans. Promoters astutely stopped infusing equity, and sometimes even stopped putting in effort, knowing the project was unlikely to repay given the debt overhang," governor Raghuram Rajan had said in a recent speech.

India's wholesale inflation soars to 23-month high Data released by India's commerce and industry ministry shows the growth of wholesale inflation to a 23 month high on the back of soaring prices of pulses, vegetables, fruit and sugar.

The report showed inflations, as measured by the wholesale price index, rose an annual 3.6 per cent in July as compared to 1.6 per cent in the previous month and minus 4 per cent in the corresponding month of

the last year.

Food inflation also rose to 11.8 per cent in July as compared to 8.2 per cent in June. Price of pulses shot up 35.8 per cent in July as opposed to 26.6 per cent in the last month. The government revised upwards the inflation rate for May to 1.2 per cent from the previous 0.8 per cent, highlighting the firming up of price pressure. Vegetable prices rose 28 per cent in

July compared to last month's 16.9 per cent increase. Fruit prices soared 17.3 per cent (6 per cent in June), while sugar prices shot up 32.3 per cent (26 per cent in June).

The government is hopeful that the robust monsoon rains will help improve supplies and moderate inflationary pressures. The RBI kept interest rates unchanged in its latest monetary policy but

pointed to the lurking price pressure. Economists said they expect wholesale inflation to be above 4% in the months ahead. “...This contrasts with the trend in CPI inflation, which likely peaked at 6.07% in July 2016,” said Shubhada Rao, chief economist at Yes Bank. “On the retail front, we continue to expect CPI inflation to broadly meet RBI's projected trajectory, averaging 5.1% for FY17.”

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Tata Steel plant back in profit, but uncertainty continues over future

Tata's Port Talbot Steelworks has moved back into profit, after a rise in global steel markets and efforts of record production by workers. A news report said the company which was on the verge of shutdown, made a profit of £5m in June.

A spokesman for steelworkers' union community said, "UK steelworkers are helping turn the tide in this steel crisis, but their biggest challenges may still lie ahead.

Thousands of families are still in the dark about their future and what Tata has planned for the business." A spokesman for Tata said, "If Theresa May is serious about having an industrial strategy, she should start by making sure that Britain's steel industry not only survives this crisis, but gets the investment it needs for a sustainable, profitable future. We don't disclose financial results beyond our normal public reporting.

The management team and the employees in the UK are continuing to work hard to improve the underlying performance of our UK business."

Port Talbot Steelworks was put up for auction in March, and last month, Tata confirmed it was also

exploring a merger of its European operation, with German steel giant ThyssenKrupp.

Liberty House is vying for the pipes business in Hartlepool and the speciality businesses in south Yorkshire. If Tata and ThyssenKrupp do merger it would be months before any agreement is reached.

And a question would be whether they would be prepared to share confidential data on their respective businesses, with concerns that if a deal isn't reached they would have mutual insight into their strengths and weaknesses.

The bidders that emerged in the sales process, overseen by KPMG, have not walked away despite the emergence of a potential Tata tie up with ThyssenKrupp.

And with huge primary steelmaking capacity in Holland and Germany, the UK and Welsh governments no doubt seek longterm assurances for the future of primary steelmaking at Port Talbot [from a Tata Europe merger with ThyssenKrupp] before agreeing to any financial support, or the introduction of new legislation to address the current £700m in deficit British Steel Pension Scheme.

Moody's retains India GDP forecast Moody's Investors Service has retained India's growth forecast at 7.5 per cent for the current year.

In its latest assessment of the global economy, the company said the outlook for emerging markets economies has stabilised but oulined the policy changes post the US presidential election in November as the most immediate downside risks to the global economic outlook.

"Our growth expectations for India, Indonesia, Korea and Saudi Arabia are unchanged from our previous outlook publication in May," it said.

Moody's, in its 'Global Macro Outlook 2016-17' had said that India's growth will pick up slight-

ly, climbing to 7.5 per cent in 2016 and 2017, from 7.3 per cent in 2015. It, however, revised upwards estimates for China to 6.6 per cent citing strong fiscal and monetary support.

"Moody's now expects China to grow at the rate of 6.6 per cent and 6.3 per cent in 2016 and 2017, respectively as compared to the previous forecast of 6.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent, with the higher growth rate being driven by significant fiscal and monetary policy support."

The US-based company said the modest upward revision in China growth would have minimal impact on its forecasts for the rest of the world as imports to China continue to fall.

REALESTATEVOICE

www.asian-voice.com

DEAL BY ACCIDENT AsianVoiceNews

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

I was calling someone regarding a property we manage and in calling him I called someone else accidently, who happened to have the same name. I seem to have ten people with the same name on my mobile and often end up misdialing. However I have mastered the art of talking to a random person, until I have worked out to whom I'm actually speaking to!

So the person I accidently called this time around was an agent. Naturally I asked if there were any deals floating around at the lower levels meaning £500k to £1m.

Coincidentally he was actually at that time viewing a property in Queensway, which is

Asian Voice |27th August 2016

priced at about 900 per sq. ft. The block is a very sought after block and hence the comparables were few and far between.

There could be two reasons why there is a lack of liquidity in a block, one is that it is so desirable to purchase once you manage to do so you never let go of the asset, unless you have to.

The other is the market for resell is so poor that no one wants to purchase, one reason for this could be that the property may be unmortgagable. There is a block like this on Edgware Rd, W2 which Prima facie look cheaps, but closer inspection reveals the property is unmortgagable, and it is poorly managed with an absentee freeholder.

19

The property in Queensway sounded attractive so I viewed it within the hour. I immediately took a liking to the property and after understanding the numbers I took the deal!

Being south facing means it gets a consistent amount of sun which adds to the feel of the property. This property certainly has a good vibe to it, though it’s a little dated.

Having transacted business with the agent previously we are in pole position to acquire this property. The likely purchase price for the flat will be £950k, with a lease extension and light refurb the property should be worth circa £1.65m. This is an asset to hold for the next few years or long

term given the softening of the market, especially at higher levels.

The area of Queensway in general has been forecasted for a massive increase in price in the years to come, there is lot of money being put in thanks to the overseas

investors. This area is known as ‘the poor side of the park’, being the north end of Hyde Park it is seen as the area which is least desirable. The other areas around the park are Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Kensington. However, the smart money will be invested in this end.

PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH I met with a Landlord some time ago to run through the rent he can hope to achieve on his property, the current regulations surrounding renting and the various levels of service we offer.

This landlord opted for the management only service, this involves the landlord finding and referencing his own tenant. He even declined using our services for arranging the lettings contract, this is an important document and forms the basis on which

the tenant occupies the property.

After the landlord marketed the property he received a call from a gentleman and on his word and on face value he assumed he would be a good tenant. The landlord didn’t even see the need to reference him.

On the day of move in the tenant called the landlord and explained that he was waiting for his previous landlord to return his deposit and asked if he could pay this in a couple

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

Seymour Street, London W1 Purchase Price: £625,000

of weeks. A couple of weeks came and went, with no sign of the deposit. The tenant then contacted the landlord and said his previous landlord kept his deposit and was being unreasonable!

The Landlord relented regarding the deposit, mostly out of not having any other choice, and agreed not to hold a deposit for the duration of the tenancy.

Rent dripped in and out and after a while the tenant stopped paying the

rent altogether. This went on for an unbelievable eight months and as well as receiving no rent to pay the mortgage the landlord was going through the courts to regain possession.

It transpired that the tenant was known for moving in with the same story each time and then not paying the rent, this could have all been avoided if the landlord had opted to spend a little

more and choose a service where we referenced the tenants.

Contact me on 0207 993 4719 to find out more about our fully managed service.

Figures for this particular case

Cost of fully managed service for 12 months:

£1195.50

Cost of rent arrears and court fees:

£9645.00

Cost of tenant referencing:

Priceless!!!

Cost of management only service for 12 months: Total 'saving' made:

l

Purpose built residential block l Long lease l Property sold recently in the block for £1,656 per square feet l Walking distance to Hyde Park l Resale value as it is, is expected to be around £875,000 Call us now to find out more!!

£477.00

-£8926.50

20

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

SBI board okays merger of 5 associate banks, BMBL Paving the way for the creation of a bank of global size, State Bank of India’s board has approved merger of five associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMBL) with SBI. The central board of directors of SBI has accorded their approval to the scheme of acquisition of the State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of Mysore (SBM), State Bank of Travancore (SBT) and Bharatiya Mahila Bank Limited (BMBL) by the State Bank of India, SBI said in a BSE filing.

The bank later announced that the board has also approved separate schemes of acquisition of State Bank of Patiala (SBP) and State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH) with SBI. As per the merger proposal, SBBJ shareholders will get 28 shares of SBI (Rs 1 each) for every 10 shares (Rs 10 each). Similarly, SBM and SBT shareholders will get 22 shares of SBI for every 10 shares. In the case of Bharatiya Mahila Bank, 4,42,31,510 shares of SBI will be swapped for every 100 crore of Rs 10 each.

Last month, the Union Cabinet had cleared merger of all the five associate banks of SBI with the parent and acquisition of BMBL.

However, there will not be any share swap or cash outgo as SBH and SBP are wholly-owned by the SBI. As per the merger proposal, the pay and allowances of the staff of the merging bank will be protected and “shall not be less favourable overall as compared to what they would have drawn”. The benefits of the retired employees will be protected, it said. With merger of all the five associates and BMBL, SBI will become a global-sized bank and could compete with the largest in the world, with an asset base of £370 billion or over $555 billion, with 22,500 branches and 58,000 ATMs. It will have over 500 million customers.

SBI has close to 16,500 branches, including 191 foreign offices spread across 36 countries.

SBI first merged State Bank of Saurashtra with itself in 2008. Two years later, State Bank of Indore was merged. SBI had earlier said the corporate branches of its five associate banks will “fold up” into the parent bank as part of network rationalisation after their merger. As much as 60-70 per cent of the larger value accounts are common and SBI needs only one relationship manager for that, said an official

UK-India Free Trade Agreement survey The UK India Business Council and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will be conducting a survey to gather views of both UK and Indian businesses on the prospect of a UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) following UK's EU referendum. The deadline for taking part in the survey is Wednesday, 31st August. The results of the survey will be published in a report that will be submitted to both governments later this year, with

Abhishek Sachdev

It is hard to believe that two months have passed since the UK population shocked the world by voting out of the EU. Equity markets (FTSE 100 & 250) have made year highs. Interest Rates, both short and long

the aim of ensuring trade policy is aligned to the views of business.

All respondents will receive a copy of the report and be entered into a prize draw, where the UK India Business Council will make a donation to a charity of the selected person's choice.

The organisers are looking to reach out to as many businesses as possible and requested you to share the survey with your networks using the link: http://bit.ly/UKIndiaFTA.

www.asian-voice.com

CEOs see 3-year growth prospect for India Inc AsianVoiceNews

A survey of CEOs has revealed that the next three years would be "promising" from the economic and organisational growth perspective. The report shares views given by around 125 CEOs from India, all from different sectors.

Richard Rekhy, CEO, KPMG, India said, "Both, the Indian business community and the global business community are bullish on India as an investment destination. As compared to other countries, India faces relatively less number of issues and challenges.

India is a largely untapped market and what is more exciting is a young population turning consumers."

Harsh Goenka, chairman, RPG Enterprises, sees India vying for "a gold or silver medal" on the podium in the future. He said, "Business transformation

tops the agenda of every CEO where they are reorienting the strategic template for M&A, cost-effectiveness and leadership.

The future is certainly bright for India." Sanjiv Puri, COO, ITC, said the optimism on India's growth prospects is manifest in ITC's investment outlay of over £2.50 billion. He also said that doubling farmer incomes coupled with the proposed GST and stability

Indian budget to get slimmer after GST roll out With the Goods and Services Tax (GST) set to roll out in a few months, the Union budget will supposedly get thinner. After announcement of Direct Tax Code, length of the budget will be further shortened and the government will focus on policy announcements and detail outcomes of various proposals. Changes on account of GST are expected to reflect from the 2018-19 budget.

Former expenditure secretary, Dhirendra Swarup said, "Part two of the budget where you have the tax rates will be reduced by more than 50 per cent and you will only have direct tax rates. I don't know in what form DTC will come. And the GST rate will be recommended by the GST Council which will then be fixed by Parliament because under the Constitution, only Parliament has the power to decide on taxation." He

said the GST rate maybe fixed for two or three years and it may just be mentioned in the budget.

"There will be no need to specify individual rates for small items and therefore the part 2 of the budget will be reduced."

CM Vasudev, former economic affairs secretary, said, "The relevance of the budget will not go but degree of secrecy may come down as the recommendations of the council on rates will be in the public domain." He said the power on taxation rests with the Parliament and the part two of the budget will still have to specify the products and services which will fall under the standard rate, merit and demerits.

Next Budget may be presented in January: Meanwhile, the government is looking to change the British-era legacy of presenting the Union Budget on the last day of February and may advance

Brexit two Months on...

term have collapsed with rates at levels never seen before (30yr swap rates below 1%). The FX market has seen GBP/USD sink to lows not seen since 1985.

However, the move in GBP has shone light onto a darker area. For many businesses that need to buy and sell currency as part of their business, having an FX hedging policy in place is essential. By buying currency Spot or Forward, a business can set a budget rate for purchase/sale of goods, and establish their profit margin.

Traditionally Banks have provided this service as

in the tax regime should help in restoring consumption demand, which will trigger investments and be a force multiplier for the economy. Over the last few weeks, Indian conglomerates in particular have undertaken organizational restructuring and this is one factor that comes out strongly in the report as well. Recently, the Tatas said they were disposing of an old fertilizer asset. The

part of their commercial banking offering but over time FX Brokers have thrived by undercutting the banks and offer a whole new avenue for businesses to buy / sell FX. The problem is, this market became saturated very quickly as brokers profit margins also came under pressure.

One way for brokers to increase their profits is to introduce clients to FX Derivative products. These products give a new way to ‘trade’ the FX market. The key word ‘Trade’, i.e. take a view and speculate.

Derivatives are not at fault

here, if understood and used correctly they can provide an effective hedging solution.

For most SMEs it's a very different story. Some Brokers’ sales process involves building up a relationship between the client and the business using Spot and Forward transactions, then over time introducing complex products as a basis for achieving cheaper currency. When a business starts to trade structured derivatives, they introduce other areas of risk which can include Implied Volatility and Interest Rates. These variables will affect the value

the date by a month. While a final decision is yet to be taken, sources said the government is considering completing the budget exercise before the end of the financial year on March 31 so that policy transmission is faster and departments are able to spend the funds from the start of the year instead of waiting until May for money to be actually allocated.

"We have not decided the date but it may be at the end of January," said a source, adding that preparations for Republic Day have to be kept in mind.

Currently, the budget process - including passage of the Appropriations Bill for expenditure and the Finance Bill for tax changes - are cleared by the Parliament in the first or second week of May. Along with the Budget, the government seeks parliamentary approval for undertaking spending during the few weeks of new financial year. / liability of these products.

For the Banks/ Brokers, these trades generate large revenue, so are very lucrative and given some Brokers’ sales driven bonus culture, it is easy to understand how businesses are directed towards complex FX options rather than the more transparent Spot and Forwards.Along comes Brexit. A sudden surge in FX volatility and huge moves in GBP. The fallout?

Businesses suddenly face margin calls as the leveraged option products generate large losses. The lack of understanding of these products has left many businesses vulnerable.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Aditya Birla Group, on the other hand, announced a complex merger scheme between two group companies. CEOs have adopted a rather aggressive approach for growth, both organic and inorganic, with one in two envisaging an acquisition or merger in the near future.

Meanwhile, Rekhy said investments have to start flowing back by domestic companies. "This Diwali, we see India bouncing back in many ways. The monsoon is good. The MGNREGA money has gone into the economy and we will see the 7th Pay Commission money going back into the system. This will spur consumption.

People who want to buy white goods, would do so.

Companies could post better third quarter sales growth," he said.

Only two bidders for Mallya's jet

E-auction of Vijay Mallya's luxury Airbus A319, has so far attracted only two bidders as per official sources.

This is the second time the service tax department has conducted the auction of Mallya's Airbus seized by the agency in December 2013, to recover a part of the tax dues of over £40 million. "Only two bidders have submitted the earnest money deposit as per the norms," an official said.

The department had rejected a single bid of £109,000, made by UAEbased aviation support firm, Alna Aerodistribution, citing it was too low. Sources said the company has once again participated in the bidding process. Mallya's luxury aircraft is owned by CJ Leasing Ltd and was given to Kingfisher on lease.

The Bombay High Court observed last year there was no legal trouble in auction of the aircraft which is on financial lease. Proceeds of the sale will be deposited with the high court.

Over the last two months, Vedanta Hedging has seen a large increase in approaches from businesses asking for help. We help them to unravel these trades and explain their true exposure to the FX market. Sadly we come across too many that have been sold unsuitable complex leveraged FX Options. We work with these businesses to advise them on how best to proceed and negotiate with their Banks/Brokers.

Tel: 020 7183 2277 www.vedantahedging.com

INDIA Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

www.asian-voice.com

21

Tearful farewell for Pramukh Swami Maharaj AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Mortal remains of head of the Bochasanvasi Akshar P u r u s h o t t a m Swaminarayan Sanstha, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, were offered to the flames at the Sarangpur Mandir campus last week, in the presence of more than a 1,000 followers. The cremation was held according to Vedic rituals in an open ground on the premises of the temple.

Political leaders who were also present, included BJP President Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Kathakar Morari Bapu, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh, businessman Anil Ambani, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, state BJP President Jitubhai Vaghani, and state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki. Also present was BJP patriarch LK Advani.

Devotees and saints said their final goodbyes with tears amid chants and prayers. The 95 year old who died on August 13, was kept at the temple for his followers. Over 2000,000 people from the Swaminarayan sect came to pay their tributes from all across the globe. The Palkhi Yatra of his body was cancelled last minute due to alterations in his body which was kept under minus 10 degree temperature in a glass container after he passed away.

An emotional Shah, said Swami was always there whenever he felt "broke". "The great saint dedicated his entire life for his cause, but I want to reveal something personal today. In one's life, there are moments when one feels broken. When I went through such times in my life, he would be the first person to call me," Shah said. He added that the spiritual leader had done a lot to institutionalise the saint tradition, getting millions of people to give up addictions. Jaitley praised Pramukh Swami for moti-

life revitalizing communities in need."

Mahant Swami- BAPS' new spiritual head: Mahant Swami, or Sadhu Keshavjivandas, the new spiritual head of BAPS, said the organisation would continue to walk on the path drawn by Bapa. He said, "The world is now plagued by unrest. Right from personal life to public life, restlessness can be felt.

All his life, Pramukh Swami had made it his mission to promote peace in people's lives and families and across the globe. BAPS will continue to strive for the same values and spread the message of peace and

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s body being taken for cremation

BAPS Sarangpur campus where funeral of Pramukh Swami took place

vating millions to walk the path of "dharma". He said, "For a very long period, Swami persuaded millions of people across the globe to walk the path of religion and sacrifice. He was having the power to motivate people to work for the betterment of the society. I believe that he is irreplaceable." Veteran politician LK Advani said, "There are very few persons who have managed to spread India's best practices in the world.

Pramukh Swami did this through his sect."

Aviation industry hits were it hurts: With devotees flying in from all corners of the world to pay their final respects, fares of planes from the US and the UK to Mumbai and Gujarat in the week, hit a massive surge. Of the 15 chartered flights that landed in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Bhavnagar, seven of them reportedly flew in from abroad.

A ticket rate from Texas to anywhere in Gujarat costs somewhere around Rs 70,000 on normal days.

However, with followers of Pramukh Swami rushing to get a glimpse of him, the rates skyrocketed. Jaimin Patel paid Rs 400,000 just in airfare to reach Sarangpur. An ardent devotee of Bapa, he did not mind paying the money, and if anything, was relieved he made it in time.

Another follower, Chandrakant Brahmbhatt said, "I paid Rs 147,000 for the ticket. But it is double the usual airfare." He added, "All flights from the US were full. People

reached Dubai easily, but from there it was really difficult to come to Ahmedabad." A certain Chandrakant Dave paid Rs 400,000 to reach Sarangpur from California.

Harish Patel from Houston paid Rs 221,000.

Hillary Clinton offers condolences: Democratic Party candidate for the US presidency, Hillary Clinton spoke on the occasion of Pramukh Swami's death. In a statement released by her office, she said, "Bill and I offer our sincerest condolences to the devotees of his Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha worldwide.

Pramukh Swami didn't just teach virtues, he lived them every day. That's what made him a Guru to millions around the world. From the Akshardham Mandir in New Jersey to the countless temples he blessed in the US, Pramukh Swami built a global faith and community founded on Vedic values. His deep sense of devotion led him to spend his

Sadhu Keshavjivandas

harmony in society." He added, "When I had taken diksha, the organisation was very small. Under the guidance of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, it has spread across the globe and has promoted Indian culture. It was Pramukh Swami's dream to establish Akshardham at New Jersey and completing it would be my homage to my guru."

BAPS immortalises Bapa: A life-sized statue of Swami has been installed at Akshar Jharokha on the premises of the BAPS Shahibaug temple.

Aksharvatsal Swami said the balcony holds a special place in the hearts of satsangis.

"When Bapa lived in the temple complex for 11 months from June 2012 to May 2013 while recuperating, he used to come to the balcony to give darshan to devotees when stepping out was not possible. It was named Akshar Jharokha for the same reason."

Modi's suit enters Guinness records Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pinstripe suit worn in January 2015, during US President Barack Obama's visit to the country, has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the 'Most Expensive Suit sold at Auction'.

Sold for £430,000 to Surat-based diamond merchant Lalji Patel, the navy blue suit with stripes of 'Narendra Damodardas Modi' embroidered on it had attracted a lot of attention, and a controversy. The Guinness Book of World Records has certified that Modi's monogramed suit is the most expensive suit sold

for auction. Hitesh Patel, Lalji's son, and managing director of Dharmanand Diamond Private Limited, said, "It is a matter of happiness and pride that the suit has found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. We had applied for the world record around five months back on the suggestion of our company’s HR management team.

Within a couple of months, we received a certificate acknowledging that it was the world’s most expensive suit sold at an auction." He said the suit is securely kept at the Dharmanandan factory at Gotalawadi,

Katargam.

A statement on the Guinness World Record website said, "The most expensive suit (clothing)

sold at auction is Rs. (Rupees) 43,131,311… and was bought by Laljibhai Tulsibai Patel (India), in Surat, Gujarat, India, on 20

February 2015." It added that proceeds from the auction were donated to the Namami Gange Fund, a project to clean up the

heavily polluted Ganges River. “We could have spent more to get PM Modi's suit.

This is one of the best purchases of my life. I remember meeting Modiji at our house 12 years ago when he was the chief minister of Gujarat,” said Patel.

The suit was the reason the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi called the government "Suit boot ki Sarkar". Reacting to the recent news regarding the suit, Gandhi again tried to troll Modi, saying, "Just rewards for Modiji's immense sacrifice," but once again attacked by Modi fans.

22

WORLD

www.asian-voice.com

New York man charged with murders of imam, his assistant Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

NEW YORK: Police have charged 35 year old Oscar Morel for the murder of an Imam in Queens in broad daylight. He has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

Taken into custody in connection with a hit-andrun that occurred 10 minutes after the murders, New York City Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said the police believed the car was the same as identified as having "fled the scene" of the crime.

"We also identified a person running into the car and taking off directly after the homicide," he said.

Boyce added that when New York detectives tried to arrest the man, "he rammed

Huge rise in Islamophobic tweets in July

Over 7000 Islamophobic tweets in English were sent every day in July, as revealed in a survey conducted by Thinktank Demos.

The numbers show a huge increase from the 2,500 per day in April. They found 215,247 tweets sent in English that were "highly likely" to be intended as anti-Islamic and derogatory.

The first peah of 21,190 was seen on 15 July, a day after the Nice attack that claimed 85 lives, and the second, was on 17 July, with 10,610 tweets sent after the coup in Turkey. Research Director, Demos, Carl Miller said the tweets were not showing anger at ISIS but at "the wider Muslim world". He added that the posts were "damaging and tremendously problematic", however, only a "thin sliver" were actually illegal.

Oscar Morel

the detectives' car several times in an attempt to get away". Charges after Morel were upgraded after they found a gun and clothes similar to one seen on camera footage.

The killings of Imam Maulama Akonjee and his assistant Thara Uddin is being seen as a hate crime, although the police are yet to identify a motive.

Thousands attended the funeral services of both the deceased, including New York Mayor Bill de Blasio who promised justice and protection to the city's Muslims.

He said, "I want to say very clearly, New York City is a better place and a stronger place because of our Muslim communities.

We know there are voices all over this country spewing hate. We're not going to listen to those voices that try to divide us." de Blasio ended his speech with "Assalaam

Waleikum". He promised extra police protection around mosques in the coming days.

Community leaders attending the ceremony asked police to add more security cameras to the corners of city mosques and, bring more patrols to the neighbourhood. Anwar H Khan, who read a list of demands for city officials on behalf of "the victims' families and the communities" said, "This bigot acted upon his hatred, fuelled and motivated by the constant rhetoric and xenophobic statements against minorities and Muslims made by the politicians and candidates seeking the highest office in the land."

Germany to ban burkas in education and public service BERLIN: Germany could impose a ban on women wearing burkas or full-face Islamic veils at schools and universities, and while driving.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the burka "does not belong in our cosmopolitan country".

"We all reject the full veil.

Not only the burka but also other types of full veil that only leave the eyes visible.

They have no place in our society," he said. The proposal does not impose a complete ban, and instead has launched something called a "burka ban lite" which will apply to women working as public officials, attending public demonstrations, and in court. "Showing your face is essential for our communication, co-existence and social cohesion and that's why we're asking everyone to show their faces. We want to introduce a law to make people show their faces and that

means that those who break that law will have to face the consequences," said de Maizere.

The new policy was agreed upon in a meeting between the minister and interior ministers of the 16 federal states where the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) is in power. The proposal needs support from the party's coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD) to become a law. Employment

and Social Affairs Minister, Andrea Nahles called the ban a sign of "increasingly xenophobic" debate in the country which would make it difficult to integrate immigrants.

The policy is likely to be largely symbolic as, unlike in other European countries which have imposed bans, burkas and full-face veils are already extremely rare in Germany. There are around four million Muslims in Germany, about 5 per cent of the population. A study in 2009 found more than two thirds of Muslim women in Germany wear no hair or face covering.

Calls for a burka ban have been largely led by the CDU ministers of two regions holding elections next month - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin - where the party is under pressure from the Right-wing anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party.

Burkini-wearing French women fined on beach A group of ten women in Cannes were fined for wearing burkinis on the beach.

Aged 29 to 57, they were at the Riviera resort, with their childen when police officers questioned them over their clothes. While four of them were given a fine of €38 (£33) each, others were issued warnings and asked to

leave.

Mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard had sparked quite a controversy after calling for a burkini ban last week. He said, "I took this decision among several other rulings to make sure my city is safe in the context of the state of emergency."

Groups had even chal-

lenged the ruling in court, but the judge said it was legal under French law "in the context of the state of emergency and recent Islamist attacksm notably in Nice a month ago".

Muslim groups have expressed their dissent with the fine. A source said the group of women were young

mothers and grandmothers and they did "not believe they are criminals". Adding, "All were very upset at the way they were treated."

Slowly, the ban is being called over European states.

Lionnel Luca, Mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet called the garment off and said it was for sanitary reasons.

The changing face of Kenyan broadcasting Get in the Kitchen, the second most popular show on Kenya’s private TV station, K24, is setting the trend in content production that is changing the television dynamics in the country and is causing great upheaval. A boom in locally produced programmes aided by the government and the global digital landscape is making the the broadcasting industry of Kenya to rival Nigeria’s multi billion dollar, Nollywood.

The hope is Kenyawood, with 250,000 people in the film industry and worth Ks40bn ($400m) a year.

Lizzie Chongoti, Chief executive of the Kenya Film Commission says “With the appetite for local content growing and so many young people interested in the creative industries, I am confident could get there in three to five years” As the largest economy in East Africa, Kenya has 64 TV

stations, with a further 20 due to be established this year.

The government has ruled that broadcasters must air 40% of local content, by July or face fines and loosing their licence. That threshold for local content is expected to increase to 60% within four years. Content distribution is also having a transformation like in production. This is partly due to the government’s decision to turn off the analogue signal last year, leav-

ing many households without television access as they could not afford digital television or a set-up box. Leo Boruett, director of multimedia services at the Communications Authority of Kenya says “Broadcasters must not just look at their balance sheets but at what they have done for the production industry.

There might be less profit now, but they will develop the industry and, in the long run, that will be better for all.”

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Attacker shouts 'Allahu akbar' as he stabs Jew in Strasbourg

PARIS: A Jewish man was stabbed on the street in Strasbourg by an attacker who reportedly cried "Allahu Akbar" before he carried out the assault.

The 62 year old who was wearing a skullcap, endured injuries to the stomach. Local media reported the victim managed to get away from his attacker, and took refuge in a nearby bar where he removed the knife from his stomach himself. He was helped by customers and staff who barricaded the doors to keep the assailant out, and called the police and an ambulance. While the suspect is in custody, police suggest he has psychiatric issues and was involved in a vicious attack on a Jewish man in 2010.

US Muslim boy forced to sign Daesh confession

NEW YORK: A 12 year old Pakistani-American special needs student was forced by a school to sign a false confession stating he was part of the Islamic State and wanted to blow up the school fence. In a $25 million lawsuit filed by the Muslim family from Long Island, they said their son Nashwan Uppal was taunted by his classmates and repeatedly asked by school officials if he was a terrorist, if he made bombs, and if he knew who "Osama" was. The boy, who has severe learning and social disabilities was harassed by bullies, who continued even when he moved to another table.

The suit says that Uppal was pulled from gym class by Superintendent John Dolan, Principal Mark Bernard and Assistant Principal Jason Stanton, and interrogated. "Stanton repeatedly asked Nashwan if he was a terrorist and if he made bombs in his house," it read. When he said no, Stanton allegedly yelled "Don't lie to us!" The boy was forced to write a confession saying he was "part of Daesh, knew how to make bombs, that he had bombs in his house, and that he was going to blow up the school fence."

Pak man stabs, slits second wife's throat for 'honour'

KARACHI: Around 14 years after he killed his first wife, a man from Pakistan murdered his second by repeatedly stabbing her before slitting her throat with a knife. Rahim Daad killed Farzana, 35, inside their home in Sindh. He confesses to the murder in the name of honour during interrogation. The couple had an argument over an issue following which Farzana wanted to leave Daad and the house. Eventually, he took out his knife and killed her. One of the latest in "honour" killings, Daad had killed his first wife citing she too had shamed the family.

100 hurt as Bangla villagers clash over Indian serial

DHAKA: A scuffle broke out between villagers over the plot of Indian fantasy television serial, leaving 100 people injured. Police said residents of Habiganj had gathered at a restaurant to watch 'Kiranmala', a famous Bengali-language show, when the fight erupted. Local police chief Yasinul Haque said, "Two men got involved into an argument over the story of the episode, which later turned into a group skirmish. During the fight, the angry mob vandalised the restaurant and continued the fight." This is not the first time the show has sparked protests. Suicides of three young women were linked to the show last year, after their parents reportedly refused to buy them an expensive dress worn by the protagonist.

Boy, 6, killed defending mom from rapist in SA

NORTHERN CAPE: A six year old was stabbed to death while fighting off a man from raping his mother. Kutlwano Garesape's mother, Segomotso said she and her two sons were on their way to school when the incident occurred. A man who "appeared out of nowhere" grabbed her shoulder and asked her for money. When she refused, he became angry and attacked her, pushing her to the ground. She said, her son began to kick and slap the man screaming "Let go of my mommy, it is my mommy." "Thabiso was scared but Kutlwano kept on defending me. I could feel that the man was pulling my skirt with his other hand and realised that he wanted to rape me."

www.asian-voice.com

Hindu Marriage Bill tabled in Pakistan National Assembly

AsianVoiceNews

ISLAMABAD: The muchdebated Hindu Marriage Bill 2016 has finally been tabled in Pakistan's National Assembly after years of delay. The report of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice on the Bill was presented and is just one step away from being approved with Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz party in support.

One of the bill movers, Ramesh Lal, member of the National Assembly, said it took around 10 months for the committee to clear the bill and another six months for the report to be presented in the house. "The delay was possibly because of extraordinary debates and discussion around the bill, but at least

Indo-Canadian Sikh MP is first woman Leader of House

OTTAWA: Indo-Canadian Sikh Cabinet Minister Bardish Chagger was sworn-in as the new leader of the government in the House of Commons, making her the first woman to hold the position in the Canadian Parliament.

Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Chagger said, "This is a tremendous opportunity. I have been involved in the political process for basically my whole life. I know what democracy should look like.

Democracy should be engaging Canadians. That is the leadership of our Prime Minister." Born and raised in Waterloo, Chagger has held the small business and tourism minister. A rookie MP, she is also one of the four Sikhs, other than Harjit Sajjan, Navdeep Bains, Amarjeet Sohi, to be elected to Trudeau's cabinet in 2015.

Chagger, 36, replaces House leader Dominic LeBlanc. After graduating, she worked as an assistant to former KitchenerWaterloo MP Andrew Telegdi for four years.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

now the government should consider tabling it in the house in the next session," he said. Chairman of the Committee, Chaudhary Bashir Virk said, "All segments, including the Council of Islamic Ideology, were con-

sulted during the course of discussions in the committee."

The Hindu Marriage Bill is expected to put an end to the practice of abduction of married Hindu women. Virk said, "There are penalties for violating the provisions of this

act and anyone who kidnaps a married Hindu woman will be liable to punishments after this law is approved, because the victim's family will be able to show proof of marriage."

The draft bill allows separated individuals to remarry. Clause 17 states a Hindu widow is entitled to remarry and shall have the right to do so, of her own will and consent, after a period of six months since the death of her husband.

Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have consented to the federal government formulating a Hindu marriage law that they would then adopt, while Sindh had formulated its own Hindu marriage registration law.

81% of Donald Trump supporters say life in US worse now WASHINGTON: In a brand new national poll released last week, Democrat presidential nominee is seen to be leading 41-37, beating Republican Donald Trump. The Pew Research Survey shows that Trump supporters genuinely believe life "for people like them" in the country is worse than it was 50 years ago.

Eighty-one per cent of registered voters who support Trump, say life has gotten worse, while 11 per cent say it has gotten better. On the contrary, 59 per cent of Clinton supporters say life for people like them has gotten better in the past half-century, 19 per cent think it has gotten worse, and 18 per cent see little change.

Meanwhile, Trump has rejigged his presidential campaign for the second time in two months. He has hired a top executive from conservative website Breitbart News.

Stephen Bannon, executive chairman of Breitbart News LLC, will become the Republican campaign's chief executive and Kellyanne

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

Conway, a senior adviser and his running mate governor Mike Pence of Indiana, will become the campaign manager. Analysts said the move is a result of Trump's realisation that his campaign was at a crisis point.

Experts said the move reflected Trump's realisation that his campaign was at a crisis point. But it indicates that the candidate -who has chafed at making the types of changes his current aides have asked for - has decided to embrace his aggressive style for the duration of the presidential race.

Both Conway and

Bannon, whose news organisation has been very favourable to Trump, are close with Robert and Rebekah Mercer, the fatherand-daughter conservative donors who have become allies of the real estate tycoon and are funding a “super PAC� against Hillary Clinton.

Conway has past presidential experience in primary races, but the role in a general election represents a new one for her. She is well liked by Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushn Beener, who had serving as the de facto campaign manager for the billionaire.

Suicide bomber kills 51 at wedding party in Turkey ISTANBUL: More than 51 people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a Kurdish wedding party in Gaziantep near the Syrian border. The deadliest, in a series of attacks in Turkey, it was carried out by a boy aged between 12 and 14. President Tayyip Erdogan said the Islamic State was behind the attack.

The terrorist outfit has often targeted Kurdish gatherings, in a bid to blow ethnic tensions. The country is vulnerable to multiple security threats from militants at home and from Syria. "Initial evidence suggests it was a Daesh attack," Erdogan said.

He stated that 69 people were in hospital and 17 were "heavily injured". Following the attack, police sealed off the

site and forensic teams moved in.

Deputy PM Mehmet Simsek visited the scene. "This is a massacre of unprecedented cruelty and barbarism. We... are united against all terror organisations.

They will not yield," he said.

The wedding party was for a member of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party. A local official informed that the groom was among those injured, and the dead included women and children. Veli Can, 25, said, "The celebrations were coming to an end and there was big explosion among people dancing. There was blood and body parts

everywhere." Opposition parties, and foreign governments denounced the attack. US ambassador to Turkey, John Bass said, "We stand by our ally Turkey and pledge to continue to work closely together to defeat the common threat of terrorism."

NATO member Turkey is a partner in the Western

coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, allowing US jets to to fly from its air bases. It has also backed some rebel groups in Syria. Syrian rebels were preparing to launch an operation to capture a town held by Islamic State at the border with Turkey, a senior Syrian rebel said.

Hundreds gathered for funerals on Sunday, some weeping at coffins draped in the green colour of Islam. Other funerals would have to wait because many of the victims were blown to pieces and DNA forensics tests would be needed to identify them. In Gaziantep, the chief prosecutor's office said they had found a destroyed suicide vest.

WORLD Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

In Brief

23

IS claims 1st terror attack in Russia

MOSCOW: The Islamic State has carried out its first terror attack in Russia, after two supporters attempted to murder police officers.

Both the men, who were armed with a gun and two axes, were killed during the assault at a traffic post on a motorway in Balashika.

Russia's Investigative Committee said one of the men was shot dead while attacking the post and the other was killed when he put up "armed resistance". The organisation's propaganda agency later released a video of the attackers, showing them pledging allegiance to leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The two men were reported to be of Chechen descent.

Separatists and Islamist groups from Chechnya have long been fighting wars and an insurgency against Russia.

Gen Sharif to be made honorary field marshal?

ISLAMABAD: With Pakistan's General Raheel Sharifs' term comes to an end, and no official word on an extension, a new angle has been proposed by analysts. Leading political commentator, Arif Nizami said the government, in consultation with General Sharif, has formally decided to promote him as field marshal, a ceremonial position, for his services. "It's an honorary position with symbolic value for recognition of someone's services in the military. It's the army chief who commands the troops and not the field marshal," said Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi. "In appointing the new chief, the PM will look for someone who could be easily handled.

For the PM, the appointment of a new Army chief will provide him some breathing space to overcome the ongoing civil-military tension.

Traditionally, in Pakistan, it takes some time for new Army chief to settle down."

Dad kills 4-month-old by punching her 22 times

CHICAGO: A father allegedly murdered his four month old daughter to silence her "baby talk" while he was watching television. Cory Morris, 21, from Minneapolis, has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly punching Emersyn in her face and chest. Charges against him say he called the police on August 13 and admitted he had killed his daughter. The police arrived to his place to find the 4 month old unconscious on a changing table. Alone with the kid during the time of the incident, Morris said he punched the child approximatley 15 times in the face and 7 times in the chest with a closed fist, then squeezed her chest with his hands to quiet her. He lated called his mother and wife and said "I did something bad".

Indian girl found dead in NY, stepmom charged with murder

NEW YORK: Stepmother of a nine year old Indian girl who was found dead in her house, has been charged for her murder. Ashdeep Kaur, who had moved to Queens from India, lived with her father Sukhjinder Singh and stepmother Arjun Samdhi Pardas, was found dead in the bathtub of the house with bruises on her body. Pardas, 55, is charged with murderfor allegedly strangling the victim. Their housemate had seen Ashdeep going into the bathroom with Pardas, who later came out alone and left the building. She allegedly said the girl was taking a bath. But when she did not come out, the housemant discovered her lifeless body in the tub with no water.

Iraq executes 36 convicted of taking part in '14 massacre

BAGHDAD: Iraq executed 36 men convicted of participating in the Islamic State's massacre of hundreds of soldiers in 2014. Officials said the men were hanged at the Nasiriyah prison in southern Iraq. The IS captured an estimated 1,700 soldiers after seizing Saddam Hussein's hometown Tikrit. Shortly after, they posted graphic images of gunmen shooting the men dead after forcing them to lie facedown in a shallow ditch.

24

INDIA

www.asian-voice.com

Stray dogs attack, kill Kerala woman Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

THIRUVANANTHAPURA: A 65-year-old woman was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs and parts of her body eaten in Thiruvananthapuram last week. An hour after the victim Sheeluamma was attacked in the coastal village of Pulluvilla, a 30-minute drive from the state capital, another woman was attacked by wild dogs in the same area but survived, police said.

Hundreds of people are bitten by stray dogs across the country every year but Kerala is said to be the worst affected with an estimated 250,000 wild canine population. At

least 100,000 people were bitten by stray dogs in the state in 2015-16.

The latest incidents renewed calls for urgent culling of stray dogs in the state but a similar move last year had angered animal

BJP worker becomes victim of cow vigilantes BENGALURU: Cow vigilantes were at it again after a BJP worker was lynched, and another injured in Udupi, Karnataka while transporting cattle. Praveen Poojary, 29, was beaten to death, and friend Akshay Devadiga sustained injuries in an attack by right-wing Hindu Jagaran Vedike members.

Udupi district Superintendent of Police, KT Balakrishna said, "We arrested 16 activists suspected to have assaulted victim Praveen Poojary and his friend Akshay Devadiga when they were transporting three cows in a van at Kajike near Hebri in the district last week." He added, "Though Poojary was rushed to a hospital nearby at Brahmavar, he succumbed to the injuries he

sustained in the attack by the activists who suspected him of carrying the cows to a slaughterhouse."

A case of assault leading to murder and rioting under the IPC against the vigilantes has been registered by the district police. Balakrishna said, "Poojary was a petty shopkeeper at Kajike and Bharatiya Janata Party's local unit member. He and Akshay hired the van from one Ramesh Poojary to transport the cows to Hebri." Locals said the vigilantes had waylaid the two on suspicion they were from a minority community and selling cattle to abattoirs. "On receiving a tipoff that the duo was taking cows in a van during night, the accused stopped it and assaulted them."

Centre deletes 142 names from 'blacklist' CHANDIGARH: Ahead of the assembly election, the Central government has deleted the names of 142 people out of the total 169 from the "blacklist" of Sikh NRIs following the pleas of the Punjab government.

The issue of blacklist, which was one of the major political demands of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and formed a part of its poll promises in February 2007, was a key issue troubling the NRIs, it said.

The Punjab government had been demanding that the list should be regularly reviewed and the names on it should be made public so that "the unjust denial of access to common and innocent NRI Sikhs should stop", the release said.

It further claimed the Union government's earlier refusal to do so had become a major source of harassment and exploitation of NRI Sikhs - many of whom were denied access to the country even though their names did not figure in the list. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the state home portfolio, demanded that all the details, including the names of the remaining persons, should be put on the official website of the ministry of home affairs

"to eliminate any further exploitation of Sikhs in the matter."

"There should be an automatic mechanism for periodic review of these lists. While those facing criminal charges should be brought before the law, there should be no harassment of the innocents," the release quoted Badal as saying.

The issue of the revision of the blacklist was raised by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal at the 'All India Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security' in New Delhi on February 7 last year.

Move welcomed: The step will enable the earlier blacklisted people to visit India. The Centre's decision has been welcomed by the ruling party and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Most of those figuring on this blacklist were NRIs from Punjab who were accused of having links with the separatist Khalistan movement in the 1980s and 1990s.

Majority of them live in the US, Canada and some European nations.

"This initiative on the part of the GoI (Government of India) would be instrumental in assuaging the bruised feelings and tormented psyche of Sikh community and their families," a resolution said.

rights groups which described the proposal as “uncivilised.”

Union minister Maneka Gandhi, a vocal animal rights campaigner, too had warned the government against the move.

But angry residents of Pulluvilla lashed out at Maneka Gandhi for being more concerned about dogs than humans. “We have lost all our patience as the authorities are hanging on to some obscure law which says dogs cannot be eliminated. Are we inferior to these dogs,” asked one resident. People said the stray dogs, which used to attack mostly children earlier,

are now afraid of none.

Selvan, the son of victim Siluvamma, said he was also attacked by the dogs when he tried to rescue his severely bleeding mother and escaped only by jumping into the sea.

He was rescued by villagers who responded to his shouts of help. Sheeluamma died at the medical college hospital in Kerala’s capital.

K o c h u o u s e p h Chittilapally, a businessman leading the campaign against stray dogs, said, “The law enables the government to kill dangerous dogs. At least now we should act,” he told reporters.

DMK members suspended from TN assembly CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal ordered marshals to oust 80 DMK MLAs present in the House, also suspending them later. Leader of the House and Finance Minister O Pannerselvam moved a resolution suspending all DMK MLAs present in the house for a week, which was adopted by the Speaker. The immediate trigger for the speaker's action was a remark by Tirupur AIADMK MLA Gunasekaran aimed at Leader of Opposition MK Stalin on his 'Namakku Naame' tour of the state ahead of the May assembly election.

Both Stalin, and deputy floor leader Durai Murugan was not in the House when the MLA made his jibes at the former.

While the Speaker tried to justify the remarks, Stalin reached the house and other DMK MLAs demanded they be expunged. Pannerselvam said the DMK members need not have raised the issue of the AIADMK's general council meeting saying, "It does not concern you".

Arguments between the

DMK leader Stalin

party MLAs and the Speaker continued for quite some time and things were cooling down eventually when a DMK member raised an ugly noise irritating Dhanapal. Accusing the DMK members of refusing to cooperate, the Speaker said, "I have been warning you repeatedly and seeking your cooperation to run the House. But, I have to say, with regret, that you are refusing to do so. So, I am ordering the marshals to evict you." Stalin was bodily lifted and dropped in the lobby. He later addressed the media and accused the Speaker and Pannerselvam of "conspiring" to ensure that DMK MLAs were not present when the demands for home department is moved on August 22.

AAP releases 2nd list of 13 candidates CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party released its second list of 13 candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections to be held next year.

Prominent names in the list include AAP state women's wing president Baljinder Kaur from Talwandi Sabo, head of the party's trade wing Aman Arora from Sunam, party's SC wing chief Dev Mann from Nabha and Anu Randhawa, daughter of late Congress leader Jasjit Randhawa from Ghanaur.

A statement said that five of the candidates are Class XII pass, one is Class X pass, while one is a doctor. Other names include Jaswinder Singh Jahangir from Attari, Daljeet Singh Grewal from Ludhiana East, Sarbans Singh Manki from Samrala, Gurpreet Singh Bhatti from Amloh, Harpal Singh Cheema from Dirba, Karanvir Singh Tiwana from Patiala Rural, Baldev Singh Azad from Malout, Ravjot Singh from Sham Chaurasi and Baldev Singh from Jaito.

Arvind Kejriwal

The candidates also include a two time councillor from Ludhiana, ex-president of Bar Association of Sangrur, senior vice-president of the party's farmers wing, and a former general secretary of the People's Party of Punjab.

AAP leaders to visit Europe: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will kick off a European election campaign as part of the party's "AAP Punjab 2017" agenda from next month. Kejriwal will visit Italy in the first week of September along with party leaders Kumar Vishwas, Jarnail Singh and Adarsh Shashtri, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) UK said.

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Kerala govt drops plan for 'online' liquor sale

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government has dropped plans to start online liquor sales during Onam after attracting rebuke from the people. Recent reports emerged saying state-owned Co-operative Consumers Federation has proposed a move to introduce online foreign liquor trade during Onam, which the government strongly denied.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that his party would not allow this to happen and alleged that the government plan was part of its agreement entered with the liquor lobby in the state. He said the LDF was in favour of encouraging liquor consumption in the state.

However, Tourism and Cooperation Minister maintained that neither ConsumerFed nor the government took a decision to start online liquor trade. Earlier this month, ConsumerFed chairman M Mehboobd had said that the plan was to launch online liquor sales during Onam but that it would be implemented only after discussions with the state government.

Cop ends life, 'harassment' by seniors alleged TELANGANA: A 45 year old police officer was found dead at his government home in Telangana. B Ramakrishna Reddy allegedly shot himself in the head when he was alone at his home in Sangareddy, 60 km away from Hyderabad. The sub-inspector had reportedly sent his wife and children to his parents' home two days back. Reddy's family said he faced constant harassment by senior police officers, an allegation that was stated in the suicide note he left behind. Senior police officer assured the family members of a fair investigation.

Maneka’s remark on jallikattu irks Tamil Nadu BJP

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP is seemingly miffed by Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's recent comments regarding the Supreme Court's ban on Jallikattu. Maneka Gandhi was reportedly said, "A few people in Tamil Nadu and India are against Jallikattu.

It's not all right for me or the BJP to say what is right or wrong. The Supreme Court has already given its ruling on this and as citizens, we should abide by it." In a statement state unit president Tamilisai Soundarajan said, the party had resolved to hold the event next Pongal. Soundararajan said Gandhi had expressed her own view. "She has the right to express her view. However, ours is the authentic and authorised view of the party. I do not intend to talk to her to convince her about our position. I do not think she can be convinced."

BJP veteran Badnore is new Punjab governor

NEW DELHI: Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore has been appointed the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said, "President Pranab Mukherjee has been pleased to appoint VP Singh Badnore to be the Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, in addition to his duties as Governor of Punjab." He will take charge from Kaptan Singh Solanki, who is the Haryana Governor holding additional responsibility of Punjab. Former Union Minister Najma Heptulla will be the governor of Manipur, while BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi will be the new lieutenant governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Major terror plot foiled: Three suspects arrested

AMRITSAR: Punjab state police busted a major terror plot after it arrested three suspecting terrorists from Hoshiarpur. They also seized three pistols and a dozen bulletproof jackets. Following the attack on the Pathankot airbase earlier this year, the state police have been on high alert. The attack saw the death of seven security personnel and the three infiltrators who stormed into the area.

SPORT Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed set for big break The Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed, who is eyeing for an opening in the England team, has scored his second century of the match before Yorkshire put themselves in position for a late charge at an imposing victory target of 367. The charge failed to materialise as the teams settled for a draw.

Without doubt, Hameed was the star of this match. The right-hander put himself into the record books during an entertaining session of batting, which brought 162 runs from 23 overs. In moving from 30 overnight to 100 not out off 124 balls, sharing 168 for the first wicket with Tom Smith (87) along the way, Hameed, aged 19 years and 212 days, became the youngest Lancastrian to post 1,000 Championship runs in a season – and the fifth youngest in all.

He also became the youngest Lancastrian to post two hundreds in the same match against any opponent, the first to do it against Yorkshire and only the third for either side in this fixture. He is also the youngest to post two hundreds in an English first-

Haseeb Hameed

class match.

Hameed also became the first teenage opener to post four hundreds in a County Championship season, with Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Rob Key among those to score two.

Ashley Giles, Lancashire’s cricket director and head coach, has, on numerous occasions, spoken of his admiration for Hameed and how he believes the Boltonian will play for England. This month he said: “I said that he would play for England within four years, but I think it’ll be earlier than that now. I wouldn’t want him to get so that he can’t get his head through the door, but he has that temperament and the desire to keep getting better and better.”

Mo weaves magic again in 5000m

Mo Farah

There was no doubt about it: Mo Farah is among the best long-distance runners of all time. The British great produced one of his trademark controlled runs, topped with a blistering finish, to win the 5,000m gold medal on Saturday and cap his second straight Olympic long-distance double.

“It's every athlete's dream but I can't believe it,” the 33-year-old Farah said.

On Saturday, there was no crash to worry about even though a fall in last week's 10,000 failed to stop him from claiming gold. His unstoppable kick over the last two laps did it this time, and as hard as his two Ethiopian rivals tried to shake him off early, there was no way to deny Farah at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

“You're a target, you're

a target. The guys watch you race and they know what you are good at,” Farah said. Farah came into the final stretch in the lead, and that means it's over. His arms open wide, his eyes closed in ecstasy, Farah crossed the line as the first runner in 40 years to win back-to-back longdistance doubles at the Olympics.

Farah already won the 10,000-meter race in Rio to go along with his two gold medals from the same events in London four years ago. The last man to win both distance races in consecutive Olympics was Finnish great Lasse Viren at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal Games.

Farah won in 13 minutes, 3.30 seconds. Paul Chelimo of the United States took silver and Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia got bronze.

25

Slum kid selected for training at Bayern Munich academy

Chandan Nayak, an 11year-old football prodigy from an impoverished area of Bhubaneswar, has been selected to train at Germany's most iconic club Bayern Munich for two months. Chandan, who is hailing from the slum area of the city, is one among the few who were selected for an all-expenses-paid junior football camp to Munich.

"I am very happy, want to become a player for the Indian team one day. I really want to thank my coach," said Chandan, who describes Argentine player Lionel Messi as his inspiration. His coach Jayadev Mahapatra said that Chandan's his family was extremely underprivileged.

Chandan Nayak

"His is a broken family.

His father had deserted him at a very young age.

His mother works as a ser-

vant at various places to manage the family. She has sacrificed a lot to ensure that her children are brought up in a proper way.

Explaining the young football genius' journey so far, the coach continued: "The boy is a talented player and we spotted him when he was very young.

He has been training with us for the last three to four years. In the last one year, he was given very rigorous training and we used modules which we see in international clubs and it has paid us rich dividends.

When he was selected in Odisha, he was the youngest (11). The selection criteria says that the age should be between 14

to 16 and being an 11-yearold kid he was not allowed but we asked them to give him a chance, he surprised everyone.

"The same thing happened when he went to Pune. He surprised everyone, including Sunil Chhetri, who was the head selector for this academy.

He will be leaving for Germany on 25th. In Germany, he will be playing asides greats like Phillip Lahm. The best coaches of the world will train him. Around 120 students from across the world will get training there. It is a huge opportunity and it will inspire other slum kids to take football seriously,” Jayadev said.

Pakistan become No. 1 Test side Pakistan have climbed to the No. 1 spot in ICC Test rankings for the first time ever after wet outfield forced a tame draw between West Indies and India in Trinidad on Monday (August 22).

India needed a win to stay on top of the table but a draw meant they lost two ranking points and are now behind Pakistan side at the second spot, who gained 111 points in their drawn series against England.

Australia, who were presented the mace for finishing top of the ICC rankings after last year's cutoff, have slipped to the third spot. They were blanked by Sri Lanka 3-0 in the three-match series.

England, though they have 108 points - same as Australia - are ranked fourth while New Zealand are placed fifth in the table.

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, was understandably pleased with his team's efforts.

"No. 1 ranking is a reward for something we had planned as a group a few years ago and have worked extremely hard to achieve it," he said. "To top the

Test table, which boasts some of the best sides and players, is something to be very proud of.

"I want to compliment everyone who has been involved in the process, including all the players, the support personnel, the management, as well as our loyal fans and followers who remained committed to us and continued to back and support the side through the good and notso-good days.

"For us, the numberone ranking is not a destination but part of a journey. Our long-term objective and strategy is to remain competitive, continue to challenge the top

HUMOUR CORNER A zookeeper is ordering new animals. As he fills out the forms, he types “two mongeese.” That doesn’t look right, so he tries “two mongoose,” then “two mongooses.”

Giving up, he types, “One mongoose, and while you’re at it, send another one.” *** A 90-year-old was giving a talk at our local library about his World War II experiences. During the question-and-answer period, he was asked, “How did you know the war was over?”

He replied, “When they stopped shooting at me.” *** Tired of waiting in the back of the line to get on Noah’s Ark, a flea jumps from one animal to another as she moves closer to the front. She leaps and leaps until she lands on the back of an elephant. The pachyderm turns to its mate and says testily, “I knew it! Here they go with the pushing and shoving!”

sides with good cricket and once again become the most followed side like the Pakistan teams of yesteryears. If we can achieve these on a consistent basis, then I am sure there will more laurels like this down the line."

Pakistan will now be presented with the mace,

the International Cricket Council confirmed through a release.

Pakistan's next assignment is against West Indies in UAE in September while India will play a threematch Test series against New Zealand at home starting from September 22.

"I think they need me now more than ever"

INDIA

26

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Kashmir Mayhem: Anarchy for 'Azadi'

Continued from page 1 communication codes too were taken from the station. Dozens of youth have joined hands with the militants in Tral, said a senior police officer. He added that organised training camps are being run by top LeT and JeM commanders in the regions, proceeding to convert the men into jihadis. "Army men have been deputed to protect police buildings from arsonists and CRPF men have been asked not to patrol the streets to avoid confrontation with the 'azadi' screaming crowds."

The violence has claimed over 65 lives, including two policemen.

BSF deployed for the first time in 12 years: As Kashmir continues to boil, the government deployed the Border Security Force after a long gap of 12 years.

The forces have occupied government buildings and semi-government schools near Lal Chowk. Following 46 days of unrest, the Centre rushed 26 companies (2,600 personnel) of the BSF to the region.

The forces were pulled from Gujarat, Rajasthan and West Bengal. With the end of the Amarnath Yatra duties in the next few days, another 30 companies (3,000 personnel) are expected to join. Officials

said the BSF would support the state police and paramilitary CRPF in trying to control the situation.

The force used to conduct anti-militancy operations in Kashmir for over 13 years from 1991, but later replaced by the CRPF in 2004.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh to visit J&K: To try and resolve the escalating violence, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day visit to the region on Wednesday. Protests that began following Wani's death, mixed with the use of pellet guns to bring order, has resulted in the death of several civilians and left hundreds of people injured. Official sources

said Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi will accompany the minister.

In wake of worsening situation, a delegation led by former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, met with President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted a memorandum stating the Centre needs to look for a "political solution" and not merely an "administrative" one.

A news report said Singh conducted two rounds of talks with people, mostly non-Kashmiri Muslims to discuss a plan of action and initiate a dialogue with Kashmiris.

PM holds all-party meet: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called an all party meeting to assess

One year subsrciption

Asian Voice Newsweekly Bumper & Trustworthy News Various informative/inspiring columns, Subscribers also receive sevaral Theme based Special issue, Diwali Magazines, Annual Calender delivered at home

Asian Voice £29 Gujarat Samachar £29 Both Weeklies (separate) £58 Both Together for Subscriber only £35-00 Total Savings £23-00 You Save 40% By adding only £6 you can subsribe Gujarat Samachar

SUBSCRIPTION FOR

One year subscription of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice is ONLY £35 (UK)

Please tick as appropriate:

GUJARAT SAMACHAR & ASIAN VOICE ASIAN VOICE

Europe and Overseas Subscription rates are being held the same as last year!

UK G.S. A.V. Both

It means only 9 Pense a day

Rates Valid from 1-10-2015

EUROPE G.S. A.V.

Both

1 Year £29 £29 £35 £77 £77 £126 2 Years £52.50 £52.50 £63.50 £141.50 £141.50 £242

WORLD G.S. A.V.

Both

£92 £92 £169 £169

£150 £280

Please Note: Subscriptions are non-refundable after 30 days

Please detach this form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below

GUJARAT SAMACHAR & ASIAN VOICE

12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW

Tel: 020 7749 4080 / 020 7749 4000 Fax: 020 7749 4081 E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

NAME

ADDRESS Email:

£

POST CODE

www.abplgroup.com

the situation. He said the government is "committed to a permanent and peaceful solution to the issue of Jammu & Kashmir in accordance with the basic principles of the Constitution."

Modi said, "Despite false propaganda by certain elements in Kashmir, the percentage of those spreading confusion and unrest; and those instigating youth is very low. Every Kashmiri wants peace, has faith in Democracy. That is why, despite threats by separatist elements during every election, the Kashmiri people have expressed faith in the Indian democratic system in each election. Even just prior to the recent distur-

bances, high votes were cast in the constituency of Chief Minister Mehboobaji. Therefore, to spread the myth that this is a public agitation is far from the truth."

"We have an open mind and our doors are always open. We are committed to the welfare of every citizen of the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir. We have been following the path shown by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji to find a solution."

Baloch leaders booked for supporting Modi's statements : Three top Baloch nationalist leaders in Pakistan have been booked for allegedly backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supportive words on Balochistan in his Independence Day speech.

Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri, and Banuk Karima Baloch, were booked under sections 120, 121, 123, and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

NaMo, in his speech, said the people of Balochistan, GilgitBaltistan and 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' had "thanked him a lot in the past few days". The statement took the world by surprise, especially Pakistan, as it left a sour taste in their mouths.

Protests erupted across the

region, with men taking to the streets in Dera Bugti, Khuzdar, Quetta, Chaman and other parts of the province, to protest his statement.

Acting District Police Officer Khuzdar Muhammad Ashraf Jatak said the petitioners claimed that the three leaders had "supported" Modi's 15 August remarks. Last week, Baloch Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri gave a speech slamming Modi and alleging that the Indian government "fully supports the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan".

The speech came just days after a video showed exiled leader Bugti appreciating "support" given to the people by Modi. Zehri blamed the Indian government being "deeply involved in sponsoring elements like Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri, Zamran Marri and Allah Nazar."

Meanwhile, the US said issues concerning Kashmir or Balochistan should be decided by the "two parties involved".

US Ambassador Richard Verma said, "When it comes to Balochistan, or even increased tensions in Kashmir in particular, it is our long-standing policy to leave the matter to be decided by the two parties."

Urjit Patel is new RBI governor

Continued from page 1 themselves with Modi because of the political adversity that he faced."

Kenyan-born Gujarati, Urjit Patel's grandfather Purshottambhai migrated to the African country in 1932. Native to Mahuda, Kheda district, both him and his father Ravindra were born in Kenya. His cousin, Retd.

Major Dhirubhai Patel said, "My grandfather Gordhanbhai and his grandfather were both cousins. Urjit's father had a paint thinner making factory in Nairobi called Rexo Product." The deputy governor has had a long association with Gujarat.

He was appointed in the board of the Gujarat State

Petroleum Corporation in 2006-07 when Narendra Modi was chief minister.

Company Secretary of GSPC, Sandeep Dave said, "Patel worked with us till he was made a deputy governor of the RBI. His knowledge of finance and energy sectors was valuable to the GSPC. He was very particular about details and his contributions were always useful." Meanwhile, the Premiere Club in Nairobi rejoiced over the news as they recall a young Urjit who accompanied his father to the club. IG Patel's wife Alaknanda fondly recalled him as a special friend of the family for 20 years.

"Economics introduced us to each other. We like him a

lot. He is very bright, knowledgeable and has wide experience. Urjit is perfect for the RBI governor's post as he has worked with some of the biggest think tanks and institutions in the world," said Alaknanda.

A lot's riding on the new governor as he is expected to start deciding interest rates from the October 4 policy announcement onwards, along with chairing the first meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee. Rajan will probably leave behind leftover work of unclogging the credit pipeline and resolve stressed assets; a task left for the new governor to take up.

Click p.com rou for

abplg

e-Editio

n

TEL:

I'd like to be kept up to date by email with offers and news from ABPL

Please charge my credit card VISA / MASTERCARD / CREDIT / DEBIT CARD for Card Expiry date

Card No: Signature

Date

NOTICE: Subscribers who pay by credit or switch card, the transaction will show as made for Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL) on your bank statement.

Please make the cheque payable to Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice.

NOTICE: If you are going away on a holiday and would like to suspend Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice for that duration, please notify us in advance in written via email at support@abplgroup.com or via post (see below for address). We do not take any such instruction on phone. Please NOTE we are CLOSED on Saturdays and Sundays

A World of Pain: Doctors in Amritsar conducted a five-hour operation to remove 40 knives from the stomach of a policeman who had swallowed them in a period of two months.

Reportedly suffering from a psychiatric disorder, the man said he swallowed the knives along with a glass of water on mere urges. Following the operation, the man said he can't bear to look at knives anymore.

HEALTH&WELLNESS

AsianVoiceNewsweekly | Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

AsianVoiceNews

Medical benefits of dental floss unproven use of floss. Such research, like the reviewed studies, focused on warning signs like bleeding and inflammation, barely dealing with gum disease or cavities.

Wayne Aldredge, president of the periodontists' group, acknowledged the weak scientific evidence and the brief duration of many studies. In an interview, he said that the impact of floss might be clearer if researchers focused on patients at the highest risk of gum disease, such as diabetics and smokers.

Still, he urges his patients to floss to help avoid gum disease. "It's like building a house and not painting two sides of it," he said. "Ultimately those two sides are going to rot away quicker."

Aldredge also said many people use floss incorrectly, moving it in a sawing motion instead of up and down the sides of the teeth.

Pressed about the origins of his organization's endorsement of flossing, he said it may simply have "taken the ADA's lead."

When the ADA was asked for proof of its claim that flossing helps prevent early gum disease and cav-

Avoid saturated fats to remain healthy

A

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

ple struggle to control how much they eat, when to stop and what type of food to eat - symptoms seen in obesity. "Although the effects of high fat diet on metabolism have been widely studied, little is known about the effects on the brain," said Marianna Crispino Professor at the University of Naples Federico II in Naples, Italy.

On the other hand, consuming foods rich in unsaturated fats such as fish, avocado or olive oil makes a significant difference, the researchers said. "The difference was very clear and we were amazed to establish the impact of a fatty diet onto the brain," Crispino explained. "Our results suggest that being more aware about the type of fat consumed with the diet may reduce the risk of obesity and prevent several metabolic diseases", Crispino concluded.

Scientists developing new drug to fight Alzheimer's

S

ities, the group cited the 2011 review and a 2008 two-week study that measured bacteria and did not even consider gum disease.

In a later statement, the ADA said flossing "removes plaque" and "is proven to help remove" debris from between teeth.

A video on its website proclaims that flossing "helps prevent gum disease."

When pressed, Matthew J.

Messina, a practising dentist and spokesman for the dental association, acknowledged weak evidence, but he blamed research participants who didn't floss correctly.

Even companies with a big market share of the flossing business struggled to provide convincing evidence of their claims that floss reduces plaque or gingivitis.

Eating potatoes ups potassium, fibre in kids

A

study says that if you want to reduce the burgeoning waistline, then you have to stay away from saturated fats found in butter, cheese or fried foods as these can make your brain struggle to control what you eat. The findings showed that consuming fatty food affects the hypothalamus - a part of the brain that helps regulate hunger.

A meal rich in saturated fat causes inflammation in the brain as well as reduces an individual's cognitive function that make it more difficult to control eating habits. In other words, peo-

www.asian-voice.com

LIFESTYLE

new study has found that potatoes can be a good source of potassium and dietary fibre for children aged one-three years.

Potatoes provide eight per cent of the recommended daily value of fibre important for growth, development and overall health of children.

"It's important that consumption of all vegetables, particularly those that are good sources of potassium and dietary fibre, be encouraged in children," said Theresa A. Nicklas from Baylor College of Medicine in the US. "Dietary habits established during childhood often carried to adulthood, so it is hugely important to encourage children to enjoy vegetables as part of the diet in order to reap the nutrition and health benefits provided by vegetables into adulthood," Nicklas added .

The research demonstrated that children aged 1-3 years consumed just 67 per cent of the dietary reference intakes (DRI) for potassium and 55 per cent of the DRI for fibre.

In a study of elementary

school students that demonstrated students are not consuming the majority of vegetables offered to them in school lunches.

However, plate waste for white potatoes was the lowest among any type of vegetables; thus, including potatoes in school meals is one important way to help ensure children receive those key nutrients of concern.

cientists are developing a new drug which stops a toxic protein from building up in the brain and cause Alzheimer’s disease. According to them the pill could be given to people with high risk of Alzheimer’s before tell-tale symptoms such as memory loss appear. The American team claimed that by taking a “completely different” approach to previous researchers they now have “a real chance at a successful treatment for Alzheimer’s” with few side effects. Scientists believe Alzheimer’s develops when a protein called APP is cut up by enzymes and forms beta-amyloid, which kills brain cells. The researchers at University of California, San Diego, developed 10 proteins that bind to APP, four of which stopped it being cut up. Of these four, P8 had the strongest effect.

By infusing P8 into the brains of mice engineered to develop Alzheimer’s, the researchers significantly reduced production of the harmful beta-amyloid.

Tests on human brain cells in laboratory culture produced the same result.

The university’s Professor Nazneen Dewji said: “We now have a new approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease that can arrest the production of beta-amyloid very early and specifically. “It is a real chance at a successful treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Our approach is completely different from any current approaches that tar-

get beta- amyloid. We are blocking the actual production of beta-amyloid in a new way. It is very promising because it means that, in principle, we can stop the disease in its tracks.”

There are 850,000 people in the UK with dementia and 500,000 with Alzheimer’s but disturbing new estimates say more than two million will have the condition by 2050.

Experts say it could send the NHS into meltdown. Dr James Pickett, head of research for the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Many studies in Alzheimer’s are trying to stop the build-up of protein clumps in the brain and this interesting research has found a novel way to do it.

This new compound could have fewer side effects than other drugs being tested, but there are many more steps required before it could move from animal studies into human trials.

It’s hugely positive to see the large volume of new research findings emerging at the moment – it shows we are starting to make good progress in our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.”

Prof Giampietro Schiavo, of UCL, said dementia was “one of the biggest challenges our society is facing”. He said: “It is my hope that by 2020 we will have between one and three early drugs per centre that will be ready for clinical settings. If so, we will have between three and nine shots to provide an answer to this emergency.”

Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa....

Enjoy fresh DOSA in your own garden We prepare variety of fresh Dosa at your place for your guests.

We cater for any occasion any where in the UK

Engagement, Mehendi night and any other occassion (minimum 50 people)

Jain ava Foods ilab le

IDE ONW NATI VICE SER

Pure Vegetarian South Indian Restaurant

South Indian / Punjabi & Chinese 549 High Road Wembley, Middx HAO 2DJ

Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa....

T

hough the government, dental organizations and manufacturers recommend daily floss of teeth, the data from available studies fail to demonstrate that flossing is generally effective in plaque removal," said one review conducted last year.

Another 2,015 review cites "inconsistent/weak evidence" for flossing and a "lack of efficacy."

One review in 2011 did credit floss with a slight reduction in gum inflammation - which can sometimes develop over time into full-fledged gum disease. However, the reviewers ranked the evidence as "very unreliable." The two leading professional groups - the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology - cited other studies as proof of their claims that flossing prevents build up of gunk known as plaque, early gum inflammation called gingivitis, and tooth decay.

However, most of these studies used outdated methods or tested few people. Some lasted only two weeks, far too brief for a cavity or dental disease to develop. One tested 25 people after only a single

FITNESS

Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa.... Fresh Dosa....

FOOD

27

Tel: 07748 63 62 64 / 020 8902 1515 www.sarashwathy.com Open 7 days a week

www.asian-voice.com

28

Regina Cassandra makes it to Bollywood

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

R

egina Cassandra, who is set to make her Bollywood debut with Anees Bazmee's 'Aankhein 2', feels it is a major achievement for any southern actress to make it to the Hindi film industry. In an interview, the actress said, "For most southern actresses, entry to Bollywood is their ultimate dream. It's considered a big feat because it's a bigger platform and the reach is wide. I never expected to be making any Bollywood debut on such a big platform."

Regina said 'Aankhein 2' wasn't planned and it was a "out of the blue" moment for her. "I was in Mumbai to audition for another film and my pictures got circulated. A week later, I got a call from an agency and I was told that the makers of 'Aankhein 2', impressed by my pictures, wanted to meet me. I hopped on a flight to Mumbai, went and met the producer, heard the story and I was signed on within a day."

Talking about her character, she said, "It's an interesting character.

She's a nice person at heart, but some circumstances change her. It's a con-heist thriller and I'm excited to be sharing screen space with a big star cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Ileana D'Cruz."

Shruti denies tiff with papa Kamal Hassan’s partner

S

hruti Haasan's representatives have rejected reports saying the actress has an issue with father Kamal Haasan's partner Gautami Tadimalla. The buzz was that Shruti was unhappy with Gautami's choice of clothes for her character in the movie the father and daughter are doing together. Her spokesperson, however, said the movie's team felt there was a need to make additions to the wardrobe.

"Shruti's role in her father's film is that of a young, fiesty gal who's grown up in Los Angeles, who uses fashion as an expression of her quirky

and devil may care attitude. Keeping this brief in mind, Gautami brought in a set of clothes for Shruti when the look test in the pre-production stage," said the spokesperson. He added, "Styling being a collaborative and subjective effort, needs input from the producer, director and the actor and giving the stylist feedback, redoing looks is the standard procedure. The core team mutually felt the look needed more to be added and specific feedback was shared with Gautami."

Dev Patel plays another real life person in 'Lion'

A

fter playing Jamal Malik in Oscar winning 'Slum dog Millionaire' and, S r i n i v a s a Ramanujam in 'The Man Who Knew Infinity', Dev Patel's next role will be Saroo Brierley, an Indian-born Australian businessman who was separated from his mother and found her after 25 years of separation using Google E a r t h .

Directed by Garth Davis and based on Brierley's biographical book 'The Long Way Home,' the cast of the film includes Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, Nawazuddin Siddique, Priyanka Bose, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Deepti Naval.

The film is set to hit the screens on 19 January next year.

'Zoom' celebrates 50 days of success in London AsianVoiceNews

A

ward-winning actor Ganesh aka Golden Star recently visited London along with director Prashant Raj for an exclusive premiere of their recent film 'Zoom'. The event which was held on 20th August, was hosted by Visionnaire Entertainment Ltd and Karma Bros.

The event saw several international celebrities, local MPs and other movie enthusiasts come together for an evening to celebrate South Indian cinema.

This is the second Indian regional movie promoted and presented with the star cast by V i s i o n n a i r e Entertainment Ltd. It has often moved to promote Kannada movies overseas, and provide a global plat-

K

form to artists.

A Kannada romcom featuring Ganesh, and Radhika Pandit in the lead, 'Zoom' has completed 50 successful running days in India. Despite the country reeling under the 'Kabali'

wave, 'Zoom' managed to stay in the top, collecting theatrical shares for weeks. The success came as a relief for Ganesh as he has failed to deliver a decent hit in the past one year.

extensive research on the actress' life and career and feels Nithya will be the apt person to play her.

Sources also said that Nithya has listened to the script and liked it but is yet to sign on the contract. Unlike other biopic features on actresses that have come so far, this film

will show the happier moments of Savithri's life as she is known to be a humorous person.

Nithya Menen becomes 'Nadigaiyar Thilagam'

ollywood actress Nithya Menen has made a strong foothold in the south film industry. With her Tamil biggie 'Iru Mugan' with Vikram and Nayanthara slated to release soon, buzz is the 'O Kadhal Kanmani' actress has chosen a biopic on yesteryear actress Savithri. Sources say the Tamil-Telugu bilingual will be directed by Nag Ashwin. He has apparently done

Dileep is my closest friend too: Kavya Madhavan

A

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

t the age of 31, Malayalam actress Kavya Madhavan has already worked in around 75 films, and won the Kerala State Award twice. In a recent interview with a leading daily, she got candid about her work and colleague Dileep.

Talking about her recent 'Pinneyum' where she works with Adoor Gopalakrishnan for the second time, Kavya said, "Normally with other filmmakers we listen to a story during the narration.

But in Adoor sir's film, we commit ourselves to doing it without listening to the story, the character or anything else.

Seeing him, we agree to act in his films." The actress will be sharing screen space with top Malayalam actor

Dileep after a span of five years. "Dileep is not just a great co-star, but also my closest friend. When we work with people who we are close to, acting becomes comf o r t a b l e .

Without realising, a chemistry works out," said Kavya. She added, " W i t h Dileep, after w o r k i n g together in so many films, the chemistry and comfort level are something that gradually developed."

29

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Ranveer makes Swiss misses go topless for him

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Deepika reveals her biggest regret

T

here is no doubt that Deepika Padukone is one of the reigning queens of the Indian film industry.

Recent reports suggest director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is set to pay Dippy a whopping ÂŁ1.3 million for 'Padmavati'.

If true, it makes Deepika the highest paid actress of Bollywood, ever!

Following the news leak, Bhansali reportedly had a word with the actress and asked her to keep mum about the money.

Meanwhile, the actress won't be seen in the

next instalment of 'The Mummy' franchise.

Deepika had auditioned for the role of an Asian princess, and apparently wasn't selected for the role. While the role wasn't meaty, even actress Huma Qureshi had auditioned but did not make the cut.

Deepika said her biggest regret was that she could not work with Yashji (Yash Chopra). "I wish I could have worked with Yashji (Yash Chopra).

He was very fond of me and so was I of him�.

I

mages of Ranveer Singh's recent vacation trip to Switzerland did the rounds on the internet, giving all of us massive holiday goals. His photos looked nothing shot of a Vogue photoshoot and were a strong reminder of how sweet life if you are Ranveer Singh.

The 'Bajirao Mastani' actor even visited the Yash Chopra statue at Interlaken and tweeted it

with a caption that read, "Yash Chopra Son of the Soil Brought glory 2 Indian Cinema Revered across the globe # I n t e r l a k e n #HappyIndependenceDay. " In another post, the actor posed with a group of beauties all with their essentials up in the air. He captioned the pic, "@ranveersingh Befikre in Switzerland!" Is Deepika watching?

Navin Kundra's 'Tear It Up'

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

P

opular British artist Navin Kundra's new single is out and we are pumped! A perfect blend of Asian and Western music, 'Tear It Up' is one of Kundra's best. A talented singer who had recently performed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brussels, Navin more often than not, plays with his compositions that are influenced by both, the East and the West. Add to it his contemporary style

Parineeti slammed for body-shaming friend

T

he Twitteratti lost their cool over actress Parineeti Chopra after she advised her friend to "eat less and become thin". The actress who now flaunts a chiselled body with rock hard abs, once sported a rounder figure and was often fatshamed for it. What seemed like a joke, brought the worst for the actress.

A comment slamming the 'Ishaqzaade' actress said, "Parineeti has become a body shamer. A thin body has seemingly become an obsession for her. She should see a psych."

Another tweeted, "Parineeti Chopra used to be acclaimed for changing the view on women's body image in India but turned out to be a fake."

Other comments included people advising her to be a little responsible about what she says.

Priyanka expresses her love for Urdu

P

riyanka Chopra would love to try her hand with Urdu. In a recent question and answer session on Twitter, when asked what other language would she want to speak, the 'Quantico' actress promptly answered

"Urdu". She said, "If there was another language I could speak, it would be Urdu and French. Love them." PeeCee also said that the best thing about acting is that it gives a liberty of being "anybody".

The actress had recently hosted the

Dream Team in the US, hosting a lunch for them.

While Katrina, Karan, Sidharth and Alia could not make it, Varun posted a picture of him, Parineeti, and Aditya.

PeeCee reportedly also took them to the 'Quantico' sets.

and what we have is edgy music synonymous to the artist.

Produced by Asian/Urban/Pop producer Mushtaq, the song gives us a peak into his personal style. Kundra has over 7 million views on YouTube, hit six number one singles on Asian Charts, and a strong fan base of over 60,000 across the internet.

Where Asian music in the UK is concerned, this guy is it!

30

UK

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Day Lewis eyes Lloyds branches linked to Sainsbury's deal Day Lewis is considering buying all 14 Lloydspharmacy branches up for sale following the multiple’s deal with Sainsbury’s, C+D has learned.

The government's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), gave the green light to the planned takeover of Sainsbury’s pharmacy business under the condition that Lloydspharmacy sells branches in 12 areas of England and Wales to prevent a "substantial lessening of competition” for patients.

Parent company Celesio UK confirmed that two additional sites had been added to the list of 12 on August 11.

Day Lewis head of commercial development Tim Harrington told C+D last week (August 19) that the chain will decide “at a later point” whether to bid for all, or only a few, of the branches.

Last year, the late Day Lewis CEO Kirit Patel told C+D that the chain was “very, very keen” to buy any Lloydspharmacy branches that came up for sale as a result of theCMA's investi-

gation.

Mr Harrington said last week that he is aware the branches have already attracted a “tremendous amount of interest”. “That is likely to fuel high prices,” he told C+D. Day Lewis has spent the last couple of years expanding its portfolio across the country, Mr Harrington said.

Because of the geographic spread of the Lloydspharmacy branches up for sale, “it certainly looks to some extent that these pharmacies help us with this [ongoing] objective”, he added.

If Day Lewis does purchase any branches, it will have to follow conditions set out by the CMA, which is forcing Lloydspharmacy to sell the branches, Mr Harrington pointed out.

Coming Events

Plan ahead for Hajj pilgrimage, advises Diabetes UK Diabetes UK is urging Muslims who have diabetes and plan to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage to plan ahead of the event how they will manage their condition while away.

That includes checking their feet carefully before travelling and visiting their GP if they have any concerns, or if they are not used to this type of activity. This is because foot problems are a wellknown complication of diabetes which could be exacerbated by walking up to 20km a day during the pilgrimage.

Thousands of British Muslims are due to fly to Saudi Arabia for the event, which is expected to fall between 9 – 14 September.

It is important that everyone with diabetes wears footwear suitable for walking long distances throughout the Hajj and that they check their feet every day for anything unusual such as sore spots, hard skin or breaks in the skin.

Diabetes UK has the following recommendations for those planning to travel: · Saudi Arabia is two hours ahead of the UK, so think about how this will affect the time you take you diabetes medication. · If you take insulin, the hot

climate in Saudi Arabia may affect how your insulin works, so make sure you test more regularly. · If you are carrying insulin and sharp items such as needles on the plane then make sure you have a letter from your GP. · Take twice the quantity of medical supplies you would normally use for your diabetes and pack some extra snacks in case your plane is delayed. · Before travelling it is a good idea to contact your insulin manufacturer to see if your insulin is supplied in Saudi Arabia. · Prepare for the hot weather: drink plenty of water on the pilgrimage to keep hydrated, and ensure any heat-sensitive medication such as insulin is stored correctly.

For more information on travelling with diabetes visit www.diabetes.org.uk/travel or call the Diabetes UK’s Helpline on 0345 123 2399.

l Sri Sri Thakur Anukul Chandras Satsang Saturday 3rd of September 6.30 pm onwards Reading Hindu Temple 12 Whitley Street, Reading RG2 0EG. On 10th September 2016 at Brent Indian Association Building, 116 Ealing Road, Wembley, London HA0 4TH from 6pm-8.30pm. For further details, Contact: Rajarshi Roy 07868 098 775.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Deputy Editor: Anand Pillai Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Email: anand.pillai@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Senior Business Development Manager: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Head - New Projects & Business Development: Cecil Soans - Email: cecil.soans@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Advertising Sales Executive: Rintu Alex - Email: Rintu.alex@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4003 - Mobile: 07816 213 610 Business Development Manager: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Journalist & Marketing Coordinator: Aaditya Kaza - Email: aaditya.kaza@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4009 - Mobile: 07702 669 453 Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com Leicester Distributors: Shabde Magazine, Shobhan Mehta Mob: 07846480220 (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar,

Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel. +91 79 2646 5960 Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com Consulting Editor: Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 2012, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel +91 79 2646 5960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Hardik Shah (M) +91 99250 42936 Email: hardik.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Neeta Patel (Vadodara) M: +91 98255 11702 Email: neeta_abplgroup@yahoo.co.in Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com International Advertisement Representative: Jain International Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 022 2471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 9311581597

Asian Voice Head Office

Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Advertising Sales: 020 7749 4085 asianVoiceNews AsianVoiceNewsweekly AsianVoiceNews linkedin.com/company/asian-achievers-awards

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 The Sun transits your solar

sixth house and highlights your health and also makes you take pride in your day to day work.

Hence, you should enhance your skills, get organized and take up a health regime for your well being. This transit highlights the need for efficiency and as such you should bring in the new and get rid of the old ideas that do not work.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 After a period of relative inactivity, you are coming out of your shell, ready to perform and to express yourself creatively. This is a very progressive period of the year, when you are inspired emotionally. You take more pride in your your love affairs, your children, and your hobbies and are generally very sociable and make friends easily.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 With the Sun transiting your

solar fourth house of family and home, these areas are highlighted during this period.

Buying or selling of property or even renovating it will be uppermost in your mind as you will be trying to put your roots down permanently. It is also a time when family life will be charged with emotions so be diplomatic and respect other people's views.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 You are exploring and searching now, making connections, and paying attention to your immediate environment. Socially you are very popular and your communications strengthen your connections. You will be busy with errands, paperwork, phone calls, and light socialising.

Siblings, close relatives and friends may play an important role in your life during this period.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

The Sun highlights your second house of finance, and your focus is on material affairs and comfort issues. This is a good time to plan your future investments carefully to maximise your profits.

If travelling make sure you keep your documents safe as there is a possibility of misplacing them. Some of you might change your travel itinerary.

The Sun transits your first house and this affects your personal identity, appearance, outward behaviour, and selfexpression. This marks the peak of your physical solar cycle, and you are in the position to make an impression on others, and to assert your personal influence. Increased energy and a renewed feeling of confidence is with you now, so take advantage of your charisma to achieve your goals.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

The Sun travels through your twelfth house now, marking a time of retreat and regeneration. This also heralds a time for research and unfinished behind-the-scene activities. Matters which have dragged on for a while should now be re-assessed and put to rest. Some of you will be looking to spiritual enlightenment and take up yoga and meditation.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 The Sun illuminates your sector of friends, social gatherings and group activities. You will be in constant demand and will be in a position to network with new-found friends who will promote your cause.

Personal relationships are also to the fore and some of you might even find true love. This is a time to follow your dreams and ideals.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 More than any other time of the year, your focus is drawn to your career and standing in the society. This is the time when you are more interested in, and focused on, accomplishing something important. Contact with authority figures is more likely during this period. Recognition will come your way whether you ask for it or not, and the responsibility that goes with it.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 You are feeling most adventurous and willing to achieve higher knowledge and spiritual growth. This is a good time to broaden your horizons through travel and higher learning. This may take you to far off lands in pursuit of your new-found goals.

You must distance yourself from the mundane grind of life and take on something which is more meaningful for your inner growth.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

The Sun energizes your sector of change, transformation and regeneration. On a more practical level, you may be dealing with joint finances and shared resources now more than usual. You should also make sure that your tax affairs are in order. You are more willing than usual to explore and delve deeper into life's secrets and arrive at meaningful conclusions.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 As the Sun transits your seventh house, you have a greater need than usual to be in a relationship. The emphasis is on "us" rather than "me".

Social interactions of a personal nature are highlighted.

This is likely to be an extremely busy time for most of you.

Use tact and diplomacy in your dealing, otherwise you are likely to come across as over confident and egotistical.

www.asian-voice.com

Team GB roll of honour

AsianVoiceNews

ATHLETICS •2 •1 •4 Dina Asher-Smith, 20 from Orpington, London Women’s 4x100m relay ...............................................

Emily Diamond, 25 from Bristol Women’s 4x400m relay ...............................................

Eilidh Doyle, 29 From Perth, Scotland

Women’s 4x400m relay ...............................................

Jessica Ennis-Hill, 30 From Sheffield Women’s heptathlon ...............................................

Mo Farah, 33 Born Mogadishu, Somalia Men’s 5,000m Men’s 10,0000m ...............................................

Desiree Henry, 20 From Edmonton, London Women’s 4x100m relay ...............................................

Sophie Hitchon, 25 From Burnley, Lancashire Women’s hammer ...............................................

Kelly Massey, 31 From Coventry, W Mids Women’s 4x400m relay ...............................................

Daryll Neita, 19 From London Women’s 4x100m relay ...............................................

Christine Ohuruogu, 32 From London Women’s 4x400m relay ...............................................

Anyika Onuora, 31 From Liverpool Women’s 4x400m relay ...............................................

Asha Phillip, 25 From Leyton, London Women’s 4x100m relay ...............................................

Greg Rutherford, 29 From Milton Keynes Men’s long jump BADMINTON •0 •0 •1 Marcus Ellis, 26 From Huddersfield Men’s doubles ...............................................

Chris Langridge, 31 From Epsom, Surrey Men’s doubles ...............................................

BOXING •1 •1 •1 Nicola Adams, 33 From Leeds, West Yorkshire Women’s flyweight ...............................................

Josh Buatsi, 23 Born Accra, Ghana Men’s light heavyyweight ...............................................

Joe Joyce, 30 From London Men’s Super heavyyweight ...............................................

CANOE-SLALOM •1 •1 •0 Joe Clarke, 23 From Stoke-on-Trent Men’s K1 ...............................................

David Florence, 34, From Edinburgh Men’s C2 ...............................................

Richard Hounslow, 34 From Harrow, London

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Men’s C2 ...............................................

CANOE-SPRINT •1 •1 •0 Liam Health, 32 From Guildford, Surrey Men’s K1 200m Men’s K2 200m ...............................................

Jon Schofied, 31 From Petersfied, Hants Men’s K2 200m ...............................................

CYCLING - ROAD •0 •0 •1 Chris Froome, 31 Born Nairobi, Kenya Men’s time-trial ...............................................

CYCLING-TRACK •6 •4 •1 Katie Archibald, 22 From Milngavie, Scotland Women’s team pursuit ...............................................

Elinor Barker, 21 From Cardiff, Wales Women’s team pursuit ...............................................

Steven Burke, 28 From Burnley, Lancashire Men’s team pursuit ...............................................

Mark Cavendish, 31 From Douglas, Isle of Man Men’s omnium ...............................................

Ed Clancy, 31 From Barnley, S Yorks Men’s team pursuit ...............................................

Owain Doull, 23 From Cardiff, Wales Men’s team pursuit ...............................................

Philip Hindes, 23 Born Krefeld, Germany Men’s team pursuit ...............................................

Becky James, 24 From Abergavenny, wales Women’s keirin Women’s sprint ...............................................

Jason Kenny, 28 From Bolton Men’s team sprint Men’s sprint Men’s Keirin ...............................................

Katy Marchant, 23 From Leeds, West Yorks Women’s sprint ...............................................

Joanna Rowsell Shand, 27 From Carshalton, London Women’s team pursuit ...............................................

Callum Skinner, 23 From Glasgow Men’s team sprint Men’s sprint ...............................................

Laura Trott, 24 From Harlow, Essex Women’s team pursuit Women’s omnium ...............................................

Bradley Wiggings, 36 Bron Ghent, Belgium Men’s team pursuit ...............................................

DIVING •1 •1 •1 Tom Daley, 22 From Plymouth, Devon Men’s synchronised 10m platform ...............................................

Dan Goodfellow, 19 From Cambridge Men’s 10m synchronised 10m platform

...............................................

Jack Laugher, 21 From Harrogate, N Yorks Men’s synchronised 3m springboard Men’s 3m springboard ...............................................

Chris Mears, 23 From Reading, Berkshire Men’s synchronised 3m springboard ...............................................

EQUESTRIANISM •2 •1 •0 Fiona Bigwood, 40 From London Team dressage ...............................................

Charlotte Dujardin, 31 From Enfield, London Individual dressage Team dressage ...............................................

Carl Hester, 49 From Sark, Channel Islands Team dressage ...............................................

Nick Skelton, 58 From Bedworth, Warwicks Individual jumping ...............................................

Spencer Wilton, 43 From Reading, Berkshire Team dressage ...............................................

GOLF •1 •0 •0 ...............................................

Justin Rose, 36 Born Johannesburg, SA Men’s tournament ...............................................

GYMNASTICS-ARTISTIC •2 •1 •3 Mix Whitlock, 23 From Hemel Hempstead, Men’s floor Men’s prommel horse Men’s individual all-around ...............................................

Louis Smith, 27 From Peterborough Men’s pommel horse ...............................................

Amy Tinkler, 16 From Durham Women’s floor ...............................................

Nile wilson, 20 From Leeads Men’s horizontal bar ...............................................

GYMNASTICSTRAMPOLINE •0 •1 •0 Bryony Page, 25 From Crewe, Cheshire Women’s event ...............................................

HOCKEY •1 •0 •0 Giselle Ansley, 24 From Devon Women’s tournament ...............................................

Sophie Bray, 26 From France Women’s tournament ...............................................

Crista Cullen, 30 From Boston, Lincolnshire Women’s tournament ...............................................

Alex Danson, 31 From Southampton Women’s tournament ...............................................

Maddie Hinch, 27 From West Sussex Women’s tournament ...............................................

Hannah Macleod, 32 From Boston, Lincolnshire Women’s tournament

...............................................

Shona McCallin, 24 From Newark Women’s tournament ...............................................

Lily Owsley, 21 From Briston Women’s tournament ...............................................

Sam Quek, 27 From Liverpool Women’s tournament ...............................................

Helen RichardsonWalsh, 34 From Hitchin, Hertfordshire Women’s tournament ...............................................

Kate Richardson-walsh, 36 From Greater Manchester Women’s tournament ...............................................

Susannah Townsend, 27 From London Women’s tournament ...............................................

Georgie Twigg, 25 From Lincoln, Lincolnshire Women’s tournament ...............................................

Laura Unsworth, 28 From Sulton Coldfield Women’s tournament ...............................................

Hellie Webb, 25 From Belper, Derbyshire Women’s tournament ...............................................

Nicola White, 28 From Oldham Women’s tournament ...............................................

JUDO •0 •0 •1 Sally Conway, 29 From Briston Bronze Women’s - 70kg ...............................................

RUGBY SEVENS •0 •1 •0 Mark Bennett, 23 From Irvine, Scottland Men’s tournament ...............................................

Dan Bibby, 25 From Greater Manchester Men’s tournament ...............................................

Phil Burgess, 28 From Frimley, Surrey Men’s tournament ...............................................

Sam Cross, 23 From Abergavenny, Wales Men’s tournament ...............................................

James Davies, 25 From Carmarthen, Walves Men’s tournament ...............................................

Alex Davis, 23 From Gloucesster Men’s tournament ...............................................

Ollie Lindsay-Hague, 25 From London Men’s tournament ...............................................

Tom Mitchell, 27 From Cuckfiel, W Sussex Men’s tournament ...............................................

Dan Norton, 28 From Gloucester Men’s tournment ...............................................

James Rodwell, 31 From Wendover, Bicks Men’s tournament ...............................................

Mark Robertson, 31 From Melrose, Scotland Men’s tournament ...............................................

SPORT Asian Voice | 27th August 2016 Marcus Watson, 25 From Hillingdon, London Men’s tournament ...............................................

ROWING •3 •2 •0 Karen Bennett, 27 From Edinburgh Women’s eights ...............................................

Paul Bennett, 27 From Leeds, W Yorkshire Men’s eights ...............................................

Olivia Carnegie-Brown, 25 From Oxford, Oxfordshire Women’s eights ...............................................

Zoe De Toledo, 28 From London Women’s eights ...............................................

Scott Durant, 28 From Lancaster Men’s eights ...............................................

Jessica Eddie, 31 From Durham Women’s eights ...............................................

Helen Glover, 30 From Penzance, Cornwall Women’s pairs ...............................................

Matt Gotrel, 27 From Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire Men’s eights ...............................................

Katherine Grainger, 40 From Glasgow Women’s double sculls ...............................................

Alex Gregory, 32 From Cheltenham Men’s fours ...............................................

Katie Greves, 33 From Camden, London Women’s eights ...............................................

Phelan Hill, 36 From Bedford Men’s eights ...............................................

Frances Houghton, 35 From Oxford Women’s eights ...............................................

Matt Langridge, 33 From Northwich, Cheshire Men’s eights ...............................................

Zoe Lee, 30 From Richmond, N Yorks Women’s eights ...............................................

Constantine Louloudis, 24 From London Men’s fours ...............................................

George Nash, 26 From Guildford, Surrey Men’s fours ...............................................

Tom Ransley, 30 From Ashford, Kent Men’s eights ...............................................

Pete Reed, 34 Born Seattle, United States Men’s eights ...............................................

William Satch, 27 From Oxford, Oxfordshire Men’s eights ...............................................

Heather Stanning, 31 From Yeovil, Somerset Women’s pairs ...............................................

Polly Swann, 28 From Lancaster, Lancashire Women’s eights ...............................................

Vicky Thornley, 28 From St Asaph, Wales Women’s double sculls ...............................................

31

Andrew Triggs Hodge, 37 From Aylesbury, Bucks Men’s eights ...............................................

Melanie Wilson, 32 From Southampton Women’s eights ...............................................

SAILING •1 •1 •0 Saskia Clark, 36 From Colchester, Essex Women’s 470 ...............................................

Nick Dempsey, 36 From Norwich Silver Men’s RS:X ...............................................

Hannah Mills, 28 From Cardiff, Wales Women’s 470 ...............................................

Giles Scott, 29 From Huntingdon, Cambs Men’s Finn ...............................................

SHOOTING •0 •0 •2 Ed Ling, 33 From Taunton Men’s trap ...............................................

Steven Scott, 40 From London Men’s double trap ...............................................

SWIMMING •1 •5 •0 Jazz Carling, 25 From Swindon, Wiltshire Women’s 400m freestyle Women’s 800m freestyle ...............................................

James Guy, 20 From Bury, Manchester Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay Men’s 4x100m medley relay ...............................................

Stephen Milne, 22 From Inverness, Scotland Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay ...............................................

Siobhan-marie O’Connor, 20 From Bath, Somerset Women’s 200m individual medley ...............................................

Adam Peaty, 21 From Uttoxeter, Staffs Men’s 100m breaststroke Men’s 4x100m medley relay ...............................................

Robbie Renwick, 28 Born Abu Dhabi Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay ...............................................

Duncan Scott, 19 From Glasgow, scotland Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay Men’s 4x100m Medley relay ...............................................

Charis Walker-Hebborn, 26 From Enfield, London Men’s 4x100m medley relay ...............................................

Dan Wallace, 23 From Edinburgh, Scotland Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay ...............................................

TAEKWONDO •1 •1 •1 Jade Jones, 23 From Bodelwyddan, Wales Gold Women’s - 57kg ...............................................

Lutalo Muhammad, 25 From London Men’s- 80kg

www.asian-voice.com

32

twitter.com/AsianVoiceNews

www.facebook.com/AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 27th August 2016

Record show by British team at Rio

It was Great Britain's finest performances in the Olympics since the 1908 Games. With 27 Golds, 23 silvers and 17 bronzes, GB surpassed China in the final medals table while the US stood on the top.

The final medal was delivered by super-heavyweight boxer Joe Joyce, made sure Britain made it to the top three.

Chief Executive of funding agency UK Sport, which put in ÂŁ274m into Olympic sport over four years, gave a tribute to the "huge team effort". She said, "It has been an outstanding performance, making history. Even the sporting superpowers have not increased their medal haul after hosting a Games. We are one of those sporting superpowers now. We are up there ahead of China in the medal table. To win more medals than in London and be ahead of China is an incredible place to be.

It's spectacular, in fact."

She added, "There's been success in breadth and in depth. Nearly 13- medallists across 19 sports. More

Team GB's record breakers return home after stunning medal haul at Rio 2016 Olympics

Trott and Kenny, Team GB's golden couple

sports, more medallists than in London. And more sports winning gold medals than in London."

At the end of the Olympics, US dominated with 121 medals, Great Britain with 67, China third with 70, Russia fourth with 56, and Germany fifth with 42.

India finished at the 67th position after winning 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Pathetic show by India at Rio As the curtains came down on the world's greatest sports extravaganza at Rio de Janeiro, India go back with one silver and one bronze medal - for a nation of 1.3 billion people amidst dashed hopes of improving on London Olympics of four years ago, when six medals were won. In the beginning, officials of the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) were hopeful that India would reach a double-digit in medals, an assumption which got shattered in the first few days when athlete after athlete either did not qualify, or came up just short of a medal.

It was women power, though, which saved everyone here, and the nation, deep blushes as at one stage it appeared the Indian contingent would go home empty handed.

Sakshi Malik from Haryana won the bronze medal in women's wrestling and was given the honour to be the flagbearer at the closing ceremony. P.V. Sindhu from Hyderabad won a silver in badminton, missing the top honour after a very good fight. Gymnast Dipa Karmakar from Tripura did everyone proud when she reached within touching distance of a bronze, coming fourth in the vault event.

Another heartbreak was Aditi Ashok, who showed a rare patch of brilliance in the first two days

Sakshi Malik

P.V, Sindhu

of golf, only to end up at 41st position on the fourth, although the 18-year-old Bengaluru golfer was roundly admired and applauded for her determination and play. Lalita Babar from Maharashtra did her career best in 3000m steeplechase, though coming 10th and bettering her national record by three seconds.

The men, though, disappointed in almost everything they touched. Gold medallist Shooter Abhinav Bindra saw the bronze slip out of his hand at the last moment in a shoot-out. A little bit of ignominy was added to the near medal drought when wrestler Narsingh Yadav was disqualified from Olympics after World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) went on appeal at the last moment against National AntiDoping Agency (NADA)'s clean chit to him. The Court of Arbitration for

Sport (CAS) sitting in Rio slapped a four-year ban on Narsingh a day before his scheduled bout, overlooking the "conspiracy angle" in the doping test failure.

Shooter Jitu Rai belied the hopes of a medal when he ended up eighth in 10m air pistol final after playing brilliantly throughout the qualifying round. He then crashed out of 50m air pistol, perhaps misjudging the wind in the last few shots.

Gurmeet Singh showed a bit of spirit in the 25m rapid fire pistol event, but eventually was left behind.

Mairaj Ahmad Khan ended ninth in men's skeet event after missing three shots in the final round in a shootout. In the rarefied atmosphere of medal contenders, mistakes are not tolerated.

Indian boxers too crashed out of Olympics with Vikas Krishan took a major pound from his Uzbek opponent in the 75kg bout. Shiva Thapa in

56kg and Manoj Kumar in 64kg too left the arena without a medal.

Yet, Rio 2016 saw great heights achieved by legends. American swimming superstar Michael Phelps achieved something which may remain unchallenged for a long time. He announced his retirement from Olympics after collecting 28 medals, including gold in 13 individual events and 10 in team races. He wrapped up six in Rio. Usain Bolt, the legendary fastest man on earth brought Jamaica additional glory by bagging triple-triples, almost an Olympic immortality. His golden feat in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in three Olympics, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 will lend him a space in the books which shall be an inspiration to generation to come. He too announced his retirement from Olympics.

Medal standings

Country

United States Great Britain China Russia Germany Japan France South Korea Italy Australia Netherlands Hungary Brazil Spain Kenya Jamaica Croatia Cuba New Zealand Canada Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Colombia Switzerland Iran Greece Argentina Denmark Sweden South Africa Ukraine Serbia Poland North Korea Belgium Thailand Slovakia Georgia Azerbaijan Belarus Turkey Armenia Czech Republic Ethiopia Slovenia Indonesia Romania Bahrain Vietnam Chinese Taipei Bahamas CĂ´te d'Ivoire Independent Olympic Athletes Fiji Jordan Kosovo Puerto Rico Singapore Tajikistan Malaysia Mexico Algeria Ireland Lithuania Bulgaria Venezuela India

46 27 26 19 17 12 10 9 8 8 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

37 23 18 18 10 8 18 3 12 11 7 3 6 4 6 3 3 2 9 3 2 5 2 2 1 1 1 6 6 6 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 7 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0

38 17 26 19 15 21 14 9 8 10 4 4 6 6 1 2 2 4 5 15 7 9 3 2 4 2 0 7 3 2 4 2 6 2 2 2 0 4 10 4 4 0 7 5 1 0 3 0 0 2 1 1

121 67 70 56 42 41 42 21 28 29 19 15 19 17 13 11 10 11 18 22 13 17 8 7 8 6 4 15 11 10 11 8 11 7 6 6 4 7 18 9 8 4 10 8 4 3 5 2 2 3 2 2

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3 2 2 1

2 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 2 2 4 3 3 2

GB women win first hockey gold on penalties Great Britain's women have won a first Olympic hockey gold medal by beating defending champions the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout. They finished 3-3 in normal time, with Britain's keeper Maddie Hinch making a string of remarkable saves.

And the Dutch, the current world champions, could not beat Hinch in the shootout, which Britain won 2-0.

Helen Richardson-

Walsh and Hollie Webb scored the decisive penalties to win Britain's 24th gold at Rio 2016. "It's difficult to put into words what this means," said Richardson-Walsh.

"Seventeen years ago, when I started my career, we were so far off this. It has taken so much hard work and it means absolutely everything."

Webb's winning penalty sparked celebrations from the British team.