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VOL 40. ISSUE 4

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Headley has many faces: Rana’s wife

28th May to 3rd June 2011

Obama: Pakistan's India obsession is a mistake; Cameron agrees

The Pakistani-American conspirator is now testifying in a US court in the trial of his friend and suspect Tahawwur Hussain Rana

David Coleman Headley, a conspirator of the 26/11 Mumbai attack that killed over 160 people, including six Americans, testified against his former schoolmate and friend Tahawwur Hussain Rana who allegedly provided logistical support during his [ Headley's] missions. Assistant US Attorney Sarah Streicker said that the 50-year-old Rana provided cover for Headley by helping him pose as a representative for

David Headley

Tahawwur Hussain Rana

his Chicago-based immigration business while Headley took photos and videos of targets in Mumbai.

As the trial of Rana, who is accused of supporting Headley in the Mumbai attack planning, began in a

Chicago court, his wife Samraz Rana in an interview said Headley she knew was a different man.

When the prosecution and Headley said that her husband Rana laughed when he heard about 26/11 attack and said that India deserved it. She answered “Its shocking news, how can they say he was laughing. We wept when we heard about it [Mumbai attack].

Continued on page 26

PM David Cameron welcomes US President Barack Obama on his three days state visit to the UK

Prior to the first official visit to the UK, US President Barack Obama revealed in an interview with BBC that Pakistan's obsession with India that makes it look at its neighbour as an "existential threat" is a mistake and it would do well to shed this contest mentality.

Continued on page 2

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

And the worst?

Priyanka Gill, Journalist for The Independent, Tehelka and lifestyle magazines Priyanka Gill is a blogger and journalist based in London. She has written for The Independent, Tehelka and various other magazines and websites. She started her blog www.estylista.com a few months ago and it enjoys a growing readership.

Her interest is in lifestyle features. She enjoys writing profiles and reviewing restaurants, books and movies. Modern and contemporary Indian art is one of her great loves; she is a keen collector and enthusiastic bidder at auctions.

An active supporter of several charities, she co-chairs the Pratham UK Gala.

Priyanka and her husband are patrons of the British Asian Trust. It aims to serve as a ‘social fund’ in support of high impact charities within the areas of education, enterprise and health in South Asia and the UK. In 2011, she is supporting the Hare Ball, a fundraiser for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Priyanka was born and educated in India. She is happily married with two young kids.

What has inspired you in your career?

My earliest memories as a young child are to do with books; I have always loved the written word. When it came to choosing my subject in university I went for English literature, from that journalism was a natural progression.

What are your proudest achievements?

The first time I saw my article in print in Tehelka, I was delighted, it was the same when the Independent published a profile I wrote. When I

began writing my blog, www.estylista.com, on the third day almost 2000 people read it.

Since then, I have had 30,000 page-views in two months – it’s been exhilarating! There is no greater satisfaction for a writer than being published and read.

On the charity front, I co-chaired the Pratham UK gala last year – we raised nearly £2.1 million for children in need that night – very satisfying!

the number of daily readers I get validates it and ensures that I write often! I am in discussions with various companies to monetise it as well. I freelance for various publications – its fun work, one never knows what I might be doing from one day to the next.

The various charities I support take a lot of my time. The Pratham UK Gala is coming up again and my energy is centred on making sure it goes off really well.

I am involved with the Hare Ball - we are fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital. (www.harestyling. com) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

Obstacle is not the right word, I believe in challenges – they keep life interesting. The fact that I have no set routine keeps me on my toes. With the blog I am in pretty much uncharted territory – I don’t really know where it might end up, but I do know I am going to have fun doing it.

Please tell us about your work?

Who has been the biggest influence to date?

I enjoy writing my blog;

Various people have influ-

Nothing, really – liking the work one does is intrinsic to happiness. If something bothers me, I do my best to change it.

What are your long-term goals?

enced me in different ways. My first editor was Tarun Tejpal – his crusade and even more so his passion with words impacted me greatly.

When I moved to London, Reita Gadkari (the chair of the Pratham UK Gala) inspired me with her boundless energy and cando attitude.

And my husband, Raj Gill - he is tenacity personified. Not giving up in the face of amazing odds stacked against you is a rare quality, there is no one I know who exemplifies it more than him.

What is the best thing about your current role?

I love the freedom I am blessed with and with that I get to meet and interact with a lot of interesting people.

Also writing focuses my life and gives everything I do a strong point of reference. With

London student to marry Bhutan's king Jetsun Pema, a 20-year-old student in London is to wed the King of Bhutan this autumn. Miss Pema is a second-year student at Regents College, a private institution in London that has often been an academic hub for the kids of royal and prosperous families.

She recently got engaged to Jigme Khesar Wangchuck who told his country’s parliament, “As King, it is now time for me to marry.” The king, who is an Oxford graduate also said, “While she is young, she is warm and kind

the charities I support, I get a great deal of satisfaction in being involved with raising money for children who need it most.

make her a great servant to the nation,” the King, a University of Oxford graduate, said. “I cannot say how she might appear to the people but to me, she is the one.”

Bhutan's media reported that his father abdicated in his favour in 2006 and married four sisters. It also King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar reported that Miss Pema Wangchuck and Jetsun Pema is the daughter of a wellin heart and character. These respected family and was qualities, together with the educated in a ladies school at wisdom that will come with a hill station in India. age and experience, will

To raise my children to be happy fulfilled adults, to write more, to write well, to be published in publications I admire and to see the blog morph into a site that people really enjoy reading. Ultimately, it would be wonderful to look back at life and be grateful for the fact that I made a positive difference in lives of people and especially children.

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

I strongly believe in entrepreneurship – our political leaders must ensure that they create a culture where jobs and careers are nurtured and innovation is celebrated.

People ■

Ken Clarke, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary was at one of his favourite restaurants, the Red Fort for the launch of a bursary scheme in his name to be given by his old college Gonville and Caius, Cambridge. Clarke is the third Lord Chancellor to come from the college and was made an honorary fellow a few years ago.

■ EastEnders star Rudolph Walker was given a special award by the pupils of an Academy he has established to encourage young black and Asian people to get into theatre. A packed theatre at Millfield Arts Centre watched the 10 finalist groups compete in the Rudolph Walker School’s Drama Award.

■ Conservative Whip, Shailesh Vara MP has entered the technological age by purchasing an iPad. Apparently he couldn’t get hold of an iPad 2 so has had to make do with the earlier model.

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

So many! Coco Chanel for her inimitable style, William Shakespeare for his immortal words, Harivansh Rai Bachchan for his sublime poetry and Tyeb Mehta for his visionary art. It would be fascinating to be able to talk to them.

All our Asian Voice subscribers will receive a free copy of FBI 2011 Magazine with this week’s editions

Obama: Pakistan's India obsession is a mistake; Cameron agrees Continued from page 1 Speaking on the eve of his visit to Britain, Obama said both he and British Prime Minister David Cameron understood that Pakistan has been "very obsessed" with India and it needs to realise that its biggest threat does not come from outside but is "homegrown".

He said, "They see that as their existential threat. I think that's a mistake. I think that peace between India and Pakistan would serve Pakistan very well".

He said Pakistan needs to shed its orientation of looking at every issue through the India lens to be able to make full economic progress. He stated, "It would free up resources and

capacity for them to engage in trade and commerce, and make enormous strides that you're seeing India make.

But that's their orientation".

Obama said the US is currently trying to bring about a reorientation in Pakistan's attitude towards India and make it recognise that the main threat is from terrorists operating from Pakistan soil.

President Obama will be staying at the Buckingham Palace during his three day state visit to the capital from 24thMay to 26thMay. The visit is highly looked upon to further enhance the ties between the two nations, especially with this being the first full state visit by a US leader since George Bush in 2003.

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

COMMENT

Beleaguered Pakistan faces naval base attack Playing the Great Game for a state like Pakistan, with its weakening innards, can be a hazardous business. Islamabad's contribution to this exercise is to play the China card, to make whimpering appeals to Beijing for help and succour in a petulant attempt to threaten India (and possibly the US) with an undefined ability to manipulate Chinese power for its own ends. Islamabad's military-political complex is in resentful mood after America's assassination of Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbotabad, a mere mile away from the country's prestigious military academy.

President Barack Obama, in a BBC intervieww with Andrew Marr, chose to rub salt into the wound, saying that while the US was “respectful of Pakistan's sovereignty,” he would not hesitate to authorise similar covert operations on Pakistani soil should the necessity arise and American lives put under risk by terrorist outfits working from Pakistan. The US President was also critical of Pakistan's obsession with India, which he said, was one reason for its parlous state. The threat to Pakistan came from 'homegrown' terrorists and not from India, he said.

According to a Financial Times report, Pakistan had invited China to build a naval base on its territory at Gwador that would give it access to the Arabian Sea and herald Beijing's arrival as a true global power. India is unlikely to rise to the bait with a rhetorical flourish of its own. It will rest content and allow Islamabad to stew in its own juice. India's military modernisation programme is already under way. It is a decade-old project predicated on likely challenges of a medium and long-term nature, and involves the continuing transformation of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

India's current war doctrine is grounded in the stated possibility of a simultaneous conflict with Pakistan and China.

The visit to China of Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani and the declaration of Chinese support for its sole regional ally has of little tangible benefit to Islamabad as “militants attacked a naval air base in Karachii, Pakistan's largest city on Sunday [May 22],” claimedMessess James Lamont and Farhan Bokhari in the Financial Times. The naval Mehran air base, close to Karachi's commercial centre, was rocked by eight explosions as insur-

gents stormed it and engaged Pakistani security personnel in heavy exchanges of fire. “The target of the attacks was a P-3 C Orion aircraft, used for maritime surveillance and one of the navy's most sophisticated pieces of electronic warfare equipment.....The attack was a powerful demonstration by hardliners of their ability to strike at will and was reminiscent of a brazen attack on the entrance to Pakistan's military headquarters in Rawalpindi two years ago.”

Two aircraft were destroyed, twelve staff killed, and helicopters damaged in an 18-hour battle by Pakistani commandos to regain control of the base. In the end, two militants eluded capture and escaped. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. Nothing comes cheap, let alone free. Pakistan is bankrupt. Long, routine power cuts have crippled the economy and deepened the country's urban blight. Playing rogue has its perils.

The celebrated Henry Kissinger has written a book on China and given high profile interviews to a number of British newspapers to coincide with its publication. He reminisced, as celebrities usually do with the lengthening years, on his visits to China in the early 1970s to parley with Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou. The US opening to China involved the Pakistani military regime headed by Yahya Khan. The latter's genocide in East Pakistan with the loss of some 3 million Bengali civilian lives didn't rate a mention from Dr Kissinger, nor did he dwell on the Nixon administration's support for Islamabad in its war with India in December in 1971. The Sino-American axis was closely allied to Islamabad in subsequent decades and the US and China remain the principal strategic stakeholders in the country. Dr Kissinger told one of his interlocutors that a military conflict between Pakistan and India was inevitable, the gloomy prognosis reminding him of Sarajevo and the outbreak of World War I. Did that mean the conflict would spread beyond the subcontinent? He did not say. But the good doctor and his erstwhile colleagues and successors will bear a heavy responsibility if such a war does ensue. They have armed and succoured the Pakistan military down the years and turned a blind eye to its nuclear proliferation activities and ambitions. The wages of sin bid fair to take their toll.

Tata sets the cat among the British pigeons Ratan Tata, whose Tata Group controls steelmaker Corus and carmaker Jaguar Land Rover, is Britain's largest manufacturer, so he has told it as he sees it: British middle managers appear to be losing the work ethic for which they were once famous, while senior executives give little sense of direction to those under their authority. Each side blames the other and the country suffers. Unless things change the future would be bleak in the face of emerging challengers from China, India, Indonesia et al. They work harder there because of the realisation that their futures depend on it. Here in the UK a belief is taking hold in certain quarters that there is an alternative to the work ethic.

A Sunday Times editorial acknowledged that, “Mr Tata was giving voice to a phenomenon that many in business are well aware of.....To be fair to the coalition, it has recognised the problem. The recent Plan for Growth pulled few punches in its litany of shortcom-

ings. Britain has slipped from fourth to 12th in the Davos World Economic Forum's global competitive rankings.....We are 55th for the quality of maths and science education.

Manufacturing industry has been allowed to slide.”

Some among Labour's great good have taken offence at Mr Tata's remarks. Labour MP Ian Murray commented sourly, “I think the Government needs to reconsider whether he is a valuable person to have on the business council.” Presumably it would be better to draw on Tony Blair's wisdom on, say, the Iraqi market and its potential for British business.

Ratan Tata is a manufacturer of steel and motor cars, not falsehoods. If he spoke in forthright fashion it was because of his genuine concern that Britain (where he has invested heavily) is not doing as well as it should.

Shortcomings on the factory floor should be remedied. A resentful sulk is no panacea.

Obama comes calling to strengthen a 'special relationship' A US Presidential visit has a special ring. The people of Ireland greeted Barack Obama rapturously when he visited the country to reaffirm his ancestral roots. Irish eyes were smiling as he spoke about the close historical ties between the United States and Ireland.

President Obama arrived in Britain on a state visit, with its inevitable pomp and pageantry.

But there was a lot of serious talking as well.

Britain and America are the closest of partners in a changing and difficult world. They are bound by shared values and aspirations, yet every relationship requires renewal from time to

time.

The UK-US special relationship led to a disastrous intervention in Iraq, another in Libya beckons, promising little of value to either party.

Social and political change cannot be forced upon peoples with different cultural traditions and orientations. They must be allowed to embrace change at their own pace. The osmosis of good intentions and realpolitik in Washington and London has given rise to confusion and loss of direction. President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron between them must steady the ship.

www.abplgroup.com

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Thought for the Week Three sentences to succes Know more than others Work more than others Expect less than others - William Shakespeare

12,000 Londoners face homelessness New government statistics has revealed that 12,000 Londoners face losing their homes as a result of a cut to housing benefit that will come in from January 2012.

Homelessness charity Crisis has warned that the measure threatens to turn the clock back on street homelessness in the Capital, risking a return to the Cardboard City of the 1980s.

Mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to end rough sleeping by May next year, but this cut could undermine that target.

Vulnerable people will be especially hard hit.

Many people who are disabled or have serious health problems will be forced to share accommodation, even if it is bad for their health to do so. Other groups likely to suffer from being forced to share accommodation are women escaping domestic violence and people trying to move on from homelessness.

Crisis Chief Executive Leslie Morphy said, “London must never return to the days when widespread rough sleeping was a fact of life. The cuts will lead to thousands of people losing their homes and we are extremely concerned

that some won’t be able to find anyplace to live.”

A survey published by Crisis last month of housing professionals in London who work in local authorities and the voluntary sector found that 88% of those surveyed said they already have difficulty finding appropriate properties for people currently on the Shared Accommodation Rate (under 25s); 67% said that there is not enough shared accommodation available in their local area; 78% of those surveyed already have difficulty placing clients for whom sharing is not appropriate, for example because of health problems; 91% of front-line housing professio nals expressed concerns about the proposed change, including that it will cause increased homelessness, higher costs for local authorities and increase hardship and destitution.

Brands Hatch, a venue for London 2012 The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) announced Brands Hatch near Sevenoaks, Kent as the venue for the Paralympic Road Cycling events incorporating Road Race and Time Trial.

The event is planned for 5th to 8th September 2012. The riders will race round a course that passes through the Kent county and the district of Sevenoaks in Kent. The former F1 Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch will be the base of approximately half of the course including the start and finish. The remaining race will take place on local roads nearby.

Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG said, ‘We are thrilled to be bringing such a high profile and exciting Paralympic sport here to Brands Hatch.

This will help us extend the Games outside London and will give spectators and athletes the chance to discover yet another stunning part of our country.

Our ParalympicsGB cycling team won 20 medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008, including 17 gold, and I hope that today’s announcement will inspire and excite our Paralympians about competing here in under 500 days time. This venue will really bring the magic of the Games to life for thousands of spectators.’

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

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LEICESTER VOICE/NORTH ENGLAND

Computer equipment is stolen from Vaz's office A thief stole MP Keith Vaz’s laptop and an iPad from his parliamentary office last week.

The computers belonging to the Leicester East MP were taken on Thursday night when the thief gained access to his room in the Norman Shaw North building at the Palace of Westminster complex.

Mr Vaz said the laptop contained personal emails and data as well as some information relating to constituency casework.

He said information on the computers included copies of letters that had

Keith Vaz MP

been sent to and from constituents, but that there was no sensitive data – bank details or national insurance numbers, for example, that had gone

missing.

Some briefing papers for the Home Affairs Select Committee, which Mr Vaz chairs, were also taken.

A laptop was also stolen from the MP in the office next door. His passport had previously been stolen from his desk.

The thefts happened despite increased security at Parliamentary ahead of the US President Barack Obama’s visit next week.

Mr Vaz had been hosting a reception with shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander on the other side of the parlia-

mentary estate when the theft occurred. He said: "I'm astonished that with such a high level of security in circumstances in which there's such a police presence for the arrival of Obama that there are thefts going on from within the building. It's obviously someone who has access to the estate. The worry is that if people can take things unnoticed then they can also put things in places unnoticed – and that's something that needs to be taken into account for the Obama visit."

Leicester's Golden Mile 'in need of a polish' Business owners in a district of Leicester have called for action by the authorities to make it more attractive. They said heavy traffic, lack of parking and some deteriorating buildings were a problem in Belgrave Road, often called the "Golden Mile" because of its jewellery shops.

New Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby is due visit the area next week to see what improvements people would like.

Dharmesh Lakhani of Belgrave Business Association said everyone was affected. "Belgrave Road's losing its charm.

We want to bring that back in and we want to improve the area, not just for businesses but residents as well."

The area generates the most money for Leicester outside of the city centre.

Sir Peter Soulsby commented: "This area's very important to Leicester and it's very special to us.

Dharmesh Lakhani

But frankly it's difficult economic times and over

recent years the Golden Mile has begun to look a bit tarnished, so it's time for a polish. It's not so much (about) injecting money into it, it's about redirecting the resources that we've got and making sure that we work together - together with the traders in the area, together with the residents in the area - so that we really do make sure this area continues to shine out for Leicester."

Brother admits 'honour crime' revenge assault A brother avenged his sister's sharia divorce in an "honour attack" on her former husband, a court heard.

Mohammed Olaad and two others went to the victim's home and repeatedly punched him.

One of them was armed with a bottle, which was used to strike the victim and caused blood to splatter up a door. The victim, who suffered two cuts to his head needing stitches, at one stage lost consciousness during the attack.

Simon Ash, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "The prosecution say it's in the nature of an honour crime. It was premeditated and the motivation was the Sharia divorce that took place between the victim

and Olaad's sister. A bottle was used by one of the assailants, but it's accepted it was not taken to the scene."

Olaad (20), of Uppingham Road, Leicester, and co-accused Ali (21), of Toronto Close, St Matthew's, both Somali nationals, admitted causing actual bodily harm on October 10. Both received nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and were ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. They were also each ordered to pay £250 compensation to the victim and £250 costs. The third attacker is believed to have left the country.

The incident happened after Olaad made a supposed amicable arrangement with his sis-

ter's ex-husband to return some property to him following the divorce under Islamic law. The three men went to the man's home in Wharf Street North, St Matthew's, Leicester, and were let in by his flatmate.

The victim turned up later and, after initial greetings, he was

attacked. The flatmate sought help on the street from a passer-by, who went in to the building and shouted out. The three attackers then left the scene of the attack.

The victim, who is believed to be in his early 30s, suffered cuts and bruises and still suffers from bad headaches and dizzy spells.

Vaz helps out as factory goes under the hammer The landmark former GE Lighting building is well on the way to being completely demolished.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz has been lobbying the site's owners, First Industrial Development, to remove the factory, which stands on the A607 Melton Road. It has been completely shut since 2007, when the light bulb manufacturer's 400 staff lost their jobs.

Last week Mr Vaz visited the site to help out with the demolition work, driving a digger and smashing down a wall with a sledgehammer. He said he looked forward to the site being used to create new jobs in the Rushey Mead area. “For 24 years, I've been driving past this

building and it's been decaying year after year.

This demolition represents a new era and a fresh start for the site. This is an iconic site and a gateway location into Leicester."

Demolition work began in March and the two massive buildings that took up most of the site are now largely gone. All the brickwork will be recycled and re-used on whatever is built on the site in the future, which is expected to be a storage or distribution centre. The other waste will be sent away for recycling.

A public meeting is planned to ask residents what kind of business they would be happy to see using the site in the future.

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Top reaction to Leicestershire teacher's scientific studying aid

Mohamed Patel

A science teacher has scooped a £4,000 award through an online education scheme designed to help pupils prepare for their GCSEs. Mohamed Patel, who works at Rushey Mead School, worked with a group of students to create a video for the O2 Learn Website. The film explains various chemical reaction rates through a mix of dancing and acting, with pupils taking on the roles of particles to show how reactions happen under different conditions. After proving overwhelmingly popular on the website, the video is now being used as a revision tool by students across the country.

Mr Patel is one of a number of winners from across the country, and is now in the running for the

top O2 Learn prize of £50,000 and a further £100,000 for the school.

"The idea of the video came from picking a common exam topic – rates of reaction – and then explaining it through simple ideas that students can relate to. I wanted students to be the driving force behind the video as it's far more interesting than anything I could do by myself. I'm delighted to be the latest winner and I'm equally delighted for the students who were so excited when they found out they had won. They deserve the recognition just as much as me. I think O2 Learn is a fantastic tool to support teaching and learning."

Rushey Mead School will use the prize money to invest in new school resources.

IAB names new executive committee

Seated, from left: Anjum Khan, Andeep Mangal, Shantose Kaur, Nasir Awan. Back row, from left: Saqib Bhatti, Rani Uppal, Dr Imtiaz Rasool, Nilay Shastry, Jas Sansi, Nikhil Chauhan, Russell Jeans, Birmingham Chamber Director of Business Services, Jitna Majithia and Kashif Latif

A new executive committee has been appointed at the first annual meeting in the history of the Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB). The IAB is part of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group.

President Mrs. Shantose Kaur who is MD of Enigma Consulting and Vice President Andeep Mangal, Partner at Thapers Chartered Accountants invited nominations from members.

The selection panel included BCCG Chairman David Waller, and BCCG Chief Executive Jerry Blackett.

Ten members were appointed.

Shantose Kaur said, “The new Executive Committee will guide the IAB at a strategic level and assist the team led by Operations Manager Dipak Shelat to expand

the organisation commercially.”

An official election for the posts of President and two Vice Presidents will take place early in June.

New committee members are: Mr. Nasir Awan, MD, Awan Marketing plc; Mr. Saqib Bhatti, Manager, Younis Bhatti & Co. Ltd., Mr. Nikhil Chauhan, Financial Management Consultant, Aitana Financial Services; Miss Anjum Khan, MD, Basic Training Centre Ltd., Mr. Kashif Latif, Director, Latifs; Mrs. Jitna Majithia, Optometrist, DM Eye Clinic; Dr. Imtiaz Rasool, Marketing Manager, Imrans Catering; Mr Jas Sansi, Owner, Jas Sansi Photography; Mr Nilay Shastry, Solicitor, Miles Pierce Solicitors and Ms Rani Uppal, MD, Simply Recruitment Ltd.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

The international calling card with nothing to hide

ÂŁ5 International Calling Card

No vanishing minutes No hidden charges Just clear calls Pick one up from your local corner store or O2 shop

Cards expire 90 days after last use. You can find them in around 30,000 corner shops. Go to o2.co.uk/callingcard for terms and call rates.

YOUR VOICE

6

Our unpatriotic politicians When India was conquered by foreign forces, including the Moguls and the British, it was mainly due to our Rajput kings hating each other more than the foreign invaders. It seems now the British politicians behaving like the infighting Maharajas.

When in opposition, the Conservatives never provided an effective, healthy opposition that is the sign of a true democracy. Now they are even willing to support an ineffective French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde to be the next president of IMF, following into the footsteps of a disgraced fellow countryman Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

It seems the vendetta Cameron and Osborne carries against George Brown knows no bounds. Brown may not have been an effective PM and the economic mess he left behind was horrendous, even unforgivable. But it is easy to be wise after the event. Hindsight is a rare commodity in our politicians, especially when in government.

Unlike French novice our government would like to support, Brown has an impeccable record at international level. He was the Chairman of the IMF’s main policy making panel for almost a decade. Under his leadership, the unpayable debt of many African countries was written off and a proper structure for the efficient use of aid was put in place that would benefit local people rather than going into the pockets of the corrupt politicians.

A British IMF Chief will greatly boost British influence on the world stage, especially in debt ridden EU countries like Greece, Portugal and Ireland where the common currency, the Euro is in trouble, thus putting the future of Euro in jeopardy.

The behaviour of our politicians is in sharp contrast to those of Germany and France where the internal politics take a back seat when a fellow countryman is seeking an influential post on the world stage.

It is time we learn from them and put aside our petty differences for the good of our motherland.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi Via email.

Animals in Circuses The European Circuses Act has proposed a total ban in the use of animals in circuses and a junior minister here has stated that the banning the use of animals in circuses is a breach of the Human Rights Act. He says that a total ban on animals in circuses is unjustified. Animal welfare lobbyists, however, have campaigned for a ban for ages. They say that to force any animals to perform for human entertainment is unethical and cannot be justified. The use of animals in circuses sends a damaging message to the general public, and particularly children and young people, by the implication that animals can be manipulated for our amusement despite the animal gaining no benefit from the practice.

Undercover reports suggest that ani-

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Escaping the Islamic and Chirstian Tyranny in Kerala

Visa restrictions are a necessity

Since the inception of the Kerala state, there has been a tension between two core Indian values. On the one hand, the majority of Hindus assign great worth to pluralism, tolerance, coexistence, secularism and the universal principle of Vasudeva Kudumbakam. On the other hand Muslims and Christians affirm the need for religious conversion, right to promote their closed dogma, and affirm the need for handout from the government.

Kerala’s political history can be studied through the prism of these competing values. In spite of adverse circumstances and misrule of the Marxists and the pseudo secular congress/Muslims/ Christian alliance rule, Hindus have retained the traditional Hindu values of tolerance and pluralism. While the Marxists, phony secular congress party, Muslim league and the Christian Congress were actively promoting their rugged sectarian interests, the majority Hindu interest were delegated to the backseat status.

What will Kerala’s future be? What direction will the UDF government take? Judging from the rhetoric of Islamic and Christian leaders, the policy center will soon be shifted to the Bishop’s palace and Mullah Houses.

Once they grab power, they attach themselves to the treasury, control everything and extract wealth from the Hindu society for the Christian and Muslim organizations. They use deceit, distortion, double game and tinker with our education to defeat Hindutva.

Such questions are too complicated to answer. However, one thing is certain-if there is no renewal of Hindutva, it will be impossible for Kerala to have a bright future. Major share of the sate income is used to pay Mullah and Mukri pension, and for Christian institutions.

Temple funds and state funds are being diverted for Hajj subsidy and for Christian schools and colleges.

Traditional cottage industry, agriculture, and cultural institutions are falling apart.

The 2011 election results were of course a sign that the state had turned away from the majority orientation. It is time for the majority Hindus to organize and assertively run a winning campaign and push for collective solution to our problems.

In the latest issue of ‘Asian Voice’ in the editorial you have raised two issues which need to be considered at a proper perspective . The Tory election manifesto clearly stated the need for restricting the flow of immigrants into the UK. The present Immigration system is totally abused especially by students who come for higher studies from Indian subcontinent. Most of them get admission in bogus and unrecognised educational institutions and some of them cannot speak English. They come here to work illegally. The same ploy is used by Asians from Indian sub-continent to come to UK in the pretext of attending the wedding or visiting relatives.

The Asian population in UK is less than 3 million and as stated in your paper more than 420, 000 visa applications were made by relatives mostly from Indian sub-continent . I consider this number is very high considering the British Asian population. The British government should try to limit the visa for only three months or less for those who come to visit relatives or for wedding to close the loop hole of over staying.

The second issue is the question of issuing employment vouchers for Highly skilled workers from Asian Countries.

There are nearly 200 universities in Britain and they provide all type of courses. Unemployment among young graduates is very high. There is no need to bring cheap labour from developing countries. Indian considers exporting qualified workers abroad is a way of earning foreign exchange.

The race relations between various communities in UK is working reasonably well and any attempt to change the equilibrium may cause problem.

Only the Asian community complains about the immigration policy.

Dr. Babu Suseelan Via email mals in circuses are treated appallingly.

They are kept in small cages with no food or exercise. They are made to perform acts by beating them. Animals do not want to perform acts because they want to: they are made to do these by beating them. Jainism preaches kindness to all living beings. Be they humans, animals or the tiniest microscopic insects. It does not distinguish between wild or domesticated animals.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford Via email

Arun Vaidyanathan Via email

National Vegetarian Week is the right time to start Asian Voice has highlighted news about National Vegetarian Week from 235-2011 and a Conference of Bishops of England and Wales favouring abstinence from meat on Fridays. Combine this with Paul Mc Cartney’s call for similar abstinence on Monday, a person can be a vegetarian for half of the week.

There is pathetic lack of advertisements to vegetarianism on television and other channels.

It is astounding that if only 10% Americans go vegetarian they can feed 60 million vegetarians. Amount of ground area, food and water needed to generate pound of of vegetarian food are much less that that needed to generate pound of meat.

Vegetarianism is a mirage which is difficult to follow as an ideal even by staunch vegetarians. One must read labels on vegetarian items and avoid those containing animal products, as eggs, its powder, animal fat and suet to

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Queen's visit to Ireland The state visit to Ireland of the British monarch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has by all accounts come to a successful conclusion. Albeit a very few minor but understandable protests the visit has proved to be a momentous historical event.

Despite a very troubled historical past between England and Ireland it was so nice and pleasant to see the government and the people of Ireland rising above the past history and giving her such a vibrant and cordial welcome. On her part the Queen reciprocated in equal measure and with sincerity and dignity expected of her.

There are two features of her visit that stand out most, the features that have made this visit historically most important and significant. First, it was her laying a wreath and especially bowing in the Garden of Remembrance in honour of those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting against her ancestors. It was a recognition that all people are equal and they have the right to live in peace and freedom without being invaded or interfered by others.

Second, she also acknowledged that because of the English invasion of Ireland and ruling it by force the political relation between the two countries was naturally not benign.

Indeed what she implicitly referred to is that the invasion was not the right way forward between the two neighbouring states. What the two nations needed was mutual equality, understanding, help and cooperation.

It was an example of a person who has moved with time. It was a practical illustration of what the ideals and political philosophy should be in the modern world. By her words and deeds she has solidified the healing process that began with the power sharing agreement in the Northern Ireland. Indeed by her visit she has brought the two countries, their people and governments much closure than before.

Today the world is a very troubled place. Would those who are engaged in international terrorism pay any attention to what the Queen has achieved for the two nations in such a short time? The planet earth is a finite place. It can support only a certain number of people and other creatures. The only way forward is through mutual help and cooperation and taking steps that would ensure implementation of such a policy a practical reality.

By Dr. Jatindra Saha Via email glance the item. Indian sweets can be made without silver foil which is made after beating it between layers of chamois leather.

Benevolent effects on land, environment, economy, family budget are also important areas to push pro vegetarian agenda.

Sincere efforts can make one a part time or total vegetarian or even a vegan.

Ramesh Jhalla Via-email

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‘Smile Pinky’ too gets the Oscar Boyle says Mumbai dwarfed the statuette

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Cricket crazy Indians for the first time was seen so euphoric on Monday morning, as they expected a couple of Oscars. British Indians in the UK, Dharavi slums, the shanty township of Mumbai, a village in Uttar Pradesh and almost the entire Bollywood waited in expectation, glued to their TV sets. They burst into celebrations as one by one, their heroes, the actors of the British Indian film and the music maestro, A R Rahman bagged the top awards in the world of entertainment.

British actress Kate Winslett also won the Oscar after having missed it almost five times earlier.

‘Smile Pinki’, a short documentary on a cleft-lipped Indian girl in Uttar Pradesh directed

by American director Megan Mylan, won the Oscar for the Best Documentary (Short).

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Finance, Banking & Insurance 2011

Corporate, political and community The 11th Annual Finance, Banking and Insurance (FBI 2011) magazine by Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar (AV & GS) newsweeklies was launched at the House of Commons by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP on 19 May, 2011.

Other dignitaries present at the launch included Keith Vaz MP for Leicester East, Priti Patel MP for Witham and Shailesh Vara MP for North West Cambridgeshire in addition to several business and community leaders.

Looking at the significance of the event and the reputation of FBI magazine that has been built over the years, Member's Dining Room at the House of Commons was packed by 7pm when the proceedings of the evening began. The presence of so many, especially younger entrepreneurs was very impressive.

The guests were welcomed

by L George, Business Development Manager AV & GS, while canapes and drinks made the rounds which were enjoyed by all.

George introduced the MOC of the evening, Alpesh Patel, Consulting Editor, Financial Voice and founder of global asset management company Praefinium Partners.

Keith Vaz said, “Unless we develop our own expertise and get involved in financial services, our contributions in the society will go unseen and it is good to see that our community have recognised this fact. It also feels great to see that our next generation is excited and keen to join the financial sector.”

He further adds, “I am delighted to see Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar enter their 40th year. These newsweeklies have been the only campaigning media on behalf of our community and I being a part of this British Asian community, I am very grateful to CB Patel and his team for campaigning week after week for our

Miss Ksenia Sossak - Lyca Mobile, Garlanding the Chief Guest Rt Hon Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Alpesh thanked all the readers, advertisers, and supporters of AV & GS for their continuous support over the last 40 years. He also introduced the evening's charity, an activity that has become a regular part of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar's events.

A raffle was drawn for the benefit of St. Lukes Hospice.

He then introduced the first speaker of the evening, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee. Mr. Vaz started off by paying a warm tribute to one of the leaders of the Asian community, Manubhai M Madhvani, who passed away on 17th May 2011. Everyone present observed a minute's silence and paid their respect to Manubhai, who was very well known and admired for his contributions in business, philanthropy and so many worthwhile causes in the UK, Uganda, India and several other countries.

community's best interests.”

He then called upon stage CB Patel, Editor and Publisher, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar. As expected CB Patel did not waste anytime but went straight ahead to convey two messages. He said “This is a great country with a great sense of responsibility towards every community in the large British society. But the recent plans of the government to scrap the right to appeal for family visits has upset many people as these visits are usually planned for events like weddings, funeral, illhealth etc. I admire Mr Danny Alexander's clarity of thought and vision and recognise the power he beholds. Hence I request him to pass this message to his colleagues as after all we look upon Liberal Democrat party as a people's party and the one that stands up for Human Rights.” ( R ea d m or e on

The Chief Guest Rt Hon Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, CB Patel - Publisher/Editor - Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP and Milind Kangle, Chief Executive, Lyca Mobile, jointly releasing the Finance, Banking and Insurance magazine

immigration issue on Pg 14) CB added, “The present government has completed one year. However, it is saddening to see that there is not even a single Asian face in the government at a major level, even though there are so many potential candidates. Thus, I put forward a genuine message that the Asian community has tremendous calibre not only in business but also in politics and there is a great need for the government to recognise this.”

It is the sponsors that make an event of this stature possible and for FBI 2011 launch, the sponsors were Lyca Mobile, Unesta India and VFS Global.

Milind Kangle, CEO, Lyca Mobile and Lyca Money was invited upon stage. He said, “Firstly I would like to congratulate Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar on reaching yet another milestone in their illustrious journey. As far as Lycatel and Lyca Mobile is concerned, the vision to serve the global migrants diaspora has given us all the success and brought us to this platform. Within a matter of few years we now operate in 19 countries.

People have recognised our vision and hence today we are able to serve them better by offering international calls at simply 1p/min, that too in times when costs of everything around us is rising.”

Chief Guest for the evening, a person who is responsible for UK's 2 trillion dollar economy was introduced by Alpesh Patel. Rt. Hon Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury was then garlanded before he alongside CB Patel and Milind Kangle officially launched the FBI 2011 magazine.

Danny Alexander said, “this was the first time I was garlanded, so thank you very much for that.

Firstly, I want to assure CB Patel that I would surely convey his messages to my ministerial colleagues and wish him success in the campaign he plans to initiate.”

As a person who keeps a tab on every fluctuation in country's economy, Danny Alexander further revealed “Contribution of Asian community to the

momentum and British Asian community involved in the private sector is playing a vital role to achieve this by creating more job opportunities, increasing trade and contributing to infrastructure.”

Unesta India made its brief launch in the final ceremony of the evening.

Mr. Vikram Goyal,

economy growth has been phenomenal and so has been its rise in real estate.

Investment opportunities in India are ripe and we plan to give people in the UK, the chance to become a part of this exponential growth.”

VFS Global were also one of the sponsors and were very delighted to have supported the event. VFS

Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP giving his speech

Milind Kangle, Chief Executive, Lyca Mobile

Vikram Goyal, Managing Director of Unesta

Master of ceremony Alpesh Patel

Mr CB Patel addressing the Guest

country's economical growth has been enormous. I am hoping that the Asian businesses grow further from strength to strength and the decisions we as the members of treasury take will help you in reaching your goals.”

He adds, “A massive sector of the corporate world had been affected by the recession as many are still struggling to recover.

Our decisions are aimed to protect these businesses, especially the SMEs from frequent economic fluctuation by making them self sustainable. One of the government's priority is to regain its economic

L George, Business Development Manager ABPL Group

Founder and Managing Director of Unesta Property Services walked the audience through the unique approach to investments and property management in India. With a vibrant presentation and a dynamic speech, he introduced the gathering to a new realm of investments and showcased the opportunities in India's real estate market with UNESTA. Vikram Goyal, Director, Unesta India services said, “the key to success in contemporary world is cross world continental success. India's

Global is a commercial company, working in partnership with the UK Border Agency at the British High Commission Deputy High Commissions in providing services to help people apply for a visa to enter the United Kingdom (UK) and also India.

L George gave the vote of thanks and concluded the formal part of the evening as guests took the opportunity to have an informal conversation with the dignitaries.

Photo Courtesy: Raj D Bakrania

Finance, Banking & Insurance 2011

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

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leaders come together for FBI 2011 In association with

Aruna Patel of Natwest Bank, Dinesh Shonchhatra, Major Estate, Vinod Pandya, Lions Club of Kingsbury

Andrew Palmar & Bandish Gudka, Vestra Wealth, Kamlesh Patel, & Tim Drakes, B A Finance and Mortgage Kishore Parmar, Advertising Manager, ABPL

Ramnik Hindocha and Nisa Rani, Sam Travel

Rajesh Agarwal, Rational FX Sam Thakrar, The Currency Direct

Jay Panchmatia from Health Matters and Rovin George ABPL group

Anita Patel, Bharat Patel, Alpen Patel, Heenal Patel, Alpa Patel, Chirayus Patel of Commercial Direct.

Jesal Patel, Prideview Properties, Keith Flavell & Vijay Parikh, Harold Benjamin Solicitors, Vishal Patel, Prideview Management

Mr Akshay Desai of ABPL with Balvinder Singh of DK Advertising, Puja Thakrar of ARMT

Rt Hon Danny Alexander, Milind Kangle - Lyca Mobile, Priti Patel MP, with CB Patel and others

Nailesh Teraiya, Indigo Securities Ltd, Anila Teraiya, Right Management

Chris Naidu, Manager, Clydesdale Bank Plc Kamlesh Patel, F A Finance & Mortgage

Shalini Bhargwa, Anderson Ross Immigration Solicitors

L to R: Kamal Rao, News Editor ABPL, MP Shailesh Vara, Jiten Vyas - Regional Head Europe, VF Services (UK) Limited, Darshan Roy - Zoom Finance, Sandeep Rana - Regional Manager, Mohit Pandey - Head - IHC - Operation UK, VF Services (UK) Limited.

L to R: Raymond McGonigle, RMG Wealth Management, Barry Mamtora, Director - Forum Insurance, Udai Patel, Fab Homes, Jay Patel, Newton IT Ltd, Kiran Patel, Weston Kay Accountants, Jayshree Shah, NPIMR, Alka Shah, ABPL Group

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www.abplgroup.com

Finance, Banking & Insurance 2011

L to R: Vipul Thacker & Jagdish Thacker, Shasonic Centre, Jitesh Elavia, Mizuho Bank, Surendra Patel, ABPL Group

Dr Merul Patel, Director of ABPL Group with Sailesh Vara MP

Guests Networking at the event - (L to R) Mr Chander Goel, Mr Romy Nayar of Holiday Mood along with his son Akarsh Nayar and Kashmir Nijar of Lyca Mobile

Lorraine Dingre, Dina Bhudia and Jyoti Goyal of Unesta Properties Ltd

Atul Morjaria, Vasanti Patel, Dilip Unarkat - Directors of John Cummings Ross Ltd, Bhagirath Thaker, Thaker & Co

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

L to R Dr Arun Kumar Trivedi, Consultant, Mr Opinder S. Sawhney, Director Sawhney Consulting. Paula Chattaraj Air India

Guest at the FBI event

FBI Event Sponsors 2011

Life Assurance & Investment mis-selling Could you be owed thousands?

It seems to be one financial mis-selling scandal after another. First it was pensions, then endowments and now PPI. When will it all end you wonder? The mis-selling you will be surprised to learn does not just relate to these 3 areas. It could be any financial product. Policies sold for savings (sold for a future mortgage or for the children are just classic examples), life cover sold to single persons, bonds sold to the elderly, unit linked plans sold to cover a loan or for inheritance tax planning, pension mortgages, stock market based investments sold to people with limited knowledge or experience. The list goes on and on.

We are regularly helping new clients to claim many thousands of pounds in compensation for life policies and investments of all kinds and one of the surprising aspects of this is that most of the people winning big pay-outs did not even know that their policies had been mis-sold! We have recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds for people sold plans with Abbey Life, Zurich, Lincoln

Financial, MI Group, Sun Life Financial of Canada, Canada Life, Windsor Life and many other companies.

Most mis-selling was not caused by dishonest salesmen; it probably resulted from either poorly trained advisers, or from the financial enticements the companies used to make them sell – their commissions.

And these reasons applied to pretty much every type of life policy and investment and to people in all walks of life, whether they have been paying just a few pounds a month or thousands of pounds in premiums.

It doesn’t even matter if the policy has already matured or been surrendered – compensation could still be payable and in many cases can be significant with interest mounting up over the years.

Sometimes people have a feeling their policy isn’t really what they needed, but more often than not, they don’t have the slightest idea! Unfortunately, not only do most people not know they have been mis-sold a plan, they don’t

know how to get matters put right, either. So a number of life companies are relying on the fact that policyholders in this position are doing nothing about it.

Essentially, if you are one of them, all you have to do is complain, but there are pitfalls, because rushing in and complaining to the life company that, for example, a policy isn’t worth as much as you thought it should be is not likely to get you very far. You need to know what reasons will make your complaint succeed in the first place and you need to be prepared to argue your corner in what could become prolonged and detailed correspondence. Knowledge of a range of factors, such as the alternatives that may have been available at the time, the regulations that applied and of how to deal with the company if it refuses to pay up could all be very important.

Using a reputable, specialist, financial services claims management company, however, means that they should take on all the hard work for you. And

if they work on a no-win no-fee basis, you have absolutely nothing to lose by asking them to look at your policies or investments. If they take your case on, they will claim the maximum compensation they can for you in return for a small share of the pay-out when it is received.

This area of claims management is now regulated by the Ministry of Justice and before you agree to dealing with a company, you should always check that they specialise in financial services cases and that they have the correct Ministry authorisation. This can be found on the Ministry’s website at www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/search.aspx For more information contact Bipin at Life Policy Reclaim Ltd on 020 8220 6792/ 020 8220 9596 or visit us www.lpreclaim.co.uk. A small unexpected fortune could only be a phone call away.

See ou r ad ve rt on pag e 8 o f F BI Magazine .

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

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Midland Voice Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dhiren.katwa@abplgroup.com

BACL battles on to help Tories become more diverse A prestigious dinner in honour of Conservative MP Richard Harrington was hosted by the British Asian Conservative Link (BACL), a group which campaigns nationally to encourage younger British Asians and women to join the Tory party.

Held at London’s swanky Carlton Club, the roundtable event, which coincided with the first anniversary of the coalition government’s formation, brought together a unisex and diverse mix of around 80 VIPs. On the top table, alongside Watford MP Harrington, were guest of honour Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, Tony Baldry MP, late-arriving Lord Dolar Popat, multi-award winning, suave businessman and a key funder to BACL, Rami Ranger, editor and publisher of Asian Business Publications Limited, Mr CB Patel, white-turbaned Ranbir Suri and Rickie Sehgal, BACL’s chairman and secretary, respectively.

With life-size portraits of past British politicians, and dim lamps, mounted on the four walls of the large dining room, and candles on tables, the aroma of food, laughter and applauses, all added to the jovial atmosphere.

Each speaker was introduced by Ameet Jogia, 24, chair of BACL’s youth committee. The evening began with glowing tributes to triumphant Tory candidates, including 24year-old Karan Modha from Leicester and Hitesh Tailor from Hertfordshire.

MP Harrington “a dedicated Tory since his schooldays”, in his satirical speech, thanked BACL for its huge support in helping him gain political victory. “We do

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cheer. MP Baldrey (North Oxfordshire) said, “in four years’ time we should win the General Election”, adding that one of the party’s major target geographical areas was Birmingham.

Following the speeches, there was a Q & A session, which was chaired

by BACL’s regional secretary Ravi Gidar, a gent who appears to be under

which earlier this month in the local election saw the blue-badge representatives left red-faced. The Tories have consistently struggled to gain above 30 all pull together,” he said, per cent of votes cast at “to achieve our common elections and have been objectives and shared on a downward spiral sense of unity.” He added: since 2000. You have to “I am a very small part of go back almost 20 years this machine.” He joked: to find the last time the ‘Honours bestowed on me Conservatives managed when the wife’s here, is to hold 60 seats on the city council.

This year the share of votes for the Conser vatives fell to 27.3 %, against 48.5% for Labour and 14.7% for the Lib Dems – a clear indication that, when it comes to the From left: Lord Popat, Atul Pathak, Christopher Fenwick, Ravi Gidar, mayoral Ranbir Suri, MP Harrington, Rickie Sehgal, Tony Baldrey MP, Rami Ranger 2013 election, Labour always difficult. And it’s will expect to win easily. the illusion that everynot until we get in the car The trend in numbers of body knows him, and if that I find out’. He also votes cast is interesting. not, they ought to. Bless charmingly poked fun at Between 2007 and 2011, him. The vote of thanks Mr Pickles about his Labour’s share rose by was given by multi awardweight.

51,000 votes while the winning Rami Ranger, an In response, Mr Tory share went up by optimist who sees opporPickles, who sat mainly 5,000 and the Lib Dem tunity in every difficulty, hands-folded and manshare fell by 14,000. unlike the pessimist, who aged to smile at least four sees difficulty in every Adding to this, the times during the evening, opportunity.

Another author of the confidential shared a few funny stories optimist, sat next to me report says the Tory party about his long-term was banker Abhishek is failing to appeal to ethacquaintance with MP Sachdev, who told me, nic minorities, younger Harrington. Describing among his many other people and adds that even the Coalition “a radical ‘claims to fame’, how he the professional classes reforming government”, had once bumped into are turning their backs on he said: “We are going to Gordon Brown in a lift B i r m i n g h a m need to stay together for and also ended up hosting Conservatives. It also the fate of the nation, to an event at 11 Downing identifies the absence of a offer stability to the Street. Wargwan geezer, single black or Asian British people and the as some Brummies would Conservative city counmarkets.” Lord Popat say. cillor as a serious credibiljoined others in congratuWhat next? Well, it ity issue – one which lating MP Harrington. He seems BACL will soon be BACL (www.bacl.net) said there was a need for has been proactively purcampaigning in more businesspeople in Birmingham, one of the suing, but not as actively the Lords and Commons, most ethnically diverse as perhaps it could do. to which there was a mass cities in the country Correct?

Entrepreneur assaults wife

Neighbour from ‘hell’

A wealthy Birmingham businessman has appeared in court charged with assaulting his former city councillor wife. It is alleged that Nazir Awan attacked Najma Hafeez in a car on Pershore Road, in Stirchley, on Friday a fortnight ago. He was arrested the following day after the alleged offence was reported to police by a third party. Multi-millionaire Mr Awan, 58, of Erdington, appeared before magistrates last week charged with causing actual bodily harm. Mr Awan, who declined to comment about the charges, was bailed until next month. Ms Hafeez, pictured, was the youngest and first woman to be elected to Birmingham City Council in 1983, then aged just 22. She chaired the powerful social services committee during a 12-year career in city politics. She went on to become a non-executive director at Heart of England Trust. She was married to the Birmingham City Council Labour leader Sir Albert Bore and they had two children. But the couple’s bitter split ended up in the courts when Sir Albert was cleared of assaulting her by throwing coffee in her face. Mr Awan meanwhile is a former director of Awan Marketing, which was founded as a cash and carry in 1976. Mr Awan is also listed as a director of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and has chaired the Birmingham Asian Business Association.

A Birmingham woman ordered a gunman to attack her neighbours after they refused to swap houses, a court heard. Lubnah Hussain, 36, of Stechford, has denied the allegation among a string of charges at Birmingham Crown Court. Hussain, pictured, is alleged to have enlisted the gunman as part of a campaign against her neighbour mother-of-four Jodie Woolley and her partner Stephen Dowling. (Proceeding)

Asian women honoured Once again, honours were bestowed on Asian women from a range of professional sectors as part of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, which took place last week. Khizra Dhindsa, pictured, a detective inspector with West Midlands Police, scooped the Public Sector award. Full story next week.

News in Brief Child arrests Thousands of children are being arrested in the West Midlands every year but only one in three gets taken to court, according to The Howard League for Penal Reform, a charity. In the West Midlands, 18, 482 children were arrested in 2008, 14,935 in 2009, and 11,618 in 2010.

Graduate jobs drought Nearly two-thirds of recent graduates have failed to find a degree-level job, according to research by talent management firm SHL. The poll questioned 1,000 students who have graduated in the past three years and found that 60 per cent do not have a graduate job.

Temple thief jailed A thief who stole hundreds of pounds from a Hindu temple’s donation fund in order to feed his drug habit has been locked up for two years. Aaron Humpage, 19, was jailed for raiding the Maha Shiv Shakti Mandir in Willenhall in January. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Humpage had been struggling with a heroin addiction since the age of 14 and that at its peak, he was spending up to £100 a day on the drug.

£1k boost for hospice The coffers of St Luke’s Hospice have been given a cash boost, thanks to a charity dinner-dance event organised by Kishorbhai Vadhia, a multitalented father-ofthree from Birmingham. A total of £1,540 (of which £425 went towards expenses; £1,115 to charity) was collected during the fundraiser, hosted by Mr Vadhia’s middle son Chetan, at The Unity Club in Newtown. Attended by around 150 people, the £8-per-head event on May 14 featured a series of dance and karaoke performances by upcoming black and Asian youth, a raffle and a short film about the London-based charity. Photo: Kishorbhai with son Chetan. To support, or find out more about St Luke’s Hospice – which provides specialist care for people whose illnesses are no longer curable – visit www.stlukes-hospice.org

Sounds for the Soul

The Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Temple in Birmingham will host its 12th annual round-the-clock ‘kirtan’ song and dance event this weekend. The 24-hour Sounds for the Soul event will begin at 5pm this Saturday (May 28) and finish at 10pm on Sunday (May 29).

The free event will take place at Shri Balaji Temple, Dudley Road East, Tividale (B69 3DU). All welcome.

For more information visit www.soundsforthesoul.org

Extremism debate

A round-table discussion themed ‘the challenge of extremism in Pakistan and what we can do about it’ took place in London last Friday. The keynote speaker was Shehrbano Taseer, a Pakistani journalist and daughter of Salman Taseer, the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab province, who was assassinated in January after he had campaigned for Pakistan’s discriminatory blasphemy laws to be revised.

Dagger case lost A Sikh prison officer sacked for wearing a ‘kirpan’ religious dagger in jail has lost a legal challenge against his dismissal. Jagdip Singh Dhinsa, 26, from Derby, had worked at Dovegate Prison, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, for three weeks when he was booted for carrying the knife. He took prison firm Serco to an employment tribunal seeking compensation for race discrimination and unfair dismissal.

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MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Scrutator’s The focus of the Financial Times India supplement (May 20) was the country's place in international trade. James Lamont began with the customary barb that India was playing catch up after decades of economic isolation and related sins of omission and commission. Truth is that India was decoupling its colonial economy and creating the platform for modern industry based on sound technological foundations. This broad goal was achieved through trial and error; economic reforms were surely possible because there was something substantial to reform. The reformers were not working in a void. This fundamental truth should be kept in mind: a former coolie dependency now walks tall in the comity of free nations.

Having made his point about the past, Mr Lamont came down to present-day basics. “Twenty years after Manmohan Singh, now prime minister but then finance minister, introduced reforms to free an economy stifled by state control, his government is accelerating its opening to new markets......Only now is the world's second fastest growing economy earning a larger share of world trade. Its bilateral trade with China was worth $60 billion last year, with the European Union it is nearer $100 billion. Export earnings are rising and represent a growing share of gross domestic product....In 1990, India's trade to GDP ratio was about 15 per cent. Now, it stands upward of 35 per cent. The country has built new export sectors in services and manufacturing, especially in engineering products, petroleum, gems and jewellery and IT outsourcing services.....Over the past five years, trade has grown at nearly 30 per cent a year and is increasingly led

by India's globalising entrepreneurs...... Recent data shows India's export performance in rude health. In April, exports grew by 34 per cent....”

Global sales The Indian Express (May 7) told of a survey by global accountants Ernst & Young revealing that 47 per cent of high-performing international firms saw India as their most important market, with 44 per cent voting for China.

The study interviewed 400 top-level executives at leading international corporations.

While 40 per cent of the best performing European firms and two-thirds Asian companies favoured India as their top investment destination, China topped the North American list.

Kashmir again The Economist (May 21) believes the West is making a “terrible mistake” focusing on Afghanistan and its southern Pashtun marchland as the primary sources of Pakistani woes and insecurities. By so doing the West was ignoring Kashmir, the true incubator of Indo-Pakistan problems. The paper suggested the US broker a deal between the the two countries, which would include greater autonomy for the valley, in return for which Islamabad would stop its jehadi activities across the border.

The issue is dead in the water, which is why the West has been silent. Washington has made not a cubit of progress in the Middle East peace process, in botched attempts to bring democracy and socio-economic reform to the region, so why should it succeed in calibrating an Indo-Pakistan peace settlement. Better to let sleeping dogs lie. The US has been Pakistan's regional handler these past sixty years, hence has no locus standi on the Kashmir issue. India has made it abundantly clear that it will accept no third party interference on Kashmir. Period.

Pakistan has brought China into the diplomatic and strategic equation, calculating unwisely

that this would intimidate India.

China, for its part, believes that it can achieves its territorial goals on the Indo-Tibetan border by playing the Pakistani card.

The silly season is almost upon us!

Indian policy-makers would do well to encourage greater Chinese economic and political investment in Pakistan, until death do them part.

Nuclear blackmail The Economist referred to Pakistan's growing nuclear weapon armoury and Islamabad's refusal to enunciate a no first-use doctrine, as India does. India, meanwhile, is building up its conventional and nuclear capabilities as a deterrent against Islamabad and Beijing. Better to be safe than sorry.

According to a Press Trust of India (PTI) report (May 15),

(DRDO) had already developed an interceptor missile effective 2,000 kms away and is now working on the second phase, said DRDO chief V.K.Saraswat.

The 5,000 kms interceptor missile would be ready by 2016, he told reporters. “It is well on schedule and we are already on the initial design and testing stage.”

Naval build-up Another PTI report (May 16) from Singapore quoted naval analyst and Vice President of the US-basedAMI International, Bob Nugent, as saying, on the eve of International Maritime Exhibition and Defence Conference, “Going by investment value, India is expected to build sophisticated destroyers, new generation and new radar vessels, nuclear submarines, and amphibious ships.” Over the next 20 years this approximate $50 billion investment would lead to the construction of 101 new warships including destroyers, nuclear submarines and fast patrol craft designed to prevent terrorist attacks like the one that hit Mumbai on 26/11/2008.

Indian investments in surface and undersea platforms would be double that of China and could account to 27.8 per cent of the total naval investment for the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the creation of a 'science city' in Karnataka for advanced research into spacecraft technologies.

ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan said four premier science and technology agencies, including ISRO, would set up facilities there.

Orders for US aircraft The Hindu newspaper (May 15) reported that India's muchawaited order for American heavy-lift transport aircraft had been finalised. The Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 10 C-17 Globemaster planes was expected to cost $4 billion.

American heavy-lift transport aircraft for Indian Air Force

“India has started working on a network of air-defence systems which would be capable of shooting down enemy missiles even at distance of 5,000 kilometres, before it could enter Indian air space.”

The Defence Research & Development Organisation

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster will augment the IAF's inventory, which recently inducted the C130 Super Hercules transport plane from Lockheed Martin, another US company.

Two years ago, India ordered eight long-range maritime patrol

Mr Ratan Tata inaugurated the Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata's Rajarhat

aircraft P81 at $2.1 billion, and there is already talk of a followup order of four more of these planes. These purchases were in addition to the CB105 Sensor Fused Weapons the IAF had ordered from Textron Defense Systems, valued at $380 million.

Stem cell transplant The Hindu reported (May 7) India's first successful mixed stem cell transplant at a Kolkata-based cancer research institute on a 5-year-old boy suffering from HbE-Beta Thaassemia. A mixture of cord blood and bone marrow cells collected from the boy's younger sister was transplanted to his body.

The feat assumes greater significance as the transplant was done even though the blood groups of the siblings were dissimilar, said researchers at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute and stem-cell bank CordLife.

“We decided to use a mixture of both bone marrow and and cord blood cells as it has a faster and better chance of success than only bone marrow cells, which could have taken five to seven years to give proper results. The mixture transplanted on April 3, started showing positive results in 22 days,”said the Director of the Institute Dr Ashis Mukherjee. All's well that ends well.

ing institutions established by the Tata Group.

Ratan Tata's presence in the metropolis could be a sign of things to come. Let's hope it is.

New Tibetan premier Lobsang Sangay, the newly elected Kalon Tripa (prime minister) of the Tibetan government-in-exile in an interview with Delhi-based Outlook magazine (May 10) described India as his second home, proclaiming that he grew up in Darjeeling where he imbibed the country's 'unity in diversity' culture. He speaks Tibetan, Nepalese, Bengali and Hindi. He went to Hansraj College in Delhi, from where he earned a scholarship to Harvard University's Law School He grew up in a Tibetan refugee camp subsidised by the Indian government.

He is preparing to take over the Dalai Lama's political role.

He has travelled the country, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh getting acquainted with his constituents. “India has done heavy lifting as far as Tibet is concerned.....Having said that, we'd like to see the Indian government being stronger on the Tibet issue and to treat it as an important national issue....Tibet doesn't have democracy, doesn't have freedom, so there is no [Chinese]

Tata Medical Centre Another encouraging item was Ratan Tata's visit to Kolkata in the aftermath of the historic election victory of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. Mr Tata inaugurated the Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata's Rajarhat New Town. It is a state-of-the art facility for the care, treatmentr and rehabilitation of those suffering from cancer and is modelled on the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. The Tata Centre has the best of technology, equipment and treatment protocols, all of which have been put inplace through consultation with centres of excellence in India and the world. About 50 per cent of the beds at the Tata Centre are earmarked for those who cannot afford the fees.

This adds lustre to the Tata tradition of philathropy. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institute of Science and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences are nation-build-

Lobsang Sangay

legitimacy there.”

Quite so. Beijing is destined to realise that imperial overstretch will compound its myriad problems. China's communist mandarins are not nearly as clever as they would like the world to believe. But their pride is beyond human conception, as Lord Curzon remarked a century ago..

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Political Sketchbook Alpesh Patel’s

Politics of Privacy Again This past week, in the news: David Laws, then Chief Secretary to the Treasury wanted to keep his sexuality private so fiddled expenses to hide his relationship. More about superinjunctions as adulterers want to keep their sexual activities private too. Max Mosely lost a case in the European Court to on protection of privacy. Privacy remains in the news. But this is not a new issue.

Privacy is not something of concern to celebrities and public figures. It concerns you and I too.

This week, I am helping Jemima Khan (also accused wrongly of having a super injunction to protect her privacy) to raise funds for Auschwitz Concentration Camp Memorial where the Nazis killed Jews in the Second World War. Indian soldiers fought and died in the Second World War. You know what they were fighting for? You know what the Nazis fundamentally were attacking.

The family. Political extremists, whether fascist or communist do not like the family. Because they are political movements that need loyalty to something above the family. In India, the family for many comes before God and country – it does for this writer. How do I know the protection of the family was what the Second World War was about – for what the Indian soldiers and allies fought for and died?

Because upon ending of the War, European powers worked on enacting the European Convention on Human Rights. These are not simply individual rights, they are rights so that never again will the family be under threat.

Rights to marriage for instance. Rights to privacy. People died for these rights.

Indians died for these rights.

Let me remind you what 60 short years ago they died for: “Considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1948; Considering that this Declaration aims at securing the universal and effective recognition and observance of the Rights therein declared…Right to respect for private and family life.

Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.”

This right at Article 8, nestles alongside other trivial ones such as the ‘Right to Life’, ‘Prohibition of Torture’, ‘Prohibition of Slavery’, ‘Freedom of Religion’.

“The saint and poet seek privacy to ends the most public and universal: and it is the secret of culture, to interest the man more in his public, than in his private quality,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson.

“There is a sacred realm of privacy for every man and woman where he makes his choices and decisions—a realm of his own essential rights and liberties into which the law, generally speaking, must not intrude,” said the then Archbishop of Canterbury in 1959.

Like Max Mosely, David Laws, and all Superinjunction seekers, I too have sought to protect privacy and had to do it with the help of a Court and a barrister. Luckily in my case the judge agreed my Article 8 European Convention on Human Rights right to privacy had been breached. (I should say, nothing sexual in my case – sorry!).

Alpesh.patel@tradermind.com www.alpeshblog.com

Thousands of lawyers walk for justice in England Starting from 23 May, England saw a record number of legal walks to raise funds for free legal assistance. Walks occurred in London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cambridge, Bristol, Guildford and Newbury. Wednesday night saw additional events in Newcastle and Leeds, bringing the total legal walks to 15 across the globe this week with parts of Australia also participating.

The walks in England raised over half a million pounds to support free legal assistance to mem-

bers of the public who are in real need but unable to afford assistance. In calling for all judges, lawyers and students to join the walks, the Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger commented that “The need for funds for legal advice has never been greater or more important.” Director of Public Prosecutions Kier Starmer QC agreed, saying “The money we raise for the legal advice centres is vitally important. These centres provide free advice to people with severe social welfare legal problems with housing, com-

munity care and benefits.”

The walk in London, now in its seventh year, was the largest with over 5000 walkers leaving the Royal Courts of Justice to walk a 10km route to Hyde Park and returning to the Law Society. Leading the walk was a host legal stars, including the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney General, the President of the Law Society, the Chairman of the Bar, the President of ILEX, the Minister for Legal Aid and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

British Academy reveals threats to cultural history Government spending cuts and rushed legislation within the cultural heritage sector are leading to a “devastating” loss of vital expertise, and to human activity that has the potential to “destroy” heritage irreparably, a research by the British Academy has revealed.

“History for the Taking? Perspectives on Material Heritage” focuses on archaeology and built heritage as the areas most at risk, with experts John Curtis (British Museum), Fiona Reynolds (National Trust), Michael Fulford and

Anthony Harding (archaeologists) exposing particular elements of concern.

The report reveals the threat to the historic environment posed by the coalition government’s desire to liberate the economy from “red tape” and extend planning powers to neighbourhood level, the loss of essential heritage expertise following extensive cuts in the number of conservation officers employed in local government, the growing threats to UK archaeology with 90% of all investigations carried out in England since 1990 now being

undertaken by commercial organisations and the welldocumented but underaddressed risks to cultural heritage in war zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe CBE FBA, Chair of the History for the Taking Working Group said, “Heritage tourism generates over ￡20 billion of GDP annually and makes a bigger contribution to the UK economy than car manufacturing and advertising, and yet is always the easy option for cost saving in national and local governments.

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Pushing boundaries By Aman Singh

An inheritance, lost?

Although both clearly occur in abundance neither adultery nor sibling rivalries test south asian families as much as the ubiquitous trip back home to divide up inheritance. Perhaps this is no surprise; any interrogation of the first generation on this matter reveals some unanswered, difficult questions.

Firstly, all those years ago when out forefathers walked the economic planks of ships heading west, or whole villages in their Sunday best came to wish them a trepidatory goodbye onto their rickety planes, did our parents ever think they would return? Statistics tell us perhaps not; whereas 85% agreed they would on arrival to the UK, only a very small percentage of 70s and 80s migrants from south asia have been repatriated. They came, they saw, they opened corner shops.

This leads on quite neatly to my second question; by not returning to the motherland but sending back, as occurs in many cases and indeed my own, many many lakhs in remittances, have first generation migrants given up their claims to inheritance? India has the world's second fastest growing economy, and the land on which buffalos graze and dirty tyre shops stand is now prized, and its worth not insignificant.

I have been sent many anecdotes about this issue, perhaps the most tragic the one concerning Pradeep. This was the young son of a Punjabi family, whose curiosity sent him back to his village to seek out his history, his domain. He did not return, having been poisoned by the jealous family of an elder uncle guarding their inheritance

like the plot of a Sicilian gangster novel.

Of course there is a flip side to this, poor families made huge sacrifices to send their young adults abroad. Whilst the migrants faced discrimination and long hours in burning foundries, uncles and aunties expressly didn't enjoy a much lower standard of living within an uncertain economy. The issue of inheritance is not addressed directly, but is surrounded by an unconscious, unspoken contract. That in itself is revealing. So the answer is for our parents to address the issue early on, whilst their parents remain alive, through whichever advocacy or legal means are available to them. Unwritten contracts, unspoken feelings should not be left to fester.

Within an article addressed at young adults, it is important to consider what impact this is having on this group. Broken relationships with relatives in the country of origin, back-biting, cheating and a sense of corruption within and distrust of the Indian legal justice system, allied with disinterest in their cultural and ethnic roots are some of the key negative impacts on young adults of inheritance conflicts suffered by their parents.

No clear cut answer exists to this complex, emotive issue. To young adults, as I do to my own siblings and social circle, I would say embrace the history of your family trees in Indian hamlets, guard jealously your cultural roots as your parents do their land holdings. An inheritance lost cannot easily be regained.

Air India moves to newly refurbished Terminal 4 From 25th May, Air India will be relocated to the Terminal Four of Heathrow Airport. The carrier has used Terminal Three for over 43 years but it will now benefit from betterfacilities allocated at the newly refurbished terminal.

At the new location, passengers travelling with the airline will have a pre-

mium lounge, more check-in space, and a larger arrivals area. Arriving and departing travelers will not be affected by the move, as it will be carried out overnight, allowing them to use Terminal 4 from early on May 25th.

"I am delighted that Air India will be flying from the newly refurbished Terminal 4. It

means easier journeys and a better airport experience for their passengers," Colin Matthews, BAA's chief executive, said. To celebrate the move, traditional Indian dress will be worn by the entire staff at the travel hub, who will also welcome holiday makers in Hindi and with trays of sweets.

Fitness to Practise Panellists The General Medical Council licenses doctors to practise medicine in the UK. We have procedures that deal firmly and fairly with the minority of doctors whose fitness to practise is called into question. Those procedures include an adjudication stage where hearings take place before a Fitness to Practise Panel and sometimes an Interim Orders Panel. The panels comprise medical and lay (i.e. non-medical) panellists.

We are recruiting for both medical and lay panellists. Candidates should be people of demonstrable integrity with experience and ability of reaching considered and unbiased decisions affecting other people.

The time commitment is a minimum of 35 days per year for lay panellists and 20 days for medical panellists. Panellists receive a daily fee of £310 (or up to £430 for GPs to cover locum costs) plus reasonable expenses.

To find out more please visit https://jobs.gmc-uk.org Closing date for receipt of applications: 19 June 2011.

We are holding a number of awareness sessions for those considering applying. If you are interested in attending such a session please contact panelapplications@gmc-uk.org We welcome applications from all diverse groups and people with a range of backgrounds including members of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, women, people under the age of 45 and people with disabilities. We are also keen to appoint panellists who live within commutable distance of Manchester, where the majority of our hearings are held.

jobs.gmc-uk.org

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Council of Dharmic Faiths launched in the UK In a historic gathering of the leaders of the Faiths that developed in India, namely Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh and Parsi (Zoroastrian), the Council of Dharmic Faiths was launched at the House of Commons. The function was sponsored

by Stephen Hammond MP (Conservative) and supported by Gareth Thomas MP (labour) and John Hemmings MP (Liberal-Democrat) and organised by the Chair Dr Natubhai Shah and the Executive Board of the Council.

In the welcoming speech, Mr Stephen Hammond appreciated the contribution of British Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities for the peaceful settlement, various services of the UK, businesses and professions and congratulated the leaders for this initiative. The Council was launched by lighting the lamps by Yann Lovelock (Buddhist), Anil Bhanot (Hindu), Dr Natubhai

Shah (Jain), Bhaisaheb Mohinder Singh (Sikh), Dorab Mistry (Zoroastrian) and all the three MPs and Jayshree Kundu (Indian High Commission) in presence of more than 100 guests.

It was followed by devotional dances by Anusha Subhramanyam and her Group.

The Chair Dr Natubhai Shah spoke on similar culture background of the Dharmic Faiths that developed in India and explained the meaning of Dharma that

involves the individual’s duties and functions, physical and spiritual, a way of life, thought and action, unlimited in scope. As the Dharmic Faiths are many times misunderstood by the general public, the Council aims to advance their awareness and their values on the issues of public domain to the Government, Local authorities, Academic, Faith and other institutions of influence. Their activities will have clear public benefit and will

help to promote religious literacy and the knowledge about their contribution, maybe cultural, economic, academic, professional, business, human resources or philanthropic in this country.

The Council of Dharmic Faiths has been established with the solemn aim of encouraging friendship, goodwill, respect, equality and understanding of Dharmic Faiths and their communities of more than 1.6 million people in UK with other faith communities.

Non-EU dentists caught in bureaucratic tussle Non-European dentists, especially from Indian subcontinent find their hopes of practicing in the UK becoming more of a distant dream due to infighting between governing bodies.

Many non-European overseas dentists who wish to practice in the UK have to pass the Licentiate in Dental Surgery (LDS).

However, candidates who have successfully completed the 1st part of the Licentiate in Dental Surgery (LDS) run by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and enrolled for the 2nd part were not allowed to finish the 2nd part due to what seems to be a bureaucratic tangle between the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the General Dental Council. The Royal Colleges are entitled under the Dentists Act to hold examinations and grant licences to practise dentistry.

The General Dental Council, which offers a rather more expensive version of alternative exams in

the name of Overseas Registration Examination (ORE) decided to treat the LDS certification offered by the Royal College of Surgeons as not fit for purpose in comparison to its own course. After a recurring delay in conducting the stage 2 exams, the Royal College informed the candidates that it may not be able to conduct the exams with any certainty in the near future due to threats and fear of being taken to Privy Council by the General Dental Council.

The HSMP Forum was informed by the candidates concerned that they received acknowledgment from General Dental Council beforehand that LDS is an alternative to ORE. The qualifying candidates paid more than ￡ 2,000 in exam fees and ￡ 5,000 and more on dental equipment for preparation.

After putting in a lot of time and effort, they feel let down by the Royal College of Surgeons, which claims

to offer the LDS since the 19th century and believes in ‘maintaining highest standards of surgical practice and patient care’.

Many are depressed about their career in their chosen profession and feel they are victims of unfair treatment.

Mr Sanoj Majeed had to borrow money from family and friends for exam fees and various courses and equipment in order to prepare for the part 2 exams. He said, “I have wasted almost a year of my career without being able to start practicing in the UK due to the delay in the exam. If I am to start the Overseas Registration Examination exam again from scratch, it would mean at least another couple of years of lost time and earnings.”

Ms Pragati Maheshwari, a candidate said “Neither the college nor GDC seem to realise that it is much more than money that we have invested in the exam and no amount of refund will

make up for the time and effort lost in preparing for this exam.”

Amit Kapadia, Executive Director of the HSMP Forum said, “At a time when the government is trying to lure the best and the brightest of the migrant workers, some of those who are present in the UK seem to be denied the opportunities and are being treated unfairly. It is such a shame that the Royal College is unable to take a strong stand and fight for these deserving candidates.”

GP ran over a pensioner Alok Basu, a doctor suffering from glaucoma and cataracts has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He knocked down and killed Shirley Watkins, 74, who was crossing a dual carriageway near her home in Southend, Essex.

Basu, 65, ran over the pensioner in his Porche Carrera 911 on Feb 5 2010. Basu was given a sight test and failed to read even the largest letters with his right eye, while pleading not guilty.

However, now he is due to be sentenced in July at Basildon Crown Court.

Victim's sister, Jackie McDonagh said, “Anyone with cataracts, glaucoma, severe myopia and a history of eye problems knows he is risking life if he drives. As a GP, he should have known better.”

Big B visits oxford Legendary Indian film actor and producer Amitabh Bachchan visited Oxford University on Tuesday 17 May 2011, for a lecture and dinner hosted by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS).

Mr Bachchan was received by Oxford University's ViceChancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton. In their meeting Mr Bachchan, the Vice Chancellor, and the Director of the OCHS, Mr Shaunaka Rishi Das, discussed the historic links between India and Oxford, dating back to the sixteenth century and continuing to this day with initiatives in sciences, development studies, medical research, and the emerging field of Hindu Studies.

After visiting OCHS, Amitabh Bachchan said, “I was very surprised that we have a centre like this in Oxford that goes into the study of Hindu philosophy. I am overwhelmed that there are people here in England that have taken it upon themselves academically to go into the subject and

prepare students that will go back to their own countries and be able to educate others in the deeper meanings of this philosophy. To have such an institute in England is absolutely fantastic.'

He also visited Oxford's Bodleian Library where he viewed Shakespeare's First Folio.

While the keeper of Special Collections of the library remarked, “A great actor is touching the work of a great playwright.”

Amitabh Bachchan said of his first official visit to Oxford, ‘It is a great honour to be received so warmly by this ancient and renowned University. I am particularly struck by the long-standing and profound links between India and Oxford, and how, through the OCHS, the field of Hindu Studies is flourishing here. I hope that my visit may serve to nurture this important relationship.’

Mr Bachchan is in the UK to launch his celebrity voice blogging service, 'Bachchan Bol' which already has 2.5 million subscribers.

Scrapping the right to appeal do not serve the purpose The government's plan to scrap the 'Right to Appeal' for family visit visa has been condemned by leaders who represent the ethnic communities residing in the UK. The plan is a part of Coalition's immigration policies aimed to cap the in-flow of migrants.

But, the British Asian community that is likely to be affected the most, believe that the exit procedures of UK Border Agency needs to be tightened up rather than disallowing visitors to come to the UK to attend a family function.

Residing far away from their native lands, for British Asians, weddings remain a prime occasion to meet and greet all their relatives from around the world as a must-come invitation is sent to hundreds of family members.

Knowing the amplitude with which the weddings of Indian subcontinent background are conducted, hundreds of thousands of overseas relatives travel to the UK each year to attend them. On an average, a well-off family spends around ￡30,000 for an Asian wedding while this cost do not include the jewelry, clothes and numerous miscellaneous items and activities.

Government has laid high importance on inward tourism and investments and these weddings certainly help

to support the cause.

However, the plans to scrap the right to appeal defies the government's aim as British Asians will be forced to look at other options than conducting the ceremony in the UK. A family may opt to travel back to their native country, which would save large amount of money while avoiding all the complexities of getting the UK visas for their relatives.

With India, Dubai, Greece, Kenya and many other countries offering wedding packages, British Asians have many options to look at and UK will lose on large revenue generation through these family visits.

However, the right to appeal is also used by relatives to attend funerals and visit sick relatives. This has raised major concerns over the possible harm to human rights which led senior officials at Whitehall issue a warning to the UKBA and the Home Office.

Asian Voice has initiated a campaign against this unjustifiable plan of the Coalition. We plan to provide each and every member of the community an opportunity to raise their voice and support the campaign to keep the right to appeal intact through a petition which will be published next week.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

London businesses pay £30m more in fuel According to a latest research, businesses in the capital are paying almost £30million more for fuel today than they were a year ago.

The study by Bibby Financial Services has revealed that the capital’s around 836,700 small and medium-sized businesses are collectively paying on average £27,812,554 more on fuel today compared to 12-months ago, as the average price of a gallon of fuel has risen from £5.50 to £6.31.

The findings highlight the extent to which rising fuel costs have impacted on businesses and what actions have been taken to absorb the costs. Over a third (35%) of firms in London have been forced to make cuts in areas of the business and 20% of

business managers and owners are currently reviewing company vehicles and planning to introduce more efficient models. Chris Hardy, Bibby Financial Services spokesperson for London, said, “Unfortunately many business managers and owners are being forced to pass the extra costs on to the customer. While this may overcome the challenge of trying to absorb the costs internally, in the long run it could result in loss of trade as customers are put off by rising prices.”

Cllr Navin Shah and Mayor Boris Johnson in a tug of war Mayor Boris Johnson admitted yesterday that commuters could face months of uncertainty as he was unable to say when “teething problems” on the Jubilee Line will come to an end.

The Mayor was responding to questions from local London Assembly member Navin Shah, whose Brent and Harrow constituency covers all stations on the line north of and including Kilburn.

Navin quizzed the Mayor over his handling of the Jubilee Line in an angry response to the Mayor’s attempts to “bury bad news”.

Despite repeated questions from Navin since the beginning of the year, TfL did not admit the line closures would continue past Easter Monday 2011 until the day after, Tuesday

April 26th.

Improvements in train frequency will begin “in the Autumn”, the Mayor said, with an increase from 24 to 27 trains per hour and hoping to increase this to 30 trains per hour “next year”.

Speaking at City Hall, local London Assembly member Navin Shah said, “Call me cynical, but quite frankly I don’t believe a word the Mayor said. I asked Mayor specifically to give me the latest completion date for the Jubilee Line upgrades. But, all I got was a waffle and no definitive date to end the misery suffered by my constituents in Brent and Harrow.

North West Londoners were promised an end to these weekend closures over a year ago and still the Mayor has absolutely no grip on this.”

Festival organisers warned over danger of 'legal highs' Music festival organisers were asked to review their measures for tackling illicit drug use at their events by Baroness Browning, the government's new minister for crime prevention and antisocial behaviour reduction. In an open letter to all the major summer events, Baroness Browning also expressed her concern over the demand for so-called 'legal highs' and called for increased vigilance.

The minister warned that some people may be openly selling potentially illegal and harmful substances at festivals under the guise of seemingly innocent 'bath salts' or 'plant food'.

Baroness Angela Browning said, "While people selling these products may give the impression they are legal and safe, they are more than likely not legal, and are certainly not safe. Some of these substances are

Baroness Browning warn festival organizers over drugs abuse

so novel anyone taking them is playing Russian roulette with their health. And if you are caught selling or buying them you could face arrest and prosecution.

Public Health Minister Anne Milton said: "For many people, music festivals

are the highlight of their summer and it is important that they are able to enjoy themselves as safely as possible.

“So-called 'legal highs' can contain a range of potentially very harmful chemicals, some of which may also be illegal to possess. Young people need to know that they can never be 100 per cent certain about what's in a 'legal high'. Just because its called a 'legal high', it doesn't mean that it is legal or safe. The effects and reactions people have to these can be unpredictable, especially when combined with alcohol.”

The government will be working with enforcement officers and organisers at a number of festivals over the summer to help identify emerging new psychoactive substances as part of work to improve Forensic Early Warning System.

European Muslim activists gather in London to stop racism Kenza Drider, the French Muslim recently arrested by police for refusing to take off her veil in public will be travelling to London to a European conference against antiMuslim hatred.

She will be joined by Dr Sabine Schiffer from Germany, who challenged the police courtroom killing of Elvi Ali Okaz and faced prosecution by the police; Marwan Muhammed the French writer and campaigner against Islamophobia; and Hiba Aburwein from the European Forum on Muslim Women.

The conference will discuss ways of organising resistance to the tide of Islamophobic sentiment sweeping Europe.

Participants from Britain include Aisha

Alvi, who was suspended from school twenty years ago, after refusing to remove her Hijab, but won reinstatement and is now a campaigner for legal rights for Muslims; Lindsey German from the Stop the War Coalition; Muhammad HabiburRahman, Secretary of the East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre, which has been subjected to repeated Islamophobic attacks from the media, politicians and racist groups like the English Defence League.

In France women are being arrested for wearing the Niqab, in Switzerland minarets have been made illegal, in Germany there is a public debate about the 'scourge of Islam'. In many countries recorded incidence of attacks is on

the rise.

In Britain politicians, media and police are guilty of demonising and criminalising Muslims.

The result is seen in the growing physical and verbal attacks on the streets.

Other speakers at the conference include rapper and political activist

Lowkey, Birmingham Councillor Salma Yaqoob, veteran anti-war campaigner Tony Benn, journalists Peter Oborne and Mehdi Hassan, and academics Dr Robert Lambert and Dr Abdoolkarim Vakil are among the many other speakers.

Ministers engage in 'giving' agenda The government is setting up a £10m fund to encourage people to give to charity and volunteer their time. A “giving” white paper, to be published tomorrow, says that while the poorest in society are generous, “there’s significant potential for the better-off to give more”.

In pursuit of the big society agenda, ministers are to dangle cash incen-

tives in front of people to encourage altruism, including a £100,000 reward for the development of a mobile phone “giving” application.

More than 34m Britons own a mobile phone, and ministers believe that the ability to text donations would be a key way of encouraging young people to be more generous.

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Asian Voice Saturday 28th May 2011

Hansika enjoying dream run in Tamil, Telugu films

With a dozen hits under your belt when you’re just 19, there’s no need to be bashful. And Hansika Motwani, who’s enjoying a dream run in Tamil and Telugu, knows this better than the rest. “I’m a very contented person,” she begins, as she confidently

says her eyes are set firmly on south Indian films now. “My mother thought I should have been born south India because of my food preferences, but now I am happy to become one of them by acting in their films,” she says.

Salman Khan never believed in selling his films, but for his new movie “Ready” he is going from one city to another for promoting the movie which will be released on 3rd June. But he wants the movie to be a hit so that he can donate the proceeds from the movie to his charity – “Being Human” foundation.

Though he was in Ahmedabad for a brief time, the humane side of Salman was very much evident and he presented a cheque for an Ahmedabad-based charity.

He is also style-savy and Ahmedabadis waited for hours to get a fleeting glance of him. Even one of his fans fainted, may be because of the long wait or simply because of the joy of seeing his idol in person.

When reporters asked Salman “Why was he late”, he answered “Mein late hi tau paida huya hui,” such were his tongue-in-cheek answers. When a lady reporter asked why he is not ready to get married, he answered, “I am still not ready to get married to you.”

When asked about the qualities of the girl whom he would like to marry, he said, “Kameeni, khurrat aur hoonhaar biwi chahiye muje and you cannot find such girls.”

When asked if he would like to meet Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, he said “Why only Modi, he would like to meet the CMs of every state he visits.” When a reporter asked him, “what was the most difficult part of handling the stardom, he replied, “handling hardcore reporters is the biggest problem.”

According to him, commercial movie need not have any message. If he ever wants to give a message he will sms or tweet. So, ‘Ready’ is just for entertainment.

- Purvi Apurva Shah

SalmaN KhaN promoting ‘Ready’ for a cause

2,500 films from 80 countries have participated in the panorama section and Vijay’s ‘Kaavalan’ is the first South Indian film to be selected in the Shanghai Fest. Vijay has been invited to participate in the festival on the day of his film’s screening.

Ashwin’s bold step

It takes great courage on the part of an artist to play the role of a transgender.

And Ashwin, who made his debut in Kollywood with Thankar Bachchan's “Onbadhu Rubai Nottu,”

seems to have been committed to the cause of playing the role of a transgender in “Narthaki,” which hit screens recently.

Says the youngster , "I read a couple of books and observed transgenders . In fact, my dad, who gave up his job as a water treatment engineer in Muscat to help me realize my dreams of getting into cinema, got a few transgenders to come home, so I could observe their behaviour and thereby, play this role to perfection." Now, that's what we call a laudable effort!

Habib Faisal. Marathi actress Mitalee Jagtap Paradhar and Tamil cinema's Saranya won the national award for best actress for their performances in the movies “Baboo Band Baaja” and “Thenmerku Paruvakkaatru” respectively. Kannada movie “Hejjegalu” was named the best children's film.

Here's the list of other important awards Best Actor: Dhanush (“Aadukalam”), Salim Kumar (“Adamante Makan Abu”) Best Actress: Mitalee Jagtap and Saranya, Best Feature Film: “Adamante

Makan Abu,” Best Director: Veerimaran, Best Wholesome Entertainer of the Year: “Dabangg,” Best Hindi film: “Do Dooni Chaar,” Best English film: “Memories in March.”

Best special effects: “Enthiran,” “Robot,” Best Music Director (songs): Vishal Bhardwaj: (“Ishqiya”), Best Female Singer: Rekha Bhardwaj (“Ishqiya”), Best Male singer: Suresh Wadkar, Special jury award: “Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein,” Best educational film: “Advaitam,” Best Art & culture film: “Leaving Home.”

Kalki locks lips with same gender Jacqueline ready to sizzle in ‘Murder2’ Smooches have become common phenomena in Hindi films now. But smooching with a person from the same gender can still raise eyebrows. That's exactly what happened in Anurag Kashyap produced “Shaitan” where Kashyap's newly-wed wife Kalki Koechlin was seen kissing costar Keerti Kulkari on her lips. Anyone who has seen the trailer of ‘Shaitan’ might have noticed the scene which makes a fleeting appearance in the promo. However the scene is not essentially an outcome of lesbian romance but is filmed in a more casual tone where s o m e youngsters play truth and dare in the film.

Brett Lee flirts with Deepika

Pace bowler Brett Lee flirted with Deepika Padukone at Shah Rukh Khan's lavish bash recently. An eyewitness said, "Dippy was in a summery jumpsuit and made a lot of heads turn. Lee seemed besotted by the actress. Throughout the night, he kept singing songs for Deepika. She kept smiling but at the same time seemed embarrassed by the attention. On noticing this, host SRK came by her side to make her feel comfortable." The source adds, "It was a light flirtatious moment, which left Dippy red-faced."

Sonam Kapoor scores over aishwarya, mallika in Cannes

‘Kaavalan’ selected for Shanghai

Actor Vijay’s latest release, ‘Kaavalan’, has been selected for the screening at the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival in China.

The festival will be held from June 11 to 19. One of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, over

17

Dev Anand hunting fresh face

National award for ‘Dabangg,’ ‘Ishqiya’

Arabaaz Khan's debut production venture “Dabangg” got the national award for wholesome entertainment while Vishal Bhardwaj's “Ishqiya” won two national awards - best music for the director and best female playback singer for his wife Rekha Bhardwaj. The national award for best feature film has gone to the Malayalam movie “Adaminde Makan Abu.” Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh starrer middle-class family drama “Do Dooni Chaar” won the national award for best Hindi feature film that was directed by

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Jacqueline Fernandez, who stepped into Mallika Sherawat’s shoes for “Murder 2,” says that she is all set for the challenge and admits that she is ready for comparisons, which she thinks are inevitable. “I think it’s absolutely fine for comparisons to be made and it’s only natural because she (Mallika) did ‘Murder’ and I am doing ‘Murder 2.’ I don’t know her personally, and I have never met her, so all I can say is that she is a good actor,” she says confidently. She says that she is ready for bold scenes.

L'Oreal brand ambassador Sonam Kapoor recently made her debut on the Cannes red carpet in a Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2009 couture gown and designers feel that the classic and vintage look suited her well and enhanced her figure.

More than her dress, it was her shapely buttocks that attracted eyeballs. Designer Nil of label Dev R Nil, who designed one of her the dresses for a press conference at Cannes, thinks she made a brave choice in choosing a dress which was different from Indian sensibilities.

"She has gone for a very classic

and vintage look. I think it was quite a brave choice considering such an architectural draping and completely non-embroidered gown which was quite contrary to the Indian sensibilities. The gown was beautiful and well-constructed, highlighting her butt. Also her hair-do and make up was kept very minimal keeping in mind her face and bone structure," Nil said.

"She also wore a one piece shift gown which was very beautiful, and on another occasion, a lovely polka dotted silk sari with a shirt inspired blouse designed by good

friend Masaba Gupta. She is a style icon in herself and she proved it once again," he added.

For designer Arpan Vohra, Sonam scored highest in comparison to her counterparts like Aishwarya Rai and Mallika Sherawat.

"The gown was a couture piece of modern inspired artwork and Sonam looked very chic in it. She is tall and that helps her carry the gown with a long trail with ease. She loves to experiment and here too she scored the highest in comparison to her counterparts," Vohra said.

Bollywood veteran Dev Anand is looking for a new face, who could match the talent of actress Zeenat Aman for the modern age adaptation of his 1971 cult hit "Hare Rama Hare Krishna". Zeenat played a hippie in the movie and Dev Anand is open to cast a girl from any part of India for the new film, which will be titled “Hare Rama Hare Krishna - Aaj". But his condition is that the girl should not look more than 18-19 years of age and should be able to essay the character close to what Zeenat played in the original movie.

Rajesh Khanna finds love again

The romantic superstar of the 70s has reportedly found love again.

Her name is Anita Advani and she's a childhood friend of the superstar. She is the nice of the former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos. Both of them are childhood friends and dating now. She is a regular visitor to Khanna's bungalow and has been spotted there quite often. A couple of days ago, they were also spotted at the nearby market having paani puri. They looked like a couple in love.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Restaurants on Taxman’s Menu Again! based businesses such as restaurants has always been rewarding for the tax authorities. They are now investing significant resources to crack down on non-compliant businesses. Indeed a war chest of £900m was set aside for such projects at the last government spending review.

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Let’s level the playing field for our readers. Let me tell you what Goldman Sachs is telling its wealthiest family offices and high net worths…and me.

In FX: 1. Stay short $/CNY via 1-yr NDFs, opened at 6.7550 on 10 June 2010, and a trailing stop of 6.70 for the $/CNY spot rate, now at 6.4991. (CNY is the Chinese currency).

2. Stay long EUR/TRY, opened at 2.1620 on 9 February 2011, with a target of 2.35 and a stop on a close below 2.09, now at 2.2528. (TRY is the Turkish Lira) 3. Stay long EUR/$, opened at 1.4085 on 18 March 2011, with a target of 1.50 and a stop on a close below 1.35, now at 1.4077. (Disclosure – I hold this position).

4. Stay short $/MYR via 1-yr NDFs, opened at 3.066 on 31 March 2011, with a target of 2.90 (spot) and a stop on a close above 3.08 (spot). (MYR is Malaysian Ringgit) 5. Stay short $/PHP via 1-yr NDFs, opened at 43.11 on April 7 2011, with a target of 41.50 and a stop on a close above 44.50, now at 43.501. (PHP is the Philippine Peso) In Equity: 1. Stay short UK consumer growth (GSTWUKCG), opened at 88.8 on 4 May 2011, for a target of 84 and a stop on a close above 90.5, now at 86.9. (This is Goldman’s saying Consumer stocks to be avoided).

2. Close long large cap US commercial banks (BKX), for a potential profit of 13%.

3. Stay long Nikkei 225 (NKY), opened at 9988.05, with a target of 12000, now at 9477.17. (I hold this position) 4. Close long a basket of Crude, Copper, Cotton/Soybeans and Platinum (‘CCCP’), for a potential profit of 25%.

5. Stay long EM equities via EEM, opened at 48.51 on 30 March 2011, with a target of 55, now at 46.09.

6. Go short $/NOK, opened at 5.60 on May 23 2011, with a target of 5.00, now at 5.586. (I hold this position) The bottom line is Goldman Sachs expect Eastern economies to raise interest rates and their currencies to appreciate, but they also expect their equities to rise.

They have faith too in the Euro.

Thoughts on @alpeshbp.

My blog is at www.alpeshblog.com and www.alpesh.tv you can see my latest TV commentary.

Alpesh.patel@tradermind.com

Cairn India eyes forays into east Africa Cairn India, a subsidiary of Cairn Energy, UK, is interested in expanding into east Africa, a senior company executive said last week.

"We are looking to grow our business elsewhere and east Africa is an obvious place to consider," David Ginger, Cairn India's director of exploration and new ventures, told a regional oil and gas conference in Nairobi.

Cairn India is one of India's biggest private exploration and production companies and largely operates in India and Sri Lanka.

Ginger did not say which east African countries the company was eyeing in the region.

East Africa has attracted increasing prospecting interest as insecurity in other parts of the continent, unrest in the Middle East and increasing energy nationalism elsewhere push explorers to seek new sources.

Gas discoveries in Tanzania, and oil discoveries on the border between Uganda and Congo have raised interest in the region, which had been largely overlooked. Uganda expects to launch commercial oil production next year.

Cairn Energy is in the process of selling its stake in the Indian unit to India-focused miner Vedanta Plc, but the transaction has been delayed due to a dispute over royalty payments by Cairn India's partner, state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp.

Anand Unalkat Tax Investigations Senior It was recently announced that HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) will be setting up a ‘Task Force’ to target restaurants, with a view to cracking down on any “tax-dodgers” within the sector.

What does this mean?

From small takeaways to Michelin-star restaurants, HMRC are undertaking activities to ensure that any tax evaders are tracked down and punished.

Enquiring into cash-

HMRC will be targeting: Undeclared business receipts (with a particular focus on cash) Payments made to waiters and cooks etc, where PAYE has not been operated Correct operation of TRONC systems (with a particular focus on the interaction with the National Minimum Wage) Cash paid to suppliers Use of casual staff, students and P46 procedures HMRC will focus on all taxes, including Income Tax, Corporation Tax, PAYE, NIC and VAT. Nowadays, HMRC can also exchange information with other government

Quality

for

agencies (eg, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) about workers who are wrongly claiming benefits and the Home Office regarding staff working illegally in the UK).

How will the Taxman strike?

Unannounced inspection of restaurant premises Authorised surveillance operations Test purchases Short notice inspection of business records Further legislation was introduced two years ago giving HMRC enhanced Information and Inspection Powers. They can now visit any business premises without notice, carrying out inspections and removing documents from the premises, if necessary.

HMRC have issued the following statement: “…. The message is clear – if you deliberately seek to evade tax HMRC can and will track you down, and you’ll face not

Sean Wakeman

Tax Investigations Partner

only a heavy fine, but possibly a criminal prosecution as well.”

Is there a way out?

The best way to tackle any tax irregularities is to approach HMRC before they find you. This must be done with extreme care and proper specialist advice.

If you require any assistance in making a tax disclosure, please telephone Sean Wakeman, Partner, on 020 7842 7285 or Anand Unalkat on 020 7842 7143.

Community Mayank S. Rawal, FCQI CQP

Code of Conduct Trust is one of the most critical ingredients that make a Community organization so great.

Trust can be earned by maintaining high standards of working practice, behaviour and discipline.

The commitment for conducting the day to day operations of a Community organization in an ethical and disciplined manner with integrity should be an absolute must for the entire organization. In order to meet that commitment, a Code of Conduct can be established to define a set of expectations that Community members should be required to demonstrate when they interact with community members, external organizations, media, government officials, and suppliers to the community, amongst others. The key objective of Code of Conduct should be to continuously promote higher standards of practice within the community organization.

The Code of Conduct should provide guidelines of how the community organization’s values will be applied in specific situa-

tions.

The specific detail within the guidelines of the Code, could include Golden rules of what should be done, and what should not be done, i.e., The Do’s and Don’ts.

Suggested examples of guidelines for inclusion in the Code, and which the organization should be committed to could include; Health, Safety, Environment – Member’s duty towards protecting the Environment, being alert to safety risks should be a core element. Rules could relate to: Stopping unsafe work; Preparing for and responding to emergency situations; Reporting injuries & unsafe conditions; Avoid work when medically unfit; Safe handling of hazardous materials; To do no harm to people.

Community People – Each and every person should be treated with fairness and respect in a harassment free environment, and be given the opportunity to support the organization.

Rules could relate to: Observing fair and nondiscriminatory treatment; Compliance with

applicable labor and employment laws; Handling of possible offensive material; Verbal and written internal / external communication (media, political); Use of illegal substances.

I n f o r m a t i o n Management – Information being a key asset to every Community should be treated with adequate security controls. Rules could relate to; Managing use of Intellectual Property e.g. trademarks, logos, copyright; Data protection e.g. members personal data; managing electronic and paper records – protection and disposition; Email content and communication; Use of Information Technology systems e.g.

Virus Control, Licensed software.

Financial Data – Being transparent and accurate in the reporting of financial data should be an absolute must for all. Rules could relate to: Providing factually correct data; Maintaining accurate and true accounting; Fraud; Transaction approval by correct level of authority; Openness during audits.

Working with Integrity – The reputation and integrity of the community should always remain high, and can be achieved through fair actions.

Rules could relate to: Acceptance of gifts which may influence working practices and decision making; Conflicts of Interest which may affect/influence community activities; Bribery; Using charitable donations in the correct manner.

It should be the duty of each Member to report any violation of the Code of Conduct to C o m m i t t e e Management, which could subsequently result in disciplinary action. In short, the Code of Conduct will guide the committee to doing the right thing consistently – for the organization, members, affiliated organizations, and other communities.

When each Member follows the Code of Conduct, they communicate their commitment to the values that would make your esteemed Community organization respectfully recognized and trusted within the global community.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

19

Buying a property is like peeling an onion Sometimes it makes you cry!

Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director Sow & Reap A Property Investment & Financing company.

We picked up a one bedroom property in Edgware Road about a month ago. The property is now nearing completion, it was bought cheap no doubt at £230,000. Even then we had to act quickly to secure it, as now a days with repossessions the bank has to follow a strict procedure of advertising offers for three days when received, this sometimes attracts unwanted attention at the wrong times. There was a reason why it was cheap, the property came with issues.

One of these was that the lease allowed access to the garden this is not the case in reality. Actually the access has been blocked off and there is a building erected in the garden belonging to the flat above.

There are possible encroachment issues in the rear garden. If these issues were disentangled and resolved legally there's a good chance of winning and getting compensated.

We anticipated problems in this property and expected there to be more issues as we peeled the layers off. We have the resources to tackle and get to the root of the issues and have them resolved.

However this will all require time and energy, the question is are we better off applying them here to this property or would it be better to cut off the issue, do the property up, resell and move on?

The property has now been converted from a one bedroom to a two bedroom and has been decorated to a good standard although the conversion doesn't increase the square footage an inch it does add value in the cheapest possible way. The material cost is the cost of a stud wall.

On ly two type s o f pe opl e will bu y the propert y, o ne is a B TL in ve sto r, t he othe r is an e nd user. F rom a BTL inve sto r's poin t o f view the advan tage is obvious, it can be rent ed as a two bed roo m enhancing the re ntal from £350 per we ek to £450 per week , a £5,000 increase pe r an num for a co uple o f hu ndred pound s of wo rk , makes sen se !

I don't think there were many ways left in the UK economy where a few hundred pounds investment will give you a return of this amount in perpetuity, meaning forever. This is a few thousand percentage return which you will gain every year.

From an end user's point it's not always beneficial but generally it will be, as it will attract one parent families, couples; people who need a study, this proportion will be higher. However there are cases of buyers who convert three bedroom properties back to two bedrooms.

There are two options on the table, one to develop and resell, the other to develop and refinance.

The reason why a revaluation is possible despite the issues surrounding this property is when a Valuer comes to see the property he does not compare the original lease plan to the actual property. Perhaps they should, and possibly in the future they may. The primary aim of a Valuer is ensure if you default on the loan will the mortgage company get their money back.

The property value will be £375k when completed, this is a very conservative value for a two bedroom flat. At a refinance at 75% we will release £280,000, keeping 25% of this buried within the property. This would give back the purchase cost of £230,000 and the refurbishment cost of £22,000 and give a profit of £27,000 without the need to sell.

However as the property is not clear in terms of lease and other issues have cropped up as time has gone one it would be preferable to off load, this is not one to keep!

There are also those who get the bug from watching too many programs of Homes Under The Hammer!

I have known many properties which have been dumped in auction. One was the size of a tiny broom cupboard which was sold as a studio in central London. Buyers desperate for a bargain would exchange on the property, realise what it is they have actually exchanged on and then would not complete the sale. So this property would come up for auction several times a year and in different auction houses. And the seller, though never quite managing to sell the property would benefit from getting 10% of the value several times a year!

A second example is of a house which has been converted only on the surface, meaning the conversion was a day’s job, all the paraphernalia such as the bathroom, sink , kitchen was all put in but none of it worked, nothing was wired up, however it looked like there were two flats in a converted house. Of course there was no planning permission. Yet it was sold at auction numerous times and this seller done this repeatedly until the auctioneers got wind of it and refused to take his Lots in.

The other issue that we have is we have not held the property for more than 6 months, a purchaser’s mortgage lender requires the current owner to have held the property for more than a 6 month period. This policy was designed simply to slow the market down. Previously if a property was bought for £150,000 but worth £200,000 it could be remortgaged for £180,000 the next day. This would release £30,000 after the purchase took place. Due to this restriction it would be difficult to sell this property via an estate agent as this issue will crop up unless the purchaser was a cash buyer. Outing this in an auction the purchaser will be putting 10% across at the fall of the hammer and will have to come up with the rest within 28 days otherwise they will lose their initial 10% irrespective of the issues. At auction the property is bought as seen and an assumption is made that a valuation has been done and all the documenters have been read. It is with these assumptions the purchaser is buying, in practice this doesn’t always happen.

This week we have managed to purchase a two bedroom property in Wembley for £153,000 on behalf of a client, this was featured in last week’s article. This has an immediate resale value of £175,000 minimum.

Off-market opportunity near Little Venice £285,000

On the op en ma rk et v ia est ate agent s y ou wou ld und oubtedly at tract off ers at this l evel a nd even in ex cess of t his lev el. Then t he quest ions a nd legal pa perwork would s tart , at this p oint all t he issues wou ld st art t o surfa ce. T he s ignifican ce of ha vin g a n offer accep ted is actu all y n othin g - zero! The import ant sta ge in a sa le is ex cha nge a nd ev en then it is not the f ull story. Ex cha nge does n ot mea n necessaril y t hat the property wil l go t o complet ion!

Between offer and exchange there is normally a two month time period. During this time a valuer, assuming there's a mortgage in place, will go and inspect the property, the buyer’s solicitor will check the titles and service charges and so forth during this period.

In order to cut these unwanted variables out of the equation the best route is to sell via auction.

At an auction legal documents will be made available for inspection but auctions also attract impulsive buyers who will simply purchase on impulse without inspection.

l Two-bedroom duplex flat close to Little Venice and Edgware Road. l This is an income generating property l Currently rented at £28,600pa – 40% return on the deposit! l You won’t get such return in

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now: Specialists in: l Property Sourcing l Mortgages l Commercial Finance l India Properties

UK Sales 0207 313 4595 India Sales 0203 384 5323 Westbourne House, 14-16 Westbourne Grove, London, W2 5RH

any bank! l The location of the flat is superb- close to Edgware Road Station and Warwick Avenue - it is a very easy property to rent. l This property is exclusive to our clients - it is not advertised anywhere else.

Tips of the Week l Don't take all the money out of a property to purchase in cash. It may be more beneficial to take 50% form each property l Look on gumtree.co.uk, or loot.com buying second hand is often cheaper option with better quality of furniture

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financial VOIce

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Management

Maria Fernandes

Only Being Human

maria@abplgroup.com

A host of immigration issues, present and future IMPORTANT: New Regulations for Points Based Appeals: Until now where there was evidence available but not included in the application for a leave to remain under the Points Based System a Tribunal could admit such evidence.

As of the 23rd May any new evidence submitted after the application will not be allowed to be considered at an appeal.

This will apply to all appeals heard for the first time regardless of the date that the appeal was lodged.

Lack of document verification: Of late there is a rise in applications of those who have not only been refused but been barred from entry for 10 years.

This change in regulations was introduced to stem the flow of false documents which was then a growing problem.

As a policy this is unobjectionable.

However there is a trend emerging of the misuse of these provisions.

There are cases of Entry Clearance Officers imposing refusals which could have been easily resolved by making enquiries. The Officers have to be satisfied on a balance of probabilities that the document was false. When a refusal has such serious consequences more care should be taken to check information carefully and make enquiries. After all

applicants are paying huge sums for their case to be processed. This lackadaisical approach is resulting in increased appeals.

Appeals: By the end of this year applicants will have to pay to exercise a right of appeal, £80 for a paper appeal and £120 for an oral hearing.

Following the consultation there have been some minor concessions: • Those who are successful will have their fees refunded.

• There will not be a fee for appealing to the higher tribunal Bearing in mind that there is still a huge success rate of appeals leading to concerns that the decision making process is still not robust enough these concessions offer applicants very little back if they succeed.

MAC review: The Migration Advisory Committee are conducting a review of shortage of chefs. The deadline for responses is 10th June 2011 and MAC will then report to Government in July. They want evidence of 3 issues, Skill, Shortage and whether it Sensible to have migrant workers. The questions must be answered by considering these headers: • Skill levels 1. What are the earnings or range of earnings 2. Proportion of people who qualify within this range 3. Minimum qualification required and/or

The arrest of the managing director of the IMF Dominique StraussKahn, for an alleged sexual assault may have grabbed the headlines last week; there was another story about the separation of former Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife of 25 years. It turned out that he had confessed to having an affair with a member of his household staff a number of years ago. Schwarzenegger is not the first or last leader to be involved in such relationships he joins a distinguished list such as N.D. Tiwari and Silvio Berlusconi. In fact a quick glance through history tells us that there have been countless leaders who have succumbed to temptation (JFK, Nehru to name a few).

Bill Clinton was one of the most successful and popular US presidents in recent times.

However, Clinton had a relationship with an intern at the White House

duration of on the job training • Shortage 1. Indicators of imbalance for eg on vacancy rates, duration of vacancies 2. Earnings ( show how levels have changed) 3. Turnover of staff 4. Employers perception of shortage through for eg a survey 5. Trends for demand and supply of workers • Sensible 1. Alternatives to employing immigrants (What problems there are) 2. Upskilling - how this can be done 3. Impact of loss of skills from abroad on the business 4. wider market implications: do migrants take jobs from local residents or does employing migrants increase jobs Employers need to give some thought to these issues and report back. If you belong to an organisation that can coordinate these issues this is the best way to put forward views. However which ever way is employed it is vital to contribute to this by the deadline.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years.

Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 02087330123, by email on info@fernandesvaz.com.

Tata Steel to cut down 1,500 jobs in Britain

Vedanta to float Zambian copper arm in £4.5 bn IPO Anil Agarwal controlled London-listed diversified miner Vedanta is to float off its Zambian copper arm valuing it at £4.5 billion (US$7.3 billion) in a London IPO soon.

Vedanta has major mining interests in India and Africa. The reports say that Vedanta has hired J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs to advise it on an offering and is said to be aiming for a June listing.

Reports suggest that

world's top ten copper miners in its own right.

Its Zambian properties are comprised of four mines, one at Konkola, two at Nchanga and one at Nampundwe, a tailings leach plant at Nchanga and a smelter at Nkana.

Production of copper cathode was 507,000 tonnes in fiscal 2010. Production increases, together with higher copper market prices, enabled revenues to reach $3.8 billion in 2010.

following the huge Glencore float there are fears that the stock market may have peaked and that there are companies with planned IPOs, of which Vedanta is one, who are now rushing to push these through before the market turns down.

The company is the largest producer of copper and cobalt in Africa's largest copper-mining nation and has a stated aim to become one of the

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and when asked to explain his actions it appeared that were some glaring inconsistencies in his version of what happened. Without going into too much detail, his defence was that he made a ‘human’ error.

Normally under such circumstances leaders resign and the matter is closed. However Clinton did not and instead he forced America to look itself in the mirror and ask itself some very difficult questions. Does it really matter what a leader does in private as long as he is exemplary in public? Should they be held to a different code from normal people? And most importantly, should they not be excused for simply being human?

Suddenly people had to choose between having a person who was good at what he did and having a person who may not have been so good but at least embodied the values of the country.

Clinton saw out his

Following weak demand for its products, Tata Steel is to cut down 1,500 jobs at two sites in northeastern England , the company said in a statement.

Tata said it would close or mothball its Scunthorpe plant, risking the loss of 1,200 positions, and would cut another 300 posts in Teeside.

The job losses will occur at Tata's loss-making British long products business, which produces bars, rods and rails - mostly for the construction sector.

At the same time, Tata announced it would invest £400 million (456 million euros) in a five-year plan to try and turn around the long products business to target "high value" markets.

"The long products business as a whole has continued to make losses over the last two years.

The decline in some major markets, particularly the construction sector, has been a key factor," it said

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in a statement.

"Demand for structural steel in the UK is only two-thirds of the 2007 level and is not expected to fully recover within the next five years."

It added: "As a consequence, the business has proposed a plan to further reduce costs, focus on products that create value and improve its ability to respond quickly to demand fluctuations.

"This strategy includes a proposal to close or mothball parts of the Scunthorpe plant and puts at risk 1,200 jobs at Scunthorpe and 300 jobs at its Teesside sites," Tata said. The sites were acquired by Tata in 2007 as part of its $13.7-billion purchase of Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus.

"The weak demand is one of the main reasons why we are setting out on this difficult course of action," said Karl-Ulrich Kohler, boss of Tata Steel's European operations.

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By Amit Patel

term as President. The official findings were that he did not actually lie and so could not be impeached; however, one wonders why no one actually called him to account for breaking the social rules of commitment and fidelity in his marriage.

Why did no one say that if you do not uphold such values in your own life, how can you ever claim to represent them to the world? Leadership is a great thing to achieve and to practice, but once you become a leader you must be what you represent.

Whether you lead a team, a company or even a country – as leader, your principal responsibility is to walk the path you are taking others down. To say that you are only being human is not an excuse; it is an admission of weakness. ‘Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.’ Albert Schweitzer.

Vodafone may have to pay extra tax over Essar deal British telecom major, Vodafone Group Plc, may have to cough up an additional tax of $ 1billion on its purchase of Essar’s 22 per cent stake in its joint venture, Vadafone Essar. It is already fighting a capital gains tax liability case of $2.6 billion on its $11.2 billion purchase of HutchisonEssar in 2007 against the Indian tax authorities.

Vodafone had bought out the entire 33% stake held by the Ruias in a $5billion deal in March this year. Essar's 22% stake was held in a Mauritiusbased entity, while the remaining 11% stake was held in India. The income tax department is also investigating Essar's 22% stake held in Mauritus for capital gains tax.

In a statement Vodafone said, "The group does not believe there is any legal requirement to withhold tax in respect of these transactions but if, contrary to expectations, this amount is additional $1 billion."

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

21

Foreign Exchange Rajesh Agrawal is the Chairman & CEO of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

For any further information call 020 7220 8181 or e-mail info@rationalfx.com

A week in the Currency markets It was a slow start to the week in the UK with no data on Monday.

On Wednesday we had the UK CPI figure which came out higher than expected at 4.45%, this left sterling with gains on the speculation that this data may give food for thought on the next rate decision. Thursday there were two main pieces of data which came in the form of the BOE minutes where we saw the vote come out again unchanged at a 6-3 split, this shows that the BOE are still 6 votes a away from a rate hike. The second piece of data on Thursday was the UK unemployment rate which fell 0.1%, this saw the pound gain against its counterparts in the short term however an increase in the claimant count left these gains short lived. The final piece of data for the week came in the form of UK retail sales for April which came out positively and we saw a sterling strengthen prior to the weekend.

Euro is in a dramatic situation now and there was an interview in Spain last week where Trichet stated he saw “a hump in the consumer price index, not a peak as Reuters had previously reported". This indicates a potential further increase of the inflation. Compared to the

hawkish ECB speech about controlling inflation before, the situation now is full of uncertainty.

This caused the investors to start questioning whether the EU knows what to do and whether it has the momentum for the global recovery. Early last week from the EU we had the Trade Balance figure which came out considerably worse than previous, seeing some further Euro weakness as well as contributing to some USD strength through the risk aversion caused by the negative state of affairs in the EU. Euro strengthened slightly mid week due to an EU minister mentioning that a 78billion bailout plan for Portugal was approved and added some short term support to the Euro. There was very little data from the euro zone on Wednesday to affect the euro, however with the state of Greece’s debt and a possible second bailout pending saw the euro trade lower which in turn would see sterling/dollar dragged down with it. On Friday there were reports that showed that German growth is likely to ease somewhat in the foreseeable future. This report came from the Frankfurt based Bundesbank. We witnessed a further sell off in the Euro as this showed growth is a major prob-

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 24th May 2011 @ 1pm GBP - INR = 73.06 USD - INR = 45.20 EUR - INR = 63.72 GBP - USD = 1.61 GBP - EUR = 1.14 EUR - USD = 1.41 GBP - AED = 5.933 GBP - CAD = 1.58 GBP - NZD = 2.027

lem in one of Euro zone’s leading economies. The Euro finished 0.6 percent weaker to $1.4223 against the US Dollar and 1.1440 against the pound.

The US began last week with a return to fundamental data as weak figures in the form of the Net TIC flows and NAHB housing market index caused the USD to weaken. Further weak data on Tuesday came out as housing starts and building permits figures were negative, seeing a return to risk aversion and the USD strengthening. On Wednesday the only data was the

FOMC minutes which revealed nothing unexpected and as such had little impact on the USD. Thursday was the last busy day for the US with no data released on Friday. Thursday saw better than expected jobless claims but this was cancelled out somewhat by a plunge in existing home sales which came out hugely against the positive consensus.

Finally the Philadelphia FED Business Index for May had quite a decrease and these negative figures began the risk aversion that we see this week begin with.

GBP - AUD = 1.52 GBP - ZAR = 11.305 GBP - HUF = 308.36

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

22

Pakistan-BagLaDesh-sri Lanka

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Pak forces recapture naval base from Taliban In focus Islamabad: Pakistan's security forces on Monday night regained control of Karachi's Mehran naval base after a night-long firefight with Taliban militants, lasting 17 hours.

The attackers armed with grenades, rocketlaunchers and automatic weapons, swore revenge of "martyrdom of Osama bin Laden" and stormed the base under cover of darkness using ladders and cutting the wire to get into the facility late night.

The insurgents fired rockets and setting off a series of explosions which destroyed two US-made P3 Orion maritime surveillance aircrafts and damaged several helicopters.

Soldiers depart Mehran naval base after operations

The facility was engulfed in thick smoke after fuel tanks caught fire.

A spokesman for the Navy said three hangars had been hit. At least four navy personnel and a soldier were among seven dead. At least two dozen others

were injured. Two attackers were shot dead and one blew himself up. While two militants escaped, a third is believed to be lying, possibly dead, under the debris.

Interior minister Rehman Malik confirmed that six militants were

Countries urged not to attend Lanka military conference Colombo: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged countries not to attend a Sri Lankan military conference that allegedly seeks to justify the thousands killed during the armed conflict with the Tamil Tigers. Colombo has invited 54 countries to its 'Seminar on Defeating Terrorism: The Sri Lankan Experience' from May 31 to June 2.

The conference website says Sri Lankan military officials and panelists will 'share their knowledge on counter insurgency and enumerate contributory factors in militarily defeating the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of

Tamil Eelam)', HRW said.

'Sri Lanka's self-proclaimed 'model' of counterinsurgency included repeatedly shelling civilians, targeting hospitals, and trying to prevent the world from finding out about it,' said Brad Adams of HRW. 'This conference is nothing more than a public relations exercise to whitewash abuses. No professional, law abiding military should take part in this farce.'

In April, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a report by a panel of experts that accused both government forces and the LTTE of

Taliban deny death of Mullah Omar

Death row prisoners in Lanka on hunger strike

Kabul: The Taliban said on Monday that their leader Mullah Mohammad Omar was alive and â&#x20AC;&#x153;living in a safe place,â&#x20AC;? disputing reports coming from Afghan intelligence agencies indicating that he had been killed in Pakistan some days ago.

"Mullah Omar was killed on way from Quetta to North Waziristan," Afghanistan's TOLO television stated. However, it did not provide details on how he was killed and by whom.

Meanwhile, a security official confirmed the killing, saying: "It is correct that Mullah Omar has been killed." But he did not disclose details. Omar was considered the spiritual leader of the Taliban movement that operates in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He was Afghanistan's de facto head of state from 1996 to late 2001 and had the title "Head of the Supreme Council".

Colombo: Hundreds of prisoners on death row or serving life in jail in Sri Lanka are staging a hunger strike. They are trying to persuade the government to set them free or commute their sentences. Around 600 prisoners at Colombo's Welikada jail refused food on Monday, and there are reports of similar protests in two other prisons.

Despite the large number of prisoners on death row, Sri Lanka has not carried out capital punishment since 1977.

However, in the late 1990s it suspended a process whereby sentences used to be regularly commuted, so many inmates have no idea what the future holds. The head of the prisons service, MajGen V.R. de Silva, said that more than 600 of the 4,000 prisoners at the high-security Welikada prison had refused food on Monday morning.

Twenty were demonstrating on the prison roof.

There are reports of similar protests, also involving large numbers, in two jails

conducting military operations without caring for civilian lives.

It said that as many as 40,000 civilians were killed in the final months of the conflict, which ended in May 2009.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said there were no violation of human rights and there were no civilian casualties.

HRW said that countries invited to the seminar include Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

outside Colombo.

The number involved has grown since last Thursday, when more than 100 prisoners started a demonstration demanding that the authorities rescind their death sentences.

Maj-Gen de Silva said the protesting prisoners are convicted of crimes including murder, rape and drugtrafficking. They are said to be unhappy that they were not included in a general amnesty implemented for more than 800 minor offenders a week ago.

The wheels of justice move notoriously slow in Sri Lanka and the jails are said to be severely overcrowded, with poor conditions. A committee has been set up to go through individuals' files, but the head of the prison service warned that a solution could not be found overnight.

involved in the attack.

"Three militants were killed in the gunbattle while the body of a fourth was believed to be buried under the rubble of a collapsed wall," he said.

"Two suspects are believed to have fled the scene." Malik said the attackers were aged between 20 and 25.

"Militants had planned to attack sensitive military installations as well as important figures at a meeting in North Waziristan after bin Laden's killing." Malik said 17 foreigners - including 11 Chinese and six Americans - were inside the base at the time. All were evacuated safely.

China providing Pakistan 50 fighter jets Beijing: China has agreed to provide Pakistan with 50 additional fighter jets in a deal clinched during Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's trip to Beijing, a Pakistani air force official said Friday.

The agreement comes at the close of the four-day visit, which highlighted Pakistan's warm ties with China at a time of heightened tensions with Washington over the killing of Osama bin Laden in a Pakistani town by American special forces.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Pakistani air force official confirmed the deal to provide the JF17 Thunder jets, a singleengine multirole fighter developed in cooperation between China and Pakistan. He offered no details on cost or other terms of the agreement.

Known as the FC-1 Xiaolong in China, defense experts say the planes are being offered for export at the relatively low price of about $15 million, making it a cost-efficient replacement for aging workhorses such as the MiG-21 and Northrop F-5 Tiger.

Pakistan has already inducted an initial squadron 14 of the planes into its air force, using some of them alongside U.S.-made F-16s to bomb insurgent strongholds in South Waziristan in 2009.

The air force has long been expected to procure more of the planes, including future models with more advanced radars and more powerful engines.

Defense cooperation is a major aspect of what Pakistan and China routinely refer to as their "all-weather friendship," a term Islamabad accentuates to flag what it considers the fickle nature of Washington's affection.

Following bin Laden's killing, Beijing offered reassurance and praise for Pakistan's efforts in the fight against global terrorism in stark contrast to withering criticism from Washington

35 workers killed Afghan Taliban ambush Kabul: At least 35 construction workers have been shot dead and 20 injured by Taliban insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, an official says. Eight insurgents were also killed as guards returned fire during ambush, a Paktia provincial spokesman said. The attack took place in a mountainous district on the highway linking Paktia and Khost provinces. The Taliban recently declared the start of a "spring offensive" of attacks. This is the deadliest single attack by the Taliban in Afghanistan since February when militants killed 42 people in an attack on a bank in Jalalabad.

Bangla companies lease farmland in Africa Dhaka: Bangladeshi companies say they have leased thousands of hectares of farmland in Africa so that they can cultivate and avoid future food shortages. Two companies have already signed deals to lease unused cultivable land in Uganda, Tanzania and Gambia. Another agreement to lease around 30,000 hectares for 99 years will be signed with the Tanzanian government soon.

Lanka gets its first female CJ Colombo: Sri Lanka's first female Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake took her oaths last week before President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the 33rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. The Chief Justice Joseph Asoka N. De Silva who was appointed in June 2009 retired recently. Dr. Bandaranayake, who had served as the Acting Chief Justice on several occasions, was appointed as a Supreme Court judge in 1996 when she was an Associate Professor of Law and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo. She made history then as the first female Supreme Court Judge of Sri Lanka.

Fonsekaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter held at airport Colombo: Younger daughter of the jailed former army chief Sarath Fonseka was briefly held at the Colombo airport's immigration counter on Friday when she was returning to the country from US, family said. Anoma Fonseka, the former army chief's wife said that Aparna Fonseka was quizzed by the police about her brotherin -law Danuna Thilakaratne who is wanted by the police for his misconduct in supplying material to the Army when his father- in -law was the commander of the army. He continues to evade arrest. Sarath Fonseka was found guilty by a military tribunal over the same case and was sentenced to a 30 month jail term which he is currently serving.

ISI asks US to stop drone strikes Islamabad: The powerful ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha has warned the US that Pakistan would be "forced to respond" if it does not stop drone strikes in the country's tribal belt, according to a media report on Sunday. Pasha, who faced tremendous criticism after the May 2 US raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, made Pakistan's stand clear during a meeting on Sunday between visiting CIA deputy director Michael Morell and senior ISI officials.

The ISI chief took a firm stance with the US on drone strikes, The Express Tribune newspaper quoted its sources as saying. "We will be forced to respond if you do not come up with a strategy that stops the drone strikes," Pasha reportedly told Morell.

Pak province cancels 6 US aid deals Lahore: Pakistan's most populous province has cancelled six aid agreements with the United States in protest against US raid that killed Osama bin Laden, its law minister said. Pakistan hailed bin Laden's death as a big step against militancy but was incensed by the raid in a garrison town not far from the capital, saying it was a violation of sovereignty. The operation severely strained already uneasy ties between the United States and Pakistan. "We have cancelled six MOUs with the United States in the fields of health, education and solid waste management," said Rana Sanaullah, law minister of Punjab, the country's political nerve centre.

16 killed in NATO fuel truck blast in Pak Landikotal (Pakistan): At least 16 people were killed in northwest Pakistan after a bomb attack claimed by a militant group hit a truck carrying fuel supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan, the latest attack in an upsurge in violence since Osama bin Laden was killed. It took place near the Torkham border crossing in the Khyber region, the main route for moving supplies to NATO and American forces in Afghanistan.

"The tanker was on fire because of a blast late in the night. There was another blast early in the morning in the same tanker and 16 people who gathered near it to collect oil were killed," a senior local administration official said.

world

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

In focus Strauss-Kahn released on bail, IMF battle heats up New York/Washington: Fallen IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn left jail on bail on Friday and was whisked to a safe house off Wall Street where he will be held under round-the-clock armed guard. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde led the race to succeed him in the top job in global finance. But developing countries, whose clout in the world economy has grown in recent years, kept up pressure on Europe and the United States to avoid a backroom deal over the appointment.

116 killed in US tornado Joplin (USA): At least 116 people were killed when a massive tornado tore a 10-kilometre path across the central state of Missouri and smashed a small city, ripping into a hospital, crushing cars and leaving behind only splintered tree trunks where entire neighbourhoods once stood. Joplin City manager Mark Rohr said seven people had been rescued, and Missouri governor Jay Nixon said he was "optimistic that there are still lives out there to be saved." Authorities warned that the death toll could climb as search-and-rescue workers continued their efforts. Their task was made more miserable by a new thunderstorm that brought strong winds, heavy rain and hail. Much of the city's south side has been levelled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to ruins by winds of up to 318 kph.

640 hurt in South Africa train crash Johannesburg: More than 640 passengers were injured last week when a train crashed into a stationary train in South Africa's Soweto township outside Johannesburg, local media reported. South African news agency SAPA said two of the injured were in a critical condition. It said a train had apparently collided with a stationary one in Soweto, the country's biggest black township. Commuter train accidents are a regular occurrence in South Africa. In 2009 almost 300 people were injured in two separate train accidents that occurred hours apart.

Hosni Mubarak’s wife hands over assets, gets bail

Cairo: Suzanne Thabet, the wife of Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak, was granted bail in a corruption probe after agreeing to hand over her assets amounting to over $3 million and a villa to the government. She was taken into custody recently after being questioned by anticorruption sleuths probing allegations that she abused her position to amass illicit wealth.

Two Sikh ministers in Canada

Toronto: In a major surprise for the million-strong IndoCanadian Sikh community, first-time MP Bal Gosal from the Toronto constituency of BramaleaGore-Malton was made minister of state for sport by Prime Minister Stephen Harper whose Conservative Party was returned to power with a majority in the May 2 elections.

A Sikh from Mukundpur village near Jalandhar in India, 50year-old Gosal, who is an insurance broker by profession, had defeated Sikh stalwart and six-time MP Gurbax Malhi. Malhi himself had created history in 1993 by becoming the first Sikh turbaned MP in the western world.

Tim Uppal, a 37-yearold Canadian-born turbaned Sikh from Edmonton, was also made minister of state for democratic reform. This is Uppal's second term in the Canadian parliament.

However, what shocked many in the IndoCanadian community was the omission of seniormost MP Deepak Obhrai from the ministry. A sixtime MP from Calgary, Obhrai was a parliamentary secretary in the outgoing ministry. Many community leaders, who had pushed his name for a Cabinet berth, were disappointed with his omission.

'I have nothing to say and will talk to you later,'' Obhrai said when asked about his exclusion from the cabinet.

Muslim youths assault teacher for teaching Islam London: Four Muslim youths - Akmol Hussein 26, Sheikh Rashid, 27, Azad Hussain, 25, and Simon Alam, 19- were arrested for assaulting and grievously injuring a teacher, Mr Gary Smith, the head of religious education at Central Foundation Girls’ School in Bow, east London.

A fifth man arrested was Badruzzuha Uddin, 23, a mechanic, who hid bloodstained clothing of Mr Smith at the garage.

Prosecutor Miss Whitehouse said “the blood on the clothes was that of Gary Smith.” DNA testing found that the clothes belonged to Hussein and Alam. Traces of Mr Smith’s blood were found in the car.

The five men were arrested in July and released for lack of evi-

dence and were rearrested again in August after some of the material recorded in Hussein’s car was transcribed.

Excerpts of the recording played in Snaresbrook Crown Court disclosed Hussein setting out the plan of attack. The court heard that moments before the gang attacked Mr Smith, Hussein can be heard saying: “Does everyone remember the drill? One time, bang, bang, bang, bang.” The recording is then silent for 10 minutes while the attack takes place.

The bug which recorded Hussein plan says: “This is the dog we want to hit, to strike, to kill.

“He’s mocking Islam and he’s putting doubts in people’s minds, how can somebody take a job to teach Islam when they’re

not even a Muslim?”

Mr Smith was ambushed by the gang as he walked to the school on July 12 last year. The bug which recorded the plan was found on Aug 18 last year.

P r o s e c u t o r Whitehouse said “ Mr Smith was kicked, hit in the stomach, head and in the face.

“He was smashed with a brick of some sort and a rod,” she said. “He pleaded with his attackers not to kick him.

“He was slashed from the corner of his mouth to his right ear and he suffered a fractured skull and shattered jaw.”

Despite his horrific injuries, Mr Smith, of Chingford, east London, has pledged to return to teaching. He needed three operations to repair his face and was in hospital for 10 days.

15 killed in Baghdad bombings Baghdad: At least 15 people were killed and more than 74 wounded in a series of bomb attacks across Baghdad on Sunday. Two US troops were among those killed in central Iraq, officials said.

At least 11 Iraqi troops were killed when a bomber blew up his car among a group of soldiers investigating another car bomb outside a checkpoint on a main street in Taji, 20 km north of Baghdad. On Sunday, four roadside bombs and a parked car bomb also targeted an Iraqi Federal Police base in Amil District, southwestern Baghdad, killing two civilians and wounding 15 including three policemen, a security official said.

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24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Any quest ions wri te to m amta@a

By Mamta Saha bplgroup.com Psychologist

Invest in you, be the best you can be - now Ask yourself ‘who you are’ and when you find the answer be sure to highlight your strengths.

Knowing your strengths will get you to go from ‘good to great’. Things become ‘difficult’ and ‘hard’ when you create a ‘mantra’ called ‘life is unfair, like is hard, life is difficult’. Nothing gets better when you moan, complain and focus on ‘what is wrong’ as opposed to ‘what is right’ and ‘what is good’.

It is a massive mistake to inhale and absorb other people’s anxieties and stress. You need to live your life in a way that is true to you and also authentic to your personal values and dreams. I understand that this is sometimes very difficult however there is always a way when you learn to compromise and respect yourself and others.

Don’t loose your cool and think about how you can be elegant as opposed to aggressive. Nobody likes a bully so if you are one realise that this behaviour is weak and insecure, and if you are being bullied seek help and direction to get as far away from this negative individual as you can. Ultimately, the only person you can control and change is yourself Stay focused on your goals and know that the longest journey begins with the smallest steps. If your goals and dreams appear too overwhelming just visualise the first 3 steps that you need to

take to achieve them.

Then you may want to break the first step down into baby steps, this will make things a lot more manageable for you.

Remember, nothing is impossible, do not create barriers that are simply assumptions. When you do this you set yourself up to fail. I think you deserve better. You have potential and your role in this world is to fulfil it.

When in doubt seek inspiration from leaders that have faced adversity and have still managed to get through despite the adversity. Do not accept bad behaviour. When one door closes -another one opens. Learn how to respect yourself and you will learn that others start to respect you too. When you change, the world changes around you.

Our mind is not intelligent enough decipher between negative and positive thoughts.

Therefore it takes on whatever we give most of our energy to. Question: are you typically feeling negative or positive?

Your world will reflect wherever you are in your thoughts.

Understand and be very aware of this now. It is essential for your own emotional and mental well being that you encourage seeing the ‘good’ and the ‘positive’ as opposed to the negative.

Discourage and eliminate negative emotions, as they do not serve you well. Let what you are grateful for over-

whelm what is ‘wrong’.

Be thankful for the basic things in life that is a good place to start.

Remember, life could be a lot worse.

If you respect and value developing yourself further you will be interested in the fact that I am running a one day Impact Boot Camp on June 25 that will focus on how you can get attuned to yourself, being the best – regardless of what life throws at you. This session will absolutely work on elements of this and previous articles. The intense one-day event will definitely help you get closer to the happiness and fulfilment you deserve. An early bird discount applies to those who book before the end of May and places are filling up fast; so get in touch by emailing mamta@thinkspalndon.c om. Alternatively you may prefer one to one coaching which is a greatbespoke alternative, again do email me for further information. Lastly, I also provide training and development for small, medium and large sized businesses, email me for further information.

If you like my articles and want to stay connected ‘like’ my facebook page: think spa London and follow my on twitter (under the same name).

Sending you positive energy, light and peace always, Mamta, Director, Think Spa London.

Bachchan to promote more tourist destinations in Gujarat Superstar Amitabh Bachchan is all set to begin his third round of

shooting for the 'Khushboo Gujarat Ki' film series in August this year.

Cartoon: Jami

Hey, You!!!, By telling everyone that “ I am a very honest minister” you are just spoiling my impression.

Dumbo………..

During this visit, Bachchan will shoot at Champaner, Pavagadh, Ambaji and Saputara.

Bachchan had earlier visited the state twice for shooting of the films promoting Gujarat. While in the first trip, he shot in Somnath, Girnar, and Bhuj in the second, he shot at Ahmedabad, Porbandar and Dwarka.

State tourism department had last year released the first set of 60-second film titled 'Khushboo Gujarat Ki'. From scenes of a camp fire in the stark and pristine Gir forest to praising the 'fragrance of faith' at Somnath Temple, Bachchan took the audience through a tour of Kutch, Gir and Somnath in the films. "The films to be shot during this visit of the actor will portray Saputara as a hill station, Champaner, a world heritage site and Pavagadh and Ambaji will be promoted as major tourist destinations," said a state tourism department official.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

The Marriage of Nala and Damayanti In our last article we saw that Nala is the soul or controller within us and Damayanti represents the capacity to control. The first step in any spiritual journey is the non-expression of negative emotions.

Each situation we face in life induces a reaction in us; most reactions are negative. All reactions are automatic and come from patterns or habits that lie in our psychic structure.

The ultimate goal of every seeker is to be free of reaction, but before he can be free of all reactions he must learn not to express negative ones. To do this, we work towards increasing our will or capacity of not getting caught in a reaction. This is the Damayanti within us. If I get irritated, at one point I realise that I have been overpowered by an irritation – this is the first point of awakening, the Nala within us, the realisation that I am in a negative state. Then comes the struggle with the irritation, this capacity to struggle is Damayanti.

We have seen that kings from all over the land started coming to Vidharbha for Damayanti’s swayamvara and Nala was also one of them. The gods led by Indra had also decided to try for her hand in marriage. They saw Nala travelling in his chariot and came down beside him and said, “O king, you are truthful and helpful and so we want you to become our messenger.” Nala agreed to be their messenger and asked what he should do. Indra told him, “You should go as our messenger to Damayanti and tell her that the gods Indra, Agni, Varuna and Yama are coming to her swayamvara and that she should choose one of us as her husband.”

To this, Nala replied, “I have also come this far to win the hand of Damayanti and since I have decided that I want her, it would not be right for me to carry such a message.” Indra said that initially he had agreed to be their messenger and so now he should comply. Nala agreed but told Indra that Damayanti would be in a palace with guards and he would not be able to enter. Indra told him not to worry, and so Nala entered Damayanti’s palace without the guards noticing him. There, he saw the beautiful Damayanti surrounded by her maids. Nala was so stunned by her beauty that he nearly forgot why he had come. Damayanti also saw him and was shocked and wondered who he was

and how he had entered her personal palace. At the same time, she was equally attracted to him as well.

She then spoke in soft melodious words to Nala, “O most handsome one, you have increased the beauty of my limb. O great hero, you have come here as if you are a god, please tell me who you are.” Nala replied “O beautiful one, know that I am Nala and have come here as a messenger of the gods Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Yama.

They have said that they are keen to marry you, and asked you to choose one of them. I have given you their message, now do as you deem fit.” Damayanti then told Nala, “With due respects to the gods, I will only marry you. O great king please accept me.”

Nala replied “The gods have sent me as their messenger, how can I deceive them.” Damayanti suggested that let them all come to the swayamvara, and there in front of all the kings and the gods she will chose Nala. Nala then went and met Indra and the other gods and told them exactly what had happened.

The day for the swayamvara dawned and all the great kings gathered for a colourful ceremony in a huge hall. As the names of the kings were announced Damayanti saw that instead of one Nala, there were five who looked and dressed the same. She immediately realised that the four gods had changed their form to look like Nala.

Damayanti was at her wits end as she did not know how she would recognise the real Nala. She then joined her hands and prayed to the gods, “Since I had heard the swans talk of Nala I had chosen him in my heart, if this be true then let the gods help me recognise Nala.”

The four gods who had come to the swayamvara heard her prayer and revealed traits that allowed Damayanti to recognise them. She saw that they did not perspire, that their eyes were always steady

and the garland of flowers around their necks was ever fresh. They were seated without any part of their body touching the earth. She then garlanded Nala indicating that she had chosen him as husband. Nala was very happy and he told Damayanti, “O lotus eyed one, because you have ignored the gods and chosen me, I shall forever remain at your command.” The gods were very happy with Nala and gave him eight boons, two from each of the four god that had come to wed Damayanti.

Indra gave Nala the power to invoke him and that of great speed. Agni gave him the power to create fire anywhere and to shine like a bright flame in any company. Yama gave him the power to bring out different tastes from food he cooked and that he would never deviate from the path of truth. Finally, Varuna gave him the power to have water anywhere and that flowers will remain ever fresh as long as they touch his body.

Here it is very difficult to explain the Sanskrit words for these eight powers. With the calming of thoughts, the movement of the mind into the past and future is curtailed and one lives in the ever fresh present, just like a garland of flowers that never lose their freshness. As attention becomes one-pointed, one sees the deeper laws of life or the working of the five elements. As the sensitivity increases, so do the tastes in life and hence, events in life bring a different taste. That the gods do not sweat means no dirt can touch them. They are free from the rules of gravity suggests there is nothing that can pull them down. This controlling capacity which we have called Damayanti is called “dharna” by Patanjali and as we move to the state of dharna, these powers become by-products.

The author can be reached by emailing 3srb@live.com (Edited by Chintu Gandhi)

All past articles on the Mahabharata can be accessed from http://epaper.asianvoice.com or from http://www.3stepbreath.com/mahabharata.html

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

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10 new domestic flights from Ahmeadabad airport

In focus 30 dead as thunderstorm lashes UP At least 30 people were killed as thunderstorm lashed many parts of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday The storm lashed many parts of UP including Noida, Ghaziabad, Shahjahanpur, Badayun, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Lakhimpur Kheri and Lucknow. While 15 persons were reported to have died in Shahjahanpur in various accidents due to uprooting of trees and wall collapse during thunderstorm, 11 deaths were reported from Lakhimpur Kheri and five from Bdayun. The thunderstorm also hit the power supply at many places.

Electricity poles were damaged and power lines were snapped. Traffic was also badly affected due to uprooting of trees.

Air-to-air missile 'Astra' tested successfully

India conducted a successful ballistic flight test of indigenously developed Astra - Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile - from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur last week. "The missile was test-fired and the trial was successful," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said. The missile is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

"Before the sophisticated anti air-craft missile would be integrated with fighter aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, it would undergo some rigorous and flawless tests both from ground and fighter jets," said a scientist associated with the project.

BSP MLA gets life term for killing girl A court in Raziabad has sentenced to life imprisonment former minister and BSP MLA Anand Sen for the kidnapping and killing of a Dalit girl in October 2007.

He was allegedly having an affair with the 24-year-old law student. Anand Sen is the second BSP MLA to have been awarded a life sentence this month. On May 6, a court in Auraiya awarded life term to Shekhar Tiwari for killing PWD engineer Manoj Gupta, who resisted a BSP extortion attempt. Amarmani Tripathi, who was a BSP leader and later switched to SP to win a legislative seat, is also serving a life term for murdering poet Madhumita over a soured relationship.

Private airlines will be adding up to 10 new flights to existing and new destinations in the monsoon and winter schedule at Ahmedabad airport.

New flights will connect Ahmedabad to Nagpur and Trivandrum and increase the number of daily flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. This is good news especially for business travellers who have been on the receiving end due to the complete closure of runway between 10.30 am and 5 pm at Ahmedabad airport till June 15.

Airports Authority of India's (AAI) recently released air traffic figures state that domestic flyers in

Ahmedabad moved up from 26,717 in 2009-10 to 28,445 in 2010-11, an increase of around 6.5 per cent.

Sources said that while Jet Airways is adding three new flights, including Trivandrum via Bangalore and Pune via Hyderabad and one new flight for Delhi, low-cost carrier Go Air has already started two new flights to Delhi and Mumbai. Also SpiceJet will soon begin an

Ahmedabad-Nagpur direct flight. Sources said Air India is also mulling new daily flights to Delhi and Mumbai in the morning and evening.

"The numbers of business travellers have skyrocketed in the last few months. After November last year, daily morning and evening flights to Delhi and Mumbai from Ahmedabad have seen an increased rush. We believe that by the

winter session, all the private airlines will increase their domestic flights from Ahmedabad," said a senior private airline official. Last year, nine new domestic flights were added at Ahmedabad airport in the winter schedule.

Currently, in the summer schedule, Ahmedabad airport has around 70 domestic flights landing and taking off daily. "A meeting will be held with airlines in June and only then the exact number of new flights will be known.

However, with increased traffic at city airport, we estimate around 15 per cent hike in the number of domestic flights," said senior Ahmedabad airport official.

Centre rejects demand to dismiss Yeddyurappa govt The Central government formally rejected Karnataka governor H R Bhardwaj's recommendation for dismissal of the BS Yeddyurappa government.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs despite Bhardwaj standing by his controversial recommendation. Sources said UPA's lack of majority in the Rajya Sabha, among other things, was one of the factors that weighed with the meeting of the CCPA presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

days after Supreme Court quashed the disqualification of 16 MLAs who had planned to vote against the BJP government in a trust vote last year.

BS Yeddyurappa

However, the Centre has decided to issue an advisory to the state government to look into the issues raised by the governor in his report sent two

BJP to launch stir against Governor: Stepping up its offensive against Governor Bhardwaj, the ruling BJP set a five-day deadline for his recall and decided to launch a campaign for his ouster in 11 districts of Karnataka.

An emergent meeting of the party state unit office-bearers, which was

also attended by Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, decided to constitute two teams to lead the stir against the Governor, who has triggered a political crisis recommending imposition of President's rule in the state.

A team led by Yeddyurappa will tour Raichur (May 21), Mangalore (May 22), Tumkur (May 23), Kolar (May 24) and Bagalkot (May 25) as part of its "hatao Governor, Bacchao Karnataka," State unit President K S Eswarappa told reporters here.

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InDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Kerala and West Bengal CMs sworn in In foCus Congress Legislature Party leader Oommen Chandy was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala on Wednesday while Mamata Banerjee was on Friday sworn in as the first woman chief minister of West Bengal heading a Trinamool CongressCongress alliance government, marking a change of guard that saw the end of 34 years of uninterrupted rule by CPM-led Left Front.

While the oath of office and secrecy to Mamata was administered by Governor M K Narayanan The swearing-in took place in the presence of 3,200 invitees drawn from among the top names in politics, business and art and culture.

Governor R. S. Gavai administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Chandy in the presence of several leading political personalities, including senior Opposition leaders

Mamata Banerjee

and party workers.

The Governor also administered the oath of office and secrecy to six leaders of various constituents of the United Democratic Front in Kerala.

This is the second term for Mr. Chandy, who had a brief stint when he assumed the mantle midway during the previous UDF rule. Apart from Mr. Chandy, Mr. Kunhalikutty, Mr. Mani and Mr. Jacob are seasoned leaders and have been members of earlier UDF Ministries.

Mr.

Mohanan and Mr. Baby John are first-time ministers. Both are sons of former ministers who had proved their mettle in Kerala politics.

Mr. Mohanan is the son of the late socialist leader P.R. Kurup, while Mr. Shibu Baby John is the son of the late RSP leader Baby John.

Ganesh Kumar, son of Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai, was a minister in the Antony Cabinet for a brief period from 2001-2003.

Trinamool Congress ministers' list includes the name of former FICC Secretary General Amit Mitra, party leader Partha Chatterjee, former state Home Secretary Manish Gupta, MLAs Subrata Mukherjee, Abdul Karim Chowdhury, Sadhan Pandey, Upen Biswas, Sabitri Mitra, Bratya Basu, Madan Mitra and Noore Alam Chowdhury.

Congress, which had fought the assembly polls

Lion cubs better off in Gujarat than in Africa

Lions cubs survive better in Gujarat than in Africa.

According to a survey, no less than 56 per cent cubs survive till the age of three years. This is the age when they move out of their pride in search of their own new territory and pride.

In comparison, only 20 per cent of African lion cubs survive beyond two years while 27 per cent fail to make it to three years.

The website of Kalahari Predator Conservation Trust quoting International Union for Conservation of Nature has reported, “Among African lions, only 20 per cent of the cubs live for more than two years of life. This is primarily due to food shortage, negligence and takeover of power by other males.

About 27 per cent of cubs die from hierarchy invasion of another male lion.”

This high survival rate in Gujarat’s Gir sanctuary was highlighted in a study conducted by Dr V Meena of the Wildlife Institute of India titled “Reproductive Strategy and Behaviour of Male Asiatic Lions”. The study also reveals that survival rate of cubs is lowest in the first year of birth and gradually increases in second and third year.

The survival of cubs depends on infanticide (which results in death of 60 per cent of the cubs), abandonment (13 per cent) and other natural causes (26 per cent). Early mortality of cubs due to infanticide was the chief factor limiting their survival, she revealed.

Forest officials said that the 2010 census recorded 77 cubs who were below three years of age.

Of these, 23 each were male and female cubs and the rest could not be identified by the enumerators as the cubs were too small.

Dr Meena says, “There are many scenarios for African lions but the survival rate is comparable and better in most cases for Asiatic lions.” The study also brought out the fact that incidents of death are more outside protected areas.

Yadvendradev Jhala, scientist with Wildlife Institute of India, agreed with Meena’s findings and added: “Higher the survival rate, better is the population growth.”

Dr HS Singh, additional principal chief conservator of forests, says, “The survival ratio among African cubs is around 2530 per cent. The higher survival rate in Gir has increased the lion population by 15 per cent, as per the 2010 census.”

Headley has many faces: Rana’s wife Continued from page 1 It was shocking news for us that time. We have our families in India, India is like a second home” she said.

Calling what Headley said in the court as "lies", Samraz Rana said: "Whatever he [Headley] is saying, he is saying to save his life. I know my husband, I am married to him for last 21 years."

"As a friend of my husband I knew him. But this is very shocking this is not the person I know. He was different. I don’t know he has so many faces. Now we know what he has done," she said.

Headley had stayed with the family of Rana for

quite sometime during the planning of the Mumbai attack.

His wife was asked if she ever heard about them discussing on this. She said she had never heard any such conversation, she had just heard them conversing about their business.

"I don't have to defend him [Rana] because.... why we have this court.. court is going to prove that he [Headley] is a liar. I know my husband, that he is innocent. I love him. I know nothing about him [Headley]. I cannot say anything about Headley," she said.

Rana's attorneys have portrayed Headley as a master manipulator who

tricked his friend.

Headley on Monday in the Chicago court spilled the beans on Pakistan's military spy agency Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) saying it provided financial and military support to terrorists behind the Mumbai attack.

He also admitted that Pakistan-based Hafiz Saeed, the leader of the Jama'at-ud-Da'wah, a frontal organization of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, motivated him in the Mumbai attack planning.

Headly said in court that it was LeT chief Hafiz Saeed who "motivated" him by saying, "one second of jihad equals hundred years of prayer".

in alliance with TC, also decided to join the government.

Trinamool Congress and allies Congress and SUCI had stormed to power in the state with a three-fourths majority signalling the historic changeover in the state'.

Gogoi sworn in Assam CM: Congress leader Tarun Gogoi sworn in as the Chief Minister of Assam for the third successive term by Governor J.B. Patnaik at the Raj Bhawan last week. The Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Gogoi (76) in Assamese at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhawan.

Union Minister Bijoy Krishna Handique, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Assam Pradesh Congress President Bhubaneswar Kalita were among those who attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Kanimozhi lodged in Tihar Jail

DMK MP Kanimozhi was on Friday lodged in a 15 ft x10 ft cell at the Tihar Jail after being sent there for her role in the 2G spectrum case, far from the airconditioning and other comforts which she is used to at her palatial bungalow in Chennai’s CIT colony.

43-year-old Kanimozhi was taken to Jail No. 6 by women personnel after a special CBI court rejected her bail plea and order her “forthwith” arrest.

A woman police personnel was seen holding Ms. Kanimozhi’s hands when she was taken from the Patiala House complex. According to jail officials, Ms. Kanimozhi will have access to a television set, newspapers, a ceiling fan and a cot in her 15ft x 10 ft cell.

Madhuri Gupta, a former official of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad arrested on charges of spying, Sonu Punjaban, arrested in the biggest prostitution network in Delhi and NCR through “word of mouth” and Sharda Jain, who was given a life term last year for her role in the murder of city councillor Atma Ram Gupta too are lodged in Jail No. 6.

Co-accused in the case Sharad Kumar, MD of Kalaignar TV, will be kept in Jail No 4. Mr. Kumar will join former NALCO CMD Abhay Kumar Srivastava and sacked CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi in Jail No 4.

Organic mangoes make a splash in Chennai There are at least 20 shops in Chennai that sell organic produce exclusively. Other shops such as Pazhamuthir Nilayam in Anna Nagar have sections devoted to organic produce. Officials estimate that the organic mango market has grown from zero to 3% in the last few years. They say that the trend toward all organic food is only growing. Eco-nut assures that they buy their organic mangoes directly from farms that have been certified organic by the Tamil Nadu Organic Certification Department (TNOCD) -- a first-of-its kind government agency in India that is vested with the authority to issue the organic certificate. Some 20 other private agencies also certify organic farms.

Certification is given after a rigorous process of record.

DGP opens grievance cell, meets complainants The police force in Tamil Nadu would crack down on land-related crimes and job rackets in the state, director general of police K Ramanujam has said. The DGP opened a grievance cell at his office. Most of the petitioners who met the top cop complained about landrelated crimes and job rackets. The petitions were forwarded to officials concerned for action. On the first day of the grievance cell, nearly 20 petitioners approached the DGP office. A woman sub-inspector, who was assigned on duty at the grievance cell, collected petitions from people and went through them carefully and took notes. The official then drafted a gist of the complaints received and submitted it to the DGP. Petitioners sat in the waiting room before being let in one by one to meet the DGP.

A ride on jazzed up rickshaws The Union Territory of Chandigarh intends to make the greenest mode of public transport ' the cycle rickshaw ' into the coolest. It intends to provide these humanpowered vehicles with a brand new look in the coming days. They would be turned into ''deluxe'' variety with facilities like FM radio, seat belts, newspapers and magazines, first aid kits, fire safety equipment and dustbins. The intention behind the move is to make this travelling option more attractive to people as the use of private automobiles is increasing, they added.

However, the new rickshaws are not going to be as cheap as their kitschy counterparts, which currently ferry passengers on the city streets. Those interested in availing the loan would be given a month's time for submitting their applications with the civic body.

6 new e-sampark centres for Chandigarh Six new e-sampark centres will soon come up in Chandigarh. The popular one stop facility for payment of electricity, water and mobile bills and sale of stamp papers and other transactions with government departments, was demanded by local residents. The sampark centres will come up in sectors 48, 45, 21, 35, 37 and 39. City residents now also have the option of submitting applications under Right to Information Act, 2005, at the sampark centre, from where these will be scanned and e-mailed to the department concerned.

There are plans to introduce a host of other services like sale of movie tickets and rail tickets. Making the transactions with sampark network using e-banking from home is also being worked out. Project e-sampark was initiated to bring together the services of all the departments under one single umbrella and give citizens of Chandigarh a multi-service experience apart from eradicating the undue harassment met by the citizens due to lack of transparency.

Maharashtra govt gets Rs 100 mn bill for guarding Kasab

Maharashtra government is stunned after receiving a Rs 100million bill from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) towards reimbursing expenses on guarding 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, lodged in the Arthur Road jail here. Confirming that the state government did receive the Rs 100 million tag from ITBP, Medha Gadgil, principal secretary, Home, said that the Maharashtra authorities are writing to the ITBP. The state government received a request for reimbursement of Rs 108. 7 million from the Director-General, ITBP, New Delhi, R K Bhatia for expenses incurred between March 28, 2009 and September 30, 2010. The ITPB was deployed in the jail in the run-up to the 26/11 trial, held in a special sessions court set up in the jail premises.

Obama thanks Modi for book US President Barack Obama has thanked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the book he send to him.

The book authoured “Convenient Action: Gujarat Initiatives'. 'As our two nations work to address the new and complex challenges facing our world, I am hopeful about what our countries can accomplish together. Again, thank you for the wonderful gift,' a letter from Obama read.

Women & history

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

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By Dr Anil Mehta

By Spriha Srivastava

Industrial Heritage Saltaire (Yorkshire): A glimpse into its past

Ghazal maestro on way to UK Come end of this week and a long bank holiday weekend again welcomes us. I am sure many would have already planned either backpacking in Europe or a relaxed break in the countryside. But for those who still haven’t planned anything and are fans of Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh, good news is on your way.

Ghazal king Jagjit Singh is travelling to UK and will be performing at both Birmingham and London end of this month. Organised by Perfect Harmony Productions, to celebrate the Ghazal maestro’s 70th birthday, the concerts will be held at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on 28th May and at HMV Hammersmith Apollo in London on 29th May. For those of not too aware of his background, Padma Bhushan Shri Jagjit Singh is considered to be the most successful Ghazal singer and composer of all times, in terms of both critical acclaim and commercial success. With a career spanning over four decades and a repertoire comprising 50 albums the range and breadth of his work has been regarded as genre-defining. He gained acclaim together with his wife, another renowned Indian Ghazal singer Chitra Singh, in

1970's and 80's, as the first ever successful husband-wife duo in the history of recorded Indian music. He is a pioneer who made Urdu lyrics accessible to listeners.

His greatness lies also in the fact that he himself chooses every ghazal, geet or nazm that he composes music for or lends his voice to.

Perfect Harmony Productions jump-started the celebrations by presenting the Jagjit Singh in a unique jugalbandi with Ustaad Zakir Hussain and Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia at the Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai, on 5th February 2011. On 25th Feb in Delhi again the Ghazal maestro was presented with Shri Gulzar & Pt Birju Maharaj in a unique merger of three art forms poetry, Music and dance followed by a tour of Australia & New Zealand.

At the concert in

Birmingham, Jagjit Singh will be felicitated followed by a full fledged concert in London on the 29th of May. The concert will also feature a unique presentation of Audio visual on the momentous occasion. Shailesh Patel and Abhinav Upadhyay of Perfect Harmony Productions said, “We are honoured and proud to present on the world stage Jagjit Singhji as India's goodwill and cultural emissary to spread the magic and melody of ghazals to all his fans with origins in the Indian subcontinent” Tickets are still available on the HMV Hammersmith Apollo’s website and range from GBP15 to GBP75. It is definitely not a show worth missing and so for those of you who still haven’t booked tickets for this ultimate evening, it’s time you do so and experience the legend in person.

However there are not many parties that I have come across in London that play proper Bollywood music, it is always a mixture of bhangra plus some English songs. But the music at Bombay Funkadelic was good. It was a mix of music from different decades. With songs of Madhuri from the 1980’s to early 90’s that are clearly etched in our memories. Then the usual Sheila and Munni also made its way to the list.

The crowd seemed to be

immensely enjoying itself to these numbers till the wee hours of the night.

One could see that the organisers had put in a lot of efforts to make the evening special for all.

There were small and cosy alcoves each with a Bollywood name to it. For e.g. while one of them was called “central jail” the other was known as “film city” and so on. The drinks menu named after film stars also had a Bollywood flavour to it.

The only thing that the party seemed to lack was enough space for all and that was felt more towards later in the night when more and more people started coming in.

However the host and organiser Jaspreet Pandohar was extremely warm in making sure that all the guests were comfortable and were having a good time. Overall it was a wonderful experience and a must visit for those who are craving for some Bollywood latka jhatka.

Bollywood dhamaal in London

Last weekend I attended a Bollywood dance party called the “Bombay Funkadelic.” After having regularly received their monthly invites I decided to go and experience the Bollywood dance party.

Living in London, Bollywood dance parties are one thing that all of us tend to miss, especially because they have always been an important event at all our school and college festivals. It is one of the best times to be with your friends and dance the night away.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

The grand edifice of Salts Mill

in Britain, the industrial revolution produced a numerous wealthy philanthropic entrepreneurs who built entire towns around their factories for the benefit of their workers. saltaire in yorkshire is a magnificent example. Located four miles from Bradford, it’s the preserved Victorian town of industrial era.

Titus Salt

saltaire was a brainchild of a local wool baron sir titus salt (1803-76). he built it between 1851 and 1873. once a thriving industrial hub, it has since been preserved as a living museum with various restored buildings providing a glimpse into its heyday. Visited by some three quarters of a million people annually, it has already achieved a status of World heritage site. titus salt was a leading industrialist of yorkshire who had made a fortune in wool textiles. A visionary and paternalistic, he wanted to provide a pleasant living and working environment for his workers away from the overpopulated and polluted streets of Bradford. he purchased a green belt site near the river Aire just outside Bradford in an area with excellent transport links and built saltaire between 1851 and 1873. the name of the town is a combination of his surname and the name of the local river Aire. the wool factory (salts Mill) was built in an italianate style and was the biggest in the world when opened (1853) with over 3000 workers. heating, ventilation, and lighting were high on salt’s list of priorities. it was in startling contrast to the terrible conditions experienced by many

Saltaire is surrounded by beautiful countryside

workers elsewhere in the country. the town had 800 well-built stone houses which still remain today, plus shops, train station, schools, hospital, parks, almshouses, sports-fields, and a chapel. however, as salt was a strict disciplinarian, devout churchgoer, and a teetotaller, there were no pubs. (there are now; one is aptly named ‘Don’t tell titus!’). the pioneering saltaire project was so well organised that it influenced the development of urban planning elsewhere in the country. the factory was closed in 1986 but the entire site has been regenerated. the massive floors of the mill are converted into a world of art and craft, music, shops, and cafes. the ground floor now houses what is called the 1853 Gallery which has world’s largest permanent collection of work by the well-known Bradford born artist (painter) David hockney. the Gallery is over-flowing with hockney’s pictures and is ‘a must’ for hockney fans. the upper two floors, in addition to two more hockney Galleries, contain art and craft, music, book, jewellery, and furniture shops, an exhibition on saltaire’s history, and cafes. the mill is opposite saltaire railway station, and remains open all week. Entrance is free.

Elegant United Reformed Church

Nearby the mill, across the road is the sumptuous, cathedral-like, United reform Church built by salt. it has a beautiful entrance portico supported by fine columns, and octagonal tower. No expense was spared in the building of the church. the interior is decorated with coloured marble and elaborate ceiling. on the south side is the mausoleum – the final resting place for sir titus. the church is one of Britain’s most precious architectural treasures, and a unique example of italianate religious architecture.

Next door to church are Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the river Aire which can be enjoyed by cycling or a leisurely walk along the canal or river footpath. saltaire is located in a beautiful countryside. it can be easily reached by bus or train from Leeds or Bradford.

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

This week on CB Live, Sri 108, who has come to the UK on an invitation from Sadguru Kabir Seva Samaj will discuss the Samaj's activity with Sri Rameshvardasji, Trustee Bhupendrabhai Parekh and Bharatbhai Patel along with Advertising Manager, Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar, Alkaben Shah If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203 To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

For more information e-mail: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

Don't miss !!!

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Coming Events with Shammi Pithia and veena player Hari Sivanesan: 26th July @ Southbank Centre, London l Music: Adoption of Tagore's melodies in Bollywood Music: 27 May 18:30 @ Nehru Centre

l Ghazal course with Jagjit Singh: 30th May 3pm-7pm @Museum of Asian Music, Bradford Road, London W3 7SP. Contact: 020 8735 0262

l Bharatnatyam, Rashi Biljani: 31 May, 19:00 @ Nehru Centre

l Randal Pooja, Sthapana and Jagaran: Sunday 5th June @ Greenford Jalaram Mandir

l Contemporary Indian and Sri Lankan music with Shammi Pithia and veena player Hari Sivanesan: 26th July @ Southbank Centre, London

l Oshwal Mela: 24th July @ Oshwal Centre, Coopers Lane Road, Northaw EN6 4DG. Contact: 07984 4987578 l Contemporary Indian and Sri Lankan music

The Lohana Community of United Kingdom wish to express their heartfelt condolence to the Madhvani family on the sad demise of Shree Manubhai Muljibhai Madhvani.

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You are in a brilliant ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 period for increasing your

earning power and you'll be busy taking charge of your finances. Achieving a sense of security becomes a priority. Although there is a lot of sorting out to be done in your relationship sector, it will not phase you as so many issues have already be dealt with.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 It's an excellent period for increased energy and motivation, so that new endeavors, whether they are business or health-related, or personal, fare especially well. You are more decisive and forward-looking now, and you feel that your decisions are right. With Venus and Mars in your sign, love should be blossoming.

The Sun in your sign from the 21st, brings a lot of vigour and illuminates your appearance, outward behavior, and self-expression. Venus, Mars and Mercury transiting your solar 12th house create a lot of activity behind the scenes. This could be in the form of secret liaisons and also loose ends to tie up.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

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l Anuradha Paudwal concert: 3rd July @ De Montfort Hall, Leicester and 10th July @ Cadogan Hall, Leicester

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CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Venus, Mars and Mercury transit through your solar eleventh house. This is a good time for networking with friends and work colleagues creating ripples for business or just having a great social life. If there are any issues with anyone, this is a great time to iron out the differences. Personal freedom is especially important to you right now.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 The Sun has been transiting your solar 11th house of friends, groups, and networking from the 21st. It's a sociable sector of your chart, and that's exactly how you will feel, light-hearted, cosmopolitan, and social. This is a rather happy, goal-oriented cycle. Relationships take on a fun, if impersonal, tone now.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Venus, Mars and Mercury grace your solar ninth house. During this cycle you might become inspired by someone who might awaken a new perspective or way of thinking in you. You could also enjoy a trip, or a new adventure of sorts. In fact, you are attracted to anything that is non-routine and beyond your comfort zone.

The Sun continues to put a spotlight on your solar ninth house. During this transit you will seek to expand your horizons through philosophical thinking, higher education, travel, or simply activities that take you away from your everyday routines. Your energy is strong and you are much bolder and adventurous than usual.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

The Sun highlights your solar eighth house. Your attention turns inward on a deeper level to personal transformations. There may be a strong focus on other's money, such as the resources of a partner, inheritance, banking and loans, or taxes. This transit should be positively dealt with to achieve any benefits.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 The Sun is transiting your solar seventh house--your partnership sector. It's not the time to push your personal plans forward; rather, it's a time to give. Focus should be on reconciliation, diplomacy and one-on-one interactions. You may feel a little drained physically but remember it is only temporarily.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

The Sun puts a spotlight on your solar sixth house. This is a busy period that finds you tending to many different aspects of your daily routine and health matters. You are in a very fortunate position to be able to improve your health and diet and also tackle any problems at work, which have been a source of irritation for some time.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 The Sun is transiting your solar fifth house. This is the time of year when you are ready to perform and express yourself creatively. It's a good time for recreation, romance, connecting with children, and enjoying "performing arts". Make sure you do not get over-sensitive if things do not go according to plan.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

The Sun continues to put a spotlight on your solar fourth house. This is a time to recharge yourself, get in touch with your innermost feelings, connect with your roots, and spend more time with your loved ones. Use this opportunity to find ways to improve your family relations and your home environment.

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

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By Radhika Madlani

The Institution of Superstition

of the ‘devil’? Do we use imagine my annoyance, I attended a baby shower our superstition at times when recently a close recently where I noticed we cannot make sense of friend of mine reluctantly that the beautiful mumthe situation before us? showed me the ‘prize’ her to-be had a distinctive Whilst the intent is to daughter had won at a ‘black dot’ behind her ear protect, the side effects ‘spelling bee’ competito protect her from the are worrying. When Ria tion. This little girl had ‘Evil Eye’. Known as not only come first, she ‘Nazar Bonjuk’ in Turkey, was teething, I recall her had competed against 100 ‘Mati-asma’ in Greece going through phases other children of mixed and ‘Nazar’ in India, the where she would cry for ages, most of whom were superstition is that a perlong periods of time and son, usually without nothing we could do older than her.

An intention, can cast a spell would pacify her. Rather achievement worth celeon another and can harm than admit I didn’t know brating, you would think! you just by looking at you what was wrong with her, Rather than share the with envy, jealousy or it was easy to think about news with friends and praise. Thoughts from my what we had done that family who would be day and presume that delighted and proud at own baby shower flooded someone at the park or this achievement, this back.

I recall being the baby club had given worried mum had silently advised that it would be her ‘nazar’. placed the award on her best if anyone who had I don’t think this mantelpiece to avoid the suffered a miscarriage superstition stops at chil‘evil eye’. would not participate in dren. If an adult goes off I know every parent the ceremony. Of course, wants to protect their I dismissed this but the the rails, we think somechild but when it means memory of the anxiety one may have done someyou avoid celebrating from going against this thing to them, that they their successes to ward advice and living with the have been subject to some off evil, I draw a line. consequence still fill me supernatural power.

I After all, if a new born with emotion. remember growing up and I was also advised that being told that if I laughed cries, surely it’s because even mothers can ‘unintoo hard, I would eventuthey are getting used to tentionally’ give their ally cry, presumably to their new environment? new-born the ‘evil eye’! ‘balance’ my day or If they feel unsettled, So I recall dampening my because my laughter surely it could just be would ‘attract’ the ‘evil wind? If they don’t feed affection for Ria in front eye’. As a child, most of much, surely they could of others and instead quithe situations I have just have a tummy-ache? etly marveled at my bundescribed were harmless Or, are these unexplaindle of joy in the privacy of but as I now start to conable situations the work my night-time feeds. So, Should you have any comments or want to get in touch with me you can email on

Dancing is the best exercise: Sandip Soparkar Purvi Apurva Shah “Dancing is the best exercise, it gives pleasure, enjoyment and at the same time one can lose weight,” says ace dance choreographer Sandip Soparkar who was in Ahmedabad recently. He insists that dancing should be done in stages in order to tone the body.

“First there should be warm-up of slow aerobics, then slowly move towards Waltz, Rumba, Foxtrot, Tango dancing that will start building the heart rate. Gradually change to faster dance movements, like Cha-Cha and to more faster Jive and Jumbo dancing. One cannot burn calories without increasing heart rate. Body loses fat after a certain level of heart rate is build. Different patterns of dancing uses different muscles, that helps in toning. I dance 2 to 3 hours a day and 10 hours on Sunday. With dancing I don’t need any other exercise.” He says that sometimes he goes for a bit of yoga or strength-building exercise so that he could lift his partner during his dance performance.

“Like different dancing pattern, I experiment with different styles of work-

outs. I keep on changing from yoga, aerobics, floor exercise, martial art or any other exercise regime I enjoy. I feel that our body tends to get immune to one pattern of workout, so we have to shock our body to keep on losing weight,” says Sandip’s wife and India’s top model Jessie Randhawa.

“By shocking the body, I mean to confuse our metabolism rate, which will activate fat burning hormones and allow faster weight loss. Body is smart, but we are smarter. So play tricks with our body and do the unexpected.

Secondly, eat with your mind. Sometimes we tend to eat more to combat our stress. At times, if there is not anything to do, we simply keep on munching whatever comes in our hand. Luckily this is not the case with me and I am a frugal eater,” says toll pencil thin Jessie who thanks her genes for such a slender figure. “Yes, we are what our genes are.

Though I do not have a

Jessie Randhawa & Sandip Soparkar

tendency to put on weight, I am careful of what I put in my mouth. I eat light and not much calorie food, but there are times, when I binge and put in mouth whatever I fancy.”

Compared to food abroad, Indian food is not healthy, because it has lot of oil and spice which is bad for health. We Indians snack a lot, and two meals are heavy as well.

Moreover we Indian breed are on heavier side. So just be careful with your body.

Sandip and Jessie were invited to perform at the Royal wedding in London, but could not attend it because he suffered an injury and was bed-ridden.

He says that the invitation itself was an honour.

sciously think about how I want to raise the next generation, I truly cannot justify supporting this institution of superstition.

Don’t get me wrong, I would put black dots behind Rias ears all day long if I genuinely believed it would protect her from danger. What I have a problem with is when these superstitious beliefs start to act as a diversion from getting to the root cause of an issue at hand or as justification for irresponsible behavior from adults. I am not an atheist, nor am I a scientist. Perhaps all I am is a realist! I try, as most of you do, to make sense of what I am confronted with and hope to set an example for Ria to do the same.

We have the responsibility to raise a stronger generation who, when confronted with difficult times, have faith to use their powers to confront the issue head-on and not dismiss it as the power of the supernatural.

Quote: “Superstition is the religion of feeble minds” - Edmund Burke avmamaria@gmail.com

Ozone jab offers relief in back pain Ozone gas, which acts as a shield against harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, could soon be used to treat your sore back, as scientists have found that an ozone-oxygen gas mix can shrink tissue and reduce pain.

Researchers at the Negrin University Hospital in Spain developed a liquid form of the gas combined with oxygen and are now testing it as a way to treat slipped or herniated disc pain. In a trial underway at the hospital, the gas mix injection has been given to patients with slipped discs who will be compared with a control group who receive a placebo treatment of just oxygen.

The treatments for slipped disc include physiotherapy and painkillers, but if the pain continues for longer than six weeks, surgery may be considered.

Around one in ten cases of a slipped disc will require surgery, where the piece of disc that is bulging is cut away. But, with the new treatment, the patient is first anaesthetised. Then, doctors use tiny cameras to guide a needle to the damaged disc, where the gas mixture is injected.

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30

Sport

Afridi stripped of Pak ODI captaincy Shahid Afridi has been stripped of ODI captaincy and Misbah-ul-Haq has been named the new captain of the Pakistan one-day squad for their Ireland tour later this month. Afridi was reported to have a fall-out with coach Waqar Younis after the ODI series against the West Indies. The 16member squad for the Ireland tour was announced by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday. The team will play 2 ODIs against Ireland on 28 and 30 May, 2011. Misbah-ul-Haq (Captain), Younus Khan, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez , Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Salman (Wicketkeeper), Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan and Hammad Azam.

Dhoni among 10 most marketable ones Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has pipped the likes of tennis superstar Rafael Nadal and iconic basketball player Kobe Bryant to be among 10 most marketable sportspersons in the world.

Dhoni, who hit the winning runs in the ICC World Cup and led the Chennai Super Kings to the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL) title, is 10th on the list. The top spot goes to Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt and includes footballing sensations Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at third and fourth respectively. Dhoni's teammate Yuvraj Singh also makes the list -- at the 49th spot -- after being named player of the tournament at this year's World Cup. Chinese basketball superstar Yao Ming makes the top 20 at 11th despite consistent injury problems.

“MS Dhoni's marketability has reached another new high in India in the aftermath of the cricket World Cup. Although he will never attain quite the Messianic status that Sachin Tendulkar has with the Indian population, Dhoni has undeniably become the number one choice for those looking to boost their brand in the southeastern Asian country,” SportsPro editor David Cushnan said. The only female in the top ten is ninth-placed Caroline Wozniacki, who reached the top of the world rankings in 2010 despite not having won a Grand Slam.

No more full-time cricket for Stuart Clark Aussie pacer Stuart Clark quit full-time cricket to concentrate on his new role as the general manager of the Sydney Sixers Big Bash League franchise. Clark will, however, continue playing cricket for Sydney University.

"I am going to continue playing club cricket as I still love playing the game, but more importantly I believe I can still help develop Australia''s future talent," Clark was quoted. Insisting that his priority would be the administrative job, the 35-year-old however clarified that he would make himself available for selection for New South Wales'' Champions League Twenty20 and domestic campaigns next season.

"Playing cricket has given me many opportunities in life and I feel by continuing to play club cricket I am giving something back to the game.

"The Sydney Sixers is now my professional focus. I will still be available to play in this year''s Champions League in India which NSW has qualified for, as well as helping out the RTA SpeedBlitz Blues if need be, and given that it does not impact upon my Big Bash League commitments," Clark, who has taken 94 wickets in 24 Tests at 23.86, said.

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Raina powers Chennai to final How did Chennai win this? How did Bangalore lose this? Chennai always seemed to be lagging behind but surged forward like a tidal wave in an odd runfilled over now and then to enter the IPL final. At the forefront was a feisty Suresh Raina, who reeled in the big shots through the latter half of the chase to pull off an improbable win.

Bangalore will look back and rue at a few poor overs. There were full tosses and length deliveries galore and Chennai cashed in some style. Virat Kohli bowled a slew of full tosses in the ninth over, leaking 16 runs and Abhimanyu Mithun kept bowling length deliveries in the 13th over, bleeding 23 runs. It included a fabulously carved six over covers on a bent knee, apart from a muscled heave over long-off, by Raina. Even then, the equation -82 from 42 balls- seemed a tough proposition and it got tougher when it came down to 58 from 24. Chris Gayle had led from front with a parsimonious spell that read 4-0-19-0 as he fired in the skidders and the occasional yorker to pin down Chennai.

But that man Raina wasn't done yet and ramped it up style in the 17th over bowled by Zaheer Khan, who had bowled so well in his first spell of three overs. Raina's two sixes over midwicket, a thumping pull and a clubbed swing, was sandwiched by a bottomhand powered six over wide long-on by MS Dhoni, who fell in the same over.

Zaheer went for 20 runs in that over and Chennai had well and truly seized the momentum.

More agony awaited Bangalore in the 19th over. Albie Morkel crashed a

Suresh Raina cross-bats a big hit.

slower ball over long-on and clubbed a full toss over long-off before Raina killed another full toss over midwicket boundary. That 21-run over left Chennai needing 12 from the final over

by Daniel Vettori and Morkel dragged a

four to wide long-on and absolutely walloped the fourth delivery over midwicket boundary to win the contest.

Until those frenetic end overs, Bangalore might have thought they had done enough to win the game. Will Bangalore deflate like cheap party balloons if Gayle went out early?

Bangalore, led by a Kohli, answered that question in an emphatic manner to reach a competitive total.

Bangalore were in danger of slipping into freefall after Gayle fell cheaply, trapped by R Aswhin, but Kohli and Luke Pomersbach ensured they stayed afloat. While Kohli batted with calculated aggression, Pomersbach counterattacked, taking 17 runs in the 15th over, off Dwayne Bravo. A murderous heave to wide long-on, a slash to third man and a screaming flat six over midwicket were the highlights.

Kohli, though, was the person who sculpted and shaped Bangalore's innings. Two shots in particular perfectly reflected his assured knock. In the 13th over, he sashayed back to a back-of-length delivery from Suresh Raina to unfurl a peachy punch to the cover-point boundary. Then, off the final ball of the 16th over, he leaned forward to play a classy whipped lofted hit over wide long-on boundary against Ashwin. He went on to play two more screaming sixes - over long-on and covers - off Albie Morkel in the 19th over to push Bangalore to a good total but Raina decided to seize the night.

Chennai Super Kings 177 for 4 (Raina 73*) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 175 (Kohli 70*, Bollinger 120) by six wickets.

Adam Gilchrist mum on IPL future Adam Gilchrist was in animated discussion with Preity Zinta, the owner of Kings XI Punjab, right through the 80minute flight from Dharamshala to New Delhi.

The Australian betrayed no emotions, while Preity looked pretty cheerful despite the team having failed to make the playoffs in IPL-4, after losing badly to Deccan Chargers on Saturday night in Dharamshala.

After fellow Australian Shane Warne’s decision to retire from IPL, speculation’s rife in the cricketing circles about Adam Gilchrist’s future role with Kings XI Punjab, especially as he is getting on with age (he is 42 years old), and

retired from active cricket a few years ago. He himself admitted it was getting tougher for him with each passing year but refused to divulge his future plans.

Gilchrist was asked about his future role with Kings XI Punjab at the postmatch press meet, but refused to be drawn into the issue saying, “Let the dust settle down and then I will sit with the franchise and review the performance.

There are 12 months to prepare for the next IPL and in that course I will discuss my role with the KXIP owners.”

When asked if it was the end of his playing career with KXIP, he shot back by saying, “I have not made any

Adam Gilchrist

announcement, please do not come to such conclusion.”

There are speculations that he may take over the role of a mentor, a la Anil Kumble for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, but he was not ready to divulge anything..

Barring one match-winning century against Royal

Challengers Bangalore, Gilchrist struggled right though the IPL season. “Yes, barring one or two knocks, I did not set the IPL on fire. It was pretty disappointing not to contribute with the bat in more matches,” he admitted.

Gilchrist was, however, upbeat about the future of KXIP. “A few months ago there was no team and considering the uncertainty (KXIP’s troubles with BCCI), if someone would have suggested at the start of the season that the team would be in the hunt of a playoff berth right till the last match and end up fifth in the table with a 50% winning record, we would have taken it.”

Sri Lankan cricketers show their paces

By Premen Addy Sri Lanka limbered up against testing opposition – Middlesex and the England Lions - before the more serious business of the opening Test, in a series of three, against England at Cardiff on Thursday (May 26). Both games were won in a canter, putting the home side on notice that the Ashes triumph Down Under, now a memory, is unlikely to influence the outcome of the unfolding rubber.

The visitors were in fine fettle with bat and ball, and if the catching was slightly below par this could be put down to the occasional, unaccustomed chill.

Tillekeratne Dilshan, the

new Sri Lankan captain is one of an emerging breed of attacking opening batsmen who are rewriting the rules of their profession. He looks to attack from the first ball come wind or high water.

Which is what he did first up and registered his season's curtain-raising centuries. A mere fortnight ago, he was watching Chris Gayle from the non-striker's smite bowlers to all parts of the ground in the IPL; something must have rubbed off from the West Indian maestro, as Dilshan set about demolishing the English bowlers.

Sri Lana's second victory over the England Lions was particularly creditable. The Lions rattled up a formidable

493 for 8 declared, with the swashbuckling Eoin Morgan making 193 and earning a berth for the Test match to follow at the expense of rival contender Ravi Bopara. He was partnered by Samit Patel, who also scored a century in a more restrained mode, and may well make his Test debut sometime this summer.

Dismissed for 266, Sri Lanka were asked to followon. They made a better fist of things second time round, posting an opening partnership of 200, which included a hundred each from both batsmen. The brisk run rate was maintained to the end as the Sri Lankan innings ended on 448, leaving the Lions with a reachable victo-

Tillekeratne Dilshan

ry target of 222. They were bowled out for 183, which left the visitors victorious by 38 runs.

The Sri Lankan bowling attack, with paceman Dilhara Fernando and spinner Nuwan Pradeep in their pomp, ran through the Lions batting. sIt was a good allround performance, suggesting a promise of things to come. England have been warned.

SPort world

Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011

Misbah, bowlers put Pakistan on top against WI Having scored only two Test hundreds since January 2010, Pakistan scored two in one innings in setting themselves up perfectly for a series-levelling win in the second Test against West Indies in Basseterre. Taufeeq Umar's fifth Test hundred - nearly eight years after his last - and Misbah-ul-Haq's third set a dispirited West Indies 427 to win.

It was never remotely realistic and by the close Abdur Rehman had depleted spirits further with a relentless spell.

Rehman took three wickets to leave West Indies down, almost out at 130 for 5; Darren Bravo's 50 was solitary defiance.

Pakistan were formidably placed overnight. Umar needed three runs to reach his hundred. It took him three overs to get his first run and not until the seventh over of the morning did he get there.

There wasn't much else to note - he scored eight runs in the first hour though this meant, interestingly, that three of Pakistan's last four Test hundreds had now been made by left-hand openers (Imran Farhat and Salman Butt the others).

Then, nothing until after morning drinks when a swept triptych against Devendra Bishoo brought him the fifty; first he swept him conventionally, then slog-swept, both for boundaries before ending with a reverse-swept single.

That signalled the assault. A little later came the Misbah signature, the onekneed loft to long-on for six and Bishoo was regularly punished thereafter as Pakistan pillaged 63 runs in the 10 overs to lunch.

Umar ran himself out just before lunch, ending a 129-run stand but

Misbah-ul-Haq

Umar Akmal took over after as Pakistan upped the pace in search of the declaration. He launched a couple of sixes while Misbah worked his way steadily to the landmark. Akmal fell as did Mohammad Salman, but Misbah brought up the hundred with an edged boundary.

Immediately he declared, 40 minutes into the afternoon session. Until then, the West Indies stood not so much in the way of Pakistan as opponents, as bemused, helpless bystanders.

What they were doing on the field in the morning for example, nobody knows. They came out with the intensity of a corpse, opening with Ravi Rampaul and Sammy and choosing not to take a new ball until they had to when a 110-over-old ball fell apart and no replacement could be found; did

they not know the fragility of Pakistan's batting?

From the time the first ball was bowled, they appeared beaten, waiting, hoping for a declaration. When it came, they realized it wasn't really what they wanted. An excellent opening spell from Tanvir Ahmed saw Kraigg Brathwaite dismissed by a big, fizzing inswinger but the game was simply waiting for Pakistan's spinners.

And they do bring terrific variety.

Rehman is like a drone, at you without rest; at one point after tea, he bowled five maidens in six overs. Saeed Ajmal is more given to moods and smiles and winks, chancing it to get wickets.

Mohammad Hafeez is a bit of both, able to restrict, also of late able to attack.

All three have contributed and it was Rehman's turn on Tuesday. Getting fair turn and big bounce, he ripped out Lendl Simmons, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels in an 11-over stretch from tea till drinks.

Bravo showed the first real signs of life in the hosts across an afternoon of confident work. Just before tea, two sixes off Rehman provided moments of rare, frozen beauty. The going after tea was sedate, though not entirely uncomfortable. A couple of cuts, in front of and behind square, confirmed the elegance of his game and a fourth fifty near the close was well-deserved.

A change of pace at the death brought his downfall, however, and the day was fully Pakistan's.

West Indies 223 and 130 for 5 (Bravo 50, Rehman 3-26) need 297 runs to beat Pakistan 272 and 377 for 6 dec (Umar 135, Misbah 102*)

British court asks banned Pak trio to appear in July The banned Pakistani trio of Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamer were told to appear before a London court in July for a preliminary hearing into the criminal case registered against them by the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) for corruption and cheating.

The three players didn't appear at the hearing held on May 20 in a Southwark court which ruled that regular hearing of the criminal case would begin in October.

But according to details, Judge James Sanders has ruled that the three have to appear for the preliminary hearing in July in person or through a video link.

The date for the start of the regular hearing has been set for October 4.

Although Aamer and Asif were present in London on May 20, they did not appear in the Southwark

India, Pakistan to play friendly football matches in UK

Sardar Naveed

The Pakistan Football Federation claims to have reached an agreement with its Indian counterpart to play a couple of friendly matches in the United Kingdom next month. PFF marketing director Sardar Naveed said an understanding had been reached with the All India Football Federation recently."We reached this understanding for a three-match friendly series in June after our tour to Palestine was postponed indefinitely last week," Naveed said.

The tour to Palestine could not take place due to the non-issuance of visas from Israeli authorities. Pakistan and Palestine were scheduled to play on May 24 and May 27 in Ramallah in the return-leg of the bilateral series after the Palestinian team had played in Pakistan earlier this year in front of big crowds.

"The series against India will go ahead once their federation gets the clearance from their government," Naveed added.

"Once they get the clearance we will advise the Indian officials of the venues and dates and also start the visa process," he said. Naveed said the proposed three-match series against India will serve as practice for Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh.

The team is also scheduled to play two practice matches with the national teams of Dubai and Qatar after which they plan to go to the United Kingdom. Pakistan will play their first qualifier in Dhaka on June 29 while their second qualifier will be in Lahore on July 3.

India likely to get a fielding coach

Salman Butt

Muhammad Asif

Muhammad Aamer

court on advice of their lawyers. Butt did not travel to London at all and remained in Lahore.

The trio were allegedly involved in bowling predetermined no-balls during the Test match against England last August and were subsequently banned for a minimum of five years by ICC's anti-corruption tribunal.

The Crown Prosecution

service will start working from July to prove their case of corruption and cheating against the three players and their Pakistani-British agent, Mazhar Majeed.

The incident came to light last August when a British tabloid exposed that the players received huge sum of money for deliberately bowling noballs during the fourth Test

against England.

Butt, who was the captain during the series, received a further suspended five-year ban and pacers Asif and Amir were handed a further two-year suspended sanction.

Majeed is accused of accepting $242,000 during a sting by undercover newspaper reporters to arrange for the players to bowl no-balls.

Shane Warne interested in the role of consultant Australian spin legend Shane Warne, who played his final competitive game last week, made it clear he wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be returning as a full-time coach for the Rajasthan Royals or any other team next season but said he was interested in a consultancy role.

"This is my last game, never say never but at this stage of my life I don't see myself playing a game again.

I am certainly not coming back as full time coach," Warne said after bringing down curtains on his twodecade long career with a 10wicket win over Mumbai.

"I won't be 100 per cent

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Shane Warne

in the entire tournament.

Definitely no point in being here for seven weeks if you are not playing. I may come in as consultant may be 10 days prior or some time in

between. If they are happy I will be here for a week or so.

If not I am done with the tournament will watch it on the telly," he added.

Warne said his team Rajasthan Royals was the best in the IPL competition when everything falls in place.

"We showed that when we do fire we are the best team in the competition.

Our batsmen fired at the top," said the 41-year-old Australian legend after the Royals finished their IPL engagements on a high though they couldn't qualify for the play-offs.

Warne said that the blistering knock of 89 by Shane Watson that flattened Mumbai who had a modest score of 133 to defend indicated his Australian compatriot was among the very best in the world.

"If Watson is not the best batsman in the world currently, I don't know who is?

He's fantastic, you could argue if he is not he is among the top two batsmen in the world. He has already apologised to me for not doing it in the earlier games. He came away with his confidence high after scoring 180 in Bangladesh," he said.

Trevor Penney

Trevor Penney, the former Sri Lanka assistant coach, is one of the first men India's new coach Duncan Fletcher is likely to bring on board. A BCCI official said Penney was likely to be appointed as India's fielding coach. Penney, 42, worked in a similar capacity, albeit in a parttime role, with Fletcher for England in 2005 before moving to Sri Lanka to be Tom Moody's assistant. India have been without a fielding coach since Robin Singh was relieved from the post two years ago. Mike Young, who till recently was Australia's fielding coach, worked with India as a consultant for about a month in late 2009, but there were no permanent appointments made. If appointed, Penney is likely to join the squad from the West Indies tour, which begins on June 4.

An excellent fielder during his 17-year playing career with English county Warwickshire, Penney remained fit enough to be named among England's substitute fielders for the 2005 Ashes, when he was 37 years old. He sparked controversy by coming onto the field repeatedly for England's fast bowlers.

When Moody decided to move to Western Australia after his Sri Lanka stint, Penney joined him there and later worked as Moody's deputy at IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab.

Interestingly, Penney was named as one of the candidates for the post of Sri Lanka coach after Sri Lanka Cricket decided not to renew Trevor Bayliss' contract after the 2011 World Cup.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 28th May 2011