AV 6th April 2019

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

6 - 12 APRIL 2019 - VOL 47 ISSUE 47

inside: India successfully tests anti-satellite weapon SEE PAGE 26

Crime scene outside a local Gurudwara

COMMUNITY

COMBATS KNIFE CRIME Priyanka Mehta

Knives are to Britain what guns are to America. Or at least that is how the debate of knife crime has emerged in the spate of the dozen stabbings that have occurred in the first three months of this year. The Home Secretary has invoked section 60 that empowers the police to stop and search people without “reasonable suspicion”. They have

also compelled the school teachers to help spotting the “young persons who could be in danger”. The government it seems has finally woken up to the knife crime “disease” and the community has come forward to fight it together.

But the question remains, does banning single use kitchen knife, really deal with the root causes of knife crime?

Continued on page 8

Diabetes prevention programme help patients lose weight of four London buses SEE PAGE 16

GO-EXIT: Brexit and Goan citizens SEE PAGE 17

2 UK

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6 - 12 April 2019

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WITH KEITH VAZ, MP

Rajesh Agrawal

Born & raised in Indore, India, Rajesh moved to London in 2001. He was appointed as the first ethnic minority Deputy Mayor for London for Business. As an entrepreneur, he founded RationalFX in 2005, and Xendpay in 2014, both companies utilising technology to reduce the cost of international money transfer for businesses and individuals. RationalFX started as a two-person company and grew to become one of the leading foreign exchange provider in Europe.

Rajesh is passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young people. He is the Chair of Oxfam’s Enterprise Development Programme, a Patron of the Prince’s Trust & a former Trustee of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.

In June 2016, Rajesh was appointed as Deputy Mayor of London for business. As Deputy Mayor Rajesh aims to be a strong voice for London’s business community, protecting jobs and growth, and ensuring that the capital remains the most open and attractive place to do business in the world.

1

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

I feel at home wherever I am! India is where I was born, raised and my parents live. London is where I started my business, met my wife and both my children were born. Both the places are very close to my heart.

2

What are your proudest achievements?

There are many! Part of my role is to bring foreign investment in London.

Since 2015, investment from India coming into London has more than doubled!

There is no one person but I have learned from so many people along the way.

6

What is the best aspect about your current role?

I get to give back to London - the city that gave me so much!

7

And the worst?

I love every aspect of my job but sometimes public sector red tape can really test the patience.

4

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

To put the country's interest above party's interest!

5

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

9

10

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

I think I would really enjoy the company of Gautam Buddha.

IS fighter one of seven from Uni of Westminster An Islamic State fighter held in Syria has told the BBC he was one of at least seven students and ex-students from University of Westminster to join IS. Zakariyya Elogbani abandoned a degree in business management which he was taking at the university in 2014.

Another student had been studying while on a terror protection order which was made less restrictive by a judge, a BBC investigation has found. University of Westminster says it takes its safeguarding duty "very seriously".

This is not the first time that students at the university have been linked to violent jihadism - the notorious IS killer Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, stud-

ed on Friday.

Mehta was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and jailed for 15 months in April 2018.

The report from the MPTS hearing said the tribunal heard the sentencing remarks of the trial judge, which said the woman had been "complaining of what might have been the early symptoms of a heart attack" when Dr Mehta touched her inappropriately and made comments of a sexual nature.

Taking into account the evidence against him, the tribunal said it found his

ied there until 2009. The BBC's investigation now exposes the secret funnelling of fighters and funds from the UK to IS in Syria.

Elogbani, who grew up in east London, was captured

by Kurdish forces in Syria nine months ago. He said there was a group at University of Westminster who had already left for Syria before he even began his studies.

That may have been a reference to Mohammed Emwazi, who studied information systems at the university and left for Syria in 2013. He became infamous after appearing in videos in which he killed Western hostages. Emwazi died in a missile strike in November 2015.

Elogbani denied knowing him but admitted seeing another of the British kidnap gang, known as The Beatles, in Syria.

Another former University of Westminster student who went to Syria was Akram Sabah, a recruitment consultant who left the university in 2011 with a degree in biomedical sciences. He and his older brother Mohammed were killed in fighting in September 2013.

A University of Westminster spokesperson told the BBC that the university "has a strong pastoral and interfaith focus providing care and support to its community of 20,000 students from more than 150 countries".

Dr Rajeshkumar Mehta

conviction "to be extremely serious".

The report said his fitness to practice was impaired by reason of his conviction.

Queen to 'stop driving' on public roads after Prince Philip crash The Queen has reportedly agreed to stop driving on public roads following the advice of her security team after Prince Philip’s car crash earlier this year.

The monarch is the only person in the UK permitted to drive without a licence, but she will now be chauffeured on public roads, according to The Sunday Times. The 92-year-old is known to enjoy driving and has a fleet of cars, which includes Jaguars, Land Rovers and Range Rovers.

Concern has heightened about whether the Queen

should continue to drive since Prince Philip’s car crash in January.

The Duke of Edinburgh had to be pulled out of his Land Rover when it flipped near the royal estate in Norfolk. The 97-year-old became trapped after the car he was driving collided with

a Kia carrying two women and a ten-month-old baby.

He blamed the low sunlight for dazzling him at the junction where the crash took place.

The Queen also raised concerns the day after the collision when she was spotted driving on a public road near Sandringham without a seatbelt.

Her Majesty does have to wear a seatbelt by law but she is immune from prosecution if she is caught not wearing one. It is thought the Queen may continue to drive on private roads.

Rashid A Khan

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To play my part in building a strong economy that works for everyone.

What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

I was appointed as Deputy Mayor 6 days after the Brexit referendum 2016. Nearly 3 years on it is still a challenge I battle every day.

A doctor who sexually assaulted a female patient has been struck off the medical register.

Dr Rajeshkumar Mehta, 64, had been jailed for the offence, committed while employed as a locum at The Hill General Practice and Care Centre in Sparkhill.

The Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service said the conviction "undermines the trust and confidence the public puts in the medical profession".

Mehta has 28 days to appeal against the decision.

He was not present during the hearing, which conclud-

What are your long term goals?

3

What inspires you? Everyone who is passionate about what they do & work hard with honesty and integrity.

GP struck off after patient sex assault

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6 - 12 April 2019

Pakistan, China, US in the headlines

There is rarely a day when either Pakistan or its ‘allweather friend’, China – or both – does not hog Indian media attention. The export of Jihadi terrorism into India and its consequential impact on Indian security; Chinese support to Pakistan as an instrument to weaken and keep India off-balance (contrary to the recent lunatic pronouncements of the BJP’s entertainer-maverick Subramaniam Swamy). The Pakistan-China cross is a burden India is condemned to carry, the challenge for India is to make sure that the price for Islamabad and for China is disproportionately high.

Nothing comes easy on the often vexatious journey from soft to hard state, from a minor power afraid of its own shadow to a greater power assertive of its appropriate weight. Kashmir jihadis challenge Indian authority; this is being met with quantum increases in robust response. The days of pussyfooting are clearly over. The penny belatedly dropped for an India faced by the reality that is engaged in war without the formal declaration. The global Diaspora of Kashmir’s Hindu Pandits, many of whom were driven from their ancestral homeland by the Valley’s emboldened jihadis, have welcomed India’s current hard-bitten Kashmir policy.

On separate set of this revolving stage, news of the kidnapping and forcible conversion to Islam and marriage to Muslim men, of two Hindu girls - Reena and Raveena by name and barely in their teens - in Pakistan’s Sindh province, which has a substantial Hindu minority. Several years ago, their parlous plight was taken up by the Catholic Bishop of Lahore, as Hindu Sindhis lacked proper representation. Unable to get any redress, the Bishop took his own life, His cortege was followed to its place of rest by Sindhi Hindus for whose rights the Bishop gave voice. Such is the broader canvas to this harrowing tale.

The distress of the minority Christian minority, concentrated in Punjab, is just as dire. The tyranny of Pakistan’s notorious and repugnant blasphemy laws have taken heavy toll of Christian lives and property. A mere Muslim complaint without supportive evidence, of A Christian man, woman or minor allegedly blaspheming against the Prophet Mohammed or Islam’s holy writ.

These cases have been well documented and remain in the public sphere.

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued a note verbale – a verbal diplomatic protest – which elicited a crusty response from Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chowdhary, that this was an internal matter. However, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has promised an immediate investigation of the tragic affair. Such incidents have continued with impunity.

Such developments must be placed in a wider context if the problem is to be fully understood. A Pakistan governor of Punjab, Salman Taeer, was assassinated by his security guard simply for advocating a more liberal interpretation of blasphemy legislation. Bar associations across the country were in hysterical mode in defence of the assassin.

The most recent case of murder for blasphemy was a Muslim academic, Khalid Hameed, at the Government Sadiq Egerton College in Punjab. His alleged crime was his proposal to hold a mixed gender event in his English Department. He was knifed to death for this ‘un-Islamic event by a student. The bereaved son of the professor, Waleed Khan, has lashed out the government for its inaction. ‘My father was employed by the government of Pakistan. The incident happened inside the premises of the college but the government has neither shown any concern nor expressed any reservation against the incident,’ throwing doubt on the ‘promise of tackling extremism and radicalization.’

However, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has not the slightest qualm about China’s brutal crackdown on the Muslim Uighers of Xinjiang. No blasphemy on China’s

part. This indignity is swallowed meekly by Pakistani jihadis and their patrons in Islamabad.

American concerns for violations of human rights, press freedom, gender equality and much else that dilate pupils and nostrils in righteous indignation of the great and good in Washington have been part of thel package of regime change abroad. The Modi regime, for reasons of geopolitics, is increasingly perceived through a glass, darkly. Its studied refusal to participate in the Trump administration’s capricious crusades in almost every continent has become frustrating for the self-appointed leaders of the ‘free world. The following passage from the recent US State Department report reads: ‘With Hindu nationalists trying to purge all manifestations of ‘antinational’ thought from the national debate , selfcensorship is growing in the mainstream media and journalists are increasingly the targets of online smear campaigns by the most radical nationalists, who vilify and even threaten physical reprisals.’

This surely is an apt summary of the domestic American scene. The US mainstream press and TV channels dance to the orchestrated rhythms of administrations in power. National enemies are identified, pilloried, abused and their countries invaded, if need be, for the salvation of its benighted citizenry.

Whistleblowers on US torture chambers and practices are tried and imprisoned for treason. With the Mueller report exonerating President Trump of collusion with Russia, where does that leave aspirants to the Pulitzer Prize, in the American mainstream press?

Noam Chomsky, the iconic American thinker and academic, recently gave a series of lectures entitled ‘Requiem for the American Dream.’ People everywhere should read Professor Chomsky’s ennobling words in meditative tranquility. .Professor Chomsky dissects clinically the calcified arteries of contemporary American: vast concentrations of wealth in diminishing hands; the deepening abuse of executive power; sprawling inner city slums, hubs of crime syndicates, racial conflict, indulgent gun laws, declining standards of primary and secondary education and crumbling infrastructure cheek by jowl with ballooning defence budgets. Freedom from want is as elusive as freedom from fear.

In pursuit of the mirage of limitless security – the right to impose its vision of global order on the rest of humanity, the US has brought calamity to itself and catastrophic humanitarian disasters in lands across Southeast Asia and the Great Middle East. The American mainstream media have been (and continue to be) accessories in these crimes against humanity. The country’s vaunted think tanks are septic tanks. The present US administration has lauded Haiti for its democracy when want, hunger, malnutrition, disease swell the ugly reality. America’s penchant for corrupt client dictators in clover – Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, Suharto in Indonesia, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Rioz Mont in Guatemala, a litany of shame..

The Indian body politic has myriad disfiguring warts, from caste, gender inequality, to ethnic and religious conflicts etc. As a society in transition on a grand scale there is, alas, a combustible cohabitation of the deeply regressive and visionary enlightened. However, the liberating interventions of India’s Supreme Court, have upheld freedom of thought and speech in films and the printed page. India would have been in dire straits without its judgments on critical issues at critical moments. Voting in India; its is a public exercise overseen and monitored at every stage by the country’s Election Commission. They are well organized and scrupulously overseen. There are markedly fewer felonies around balloting than there are in the United States. It is not the critiques of Indian politics and society that are objectionable; just that the odour of sanctity, of wearying double talk stink to high heaven. .

IPL curtain-raiser to World Cup We are in the early days of the Twenty/20 Indian Premier League, after a dull and unpromising start by last year’s champions, the Chennai Super Kings versus Royal Challengers Bangalore. The following day the tournament came truly alive, when the Kolkata Knight Riders, emerged from the jaws of defeat against starstudded Sunrisers Hyderabad, whose Australian star batsman hit a memorable 85, lost against the odds to Kolkata Knight Riders, who pulled off a miraculous victory, thanks largely to Andrei Russell’s thunderous hitting, ably supported by teenage sensation Shubman Gill, with the ground laid earlier by upcoming Nitin

Rana’s fluent 69. Later that evening, Delhi Capitals obliterated Bombay Indians, due largely to Risabh Pant’s blitzed 78 in 27 balls.

Finally, the Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings XI was one of high drama with the run out of the Rajasthan star Josh Buttler, the circumstances of his dismissal likely to be the talking point for hours, days, perhaps years.

Rajasthan who should have cruised home, withered on the vine and lost. Manwhile Royal Challengers Bangalore lost their second consecutive tie, this time to Bombay Indians. The brittle Challengers are unlikely to go far in the tournament.

You’re probably happier in life if you can forget things - Woody Allen

Alpesh Patel

A Note to a Father on Mother’s Day A strange timely thing happened recently. I was sitting in a cafe with my father when all of a sudden an elderly woman started shouting my name.

I stood and greeted this stranger. She explained she had never met me but was incredibly proud of me and hugged me.

I turned and introduced her to my father and she immediately hugged him and said, “you must be so proud of your son”.

As she left, she said, “I am so happy that you spend time with your father”. Maybe the angels send strangers to speak to us.

I looked in silence at my father thinking that neither that lady nor my father have any idea of how proud I am of him. My father did not have any high education qualifications when he came to this country but years later he floated his company on the stock market. And in the process he created jobs he and he treated all his employees fair square and with great care. All that is universally respected by his friends and family alike.

This man who in a VW with me and his mom and a couple of relatives had the guts to drive from the UK to India.

Who was caught up with me in riots and tear gas in India, but never once panicked, and guided me to safety.

When I wrote my first book, dedicated to him, the first thing my uncle said to me was “make sure the authors name, your name, includes your middle initial - which by tradition is your father’s name, and know that any of your achievements are his too”. And I did. And when I was admitted to Oxford, I simply told him by saying “we did it”. Becoming a Barrister and then Oxford Fellow followed, advising Prime Ministers and flying around the world by my country, for my country, and with each unlikely success I would remind him of the promise I made to him when I was a child “I told you I won’t let you down”.

It was a lie; I let him down many times. But he would never speak of it.

This man who through all hardships never once did I see him fear anything. Ever. Not even death itself when it looked imminent. He was always courage personified and from that I took strength as he knew I would.

A man who in the face of humiliations kept his dignity whilst others lost theirs. Who taught me the meaning of character even when time and again mine failed, his never did. Who taught me to do my duty though the heavens fall. Who taught me in anger to be silent, because “speak in anger and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” And in my provoked silences he has been the most proud of me and my devotion to family too.

I see why my mother is devoted to him in love after all these years - patiently spending hours by his bedside when he was unwell - never a complaint, always knowing every medication and timing meticulously. Her patient respect for him born out of his having earnt it.

My whole life I’ve spent being proud of him and when in the last week a friend said that I’m a good son, I’m embarrassed to say that it is not true. That I am not, I know, and will not be talked out of it. If only they and that lady today could see what I see.

If I have seen further it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants. Isaac Newton.

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Edinburgh Diwali appeals for votes to win £50,000 of National Lottery funding Edinburgh Diwali, the city’s annual festival of light, is appealing for public votes to secure £50,000 of National Lottery funding as part of this year’s People’s Projects.

Edinburgh Diwali brings together people of all ages, backgrounds and religions from communities across the city in a free festival that promotes friendship and understanding across cultures and is one of five groups in the East of Scotland in the running for a share of a life changing pot of £3 million up for grabs across the UK. Since 2005, the partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund, The National Lottery and STV has given the public a say in how funding should be put to good use in their local area.

If successful, Edinburgh Diwali will use the grant to enhance and expand this popular, and free, festival reaching communities across the city, bringing together residents from across a wide range of nationalities, cultures and religions in a celebration of music, dancing, feasting and fireworks.

The Festival wishes to light up the

Capital City for a week in October prior to the Diwali parade and festivities and to engage over 1000 of Edinburgh’s primary school pupils in workshops and activities around Diwali giving children the opportunity to understand, share and enjoy another culture.

Mohindra Dhall, President of Edinburgh Diwali, said: “Cultures across the world celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil our festival exemplifies the spirit of hope through unity, with a multicultural parade featuring a diverse range of participants. We want to welcome all of Scotland to come and share in the fun and excitement at Edinburgh Diwali and this award from the National Lottery will enable us to

grow the Festival, to keep it free and open to all comers, and to light up our city for a whole week as we head into the winter months. To do this, we need your support – please vote for Edinburgh Diwali.”

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Frank Ross, is the event's patron. He said: "Diwali is a dazzling familyfriendly festival of lights symbolising the victory of good over evil. In recent years, it has become one of Edinburgh’s ‘must-see’ events and I’m so pleased to see it continue to expand and go from strength to strength. The chance to win funding from the National Lottery is an exciting opportunity to allow this celebration of Indian culture and traditions with a unique Scottish twist to grow and to

be enjoyed by even more of the city’s residents.”

Joe Ferns, UK Funding Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “As the largest funder of community activity in the UK, we are proud to support groups that are led by the vision, determination and drive of local people to strengthen communities.

The People’s Projects is a chance for you to have your say on how National Lottery funding can help your community to thrive.”

To be in with a chance of claiming the top prize, Edinburgh Diwali is asking people to support its bid by visiting the People’s Projects website to vote. Voting opens at 9am on Monday 1 April and closes at noon on Monday 15 April 2019.

People can vote once per region and will need a UK mobile number or email address to vote.

Please vote now to support Edinburgh Diwali. https://www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk/projects/vie w/edinburgh-diwali The People’s Projects has awarded around £42 million to 960 good causes across the UK since it started in 2005.

West Midlands Mayor celebrates Holi with Hindu community The Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, pictured, brought together Hindu leaders from the West Midlands region at the Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple, the largest temple in Europe, on 21 March to celebrate the festival of Holi.

Given the shocking Mosque attacks in Birmingham the evening before, the Mayor’s speech focussed on the Puranic story of Holi and it’s message of good over evil.

He said: “The ancient story of Holi about Prahalad and Holika shows that goodness will always prevail

over evil. It is something we must think about in the West Midlands today in the face of intolerance and threats on the Muslim faith.

When I went to visit the Muslim community earlier in the day the thing they were most comforted by was the response from other faiths, and of course the Hindu faith was one of the first to condemn the attacks and provide comfort in this time of need.

“The Hindu community have made a home in the West Midlands and have not only contributed to business

and the economy but also to the peaceful and tolerant society we have here in the West Midlands.

“Holi is a celebration of different colours and how they exist beautifully together.

The West Midlands is made up of people of so many different ethnicities, languages, heritages and faiths and that is our beauty; it is something to be celebrated.”

The event was sponsored by Enzen UK, a knowledge-based Energy and Utility enterprise serving the Gas, Power and Water sec-

tors. An Indian company, it has made a successful home in Solihull, UK, where it serves clients throughout the UK. Manish Jamthe, UK CEO of Enzen UK showed his appreciation to the Mayor for bringing the community together and for promoting the message of community spirit in the West Midlands.

Taxi driver blinded in one eye after attack A taxi driver who was left blind in one eye after a onepunch attack has been forced to quit his job. Sujan Pal said he was "very worried" about his future after being assaulted when he refused to let a man into his car on Christmas Day. Police are re-appealing for witnesses over the attack, which took place outside the Rose and Crown

Sujan Pal

pub in Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire.

Officers believe several

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people who saw what happened have not come forward. Mr Pal, 39, refused to take the man as he had not booked the taxi. The punch damaged his eye socket and left him completely blind in his left eye. He said it was the "first time anything like this has ever happened to me" in his 12 years as a taxi driver.

"I am very worried about what the future holds. I need my vision to work and support my family," Mr Pal added.

"I know that people saw what happened to me and I would ask that they please co-operate with the police and do the right thing so

that this does not happen to anyone else."

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and released pending further inquiries. Det Sgt David Speight said it was a "very nasty and unprovoked attack". He added: "A single punch to the face has changed his whole life and he is now unable to work and provide for his family.

"People were around that night and specifically information has been received about the incident from some witnesses who for whatever reason are reluctant to provide written statements."

in brief ACTRESS SHOBNA GULATI, 52, 'KNOCKED OUT' AFTER BEING HIT BY FALLING SCENERY

Former Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati is recovering at home after she was 'knocked out' by falling scenery at Shakespeare's Globe. Stunned audience members watched in horror as Gulati was left motionless on stage. The 52year-old is believed to have been hit by something that 'fell out of the ceiling' during a Richard II play.

The play’s leading actress and co-director Adjoa Andoh then stepped in to halt the performance at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, on Bankside, south-east London, last Thursday.

One audience member said those around her thought the incident was part of the show until someone on stage yelled: 'Is there a doctor in the house?'

A statement from Shakespeare's Globe said: 'Shobna Gulati was injured during a performance of Richard II on 28 March, but is recovering well at home. An investigation is under way. Shobna hopes to return to the role this week.'

Gulati is starring as the Duke of York in the play, which has wowed critics and is the first adaptation of the Bard's work comprising a cast entirely of black and minority ethnic women.

Gulati tweeted her fans: 'Thank you so much for all your messages. I'm recovering at home and being wonderfully cared for by my son, my #RichardII family and the team @The-Globe. I'll let you know when I'm back on stage, but hopefully it'll be this week!'

Performances were cancelled on Friday and Sunday afternoon. The show resumed on Sunday evening with Ann Ogbomo filling in for Gulati.

ROGUE LANDLORD FROM ILFORD FINED BY TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL

A landlord who lives in Ilford has been fined by Tower Hamlets Council ahead of tough licensing regulations which have now been extended across the whole East End. Mohammed Ahmed failed to license his Bethnal Green property, a flat in Benson House in Ligonia Street, which he rents out for multiple occupation. He has been hit with a £4,000 fine plus £5,000 legal costs at Thames Magistrates’ court for failing to register. Ahmed, of Mildmay Road, Ilford, had been required to register his property by regulations piloted two years ago. Deputy mayor Sirajul Islam, responsible for all housing issues, said: “We insist that landlords are licensed to protect both them and their tenants. Housing is such a premium that overcrowded flats used by several tenants are common. The scheme has real teeth to protect tenants’ health and safety.”

NEW FAITH SCHOOLS PROPOSED WITH POWER TO SELECT 100PC OF PUPILS BASED ON RELIGION

An east London community group fears that proposals to create two new Redbridge faith schools, which have the power to select all their pupils on the basis of religion, could be divisive. The Department for Education (DfE) unveiled 14 bids to create “voluntary aided (VA) schools” across the country last week – including two in Redbridge. If approved, this would see charity the Al Noor Foundation and academy trust the Avanti Schools Trust create two new secondary schools based on the Muslim and Hindu faiths respectively.

Paul Kaufman, chairman of East London Humanists, expressed concerns about these school’s potential impact community cohesion in a statement released on Thursday (March 28).

“We strongly support freedom of religion and belief.

However it is not the role of the state to fund religious schools or to endorse and promote a divisive school system.

We celebrate the diversity of east London. The best way of ensuring understanding and harmony between our communities is for our children to live, learn and play together as they grow up,” he said.

VA schools’ admissions and staff selection procedures can be determined entirely by their governing boards. The stands in contrast to new state schools, where the government has set a cap which allows them to select only 50pc of pupils according to faith.

The Al Noor Foundation already runs a VA primary School, in Green Lane, Goodmayes. It admits non-Muslim pupils, reserving 50pc of places for Muslim pupils at Reception and Year 1.

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Yuva Unstoppable chosen as High Commissioner of the Charity of the Year for the India presents her letter of 19th Asian Achievers Awards commission to the Queen The younger generation has the opportunity to propel the society into a higher stature by breaking down the barriers that cause social injustices. Yuva Unstoppable is one such force which relies on the strength of its volunteers and the power of its youth to bring about a positive change in the society.

In 2019, Yuva Unstoppable has been chosen as the Charity of the year for the 19th Asian Achievers Awards. Over the years, the awards have raised more than £1.5mn for selected charities.

What started in 2005 with a small group of enthusiastic individuals who strongly and deeply believed in the power of youth, has today mobilised more than 1,50,000 youngsters touching the lives of over 500,000 people across the country.

Amongst the many initiatives that Yuva undertakes, is the evolution program wherein it partners with philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and corporate houses to improve the basic infrastructural amenities such as drinking water, urinals, wash areas and the classrooms, of municipal schools thus improving the lives of the children, especially the daughters making them more self-reliant, encouraging them to educate themselves, learn and participate in classes and workshops in various subjects improving their skills and their self-esteem. Since the inception of this project in 2013 it has transformed over 800 extremely poor government schools across

Rupanjana Dutta

Amitabh Shah, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Yuva Unstoppable interacting with the youth, bringing in positive changes in their life

India.

Yuva Unstoppable partners with 100 top institutes for impactful CSR and have transformed 800 municipal schools & 500,000 kids across 14 States in India.

There are 1.1mn schools in India and more than 50% still don’t have toilets for the girl child.

From Cricketers VVS Laxman, Sir Ian Botham to Sehwag; Superstars Akshay Kumar; Film Directors R Balki & Rakeysh Mehra are proactively involved in Yuva’s efforts. Actor Ashton Kutcher’s A-Plus Media and Chicken Soup for the soul made a 4 min short film around how Yuva empowers women across India by improving toilets and educational facilities in school. It was premiered at the Yale CEO Summit 2017 in NYC with CEOs of iconic companies like Merck, Wells Fargo, Dunkin Donuts, IBM etc.

Yuva Unstoppable also won the coveted IBM Impact award for 2017 to improve their social media and corporate communications.

Amitabh Shah, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Yuva Unstoppable was the 2015 winner of the Prince’s prize for innovative philanthropy, conferred by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco wherein Jack Ma of Alibaba Group was a semi finalist.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Mr Shah said, “None of us would account to much without clean Toilets, Water and Digital Literacy. Every child deserves access to tha above. We have seen a tremendous increase in health, attendance and academic outcomes by making this small but impactful changes in existing government schools. We have completed 950 schools & we will not stop till we upgrade 10,000 schools with sanitation & technology. We are grateful to Asian Acheivers Awards for caring about these less privileged children and making Yuva the Charity this year.”

Lord Loomba speaks about women's empowerment during Commonwealth debate Lord Loomba, during a debate, asked what the UK's Department for International Development is doing to ensure that project 'Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it Up for Gender Equality' reaches the Commonwealth countries and their citizens.

Speaking about the relation between Commonwealth nations, Lord Loomba described it as a “wealth of things we have in common- things we can all nurture and sustain such as democracy, the rule of law and adherence to the upholding of human rights.

"At a time when there is so much uncertainty in our world, it is comforting to know that there is a group of nations that together can show leadership, express common sense and unite in

a sense of purpose that may seem lost in today’s fastchanging world.”

Illustrating women's issues he said,"Women face bias along multiple identity dimensions, including gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and age".

Pointing out there is an estimated 2.4 billion people in the Commonwealth, and nearly half the world’s population are female, Lord Loomba affirmed, "it is not hard to see that addressing many of the issues that females face and supporting women and girls will bring about enormous and beneficial change for all concerned...”

He further said, "If we are truly to make progress, challenge cultural practices and relinquish the chains of

male-dominated societies...We need to start at the beginning and ensure that education is key for the new generations; and that women of the future do not face the same issues and limitations that held back their mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers and so on, especially violence, subversion and coercion.

These issues are extremely important in the context of the sustainable development goals and achieving 50-50 by 2030".

Arguing that UK's aid budget could be better targeted to help Commonwealth countries, especially the 60% of small states, Lord Loomba highlighted that it is important these states are taken care of, for a better and fairer future.

Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II praised the exemplary contributions of 60,000 Indian doctors in NHS, at the occasion of the presentation of the 'letter of credence' (letter of commission) by the High Commissioner of India, Her Excellency Ruchi Ghanashyam at the Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 27 March 2019.

A letter of credence is a formal diplomatic letter that appoints a diplomat as ambassador to another sovereign state. Commonly known as diplomatic credentials, the letter is addressed from one head of state to another, asking him to give credence to whatever the ambassador may say on his country's behalf. The letter is presented personally by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony, marking the beginning of the ambassadorship.

Upon arrival at his post, an ambassador meets with the foreign minister to arrange for an audience with the head of state, here the Queen. The ambassador carries both a sealed original and an unsealed copy of this credentials. The unsealed copy is given to the foreign minister upon arrival, and the original is presented personally to the head of state in a formal ceremony.

Mrs Ghanashyam and husband Mr A R Ghanashyam, after meeting the Queen, rode on a horse drawn carriage, escorted by

HE Ruchi Ghanashyam with husband Mr A R Ghanashyam presenting the letter of credence to Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II

official military escort, as per the UK tradition, from Buckingham palace to 9 Kensington Gardens, the High Commissioner's residence, where they met a room full of gathered guests, that included businessmen such as the Hindujas, Lord Navnit Dholakia, Lord Ranbir Suri, Lord Loomba, Baroness Prashar, Lord Popat to name a few.

Neil Holland, Director of Protocol and ViceMarshal of Diplomatic Corps at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, addressing the guests and honouring the occasion said, "It's a real honour, and congrats presentation of credences. I hope the High Commissioner has a fulfilling stay. There is a wonderful connection between Her Majesty with India. The relation with India is an old one and comes with its own complexities, but the con-

temporary one is quite a different and an honourable one, We work together to increase trade and investment and fight terrorism, theres a growing people to people relationship, we can't think of modern UK without the Indian diaspora.”

The High Commissioner, who was elegantly dressed in a black 'Baluchari' saree and pearls, speaking at the event paid tribute to the Queen's energy and how warm and hospitable she was. She added, “There is a warm relation between UK and India – we are strong partners. The vibrant diaspora bind us together. The contribution of diaspora- play a vital role to build bridge between two countries.”

Mrs Ghanashyam took moved to her office in London towards end of 2018.

Amartya Sen honoured with the prestigious Bodley Medal Noble Laurette Amartya Sen is the latest recipient of the Bodley Medal. The honour was awarded to Sen during the Founder's Lunch by Lord Patten, by Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Richard Ovenden, Bodley's Librarian. The Founder's lunch is an annual event commemorating the birth of the Libraries’ founder, The Bodley Medal Sir Thomas Bodley, and his legacy of philanthropy.

The Bodley Medal is awarded by the Bodleian Libraries to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the worlds in which the Bodleian is active including literature, culture, science and communication.

Past winners include biographer Claire Tomalin, novelist and screenwriter William Boyd, classicist Mary Beard, physicist Stephen Hawking, film director Nicholas Noble Laurette Amartya Sen receiving the Bodley Medal Hytner, novelist Hilary Mantel, the late poet Seamus Heaney, writer and actor Alan Bennett and inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

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British Asian fraudsters Line of Duty: Maneet Black students Bindra survives behind white at funded Al-Qaeda? knife attack? university A British Asian gang of fraudsters may have been involved in misusing billions of pounds amounting to £80million of British tax-payers money to fund terrorist networks like the Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to The Sunday Times.

Police and intelligence files as accessed by the media organisation, reveals that the gang which stole the money may have links to the 7/7 London bombings in which 52 people died - reportedly mounted VAT and benefit fraud against the Treasury.

Reports also suggest that part of the total money came from mortgage and credit card frauds that targeted banks and individuals. The gang, based in London, Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, north-west England and Scotland, is alleged to have sent one per cent of its gains from their elaborate tax fraud to Al-Qaeda where it funded madrasas, training camps and other terrorist activities.

“Secret intelligence held by MI5 states that some of the money reached

the Pakistani compound that housed the Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden before US forces stormed it in 2011,” the newspaper reports as part of a two-year investigation.

An estimated £80 million is believed to have been funnelled out by the fraudsters as part of an elaborate VAT and benefits fraud against the UK’s revenue department over the past two decades. HMRC investigations also found links between the gang and 7/7 bombing terrorist Shehzad Tanweer two years before the 2005 attack.

The gang, made up of British men of Asian-origin who cannot be named due to court orders, reportedly infiltrated multiple UK government agencies and even corrupted local politicians. Mid-ranking gang members have been sentenced to more than 100 years in prison for fraud and money laundering in a series of linked trials.

Some information was discovered on a discarded laptop found in Afghanistan by CIA and MI6 officers hunting for bin Laden in 2001.

Line of Duty was the mostwatched show of 2019 so far, according to overnight figures with over 7.8 million viewers watching the BBC1 Crime Drama. That also made it the most-watched episode in the history of the police drama.

Birmingham based actor Maya Sondhi who plays the character of Maneet Bindra in her interview to The Mirror hinted that she could unbelievably survive the episode's shocking climax where her throat was slashed. WPC Maneet Bindra was uncovered by Police anti-corruption unit AC-12 as an informer giving information to an

Organised Crime Group.

Maneet was then kidnapped before her throat was stabbed with a knife and she was left for dead by a canal.

A recent report by the Office for Students has revealed that black students achieve far worse degree than white at almost half of the university.

The report highlights that there exists a large gap of 20 percentage points between the number of black and white students who receive distinction or an upper merit (2:1) during their graduation at 45% of universities. It emphasised that 11 per cent of the poorest students dropped out of the university after completing their first year in comparison to 6 percent of the rich kids. Additionally, only 75% of the poor stu-

dents achieved a distinction or an upper merit in comparison to the 84% of the richest.

Experts suggest that black students are deterred by a lack of role model at these universities and could have also performed worse because of the methods of assessment.

The report also suggested that there were “substantial gaps in access for all higher-tariff universities”.

Five universities with the biggest gap between the richest and poorest intake were Imperial College, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and University College London.

UKIP fractures Tory party as Grieve loses no-confidence vote MP and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve has lost a vote of noconfidence by local Conservatives. It followed after a discussion about Brexit by party association members in Buckinghamshire. Grieve has been a prominent campaigner for another referendum on the UK leaving the EU. Opposition to him is reported to have been organised by a former UKIP

candidate, with more than 38,000 people who had signed an online petition calling for his de-selection.

According to Mr. Grieve, he had no intention of standing down but he would now need to ask the local association to re-select him as a candidate in the next general election.

However, reports also indicate that Theresa May has come to his protec-

tion, assuring that he won’t be ousted as Conservative MP, despite losing a no confidence vote launched by a party association in his constituency.

Additionally a number of senior Tories had lined up to condemn the vote in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, against the former attorney-general who has led efforts to prevent no-deal, take control of parliamentary business from the government and push a second referendum.

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Community combats knife crime Niharika* works as a parttime waitress at a local pubrestaurant in the Camden borough of London in the after hours of University.

Irregular work shifts means that she often travels home alone at odd hours with nothing but a pepper spray and her mobile phone as a defence weapon against drunk or harassing assailants.

Although, Camden to Queensbury is a merely thirty minute commute, she stays a further ten minute walk down the tube station, a distance, she says, she is not comfortable walking home especially at odd hours. On most nights, she would message her father just as she nears her destination, so that he is there in time to pick her up.

Defense mechanism: A Pepper spray and a mobile phone “I used to carry a pocket knife until a few weeks ago but only for my safety. But since my parents came to know about it, they have me carrying a pepper spray now,” she says.

She talks about the fear she had spotted in her mother's eyes when she had discovered about her carrying the weapon and the discussion that followed where she understood the risk of being handcuffed. Ever since, she had taken to these measures of carrying a pepper spray, notifying her father and speaking to her friends on days when she had no choice but to walk home. But she is not the only one who feels that Queensbury has relatively become an insecure area.

“There is a lot of drugs being exchanged just round the corner and this has been happening since the last two years.

The Romanian teenager [Florin Pitic] was found bleeding after midnight last week, and it is understood that it was someone from within the gang who hit him,” said Srinivasan*, a local shopkeeper around the area.

Cash and carry: Drugs and anti-social behaviour Srinivasan has been running the corner shop for over a decade now and he says that substance abuse, harassment and anti-social behaviour has become something of a norm in the area. Two men — both 23 and from North London — have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are being questioned by police.

But even local restaurants around the area reported about how “this kind of stuff (gang culture and stabbing) keeps happening and we have become used to dealing with it now,” said Ramesh*, owner of a local restaurant

Kirpan

£1,028,214 in 2018-19 which in the area. According to latis over 200% funds allocated est reports, criminals have for fighting knife crime. been given “carte blanche” Councillor Krishna to rob and attack shop-keepSuresh, is the Lead Member ers because neither the for Crime and Community police nor the courts interSafety at Harrow Council. vene in such incidents.

Last year he supported the The most common perHarrow Police together with ception around knife crime Brent and Barnet Police as is the claim that race, and part of a knife crime cam“Afro-Caribbean black peopaign, Operation Sceptre, ple” specifically, are inherwhich aimed to reduce the ent to London’s knife crime epidemic. However, local residents around the area believe that class as opposed to race plays a critical and a bigger role in street violence and in measures adopted to tackle them.

“Many kids hanging around these areas after hours are white kids, m o s t l y E a s t e r n Europeans probably Polish or Romaniansbut Candlelight tribute to Florin Pitic most of them work outside Queensbury station odd jobs and there is general poverty in their households,” said a local resident who also works at a cafe in number of people – especialKenton but wished to stay ly young people, carrying anonymous. knives.

However, he Akala, the famous rapper remained unavailable to had recently taken twitter by comment on the subject. a storm where in a video he But the question that is seen dispelling the misremains is, whether allocaconceptions associated with tion of funds and deployknife crime. In an interview ment of necessary police with Ciaran Thappar for officials for midnight patrols Vice, Akala had saidenough to curb what is a “None of that excuses “deep-seated” problem? teenagers or makes it okay, but given the link between [a Support system: Youth person’s] exposure to clubs, communities domestic violence and [their and charities propensity for] street violence, you’d think we’d have Dr. Mark Prince OBE is the a conversation about that.” founder of the Kiyan Prince Foundation (KPF). Mark has 200% to council youth shared his experience of carservices and operation rying a knife when he felt sceptre threatened in the 1980s and using it as a defense mechaAccording to Sian Berry’s nism against any potential report 'London’s Lost Youth assault. However, in 1998 he Services 2019', there is a 46% lost his son Kiyan who was cut in the budget for tackstabbed to death by Hannad ling knife crime since 2011Hasan after standing up to 12. This report was prepared him against his bullying. by analysing data supplied The 16-year-old who killed through Freedom of him used a Swiss Army Information by 26 of the 32 knife. boroughs of London.

Kiyan Prince never carAccording, to the same ried a knife, but the loss of report Harrow has allocated his son led to the foundation the largest budget to council of KPF in Finchley. The youth services from charity provides support to £474,186 in 2011-12 to

the young and vulnerable by holding regular sessions on motivational speaking, training, education and even providing boxing lessons as an alternate channelisation of anger. He has been running the KPF for 12 years, mostly in isolation and has only recently received funds for the cause.

“Banning knives, doesn't solve the root problem. And education is not enough either, we need to understand the deeper causes and communicate with these vulnerable people,” he said to the Asian Voice in December when he had received the Queen's honorary award in December.

Condemning the role that bigger organisations such as Nike play in unconsciously promoting the gang culture, through their advertisements, he said“Nike came out with an advertisement featuring a young black model, I think it was promoting Balaclava but they need to be more careful about the social implications of such advertisements.”

Having received heavy social media backlash Nike had withdrawn the £69 balaclava, which was part of the Nikelab x MMW range.

The company came out with a statement where it said- “These products were part of a wider Nike Training collection, styled on different models and available in multiple markets around the world.

“However, we must do more to help protect our children from harm.

Incoming regulation under the Digital Economy Act will require the use of age-gates on adult-only websites.

There is no reason why this approach cannot be replicated across websites that sell age-restricted goods,” said Alastair Graham, CEO of AgeChecked.

AgeChecked is a company that provides systems that can be integrated into websites that provide agerestricted goods and services to ensure that underage individuals cannot access them.

Over the last few years the Mayor of London has often blamed Tory austerity for the cuts on the funds allocated to the police forces to curb knife crime.

Furthermore, according to Sian Berry’s report the councils are proposing a £1.2 million cut in the coming year.

According to the data supplied by the Home Office there were 39,818 knife crime offences in the 12 months ending September 2018 and in a city of 7 million people. Amidst such heightened tensions, local communities, charities and

Knife crime incidents as of 2nd April On January 1, two people were fatally stabbed in separate knife attacks in the capital,.

On February 8, Aliny Mendes, 39, was stabbed to death outside a school in Cheam, Surrey, Greater London.

On February 18 a man died at The Wesley Hotel, near Euston Station after being knifed.

On February 21, a 23-year-old-man was stabbed in Lambeth.

On March 2, a 17-year old girl was founded knifed to death in a playground in Romford.

On March, 7, 17-year-old Ayub Hassan was knifed multiple times outside a Waitrose supermarket near West Kensington Tube station.

On March 9, a 19-year-old was in a critical condition after he was stabbed in the chest on the 134 bus at Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill.

On March 10, a 19-year-old was stabbed in East Dulwich in south east London.

On March 12, a 20-year-old died after being hit and left bleeding at Queensbury Station.

On March 22, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Isleworth, West London after being chased by two attackers.

On March 23, four people were stabbed - three teens and man in his 20s – in three separate attacks.

On March 24, a man in his 40s in Hackney was stabbed.

On March 25, a 54-year-old Ravi Katharkamar was stabbed to death "for a few pounds" while opening his newsagents in Pinner, North West London.

On March 28, a 17-year-old was repeatedly stabbed in Markhouse Road, in Walthamstow, East London.

On March 29, a 24-year-old Zahir Visiter was stabbed to death for a £60,000 watch before the knifemen fled into a mosque near Regent's Park.

On the same day a man in his 40s and named locally as dadof-three Gavin Garraway, was knifed to death in Clapham, South London.

On March 31, four attacks took place in the space of 14 hours on the streets of North London.

On April 2, fifth attack with a man in his 30s, was left with life-threatening injuries when he was stabbed in Aberdeen Road, Enfield, north London at about 5am on Tuesday. youth clubs have pitched in volunteers and youth workers working in “postcodes” to ensure that prevention is better than cure.

While the government has come up with the proposal of asking the doctors

lowing the New Zealand Mosque attacks and the vandalism of the Birmingham Mosques. With last year being London's bloodiest in almost a decade, as the number of homicides reached 135, the

Source: Home Office, year ending March, BBC.

Continued from page 1

and nurses to report the “young persons who could be in danger”. But, at the same time Berry's report highlights that out of 234 youth clubs that existed in 2011-12, 104 of them have closed down in 2018-19.

So, while Asda might ban the sale of single use kitchen knife after emerging reports that these were the most stolen, there are concerns among communities that this might encourage a parallel black market that feeds into the gang culture.

And most importantly, temples and other places of worship are on full alert fol-

plague of knife crime doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon.

Controversy surrounding Kirpan and faith The kirpan is carried by Sikhs as a symbol of their faith. British Sikhs can continue to buy and possess kirpans without fear of being sent to jail after amendments in the Offensive Weapons were passed by the UK Parliament only recently.

*Some names have been changed on request to protect the identity of some individuals.

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Nirav Modi to apply for Helping bail in High court soon the Needy

Rupanjana Dutta

Nirav Modi will apply for bail in a UK high court soon, but has not applied for it as yet, a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesperson has told Asian Voice, as we went to press on Tuesday.

The spokesperson further added, Nirav Modi can apply for bail whenever he likes, but he needs to give the CPS 48 hours' notice and the bail hearing has to be listed within 48 hours before the appeal being lodged. So in total there will be 4 days notice before the case appears in the high court.

In an extradition case either party can appeal the magistrates court decision to the High Court. A final appeal can go to the Supreme Court but only in cases where there is a 'point of law of general public importance'.

Nirav Modi was denied an application for bail for the second time in the Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday 29 March 2019, despite his defence team vigorously trying to establish his close ties to the UK, including having to care for his pet dog.

Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot declined the bail application, suggesting he was at 'substantial' flight risk, and he lacked 'community ties' with the UK. However, Modi's barrister Clare Montgomery trying to make a series of offers said, that while Modi's son was at Charterhouse school for the last 5 years and now in a US university, Modi has got a dog and “none of these actions are emblematic of someone setting out to flee the country.”

Applying for bail, Modi also offered a security of upto £1mn, a mobile that is always on and traceable and a police electronic tag. But Toby Cadman from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian authorities,

Have you ever visited parts of Asia and Africa, and had a child beg you for part of your sandwich as you wait for your train at a railway station? Or did you ever think ‘how sad’, when you saw a baby sleeping on a pavement, and wished someone would do something?

emphasised that Modi posed a 'significant flight risk' and was also likely to further intimidate witnesses and destroy evidence if he were released. He said Modi had also travelled in February 2019 to the US, despite claiming he did not step out of the UK after January 2018, sealing the case against him. The court heard that Modi had allegedly 'threatened to kill' witness Ashis Lad and offered upto Rs 2mn to lure him to provide false statement. He had also allegedly destroyed evidences such as mobile phones and a server.

The court further heard that Modi had applied for a citizenship of Vanuatu, in South Pacific, which was eventually denied to him.

He acquired an investor's visa to the UK in 2015.

Judge Arbuthnot accepted the Indian government's arguments, noting the "very unusual" evidence she had seen at this early stage.

However Montgomery, Modi's barriester, also subtly criticised the documents submitted by Indian authorities for poor quality of photocopies and lack of proper appendix and indexes in the document bundles.

Judge Arbuthnot also seemed sympathetic

towards her regarding the situation with the paperwork.

Modi appeared in the court in a white shirt and navy blue trousers and made notes, while sitting in custody. Mehul Choksi's brother Chetan Choksi was also present in the court.

CBI had 3 representatives in court including Satyabrata Kumar from the extradition department.

The judge agreed that she did not feel that the conditions met with Modi's statutory right to bail and directed Modi to be remanded in custody in Wandsworth prison to appear for a remand hearing on April 26 through a video link, required within a fourweek period of an accused being remanded in custody.

In Vijay Mallya's case, a bail was granted to him immediately after his arrest on an extradition warrant in 2017. However he had also surrendered himself after a warrant was issued, whereas Modi avoided it till he was arrested at a bank in Central London, when he was trying to open a new bank account.

If extradited, he will be sent to same prison in Mumbai as Mallya, if he is also successfully extradited to India from the UK.

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For almost four decades, Help A Poor Child (HAPC), a UK-based charity, has taken children affected by poverty, endemic diseases, and disabilities across Asia and Africa, under its wing. The result? Today, hundreds of children and families across two continents have received basic education, books and medical aid, instead of starving, begging, and suffering on the streets.

Founded by London businessman Derrick Pereira in 1980, HAPC’s seeds were sown at a chance meeting between Pereira and the late Mother Colombiere, former headmistress of St Anne’s School in Mumbai. She requested Pereira who was visiting India from England ‘to do something about India’s poor’. 39 years down the road, HAPC has been successfully operating as an independent charity run solely by volunteers. Through

several fundraising activities, the charity has set up schools, as well as computer and science laboratories, prevented child abuse, and has offered disability care in Asia and Africa. The charity also provides scholarships, grants or bursaries to students. “Our core objective is to serve the poor and displaced children by providing programmes that bring hope, restore dignity and raise their physical and educational levels in a meaningful, lasting way,” says Pereira.

HAPC’s projects offer a sustainable approach to development, based on empowering children and providing them with the skills they will need to support themselves in the future. The charity has inspired, challenged and, most importantly, brought about positive changes in the lives of those they have helped. An example, following a visit by one of HAPC’s volunteers Druve Patel, is the establishment of a school in a rural area of West Africa, which today has over 200 children.

For more information please call telephone: 020 8905 2761 and Email: info@hapc.co.uk

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Brexit taking its toll Yet another government minister has tendered his resignation over Brexit last week. This brings the number of resignations to eight so far. Those who resigned perhaps feel that a better deal could have been negotiated. As a consequence, Theresa May’s government has been hit by a wave of these resignations.

One after the other minister is either resigning or is being sacked. In the wake of the resignation of the most high profile person, the Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, many more have followed suit. The PM herself has indicated that she too will step down after the negotiations are complete.

So Brexit is taking its toll.There are also talks of second referendum. This may be mere speculation, but if there were to be a second referendum on our exit from the EU, would Britain vote to remain in the EU? With the passage of time and with hindsight, and the negotiations which have taken place so far, we are now much wiser than we were a couple of years ago when Britain decided by 51 to 49 votes to come out of the EU. It transpires that we have much to lose and llittle to gain by coming out of the strong and powerful organisation like the European Union. Many financial institutions have already made advanced plans to move their headquarters from Britain to France and Luxembourg. If the first referendum was a little hasty decision, is there a case for second referendum?

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Letters of the Week

Courtesy: The Week UK

A lesson in democracy (From New Statesman) The fiasco of the Brexit process is not only down to Theresa May’s ineptitude as PM and the irreconcilable aspirations of the Brexit dream.

Ever since the referendum in 2016, the ugly we-won, getover-it triumphalism of the Brexiters has been their, and everyone else’s, undoing. Constantly trumpeting their 52% victory as if it had been a landslide – “the British people have decided!” – their definition of democracy has been throughout that it exists only to serve their inchoate and incoherent interests, with no regard for anyone else.

The European Union and some of the Remain camp have been no better. The flagrant disregard for legitimate concerns about how the EU is run and the consequences of unregulated one-way immigration handed the Brexiters their “victory”.

The democratic majority principle means we must leave the EU, but the only way to avoid years of festering discontent and humiliation lies in understanding what democracy really means: consensus and compromise. The reality of true democracy is that no one gets exactly what they want and we must settle for something we can all live with, at least until the next democratic vote. That’s the whole point. If we can wrest at least that from this mess, all will not be lost.

Guy de la Bédoyère, Grantham, Lincolnshire

Assisted suicide (From The Times) The statistic that your report of the Royal College of Physicians poll omits to mention is that only 24.6% of its members who voted stated the will to participate in assisting a suicide, while 55.1% definitely would not.

This suggests that many (40.5% of those who voted) who supported a change in the law to permit assisted dying consider it is acceptable as long as it falls on someone else’s conscience.

Many of my colleagues who are not prepared actively to take a life are disappointed that the RCP can withdraw its objection to an action that a majority of its members would not be willing to undertake.

Stephanie A. Amiel, FRCP, Professor of Diabetes Research, King’s College London

The calibre of our MPs (From The Times) Philip Collins is correct in his analysis of the failings of the Prime Minister (“MPs are as much to blame for this Brexit mess as Theresa May”). Nevertheless, MPs can point to the lack of leadership provided on both sides of the House as an excuse for the impasse and rightly feel slighted by May’s speech to the nation.

This does not, however, justify a hissy fit and the withdrawal of intended cooperation that would otherwise have led to a solution of the crisis. They owe us the maturity to be able to jump over their own egos.

Dr Stephen Hey, Ilkley, West Yorkshire

Road casualties

Supporting Virendra Sharma

A large number of casualties on our roads can be attributed to rash driving and negligent riding by the ever-rising number of bikers. There is no rule in the traffic book that is not violated by bikers.

Riding zigzag, jumping lanes, overloading, sana helmet, jumping traffic signals, tailing too close to bigger vehicles, overtaking from the wrong side, disregarding the rest of vehicular traffic and pedestrians, taking risky turns, refusing to give way to the following traffic, talking on mobile phones while speeding and carrying hazardous articles are some of the major violations committed by two-wheeler riders.

If only these riders observed restraint and followed traffic safety rules, the number of casualties on our roads could be drastically cut down.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai, India

Throughout his time as an MP I feel Virendra Sharma has represented his community to the best of his ability and deserves our full support especially considering what the country is currently facing with Brexit.

Virendra Sharma has been an MP since 2007 and is one of longest standing Asian MPs out of the thirty odd MPs representing the various Asian communities in the UK and was elected to represent Ealing Southall in the by-election, held on 19 July 2007 after the death of the late Labour MP, Piara Khabra.

In November 2008, the Labour government gave Sharma the role of Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Treasury and Home Office who had responsibility for borders and immigration. He resigned from this post in January 2009 in opposition the Labour government's proposal to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport. But yes surprisingly in 2016, in a U-turn on his previous stance, Sharma announced that he now supported Heathrow expansion which I believe is going to benefit the local workforce especially if Surinder Arora receives the contract.

Sharma has been a member of the parliamentary select committees on Health, Human Rights and International Development and has made official overseas visits as an MP to Cyprus, Kenya, India, Mauritius and South Korea and is Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils.

In September 2011, Sharma was investigated by the Electoral Commission, over a £5,000 donation allegedly made by the Indian Tourist Board and not declared in the Parliamentary register of members' interests. But Sharma strenouously denied receiving the donation and was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing in December 2011.

In 2017, Sharma voted against the bill on triggering Article 50 in the House of Commons, justifying his position with concern over Brexit’s potential effects on the economy.

Lakshmi Sita Patel By email

Holi confusion I always thought that the origins of the festival of Holi lay in the ancient Indian agrarian practice of celebrating a good harvest with vibrant colours.

However, in your paper, I have read articles about other possible origins/reasons for celebrating Holi such as a change of Seasons or even the triumph of Good over Evil (the latter reason is correctly associated with the celebration of Diwali/Ramayana).

Surely, the triumph of Good over Evil cannot be the reason for celebrating all Indian festivals as that has the potential to create confusion in the minds of our younger generation.

Perhaps your learned readers can help to clear up this apparent confusion and provide a more definitive origin/meaning of Holi for the benefit of all?

Dinesh Rai By email

Critical shortage of GPs UK is ranked 16th out of 21 top European nations when comparing the number of GPs per 100,000 populations, with 76 GPs, even behind such relatively poor nations like Malta, Romania, Estonia and few more. Portugal occupies top position with 253 GPs, followed by Ireland and France where their NHS provide one of the best medical service available, although some may have different ways of funding their NHS, combination of both private insurance and government contribution.

Here, although most OAPs are scrupulous, willing to contribute for their treatment, if they can go private, NHS dogma prohibits such arrangement, brainwashed by politicians that all medical care should be free at the point of delivery. Yet we pay for our very costly dental treatment!

With people living longer but not necessarily healthier, no wonder primary care that included age related medical and social care is in crisis, old, disable and chronically sick people blocking thousands of NHS beds, who are medically fit to move out but stuck in hospital, as Social Services are unable to provide home care or a place in nursing home where there is a waiting list of six months, except at upper end where it may cost up to £1400 per week, out of reach for most local councils who normally fund such charges.

Most GPs in London come from ethnic minorities who came to UK in sixties, are now reaching retirement age, many prefer to retire early due to immense pressure they have to work under, more of less seven days a week and government is putting more and more pressure on GPs to provide in-house investigative service and minor operations, to relieve pressure on A & E but failing to provide extra finances to accommodate these services.

Moreover newly trained doctors prefer to work part time, some 20 hours a week as locums rather than commit to NHS as full time GPs that was the norm few decades back. In a Surgery with ten doctors, only one or two may be full time and the rest locums. Such arrangement also frustrates patients, as they consult a different GP every time, thus not able to establish robust personal touch which used to be the norm not so long ago. No wonder many EU citizens working here go back to their homeland for medical treatment, especially dental treatment which is quick, efficient and above all no waiting list!

Kumudini Valambia By email

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Blindfold Brexit I have been following British politics for the last 50 years, since 1968 when we moved to London from Tanzania.

Although national politics has changed beyond recognition, one common factor has remained unchanged, that is to oppose the government at any cost, whether it is fair or foul, as long as it helps opposition’s cause. Unfortunately votebank politics has raised its’ ugly head here as well, imported from Indian subcontinent.

There are very few politicians who are ethically honest, work for the good of their constituents as well as the nation.

Most are fiduciary, affecting core of British politics. Brexit has divided both our MPs and public in equal measures; no one wants to give an inch unless they could exploit the situation for their own benefits, akin to feudalism, fiddlers on the roof!

No one can doubt sincerity of PM, Mrs. Theresa May who has fought tooth and nail to honour the decision made by 17:4 million British voters to leave EU, often taking insults from the unelected, over-bearing EU bureaucrats. But to be honest, PM is no match to these cunning, conniving and determined bureaucrats whose main purpose is to punish Britain for daring to leave EU whose fear is, if Britain can prosper outside EU, it may lead to mass exodus, ultimately made EU redundant, thus Germany and France losing their influence and hold on Europe. It is akin to the rise of Soviet Union from the ashes, after a short interlude!

Since becoming PM, Mrs May has tumbled from one crisis to another, her judgement in question. When she called snap election with 20% lead in opinion poll, everyone expected Tories to win handsomely, increasing their majority, instead they suffered a humiliating defeat, losing their overall majority, now depends on DUP to govern and keep Labour out.

The defeat was mainly due to two reasons; one was their naïve, unbelievable manifesto many described it as the longest suicide note in British politics and PM’s unwillingness to participate in open TV debate, as well as her lacklustre canvasing, mainly addressing party’s own core supporters rather than the public at large, preaching to already converted audience!

Unfortunately Labour party is also in turmoil, consumed by anti-sematic raw that refuses to go away. When someone like Chukka Umunna who I considered to be the next Labour leader, leaves the party followed by a few more, it is time for stock-taking before even more MPs follow into the footsteps of Umunna! A strong and united opposition is absolute necessity for democracy to work as intended!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

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Big uni gender pay gap revealed More than nine out of 10 British universities pay their average male employee more than they pay their average female employee.

Nearly all government departments and almost two-thirds of local councils also have pay gaps, based on data given to the Government Equalities Office.

Last Saturday was the last day for public sector bodies with more than 250 staff in Britain to disclose their figures. Private sector companies have one more week, until 4 April.

But with the deadline looming, thousands have yet to file, as many wait until the last moment. Last year, half of all companies reported in the final week.

This is the second year that both public and private sector companies have been required to report their gender pay gap fig-

ures.

The public sector employs 5.3 million people, representing about onesixth of the UK workforce.

British universities report a higher median pay gap, 13.7% on average, than the national average of 9.1% in 2018.

The university gender

pay gap in 2017 was 15.3%.

The Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) said there had been a "marked narrowing of the gap over the past decade".

It said it had worked with member organisations "over many years" on the issue.

Harper Adams University has the widest gap, reporting a 33.7% difference.

A spokeswoman for Harper Adams said that the university's pay gap had narrowed in the past year and that it had taken external advice to try to address the issue.

Schools and NHS could be held accountable over youth crime Teachers, NHS workers and police officers in England and Wales could be held accountable for failing to spot violent crime among young people under government plans announced on Monday.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has launched a consultation to assess whether there is a "public health duty" to report concerns over children at risk. He said he will use "all the tools" at his disposal to end violent crime. But unions for teachers and NHS staff have raised concerns about the plans. A summit on serious youth violence is being held at Downing Street this week.

Dr Mary Bousted, joint

Sajid Javid

general secretary of the National Education Union, said: "Neither the blame for, or the solution to, violent crime can be laid at the door of schools or front-line hospital staff."

She said schools already had "strong safeguarding practices in place" and added: "The problem is what

happens after issues of concern have been identified."

The Royal College of Nursing, meanwhile, expressed concerns that obligations to report people involved in violent crime could deter people "from seeking help for fear of being reported".

The government says its plan is intended to "help spot the warning signs that a young person could be in danger, such as presenting in A&E with suspicious injury, to worrying behaviour at school or issues at home".

Mr Javid called violent crime "a disease rotting our

society" and said he was "committed to ending this scourge". "The public health, multi-agency approach has a proven track record and I'm confident that making it a legal duty will help stop this senseless violence and create long-term change," he added.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield said agencies such as schools "don't often feel that they've got the tools or the systems" to know what to do with children who might be involved in, or at risk of, violent crime. She added: "We've got to think of more creative and effective ways to help these children."

Nearly three million children in poverty despite parents working

A record 2.9 million children from working families in the UK are living in poverty after housing costs have been paid, the latest figures show. This means 70% of all poor children were in working families last year, up from 67% on the previous year, official statistics show.

The face of child poverty is also getting younger with 53% of poor children aged under five, data shows.

The government said that tackling poverty was its priority.

Analysis of the statistics, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, shows the high cost of housing in the UK is pushing more working families over the poverty line.

According to calculations by the National Housing Federation (NHF) , nearly a third more children - or 193,000 - are now living in such meagre circumstances because of spiralling rents and mortgage costs, compared with 2010.

The federation, which represents housing associations, points to a lack of social housing being built

over the same period, as well as a lack of affordability of home ownership.

It is calling for the government to urgently invest more money in social housing.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said: "Despite high employment, today's figures reveal that 70% of children living under the poverty line have at least one parent in work.

That is not an economy that is working for everyone. The increase in child poverty in working families was widely anticipated and could have been avoided."

A government spokesperson said it took the numbers extremely seriously, adding: "Employment is at a record high, wages are outstripping inflation and income inequality and absolute poverty are lower than in 2010. But we know some families need more support, which is why we continue to spend £95bn a year on working-age benefits.

We are looking at what more can be done to help the most vulnerable and improve their life chances."

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12 MEDIA WATCH

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6 - 12 April 2019

SCRUTATOR’S The great Indian rope trick mutated from fiction to iconic fact, as the country’s first killer satellite soared into space bringing India membership of the exclusive club of, which includes the United States, Russia (both pioneering leaders) and China.

That the announcement of the feat by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led to an infantile controversy is laughable. Issues of grave national importance are made in India and abroad by the head of the executive branch of government. It was so after the Pokhran nuclear tests; hence there were no grounds for the present case to be made an exception to the rule. If Prime Minister Modi and his BJP stand to gain electorally from the venture, so be it.

India’s Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) led by G. Satheesh Reddy and his team, with in-house science and technology, were the architects of this epic achievement.

Significantly, the US denied visas to DRDO chief Satheesh Reddy and S.Guruprasad earlier this month to an Indo-Pacific conference, which had nothing to do with satellite technology.

(Hindu, Times of India, Statesman March 28).

Sam Pitroda Alas, for the saying, ‘when you have friends like this, who needs enemies? Who indeed? Famed IT techie and entrepreneur, Sam Pitroda, expressed initial doubts about India’s air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed base at Balacot, issuing a subsequent embarrassed acorrection: he was not questioning the veracity of the reported Indian strike, merely asking a question – prompted by a New York Times feature.

Sam Pitroda

But when did the paper become holy writ? It pontificated on Saddam Husain’s ‘weapons of mass destruction’ – fake news was it not, Mr Pitroda? Hindu March 18).

Campaign trail BJP has selected former Test cricketer Gautam Gambhir as a parliamentary candidate from a New Delhi constituency, a city he where has lived since childhood.

Congress has selected Karti

Chidambaram, son of P.Chidambaram, the former finance minister in the Manmohan Singh government.

Karti has been associated with numerous. scams (Hindu, Times of India, Statesman March 23, 25).

BJP candidates

L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi

The ruling BJP announced its third, fourth and fifth lists of candidates, along with an extended list for Patna, the Bihar capital, that excluded the high profile film star and party contrarian, Shatrughan Sinha, from his Patna Sahib constituency, his place taken by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Other BJP figures chosen included Sambit Patra (Puri, Orissa) K.Sundaram (Tamil Nadu), Pallab Lochan Das (Tezpur, Assam). BJP MPs standing down include part veteran, the 91 year-old L.K. Advani, 87 year-old Murli Manohar Joshi, Shanta Kumar, Shahnawaz Hussain and Uma Bharati.

Lynching of Muslim family The lynching of a Muslim family including, more shamefully, women and children by Holi revelers from an adjoining village in Haryana, was captured on video. Police have arrested a man whose face was captured on

camera, and other arrests are expected to follow during the ongoing investigation (Hindu March 24).

Economy, stupid ‘The economy, stupid,’ was US President Bill Clinton’s reply to a reporter who asked him about the prime issue in election campaign.

Through the growing heat, dust and passion, India’s beating heart is its economy. The International Monetary Fund acknowledges that India is among fastest-growing large economies over the past five years at around 7-7.3 per cent. The country’s economic reforms were duly acknowledged, but more needed to be done, said the IMF spokesman. Indian voters turn out in large numbers because, in lesser or greater degree, they have witnessed improvements in their standards of living (Business Line March 23).

Disinvestment goal exceeded For the second successive year, the government has exceeded its disinvestment target of Rs 80,000 crore for the current financiar year ending March 31, 2019.The public sector Rural Electrification Corporation was oversubscribed by eight times against the base issue of Rs 3,500 crore, for example.

Yasin Malik jailed, JKLF banned Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front leader Yasin Malik has been arrested and his organization banned. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the statement on the separatist leader and his group under India’s anti-terror laws This came a day after the Jamat-eIslamia was proscribed.

Ethnic cleansing ‘Yasin Malik was the mastermind behind the purging of Kashmiri Pandits and is responsible for their genocide,’ said the Secretary Home Department, Rajiv Gauba in New Delhi. The decision followed a Cabinet Security Committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thirty-seven cases of violence including were officially lodged with the police by members of the public. Malik has been placed in solitary confinement in a Jammu jail. The Pulwana suicide bombing , leading to the deaths of paramilitary

Foreign Exchange India’s foreign exchange reserves have risen to $405.638 billion in the week March 15, The all-time high of $426.028 billion was in the week April 13, 2018. Decline has been followed by brisk revival, with inflows of foreign funds in Indian equities (Statesman March 24).

India abstains on Israel Resolution India, along with 14 other countries abstained from a UN Human Rights Council condemning Israel for its violence in Gaza. The resolution was adopted with 23 countries supporting it and 8 against. It is a measure of the altered Indo-Israel relationship that a resolution that once would have commanded Indian support received an abstention (Times of India March 23).

India’s next Navy chief Vice Admiral Karambir Singh has been appointed India’s 24th Chief of the Naval Staff in succession to Admiral Satish Lanba, who is due to retire on May 31, 2019. Vice

Karambir Singh

Admiral Karambir Singh is currently the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet headquartered at Visakhapatnam (Hindu March 24).

India gets first Afghan cargo via Chabahar

personnel was clearly the trigger for a tougher government policy on Kashmiri jihadis. (Hindu March 23).

India received its first consignment of goods from Afghanistan via the Iranian port of Chabahar constructed with Indian finance and engineering. Chabahar is a port and a rail hub for Afghanistan which has been denied transit access through Pakistan to India.

Chabahar will become a hub for Indian exports to the Caspian region and thence to Russia and Belarus. (Hindu March 14).

Minor killed by besieged jihadis

TMC snubs Rahul Gandhi

The body of a 12year-old hostage was discovered when jihadis belonging to the Laskar-e-Toiba were surrounded and their hideout stormed by an Indian security force. Four jihadis were killed in the encounter in the Kashmir Valley. Despite efforts to rescue the boy, before the final assault, the security entering the site discovered his charred body. A security force spokesman said they had tried every persuasion including appeals from a nearby mosque for the boy’s release, but to no avail. Count this as a casualty of war, for war it is (Hindu March 23).

On a visit to Bengal, Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the Chief Minister Mamata Banneree’s Trinamool Congress for its poor development record. TMC General Secretary Firad Hakim replied: ‘Mr Gandhi is not aware of the proactive steps taken by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for farmers such as the crop insurance …. the Congress has few prospects in West Bengal so, Mr Gandhi should not waste his time here.’

(Statesman March 24).

India’s high-value unicorn club Japanese telecom and internet giant Soft Bank has led a $413 million financing round in ecommercial-focused logistics platform Delhivery valuing the 8 year-old company (in Haryana) at $1.5 billion. The transaction will make the Gurgaon-based startup the latest member of the unicorn club, the term for private companies valued over $1billion. The number of unicorns has doubled since 2017 (Times of India March 25).

youth, Shah Faesal, who topped the IAS list in 2010 wants his party to make a fresh start, having turned down offers a parliamentary ticket, ruling out his fledgling party’s participating in the forthcoming General Elections.. Shah Faesal may well be Kashmir’s coming man (Hindu March 17, 24).

Yasin Malik.

IAS topper starts new Kashmir party Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shah Faesal has decided to float a new political party called the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples’ Movement. Buoyed by the enthusiasm among Kashmiri

Shah Faesal

Supreme Court warns TMC on Sarada scam The Supreme Court has warned the Trinamool Congress the Sarada scam was extremely serious and would be given the utmost priority in cases coming up before the Court (Hindu March 27).

Judiciary, Army trusted; political parties distrusted An opinion poll conducted by the Azim Premji University and Lokniti, across 12 Indian States reported that Army obtained 88 per cent trust rating, while the judiciary as a whole, from district courts High Courts and Supreme court esrned a an approval rating of over 60 per cent, with political parties 55 per cent distrust rating (Hindu March 24).

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6 - 12 April 2019

South Asian: Colonial history and £20,000 reward in murder appeal contemporary representation

Mukulika Banerjee

Avinash Paliwal

Priyanka Mehta On Thursday, 28 March, the South Asia Centre of the London School of Economics (LSE) organised a roundtable discussion that debated the concept of “South Asia” as taught in universities, and schools.

The discussion was held in the presence of lecturers, historians, journalists, students and other members who discussed the role of diaspora communities and perceptions towards them.

Religion, immigration, political governments, intraregional trade and border security concerns were the dominant themes that formed the heart of the discussion.

“Part of the problem stems from how UK's history is often taught in schools as a British history,” said David Arnold Emeritus Professor in History, University of Warwick.

The professor spoke about the need for “decolonising” history and most importantly emphasizing on the history of boundaries and how they emerged to have an understanding of the conflict between the neighbouring countries. The conversation also included dispelling the perception

Naufel Vilcassim

about South Asia being India-centric and pre-dominantly Hindu focussed.

An Afghan born and Delhi based photo-journalist who had earlier held an exhibition in London about the Kabuliwalas of Kolkata was also present at the conference. Speaking about her experience of being an immigrant travelling with an Afghan passport, Moska Najib said“I walk into an immigration centre and my I wish I could say that my identity is South Asian. Nobody asks me if I was born in Afghanistan pre-partition or post-partition,” said Moska Najib, photojournalist.

But while immigration forms the forefront of public discussion in the UK, trade and regional co-operation in the South Asian block is hardly discussed.

And Naufel Vilcassim highlighted how intra-regional trade is hampered due to border security issues. This is an obstruction specially in the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) as opposed to the European Union (EU) where trade continues to flourish despite Brexit.

“South Asia has a huge population of 1.7 billion with a very young demographic

Moska Najib

and yet, the intra-regional trade is only 5% in comparison to the 26% in South-east Asia and 67% in the EU,” said Naufel Vilcassim, Professor of Marketing and Head of Department, Management, LSE. But, Avinash Paliwal, lecturer in Diplomacy and Public Policy at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) disagreed with the trade perspective wherein he emphasized that the colonial histories were vastly different for each of these regional organisations.

“For a long time now, India has used SAARC as a political platform to isolate Pakistan and although the border security concerns cannot be warded off, it has had impact on trade as well where India talks about joining BIMSTEC instead,” said Paliwal.

The discussion was followed by members of the diaspora communities and students who had their own concerns with regards to the “war-like” atmosphere back in the Indian subcontinent and continuing racism and hostility they face here in the UK. Perhaps, some members of the South Asian diaspora are still lookin for the answer to Moska's question“where is home?”.

Second arrest in connection with Pinner murder enquiry Police investigating the murder of a shopkeeper have made a second arrest. A 31-year-old man was arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder by detectives probing the death of Ravi Katharkamar, 54, on March 24.

Mr Katharkamar collapsed inside his shop after he was attacked shortly before 6am that morning. He was pronounced dead at 6.46am.

Police have issued additional safety advice to shop owners after a man died during a robbery at his newsagents.

These include having more than one person open and close up, keeping windows as clear as possible and recording any suspicious incidents to local police contacts.

The police also suggest that shopkeepers only keep small amounts of cash in their tills and that,

in the event of a robbery, they remain calm, only raise the alarm when safe to do so and remember as many details as possible about those involved.

An online fundraiser for his family has been set up and has collected almost £50,000.

Ravi Katharkamar

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The family of a teenager who was murdered in Walthamstow one year ago have made a moving plea for the public’s help as a new £20,000 reward for information is announced by police.

Amaan Shakoor, 16, was shot in Walthamstow on Monday, 2 April 2018 and died the following day in hospital, with his family by his side. His family made an emotional appeal from New Scotland Yard this afternoon, Monday, April 1 ahead of the anniversary of his death.

Mohammed Shakoor and Haroon Suleman, Amaan’s father and uncle, are supported in the appeal

by investigating officer Detective Inspector Darren Jones, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

The independent charity Crimestoppers previously announced a reward of £10,000 for information that would have led to the arrests and prosecution of those responsible for Amaan's murder. This has now expired.

However the Met is now offering £20,000 reward offered for information that leads to a conviction.

Since the launch of the murder investigation by the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, two people have been arrested.

An 18-year-old man [A],

Amaan Shakoor

was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday, 9 April 2018, and was subsequently released under investigation. A second man, aged 19 [B], was arrested on Wednesday, 17 April on suspicion of murder. He was also released under investigation.

Slough driver banned after being caught driving at 145mph near Heathrow Airport An airport parking driver from Slough has been banned from driving after he was caught driving at 145 mph on the motorway.

Navdeep Singh Randhawa, 31, was more than twice over the motorway limit of 70mph at a speed "not many courts will have seen", magistrates said.

Mr Randhawa was caught by a speedometer shortly after 3am on 6 October last year on the westbound carriageway of the M4 near Heathrow.

The defendant, who already has six points on his licence, was sentenced in his absence after he failed to appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court.

The 31-year-old emailed the court at the end of January pleading to keep his licence, explaining that he would lose his job if disqualified from driving.

In the email, he said: "I'm regretful of my behaviour on the road - I'm currently going through a divorce, my marriage is breaking down

and I'm going through a depression. I've lost my business so I'm financially struggling and my behaviour towards myself is not good.

"Please accept my sincere apologies for my mistake - I work as an airport parking driver and if I lose my licence, I will have no work. Please consider giving me one last chance - I will not repeat my mistake."

But magistrates banned him from driving for a year despite the email, "in view of the speed" of 145mph.

14 COMMUNITY

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OCHS celebrates its 20th anniversary The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, the world’s leading Centre for Hindu Studies, celebrated its 20 years at the House of Lords at the River Room, hosted by Lord Dholakia.

It was attended by invitees from Hindu Mandirs, organisations from up and down the country. Key guests included Lord Popat, Virendra Sharma, MP, Subhash Thakrar and CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice. People came from Ireland, Edinburgh, Swindon, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Luton, London and many other cities.

Lord Dholakia informed the audience of the value of OCHS which is a seat of academic studies with scholars and research capabilities.

He highlighted the need to create a bridge between the Mandirs who support Hindu activities and the OCHS which enables knowledge building. He remarked about the poor representation of Hindus in the Parliament. There was a need for authentic independent representation of Hindu values in the British society.

Subhash Thakrar, who had organised the event, noted and acknowledged the attendance by representatives of various Hindu Mandirs up and down the country. He praised the good work they all did for the community. He congratulated Shaunaka Rishi Das for leading and making OCHS successful over last 20 years. His message was that OCHS was extending its arm of friendship and encouraged the Mandirs to get involved with OCHS. This will add to the advancement of Hindu philosophy.

There can be a programme of activity between the two.

The OCHS is a leading seat of knowledge and study and supporting such a body would be in the interest of all Hindus.

Representatives of three leading Mandirs who had already worked closely with OCHS over the past years spoke about the value created for them by OCHS. Anup Vyas, the Trustee of BAPS, the Neasden Mandir acknowledged the benefits of research and knowledge building whilst Satish Chatwani, Chair of Anoopam mission stressed the ability to nominate students for Hindu studies.

Pramod Thakar, Chairman of Jalaram Mandir of Leicester highlighted the need to support OCHS and the benefits of OCHS for teaching Hindu Studies at the Leicester Mandir.

The Director of OCHS,

Virendra Sharma MP, Lord Navnit Dholakia, Subhash Thakrar (speaking), CB Patel and Shaunaka Rishi Das

Shaunaka Rishi Das, expressed the desire for Mandirs and OCHS to be better connected. He said the board of governors is a secular group and that the Centre was respected respected globally. He said the Centre passed through 300 students and provides a lecture programme in Leicester and Birmingham with local Hindu groups.

Two former students spoke about their experience with OCHS. It has an extensive library and various scholars around to guide and support with their studies.

OCHS enables studying Hindu culture, society, philosophy, religion and language. It helps preserve India’s heritage. It welcomes thoughts and ideas from scholars from all over the World.

These activities assist in helping the new emergent India that can project our own identity and values.

OCHS has a very secular board of Governors including professionals, peers, academics, scholars and businessmen from UK and India.

In its short history OCHS hosted 77 visiting fellows, 300 students, built a library of 30,000 titles, signed MOUs with institutions in India and globally, delivered 1500 lectures (400 are available online) and carried out World renowned research projects including Shakta Traditions, Bengali Vaishnavism, Archeology and Religion, Indian Philosophy, Bhagvata Purana, Goswami Project and Bhumi Project.

OCHS has also established the Journal of Hindu Studies with Oxford University Press, jointly published two book series, produced 150 books by fellows and postgraduates and presented 280 research papers. OCHS now provides Oxford’s first Hindu Chaplaincy. Its research work has addressed topical

subjects of Sustainable Energy Guidelines, Hindu Investment Guidelines, UN Observer Status, UN Climate Change negotiations, GreenFaith India Membership, and Eco Devi.

The Hindu Mandirs who now find that their attendances are dropping and young Hindus hardly visit them. So they realise that the Mandirs will need to innovate and develop new ideas and activities. Some have already started by developing lunch clubs, providing shelter to homeless and promoting workshops on Hinduism. Getting involved with the OCHS and becoming Friends of OCHS, the Mandirs and Hindu organisations can do much more including the following: ● Establish a Think Tank to address concerns of Hindu communities and society in general ● Provide Courses for Summer and weekend Schools ● Provide Hindu Studies online ● Carry out new research projects on relevant issues ● Provide a neutral but well researched opinion to public and media based on Hindu

values Provide talks and lectures on selected topics.

The OCHS can be found online at ochsonline.org and ochs.org.uk ●

Wellingborough Council honours retired and current councillors Two senior and two retired councillors, from the Borough Council of Wellingborough have received a civic honour in recognition of their commitment to the local community.

Shashi Dholakia, George Blackwell, Cllr Tom Partridge-Underwood and Cllr Malcolm Waters were awarded the distinction of Honorary Freeman at a special meeting of the council on Friday 29 March 2019.

Honorary Freeman is awarded to current and previous councillors of the borough council in recognition of their eminent services to the borough, local government and local organisations under section 249 of the Local Government Act. They received a unique scroll from the Mayor, Cllr Malcolm Ward to commemorate the honour, and as Honorary Freeman will be granted the historic special permissions to walk their sheep through the town.

To be granted the title of Honorary Freeman is a mark of distinction upon the person whom the Council wishes to honour. The Freedom itself carries no privilege and is purely an honour, reflecting the eminence of the person on whom it is conferred or as recognition of significant and valuable services rendered to the city or borough by that person. It is normally an honour or award to men or women of note who have lived or worked in the Borough, and who are proud to be a part of the Borough's history by becoming freemen.

Speaking about this honour, Shashi Dholakia said, “I am so thrilled and amazed at this very great honour being given to me - the Freedom of my Town - Wellingborough where I have spent 52 years of my life. This is an award not only for me but for my family, friends and the community at large. I would like to thank the Council for this honour."

Dr Hasmukh Shah honoured by the Royal College of General Practitioners Dr Hasmukh Shah, a GP working in the South Wales was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) from the Queen at her birthday honour's list in June 2018. In acknowledgement of the award by Queen, Dr Shah was invited to London by the Royal College of General Practitioners to be honoured at an Acclamation Dinner on 28 March 2019, Dr Hasmukh Shah BEM (second from right) with Professor Mayur Lakhani CBE where he was congrat(centre) and other dignitaries ulated by the President by Asian Voice at lege, Dr Shah said it was a of the Royal College of Grosvenor Hotel, London rare honour to be General Practitioners, during 18th acclaimed by his peers and Asian Professor Mayur Lakhani resolved to dedicate himAchievers Awards ceremoCBE and his fellow GPs for self to the community and ny. The Royal College of services to the community charitable work.

General Practitioners repand for his charitable Dr Shah was awarded resents 52,000 GPs across work.

Life time Achievement the whole of the United While thanking his felAward in September 2018 Kingdom. low colleagues and the col-

VYO hosts Holi in Leicester

Vallabh Youth Organisation (VYO) Leicester participated in Leicester Holi, a community event in Abbey Park by 17 Hindu organisations. The high profile event had The City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, Her Majesty Queen's Representative Deputy Lieutenant Ramanbhai Barber, councillors as distinguished guests. VYO Education students inaugurated Leicester Holi stage performances by reciting Manglacharan. Over 3,000 people enjoyed the colourful event.

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Akeela Ahmed (MBE) of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group On the NZ shootings, and the Global Rise of Islamophobia Akeela Ahmed

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quake would at the very least challenge the social prejudice that terrorism is predominantly linked to Muslim culture, Akeela replied: “unfortunately not.” Dealing with an institutional bias, which is more than merely technical, “we must challenge the toxic narratives that are being circulated by some sections of the media. Sinister public figures” such as the right-wing columnist Katie Hopkins and Tommy Robinson, co-founder of the EDL, “are broadcasting extremist sentiments that affirm a bigoted perspective and propagate destructive actions. The NZ shooter truly believed he would be championed: in fact, there were people applauding his act on FB and sharing the different iterations of the video.”

xpressive and composed, Akeela spoke to us on behalf of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, whose courageous activism is helping repair the fractured sociopolitical landscape. She opened with comment on the horrific, recent New Zealand shootings: “like the rest of the country, we woke to the devastating news of the mosque shootings in Christchurch. Men, women and children who were worshipping as part of the Friday prayers were brutally killed, and this terrorist attack, the biggest ever on New Zealand soil, has been profoundly shocking.” *** Also making sure to commend the As a result, another key role of the New Zealand government for “taking Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group some of the swiftest and deliberate has been addressing the distorted reppolitical action” for offering expert resentation of Muslims in the media. emotional support to the families of “Constituted of experts such as myself the victims and banning militarised as well as other independent members weapons immediately after the atrociand officials from different governty, Akeela continued on to state: “the ment departments, our organisation is attacks were shocking, but it is also working with IPSO, the press regulator important to understand that for a to develop guidelines for journalists on while there has been a growing sense of responsible relaying accounts about apprehension within the Muslim comMuslims. The media very often fails to munities that an attack like this could capture the complexity of Muslims happen and those who’ve been worksubjectivity,” often pushing damning ing to combat Islamophobia. These portrayals. “For example, a BBC preattacks were not isolated incidents, senter asked a young Muslim woman perpetrated by a lone wolf, but a maniwho appeared on the news show to talk festation of a wider growing pheon the NZ attacks whether Muslims nomenon; of far-right ideology should have been quicker to fuelled by white supremacy.”

"These condemn Islamist terrorism.

Indeed, a fact which attacks were This was awful and unfair has been underreported not isolated considering how much by the mainstream incidents, perpetrated the community is already media, the NZ attacker by a lone wolf, but a suffering.” had identified with the Akeela had prior Alt-right: a resurgent manifestation of a wider founded the vibrant growing phenomenon; Fascist group who social collective, She exploits the online of far-right ideology Speaks We Hear, which medium to perpetuate fuelled by white brought together the voices racist rhetoric. “The rise of supremacy" of different women with a white supremacist movefocus on of Muslim women to ments some of which originate reclaim that doubly margined selfhood in the US, have adopted an internationin particular. In accordance, the al outlook. Spreading across the spokesperson gave a yet more specific Western political sphere”, these moveexample of the social tendency to simments are closely tied to Anti-Muslim plify “Muslim women into the binary of movements “by relying on a multiplicieither victims who are unsuspectingly ty of narratives to reinforce itself.” This recruited by ISIS, or highly aware masis also the fault of unchecked social terminds who threaten state order for media companies who “have not done that exact same reason.” She continanywhere near enough to prevent ued: “this is incredibly unhelpful. We extreme right-wing activity on their need to address the details of why so platforms. The perpetrator of the NZ many are feeling disaffected and shootings, for example, was a white becoming radicalised in the first place – supremacist whose manifesto looked it’s about more in-depth conversaup to people such as President Trump, tions.” As a result, “it became imporand cited Anders Breivik” It has also tant to publish opinions through an been documented that the shooter visunfiltered, neutral lens. I wanted to ited Nazi memorials across Europe give Muslim women free reign to talk before live streaming the massacre to everyday subjects, from the realm of an audience, worldwide. politics and fashion to concerns about “A significant part of the Antiparenting and the general election. I Muslim Hatred Working Group’s effort wanted them to feel present in their is to therefore advise and put pressure entirety.” on social media platforms to introduce And so, the vociferous counternarbetter measures for protection. We rative that Akeela continues to support want companies such as Twitter and not only works to dismantle racial bias FB to apply the same supervisory probut at once champions the fast-fading cedure to far-right radicalism as they virtue of objective truth altogether. do for Islamist terrorism.” When asked This is bolstered by the fact that the if such an enormous cultural earth-

Anti-Muslim Hatred Group has only yielded practical and constructive results moving forward. This proves a conceptual accuracy indicative of a connection to reality. “A strong dialogic approach never fails because it encourages discussion and growth,” and consequently civic success: “the best way to counter corrosive narratives is for people to really get to know one another. I support the JewishMuslim women’s network Nisa Nashim, for example, and women who wouldn’t usually get to meet one another, bond and form authentic friendships across cultures that are perceived to be at odds. Together women from two different religious backgrounds have cooked for the homeless, cleaned up local areas, visited synagogues and mosques respectively. It is absolutely possible for people with two seemingly opposing viewpoints to come together on the mutual premise of understanding.”

Conversely, far-right philosophy is formed on the foundation of judgement and constrictive thought, forgoing situational nuance and the crucial discourse of “sense of belonging.” The ideological abstraction then results in a nihilistic humanity, breeding a calamitous world. This is reflected in the literal undercutting of knowledge through the "The NZ Shooter was influenced by information that came from very Conservative, so-called think tanks such as the US Centre for Security Policy. The CEO of that organisation was part of the Trump administration and his policy recommendations were quoted by President Trump while campaigning for the Muslim Ban.” Here, Akeela aptly finished by adding that the work of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Group includes highlighting the positive contributions of the Muslim community to society, and promoting collaborative work. “The way we think ultimately determines real-life events.”

Have you felt the media has adequately responded to the NZ atrocities?

Coverage was censored and altered somewhat. The Daily Mirror, for example, humanised the perpetrator as an angelic, young innocent and framed the whole attack as if the actions of this man were a one-off: ‘how could he have grown up to go on to become this? But it wasn’t an anomaly.

The article should have focused primarily on the actual victims and the background of this man: the fact that he had been planning this. They have since apologised. But the media, from print journalism to films and TV have played a huge part in creating a cultural void where right-wing narratives can be supplanted.

What other Key actions will be taken by the network?

There’ll be a Nisa Nashim Conference held on the – 7th April entitled Faith and Friendship and exploring a multicultural interface with workshops and talks.

W: https://shespeakswehear.com/ T: @SheSpeaksWeHear

6 - 12 April 2019

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Property.

Another bubble?

Another bust?

My hairdresser is in her early thirties – you know the type: chatty, gregarious, care-free and lives life on the edge; especially a financial edge. Like many hairdressers (I imagine) she is an open book. I knew she had defaulted on repaying her credit cards a few years back, resulting in a poor credit rating. She had always complained how she couldn’t get any credit. So, it Sachin Nandha came as something of a shock, Chief Executive PillboxCapital 3 and delight in equal measure, when she told me that she was on the verge of buying a home. I was delighted for her, of course, she is a great hairdresser, diligent in her work and hardworking. At the same time I was equally shocked, how had this happened? She was not earning very much. She had a poor credit rating. How had she managed to save enough for a deposit and get a mortgage? Who (on earth) had decided to lend to her?

Sandra nonchalantly tells me that she had bought her home for £150,000. A new build, two-bed terrace.

Quickly doing the maths, I asked her “well done Sandra, you managed to save £7,500 for a (5%) deposit.”

Her response was a giggle and an immediate confession, “no way!” she exclaimed. “I can barely afford my rent every month. I borrowed £3,000 from my nan.

That’s all I needed. I got the rest on a 25-year long mortgage.”

As my cogs turned, it dawned on me, “wait, so you paid only 2% as a deposit and 98% as a mortgage?” “Yep”, she replied. She then went on to tell me that she couldn’t get a mortgage from the usual banks, but they all, that’s right, ‘they all’ had recommended other companies, wholly owned by the big banks, that would lend her the money. She even told me that one company offered her 100% mortgage, but the interest rate was a bit high. I quizzed her, “so you can definitely afford the mortgage on your basic salary, Sandra?” To my astonishment she said “heck no! I need tips and need to work evenings and bank holidays. The broker was really nice. He just told me to tally up all my tips and overtime as my basic salary to boost my chances.”

At this point I hope you are beginning to feel nervous.

Haven’t we been here before?

The truth is that the halcyon days where property grew by 15% per annum are over. And it’s time we accept it.

Property is now a wealth preservation play, not a wealth creation game. According to Saville’s latest 5year predictions house prices in London will grow by a measly 4.5%. Over 5 years that’s less than a 1% per year.

Inflation is at 2.5%! In the North-west they expect property prices to rise by 21%, which although better than London, is still only 4% per annum or there about.

Furthermore, we should remember that these predictions are based on things as they are; if interest rates rise to check inflation, which it will at some point, all bets are off!

When people like Sandra begin to default as interest rates rise, what do we think will happen to prices?

I often speak to many family offices and investment managers, who tell me that when a family is trying to secure its long term financial wealth, it thinks about four things: 1) Wealth preservation (property); 2) Moderate growth, with sensible risk (private equity in healthcare); 3) Some modest income (dividend paying equities); 4) Tax benefits (Inheritance tax advantages).

So, to those that have a significant amount of wealth locked in property, maybe it’s time to diversify.

To find out more about PillboxCapital visit: www.pillboxcapital3.com or call 0116 274 0707

16 WORLD HEALTH DAY

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6 - 12 April 2019

DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMME HELP PATIENTS LOSE WEIGHT OF FOUR LONDON BUSES Rupanjana Dutta Studies have shown that Asians are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, when compared with people from European background. Though not every person of Asian origin may be obese and have a lower BMI, they are more likely to have less muscles and more abdominal fat, which increases insulin resistance. However the key reasons leading to Type 2 diabetes is often lack of exercise, poor diet and being overweight.

This week is Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week (1-7 April) when the NHS England Diabetes Programme aims to raise awareness of Type 2 diabetes. Each year, more and more people are being diagnosed with the disease, which can lead to stroke, blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, limb amputation and early death.

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) identifies those at high risk and refers them onto a behaviour change programme. The NHSDPP is a joint commitment from NHS England, Public Health England and DiabetesUK. New figures show that the 17,000 people who attended most of the healthy living sessions lost an average of 3.4kg, over one kilogram more than originally predicted and a total of 59,000kg.

From July, online versions of the DPP, which involve wearable technologies and apps to help those at risk of Type 2 Diabetes, will be provided for patients who find it difficult to attend sessions because of work or family commitments.

Several providers have been appointed to scale up and roll out the service, as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS England national clinical director of diabetes and obesity told Asian Voice, “Around two thirds of adults and one third of children are now overweight or obese, driving higher and higher rates of Type 2 diabetes that we are now focusing huge efforts to address, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan. I’m delighted that our work so far in this area has been producing really positive results.”

Harry Matharu was diagnosed by his GP as being prediabetic and borderline obese when he was 56. Harry decided to take action, to review his sedentary and slow-paced lifestyle, and lost over 3 stone after being referred to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Harry told the paper,“The prevention programme has changed my life.

Since I started it, I’ve gone through at least three different clothing sizes and from a waist 42 to a 28. Above and beyond the weight loss – I’m healthier and I’m happier. I’m 56 now and my next big goal

17

is to get a six-pack by 60.”

Pav Kalsi, senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, said, “With 12.3 million people at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the UK, the importance of the NHS England’s Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme cannot be overstated. These figures show the programme is making a real difference to the lives of people at risk of the condition, and is helping them lose weight to minimise their risk.”

Duncan Selbie, chief executive at Public Health England told the newsweekly, “This is a great start, but with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and 6 in 10 people overweight or obese the costs to the NHS are unsustainable.

That is why we are doubling the size of the programme to help prevent more people from getting this deadly disease”.

The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) available across Coventry & Warwickshire identifies those at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and refer them to a programme that incorporates nutritional advice, physical activity and behaviour change delivered in a fun and client-centred way by qualified Health & Wellbeing Coaches.

Mohinder Chayra, 66, from Coventry was first referred to the 'NHS Healthier You: D i a b e t e s Prevention Programme' (NDPP) in May 2018 by his GP at Kenyon Medical Centre. Mohinder had a HbA1c reading of 43, meaning he was pre-diabetic and at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

After attending his initial assessment at Forum Health Centre in Coventry, Mohinder was booked onto

the group element of the NDPP at the AT7 Leisure Centre in Coventry.

Speaking about the programme Chayra told Asian Voice, "The best part of the programme for me was how informative the sessions were, it is so hard in today’s society to understand the headlines that make our news, but the materials used and the support of the group helped me understand my risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and what small lifestyle changes I was able to make.”

“Throughout the programme I have felt thoroughly supported throughout the process and it has changed my life, I am eating for health and I feel better every day.”

After completing the programme in March 2019, Mohinder says he will continue to maintain his new healthy eating habits, his new daily walking routine and swimming for 1 hour each day – things he never thought he would do in the past.

“Now I have reduced my HbA1c from a pre-diabetic range to a normal range. My waist circumference has also reduced from 107cm to 103cm! It really has improved my everyday life.”

Working with local specialist Dr Manir Aslam, GP Partner at Broadway Health Centre, where doctors have partnered with Birmingham C o m m u n i t y Healthcare Trust to deliver a virtual clinic to patients with Type 2 diabetes, said, “We know that by working in partnership with local specialist health professionals to support our patients to develop a model which we call 'circle of care,' all working together makes the biggest difference. “...The good news is that Type 2 diabetes can be reduced and even reversed, and we are very pleased with the results from our virtual clinic where we have seen significant reductions in blood

sugar levels in many patients over the last two years of running the clinic.”

50 year old Mustafa Asim from Birmingham, was living with Type 2 diabetes for over 3 years before attending the virtual clinic at Broadway Health Centre. Speaking to Asian Voice, at an interview, he told us how changed around his health, with simple alterations in diet and lifestyle.

“Prior to attending the virtual clinic I always felt lethargic and lacked energy.

They provided me with practical solutions about my diet and exercise. I visited other health professionals an orthoptist checked my eyesight, a dietitian checked my weight and gave me advice and information on weight management and a podiatrist who told me about how to look after my feet and ensure that I didn’t risk losing a limb as a result of my Type 2 diabetes.

“I chose to change my diet and eat more healthily. I started to exercise and began walking 10,000 steps a day.

Whilst on the phone, I stand up or walk rather than sit down. All these small changes have made a big difference. I stopped eating fried, fast food and drinking fizzy soft drinks.

I added more fruit to my diet. As a result of all these small changes, I lost 10kg. I found it really easy to make the small changes and stick to them because it made me feel better. The best thing about this service is that I was able to avoid taking medication for my Type 2 diabetes.

“The service helped me to realise that I had a choice to control my Type 2 diabetes with diet and lifestyle changes rather than taking medicine.

“My advice to anyone in the same position or who is at risk of Type 2 diabetes is to work with the professionals.

Type 2 diabetes can be avoided and reversed follow the advice of the health professionals and make changes as required."

Two thirds of British men aged 18-34 don’t know their testicular cancer risk Over two thirds (69%) of men in the UK aged between 18-34 don’t know that they are in the age group most at risk of getting testicular cancer, according to new research from leading global men’s health charity, the M o v e m b e r Foundation.Testicular cancer, which is caused when cells begin to reproduce uncontrollably within the male reproductive organs, is the most common cancer in men under 45. Although the reasons are unclear, statistics clearly show that you are five times more likely to be diagnosed with testicular cancer if you are non-Asian, and mainly white. Black and Asian men aren't affected as notably- but the numbers are not at a staggering low either.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men with around 2,200 cases in the UK every year. The charity is now urging men in the at-risk age group to carry out regular self-checks as early diagnosis is key to successful treatment.

Incidence rates are projected to rise by 12% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 10 cases per 100,000 males by 2035.

The Movember Foundation’s Global Director of Testicular Cancer Sam Gledhill said: “The fact that so many men are unaware that they are in the highest-risk age group is very worrying. There’s a widespread assumption that it’s a disease that predominantly affects older men but that’s just not the case. Testicular cancer strikes early so checking

regularly and knowing what to look for is crucial.”

However, the poll of 1,093 British men conducted by YouGov, also found that 42% of men in the atrisk age group (aged 18-34) didn’t know or are unsure how to perform a testicular self-examination.

Sam Gledhill said, “If you’re a guy in your 20s or 30s, you should definitely be getting to know your testicles a little better. What they look like, what they feel like and what’s normal for you down there.

“The shower is a great place to start because the warmth relaxes the scrotum, making the exam easier.”

Testicular cancer will often present as a lump or pain in the testicle, an increase in size or a change in the way a testicle feels – although these symptoms can be vague or may not be the same for everyone.

Those most at risk are men who had undescended testes at birth, or those with a relative who has diagnosed with testicular cancer. Although survival rates are high (over 95 per cent), up to one in 20 cases are fatal.

The Movember Foundation has pledged to halve the numbers of men dying from testicular cancer by 2030.

Living in a stressful neighbourhood causes biological ageing Living in a stressful neighbourhood is related to ageing faster, according to new research using telomeres as a marker for biological ageing.

Telomeres are part of people’s DNA which give a measure of ‘miles on the clock,’ or biological age. Telomere length is a biological marker of age that gets shorter over time.

The study, published in PLoS One, combined population health and molecular biology research and found that people who reported problems in their local area – such as assaults, burglaries, litter and vandalism – had shorter telomere lengths, and the effect was more marked among women.

In this research, the

shorter telomere length existed even after the analysis had taken into account other factors known to be associated with telomere length, such as age, sex, social class, smoking, diet, weight, depression and fitness.

The reported problems in people’s environment also included muggings, smells and fumes and disturbances by children or youngsters.

The study is a result of a cross-disciplinary collaboration between Social scientist Prof. Anne Ellaway from the University of Glasgow MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit and Geroscientist Prof Paul Shiels at the University’s Institute of Cancer Sciences.

THE CREATION OF A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR: STEPPING INTO THE WORLD OF TARUN GHULATI Preeti Bali

His mantra of excellence is not an act, but a habit and Tarun Ghulati is a man who has perfectly crafted the art of excellence. The Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Squared Watermelon Ltd, Tarun’s unique career path is truly revolutionary.

Dubbed by one of UK’s top wealth magazine as the ‘master of reinvention’, Mr. Ghulati’s inimitable career in the world of finance and business began in India at Citibank where he managed the entire credit cycle for consumer banking, and enhanced the banks distribution reach as Head of Sales & Distribution. Within the 5 years he worked at Citibank India, Mr. Ghulati went on to Head Credit & Risk for the bank, and set up two companies for Citibank in India where he transitioned the collections system and other related aspects.

His expertise and excellence in the world of banking and finance, saw him headhunted by HSBC India, where he was responsible for their Investment Bank’s Financial Institutions Group for Eastern India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Though the remarkability of his career is not in the titles of the leadership roles he undertook across Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, but the level of responsibility and

Tarun Ghulati

consistency in producing the uppermost of outstanding results. “If you’re going to do something do it well or don’t do it at all”, believes Mr. Ghulati.

As the first Indian to be selected onto HSBC’s elite and select group of International Managers, Mr. Ghulati took off to Hong Kong where he became the

Credit Manager International, assessing the Credit & Risk for 14 countries for HSBC across Asia Pacific, to ensure the risk and rewards were both acceptable and in line with credit policies of the bank. “I would see deals worth USD Hundreds of Millions at any time coming from various countries and would review and analyse them to ensure asset quality and profitability are acceptable across countries,” he told Asian Voice. As Operations Manager International, Mr Ghulati was responsible for 15 countries across Asia Pacific ensuring their profitable functioning. He was involved in the USD 33 billion consolidation of Marine Midland Bank USA and HSBC Bank USA. A man who does not stop, his past roles have included being vice chairman of a listed bank, Head of HSBC Premier managing over USD 40 billion, Head of HSBC international Personal Banking and CEO UTI International Ltd among others.

Now living in the UK, Mr Ghulati alongside co-founder Preeti Rana have created Squared Watermelon Ltd specialising in marketing, business development, PR, branding and financial services. His advice to young aspiring entrepreneurs -“build a plan, have a vision and be prepared to work very hard”, further stressing the importance of building alliances, partner-

ships and networking.”

Mr. Ghulati and Preeti Rana have also soft launched their own beer – 1st icon, a London based craft beer by using mineral water extracted from deep underneath London’s clay.

Speaking on Brexit and its affect on his businesses, Mr Ghulati said, “For Squared Watermelon Ltd that has both local and international reach, Brexit does not concern us. We are a diversified business which includes financial services providing solutions for both businesses and individuals. We work directly with over 160 funders, enabling our clients to obtain the most competitive funding terms to meet their financial needs” he concluded.

What is most authentic about Mr Ghulati, is his humble nature, despite the empire he has built and working in several countries, he says has helped him realise and appreciate he is not the expert in everything, “don’t think you know it all, rely on people around you, build teams, motivate and lead people.

Keep morale high, know your strengths and weakness and be willing to learn from your mistakes”, he advised.

With a work ethic second to none and a mindset built on positivity and brilliance, Mr. Ghulati overcame challenges by seeing them as opportunities and not problems. “The challenges were

many. The mantra is to build your personal brand and reputation as perception is key, Try the unchartered and break barriers, If anyone can, you can. Keep the belief and faith, Take your chances, be fearless, take hard decisions, push the envelope, go the extra mile, Lead from the front, provide inspirational and intellectual leadership.

But the fact that you have a reputation where people trust you over the years and recognize your ability to find solutions for them – that is important,” he said.

His transition from running financial services businesses and banks at the highest level, sitting on over 30 boards, to setting up a several startups and ensuring they are recognised, Mr Ghulati said, “to be quickly recognised in the sectors and fields I think it is a tremendous achievement and a source of satisfaction. It is never an easy journey, but because one has always held the mindset of being entrepreneurial in thinking and thinking of change as a constant, innovatively creating solutions as opposed to pondering over a problem. That mindset helps you to galvanize and propel yourself forward in a manner which others may find pretty daunting.”

For further information about Squared Watermelon Ltd please visit http://www.squaredwatermelon.com/

GO-EXIT: Brexit and Goan citizens UK fearing a no-deal Brexit The future of the Indian citipost 29th March,” he zens from Goa who have said. recently arrived on Amit's grandfather's Portuguese passports to the marriage was registered UK remains in a “limbo” in Portuguese in Vasco, amidst the on-going Brexit Goa through which his negotiations. mother was able to secure Over the last five years Portuguese nationalisation tens of thousands of Indians and was able to pass it to have settled in Britain by him. Today, Amit stays on becoming citizens of his own in the UK, looking Portugal. According to the for a job and continues to Portuguese law, anyone who closely monitor the Brexit was born before 1961 in Goa, negotiations.

India and in the union territories of Daman and Diu is entitled to Portuguese “In the event of a no-deal citizenship as these places Brexit, my right to work and were once colonies of stay in the UK is at stake. As of Portugal. today they have mentioned Amit* is one such that there would be a Goan citizen who has settlement scheme only if we leave the EU with a deal but I recently moved to the UK don't know what is going to in December 2018 on a happen” Portuguese passport.

Previously, an Indian citizen, he surrendered his Settlement scheme and a Indian passport and applied potential Windrushfor a Portuguese passport in like Scandal?

August 2018.

“I was thinking of visiting Both UK and EU nationals as Sweden or France earlier to of today enjoy the freedom of scope out for job opportunimovement without applying ties but I dropped the idea for visas being part of the EU. and decided to settle in the However, if the UK collapses

out of the EU without a deal, then this freedom of movement can potentially be hampered. Some experts suggest that this might even lead to a “Windrush-kind scandal” where immigrants can be deported back to their countries despite living in this country for years.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has outlined the two options of EU nationals receiving a “settled” or a “pre-settled” status if the UK leaves with some sort of a deal.A pre-settled status is applicable to EU citizens who have been staying

in the UK for less than 5 years whereas those EU citizens who have been residents in the country for over five years are entitled to the “settled” status.

As per the current norms, the Goans are told that they would have all rights of EU citizens until December 31, 2020. From March 30, 2019 and until December 31, 2020, they will be required to apply for “settled” or “pre-settled” status to the UK Home Office.

According to the report 'Possible Effects of Leaving the EU' authored by Leader

of the Council, Swindon, 61,745 electors (54.7%) in Swindon voted for the UK to leave the EU in the referendum held on 23rd June 2016 which saw a 75.8% voter turnout. There are over 20,000 people have evaded strict checks on non-EU residents coming to the UK after obtaining Portuguese passports with a majority staying in Swindon, Leicester among other areas. According to the report, the government opened the application for settled status for those EU citizens already in the UK who work in the health or social care sectors from 29th November 2018. The report suggests that the Council Officers had participated in briefings about how the pilot testing phase could be introduced here. However, the pilot schemes do not extend to spouses, partners, or families.

Amit* today qualifies for a “pre-settled” status howev-

er, if the UK leaves without a deal then he says, that he might look to settling in Ireland, Sweden or even the middle-east. But even in the process of securing a deal, registration with the government would require legal assistance.

“Even if the government is able to secure some sort of a deal, there will be a legal expenditure that would be associated with the registration process for everyone who has been living in the UK for less than five years.

“But my biggest fear is that a vast majority of these citizens might not be able to meet the funding requirement, that is likely to be made mandatory by the government to live in the UK,” said a councillor who wished to stay anonymous.

There appears to be an increasing possibility of a nodeal Brexitbut whatever be the consequence of Brexit, the councillor emphasizes that “we must be prepared for the negative implications it will have on immigrants on the whole.”

16 WORLD HEALTH DAY

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6 - 12 April 2019

DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMME HELP PATIENTS LOSE WEIGHT OF FOUR LONDON BUSES Rupanjana Dutta Studies have shown that Asians are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, when compared with people from European background. Though not every person of Asian origin may be obese and have a lower BMI, they are more likely to have less muscles and more abdominal fat, which increases insulin resistance. However the key reasons leading to Type 2 diabetes is often lack of exercise, poor diet and being overweight.

This week is Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week (1-7 April) when the NHS England Diabetes Programme aims to raise awareness of Type 2 diabetes. Each year, more and more people are being diagnosed with the disease, which can lead to stroke, blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, limb amputation and early death.

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) identifies those at high risk and refers them onto a behaviour change programme. The NHSDPP is a joint commitment from NHS England, Public Health England and DiabetesUK. New figures show that the 17,000 people who attended most of the healthy living sessions lost an average of 3.4kg, over one kilogram more than originally predicted and a total of 59,000kg.

From July, online versions of the DPP, which involve wearable technologies and apps to help those at risk of Type 2 Diabetes, will be provided for patients who find it difficult to attend sessions because of work or family commitments.

Several providers have been appointed to scale up and roll out the service, as set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS England national clinical director of diabetes and obesity told Asian Voice, “Around two thirds of adults and one third of children are now overweight or obese, driving higher and higher rates of Type 2 diabetes that we are now focusing huge efforts to address, as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan. I’m delighted that our work so far in this area has been producing really positive results.”

Harry Matharu was diagnosed by his GP as being prediabetic and borderline obese when he was 56. Harry decided to take action, to review his sedentary and slow-paced lifestyle, and lost over 3 stone after being referred to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Harry told the paper,“The prevention programme has changed my life.

Since I started it, I’ve gone through at least three different clothing sizes and from a waist 42 to a 28. Above and beyond the weight loss – I’m healthier and I’m happier. I’m 56 now and my next big goal

17

is to get a six-pack by 60.”

Pav Kalsi, senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, said, “With 12.3 million people at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the UK, the importance of the NHS England’s Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Programme cannot be overstated. These figures show the programme is making a real difference to the lives of people at risk of the condition, and is helping them lose weight to minimise their risk.”

Duncan Selbie, chief executive at Public Health England told the newsweekly, “This is a great start, but with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and 6 in 10 people overweight or obese the costs to the NHS are unsustainable.

That is why we are doubling the size of the programme to help prevent more people from getting this deadly disease”.

The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) available across Coventry & Warwickshire identifies those at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and refer them to a programme that incorporates nutritional advice, physical activity and behaviour change delivered in a fun and client-centred way by qualified Health & Wellbeing Coaches.

Mohinder Chayra, 66, from Coventry was first referred to the 'NHS Healthier You: D i a b e t e s Prevention Programme' (NDPP) in May 2018 by his GP at Kenyon Medical Centre. Mohinder had a HbA1c reading of 43, meaning he was pre-diabetic and at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

After attending his initial assessment at Forum Health Centre in Coventry, Mohinder was booked onto

the group element of the NDPP at the AT7 Leisure Centre in Coventry.

Speaking about the programme Chayra told Asian Voice, "The best part of the programme for me was how informative the sessions were, it is so hard in today’s society to understand the headlines that make our news, but the materials used and the support of the group helped me understand my risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and what small lifestyle changes I was able to make.”

“Throughout the programme I have felt thoroughly supported throughout the process and it has changed my life, I am eating for health and I feel better every day.”

After completing the programme in March 2019, Mohinder says he will continue to maintain his new healthy eating habits, his new daily walking routine and swimming for 1 hour each day – things he never thought he would do in the past.

“Now I have reduced my HbA1c from a pre-diabetic range to a normal range. My waist circumference has also reduced from 107cm to 103cm! It really has improved my everyday life.”

Working with local specialist Dr Manir Aslam, GP Partner at Broadway Health Centre, where doctors have partnered with Birmingham C o m m u n i t y Healthcare Trust to deliver a virtual clinic to patients with Type 2 diabetes, said, “We know that by working in partnership with local specialist health professionals to support our patients to develop a model which we call 'circle of care,' all working together makes the biggest difference. “...The good news is that Type 2 diabetes can be reduced and even reversed, and we are very pleased with the results from our virtual clinic where we have seen significant reductions in blood

sugar levels in many patients over the last two years of running the clinic.”

50 year old Mustafa Asim from Birmingham, was living with Type 2 diabetes for over 3 years before attending the virtual clinic at Broadway Health Centre. Speaking to Asian Voice, at an interview, he told us how changed around his health, with simple alterations in diet and lifestyle.

“Prior to attending the virtual clinic I always felt lethargic and lacked energy.

They provided me with practical solutions about my diet and exercise. I visited other health professionals an orthoptist checked my eyesight, a dietitian checked my weight and gave me advice and information on weight management and a podiatrist who told me about how to look after my feet and ensure that I didn’t risk losing a limb as a result of my Type 2 diabetes.

“I chose to change my diet and eat more healthily. I started to exercise and began walking 10,000 steps a day.

Whilst on the phone, I stand up or walk rather than sit down. All these small changes have made a big difference. I stopped eating fried, fast food and drinking fizzy soft drinks.

I added more fruit to my diet. As a result of all these small changes, I lost 10kg. I found it really easy to make the small changes and stick to them because it made me feel better. The best thing about this service is that I was able to avoid taking medication for my Type 2 diabetes.

“The service helped me to realise that I had a choice to control my Type 2 diabetes with diet and lifestyle changes rather than taking medicine.

“My advice to anyone in the same position or who is at risk of Type 2 diabetes is to work with the professionals.

Type 2 diabetes can be avoided and reversed follow the advice of the health professionals and make changes as required."

Two thirds of British men aged 18-34 don’t know their testicular cancer risk Over two thirds (69%) of men in the UK aged between 18-34 don’t know that they are in the age group most at risk of getting testicular cancer, according to new research from leading global men’s health charity, the M o v e m b e r Foundation.Testicular cancer, which is caused when cells begin to reproduce uncontrollably within the male reproductive organs, is the most common cancer in men under 45. Although the reasons are unclear, statistics clearly show that you are five times more likely to be diagnosed with testicular cancer if you are non-Asian, and mainly white. Black and Asian men aren't affected as notably- but the numbers are not at a staggering low either.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men with around 2,200 cases in the UK every year. The charity is now urging men in the at-risk age group to carry out regular self-checks as early diagnosis is key to successful treatment.

Incidence rates are projected to rise by 12% in the UK between 2014 and 2035, to 10 cases per 100,000 males by 2035.

The Movember Foundation’s Global Director of Testicular Cancer Sam Gledhill said: “The fact that so many men are unaware that they are in the highest-risk age group is very worrying. There’s a widespread assumption that it’s a disease that predominantly affects older men but that’s just not the case. Testicular cancer strikes early so checking

regularly and knowing what to look for is crucial.”

However, the poll of 1,093 British men conducted by YouGov, also found that 42% of men in the atrisk age group (aged 18-34) didn’t know or are unsure how to perform a testicular self-examination.

Sam Gledhill said, “If you’re a guy in your 20s or 30s, you should definitely be getting to know your testicles a little better. What they look like, what they feel like and what’s normal for you down there.

“The shower is a great place to start because the warmth relaxes the scrotum, making the exam easier.”

Testicular cancer will often present as a lump or pain in the testicle, an increase in size or a change in the way a testicle feels – although these symptoms can be vague or may not be the same for everyone.

Those most at risk are men who had undescended testes at birth, or those with a relative who has diagnosed with testicular cancer. Although survival rates are high (over 95 per cent), up to one in 20 cases are fatal.

The Movember Foundation has pledged to halve the numbers of men dying from testicular cancer by 2030.

Living in a stressful neighbourhood causes biological ageing Living in a stressful neighbourhood is related to ageing faster, according to new research using telomeres as a marker for biological ageing.

Telomeres are part of people’s DNA which give a measure of ‘miles on the clock,’ or biological age. Telomere length is a biological marker of age that gets shorter over time.

The study, published in PLoS One, combined population health and molecular biology research and found that people who reported problems in their local area – such as assaults, burglaries, litter and vandalism – had shorter telomere lengths, and the effect was more marked among women.

In this research, the

shorter telomere length existed even after the analysis had taken into account other factors known to be associated with telomere length, such as age, sex, social class, smoking, diet, weight, depression and fitness.

The reported problems in people’s environment also included muggings, smells and fumes and disturbances by children or youngsters.

The study is a result of a cross-disciplinary collaboration between Social scientist Prof. Anne Ellaway from the University of Glasgow MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit and Geroscientist Prof Paul Shiels at the University’s Institute of Cancer Sciences.

THE CREATION OF A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR: STEPPING INTO THE WORLD OF TARUN GHULATI Preeti Bali

His mantra of excellence is not an act, but a habit and Tarun Ghulati is a man who has perfectly crafted the art of excellence. The Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Squared Watermelon Ltd, Tarun’s unique career path is truly revolutionary.

Dubbed by one of UK’s top wealth magazine as the ‘master of reinvention’, Mr. Ghulati’s inimitable career in the world of finance and business began in India at Citibank where he managed the entire credit cycle for consumer banking, and enhanced the banks distribution reach as Head of Sales & Distribution. Within the 5 years he worked at Citibank India, Mr. Ghulati went on to Head Credit & Risk for the bank, and set up two companies for Citibank in India where he transitioned the collections system and other related aspects.

His expertise and excellence in the world of banking and finance, saw him headhunted by HSBC India, where he was responsible for their Investment Bank’s Financial Institutions Group for Eastern India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Though the remarkability of his career is not in the titles of the leadership roles he undertook across Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, but the level of responsibility and

Tarun Ghulati

consistency in producing the uppermost of outstanding results. “If you’re going to do something do it well or don’t do it at all”, believes Mr. Ghulati.

As the first Indian to be selected onto HSBC’s elite and select group of International Managers, Mr. Ghulati took off to Hong Kong where he became the

Credit Manager International, assessing the Credit & Risk for 14 countries for HSBC across Asia Pacific, to ensure the risk and rewards were both acceptable and in line with credit policies of the bank. “I would see deals worth USD Hundreds of Millions at any time coming from various countries and would review and analyse them to ensure asset quality and profitability are acceptable across countries,” he told Asian Voice. As Operations Manager International, Mr Ghulati was responsible for 15 countries across Asia Pacific ensuring their profitable functioning. He was involved in the USD 33 billion consolidation of Marine Midland Bank USA and HSBC Bank USA. A man who does not stop, his past roles have included being vice chairman of a listed bank, Head of HSBC Premier managing over USD 40 billion, Head of HSBC international Personal Banking and CEO UTI International Ltd among others.

Now living in the UK, Mr Ghulati alongside co-founder Preeti Rana have created Squared Watermelon Ltd specialising in marketing, business development, PR, branding and financial services. His advice to young aspiring entrepreneurs -“build a plan, have a vision and be prepared to work very hard”, further stressing the importance of building alliances, partner-

ships and networking.”

Mr. Ghulati and Preeti Rana have also soft launched their own beer – 1st icon, a London based craft beer by using mineral water extracted from deep underneath London’s clay.

Speaking on Brexit and its affect on his businesses, Mr Ghulati said, “For Squared Watermelon Ltd that has both local and international reach, Brexit does not concern us. We are a diversified business which includes financial services providing solutions for both businesses and individuals. We work directly with over 160 funders, enabling our clients to obtain the most competitive funding terms to meet their financial needs” he concluded.

What is most authentic about Mr Ghulati, is his humble nature, despite the empire he has built and working in several countries, he says has helped him realise and appreciate he is not the expert in everything, “don’t think you know it all, rely on people around you, build teams, motivate and lead people.

Keep morale high, know your strengths and weakness and be willing to learn from your mistakes”, he advised.

With a work ethic second to none and a mindset built on positivity and brilliance, Mr. Ghulati overcame challenges by seeing them as opportunities and not problems. “The challenges were

many. The mantra is to build your personal brand and reputation as perception is key, Try the unchartered and break barriers, If anyone can, you can. Keep the belief and faith, Take your chances, be fearless, take hard decisions, push the envelope, go the extra mile, Lead from the front, provide inspirational and intellectual leadership.

But the fact that you have a reputation where people trust you over the years and recognize your ability to find solutions for them – that is important,” he said.

His transition from running financial services businesses and banks at the highest level, sitting on over 30 boards, to setting up a several startups and ensuring they are recognised, Mr Ghulati said, “to be quickly recognised in the sectors and fields I think it is a tremendous achievement and a source of satisfaction. It is never an easy journey, but because one has always held the mindset of being entrepreneurial in thinking and thinking of change as a constant, innovatively creating solutions as opposed to pondering over a problem. That mindset helps you to galvanize and propel yourself forward in a manner which others may find pretty daunting.”

For further information about Squared Watermelon Ltd please visit http://www.squaredwatermelon.com/

GO-EXIT: Brexit and Goan citizens UK fearing a no-deal Brexit The future of the Indian citipost 29th March,” he zens from Goa who have said. recently arrived on Amit's grandfather's Portuguese passports to the marriage was registered UK remains in a “limbo” in Portuguese in Vasco, amidst the on-going Brexit Goa through which his negotiations. mother was able to secure Over the last five years Portuguese nationalisation tens of thousands of Indians and was able to pass it to have settled in Britain by him. Today, Amit stays on becoming citizens of his own in the UK, looking Portugal. According to the for a job and continues to Portuguese law, anyone who closely monitor the Brexit was born before 1961 in Goa, negotiations.

India and in the union territories of Daman and Diu is entitled to Portuguese “In the event of a no-deal citizenship as these places Brexit, my right to work and were once colonies of stay in the UK is at stake. As of Portugal. today they have mentioned Amit* is one such that there would be a Goan citizen who has settlement scheme only if we leave the EU with a deal but I recently moved to the UK don't know what is going to in December 2018 on a happen” Portuguese passport.

Previously, an Indian citizen, he surrendered his Settlement scheme and a Indian passport and applied potential Windrushfor a Portuguese passport in like Scandal?

August 2018.

“I was thinking of visiting Both UK and EU nationals as Sweden or France earlier to of today enjoy the freedom of scope out for job opportunimovement without applying ties but I dropped the idea for visas being part of the EU. and decided to settle in the However, if the UK collapses

out of the EU without a deal, then this freedom of movement can potentially be hampered. Some experts suggest that this might even lead to a “Windrush-kind scandal” where immigrants can be deported back to their countries despite living in this country for years.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has outlined the two options of EU nationals receiving a “settled” or a “pre-settled” status if the UK leaves with some sort of a deal.A pre-settled status is applicable to EU citizens who have been staying

in the UK for less than 5 years whereas those EU citizens who have been residents in the country for over five years are entitled to the “settled” status.

As per the current norms, the Goans are told that they would have all rights of EU citizens until December 31, 2020. From March 30, 2019 and until December 31, 2020, they will be required to apply for “settled” or “pre-settled” status to the UK Home Office.

According to the report 'Possible Effects of Leaving the EU' authored by Leader

of the Council, Swindon, 61,745 electors (54.7%) in Swindon voted for the UK to leave the EU in the referendum held on 23rd June 2016 which saw a 75.8% voter turnout. There are over 20,000 people have evaded strict checks on non-EU residents coming to the UK after obtaining Portuguese passports with a majority staying in Swindon, Leicester among other areas. According to the report, the government opened the application for settled status for those EU citizens already in the UK who work in the health or social care sectors from 29th November 2018. The report suggests that the Council Officers had participated in briefings about how the pilot testing phase could be introduced here. However, the pilot schemes do not extend to spouses, partners, or families.

Amit* today qualifies for a “pre-settled” status howev-

er, if the UK leaves without a deal then he says, that he might look to settling in Ireland, Sweden or even the middle-east. But even in the process of securing a deal, registration with the government would require legal assistance.

“Even if the government is able to secure some sort of a deal, there will be a legal expenditure that would be associated with the registration process for everyone who has been living in the UK for less than five years.

“But my biggest fear is that a vast majority of these citizens might not be able to meet the funding requirement, that is likely to be made mandatory by the government to live in the UK,” said a councillor who wished to stay anonymous.

There appears to be an increasing possibility of a nodeal Brexitbut whatever be the consequence of Brexit, the councillor emphasizes that “we must be prepared for the negative implications it will have on immigrants on the whole.”

18 FINANCE - UK

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Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, The companies setting up their Global HQ in the UK: these are 10 companies whose global HQ I have help establish in the UK in the past 12 months, in my role as Dealmaker for the Department for International Trade.

It’s not what you might expect during Brexit, but the Government audits the quality of these companies to ensure they are indeed outstanding technologies.

Creditenable – allowing lenders better assess business borrowers risk levels, so increase the flow of corporate lending.

Lemontree – from India, working in Fintech born out of media technology Finboot – from Spain, making it easier for businesses to use blockchain for record-keeping, cost cutting, efficiency, transparency, cutting fraud Sankey – from India, a very fast growting Indian IT firm winning major contracts in the UK now Aspire – from Poland, using blockchain for recruitment, to make it more honest Medicheck – from Sweden – medical devices company ZestIOT – from India, Internet of Things player, growing fast with venture capital funding Voxta - from India, using AI for voice technology to make customer service better Automata.live – from France, asset management in crypto currency IcebergInsights From Singapore – using behavioural insights to help businesses improve their sales – sort of Cambridge Analytica, but legal.

Need money for an invention? Or for your business growth?

But have you thought about crowdfunding? One outstanding company from India I helped bring to the UK is Advatech who are using this route. They help reduce NHS costs by freeing up ambulances, by training and equipping local cabs to carry medical need patients.

For Crowdfunding, Advatech are using Crowdcube – a leading platform.

So many British Indians are in business. But here is the exciting thing, you may be a professional, a doctor, or management consultant. And you may need funding for an invention. Well these platforms are good for that too.

Because they force you to think commercially about presenting the invention, and the figures behind it, you are being forced to think if it is viable to begin with and if the market wants it.

But guess what – that also market tests it. If you can’t get the funding, then clearly the market is not interested.

Imagine if Steve Jobs put the iPod on a crowdfunding site.

Obviously every investor would have thought that it is great, he would have got the money.

The key reasons for failure will be your idea is not good enough commercially to produce a return. Isn’t it great you get a load of experienced investors to vet it at no cost.

Of course a few delusional arrogant business people will think they know best, and go ahead anyway, like Donald Trump, and end up bankrupt like Donald Trump too.

These platforms prevent your ego throwing good money away, because if the idea is good money goes to it.

Of course you could turn investor and invest via these sites in the next big thing. But of course not everything on the sites is going to be big. Maybe only 10% will make a return. So be careful.

Brexit uncertainty costing Britain dearly: Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs said in a report that Britain’s chaotic exit from the European Union has cost the economy about 600 million pounds per week since the 2016 referendum and underscores how Brexit uncertainty has dented investment. The report said that Brexit had cost the world’s fifth largest economy nearly 2.5 per cent of GDP at the end of last year, compared to its growth path prior to the mid-2016 vote on exiting the bloc. It has also lagged other advanced economies.

“Politicians in the UK are still struggling to deliver on that vote,” Goldman Sachs

economists wrote. “The resulting uncertainty over the future political and economic relationship with the EU has had real costs for the UK economy, which have spilled over to other economies.” The US bank said Brexit uncertainty has been a major driver of economic output losses as they are concentrated in investment. “Uncertainty shocks weighed on investment growth in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote, as well as more recently amid the renewed intensification of Brexit uncertainty,” the economists said.

UK manufacturers buoyed by Brexit stockpiling as Eurozone slumps Possibility of a no-deal Brexit has sent activity in the manufacturing sector to a 13-month high in March, according to a major survey.

Firms hoarded raw materials and finished goods at the fastest monthly rate of any G7 country since 1992 amid concerns that imports and exports will be held up at the UK border. IHS Markit purchasing managers' index (PMI) jumped to 55.1, the highest since February last year, with output, employment and new orders all rising at increased rates as manufacturers and their clients raced to cram "buffer stocks" into their warehouses.

Rise in UK output contrasted with a miserable month across the eurozone, which remained surrounded in recession after conditions deteriorated at the fastest rate in six years. Germany dragged down the eurozone PMI after falling to 44.1, an 80-month low. Italy too fell, along with France, which tagged along the 50 mark that separates contraction

from expansion.

There was one optimistic note for European manufacturers when surprise increase in China's output pushed the PMI for the world's secondlargest economy to 50.8 Shares in London-listed mining companies nudged higher on the news and metal trading firm Glencore also benefited, while in Frankfurt the DAX rose 1.16 per cent as traders became more optimistic about the sales of German cars and industrial equipment to China.

Director at IHS Markit, Rob Dobson said the jump in UK manufacturing activity was directly linked to firms stepping up their preparations for potential Brexit-related disruptions.

However, he warned, "The stock-building boost introduces a major headwind for demand, output and jobs growth moving forward.

Manufacturers are already reporting concerns that future trends could be constrained as inventory positions across the economy are unwound."

He added, "The survey is also picking up signs that EU companies are switching away from sourcing inputs from UK firms as Brexit approaches. It looks as if the impact of Brexit preparations, and any missed opportunities and investments during this sustained period of uncertainty, will reverberate through the manufacturing sector for some time to come."

Consultancy Capital Economics said its analysts were more circumspect about the impact of stockpiling. It said, "We would warn against concluding that stock building is significantly supporting overall economic growth given there is little evidence of that in other figures such as imports.

And even if it was, it would only be a temporary boost to activity.

Nonetheless, considering the industrial contraction in the eurozone, UK manufacturing appears to be coping well."

Brexit is turning Britain into a laughing stock, says Siemens UK boss UK chief executive of German manufacturing group Siemens, Jürgen Maier has said Brexit is making Britain an international "laughing stock". He also urged MPs to pursue a softer withdrawal from the EU. Maier said Britain was wrecking its reputation for business stability, putting investment in the country at risk and threatening the economy. A no-deal Brexit would inflict further damage, he said, as he asked MPs to reach a consensus and back a customs union with the EU. In an open letter to MPs published by Politico, Maier said, "The world is watching, and where the UK used to be beacon for stability, we are

now becoming a laughing stock. Enough is enough.

We are all running out of patience. Make a decision and unite around a customs union compromise that delivers economic security and stability." The head of Siemens UK, one of the biggest industrial firms in the country, said political turmoil over Brexit was making it harder for him to win support for British investment from the firm's managing board in Germany. The warning came after official figures showed business investment slumped last year, declining in every quarter for the first time since the last recession in 2008, as companies put spending decisions on hold

due to the lack of clarity over the UK's future trading relationship with the EU. Maier had previously said Seimens UK was ramping up stocks of critical supplies because of Brexit, stocking more components required for machines used to keep the country running, including on infrastructure such as railways and food processing. The AngloAustrian businessman has created quite a reputation as outspoken captains of industry in Britain. He had campaigned to remain in EU before the referendum but backed the PM's deal, saying it would provide certainty for businesses and avoid the UK crashing out without an agreement. He now said the

Jürgen Maier

current approach had failed and called on the government to compromise with MPs. Maier said he believed a majority would most likely be found through a UK-EU customs union, which was among the options closest to winning support last week when MPs voted on eight separate proposals for breaking the impasse.

BMW's UK Mini plant shuts despite Brexit delay Despite delay in finalising Brexit deal, BMW’s Mini plant in Britain has been closed down to help the company deal with any disruption resulting from the deal. The German carmaker, which builds just over 15 per cent of Britain’s 1.5 million cars, moved its annual summertime shutdown to April to “minimise the risk of any possible short-term partssupply disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”

But Britain’s departure from the EU has now been pushed back from March 29 until at least April 12 or

potentially much later, scuppering the timing of major contingency plans for some carmakers.

Shutdowns are organised far in advance so employee holidays can be scheduled and suppliers can adjust volumes, making them hard to move. “This is what our company and our

workforce have planned for over many months and it is fixed into our business planning,” said a BMW spokesman.

It represents the latest headache for Britain’s once roaring car sector which had been on track for record production but since 2017 has posted sharp falls in sales, output and investment.

The overwhelmingly foreignowned industry has become increasingly incredulous as a stable and attractive investment environment

descends into one of its deepest political crises, risking the free and frictionless trade the sector relies on. BMW’s RollsRoyce factory in Goodwood will close for two weeks whilst Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) three car plants and engine facility and Honda’s Swindon facility will also shut for a few days this month as part of Brexit contingencies.

It has been a turbulent few months for the sector after Nissan cancelled plans to build a new sport utility vehicle at its English Sunderland plant.

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6 - 12 April 2019

KNOWN AND UNKNOWN VARIABLES We’re currently looking at a site in West London, which I have been told is off market by a reliable source.

kept flexible, as with the best will in the world there are unknown variables which can crop up.

That being said, the most lucrative way to make money from property in the shortest possible time is through planning gain. This stands to reason as the time lines and variables are not fully known.

The property is an office building which is currently occupied, and bringing in a healthy income.

The angle is very simply to get planning and sell.

Whether it’s simply adding another floor on a building, or gaining planning on land; the reward is exceptionally lucrative proportionally to the time put in.

The aim is simple, and it sounds simple. However, the implementation at times is anything but.

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap London Property Investment

In dealing with other sites, we have had to deal with everything from the council dragging their feet regarding S106 as a strategy to wear the developer down, to squatters who decided to build on the land and occupy it.

Given the variables, this site is unlikely to be eligible for bank funding. Once planning is gained the door for bank funding opens.

Therefore, there are only two choices, one is cash funding, the other is a bridge. It’s best to avoid the latter, for the reasons described above. You don’t want to add financial pressure to a planning project.

This requires a variety of skills. It’s not simply a case of appointing the professionals and letting them get on with it.

They need to be managed and kept on top of, including the lawyers.

One needs to be prepared to get into the detail of the issue in order to solve it.

The project we are looking at requires a £3.5m investment. The upside could be double or more.

The good thing with this deal is there is a healthy rental income.

It’s useful to have a stream of income to cover planning costs, just long enough to get planning over the line, and then you want the tenants gone. This deal has exactly that, and therefore it’s almost a

Some councils are more conducive to developments than others, especially if they have allocated certain zones for regeneration.

Time lines for planning need to be

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! tailor-made deal for a planning gain.

Q: I need to sell my BTL urgently, but it is tenanted. Help!

This investment will also escape the two rounds of stamp duty rises the government has enforced on the industry. This makes investing in residential property above £1M very difficult, adding as much as 10% to the purchase price.

A: There are a couple of ways I can think of, to approach this.

As offices this would attract commercial stamp duty which is bearable. Buying this investment in a company, with a view of selling the company rather than the asset would qualify it for Entrepreneurs’ Relief, subject to a few un-onerous conditions. If this applies, it means one only pays 10% on the profits.

This is an exceptional tax break, which doesn’t require a clever scheme for it to work. It is not one of those schemes which has the risk of coming to haunt you in later years.

This is a very lucrative deal which we are looking to close with an investor in the coming month. If you are interested, please do get in touch!

THE ONLY REGRET IS REGRET ITSELF We all make mistakes.

Not that we should aim to fail, but if we do not allow the possibility of failure then we eliminate risk, and without risk how can we succeed?

For those of us who cannot tolerate failure, regret is usually a prominent emotion.

But regret is an illogical and

destructive emotion. We look backwards. We want to change events that cannot be changed.

This is irrational. It drains us of energy. It robs us of our future.

A great future consists of two things. One is a vision that you are fully emotionally invested in.

The second is a discipline to stay in the present attending to that vision like an attentive gardener

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tending to his plants.

Regret confuses and depletes, gnaws at your self-confidence and undermines your identity.

The only regret is regret itself. Be self-reflective. Learn from errors.

But observe and do not judge yourself harshly. The soul needs to fly. Joy is sky bound. Regret anchors you down to the depths of the ocean.

Catch yourself in regret. And instantly give it up.

Remember your vision.

Be present.

Act with honour. Be happy.

Option one: speak to the agent selling the property, and ask them to see if they will sell the property with the tenant in situ.

The new owner may be happy to take on a tenanted property, if they are buying as a BTL. My top tip if you decide to go for this option, just give your tenant a call to explain the situation, but don't go into too much detail only that you are selling, and you are looking to do so with them in the property.

You may have to sell the property with the tenant in situ, if your assured shorthold tenancy is still within its initial fixed term, whether that be 6 months or 12 months. So, you’ll have to check your tenancy agreement for confirmation.

Option two: if you're outside your fixed term and your tenancy agreement permits you to, just serve notice on the tenants. It is important before you give notice that you explain the reasons why; you may find that the property takes a while to sell, so it is a good idea to explain to them that they can stay up until point of exchange. This may give the tenant a bit more time to search for a new home, all the while you are still being paid a rental income.

If you need any other lettings guidance, please do get in touch.

Abraham Goldberg

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20 FINANCE - INDIA

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India's Bankruptcy Code under test in Essar Steel case Bankruptcy Code was introduced in India for the early realisation of non-performing assets (NPAs), recovery of bank loans worth £18 billion and resolution of big-ticket cases like Essar Steel. Errant debtors have for years been on the look out for ways to undermine creditor protection, but when lenders begin to make a mockery of a fledgling insolvency law, nobody can save it. India's twoyear old bankruptcy regime is now bordering on mockery by the strain of resolving the Essar Steel India Ltd case. However, the Finance Ministry remains confident that the target could be achieved as the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) locked down on the sale of the Essar company to ArcelorMittal for £4.2 billion.

A source from the Finance Ministry said public sector banks (PSBs) have recovered close to £13.3 billion by the third week of March, leaving a whopping gap of £4.7 billion in closing this year's target. While achievement of £18 billion mainly leaned on closing of the Essar Steel insolvency case before March 31, distribution of the funds to financial creditors has not taken place as operational creditors have taken up the issue of their dues in the appellate tribunal (NCLAT).

The tribunal had earlier directed the Essar Steel committee of Creditors (CoC) to reconsider distribution of £4.2 billion as announced by NCLT Ahmedabad. The latter had suggested a 85:15 distribution between the financial and operational creditors as opposed to the 90:10 ratio as proposed in the resolution plan. Last week, the NCLAT was informed that a decision by the CoC on the issue of whether StanChart, an unsecured financial creditor which had moved the NCLAT

against the resolution distribution formulae, should get higher payout for its dues from Essar Steel is currently under review. Next hearing on the matter at NCLAT has been adjourned to to April 9.

Just like every other billionaire business-maker, the famous Ruia brothers have did everything to make sure their prized assets remain within the family despite them owing Rs 508 billion to financial creditors in unpaid dues. While their case was almost closed with lenders accepting ArcelorMittal's Rs 420 billion bid for the steel plant, an unexpected bump on the road emerged with the State Bank of India (SBI) putting its entire Rs 154 billion exposure on the block. SBI has now said it would accept over Rs 96 billion from loan buyers who can then collect Rs 113 billion from ArcelorMittal in the future.

India's paradoxical Bankruptcy Code Indian laws have the characteristics of both, a mule and a tortoise. The Indian Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was legislated in December 2016, brought in as a panacea for banks' chronic NPA problem.

While it did ride in like a knight in shining armour, it has unfortunately, failed to live up to its promises. "The essence of the IBC is speed. The bankruptcy code mandates a 270-day deadline for resolving insolvency cases. But the IBC had not accounted for the ingenuity – more accurately, cussedness – of Indian promoters,” an expert said.

The IBC was brought in to take the NPA crisis with its horns. As huge bank debts kept on piling by Indian corporates, lax rules of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) did little to no help by keeping most of them off bank balance sheets. Complicit

bank managements rolled over bad debts to keep NPAs artifically low. The toxic cycle, as described by the expert in an article, was broken in 2015 when the RBI tightened its belt and introduced strict new rules to recognise bad loans. In the duration of an year, NPAs shot up as banks were forced to clean up their balance sheets.

The IBC was conceived to stop promoters treating bank loans cavalierly. Under the code, promoters stood to lose their companies if they didn't pay up.

While it has helped resolve several cases even before the code is set into action as promoters driven by fear of losing their firms settled out of court with banks accepting varying degrees of haircuts.

However, as the IBC catches on, poor infrastructure, legal speedbreakers, and paucity of NCLT and NCLAT threaten to damage what was till recently regarded as one of the most progressive financial legislations of the NDA government. It is now up to the stakeholder to protect the integrity of the code.

If delays caused by artificial legal hurdles from defaulting promoters or intervention by statutory authorities occur, the very purpose of the IBC will be defeated.

Lenders, creditors, resolution professionals, promoters, and NCLT benches have milked the banking system for too long. It is with arrival of the mere notion of the IBC that capricious borrowing stopped and repayments surged as promoters hustled to retain control of their companies.

Essar Steel is a test case for the new insolvency law: Lakshmi Mittal The world's largest steel company, ArcelorMittal has

Laxmi Mittal

done everything in its capacity to acquire Essar Steel, as it fights with the only other contender, Numetal Mauritiusa consortium promoted by Russia's VTB Banks. Bidding on the Ruia's firm has raised several eyebrows on the insolvency process, including that of the definition of a promoter who has defaulted. Lakshmi Mittal said, "Each acquisition has its own unique features, and the same is true with Essar Steel. At a simplistic level, this is the sale of a sizeable integrated asset that requires investment and a dedicated plan to improve performance.

On that basis, there are parallels with other similar sized assets we have acquired in the past. But what is remarkable here is that this is a test case for the new insolvency case."

He added, "And as we have seen, the path so far is not straightforward as the previous owners are not willing to give up their assets readily. Many are watching to see if the IBC will achieve its objectives of delivering a fair return to creditors and a long-term custodian for the asset that defaulted under its previous owners, in a timely manner.

We must have confidence that ultimately, the IBC will achieve its aims and the strongest bidders will succeed, in the best interests of Essar Steel."

Jet hopes to get back 40 Vijaya and Dena banks grounded planes by April make BoB 2nd largest lender Currently operating 35 aircraft, Jet Airways may take the number to 75 by the end of this month in case it convinces lessors, who have grounded planes over unpaid dues. Airline officials met top aviation officials last week to give a roadmap of the next couple of months. The move came a day after Naresh Goyal stepped down from its board and then lenders agreed to give emergency fund of £150 million.

After meeting Jet officials along with DGCA chief BS Bhullar, Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said, "We are trying that in the summer peak travel season, the capacity crunch eases. We have observed fares on some sectors occasionally spiked up and have asked airlines not to do that. Jet officials said they will speak to lessors and hone to get 40 grounded plans back in operation by month-end. They

will inform us by next week exactly how many plans lessors have allowed them to fly and by when." The capacity crunch has been caused mostly by Jet groundings and later aggravated

by SpiceJet Boeing 737 Max and GoAir A320 Neo groundings and cancellations of flights by other airlines like Air India and IndiGo. Kharola said the government is currently looking at giving the slots not being utilised by Jet in airports in India and abroad to other Indian carriers for a certain period. Before the crisis went out of control, Jet was operating 103 aircraft.

Kharola added, "If it is able to have 75 planes operational by next month, Jet will be operating almost 80 per cent of its fleet. Since the planes have been grounded for some time, we will ensure their airworthiness and safety before they get back in action."

Bank of Baroda has become the second largest public sector lender after SBI following the merger of Dena and Vijaya banks with it from April 1. BoB now has a balance sheet of over £150 billion, 9,500 branches and 13,400 ATMs. For corporate borrowers of Dena Bank, the merger comes as a major relief.

These customers were earlier finding it difficult to obtain loans as their bank was facing lending restrictions under RBI’s prompt corrective action (PCA).

Branches of Dena and Vijaya banks, which were both founded by Indian entrepreneurs in the 1930s and nationalised in 1969 and 1980 respectively, will retain their identity for a few months. While they will continue to display their erstwhile signage, it will now include a strip which says

‘Now Bank of Baroda.’

BoB, in a statement, said that new branches will get the benefit of its technological prowess in artificial intelligence and analytics to boost cross-selling.

It will also provide forex services to customers of Vijaya and Dena banks. Bank of Baroda CEO P S Jayakumar, whose term was to end in September 2018, had been given an extension to see through the merger.

This is the first three-way merger of banks in India.

Among PSU banks, while SBI has maintained its leadership for decades, the number two position has moved between banks. PNB, BoB, Bank of India, Canara Bank have all occupied the number two position on various parameters at different points of time. The merger puts BoB in the clear lead.

in brief RAJAN NOW DOUBTS 7% GROWTH, SEEKS ‘IMPARTIAL’ STUDY OF DATA

Stoking in a fresh bout of controversy, former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, Raghuram Rajan has raised doubts about the country's economy clocking seven per cent at a time when not Raghuram Rajan enough jobs are being created, and called for an impartial body to look into the numbers to restore confidence.

He said, "I know one minister has said how can we be growing at seven per cent and not have job. Well, one possibility is that we are not growing at seven per cent." He is assumed to have referred to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who recently claimed that an economy cannot grow at over seven per cent. Meanwhile, Rajan said India needs to collect jobs data in a better way. He also noted that jobs should be the primary election agenda and a "task one" for the government to deliver as the country prepares to hold the elections next month.

When asked what should be the key focus as we approach elections, Rajan said, "Start creating jobs that people want. Take care of the distress, but whatever measures you put, put them as a pathway for people to get those jobs rather than standing in the way of getting those jobs... We can talk about the economic reforms that are needed, but jobs are task one."

TATAS FORAY INTO AIRPORTS, BUY STAKE IN GMR

After airlines, the Tata Group is making a foray into airports. The conglomerate will invest £355.5 million for a 20% stake in GMR Airports, which runs the Delhi International Airport. The proposed stake-purchase has been routed through Tata Sons, which also owns majority stakes in two carriers-AirAsia India and Vistara. Tatas’ interest in the aviation business also includes charter services through Taj Air. The Tatas follow billionaire Gautam Adani’s bet on the sector after his company won bids to operate six airports in the country last month. In the past, the Tatas had made attempts to enter this space and tied up with Singapore’s Changi and Heathrow airport operators to participate in the privatisation of airports in the country. However, the bids did not materialise due to multiple factors like rules that prohibit a company with interest in an airline from owning more than 26% stake in certain greenfield airports.

FIR AGAINST SINGH BROS ON CHEATING, CONSPIRACY

Delhi police’s economic offences wing has registered an FIR against promoters of the Religare Enterprise after they were found to have defaulted in repaying a loan of £239.7 million. Police officers said during the probe, it was found that there were inter-linkages between borrowers as funds were routed from one borrower to another. It was also found that the loan amount ultimately came back to the same group companies after being borrowed. An FIR under sections of cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy was registered against Malvinder Mohan Singh, Shivinder Mohan Singh, Sunil Godhwani and N K Ghosal from the Religare Enterprises (REL) on the basis of a complaint from a senior manager of the Religare Finvest (RFL). REL was controlled by the Singh brothers until February 2018.

After their exit from board of REL in February 2018, boards of REL and RFL have been re-constituted. The complaint mentioned that the loans taken by the companies owned by the four men had left RFL in a poor financial condition.

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6 - 12 April 2019

in brief

INDIAN NATIONAL STABBED TO DEATH IN MUNICH

A Indian origin man identified as 49-yearold Prashant Basarur died after he was stabbed multiple times near Munich, Germany. His wife Smita Basarur, 43, is reported to be in a critical condition. The incident reportedly took place when the couple got into an argument with a 33year-old man from Guinea, who lived in the same apartment complex as the Basarurs.

As the argument spiralled out of control, the man attacked and stabbed the couple several times. During the attack, Prashant was stabbed multiple times in the body and head. The reason behind the argument is not yet known. On hearing the scuffle, neighbours called the police who arrived and took the Guinea man into custody.

DOCTOR FROM KARNATAKA FOUND DEAD IN US

A 28-year-old doctor from Karnataka was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the hospital campus at St Peter’s University in New Jersey, USA. The family members were informed about incident. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained. The shocked parents demanded probe into the incident.

Manideep, who completed MBBS from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, Karnataka, went to New Jersey for post graduation three year ago. He was working at St Peter’s University Hospital.

Manideep’s relative said that the Telugu Association of North America is in contact with the Indian Embassy and the hospital authorities to complete formalities and send the body to India at the earliest.

DENTIST FROM HYDERABAD KILLED IN US ROAD ACCIDENT

A 32-year-old Indian dentist, pursuing an advanced medical course in the US, was among two people killed in a road accident in Chicago, police said. Dr Arshad Mohammed, originally from Hyderabad, was killed when a Volkswagen which was moving in the wrong way on the Veterans Memorial Tollway struck his black Honda, police said. The driver of the Volkswagen, identified as 36-year-old Robert Velazco of Hammond, was also killed in the accident.

INDIAN PRIEST JAILED FOR 6 YEARS IN CHILD SEX CASE

A Indian former Catholic priest has been sentenced to six years in prison for sexually abusing a teenage girl in the US, according to a media report. John Praveen, 38, pleaded guilty in February to sexually touching a 13-year-old girl in the Rapid City church, South Dakota over her clothes last year. Judge Steven Mandel handed down the sentence after prosecutors asked for the maximum of one year in prison. Mandel said that was “not adequate” for Praveen’s crime, the report said. The sentencing came after Praveen pleaded guilty to one count of having sexual contact with a child under the age of 16, a crime that carries a maximum 15-year punishment, the report said.

29 KILLED, OVER 600 INJURED IN NEPAL STORM

At least 29 people were killed and over 600 others injured as a massive storm lashed Nepal, authorities said. According to reports, of the 29 victims, 28 were from the Bara district, while one person was killed in Parsa. The storm accompanied by hail and heavy rain struck the two districts on Sunday night. The victims were either killed after getting buried under rubble of houses and metal roofs or due to electric shock. According to a senior official, majority of the injured were from Pheta and Bhulahi Bharwaliya areas in Bara. The storm destroyed hundreds of houses, uprooted tress, electric poles and damaged over 12 passenger buses. Security agencies, including two battalions of the Nepal Army, police and Armed Police Force were mobilized to carry out rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

PAKISTAN-BANGLADESH

Pak HC appoints panel to probe forced conversion of Hindu girls

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) set up a fivemember commission to probe into the alleged forced conversion and underage marriages of Ghotki’s two Hindu sisters with Muslim men after their abduction. An IHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah, also formed a medical board to determine the age of both the girls. He directed the federal government to assist the commission in carrying out its task. The bench was hearing petitions filed by Aasia alias Raveena and Nadia alias Reena who approached the court seeking protection. The judges expressed displeasure over the federal and Sindh governments for taking the issue lightly and said the court had given directives for an inquiry into the matter but neither the federal nor the provincial government complied with its orders.

“Look at how New Zealand protected rights of its minorities,” remarked the judge, referring to the way the country dealt with the aftermath of terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch. So far no issue

concerning minorities had surfaced in Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said, questioning why such issues are happening in Sindh?

Justice Minallah said it should be determined whether the girls converted to Islam under duress. Meanwhile, a report was submitted in the Abducted Hindu girls court, stating that the two conversion to another religion sisters were adult at the time of and marriage. Justice demands their marriage. that both these girls should be The report compiled by restored to their families Pakistan Institute of Medical immediately," she said.

Sciences (PIMS) radiology Sushma's tweet led to a spat department said Raveena and between her and Pakistan Reena are 19-and-a-half years Information and Broadcasting old and 18-and-a-half years old, Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who respectively. The age of the had responded through tweet sisters were determined through and said it was his country's a bone X-ray, it added. internal issue. Replying to Girls should be sent to their Chaudhry's tweet, Sushma asked homes: Sushma him if giving data on abducted Meanwhile, India's external Hindu girls is making them affairs minister Sushma Swaraj nervous. She attributed the said that the two girls should be nervousness to a guilty restored to their families conscience. immediately. In a series of Bills against conversion and tweets, Swaraj said, "even the child marriage Prime Minister on Naya A Hindu lawmaker from Imran Pakistan will not believe that Khan’s party has moved two bills girls of this tender age can in Parliament seeking voluntarily decide about their

enhancement of punishment for those involved in forced conversion and for making child marriage a cognisable offence.

Ramesh Kumar Vankwani from the ruling Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) submitted Child Marriage Restraint Act (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Criminal Law (Protection of Minorities) Act 2019 in National Assembly. The bills were accompanied by a resolution with the support of minority lawmakers from all major political parties condemning such incidents. The five-point resolution called for immediate passage of the bill against forced conversions, which had been unanimously passed by the Sindh Assembly in 2016 and then reverted due to pressure of extremist elements, from all the legislatures.

Through the resolution, the lawmakers demanded strict action against the culprits, including controversial religious figures who are involved in forced conversions.

Pro-Khalistan elements and Pak establishment bond in Canada OTTAWA (CANADA): Pakistan has openly started facilitating Khalistan separatists by pumping in millions of dollars to revive the anti-India movement following their futile attempts at propagating anti-India sentiments in the West. During the Pakistan Day celebrations held at the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canadian Senator Salman Attaullahjan of Pakistani origin invited prominent proponent of Khalistan, Sukhminder Singh Hansra.

Hansra, who openly advocates for Khalistan and is a leading figure in the separatist movement in Canada, was provided with a platform to

spew venom against India.

Praising Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Hansra openly thanked Islamabad for supporting their satanic movement, which has seen zero support from the Sikhs living world over.

Hansra said, "Imran Khan has brought a way of Politics," while relentlessly criticising Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While Hansra's presence at the event irked the IndoCanadian community, Pakistan, on the other hand, has been relentless in supporting and facilitating the anti-India movement.

Islamabad's notorious spy agency, Inter-

S e r v i c e s Intelligence (ISI), does not only provide funds to the pro-Khalistan organisations but also gives access Prominent Khalistani leader Sukhminder Singh Hansra to their land to attending Pakistan Day celebrations in Ottawa to pay obeisance during the carry out their anti-India 320th Khalsa Sajna Divas. movement. Sikhs For Justice, a Pakistan has also provided Pro-Khalistan advocacy group land to 'Sikhs For Justice' to running a secessionist campaign open their permanent office in to hold referendum to liberate Lahore to facilitate the proPunjab from India, recently Khalistan votes. Although Sikhs announced to start registration in India as well as abroad have for "Team 2020" from Gurdwara outrightly rejected their satanic Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal city movement, desperation has only in Pakstan, where thousands of been growing in the proSikh pilgrims from Punjab and Khalistan camps. across the world will be visiting

Dhaka building owners arrested over deadly fire DHAKA: Two of the owners of a high-rise commercial building that caught fire last week, killing 26 people in a blaze made worse by the lack of adequate fire exits, have been arrested, Bangladesh police said. Authorities say the 22-storey building structure lacked adequate safety measures and was extended illegally, raising fresh questions about safety standards in one of the world's most densely congested cities.

Seventy people were also injured in the blaze, in which at least seven people, including a Sri Lankan, died after jumping off the building located in an upscale area of the capital, Dhaka. Lax regulations and poor enforcement have often been

blamed for large fires in the South Asian nation that have killed hundreds of people in recent years, almost 100 in the past month alone.

Assistant police commissioner Abdul Baten said that S M H I Faruq and Tasvirul Islam, who is a district leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), were arrested for negligence and vio-

lations of a national building code that resulted in casualties.

"It was a very painful incident. After an investigation, we will file a charge sheet in the court," he said, adding they could face murder charges.

Baten said police were also looking for the developers that constructed the building in the 1990s. Helicopters joined 22 firefighting units in battling the blaze, along with police and armed forces, as some of those trapped in the building waved desperately for help from its windows and roof. Foyzur Rahman, the head of an investi-

gation team formed by the Ministry of Disaster Management, said testimony was being heard from survivors in an attempt to find the cause of the blaze.

"Their accounts will help us to come up with realistic recommendations to prevent such things in future," he said. The opposition BNP criticised the government over the fire, alleging negligence in upgrading the fire service. "The government spent huge money to purchase lethal weapons to suppress the opposition party and democratic process, but did nothing to upgrade the fire service," Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, a senior BNP leader said.

22 WORLD

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AFRICA-SRI LANKA

Mozambique confirms cholera cases among cyclone victims BEIRA, MOZAMBIQUE: The Mozambican government has confirmed the outbreak of cholera in the port city of Beira in the wake of deadly Cyclone Idai. At least five cholera cases were reported. Thousands of people were trapped for more than a week in submerged villages without access to clean water after the cyclone smashed into Mozambique on March 14, causing catastrophic flooding.

Relief efforts have increasingly focused on containing outbreaks of waterborne and infectious diseases.

In Munhava, central Beira, doctors and nurses at a newly set up treatment centre said they are treating around 140 patients a day for diarrhoea. Many of the patients arrive too weak to walk.

A reporter said that he saw two men carrying an unconscious woman from a rickshaw into the clinic. Inside, those too ill to sit lay on concrete benches attached to intravenous drips.

Mothers were perched on plastic chairs in the courtyard, trying to get their children to drink rehydration salts from green cups.

"He won't take it," said Marisa Salgado, 22, holding her

People queue for food in a camp for those displaced in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai in Beira

boy, aged 1-1/2, who stared with glazed eyes. It was the second time she had been to the clinic this week, she said. Her child's diarrhoea returned as soon as she got home, despite the chlorine solution nurses gave her to purify their water. "I'm scared. I don't know what to do," she said.

Ussene Isse, national director of medical assistance at the Health Ministry, said he expected cholera to spread beyond the five cases. "When you have one case, you have to

expect more cases in the community," he said. Health workers are battling 2,700 cases of acute watery diarrhoea which could be a symptom of cholera - Isse added.

Health workers apply the same treatment for acute diarrhoea or cholera, with severe cases requiring rapid rehydration through intravenous fluids. Such diseases are another threat in the wake of Idai, which tore through Mozambique and into neighbouring Zimbabwe and

Malawi, killing more than 700 people and displacing hundreds of thousands of others.

Children dying Lin Lovue, 27, said he had rushed his son to the clinic after a day of diarrhoea. Within an hour of getting there, the child died. "The biggest challenge is organisation," said a coordinator at the clinic.

"The health system was completely broken after the storm and we have to reestablish capacity fast." Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which runs the emergency centre, has set up two others in Beira and is providing consultations via mobile clinics in several neighbourhoods.

The World Health Organization is sending 900,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine to affected areas from a global stockpile. The death toll in Mozambique from Cyclone Idai has risen to 468, Mozambican disaster management official Augusta Maita said. That takes the total number of deaths in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to 707 people, with many more missing.

Appeal for help to people hit by Cyclone Idai Following the widespread destruction by Cyclone Idai – the worst humanitarian disaster in the southern hemisphere – Morari Bapu has led a flood appeal to help the region recover from the disaster. Cyclone Idai has affected millions of people across Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The biggest impact in the aftermath has been the increased risk of cholera, malaria and typhoid due to poor sanitary conditions in the region.

To help with the relief efforts, Bapu has commissioned “God My Silent Partner” Foundation – led by devotee Ramesh Sachdev - to support flood campaigns in the region. The appeal inspired by Bapu has contributed £20,000 to the Malawi Hindu Seva

Morari Bapu

Mandal, £20,000 to the relief campaign in Mozambique and £16,000 to the least affected area in Zimbabwe.

Bapu’s contribution reflects his core teachings of “Truth, Love and Compassion”. This follows Bapu’s belief that we are all citizen of one family and that people have a responsibility to

support anyone across the world, particularly during a natural calamity such as this.

The Hindu community in Malawi has played a leading role in the flood efforts in Blantyre. Since the disaster, the Malawi Hindu Seva Mandal donated millions of items, including bags of flour, blankets, soya pieces, cooking oil, salt, beans and buckets for households.

The Hindu Mandal said that they feel duty bound to help and support the relief efforts in their adopted homeland. The relief efforts in Mozambique and Zimbabwe are both being coordinated by the UK based charity United Purpose. The charity is renowned for spending only a mere 4% on overheads – meaning that 96% of all money goes straight to the people.

Speaking to Asian Voice following the appeal, Lord Dolar Popat – Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda and Uganda - said, “I am immensely proud of the global effort to support Southern Africa. The UK was one of the first countries to respond to this disaster. Bapu’s appeal will support charities on the ground to continue their humanitarian relief providing access to life-saving essentials, including food, water and shelter.”

Cyclone Idai remains one of the biggest natural disasters to ever hit the region. After the announcement, Bapu extended his heartfelt gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers for their efforts on the ground in helping the victims.

Sri Lanka urged not to resume executions COLOMBO: The Human Rights Watch has urged the Sri Lankan government not to resume executions, which it had unofficially abandoned some 43 years ago. On March 31, 2019, President Maithripala Sirisena said that a date had been set to resume carrying out the death penalty in drug trafficking cases.

Sirisena renewed calls for the death penalty following a visit to the Philippines in January, during which he

called President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” an “example to the world.”

In March, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, reported to the UN Human Rights Council that up to 27,000 people have been killed in the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign. The UN, NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, and the media have linked the killings of alleged drug dealers and users to

the police and policebacked vigilantes.

“There is no reason to bring the death penalty back in Sri Lanka after a four-decade moratorium,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

“President Sirisena’s decision to restore the death penalty because he was inspired by the Philippine’s murderous ‘drug war’ may be the worst possible justification and

would violate international law.”

The death penalty has not been carried out in Sri Lanka since 1976.

Currently, 1,299 prisoners – 1,215 men and 84 women – are on Sri Lanka’s death row after having been convicted for capital offenses, including 48 for drug crimes. In February, the government began advertising in local newspapers for a hangman.

The alleged deterrent effect

NAWAZ SHARIF RELEASED FROM JAIL

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was released from jail after Supreme Court granted him six weeks' bail to receive medical treatment without "leaving the country." According to reports, Sharif, who was sentenced to seven years in prison by an accountability court in Al-Azizia reference case last year, left Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail. The threejudge bench led by Pakistan's Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa announced the judgment in the former prime minister's favour. While reading out the order, Khosa said that Nawaz Sharif will have to surrender himself to the jail authorities after termination of his bail period. Earlier in March, Sharif had moved the Supreme Court against a decision by the Islamabad High Court, rejecting his bail application in connection with the case. Sharif's counsel filed a plea in the top court, stating that the high court's decision should be declared null and void. However, the Islamabad High Court rejected Sharif's petition seeking bail on medical grounds.

PAK MINISTER BRANDS US ENVOY ‘LITTLE PYGMY’

A Pakistani minister has branded the US ambassador to Kabul a “little pygmy” in a diplomatic Twitter row that erupted over ongoing peace talks between Washington and the Taliban. It began after Pakistani PM Imran Khan reportedly suggested an interim government in Afghanistan to help smooth the talks process. But shortly after US ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass issued a tweet rebuking Khan while alluding to his past as captain of Pakistan’s World Cupwinning cricket team and numerous cheating scandals involving Pakistani players.

Outraged at Bass' snub, Khan’s minister for human rights Shireen Mazari said, “Clearly you little pygmy your knowledge of ball tampering is as void as your understanding of Afghanistan and the region!”

BANGLADESHI WOMAN HAS TWINS 26 DAYS AFTER 1ST DELIVERY

A 20-year-old Bangladeshi woman has given birth to twins nearly a month after delivering a baby, media reported. All three newborns are alive and healthy. Arifa Sultana gave birth to a premature baby boy in February but just 26 days later she complained of abdominal pains and was rushed to a hospital on March 21 when she delivered twins, gynaecologist Sheila Poddar said. Her twins were found to be healthy and were discharged with no complications, Poddar added. Sultana's case is one of "uterus didelphys", which means she has two separate uteruses.

According to Christopher Ng of the GynaeMD Clinic in Singapore, uterus didelphys is "not as rare as people think".

of the death penalty has been repeatedly debunked, Human Rights Watch said.

In 2015, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights, Ivan Šimonović, stated that there was “no evidence that the death penalty deters any crime.” Even with respect to murder, an Oxford University analysis concluded that capital punishment does not deter “murder to a marginally greater extent than does the threat and application of the supposedly lesser

punishment of life imprisonment.”

The UN has also opposed the use of the death penalty for drugrelated crimes. In a March 2010 report, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime called for an end to the death penalty and specifically urged member countries to prohibit the use of the death penalty for drugrelated offenses, and called on countries to take an overall “human rightsbased approach to drug and crime control.”

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in brief FACEBOOK BANS PRAISE OF WHITE NATIONALISM

Indian jailed for 8 years in US call centre fraud

CHINA SET TO PROSECUTE FORMER INTERPOL CHIEF FOR GRAFT

China will prosecute former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei for graft after an investigation found he spent “lavish” amounts of state funds, abused his power and refused to follow Communist Party decisions, its anti-corruption watchdog said.

Interpol, the global police coordination agency based in France, last October said Meng had resigned, days after his wife reported him missing after he travelled back to his home country. Meng has been expelled from the party and his case was handed to legal authorities for prosecution, the statement said.

NEW YORK: An Indian national has been sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for participating in an Indiabased call centre fraud in which operators impersonated as US tax officials to extort money from Americans. Federal Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington, who sentenced Nishitkumar Patel in Tampa, Florida, also fined him $200,000 and ordered the forfeiture of cash and his Land Rover. He and four others - two of them Indians - had earlier admitted their guilt in court. Patel and his accomplices used the India-based call centre to make calls to people in the US pretending to be tax officials from the Internal Revenue Service and claiming that they owed taxes, threatened the victims with arrest, according to court filings.

They ordered the victims to buy prepaid cash cards to pay what they claimed were back taxes and sent people to collect

TWO WOMEN ACCUSE BIDEN OF INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING

33,310 Indians migrated to Australia in 2017-18

Facebook has banned praise, support and representation of white nationalism and white separatism, a move that drew qualified approval from New Zealand where a massacre of 50 people in mosques was live streamed earlier this month. Facebook has beefed up its content monitoring teams and taken down event pages that were used to promote and organise rallies by white supremacist groups. The policy will be enforced next week, Facebook said in a blog post, and will apply to both its core Facebook app and Instagram. Facebook has long banned white supremacy under its rules on “hateful” content, but did not previously consider white nationalist content to be explicitly racist.

Two women have alleged that former US Vice President Joe Biden touched them inappropriately. Biden now faces those two accusations as he considers a bid for president in 2020. He is expected to announce his decision this month. The first allegation was made by Lucy Flores, a former Democratic politician in Nevada.

Flores said that Biden made her feel "uneasy, gross, and confused" in 2014 when, at a campaign rally, she said he kissed her on the back of the head. Another woman Amy Lappos said that Biden pulled her in to rub noses with her at a 2009 fundraiser in Greenwich, Connecticut. Biden was Vice President at the time. "It wasn't sexual, but he did grab me by the head," Lappos, who was then an aide to US Representative Jim Himes, said.

CATHOLIC PRIESTS BURN HARRY POTTER BOOKS IN POLAND Catholic priests in the northern Polish city of

Koszalin burned books they say are sacrilegious this weekend, including volumes from British author J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series of fantasy novels. “We obey the Word,” priests said in a Facebook post showing photographs of the public book burning and quoting Biblical passages from the book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament. One passage exhorting believers to destroy the enemies of God includes the passage “burn their idols in the fire.” The post shows three priests carrying a basket of books and other items including an Africanstyled face mask through a church to an outside fire pit. Photographs show priests saying prayers over the fire pit, where other items including a ‘Hello Kitty’ umbrella and other religious objects were burned.

TEEN OFFERED ADMISSION TO 55 US COLLEGES

Georgia high school student Jakelia Baker has been offered admission to 55 colleges with about $ 1.3 million in scholarship awards. The 17-year-old has applied to more than 65 colleges and got offers from about 55, including Clemson, Oklahoma and Michigan State. Finally she has decided to attend Penn State Beaver on an athletic scholarship. The teen said she used college admission apps to send applications to a number of schools because "I had no idea where I was going." Then the acceptance letters started pouring in. Jakelia has spent the past four years earning a 4.1 GPA and dominating athletics and other extracurricular activities at her high school.

CANBERRA: India continues to be the top source country of migrants to Australia. Latest available statistics show there were 33,310 migrants from India during the 12-month period ended June 2018. Although Indians were the largest constituency (20% of the overall migrant population going down under), there was a 20.5% decline in their numbers. These numbers cover migrants in the skill stream, family stream and special eligibility stream, but exclude those on student visas.

A recent announcement by the Australian government on reduction of the migration cap by 15% (this does not include student visas) to 160,000 for the year 2019-20, which commences from July 1, has dampened enthusiasm. However, the government has also sought to incentivise new migrants to settle outside the already congested big cities, by introducing two classes of

the cards, deposit the payments into bank accounts they opened and turn over the money after deducting a commission, court papers said. One of the coconspirators, Alejandro Juarez, was earlier sentenced to 15 months in prison, while Hemalkumar Shah, Sharvil Patel and Brenda Dozier are awaiting sentencing.

When they were charged in

‘Regional (Provisional) Visas’ from November 2019. All of Australia will be defined as ‘regional’ except the metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Perth.

Cyrus Mistry, the Perthbased director of EasyMigrate Consultancy Services, is quick to point out that the reduction in migration cap is similar to the final count accepted during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018.

November, officials said that law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Nishitkumar Patel's home and seized $50,000 in cash, hundreds of bank and wire transfer receipts, and 20 electronic devices. The charges filed in court described Nishitkumar Patel, 31, Sharvil Patel, 22, and Hemalkumar Shah, 27, as "domestic managers" for the fraud who

The announcements are likely to have a mixed impact for Indians aspiring to migrate to Australia, with those from the non-IT sector standing to benefit. As IT companies are predominant in metro areas, technology sector workers aspiring for an Australian visa are less likely to be eligible for the new regional visas. “The new regional visas will be attractive to those who are planning to engage in basic service sectors such as

hired people to collect the payment cards.

India-linked fraudulent tax extortion through threatening phone calls are rampant. In October 2016, five Indian companies and 56 people, most of them of Indian descent, were charged in a Texas federal court with involvement in a similar racket.

Last October, 21 people - at least 20 of them of Indian origin - received sentences ranging between four years and 13 years, with orders of deportation for most of them and revocation of US citizenship of one. Three others of Indian descent were also convicted earlier in the same fraud.

Jeff Sessions, who was the attorney general at that time, had said: "The stiff sentences imposed this week represent the culmination of the first-ever large scale, multi-jurisdiction prosecution targeting the India call centre scam industry."

agriculture, hospitality and tourism, child-care, aged-care, medical practitioners, construction, machinerymaintenance, and mining, to name a few,” Mistry said. “It is unlikely to provide adequate incentives for metro-centric industries such as IT and higher education.”

A release from the office of Australian PM Scott Morrison states that the holders of the new ‘Regional (Provisional) Visas’ will be able to access permanent residence if they live and work in regional Australia for three years.

In other words permanent residency will be possible postNovember 2022. The release adds that 23,000 seats (out of the total cap of 160,000) will be set aside for the new categories of regional visas. However, according to immigration experts, this will eat into the number of independent skilled visas that allowed visa holders to live and work anywhere in Australia.

China, US lock horns over Masood Azhar BEIJING: China said it was making “some positive progress” to resolve differences on listing Masood Azhar, pictured, as a global terrorist, and rejected Washington’s alternative move to ban the head of the Jaish-eMohammed (JeM) through a resolution at the UN Security Council.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang asserted that the UN 1267 committee should be the sole forum where Azhar’s listing should be discussed.

“After the application of designation was proposed at the (1267) committee, China has been in close communication and coordination with various parties,” Geng said. He added: “As I said we have been working with various parties and (our

Masood Azhar

efforts) has made some positive progress. The US knows that very well.”

The friction between China and the US sharpened after Washington, along with France and the United Kingdom, piloted a resolution in the 1267 committee for listing Azhar, following the February attack in Pulwama in which more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

China placed a “technical hold” on the listing despite Pakistanbased JeM, which Azhar heads, taking responsibility for the attack. Following China’s move in the 1267 committee, the US sponsored a resolution in the Security Council seeking Azhar’s ban.

“We believe that in the current circumstances, forcing a resolution at the Security Council is not a constructive move and is setting a bad example,” Geng observed. The Chinese foreign ministry pointed out that the US was failing in its bid to muster majority support in the UNSC, and urged Washington to return to the 1267 committee to resolve the issue.

“We hope various parties will meet each other halfway and

continue to properly solve the issues under the 1267 UN committee framework. Last Friday, the UN Security Council members exchanged views on the US-proposed draft resolution and the majority believes that efforts should be made under the framework of 1267 committee and solve the issue through dialogue and consultations,” Geng said.

The spokesperson stressed that the majority of the UNSC “are not in favour of forcing a draft resolution. China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well. But under such circumstances, the US is still pushing the Security Council to adopt a draft resolution. This cannot be justified.”

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SOUTH INDIA

SC asks TN govt to ensure political parties do not disfigure public places NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed Tamil Nadu government to ensure that public places, including hilly areas, are not defaced by slogans and advertisements by political parties. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Deepak Gupta expressed dissatisfaction over the reply filed by the state government in the matter and said it has not acted in a "responsible manner".

The bench said, "As the state has failed to act, we direct the state government to ensure that there is no disfigurement of public areas."

The court directed authorities to ensure that political parties do not disfigure such public places by pasting photographs of leaders and by writing slogans. Senior advocate V Giri, who appeared for the state government, submitted the PIL petitioner, a charitable trust 'In Defence of Environment and

Animals' can approach a committee formed by the Madras High Court and put forth its grievances to it.

The SC had earlier too told the TN government that defacement of public places cannot be allowed by political parties with advertisements and slogans. It had asked the state government to inform about the

steps taken regarding prevention of defacement of natural resources like hills, mountains, rocks and public places. The SC had issued notice on January 11, to the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government on the plea seeking to restrain political parties from erecting digital banners on roadside across the state.

It had asked why the plea should not be kept open, enabling the Madras High Court to monitor the developments in the case. The plea sought preventing encroachments via religious symbols and political graffiti, advertisements by private parties on natural resources like mountains, hills, hillocks, avenue trees and on national and state highways.

On December 19, last year, Madras High Court had issued an interim order restraining political parties from putting up digital banners on roadside unless the state government and local bodies came out with a clear undertaking that the rules and various orders passed by the court would be strictly implemented and no violation would take place.

It had said such banners distracted the road users, especially two-wheeler riders, and obstructed pedestrians.

PUNJAB

Punjab police bust terror module, arrest 5 Babbar Khalsa men CHANDIGARH: In a major breakthrough, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of the Punjab police busted a terror module and arrested five "highly radicalised" members of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Police also recovered a .32 bore pistol along with a magazine and four live cartridges and 15 letter pads of the BKI from the accused.

Assistant Inspector General of SSOC, Mohali, Varinder Paul Singh, said that acting on a tip off they had busted a militant module comprising highly radicalised youth, who were planning to kill specific targets, including Hindu leaders and members of Dera Sacha Sauda.

Those arrested include Harvinder Singh, a resident of Rally village in Sector 12, Panchkula, Sultan Singh, a resident of Saidpura village in Kurukshetra, Haryana, Karamjeet Singh, a resident of Raoke Kalan village in Moga district, Lovepreet Singh, a resident of Baliyan village in Sangrur district and Gurpreet Singh alias Preet, a resident of Sector 20-C, Chandigarh.

Three other accused who were named in the FIR, but are yet to be arrested, are Rupinder Singh, a resident of Niwasri village in Kurukshetra district in Haryana, Daler Singh Bunty, a resident of Rohini in New Delhi and Ranjit Singh, a resident of

Pakhoke village in Gurdaspur district. Ranjit Singh is a former chief of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and is based in Germany, police said.

According to the FIR, Ranjit Singh is the mastermind who was providing help to the accused and was motivating them to eliminate the targets.

The FIR also mentions that the accused wanted to kill certain people to fulfill the 'incomplete' task of some other militants who were lodged in different jails in Punjab and other states.

AIG Varinder Paul Singh added that after "radicalisation over social media platforms" created by suspected individuals based in Europe, these persons

organised several meetings and were planning to indulge in various violent acts to disturb peace and communal harmony in the state.

"In close collaboration with their handlers and associates based in India and abroad, these highly radicalised youths were in process of mobilisation of funds, had already procured lethal weapons and were in the process to procure militant hardware, and were planning to arrange a weapon training session in Jammu and Kashmir.

They were also in touch with Sikh militants, including Jagtar Singh Hawara of Babbar Khalsa who is lodged in jail," the AIG stated.

WEST BENGAL

CBI makes serious charges against Rajeev Kumar in Saradha scam: SC NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked the CBI to file an application within 10 days to press its charges against former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Saradha chit fund scam. It termed the probe agency's report as "very, very serious". A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "There are some things in it which are very serious."

The bench further said as the CBI's status report was filed in a sealed cover, it cannot pass any order at the moment without hearing the other side.

It said, "We will later determine the charges and counter-charges

after hearing both sides." The SC, in its last hearing, had directed CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla to provide information in support of tampering and destruction of call data records by Kumar, who was then heading the West Bengal Special Investigation Team (SIT) while probing the chit fund case.

The CBI, in an affidavit submitted to the SC, had alleged that in 2009 the Centre had warned West Bengal about the possibility of chit fund companies duping people but the state government took no action and "allowed" it to thrive.

It also spoke about a "larger

conspiracy" behind the scam, and referred to two instances to buttress its claim.

The first referred to the £621,000 given to a TV channel that is part of the Saradha Group, which is facing heat in the case, and the second is the sale of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's paintings amounting to £650,000 by a newspaper run by the Trinamool Congress.

The agency had moved the SC after its officials were thwarted by the Kolkata Police when they had gone to Kumar's official residence to question him on February 3. Banerjee had rushed to the spot and staged a

in brief JD(S) RETURNS BANGALORE NORTH SEAT TO CONG

With eight out of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka in its kitty under a seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress, the JD(S) has decided to return one of the seats to its ally. The party was struggling to find a strong candidate, after former prime minister and party president HD Deve Gowda, who was tipped to contest against Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda from this seat, opted for the relatively safer Tumkur constituency.

Gowda had suggested the option of fielding a Congress leader as the JD(S) candidate, but Congress leaders turned down the offer. AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge KC Venugopal released a statement saying, "The Indian National Congress is thankful to Shri HD Deve Gowda and the JD(S) for their kind gesture of giving back the Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat to the Congress.’’

DHINAKARAN'S CLAIM OVER ELECTION SYMBOL REJECTED

The Supreme Court has refused to acknowledge claims made by TTV Dhinakaran-led outfit over using "pressure cooker" as common election symbol. It, however, directed the Election Commission to consider granting common free election symbol to the candidates of his party for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and assembly by-elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi made it clear that its order asking the EC to consider granting common election symbol would not amount to granting recognition to his outfit as a political group and its candidates would be treated as Independents for all practical purposes.

AMARINDER GOVT 'RENEGED' ON POLL PROMISES: SAD

As the Amarinder Singh-led government completes its two-year tenure, opposition SAD has accused the Congress regime of "reneging" on its poll promises made during the 2017 assembly elections. Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, "The Congress government has cheated and betrayed the trust of the people of Punjab by reneging on each and every promise made to farmers, khet mazdoor, youth, dalits, industry and government employees during the last two years." He alleged, "The government was characterised by repression, corruption, misgovernance, hypertaxing, and non-performance,” he said.

SHOOT BOOTH CAPTORS IN THE CHEST: BENGAL BJP LEADER

Rajeev Kumar

three day 'Save the Constitution' sit-in against the CBI move, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah of plotting a "coup".

In the meantime, CBI Director Shukla has told the SC that the WB police had provided its team probing the Saradha scam and other ponzi scam cases only "limited" Call Data Records (CDRs) of two key accused, and their "comparison and analysis" with data obtained from service providers had revealed certain discrepancies.

Senior West Bengal BJP leader Sayantan Basu has courted a brand new controversy by asking party cadres to shoot those who would try to capture booths during the coming Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a rally at Basirhat, Basu said, "If you notice goons trying to capture booths, shoot them. Don't aim at their legs, shoot them in the chest."

State BJP secretary, Basu is the party candidate from Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency. Basu also warned that the Trinamool Congress better not think of rigging the polls, as elections will be held under the supervision of the Election Commission with central forces patrolling the streets. TMC leader and minister Jyotipriyo Mullick said the party would inform the Election Commission and urge it to take steps against him.

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Lesser Known Facets of Pakistan Rulers

• Jinnah, Ayub,Yahya, Bhutto, Zia, Benazir, Sharif and Musharraf were cruel • Till 1958, Zulfi was a Paki citizen in Pakistan and an Indian citizen in India!

P

iloo Mody, a Mumbai based architect turned Member of Parliament from Devgadh Baria of Gujarat, used to tell us: “You journos have every right to peep into my bedroom!” A life-long crusader for freedom of press, Piloo never hesitated to criticize Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. A schoolmate of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at Mumbai, Mody wrote an interesting book, “Zulfi, my friend”.

As a member of the Parsi community, he was always full of humour making everybody laugh at even his own cost!

When Zulfi rose to become the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, he would fly down to Mumbai from Colombo specially to see his friend.

Zulfi was hanged by the dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq and his daughter Benazeer, who also rose to become the PM of Pakistan, was killed at a public meeting during General Pervez Musharraf’s reign, earning sympathy not only in their own country but abroad as well. Fortunately, the sympathy evaporates once one reads Tilak Devasher’s “Pakistan At the Helm”. Devasher, retired from the cabinet secretariat, Government of India as Special Secretary in 2014.

He presents factual, inhuman and funny personalities of the Pakistani rulers; both military dictators and civil administrators as well.

Bhutto was the son of a Sindhi feudal landlord Shahnawaz Bhutto and his second wife, a Rajasthani

Hindu dancing girl Lakhibai who changed her name to Khurshid after she converted to Islam to marry

Shahnawaz.

Bhutto senior was the Divan of the last ruler of Junagadh, Nawab Sir Mahabat Khan Rasul Al Khanji, making him signing an instrument of accession with Pakistan.

Crookedness running in the DNA of Zulfi made him play nasty roles even with India and his own bosses in Pakistan. Devasher presents historical picture of each ruler of Pakistan in such a juicy manner that on the day of purchase of the book this writer could not put it aside without finishing reading!

The book covers the era of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Z.A. Bhutto, Zia-ul-Haq, Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz

Next Column:

Nehru on Sanskrit as a Global Language

August 1947, but one would be surprised to know that Zulfi continued to be a Paki citizen in Pakistan and an Indian citizen in India till 1958!

Tilak writes: “Bhutto’s Hindu origins would haunt him for a long time. After his estrangement with Ayub, the government put out documents showing that Bhutto had considered himself a citizen of India till 1958.”

Prior to Partition, Bhutto’s father had got Coverpage of the book, Pakistan At property registered in the the Helm by Tilak Devasher name of his minor son Sharif and Pervez Musharraf Zulfi. He had left India for as the rulers of Pakistan US on an Indian Passport from very close quarters and and visited Karachi in 1949 brings out some of the lesser ‘as an Indian national’. To known facets of the save his property he had personalities. moved the Supreme Court It is universally known of India as an Indian that Pakistan was carved out national. “It was only on 3 of the British India on 14 November 1958, some weeks

after he became a minister, that he accepted that he had settled down in Karachi, and so withdrew his appeal pending before India’s Supreme Court.” The issue was also discussed in the Pakistan National Assembly on 30 June 1967. Replying to a question, Information Minister Khwaja Shahbuddin said that relevant Indian documents showed that ‘till 1958, Mr Bhutto was claiming in Pakistan citizenship of Pakistan and in India he was claiming citizenship of India.’ However, Bhutto’s Indian connection did not adversely affect his political career or rising popularity.

Dr. Hari Desai (The writer is a Socio-political Historian.

E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com)

INDIA ELECTION NEWS

Congress now thrives on bashing BJP, PM Modi With the Lok Sabha elections right around the corner, political slug fest is at a high with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP campaigning for a second term, and the Congress is doing what they do best, throw dirt at the Chowkidar. Rahul Gandhi was pushed into the forefront of politics by his beloved mother Soniaji, who had high hopes for her prodigy. Great-grandson of late prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, grandson of the first and only female prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi, and son of the country's youngest prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, one would think a man of such lineage has high plans for India.

Congress today has changed vividly under the leadership of Rahul. One would think for the better.

The grand political party that was once instrumental in framing the future of the country, currently operates on chaos, and a complete lack of vision. The INC now thrives on bashing the BJP and has for years, especially since Narendra Modi took up office. From blaming the NDA of destroying "communal harmony" to questioning the authenticity of the post-Pulwama surgical strike, what else has the Congress really done to

win people's support.

If one were to list down all the allegations made by the Rahul-led party on the current government, they would begin to realise the absurdity of Indian politics.

A simple web search for 'Congress accuses BJP' yields multiple results, each more preposterous than the other.

The Congress on Monday accused BJP President Amit Shah of ‘undervaluing’ one of the properties mentioned in his affidavit. With polls coming, people are bracing themselves for the Congress to cry foul over voting machines in case of a hard loss.

Rafale Deal With both the BJP and the Congress pointing fingers at each other, over the infamous aircraft deal, no one really knows who is to blame. However, the latter party seems extremely confident in its claims that the ruling government is to blame for the multi-crore scam. The Rafale deal overlaps both, the UPA regime and the NDA rule.

Which is why, both parties find themselves entangled in an endless loop of who did what. The Congress has raised several issues on the topic time and again, sometimes at convenience.

They have specifically asked the BJP how the price of the fighter aircraft went

up when 'India-specific enhancements' for it were the same as were decided during the UPA-rule.

Accusing the NDA government at the Centre of "compromising national security", the Congress has steadily asked why the BJPled Centre allegedly forego 'transfer of technology' and reduced the number of aircraft under Rafale deal from 126 to 36. The topic has time and again erupted even in the Lok Sabha and Rahul Gandhi has even asked Modi to reply to the debate in the lower House.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused Modi of giving offset contract to his “favourite man” and reiterated the demand for a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, in January. The £13 billion deal also involves Anil Ambani, who has a well-known inclination towards the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Electronic Voting Machine Congress has its own set of doubts on the BJP when it comes to elections. Not a single state election has gone by without the Opposition party blaming the lotus of tampering electronic voting machines (EVMs). A major foul was claimed in the Madhya Pradesh polls held in December last year, where

the Congress claimed the EVMs were brought into the s t r o n g rooms for counting two days a f t e r elections were held. While the Election Commission has cleared any suspicion of tampering of any sort, the Cong continues to bring up the claim every chance they get.

Demonetisation: BJP's biggest scam At a press conference held on the second anniversary of demonetisation, November 8, last year, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma openly alleged that demonetisation was "a big money laundering project" orchestrated by the BJP. His party has already openly alleged that it was the "biggest scam of independent India" and that it should be probed, asserting the masses will punish Modi for his "wreckless decision."

Sharma in his speech made on the occasion had said the NPAs were increased sharply, the banking system was struggling, and that the Modi government was bent on "snatching" the contingency reserves of the Reserve Bank of India.

Rahul Gandhi

"What did the country get, was black money found, was counterfeit currency recovered, did it stop naxalism and terrorism, instead the Indian economy suffered a loss of Rs 3 trillion," he claimed.

GST Modi and his troopers in the Parliament pushed actively for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) even as they faced unhealthy opposition from the other parties. Back in 2016, when the bill wasn't set to motion yet, the Congress accused the BJP and the government of putting up a “false smokescreen” on GST. It argued that it was the RSS and Swadeshi Jagran Manch that have been red flagging the legislation all along.

They said the Gujarat government under Modi had consistently opposed the GST proposal of the UPA government, saying it was against the federal spirit of Constitution as also the rights of states to fiscal autonomy.

Pulwama Attack Congress had declared full

support to the government in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack that claimed lives of 40 CRPF personnel. It even refrained from making political statements on February 14.

The silence was, however, shortlived as within days of the event, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked why the Centre had not declared national mourning and continued with political speeches and inaugurations.

At an AICC news conference, he alleged the BJP was “politicising” sacrifices of our jawans. “At a rally in Assam on February 17, Amit Shah stated ‘their sacrifice won’t go in vain as it was not a Congress government, but a BJP one at the Centre’.” While Congress has always had problems with the BJP's "dirty politics", one can't help but wonder just how long does Gandhi believe this strategy will help his party stick. It is high time the leader took politics seriously, and play the game sportingly.

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Acknowledgement of the Hindu genocide is a welcome change Sushil Pandit

A

lot has changed in the past few weeks, in India and Pakistan, thanks to an unprecedented catastrophe in Kashmir region in Jammu & Kashmir. India lost 40 policemen in a single terror strike, in the Valley. What implicated Pakistan was the responsibility immediately claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammad, a Pakistan based Jihadi terror group. A pre-recorded video of the suicide bomber, Adil Ahmad Dar, released soon after lent credibility to that claim. The initial shock and grief in India gave way to bristling anger towards Pakistan, asking for retribution.

What made matters worse for Pakistan was absolutely no attempt to deny involvement, or offer even a perfunctory commiseration. Instead, Prime Minister Imran Khan video-recorded a message that included a threat to retaliate leading to escalation, should India respond with an offensive action. His gratuitous advice to talk peace may have made him look somewhat limp in the opinion of GHQ at Rawalpindi. So, they pulled out their favourite rabble-rouser, Sheikh Rasheed (the minister for Railways), to record another clip addressed to India. He openly brandished the nuclear threat, leaving absolutely nothing to imagination, when he said “the grass won’t grow, the birds won’t chirp and the temple bells will fall silent”.

When India lost 19 soldiers at Uri in September 2016, the outraged nation was assuaged with a ‘surgical strike’ within 11 days. This was the first time India formally informed Pakistan, and the world, that the Line-of-Control (LoC) was crossed by its ‘Special Forces’ to target the infiltration launch-pads of the Jihadis.

Pakistan refuted India’s claim. It was unprecedented. Generally, Pakistan and India would, periodically, accuse each other of violating the LoC, only to be denied by the accused. By going public on the Surgical Strikes, India had redefined its limits for punitive retaliations against Pakistan. Pakistan did try to create a doubt by dubbing those strikes as India’s baseless bravado to address its domestic audience. That didn’t stop India from celebrating those strikes. Not only the soldiers involved of the Special Forces were conferred gallantry awards, an immensely popular film, Uri, was beginning to add to the halo of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, about to seek a renewal of his mandate.

Six weeks after the strike and the events thereafter, suggest that the Pulwama strike was an attempted intervention in the Indian general elections planned for April-May. It was an attempt to dent the daredevil image of Narendra Modi and try to undermine the swelling pride of the nation high on “josh”. Those who planned it in Pakistan may have gambled on a war-averse Modi, unwilling to risk a potential disaster while trying to avenge an attack too close to the crucial general election. After all, Pulwama-attack was deep within the territory and carried out by a local boy. Chances are that Pakistan may have expected another ‘surgical strike’ kind of response and laid an appropriate ambush to further compound the disaster for India and, thus, cook Modi’s goose in the elections. None of that worked out. What did happen, unambiguously, is that Modi has turned the tables. He has been handed a huge advantage on a platter.

The February air-strikes caught Pakistan napping, literally. India did not even have to claim. Pakistan was quick to confirm, at dawn, the pre-dawn strikes.

That it was a dozen odd planes that went deep inside Pakistan, or several targets were engaged and huge casualties inflicted with meticulous precision, are mere details. The big picture is that the world has to reassess a brand new India, both for its intent and ability.

It is in this light that one must see the Pakistani response. Sending 24 planes in retaliation, barely hovering about the LoC and scooting back, was a ritual facesaving. Returning the captured Indian pilot without India even formally asking for his return, looked like begging for de-escalation. Shutting down the entire Pakistani air-space, for almost a month, meant that they were unsure if India would oblige.

Even the Indian vocabulary has undergone a huge change.

After the Indian Air Force struck, the press communiqué of the Foreign Secretary, Government of India, mentioned that “…such training facilities capable of training hundreds of Jihadis…” and that “India has been repeatedly urging Pakistan to take action against the JeM, to prevent Jihadis from being trained and armed…” This was, arguably, the first time India formally acknowledged the challenge it faced as not just terror but Jihadi terror. Indian establishment, owing to its secular predilections perhaps, was always squeamish about using expressions that even remotely implicated an identity.

Then, while recently banning the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and arresting Yasin Malik, the Home Secretary, in an official statement declared “Malik was the mastermind behind the purging of Kashmiri Pandits and is responsible for their genocide.” Acknowledgement of the Hindu genocide in Kashmir, even though after three decades, came as a pleasant surprise to the activists who would resent being called displaced or migrants.

How much of this change is expedient due to elections and how much will impact the future decisions only the time will tell.

Sushil Pandit is a 56 years old Media man, a Kashmiri Hindu in exile who lives in New Delhi. He teaches Strategic Media Planning at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication as an adjunct faculty and is the Co-Founder of Rootsin-Kashmir (RIK). He is a passionate campaigner of the rights of minorities, particularly fights for justice to the victims and survivors of the Hindu Genocide in Kashmir. He is often sought out by the news channels on the issues related to Kashmir, South Asian Geopolitics and South Asia Security issues.

India successfully tests anti-satellite weapon Joining the exclusive club of the USA, Russia, and China, India successfully tested an anti-satellite (A-Sat) missile to destroy an orbiting satellite at an altitude of almost 300 km last week. The move witnesses India finally shrugging off its longstanding reluctance to flex military muscle in space.

As informed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a national announcement, India test-fired the three-stage interceptor missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on March 27. A little over an hour later, Modi announced the success of 'Mission Shakti' in a televised address.

The 18-tonne missile, with two solid rocket boosters, tore into space to hit the 740 kg satellite, flying in a low earth orbit (LEO), bang in the middle barely three minutes after its launch over the Bay of Bengal.

Defence Research and Development Organisation chief Satheesh Reddy said that while work on the ballistic missile defence (BMD) programme was going on for years, "the project only got the official go-ahead about two years ago. And we got into mission mode only six months ago." Reddy added that all technologies for the A-Sat mission were developed endogenously.

He said, "In the A-Sat test, we achieved an accuracy of a few centimetres, meeting all technical parameters and objectives. We have the capability to do it at much higher altitudes but conducted the test in LEO or lower atmosphere to ensure the space debris decays and falls back to earth." A top defence scientist said, "The mission was a direct ascent kinetic kill. The relative velocity between the missile and the orbiting Microsat-R satellite, which was launched

by Indian Space Research

Organisation (ISRO) on January 24 for the test, was around 10 km per second."

The move has adversely affected India's two neighbours and pseudo-enemies, Pakistan and China. While Pak mocked India for the test, and said it was aking to attacking imaginary enemies, China stayed guarded and only said it hoped each country would uphold peace in outer space.

The 'satellite killed' missile has considerable strategic significance as it gives India the capacity to match China's ability to strike down "enemy" satellites. While China achieved the capacity 12 years ago, and has until now, made major strides in the film, India's recent success gives it the technological competence to target satellites, knocking out an adversary's eyes and ears in space.

Meanwhile, DRDO scientists are confident it "can go up to 1,000 km" if required.

A defence source said, "We need the capability to neutralise surveillance, communication, navigation and other military satellites during a conflict to render enemy forces deaf and blind as well as disrupt their precisiontargeting capabilities."

Modi said the A-Sat test has made India the fourth country to acquire this "global space power" status. He said, "The new capability we have developed is not directed against anyone. India has no

intention to threaten anyone."

ISRO puts intel sat in orbit with 28 others In a historic victory, ISRO successfully launched an intelligence-gathering satellite along with 28 smaller satellites from its Sriharikota facility. The feat was witnessed by over 1,000 visitors- a first in ISRO history as until now, only officials and authorised people were allowed to view the lift-off from the island.

Dr K Sivan, chairperson, ISRO, said, "This is a mission of many firsts. This is the first time a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) will place objects in three different orbits.

This is the first time the PSLV has been used in the four strapon engine configurations. The industry also played a big role in the mission with 95 per cent of the hardware and 60 to 70 per cent of the satellite being fabricated from outside ISRO." “Around 1,200 people watched the mission and for the next one, we will accommodate 5,000 people in the viewing gallery. It will later be expanded to seat 10,000.

Those who missed out on the chance today will be able to enjoy our next launch,” he added.

The 47th flight was also the longest mission of the PSLV, lasting around three hours.

Weighing 436 kg, the main payload was the India satellite EMISAT, which has been designed for electromagneticspectrum monitoring and will be used for intelligence gathering.

The Indian satellite was put in a 749-km orbit in 17 minutes of the mission. The last stage of the launch vehicle was brought to a 485-km orbit at the threehour mark. In this mission, the last stage of the rocket will be kept alive for several weeks before it becomes space debris, another first.

Mumbai youth lands £120,000 job at Google Abdullah Khan (21), a final year BE student of Mumbai has bagged a job at Google's London office for a package of £120,000. This is for the first time that a non-IIT engineering student has been offered such a huge package.

The average salary offered to a non-IIT engineering student is Rs 400,000 at campus placements. Khan, a student of Shree L R Tiwari Engineering College, Mira Road, was invited for an interview by Google after seeing his profile on a site that hosts competitive programming challenges. After a few online interviews, the coding junkie was called for the final screening in London this month.

His package includes the base salary of £60,000 per annum, 15% bonus and stock

options worth $85,000 over four years. Khan will join Google’s site reliability engineering team in September. An email from a Google official received in November last year mentioned that they had seen Khan’s profile on the programming site. Explaining the job profile, it mentioned that they were looking for people for locations across Europe.

Though Khan, who is doing his BE (computer science engineering), was a bit shocked initially, he showed the email to a friend, who knew someone else going through a similar process.

Khan was not expecting such an offer when he participated in competitions on that site. “I used to participate as it was fun. I did not even

Abdullah Khan

know that firms check programmers’ profiles on such sites. I showed the email to my friend who knew someone who had received such an email in the past. I am looking forward to joining their team. It will be an amazing learning experience for me,” said Khan. This is not the first time he has been ranked higher for a programming contest. He has participated in over 150 such contests on several sites and even in college competitions.

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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Omega-3 may lower asthma symptoms in children According to a recent study, eating omega-3 fatty acidrich foods may help reduce risk of children developing asthma symptoms which are triggered by indoor air pollution. The study was published in 'American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine'.

Researchers said that families and health care providers should try to protect their children from harmful effects of indoor air pollution by serving a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

They should also try to limit their omega-6 fatty acids intake, the kind of fat you find in soybean oil and corn oil.

"Our group is working on ways to reduce the levels of indoor air pollution in Baltimore City homes," said

lead author of the study, Emily Brigham.

"Results are promising, but we don't want to stop there," Brigham added.

The findings revealed that for each additional gram of omega-6 intake, children had 29 per cent higher odds of being in a more severe asthma category. On the other hand, with each 0.1-gram increase in levels of omega-3 fatty acids

in the diet, the odds of daytime asthma symptoms was 3-4 percent lower.

Asthma is a condition where your airways become inflamed, which causes difficulty in breathing. Indoor air pollution is said to trigger the risk too; cooking, cleaning activities and cigarette smoke, often lead to indoor pollution.

Some of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty

acids are fish, nuts and seeds. They help keep your heart healthy, reduce inflammation and also boost brain activity.

Omega-6 fatty acids are primarily found in vegetable oils (including corn, soybean, safflower, and sunflower), as came out in other studies, have mixed effects on health, but have the potential to promote inflammation.The researchers, however, noted that it doesn't prove the relationship between fatty acids and asthma severity.

"Among populations known to be disproportionately affected by asthma, we may find that improving diet and air pollution together has the greatest impact on health," said Brigham

Ask children about social media use, psychiatrists urged Psychiatrists are being urged to ask children with mental health issues how long they spend online and what they use social media for.

Questions about technology should be a routine part of assessments, the Royal College of Psychiatrists says. It is concerned about how time spent online impacts on mood, sleep, diet and behaviour.

The government is expected to announce plans to regulate social media companies soon. The College's advice comes as evidence grows of a possible link between harmful content or

time spent online, and poor mental health. It is planning to publish a report later this year about its stance on technology use and children's mental health, which will include recommendations for parents, children and doctors.

When assessing children, psychiatrists are being advised to think about: - harmful content, especially material which could impact on an existing mental illness, such as self-harm photos or images which promote eating disorders - how problematic technology use could be related to

problems with sleep, poor academic performance, low mood and behavioural or eating difficulties - how conditions such as depression or eating disorders may make children more likely to spend too long online or use technology in a way that is harmful The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that children stop using technology at least an hour before going to bed, and avoid using technology at mealtimes. This is a view echoed by the Chief Medical Officer in her recent guidance on social media.

A group of MPs recently called for a tax on social media companies' profits, saying the firms are operating in "an online wild west" and should help fund research into the links between technology use and mental illness.

The government is expected to announce plans for an independent regulator which would enforce a new statutory 'duty of care' on social media companies. This comes after growing concerns about graphic online content, including material featuring suicide and selfharm.

An inflation-busting hike in dentistry fees mean NHS patients in England will pay £1.10 extra for a routine check-up. The new charges, which begin on Monday, will also see the cost of a set of dentures rise by £12.80 to nearly £270.

Dentistry leaders say charges are increasingly being relied on and in the future dentistry could end up as an NHS service "in name only".

But the government said charges were important to help keep services sustain-

able. The new charges are: - Band 1 treatment (examination, X-rays and scale and polish) £22.70 - Band 2 treatment (fillings and root canal work) £62.10 - Band 3 treatment (crowns, dentures and bridges) £269.30 Analysis by the British Dental Association shows patient charges are increasingly being used to fund the service. They account for nearly 30% of the budget, up from just over 20% in 2010.

The government currently invests £2bn a year in

the service - a drop of £500m in real terms since 2010. It means England is behind the rest of the UK when it comes to public funding.

Currently, the government funds the service to the equivalent of £36 per person per year, compared with over £50 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

BDA leader Henrik Overgaard-Nielson said charges were discouraging to patients and covering for "savage cuts".

"Unless ministers

change course, within a decade our patients will be putting more in at the point of delivery than government. The service will be NHS in name only," he said.

The rest of the UK also uses charges. Wales has a similar banding system to England - but fees are between a fifth and a third lower. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the way charges are applied is quite different - but patients never pay more than a fifth of what their treatment costs.

NHS dentist charges rise by 5% in England

Children who've suffered trauma more likely to develop gastrointestinal problems Children suffering from trauma or adversity in their early life are more prone to complain of gastrointestinal issues later, reveals a latest study. These gastrointestinal complaints may also affect their brain and behaviour, said the study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology.

"One common reason children show up at doctors' offices is intestinal complaints. Our findings indicate that gastrointestinal symptoms in young children could be a red flag to primary care

physicians for future emotional health problems," said Nim Tottenham, senior author of the study.

This is not the first time someone has pointed at links between trauma and tummy problems. Previous studies have also shown that past trauma has affected many adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a disorder that affects your colon and results in difficulty in passing stool. Poor diet is said to be the major cause behind IBS. "The role of trauma in

increasing vulnerability to both gastrointestinal and mental health symptoms is well established in adults but rarely studied in childhood," said study lead author Bridget Callaghan.

"Our study is among the first to link disruption of a child's gastrointestinal microbiome triggered by early-life adversity with brain activity in regions associated with emotional health."

For the study the researchers focussed on children who suffered extreme psychological pain or depri-

vation. 115 children who were adopted from orphanages or foster care on or before they were two years old and 229 children raised by a biological caregiver, were analysed as part of the study.

Scientists studied the data which had their behavioral information, stool sample and brain images from all the children. The findings revealed that the children exhibited distinct gut microbiomes who had early care giving disruptions from those raised by their biological parents.

in brief EASTER EGGS 'BEING PUSHED TOO EARLY IN SHOPS'

Calorie-filled Easter eggs are being sold in shops far too early and that is tempting parents to buy unhealthy treats for their children, a public health body says. It is not unusual to find Easter eggs on sale in the first week of January - but most people are irritated by the practice, the Royal Society of Public Health said. It wants retailers to crack down on early sales of seasonal products high in fat, salt and sugar.

In a survey of 2,000 adults in the UK, two-thirds said holidays and special occasions were used too much to sell unhealthy food while a third said it made them eat less healthily. More than half of parents said their child had been tempted by an Easter treat displayed near checkouts and half of those surveyed said they had already bought and eaten at least one chocolate Easter egg or cake this year.

A 256g Cadbury's chocolate egg contains about 1,375 calories - that's more than half the recommended daily calorie intake limit of 2000kcal for a woman, and 2,500kcal for a man.

With one in four adults and one in five 10 to 11-year-old children in the UK classified as obese, the RSPH says more should be done to reverse these trends. It urges retailers to stop pushing unhealthy products at checkouts - a proposal contained in the government's plan to halve childhood obesity in England by 2030.

BEAMS OF VIOLET LIGHT SHONE INTO THE EYES OF PREEMIES COULD PREVENT VISION PROBLEMS

Light therapy shone in the eyes of premature infants could prevent vision problems down the line, a new study suggests.

Babies are't born with eyesight, but they have a 'molecular pathway' ready to regulate how blood vessels develop in the eye. Myopia, severe nearsightedness, is common in people who were born too early because that pathway is usually underdeveloped in preemies.

Studying mice, researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have found a possible prevention treatment.

Rates of myopia have rocketed in recent years - doubling in the US and UK since the 1960s. By 2050, more than 50 percent of Americans and Western Europeans are expected to have the condition. Experts have theorized that a driving factor is that kids spend less time outside, with less exposure to natural light. This new study looked at harnessing the capacity of light exposure in a highly specific and novel way.

ONE NEW CASE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES EVERY THREE MINUTES AS OBESITY DRIVES INCREASE IN THE DISEASE

Spiralling obesity rates mean one person is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes every three minutes, figures show. The number of new cases in England and Wales reached 202,665 in 2017 – the equivalent of about 23 people every hour, according to NHS data. Experts said the statistics illustrate the ‘frightening speed’ at which the obesity-driven illness is increasing.

Diabetes is the UK’s fastest growing health crisis, with the number of sufferers doubling in 20 years from 1.9million to 3.7million. A million more are estimated to be unaware they are living with the condition. Analysis by Diabetes UK of the latest confirmed figures found there had been 192,245 new diagnoses in England and 10,420 in Wales. Some 90 per cent of diabetes sufferers have the Type 2 form, which is linked to sedentary lifestyles and poor diet.

Two-thirds of adults and a third of children are now overweight – and the UK has the third highest obesity rate in Europe. The charity said the UK must get to grips with its bulging waistline to reduce rates of the illness.

To Our Readers We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement any advice. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

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AR Rahman to compose an anthem for 'Avengers: Endgame' Rahman was the perfect way to celebrate the love for Marvel among fans in the country. This is our small way of thanking the fans here for their extraordinary support." Joe Russo, the codirector of 'Avengers: Endgame' will visit India soon to interact with fans ahead of the film's release, which follows the course of events set in motion by one snap of his fingers that wiped out half of the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks. Remaining Avengers take one final stand in the grand conclusion of Marvel's 22 films that were created in last one decade. Produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the movie will release in India on April 26.

enjoy the track."

Bikram Duggal, head, Studios, Marvel India, said, "'Avengers: Endgame' is not just a movie. It's an emotional journey for fans everywhere in India.

An original composition

by Oscar winner A R

Grammy awardee AR Rahman has teamed up with Marvel India to create a whole-new anthem for 'Avengers: Endgame' in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. To be released on April 1, the track comes as a treat for Indian Marvel fans. The music maestro released a statement confirming the news.

He said, "Being surrounded by Marvel fans in my own family, there was too much pressure to come with something really satisfying and apt for 'Avengers: Endgame'.

I hope Marvel aficionados and music lovers

Janhvi joins Rajkummar, Varun Sharma for 'Rooh Afza' One of Bollywood's freshest faces, Janhvi Kapoor has joined the cast of Dinesh Vijan's 'Rooh-Afza', alongside Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma. The filmmaker released a statement announcing the news and said, "for 'Roof-Afza', we needed actors who could jump into their roles with unabashed conviction.

Rajkummar and Varun are phenomenal actors, comedy is a space they excel in and own."

Janhvi will play two roles in the movie, Roohi and Afsana. "For the female lead, we needed someone who could portray two contrasting personalities with ease, and Janhvi stood out. She really connected with the script.

Her talent is still raw, but she is excited about being moulded. The script is young, refreshing and totally crazy, and she is exactly that," Vijan said.

Actor Rajkummar Rao also took to Twitter to share a poster from the film and wrote, "All set to bring to you this perfect mixture of horror and comedy, #RoohAfza! #JanhviKapoor @VarunSharma90 #DineshVijan #HardikMehta @mriglamba #GautamMehra @MaddockFilms @JIOCinema".

Produced by Vijan Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, the movie will be directed by debutant Hardik Mehta. The shooting will commence in Uttar

Pradesh in June, and the film is slated to release on March 20, 2020.

Speaking about the female character, Lamba said, "We took some time to finalise the female lead. Besides being pretty, she needed to oscillate between two characters which are poles apart. You will fall in love with her in one scene and won't believe she is the same girl in the next one. It's not an easy switch for an actor. It's the perfect casting."

Arjun and Malaika to wed next month?

As much as B-Town hunk Arjun Kapoor and our dearest 'Munni' Malaika Arora like to deny things, we know for a fact some delicious is cooking between them.

Rumours have been rife over recent weeks that a wedding is on the cards for the two lovebirds and if the latest grapevine is to be believed, the two will tie the knot on April 19. It is said the couple will have a Christian wedding and the guest list includes celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karishma Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh. Arjun and Malaika have never accepted their relation in public, however, their frequent social media exchanges and outings have been big enough hints for people to know they are quite a thing. Commenting on rumours on their romance, Arjun had previously said, "When there is something to talk about, you will all know."

Malaika, who appeared on a chat show lately, was asked about

their impending marriage, to which she replied, "This is all media made. Media is responsible for it." However, in an earlier interview, she spoke about Arjun and said, "I guess everyone wants to move on and find love and companionship with people they can relate to. And if you do, I think you are just lucky, If you can do that, I think you are lucky to find that second chance at being happy." Arjun too, interestingly, had admitted on 'Koffee With Karan' that he's not single and is open to marriage.

Soni Razdan calls Ranbir a 'lovely boy' One of the most talkedabout Bollywood couples, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have already received stamps of approval from their respective families and now Alia's mother, actress Soni Razdan, has opened up about the 'Raazi' actress' relationship with Kapoor.

Soni said she finds him to be a lovely boy and that if Alia is happy, then she too is happy.

"It's her personal life.

Ranbir is a lovely boy. I think whoever Alia has dated or will date, is her choice and her life. I'll always support her but I don't think I should discuss this to you know. It's not right on my part to discuss (her personal life) in public. As a mom, I'm just happy if she is happy." While Alia has never openly spoken about her relationship, she has often showered praises and liberal hints for

speculation.

At the recent Filmfare Awards, she showered her love for the "special one" in her life. Talking about Ranbir in her acceptance speech Best Actress ('Raazi'), she said, "Meghna for me 'Raazi' is you. Your blood and sweat. You are my main chick. Vicky without you, the film wouldn't be complete. Thank you my mentor Karan (Johar) for being my mentor, father, and my fashion police. Tonight's all about love, there my special love, I love you."

The couple had much to celebrate as they both won big in this year's prestigious Filmfare Awards.

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Vijay to marry actress Sai Pallavi?

If popular Tamil entertainment portals are to be believed, director Vijay is all set to marry Sai Pallavi, one of the fastest rising actresses in south today. While sources close to the filmmaker have denied the rumours, there are other sources who say the two are looking at a wedding in the near future and are expected to make the announcement soon. Sai's fans are taken by surprise from the rumour.

The actress came in the limelight because of her phenomenal hit 'Rowdy Baby'. She and Vijay have worked

together in 2018 film 'Karu'. The latter was once married to actress Amala Paul, who had worked with him in his film 'Deiva Thirumagal' in 2011. The two got divorces in 2017. Vijay hinted that there were trust issues between the two, but refused to talk in depth in public about his private life.

On the work front, Sai will be next seen in Suriya's 'NGK', directed by Selvaraghavan, Producer SR Prabhu has announced that the movie will release on May 31 this year. Pallavi will also be seen in a Malayalam film called 'Athiran'. Meanwhile, Vihat is currently focusing on a biopic on late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa titled 'Thalaivi'. The film will be produced by Vibri Media and made at a budget of £10 million. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut will play the lead in the film which is also likely to feature National award-winning actor Samuthirakani, and Sai Pallavi.

Hindi version of the movie is to be titled 'Jaya'. Vijay also has two other films 'Devi 2' and 'Watchman', set to be released in April.

In a pleasant surprise, Dhanush and Vetri Maaran surprised everyone recently by announcing their next project before starting 'Vada Chennai 2'. Titled 'Asuran', it is rumoured that the upcoming project will be a commercial entertainer. Days after the announcement, the first-look posters of the movie have been released and we are intrigued!

Dhanush can be seen sporting a unique makeover, and given the multifaceted actor's panache for quirk, we just know he's up to something.

In an interview last week, filmmaker Vetri Maaran filled us in on the details. Dhanush will play a dual role, taking up the characters of both father and son in the movie which is based on a novel called Vekkai, written by Poomani.

He said Dhanush will portray the role of a 45 year old villager. Also to be seen in the movie is actor Pasupathi, playing the role of female lead Manju Warrier's brother and a well-wisher of their on-reel family. Another pleasant surprise is the acting debut of director Balaji Shakthi, reportedly as the antagonist.

On the work front, Dhanush has several other movies in the pipeline. He is currently gearing up for the release of 'Enai Nokki Paayum Thota'. He also has a second directorial venture scheduled next.

TV LISTING

* Schedule is subject to change

SUNDAY APRIL 7, 2019 01:00 FILM : AATMA - FEEL IT AROUND YOU 05:00 FILM : PRITHIPAL SINGH... A STORY 07:00 FILM : RAM BALRAM 10:22 FILM : CHAALBAAZ 13:41 FILM : KHOOBSURAT 16:17 FILM : RA.ONE 19:27 FILM : WELCOME 22:50 FILM : DO LAFZON KI KAHANI MONDAY APRIL 8, 2019 01:10 FILM : FAREB 05:00 FILM : LOGIN 07:03 FILM : AULAD 10:17 FILM : MERA FARZ 13:00 FILM : KRANTIVEER 16:03 FILM : YEH ZINDAGI KA SAFAR 19:05 FILM : MERE DOST PICTURE ABHI BAKI HAI 21:48 FILM : RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMAA TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 00:24 FILM : I AM 24 05:00 FILM : WAFADAAR 07:57 FILM : ANOKHI ADA 10:26 FILM : ZULMI 13:26 FILM : DHADKAN 16:55 FILM : WELCOME 20:17 FILM : KOYELAANCHAL WEDNESDAY APRIL 10, 2019 23:12 FILM : LUV SHUV PYAR VYAR 01:20 FILM : JAHAN TUM LE CHALO 05:00 FILM : THE SILENT HEROES

* Schedule is subject to change

SATURDAY 6TH APRIL TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:00 KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPER DANCER CHAPTER 3 21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 23:00 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW

* Schedule is subject to change

Samantha spotted twinning with mom-in-law

Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu is the epitome of bahu goals.

The 32- year- old actress recently shared a rather fun photo of her, along with husband Naga Chaitanya and his mother Lakshmi Daggubati on her Instagram. She pointed out a serious case of unplanned twinning with a tongue-in-cheek caption that read, "Twinning with my MIL... walked out in the same outfit on the same day (no planning involved)... all the approval I need. Naga Chaitanya, men search for women similar to their mothers... suddenly this seems right."

In the picture, both Sam and Lakshmi are seen wearing

identical ensembles designed by Payal Khandwala. Actor Ram Charan's wife Upasana Konidela teased Samantha with a comment that said, "Perfect bahu". The picture was taken at Jaipur, where the family landed to participate in the wedding festivities of Aashritha, daughter of Venkatesh Daggubati. Chaitanya and the bride are cousins.

Samantha posted multiple photos from the wedding, including a lavish food spread behind and celebratory decor.

She also gave her followers the first glimpse of the bride and groom, Vinayak Reddy. From the pictures, it appears the Sam and Lakshmi managed to consult each other about their clothes for other functions as they strictly refrained from repeating the funny mishap.

MON 1ST - FRI 5TH APR 2019 15:30: SIRF 30 MINUTES 16:00: THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 16:30: RASOI SHOW 17:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI 18:30: UTTARAN 19:00: JAHAANARA 19:30: BEPANNAH 20:00: ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 20:30: MOHE RANNG DO LAAL 21:00: BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 1ST - FRI 5TH APR 2019 18:30: KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19:30: UDAAN 20:00: SHAKTI ASTITVA KE EHSAAS KI 20:30: KESARRI NANDAN 21:00: GATHBANDHAN

07:19 FILM : PARDESI 10:30 FILM : SHIKAAR 13:15 FILM : NAYA SHOORVEER 15:53 FILM : THE KILLER 18:15 FILM : STAR STOP 19:00 FILM : JURM 21:33 FILM : DHOKHA THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 00:03 FILM : JEET - BORN TO WIN 05:00 FILM : PYAR KI KAHANI 07:56 FILM : KRISHNA ARJUN 10:42 FILM : KASOOR 13:53 FILM : JAGAN 15:53 FILM : TUTAK TUTAK TUTIYA 18:28 FILM : STAR STOP 19:00 FILM : AAKROSH 21:55 FILM : GUNAAH FRIDAY APRIL 12, 2019 00:20 FILM : NAZAR 05:00 FILM : BAS EK TAMANNA 07:11 FILM : FARZ 10:23 FILM : HOTE HOTE PYAR HO GAYA 13:17 FILM : HERO 16:41 FILM : YEH HAI MUMBAI MERI JAAN 19:22 FILM : AGENT VINOD 22:31 FILM : AAKROSH SATURDAY APRIL 13, 2019 01:10 FILM : CHOR BAZAARI-EK ATRANGI PREM KAHANI 05:00 FILM : EK AUR PREM DEEWANI 07:00 FILM : TERI KASAM 10:11 FILM : TUTAK TUTAK TUTIYA 12:50 FILM : SANTA BANTA PVT LTD 15:10 FILM : SINGH IS BLING 18:00 FILM : STAR STOP 18:30 FILM : STAR STOP 19:00 FILM : ZANJEER 21:48 FILM : SHAAPIT SUNDAY 7TH APRIL TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:00 KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPER DANCER CHAPTER 3 21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 23:00 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW MON 8TH APR - FRI 12TH APR TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 16:30 BEYHADH 17:00 EK DUJE KE VAASTE 17:30 KUCH RANG PYAR KE AISE BHI 18:00 VIGHNAHARTA GANESH 18:45 MERE SAI 19:30 YEH UN DINON KI BAAT HAI 20:00 CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA 20:30 MAIN MAAYKE CHALI JAAUNGI 21:00 PATIALA BABES 21:30 LADIES SPECIAL 22:00 CRIME PATROL 22:00: RED ALERT SAT 6TH APRIL 2019 17:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI 18:30: UTTARAN 19:00: HUM SAAF SAAF HAIN 19:30: GLOBAL KITCHEN 20:00: NAVRANGI RE 20:30: RED ALERT 21:30: ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA 22:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA SUN 7TH APRIL 2019 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI 18:30: UTTARAN 19:00: HUM SAAF SAAF HAIN 19:30: FAMOUSLY FILMFARE 20:00: NAVRANGI RE 20:30: RED ALERT 21:30: ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA 22:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA 21:30: ROOP 22:00: SILSILA 22:30: KHOOB LADI MARDANI JHANSI KI RANI 23:00: SITARA SAT 6TH APR 2019 19:30: DESI BEAT RESET 20:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3 21:00: RISING STAR (SEASON 3) 22:00: COURT ROOM 23:30: SITAARA SUN 7TH MAR 2019 19:30: FAMOUSLY FILMFARE 20:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3 21:00: RISING STAR (SEASON 3) 22:00: COURT ROOM 23:30: SILSILA

30 EVENTS

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

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6 - 12 April 2019

Ravi Sabha and Sameep Darshan held under Pujya Mahant Swami in Sarangpur

An Introduction

In conversation with Zeenat Aman

The UK Asian Film Festival in its 21st edition, organised by Tongues on Fire had their opening gala at the Mayfair Hotel.

This year’s theme is Revolution. The programme includes independent films, documentaries and discussions and a tete e tete with Ramesh Sippy, Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman and Radhika Apte. At the inaugural event, during a Q&A with yesteryear actress Zeenat Aman, she spoke about her journey from modelling to stardom. This was followed by a film on a Kashmiri boy who loses his father in the state’s unrest, but develops a beautiful friendship with an Indian soldier. For films to watch or events to attend, please see: www.ukaff.com Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha head Pujya Mahant Swami is currently in Sarangpur.

Sant Shibir was held from March 26 to 28, during which all saints present were given directions and advice by Pujya Mahant Swami. On March 29, Swamiji completed his morning puja, and then visited Hari temples in Gondal and Himmatnagar districts. Later, he visited the Pramukh Mandiram and performed evening pooja. He also gave his devotees the chance to see him perform aarti. Saints and devotees had gathered in large numbers to see him. Ravi Sabha was organised on March 31. During the sabha, Pujya Mahant Swami performed pooja of Harikrishna Maharaj. In his address, Swamiji said, "As long as there is unity, there will be happiness." On April 1, Samip Darshan was organised. During this, people from nearby villages and others from other parts of India and abroad, all got the chance of seeing Swamiji. Also present at the occasion were students of BAPS Swaminarayan Vidya Mandir, Sarangpur. They all received blessings from Mahant Swamiji. Swamiji will stay in Sarangpur till April 14.

Coming Events ● Shree Jignayasu Satsang Mandal has organised Shree 108 Hanuman Chalisa on April 7, Sunday, from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, at Social Club Hall, Northwick Park Hospital, Walford Road, Harrow, Middx, HA1 3UJ. ● BAPS Swaminarayan Satsang Mandals, Brent and Harrow are set to hold a three-day Parayan Katha, by Pujya Yogvivek Swami from April 5 to 7, at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, 105119 Brentfield Road, Neasden, London NW10 8LD. ● Shree Swaminarayan Temple Stanmore under Shree Narnarayan Dev Gadi to hold Shri Ram Navami Shri Hari Jayanti on April 14, Sunday, at Wood Lane, Stanmore, HA7 4LF. ● Shree Jalaram Matru Seva Mandal to celebrate Shree Ram Navami on April 14, Sunday, 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm, at Barnet Multicultural Community Centre, Algernon Road, Hendon, NW4 3TA.

Sneh Joshi

Sandeep Ahwaryu for TOI

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- Kamala Das I don't know politics but I know the names Of those in power, and can repeat them like Days of week, or names of months, beginning with Nehru.

I amIndian, very brown, born inMalabar, I speak three languages, write in Two, dream in one.

Don't write in English, they said, English is Not your mother-tongue. Why not leave Me alone, critics, friends, visiting cousins, Every one of you? Why not let me speak in Any language I like? The language I speak, Becomes mine, its distortions, its queernesses All mine, mine alone.

It is half English, halfIndian, funny perhaps, but it is honest, It is as human as I am human, don't You see? It voices my joys, my longings, my Hopes, and it is useful to me as cawing Is to crows or roaring to the lions, it Is human speech, the speech of the mind that is Here and not there, a mind that sees and hears and Is aware. Not the deaf, blind speech Of trees in storm or of monsoon clouds or of rain or the Incoherent mutterings of the blazing Funeral pyre. I was child, and later they Told me I grew, for I became tall, my limbs Swelled and one or two places sprouted hair.

WhenI asked for love, not knowing what else to ask For, he drew a youth of sixteen into the Bedroom and closed the door, He did not beat me But my sad woman-body felt so beaten.

The weight of my breasts and womb crushed me.

I shrank Pitifully.

Then … I wore a shirt and my Brother's trousers, cut my hair short and ignored My womanliness. Dress in sarees, be girl Be wife, they said. Be embroiderer, be cook, Be a quarreller with servants. Fit in. Oh, Belong, cried the categorizers. Don't sit On walls or peep in through our lace-draped windows.

Be Amy, or be Kamala. Or, better Still, be Madhavikutty. It is time to Choose a name, a role. Don't play pretending games.

Don't play at schizophrenia or be a Nympho. Don't cry embarrassingly loud when Jilted in love … I met a man, loved him. Call Him not by any name, he is every man Who wants. a woman, just as I am every Woman who seeks love. In him . . . the hungry haste Of rivers, in me . . . the oceans' tireless Waiting. Who are you, I ask each and everyone, The answer is, it is I. Anywhere and, Everywhere, I see the one who calls himself I In this world, he is tightly packed like the Sword in its sheath. It is I who drink lonely Drinks at twelve, midnight, in hotels of strange towns, It is I who laugh, it is I who make love And then, feel shame, it is I who lie dying With a rattle in my throat. I am sinner, I am saint. I am the beloved and the Betrayed. I have no joys that are not yours, no Aches which are not yours. I too call myself I.

The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

020 8518 5500

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 The New Moon this week occurs

The New Moon this week reinforces and energizes your need to broaden your horizons and stimulate your mind. Jupiter continues to transit your romance sector. Although there are very intense amorous energies indicated in your chart, the trouble is that these are likely to be marred by feelings of jealousy. Do not therefore dabble in anything that could harbour such negative thoughts.

The New Moon this week gives a great boost to your creative fifth house. Your willingness to enjoy yourself and explore your creativity now brings new opportunities.. Love and romance may come into your life or an existing romance is enhanced with good humour and warmth. Pregnancy or childbirth may occur during this time.

The New Moon this week beneTAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 fits activities that take place

The New Moon this week activates your eighth house--joint finances, loans, taxes, sexuality, and psychological matters. This is a time of increased accumulation of wealth if you manage your resources well. In some cases, a significant tax refund, inheritance, or other such benefit might arrive during this period. A good time to start self improvement programs.

The New Moon this week highlights your home and family sector. You are likely to find much joy and pleasure in your family connections and experiences during this period.

Opportunities to buy or sell real estate for financial gain may present themselves. Home improvements and renovations are also favoured.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 up your solar eleventh house.

The New Moon this week stimulates your relationship sector. You may enjoy benefits through marriage, business partnerships, negotiations, and/or contractual agreements. Financial benefits could possibly come through partnerships. The need for freedom in your social relationships is stronger than ever.

The New Moon this week rejuvenates your solar tenth house.

This phase will bring increased public recognition and professional success. This can be a time of career advancement, and success in business. Your worldly or public status may change for the better. Integrity, directness, and honesty will get you everywhere now.

The New Moon this week positively strengthens your work and health sector. You are likely to see growth in these areas, as well as daily routines. Benefits may come through work itself, co-workers, or employees during this cycle. You might be especially interested in the healing arts such as massage or aromatherapy.

The New Moon this week gives you a great boost in your third house of communications. A great time for mental pursuits and literary opportunities present themselves. During this period, neighbours or relatives could be especially helpful in your life. You express your ideas with more enthusiasm and positivity, and they are received well.

in your sign, giving you an energy boost and is particularly beneficial and significant for you. This heightens your optimism and confidence. You are greeting life with a fresh and positive attitude. You have an altogether different perspective on life now, and are not fazed by anything. Furthering yourself comes easy during this time.

"behind the scenes". This is a cycle in which you become more compassionate, sensitive and get in deeper touch with these traits. This phase in the twelfth house is said to give us spiritual protection.

Meditation and retreats may be particularly helpful to you now.

The New Moon this week lights

This phase brings benefits and fresh energy to networking activities, long-term goals and organisations in your life. Achieving your goals tends to come more easily. Income from your business or career is likely to increase. You can rely on your friends for their help and support.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 The New Moon this week boosts your financial sector. You are likely to enjoy success in your various monetary ventures.. You will be more confident and enthusiastic about our earning ability. Money problems from the past may clear up during this period and there will be many opportunities to accumulate wealth. Opportunities abound !

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AsianVoiceNews

SPORT

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

31

6 - 12 April 2019

in brief INDIAN HOCKEY LOSE AZLAN SHAH CUP FINAL

In a heartbreaking end to their first tournament of the season, the Indian men’s hockey team lost 2-4 via penalty shootout to South Korea in the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on Saturday. With this, fivetime champions India – who were leading 10 until the last 13 minutes of the game – failed to end their 9-year drought at the hockey tournament W no. 5 India were clear favourites to lift their sixth Azlan Shah title against the 17th ranked Koreans.

And the Indians started in the right earnest, taking the lead early through Simranjeet Singh's field strike in the ninth minute. The Koreans, thereafter, kept the Indian forward line under tight vigil, while also pressing hard in search of the equaliser. Korea's efforts finally paid dividend in the 47th minute when they were awarded a penalty stroke. The Indians went for the video referral but the penalty decision stayed and Jang Jong Hyun made no mistake in drawing parity for his side.

Two minutes from the hooter, India earned a penalty corner but to no avail as the match went into shoot-out. In the shoot-out, the Indians missed their first, fourth and fifth attempts and converted just two, while the Koreans just missed their third strike to win the thrilling contest 4-2 and lift the crown for the third time in the history of the invitational tournament.

SAWHNEY TAKES OVER AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said that Manu Sawhney will assume the position of Chief Executive with immediate effect.

Sawhney has been working alongside the outgoing Chief Executive David Richardson for the last six weeks. Richardson will remain with the ICC until July as originally planned to oversee the delivery of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, a statement said. Commenting on his appointment, Sawhney said: "I am absolutely delighted to be taking over the reins from David who has steered the sport so capably over the last seven years. I am pleased to say he will continue to lead the delivery of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 and there is no better person to ensure the event is the greatest celebration of cricket ever.

AUSTRALIA BEAT PAKISTAN 5-0 IN ODI SERIES

Australia swept new-look Pakistan 5-0 with a 20-run victory in a high-scoring fifth oneday international on Sunday. Glenn Maxwell’s blistering 70 off 33 balls propelled Australia to its highest total in the series with 327-7 after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl in the final match. Pakistan, going into the series without seven of its likely World Cup players, put up a fight but was restricted to 307-7. “The way everyone contributed throughout the series was fantastic,” Australian captain Aaron Finch said. Maxwell smashed 10 boundaries and three sixes after Usman Khawaja (98), Shaun Marsh (61) and captain Aaron Finch (53) had scored heavily upfront. Pakistan saw two World Cup pace contenders impress with Usman Shinwari grabbing 4-49 and Junaid Khan picking up 3-73. Pakistan lost the previous match’s century-makers Abid Ali for a duck and Mohammad Rizwan for 12 before Sohail and Umar Akmal (43) led the fightback with a 102-run fourthwicket stand. But both batsmen fell in successive overs while looking for big hits.

Akmal holed out in the deep off Lyon while Sohail, who hit 11 fours and three sixes, was caught at backward point in the 41st over.

Virat Kohli abuses match referee for howler Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, stormed into the match referee's room and hurled abuses at him following his team's six-run defeat against Mumbai Indians (MI) at an IPL encounter in Bengaluru. RCB needed seven runs off the last delivery of the match when the on-field umpire S Ravi failed to notice a no-ball

by Lasith Malinga. A no-ball would not only have given RCB one extra run but also a free hit and a chance to win the game.

However, they lost by six runs.

Minutes after the presentation ceremony, a livid Kohli reportedly stormed into the match referee Manu Nayyar's room and abused the official over the poor standard of officiating.

Kohli even told the match referee that he didn't care if he

Virat Kohli

was penalised for violating the code of conduct, according to a report.

Kohli had also expressed his anger during the post-match conference saying ,"We are playing at IPL level, not club

cricket. That is just a ridiculous call off the last ball. The umpires should have their eyes open, it was a no-ball by an inch. It is a completely different game altogether (if there was the extra delivery). They should have been

sharper and more careful out there." Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma too backed Kohli and said that these mistakes shouldn't happen. "I just got to know when we crossed the rope.

Somebody told me it was a no ball.

These kind of mistakes are not good for the game of cricket, it's pretty simple. In the over before that, Bumrah bowled a ball which wasn't a wide. Those are game changers. There's a TV up there, they have to watch what's happening. It is as simple as that.

"Players can't do much. The only thing they can do is walk off and shake hands because it was the last ball.

It's disappointing to see that.

I hope they rectify their mistakes like we do when we make mistakes," Sharma added.

British fighter Kash Ali faces ban, fine for biting British fighter Kash Ali is facing a lengthy ban and a hefty fine after his disqualification for biting David Price. Price was left with thick, red markings on his stomach after the 27-year-old bit him in the fifth round of their non-title fight in Liverpool. The Liverpool fighter also claimed Ali bit him at least twice in the opening two rounds.

The British Boxing Board of Control will now summon Ali to appear before it where his licence will almost certainly be suspended. Ali's purse, which was in the region of £20,000, has also been withheld. The

Disgraced heavyweight Kash Ali faces lengthy ban and hefty fine after biting David Price

flashpoint in the fifth came after the pair grappled and fell to the ground.

While down, Ali, who had earlier been deducted a point in the third for hitting behind the head, sank his teeth into Price just beneath the rib cage. Price could be heard shouting 'he's biting me' to the referee who disqualified Ali. When asked about a possible rematch, Price said: 'I don't want to share a ring with an animal like that again.' Ali, who was previously unbeaten in 15 fights, was pelted with drinks as he left the ring.

Praful Patel set to become FIFA executive council member The All India Football Federation president Praful Patel is set to become the first Indian to be elected as a member in the FIFA Executive Council for a four-year term. According to AIFF sources, Patel is all but sure to be a part of the five FIFA Council members from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) when the regional body holds its elections in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday, April 6. The election will be for the term 2019 to 2023 and will be held during the 29th AFC Congress. “Out of eight candidates, five will be selected and Patel is sure to be one of them. He has 90 per cent chance of becoming a FIFA Executive Council member. It will be the

Gianni Infantino and Praful Patel

first time an Indian will be in the top committee of the world body,” said an AIFF official.

The AFC Electoral

Committee carried out eligibility checks on the candidates running for the positions and the FIFA Review

Committee conducted eligibility checks on candidates running for FIFA Council positions. The AFC Electoral Committee will be responsible for all tasks relating to the organisation, running and supervision of the elections. The FIFA Governance Committee will nominate representatives to monitor the running of the elections for FIFA Council positions.

Candidates for FIFA Council members: Saoud A.Aziz M A AlMohannadi (Qatar), Khalid Awad A. Althebity (Saudi Arabia), Mariano V. Araneta, Jr. (Philippines), Chung Mong Gyu (Korea Republic), Du Zhaocai (China PR), Praful Patel (India), Mehdi Taj (IR Iran), Kohzo Tashima (Japan).

Manu-Saurabh pair breaks world record Teenage Indian shooting stars Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary smashed the world record before clinching the 10m air pistol mixed team gold in the 12th Asian Airgun Championship in Taoyuan, Taipei. The 17-year-old Manu and 16-year-old Saurabh shot a

combined score of 784 in the qualification round, breaking the record set by Russians Vitalina Batsarashkina and Artem Chernousov at the European Championships five days ago. The Indians then went on to win the five-team final with a score of 484.8. Their feat

came exactly a month after they won the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup stage gold in the same event in Delhi. A second Indian team comprising of Anuradha and Abhishek Verma also reached the finals and finished fourth with a score of 372.1, the

Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary

National Rifle association of India (NRAI) said in a statement.

32

Sport

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6 - 12 April 2019

AsianVoiceNews AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Punjab snatch sensational win over Delhi Kings XI Punjab snatched a sensational win as Delhi Capitals batsmen collapsed very badly at the death overs. At 144 for three after 16.3 overs, needing just 23 runs from 21 balls, it looked like a cakewalk for Delhi but they lost five quick wickets and as Sam Curran came to bowl the last over of the match, Delhi still needed 15 runs to win. Curran completed a hat-trick as he removed Kagiso Rabada off the first ball of the over and then castled Sandeep Lamichhane off the very next ball to script a 14-run victory for his team.

Earlier, the Delhi Capitals cashed in on the absence of Chris Gayle to restrict Kings XI Punjab to 166/9 at Mohali. Fresh from a match-winning knock over Mumbai Indians, Rahul shouldered the responsibility in the absence of his regular opening partner Gayle, by tucking a length delivery past midwicket to open KXIP’s scoreboard before pulling Morris for a six in the second over. But his stay was cut short the very next ball by a swinging delivery, which the third umpire confirmed upon review.

Dhoni comes to CSK’s rescue Led by a special rearguard innings from skipper MS Dhoni (75 not out), Chennai Super Kings notched up a

commanding total of 175 for 5 in 20 overs to recover from a precarious position of 27 for 3 against Rajasthan Royals in Chennai. While Dhoni was at his vintage best with the bat for the men in yellow, Dwayne Bravo and Suresh Raina also made worthy contributions to propel the hosts after a shaky start. On a pitch which was once again slow in nature but had a bit more bounce than the surface used last weekend, Rajasthan chose to attack in the opening six overs with their pacers. The move worked as they had CSK three wickets down at the end of the Powerplay, having sent back Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav cheaply.

Finally Dhoni's innings proved crucial and Chennai won the game.

Warner leads the charge for Sunrisers Having been ‘Mankaded’ in the first game, Rajasthan Royals found themselves fighting history in their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. On Friday night, the Royals needed to come up with something special to get their campaign on track.

Sanju Samson produced a magical innings as he tore the Sunrisers bowling to shreds on way to a belligerent century (102).

With skipper Ajinkya

Rahane (70) playing a wellcalculated innings, Royals ended up with 198 for two.

The Royals thought it was enough but the hosts had other ideas as they carved out a five–wicket win to keep their citadel intact.

Rahul leads Kings XI march KL Rahul finally regained form to score a steady halfcentury which helped Kings XI Punjab to open their home campaign with an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at Mohali.

The win was also special for the home side as they finally managed to break the jinx of four consecutive losses to Mumbai Indians in Mohali.

The Kings last managed a home win over MI in 2011.

Punjab’s chase of 177 started on a steady note before Chris Gayle took charge of the proceedings with a destructive 24-ball 40. His partner Rahul (71 not out) played the perfect second fiddle as the opening duo put on 53 runs to lay the platform.

Delhi win in super over Chasing 186 for an outright win, Delhi Capitals reached 185/6 in 20 overs sending their match against Kolkata Knight Riders into a Super Over in New Delhi. Prithvi Shaw slammed 99 for Delhi Capitals. Earlier, Andre Russell endured a beamer blow but still produced a blistering knock to lift Kolkata Knight Riders to a

Sam Curran picked up a hat-trick in only his second match in the IPL

fighting 185 for 8. Both the ended their inning at 185.

Finally in the super over Delhi won the match.

ABD blitz fails to take RCB home AB de Villiers played a superbly controlled innings of 70 but failed to take Royal Challengers Bangalore home as Mumbai Indians registered a tense five-run win. Chasing a demanding total of 188 at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, RCB could score 181 for five. This was the second consecutive defeat for the RCB. Earlier, the RCB bowlers and MI batsmen oscillated between being good and ordinary. A case to point was the 14th over of Mumbai’s innings in which leggie Yuzvendra Chahal (4/38) conceded 20 runs as Yuvraj Singh carted him for three

consecutive maximums before being dismissed off the fourth delivery.

Russell blitz fires KKR If Kings XI Punjab skipper R Ashwin did not regret controversially running out Rajasthan Royal’s Jos Butler in their last match in Jaipur on Monday, he must be doing so after making a field placement error against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Local boy Mohammad Shami shattered KKR dangerman

Andre Russell’s wickets with a superb yorker in the 17th over of the innings after the hosts were asked to bat first

by Ashwin. Russell started walking back after being dismissed for three off five balls.

But to everybody’s surprise, the field umpire called the West Indian allrounder back and signalled a ‘noball’ as KXIP had three, instead of four fielders, inside the inner circle then.

IPL 2019 - Points Table Teams Mat Won Lost Tied 0 0 Chennai Super Kings 3 3 Sunrisers Hyderabad 3 2 1 0 Kolkata Knight Riders 3 2 1 0 Delhi Capitals 3 2 1 0 Kings XI Punjab 3 2 1 0 Mumbai Indians 3 1 2 0 Rajasthan Royals 3 0 3 0 Royal Challengers Bangalore 3 0 3 0

Pts 6 4 4 4 4 2 0 0

NRR +0.507 +2.111 +0.555 +0.519 -0.008 -0.750 -0.575 -2.413

SRK meets Arsenal player Özil England players wouldn't resort and his fiancée in London to 'Mankad' dismissals: Joe Root Shah Rukh Khan, a sports enthusiast, took time out to watch a football game in London. The actor watched Arsenal beat Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium in London. After the match, the actor clicked photos with German footballer Mesut Özil and his fiancée, Swedish model-actor Amine Gülşe.

Sharing the photos on his Twitter account, SRK wrote, “What a Shah Rukh Khan with Ozil and his fiance Amine Gulse lovely evening Shah Rukh has also been This is not the first time @Arsenal congratulations. busy cheering and that King Khan has Thx @MesutOzil1088 & supporting his Indian expressed his love for #AmineGulse for your Premier League team football. During FIFA World warmth love & hospitality.

Kolkata Knight Riders in the Cup 2018, the actor shared See u guys soon in India.” ongoing season of IPL. He is his excitement while After defeating Newcastle, often seen in the stands watching the games and also Ozil’s team has jumped to with co-owner Juhi Chawla posted about how his ‘blood the third place in the and doesn’t leave a chance pressure’ was tested by his Premier League. to celebrate KKR victories. favourite teams.

England captain Joe Root said that straightforward rule but as much as his batsmen will be on the guard possible there is a way of working out against 'Mankad' dismissals after what is out and what’s not.” the controversial incident involving England are favourites to win the Jos Buttler in the IPL this week. Root World Cup. With so much at stake in reiterated that England players a World Cup, pressure could would not resort to the 'Mankad,' persuade players to take any chance running a batsman out backing up at that comes their way to gain an the non-striker’s end, but believes other advantage. It was significant that teams will see it as a legitimate Ashwin targeted Buttler, who dismissal at the World Cup. is not only one of the most Buttler was incensed when R devastating players in Ashwin paused in his delivery white-ball cricket, but stride to whip off the bails in an has also been dismissed IPL match between Rajasthan run out backing up Joe Root Royals and Kings XI Punjab before. recently. Initially the MCC, who The law states a oversee the laws of cricket, ruled the batsman can be run out “from the moment dismissal was fair and cleared Ashwin of any the ball comes into play to the instant when wrongdoing. However, they revised their the bowler would normally have been view later saying they did not think “it was in expected to release the ball. It’s about the spirit of the game". making sure you stay in your crease when “It’s not something that I would like to he’s running up,” said Root. “I think it’s a be involved in. I wasn’t too impressed good warning now. I’m glad it’s not personally,” said Root. “But it’s within the happened to us in a World Cup final or in a laws of the game as a lot of people have said.

World Cup game. That is a decision that Jos had to take it on the chin, unfortunately.

Ashwin made in the heat of the moment. I’d You know that some people might be like to think that I wouldn’t be involved in looking to do that now. I know it’s not a that or make that decision personally.”