AV 9th July 2016

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Vol 45 | Issue 10

BLOODBATH London gets its first ever Indian Deputy Mayor P7

9th July to 15th July 2016

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

IN BANGLA DAESH

Distraught mother Ruba Ahmed whose daughter Abinta Kabir was one of those killed

An injured police officer sits in a car following the deadly gun battle

"Everyone else ran away but you couldn't make it. God wants you to die," said one of the gunmen, to baker Miraj, later tying him to a chair with bombs and gas around him. The Friday attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in the diplomatic zone, and one of Dhaka's poshest areas, Gulshan, killed 20 restaurant patrons, all who belonged to different corners of the world.

Five men arrived at the posh bakery, dressed in jeans and T-shirts, at around 8:45 pm, shouting "Allahu Akbar!" before they began to fire indiscriminately at the people present. Customers hid under tables, waiters scampered, everybody did the best they could to save their own lives. A 12-hour face off ensued between the attackers and the law, including the paramilitary and combat services before Operation Thunderbolt came to an end. Four militants were dead, one was captured alive. The venue, once a popular hangout for expatriates and well-

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People help an unidentified injured person after the group of gunmen attacked the restaurant

heeled locals because of its good food and large, leafy garden overlooking a lake, now reeked of blood.

Nine of the victims were Italian, seven were Japanese experts who had come to the city to find ways to improve its severe traffic congestion, three were students at American universities, one of them of Indian ori-

gin, and there was a Bangladeshi woman who worked for non-profit organisations.

Also claimed were the lives of two police officers who responded to the attack. A strike that hit a little too close to India, it reflects not just the ways Islamic radicalisation has affected people, but the existent matter at hand; the war of the young against the

CABINET EXPANSION

Modi Sarkar's much-awaited Cabinet expansion finally took place after months of anticipation and rumours doing the rounds. With the UP elections in the offing, the move comes as a cry for reform.

Details on page 26-27

An injured policeman is carried away after the attack

young. The converted, against the not.

MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS

"We will not kill Bengalis.

We will only kill foreigners," yelled one of the attackers before they began to wean out the Muslims present, also giving a chance to Faraaz Hossain, a 20-year old who was with his friends, Tarishi Jain, 19, and Abinta Kabir, 18.

However, he refused the offer and stuck with them who said they were from India, and the US. Witnesses who were let off or were saved later, told his family how he

chose to sacrifice his life for his friends. "From what I have gathered, my brother was allowed to leave. But he had gone there with his friends and didn't want to leave them behind. So he had asked 'what about them?' When he was told that they couldn't leave, he decided to stay back. Muslims are not supposed to believe in violence. He was a true Muslim, which is why he stayed back and proved to be one. They were asked to recite prayers. For my brother, it wouldn't have been difficult," Zaraif Hossain, the deceased's brother, said.

Continued on page 26

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ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice |9th July 2016

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to

Sharron Wallace

Sharron Wallace was born and raised in Tower Hamlets joining the local schools Devons Rd and St Paul’s Way. After leaving Barking College of Technology Sharron took her next career step and decided to join the work force. Spending 4 years in Pro Photo labs she knew this was not enough and that it was time to rekindle her dream of becoming a photographer. Sharron contacted The Jamaican Gleaner, West Indian News and the Voice Newspaper intended to step out into a career as a freelance photographer.

However her plans for a freelance career were short lived when she was offered a full time post as Picture Editor Photographer for the Voice Newspaper. After 11 years at the Voice newspaper, Sharron moved on to establish her freelance career. Her rich career as a photographer has included photographing Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Lady Diana, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, Sir John Major, Margaret Thatcher, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Sharpton numerous MP and Ministers including Jack Straw, David Blunkett, Jackie Smith and Peter Mandleson. Her international portfolio includes photographs of Maya Angelou, Michael Jackson. 8 years ago Sharron expanded her photographic business and purchased a photographic franchise in the heart of South London employing 5 people. A second franchise purchased a few years later is currently managed by a family member giving her time to focus on her passion as a photographer.

She is now commissioned by a range of public and private sector organisations and government departments including Imperial College, Chase Farm Hospital, The Beazley Insurance Group, Silver Star Charity, Arhag Housing Trust, The Federation for Small Businesses, The Windsor Fellowship and The Next Step Foundation. Her work has been published in the Guardian, The Times Education, The Times, The Voice, Time out to name a few.

Sharron specialises in portraits and event photography and is regularly commissioned for annual reports, conferences and staff and team profile shots. Sharron works in partnership with Ruby design a web and graphic design company bringing you’re photographic and design needs to your doorstep.

1) What is your current position?

I currently run a new franchise business Mail Boxes Etc. Bromley, which is in its start up stages. It is very challenging but this is something I am used to in business. For 11 years I ran a successful Snappy Snap franchise in South West London. I loved the pace and diversity of running a shop in the heart of the community and offering a range of services. I got to know many of my customers some of whom are still friends today. It really felt more than a business. I was able to house a photographic studio at the back of the shop, which meant I could continue to run my professional business as a Press and portrait photographer. I worked as a Press photographer for over twenty years. I still run my photographic business covering events and press assignments with a small amount of private work for individuals.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

My proudest achievement to date is running three businesses successfully at the same time, Snappy Snaps, Sharron Wallace Photography & Molly Maid cleaning service.

3) What inspires you?

I really do enjoy photographing people and I love the challenge of capturing a good shot. One never knows what image or scene you

Malala makes millions from her memoir This is a typical rags to riches story – someone who by sheer courage and confidence made a fortune out of misfortune.

Once gunned down by Taliban in Pakistan's Swat Valley, Nobel Peace Prize winner and women's education rights advocate Malala Yousafzai, pictured, is a millionaire today. This inspiring young woman from the Indian sub-continent, who was shot three times in the head by a Taliban gunner while travelling home from school in a bus with her friends in 2012, is making millions of pounds from her best-selling autobiography and speaking engagements, according to reports. Her book “I am Malala” was published in October 2013

by Weidenfeld & Nicholson

in the UK in a deal reported to be worth around £2 million.

According to a report in The Times, a company set up to protect the rights to her life story had £2.2 million in the bank by August last year, and made a pretax profit of £1.1 million.

After the brutal attack on her she received medical treatment in Britain. At present, Malala lives in Birmingham, UK, studies at Edgbaston High School for Girls. Malala is in constant demand globally, charging £114,000 per speech compared with Desmond Tutu's reported £64,000, according to USbased Institute for Policy Studies.

will capture at the click of a shutter. Everything can change in a second and you have to be constantly on alert and ready to respond in an instant.

Photography is about relationship. It is satisfying when you send someone a photograph and they come back and say how much they like it. It’s like reading a good book, you don’t want to finish or finding an outfit you both feel and look good in. Photos are personal and in a way taking a great shot of someone is like giving them back a piece of themselves.

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

Meeting my business objectives and selling customers what they want. I like the buzz of doing business but sometimes getting customers to buy your services takes a lot of hard work.

The Internet is the obvious competitor and takes away a huge share of the customer market without having the overheads that small businesses like mine have. I like the personal nature of connecting with customers, which often leads to new sales, or future use of the business, but securing this in the current market place is challenging.

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

My Mum. We had wonderful relationship and were really close. I inherited a lot

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when you know you have a good product to sell.

Location is a determining factor.

of my Mum’s many wonderful qualities. She was a fantastic cook and a great gardener. She could turn a plot that looked like nothing would grow there into a plot full of blooming flowers. My close friends and family love my cooking and I have tended and grown a lovely garden here where I live in South London. You really don’t realize how much rubs off on you.

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

Having to be creative and think about ways to make money in my new business.

Franchise in Bromley allows me to offer the best international shipping deals anywhere in the world with couriers such as FedEx, UPS & DHL. Mail Boxes ETC Bromley also have graphic design on-site and printing service that is fast and easy to use.

7) And the worst?

Not making enough sales

8) What are your long-term goals?

My long-term goal is to open a second franchise and operate them both. I would like to retire early in another 12-13 years but still work and travel the world. I have a wide range of interests like walking, camping. I’d love to retire in my mid sixties, perhaps have a home abroad where I could live several months of the year and have friends and family come visit me.

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

If I were the Prime Minister I’d have a longterm plan for a manufactory industry in the UK. I’d abolish business rates for small business with a turnover of £500,000 or less.

I’d pass legislation whereby large retail global companies must pay the living wage.

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

I’d really love to spend my time on a desert Island with my Mum Valerie for all the reasons I mentioned earlier.

She sadly passed away in 2001 from cancer. It would be wonderful to see her again and smile.

Choudary denies terror offences British Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary has gone on trial charged with terrorism offences over speeches allegedly posted on YouTube.

The 49-year-old Choudary, of Hampton Road, Ilford, is charged alongside another man, Mohammed Rahman, 33, of Sidney Street in Whitechapel, east London.

Choudary and Rahman were arrested on September 25, 2014, before being bailed.

According to a report in The Times, last August they were charged with offences contrary to terrorism legislation. Choudary and Rahman deny the charges against them.

Further details of the case cannot be reported for legal reasons. The trial con-

tinues.

Formerly a member of the now-illegal organisation al-Muhajiroun, Choudary had claimed it is an “obligation upon Muslims everywhere to support the Jihad against those who fight Muslims anywhere in the world or who occupy Muslim land”, a report in the Telegraph said.

Born in 1967 to a market trader, Choudary was raised in a semi-detached house in Welling, Kent, and pursued a medical degree after taking his Alevels. Choudary switched to law after failing his first year exams and went on to become a qualified solicitor and chairman of the Society of Muslim Lawyers.

He was removed from the Roll in 2002.

Anjem Choudary

But he later embraced radical Islamism and cofounded the extremist organisation alMuhajiroun, working with the Islamist militant leader Omar Bakri Muhammad, the media report added.

Since the organisation was banned in 2004 under anti-terrorist legislation, he has been embroiled in controversy on numerous

occasions.

In 2006, on the eve of the first anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, Choudary said Muslims in Britain were “oppressed” and had the right to defend themselves “by whatever means”.

He had also urged Muslims not to cooperate with police in tackling terrorism and called for the assassination of the Pope.

In March 2009, Choudary posted a message on an extremist Islamic website in which he called a homecoming parade of 2nd Bn The Royal Anglian Regiment a “vile parade” of “brutal murderers”, the report said. Choudary, who is of Pakistani descent, is married with five children.

C MMENTS

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3

Trial, error, success in Indian foreign policy Was Indian membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) worth the time and money expended in promoting it? There was a swell of important figures, including the nuclear scientist M.R. Srinivasan, the former Chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Commission, who argued with that the Indo-US nuclear accord of 2008, having granted India exception status from signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), thus guaranteeing continuing supplies of uranium ore from Kazakhstan, Russia and Australia membership of the NSG was big deal since sales of Indian nuclear reactors abroad for the production of power was far from being a national priority. Perhaps NSG membership became an issue of prestige. After much work, cascading words and over-hyped expectations that China, resolutely opposed to India’s NSG, would come round to supporting India. Men and women policymakers in Delhi have yet to pierce the Chinese puzzle, if puzzle it is. Why make a mountain out of a mole hill? Beijing has made it clear time and again that its ‘all-weather friendship’ with Pakistan is cast in stone on the soil of abiding hatred of India. This conforms to the spirit and grammar of the Sino-Pakistan Treaty of Friendship. To believe that the Inter Services Directorate of Pakistan does not work in tandem with likeminded Chinese body is utter naivety. It most assuredly does, and it will continue to do so. Once this is fully understood the road ahead will be less strewn with obstacles and anxieties. Terrorist attacks on Indian sites emanating from Pakistan have China’s full support. China’s footprint in Pakistan is minimally driven commercial goals; its goal in South Asia is the containment of India within the prescribed limits of the subcontinent, and to keep it distracted, weak and confused.

The Global Times, the mouthpiece of China’s govern published a stern, condescending lecture to India, in the lofty, disdain the Middle Kingdom has traditionally adopted towards its tributaries down the ages. The Global Times advised India to grow up and display the maturity of China. China had taken its failure to become a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in its stride, while India has gained

admission to the group, despite its economy being five times the size of India’s, sneered The Global Times.

The West had apparently turned India’s head with its perceived indulgence towards India. India could expect no advantage from such patronage..

Beijing would help its cause with better manners when international leaders and celebrities chose to meet with the Dalai Lama show him the courtesy his moral and spiritual stature merits. Respect will earn through emollient behavior, not by intimidation. What say the modern Confucians?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going about constructing a foreign policy platform that puts down markers on the ground that will yield appropriate dividends in the fullness of time. For instance, on his return home from his successful visit to the United States, Mr Modi was on the phone to President Vladimir Putin explaining the goals of the demarche and reaffirming India’s time-tested bonding with Russia. He subsequently met Mr Putin in Tashkent on 24 June, where both leaders agreed to take the IndoRussian relationship forward with expanded cooperation in space, petrochemicals, nuclear power and defence.

As part of India’s strategic regional architecture, India has handed over to Vietnam supplies of advanced Varunastra electric powered torpedoes, patrol boats for the Vietnamese navy, in addition to the mooted supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles which India has jointly designed and manufactured with Russia. India is also training Vietnamese pilots on the Sukhoi 30MKI aircraft. Vietnam’s defence capabilities are being beefed up with active Indian assistance. In February 1979, when China invaded Vietnam it was repelled in a fortnight. The Vietnamese army decimated a Chinese force in Cambodia propping up the genocidal Pol Pot regime. There is talk also of selling the BrahMos to Indonesia and the Philippines, all of whom are increasingly concerned at China’s aggressive posturing on disputes pertaining to the rites of passage in the South China Sea. India is Vietnam’s ‘all-weather friend.’ The 21st century Great Game has been well and truly joined.

India-UK free trade deal may follow Brexit The captains of Indian industry are hopeful that, following Brexit the way may be opened for a free trade alignment with India. As both countries share complementary features in their economies, India has fewer sensitivities in reaching a fair trade agreement (FTA) with Britain than it does with the European Union with whom talks have bore no fruit. ‘Sectors such as automobiles will not be as sensitive in an FTA with the UK as with the EU because the UK is not into manufacturing too many small cars,’ said Naushad Forbes, President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CIII).

He favoured India continuing talks with the EU as the region was significant for the future growth of Indian industry. Whatever the economic cross-currents and crossovers between the EU and the UK this was a ‘very small portion of India’s business with either party.

Mr Forbes welcomed the recent changes in India’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regime, saying this will attract more investments into the country, and that the only still needed to be done was to make the flow automatic in areas where it was mandated through the government approval route. In rest such

as legal services, the government needed to open up and allow FDI to come in.

There were two other developments to which India Inc has responded positively. The first is the significant hike in government pay and pensions by the Seventh Pay Commission. The housing sector expects a major boost from increasing purchases of properties leading to a quantum jump in home loans.

The second development that has sent business into a buzz is the executive decree permitting malls, cinema multiplexes, shops, convenient stores and restaurants to remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Retail jobs may rise by 40 per cent as a result of these measures.

‘Retail and hospitality are the key sectors that will benefit from this kind of flexibility directly and immediately,’ said Moorthy Uppaluri, Managing Director and CEO, Randstad India. Kumar Rajagopalachari CEO, Retailers Association of India, said that the number of people employed in the retail sector could increase 50 per cent by 2020. Most encouraging.

Dalit girl conquers adversity Being a Dalit girl in a poverty stricken Dalit family is to understand the true meaning of despair. Narasama is such a girl. Her parents are illiterate construction labours barely eking a living through back breaking toil. She managed to gain admission into a school in Telangana and live in one of the hostels run by the Telangana state government. Having excelled at school, Narasama entered the prestigious Azam Premji University in Bangaluru, where she will be studying for a degree in Physics. She won a place for one of the university’s 30 free seats for deserving students unable to afford the fees.

‘The competitive spirit in my school and college helped me. I want to pursue higher education and take up teaching,’ she explains in fluent English.

Narasama’s achievement has been extraordinary, more so as she lost her father when a mere nine years old in a contruction accident in Mumbai. Her mother went through an arduous struggle to bring up Narasama and her two school-going brothers. The family lived in a village named Dharmalipera in Adilabad district. ‘There

was a buzz about the social welfare residential schools, so we all wanted to study,’ she says. She was unable to afford the trip to Bangaluru for the felicitations of the varsity alumni. She didn’t have the clothes either. They raised the money for both – the door to a future of promise finally opened.

‘She is going to be our role model for other children in our institutions as she has secured admission into the Azim Premji University. Through ‘Swaroes’ we have formed a common education fund to support students like Narasama,’said R.S. Praveen Kumar, Secretary,Telangana Social Welfare Resident Schools (TSWRS).

This is an uplifting story. While poverty alleviation, including social disadvantage in India has made considerable strides, albeit unevenly, the pace can surely be quickened to a leap forward. The thirst for education appears insatiable. More jobs, higher pay, harder work have combined to make India’s transformation a living reality. The engine is now unstoppable.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

- Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

Dhaka's Cafe Carnage The worst atrocity resulting from bloodthirsty jihadis, who misinterpret a faith tradition, in Bangladesh capital Dhaka has created shockwaves worldwide.

Such a jihadi mentality has turned Pakistan into almost a failed state. Bangladesh which has chosen a democratic way of life has been developing economically steadily. Its garment industry worth over £25 billion attracts visitors and buyers from various countries.

Twenty-two people were killed when Islamic militants stormed a cafe in Dhaka last week. Most of the dead were foreigners. ISIS had immediately claimed responsibility for the carnage.

Almost within hours of it, triple bombings took place in Saudi Arabian cities. Four security guards were killed and five more injured when a suicide bomber struck near the mosque in Medina where Prophet Mohammed was buried. The death toll in Baghdad was the largest, but the growing threat in Bangladesh is a recent phenomenon and with much more serious overtures.

Sadly Pakistan, created as a safe abode for Indian Muslims has been completely proved to be otherwise.

The fact is both in Pakistan and Bangladesh, most of the minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists) have been driven away, while those few left are constantly persecuted. At the time of Partition, erstwhile West Pakistan had some 15% non-Muslims. Today their number is perhaps less than 2%. In erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), the Hindu population was around 23%. Now it is less than 9%.

By forced expulsion, conversion or ruthless murders, a Muslim nation does not become peaceful and pious and such a clear lesson is there to be seen in almost all Muslim majority countries. These tragic events remind us all how worldwide jihadists are becoming successful at exploiting poisonous domestic terrain in order to advance a global agenda.

In today's world such an authoritarian, brutal and inhuman notion is not acceptable even to a devout Muslim. Misguided criminals and bloodthirsty individuals or groups are bound to fail. They, in spite of all the bloodshed or a sort of 'fame' for a few moments, cannot and will not succeed. The state machinery is always, especially now, more powerful and effective against such opportunistic or violence-prone individuals of criminal bent or group of such people. The international community also has a role to play. The onus lies more on the rulers and supporters of the Muslim majority countries.

Most of the Islamic countries with bumper financial resources of oil or other minerals are almost universally undemocratic and authoritarian. The Western democracies have failed, sad to say, to inculcate the norms of governance in such states which are in a way used or misused to meet their short-term gains.

Another message from the Bangladesh havoc is also a matter of serious concern. The terrorists were or are reasonably well-educated and from middle class families.

For jihadis, demography or differentials of economic or other wellness is not an impediment when their minds have been poisoned by a misguided philosophy or belief. Unfortunately, no outsider can influence such a wicked mind. It is those societies which give them succour have to also instil certain values of peaceful coexistence. Those within such folds should wake up soon and take all necessary steps to marginalise such a hostile mentality.

In this unpleasant atmosphere the only consolation is Indonesia (largest Muslim nation) and India (Hindu majority but second-largest Muslim population). The world can take a cue from these two countries where minorities co-exist peacefully with the majority community.

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

4

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Businessman Suraj Mistry to stand trial over death of company director Akhtar Javeed A businessman and a student have denied murdering a company director who was shot dead at a warehouse.

Suraj Mistry, 26, from Leicester, and co-accused 18year-old Lemar Wali entered not guilty pleas over a videolink during a hearing in front of a packed public gallery at Birmingham Crown Court last Wednesday. Both are charged in connection with the death of 56-year-old company director Akhtar Javeed in a shooting in the Digbeth area of Birmingham on February 3.

The men have also denied

conspiracy to rob the city's Direct Source warehouse between January 1 and February 3, and two counts each of possession of a handgun with intent to cause fear or violence.

Wali from Derby, wearing a white Adidas top, and Mistry, who was wearing a grey t-shirt, spoke only to confirm their names and enter pleas.

A third man, 25-year-old Asif Aurangzaib, from Derby, also appeared on conditional bail in the court dock to enter a not guilty plea to a charge of conspiracy to rob the ware-

Victim: Javeed

house.

The men are now set to stand trial, in a hearing scheduled to last up to six weeks, on

August 8.

Addressing the men, Judge Philip Parker QC said: "Mr Wali and Mr Mistry the aim still is that your trial takes place on the August 8 and obviously in the meantime you are remanded in custody."

He bailed Aurangzaib on the same terms as before, which include banning him from Birmingham, reporting daily to the police station and surrender of his passport.

Mr Javeed was killed in what police have described as an attempted robbery on Direct Source 3 Ltd in Rea Street South.

Indian-origin dentist banned for affair with patient An Indian-origin dentist in the UK was on Thursday banned from the dental profession for having an 18month-long affair with one of his married female patient.

Dr Parag Patel's case came up before a UK General Dental Council (GDC) misconduct hearing last week over his conduct with the female patient, referred to only as Patient 1.

"Breaching professional boundaries, providing free treatment whilst encouraging physical contact and engaging in a long-term sexual relationship with a patient represented a wholesale departure from

Dr Parag Patel

the standards expected of a dental professional," the GDC panel ruled.

"By encouraging Patient 1 to leave her religion and her

husband, visiting her in her home, giving her gifts, creating a false email address to send an email to her father, and following her in his car after she had ended the relationship, Mr Patel was behaving in a manner which would be considered deplorable by fellow practitioners," it added.

Patel, also a married man, had trained to be a dentist at the UK's Royal Dental School and ran a successful practice in London’s Harley Street.

The 53-year-old told Patient 1 that she was his "soul mate" and encouraged her to divorce her husband, 'Evening Standard' reports.

"We had sex on roughly 50 separate occasions, in hotels, my house and other locations.

I was willingly going along with it, heavily persuaded by the fact that he was telling me I was his soul mate. He told me that what we were doing was not an affair; instead, it was a 'soulmate relationship'.

"He said that sex was not about sex, but rather about nourishment. He would often twist and use manipulative words," Patient 1 said in her evidence.

The affair started in mid2013 with free treatment for the patient in exchange for hugs and kisses.

Young filmmaker makes documentary about India’s women construction workers A young filmmaker has travelled to India to make a documentary about the lives of women construction workers.

Meera Darji, from Leicester, is working on a documentary called Majoor 9195, which she is filming in Majoor, Gujarat.

Meera, 23, said: "There are 1,130,029 unregistered construction workers in Majoor, with an average daily employment rate of 9,195 females.

"This film will look at the lives of Majoor women, exposing the difficult conditions they work in as well as their hopes for the future.

These women work nine hour shifts a day and some have their children on site.

"The main issue I want to show is the health and safety.

Some don't have shoes and are walking on bricks, cement

and broken glass.

"These women work so hard, day and night, in scorching temperatures, and it's shocking to see how they survive in the day.

"We have been filming from early morning, seeing how they live. It has been an eye-opener so far, especially with the fact their duties begin before work, as they must clean, cook, feed chil-

dren, wash clothes and prepare for evening meals.

"As a filmmaker, it has been incredible to not only observe their lifestyles but absorb their hardships and struggles. With no complaining or moaning, they continue to lift cement and shovel sand with smiles on their faces."

Meera has filmed in Gujarat in the past, working on a 30-minute documentary

Bogus landlord left families homeless A bogus landlord left families homeless after callously stealing deposits on homes he falsely advertised for rent, a court heard.

Hussan Malik, pictured, who was jailed for two years, fobbed off would-be tenants with a series of excuses to delay them discovering the scam - including falsely claiming his daughter had died from meningitis, his wife had miscarried or been diagnosed with "tumours," his father had passed-away or

In Brief

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Asian Voice |9th July 2016

refurbishment was still underway.

Malik (41), a former teacher, admitted fraudulently conning 19 victims, who saw his adverts on the Gumtree website, between

October 2014 and January 2015. He claimed to have two Leicester properties available for rent, in Cardinals Walk and Maidenwell Avenue – when he was in fact renting them himself. After viewing the properties, victims were collectively duped out of £13,450 – of which £970 was only refunded. Some of the victims had also paid the first month's rent up-front and were left without funds to arrange alternative accommodation. Malik, had just

called Transindia, exploring the lives of Hijras, the transgender community.

She won the best student factual film category at the RTS Midlands Centre Awards for Transindia, and also picked up awards in India.

Meera said she noticed the women construction workers when she was filming Transindia to give her the idea for her new documentary. She is studying 21st Century Media Practice at Coventry University and this documentary is for Meera's final post-graduate project.

She is in Gujarat till the end of July. She has set up a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the film, and to support the women.

To donate, visit: www.indiegogo.com/ projects/majoor-9195 £200 on him when he was arrested which was confiscated by the court – to be refunded to Soldiers off the Streets. It is unlikely losers will get any money back.

Sarah Cornish, mitigating, said the defendant, a father of four, had since received inpatient treatment for mental health difficulties and his marriage had "completely broken down." Miss Cornish said the defendant was on anti-depressants and receiving weekly assistance from a social services support worker and a community psychiatric nurse.

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Parents praise help for autistic son

The parents of a teenager with severe autism have welcomed a report calling for more to be done for people with the condition.

It follows publication today of a report by the Westminster Commission on Autism - a coalition of MPs, autistic people, parents, charities, health professionals and academics – which exposes poor access to healthcare for autistic people.

A survey by the commission showed that 74 per cent of respondents felt autistic people received "worse" or "much worse" health care than their non-autistic counterparts. It also revealed that health professionals often did not understand the condition.

Dipak and Reshma Vadera, from Hamilton, have battled for years to get better treatment, understanding and help for their son Rohan.

Because of his condition Rohan, who does not speak, becomes extremely distressed in many situations and can become quite anxious and aggressive.

Man wanted over assault

Police are hunting a man wanted for a serious assault which left a woman with a fractured jaw and a bleed on the brain.

Haider Ali (25) from Rochdale is wanted for a Section 18 assault which took place on June 19. He has links to the Rochdale area of Manchester.

Anyone with information about Ali's whereabouts should call police immediately on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Landlord blasted tenant with ghetto blaster to force resident out

A rogue landlord blasted his tenant with loud music from a ghetto blaster in a desperate bid to force the resident to quit the address.

Ishfaq Ali Hussain marched inside the property – based in one of Birmingham’s poshest neighbourhoods – with a gang of henchman before pumping up the volume.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard the 44-year-old from Aston, wanted the tenant out so he could sell the address to the council for a school expansion scheme. He also banged on the door of the property in Russell Road, Moseley , and made threats.

Hussain was prosecuted by the city council and found guilty of harassment. He was ordered to pay a total of £3,100 in fines and costs.

Brum plane passenger who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' during flight is jailed

A plane passenger who left holidaymakers in tears after chanting “Allahu Akbar” and “boom” on a Birmingham-bound flight has been jailed.

Shehraz Sarwar, 38, caused widespread alarm with his behaviour while onboard the Emirates Boeing 777 from Dubai.

Sarwar, of Wright Road, Saltley, was jailed for ten weeks at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting using threatening words and behaviour.

Birmingham Crown Court heard some of the 347 passengers were left in tears after becoming frightened by his shouting during a turbulence-hit landing on February 1 this year.

Mr Alex Warren, prosecuting, said Sarwar had caused difficulties from the start of the flight, twice refusing to put his seat belt on during take-off and throwing food around the cabin.

UK Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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Calls for a new India visitor visa to boost UK tourism A new report published by the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with leading aviation tourism and industry groups including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), recommends that India is added to the UK’s latest £87 twoyear visitor visa scheme.

The reform would help reverse the UK’s falling market share of global Indian tourists, which has halved over the last decade.

The estimated cost to the UK economy is almost £500m per year and over 8,000 jobs.

France has now leapfrogged the UK as India’s most visited European nation, attracting 500,000 visitors from the subcontinent in 2015.

In October 2015, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, announced a pilot scheme for a two-year UK-China visitor visa costing £87. The report recommends that Indian nationals have the same opportunity. At present Indian visitors continue to pay a hefty £330 for a two-year visa, or £87 for six-months.

UK-Indian relations are strong. They share deep economic and cultural ties – most notably through the Indian diaspora of 1.4 million. Indian business visitors also spent £201m in 2015; almost three times

the average spend on business trips to the UK. Dr Naushad Forbes, President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Co-chairman, Forbes Marshall said: “From an inward investment point of view, the 2 year UK visitor visa for India would enhance ease of doing business with the UK rather than securing a visa every 6 months! And that’s how business in the 21st century should be –practical, productive and problem-free.”

Next year offers the

most opportune time to introduce this change with 2017 designated the UKIndia Year of Culture, marking 70 years of Indian I n d e p e n d e n c e .

Throughout 2017 both nations will see a strong collaboration in business, art, music, design and much more.

Having a cheaper and extended UK visitor visa will help enhance these endeavours.

Furthermore, the UK’s decision to leave the EU will undoubtedly lead to a dramatic shift in the UK’s relationship with the rest of the world. At a time when the UK is reviewing its global position, it is even more pressing that it deepens its Commonwealth ties and sends a message to the world that it welcomes visitors.

The report’s author, Tim Hewish, Director of Policy and Research at the Royal Commonwealth Society said: “We hope that the government will consider the very clear benefits of our recommendation, enhancing the already close affinity between two great Commonwealth nations.”

Air India starts non-stop flights to Ahmedabad from 15th August India’s flag carrier, Air India will launch new routes across its network starting next month.

Starting on India's independence day (15th August, 2016) Air India will be introducing nonstop flights from London to Ahmedabad.

This news has come as a victory after prolonged campaign by Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar along with local UK organisations, to ease out the journey for passengers especially the ones who are disabled, pregnant women and family with small children or eldery parents.

It was last year November, during Prime Minister Modi's visit he referred to 'his friend' and our Editor/Publisher CB Patel's tireless efforts to make this a possibility.

Earlier, Air India passengers flying between London and Ahmedabad had to stop at Mumbai or travel via Delhi. This nonstop service will reduce journey time by up to three and a half hours, each way.

Also effective 15th August, non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Newark, New Jersey in the USA are being introduced.

The direct flights will be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, flying from London to Ahmedabad 4 times a week and London to Newark 3 times a week. Customers will be able to experience the Dreamliner’s 18 Business Class seats offer

UK & Europe, Ms Tara Naidu said, “We are delighted to announce the introduction of non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Ahmedabad, a popular destination for the huge Gujarati community in the UK. We are excited to restart flights from London Heathrow to the USA. Both these direct flights commence from 15th August 2016 coinciding with India’s 70th

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Indian woman to go on 32,000 kms solo drive for charity Aaditya Kaza Never before has such an prospect been thought of nor has such an attempt been made. Yet after 18 months of intense planning Mrs Bharulata Kamble, from Luton, will attempt to create a world record by becoming a first woman to drive solo from UK to India and will be the first woman in the world to drive solo through the Arctic Circle and Trans-continental journey combined.

Starting her journey on 30th July 2016 she will drive over 2,200 kilometres in the Arctic Circle (longest ever distance driven solo in the Arctic Circle), driving through 2 continents, 32 countries, covering a total distance of over 32,000 kilometres which will take approximately 75 days to complete, ending in October 2016.

The journey will entail driving through 9 time zones, 3 deserts and 9 mountain ranges. This would be the longest car journey done by a woman solo in shortest time involving the greatest number of countries and encountering most diverse driving conditions, time zones, language, and cultures. She plans to cover an average of 700 km every day, and 400 km per day in mountainous areas which includes a guideline of not

driving at night.

She will head towards the Arctic Circle though many European countries and cities.

From Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle she will head to Nordkapp, the northernmost point of Europe.

From Nordkapp she will drive to various prominent monuments in the Arctic Circle before heading East via Eastern Europe, Central Asia, East Asia and South East Asia towards India. Her journey relies on not using any other mode of transport for myself and for my vehicle at any point of journey, except the Channel Tunnel between UK and France.

The record will be observed and recorded by the authorities of Guinness World Records in the United Kingdom using sophisticated GPS and other trackers.

As a British Asian of Indian heritage, she is passionate about promoting both the UK and India, particularly keen to celebrate the unique and special relationship that has been fostered between the UK and India over the generations. This she hopes will generate great interest from many sections of society and achieve the objective of celebrating the UK and India; the special ties between these nations and promoting the two coun-

tries worldwide through every country reached during the record attempt.

Through this challenge she will spreading the message of “Save Girls, Educate Girls” and promoting woman empowerment, which greatly affects the society, particularly in India. Any funds raised through the ‘world record attempt’ will be used to support two of her chosen cancer charities in UK, bring beneficial changes to ‘save the girl, educate the girl’ campaign, tribal girl’s education and to the provision of medical care to the poor and underprivileged in rural India.

For the trip Mrs Kamble has received messages of support including the Mayor of Luton who was present, Lords and MPs and charities across the UK. ‘I am inspired by your strength and courage to shoulder such a long journey.’ Lord Rana. Lord Bilimoria, ‘The UK’s relationship with India is exceptional and spans over 400 years. There is a huge amount of mutual respect between the two countries and the UK’s Indian diaspora helps cement the relationship of equals.’ The MP for Ealing Southall Mr Virendra Sharma said ‘Barulata states that this drive will be a small contribution from her as British of Indian origin in

Mrs Bharulata Kamble

strengthening the goodwill, friendship and trade between UK and India. I agree that this initiative would become part of a wider generation UK-India initiative, and a prefect fit within UK’s wider collaboration with India’. The mayor of Luton, Cllr Tahir Khan said ‘As Mayor of Luton I am honoured that one of our Luton residents of British Indian Origin has taken on such a challenging task to contribute to humanity.’

We asked Mrs Kamble with safety in mind if she had any apprehensions about being alone, she insisted that nothing is a man’s domain and she believes is equal partnership for women. When asked what would be her

Spiritual Celebrations in London’s Soho One morning in December 2015 a thought struck Gopichand Hinduja: ‘For a change, let’s celebrate our holiday season on the sacred banks of the Ganga in the sacred towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar.’

The time spent there by the family was not only blissful but also elevating and inspirational and everyone left with such fond memories of their time in Rishikesh.

Then in January this year when the family celebrated Gopichand’s 75th birthday, Gopichand decided he wanted to give something back to his close friends and family, and so the idea of his book ‘Blessings’ came about where he shares the wisdom of India’s ancient spirituality and the influences that shape our lives.

And in a similar manner, Prakash, Gopichand’s younger brother wanted a birthday celebration with its own inspirational and spiritual dimension.

And after some very speedy lastminute arrangements, last Sunday in London’s West End, some special kirtan singers surprised visitors to ISKCON’s Radha Krishna temple in Soho during the Arati ceremony.

The drums, cymbals and bells were all the same, but there was no accompaniment by saffron clad monks. Instead some of London’s most prominent Asian business families were present.

As lamps were offered to Shree Shree Radha Krishna, the microphone was passed from Gopichand, to his brother Prakash, to Bappi Lahiri and finally to Anil Agarwal of Vedanta plc. They sang and even

danced with devotion and fervor.

Generally sighted in business suits in some of London’s most sophisticated areas, here was a rare sight but special moment where they were in casualwear and singing from the heart, ‘Hare Krishna’ and ‘Govinda jai jai’. Bappi even sang a composed kirtan based on the late George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord’.

The small temple room was full with Hinduja family members and their guests, including CB Patel, the Binanis, Jatanias, Agarwals and Sangers (to mention just a few).

Then Gopichand took the microphone and announced to everyone just what the excitement was all about. It was Prakash’s 71st birthday and he wanted a simple kirtan, with family and friends in the presence of Lord Krishna.

Prakash wanted no fuss, no fanfare and no formalities, just a spiritual and loving birthday, dedicated

to the Lord. A little overwhelmed to see so many close friends present, Prakash thanked everyone for coming saying, ‘As a very young man I met Swami Prabhupada on his morning walk on Juhu beach, and since then he has inspired my heart and that spiritual inspiration remains with me always’.

The ISKCON Temple’s host, Gauridas announced, ‘of all the palaces in London where you could have celebrated your birthday, just like Lord Krishna you have chosen the home of Vidura—our temple, a simple place where only bhakti or devotion is what’s important.’

The guests, some of whom had never been to the temple before, praised the excellent idea to celebrate a birthday in a temple: they will be back for more, as George Harrison’s song expressed it so well “Really want to see you, Lord.”

motivation to help her get through, day by day, she said her mission as she has wanted to do it for such a long time, to empower girls from her village to succeed and raise awareness, who have had not status or identity with education

being a big question mark.

Her advise for people planning a similar solo trip is simple, be bold, set a goal, work hard and get there. Nothing is impossible. Finally what happens to your car once its in India, how do you plan on getting it back? “I most probably has to come by ship after around 2-3 months after the trip, I won’t be seeing it for a couple of months at least. But there is to provision where you can keep your car in India for up to a year, ideally I would like to a round trip of India while meeting woman organisations and girls schools.”

Born in Navsari district of Gujarat, India, she is a mother of two. Her husband Dr Subodh Kamble, and their two sons also spoke about their total support behind Bharulata's mission.

Mayor invites all Londoners to Eid Festival in Trafalgar Square In celebration of the end of Ramadan, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced plans for this year’s Eid Festival in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 9 July.

Thousands of Londoners and visitors to the capital are expected to head to the free event, to sample music and food from around the world, alongside a variety of special activities.

The Eid Festival is open to all Londoners and visitors to the capital of all backgrounds and faiths, with an array of entertainment and attractions for the whole family to enjoy, including live performances, arts and crafts, exhibitions, calligraphy, henna, face painting and more. It follows the Mayor’s work to unite all of London’s communities during Ramadan, in a variety of events and interfaith Iftars across the city.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Eid Mubarak to Muslims here in London and around the world.

This year’s Ramadan has been one of the longest fasts in over 30 years...It has been a great opportunity to bring together London’s many communities – to me, that’s what Ramadan is all about. It is now more important than ever to unite as Londoners and

This week paid subscribers of Asian Voice will receive a copy of the FBI magazine along with their newspaper

extend our hands of friendship in light of the EU referendum, the recent surge in hate crime and the terrible atrocities in Istanbul. I encourage Londoners from all backgrounds and visitors to the city to come together at this year’s Eid Festival to celebrate the diversity and tolerance that is at the heart of our great city...Eid Mubarak!”

The focus of this year’s Eid Festival will be on the achievements of Muslim women in the creative industries, sport, art, fashion, business and other areas. As well as some top female talent on stage, there will be a ‘bazaar’ style market area, with stalls from SMEs and grassroots organisations owned by Muslim women.

An assortment of clothing, jewellery, Islamic arts and crafts and books will be on offer. Another highlight at Trafalgar Square is the international food market, from around the world including Egyptian, Indian, Pakistani, Turkish, Indonesian, Moroccan, Malaysian and Palestinian.There will be a huge mix of traditional and contemporary performances throughout the day. This year, the Eid Festival is supported by Lebara Mobile, Islamic Relief and The BBC Asian Network.

UK Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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The rise and rise of Baron Patel For this multiFew know the Chancellor of faceted Gujarati, it’s Dundee University in the UK been a meteoric rise. is a Tanzanian.

From 2012 to Academic and medic Narendra Babubhai Patel, 78, 2014, Lord Patel was the vice- presiwas born in Lindi in Britishdent of the charity ruled Tanganyika Territory. organisation Born to Indian emigrants, ‘Attend’ – and was industrious Patel had an acaelected its president demic bent of mind which he in 2014, a position used it to his advantage at he still holds today. various stages of his life. He His varied servpursued medicine at the ices to the society Queen’s College of the Baron Patel were recognised by University of St Andrews the Royal family and (renamed Dundee University). he was knighted by Her Britannic He graduated in 1964. Soon he got Majesty in June 1997. However, he into Ninewells Hospital in Dundee didn’t remain ‘Sir Patel’ for long. He and worked there for more than 30 was made a Life Peer on March 1, years, becoming a Consultant 1999 – thereby becoming “Baron Obstetrician in 1974.

Patel of Dunkeld in Perth & Kinross”.

Patel’s clinical and academic interLord Patel has been Viceests, according to a media report, President of the All-Party “included high-risk obstetrics, premaParliamentary Group on Maternity ture labour, foetal growth retardation, Services since 2002 – and of the obstetric epidemiology and the quality group on Infertility Services since of the standards of health and clinical 2003. provision”.

As if these onerous positions Soon Patel started attaining weren’t enough, Baron Patel has also prominence and “became a Member been chairman of the Stem Cell of the Royal College of Obstetricians Steering Committee since 2003 – and and Gynaecologists in 1969 – and its a member of the Science & Fellow in 1988. He was elected a Technology Committee of the House Fellow of the Royal Society of of Lords since then.

Edinburgh in 1999, and served as Lord Patel has been showered Chairman of the Academy of Medical with a bazillion honorary and profesRoyal Colleges of Scotland 1994- 95. sional doctorates, fellowships and He also became Chairman of the memberships not only in the UK but Academy of Medical Royal Colleges of also in the US, Australasia, Canada, the UK (1996-98) and President of the Germany, Finland, Greece, Italy, Royal College of Obstetricians and Argentina, Chile.

Gynaecologists from 1995 to 1998, Baron Patel is married to Dr having been its Honorary Secretary Helen Dally. They have twin sons and from 1987 to 1992, and Vicea daughter.

President from 1992 to 1995.

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London gets its first ever Indian Deputy Mayor London Mayor Sadiq Khan Rajesh has announced Agrawal as his deputy mayor for business with an aim to keep the city together amid the EU referendum results.

With a mammoth task lying ahead of him, the first thing on the new deputy's agenda will be to safeguard jobs and protect the all over growth while EU and Britain leaders carry on the negotiation process.

Agrawal was Khan's business advisor during his mayoral campaign, helping him score votes as he promised to be "the most pro-business mayor yet". The announcement came at a time when people within the business community began to get restless with the empty chair. A self-made millionaire, Agrawal set up foreign exchange giant Rational FX, which saw a turnover of more than £1.3 billion last year, along with Xendpay, an international money transfer service. He has also featured the Sunday Times rich list with a £90 million fortune to his name.

During the announcement, Khan said, "Having arrived in London equipped with the ambition to succeed, Rajesh has created multimillion-pound businesses

Rajesh Agrawal with London Mayor Sadiq Khan

from scratch and knows firsthand the challenges that our business leaders face, and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. I know that Rajesh is the best person for the job protecting jobs and growth in London as we deal with the fallout of the referendum."

Accepting the post, Agrawal said, "I stepped on a plane for the first time 15 years ago to make the journey to London, and found a city that welcomed with open arms and didn't make me feel like a stranger. The Mayor

and I are determined to build a coalition that ensures the needs of business and financial services are at the fore over the coming months of negotiations with the EU. My first priority will be to listen and engage with businesses, to hear their concerns and deliver reassurance."

Agrawal, who is a trustee of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and a patron of the Prince's Trust, will give over his business responsibilities to commit his time fully to the new duty at hand.

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Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

Manveen Rana: The Grit of Radio Journalism Refugees don't necessarily want to be seen as victims

Sunetra Senior

Rana is a prolific radio journalist whose ranging documentary - ‘A New Life in Europe: The Dhnie Family’ – recently won her the One World Media Radio Award, in a commemoration of professional excellence. Indeed the winning work is undeniable as a trailblazing piece of journalism. Aired on BBC Radio 4 as an epical 20 part series, the story follows the dips and dearths of one Syrian family as they leave their perilous homeland and make their way with yet more fear and uncertainty across the many geopolitical borders until they are finally thrust into Germany. “As you can imagine” the intrepid, globe-trudger told us, “the journey was fraught with challenge. There wasn’t one moment where we could be at ease. I met the Dhnie family in Turkey and travelled with them through everything: the interactions with smugglers, the being caught and sent back by coast guards, the awful conditions they had to fight through, the beatings from various authorities from the police to local, Greek mariners. The interesting thing too is that this was simply one part of their difficult journey. Once we got to Europe, there lay ahead the trial of integration.” After the success of the initial coverage, Rana is now continuing to shadow the Dhnies as they adapt to their new life in Frankfurt. *** “The father of the family I was tailing was from a middle-class background,” Rana added. “He was a property developer back in Syria: but of course when you're leaving the country in a hurry, property is the one thing you cannot take. Over just the period of a few days, he had lost everything.” As Rana continued to talk with us, it felt as if live podcast but with the bonus of creator commentary and her additional notes: “There was one experience at the Macedonian border, where we were hoping to cross over, but instead we found ourselves grounded on a bare and open dust field. People were suffering sunstroke, going hungry and falling ill: the situation finally erupted into a riot at night, with some 5000 refugees trying to charge the perimeter. This was met with savage beatings and police brutality - I saw a three year old girl being hit on the head with a baton. It was harrowing to relay the least.” Through her raw descriptions of the migrant reality then, the reporter at once made clear the unique power of her auditory medium: “obviously on the series, there were also direct conversations and you could hear the background atmosphere: people’s feet on the dusty gravel, the crickets at night, and the sound of the many families gathered all around.” Unlike television journalism which can sometimes overwhelm the senses, the reporter’s deft and intimate recordings leave the space open for visualising, which catalyses profound thought. In the case of The Dhnie family, we find that these seemingly rigid, grand topological lines that separate our cultures are in fact more delicate and fine than we realise. Not because of careless border control or a deluge of a desperate people, but because as Rana best put it: “for every one of us, it doesn’t take much for the certainties around us to crumble. Caked in grime and sweat, and finding myself having to choose between food and charging my phone, this is what I went through first-hand. The Dhnies are ordinary people: just in extraordinary circumstances.”

What Inspired you to do a documentary on the Dhnie family?

It was just before the migrant crisis in Greece had exploded in the media. I'd worked for the BBC in Lebanon a couple of years ago, where there are 1.5 million refugees - in a country with a population of about 5 million. The refugee crisis in Europe is on a completely different scale compared to that. When migrants started making their way to Europe, I was very keen to understand the process.

Tell us more about the family's struggle with integration after arriving in Germany?

It took us five weeks to finally get to there, and I had seen what this family had already gone through. In Germany specifically, there was the immediate language barrier and the long procedure of red tape to get through. They had hoped that the children could go straight into education, but in reality one of the sons has now realised he will be 21 before he graduates high school - which is quite demoralising. In Germany it's also

mandatory to learn the language so the father felt quite intimidated by that. Of course, it's a useful requirement but it can be alienating for the older generation. You have the sobering realisation that no one is going to employ you, and you no longer have a community around you who you can talk to.

Did you want to leave a specific message with the listeners?

Not so much: as a reporter you observe rather than tell people what they should think. My goal was to show people who these refugees, what they experience and why they go through with it. It's not my job to tell you to like them or hate them - but just to understand their plight. The documentary doesn't paint a rose-tinted picture of them - it's a warts and all portrayal. The Dhnies don't necessarily want to be seen as victims themselves. They're proud; they have the same interests and self-respect as any normal family would. The sons, for example, play video games and have crushes on the same American actresses as any 14

year-old boy here would.

How are you able to translate such visceral experiences through your radio journalism?

You do evoke the environment in a very nuanced and personal way, and from a purely pragmatic standpoint, having a small recorder means you really are a fly-on-the wall. TV equipment can be very clunky. It doesn't allow for the same agility.

Finally, apart from the One World Media Award, what have been some other highlights of your career?

The documentary also received a Peabody in America, and since the One World Awards, it's gone on to win a few awards at the International Radio Festival in New York, including one from the UN. Apart from that there are several big interviews I remember: talking to Warren Buffet - the richest man in the world at the time -at the height of the financial crisis, as well as Presidents Gorbachev and Jimmy Carter.

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Chilcot Report out on Wednesday

The Chilcot Report into the 2003 Iraq War due on Wednesday. With many political pundits predicting a heavy criticism against key people of the time, including Generals, intelligence services and politicians alike, including one Tony Blair. The fallout from this report will be huge among the Labour party. Many see this report as concrete evidence that the government of the day lied its way into Iraq.

Despite increasing calls to step down many expect Jeremy Corbyn to use the contents of the report to force Tony Blair and possibly some other senior figures to face trial for war crimes at the International Court for Justice at the Hague.

Devoted couple carry out suicide pact

A retired naval commander and his wife killed themselves in a suicide pact planned for years, an inquest heard. David Brittain, 86, and his wife Bridget, 84, belonged to Exit, a group that helps people take their own lives, had talked about committing suicide. Mr and Mrs Brittain were found dead by their cleaner in November 2015.

The inquest in Barnstaple was told that they were a “very private couple” and were regular churchgoers and carried out charity work. Over the past decade the couples physical health had deteriorated but wanted to remain together. They joined Exit in 2010 and had openly talked about the prospect of suicide over the last 5 years. The coroner John Tomalin said “It would appear both were willing participants in the act.”

New offices for Lions Club of London Kingsbury

On 3rd July, the club celebrated their chartered and new officers were elected. The event was held at Mumbai Gardens. The outgoing president Lion Ajit Patel thanked all the members for their support during the year. The club raised around £15000 for various charities including Cancer Research, St Lukes Hospice, and Silvia Right Trust.

The formal part of the afternoon started with the ceremony conducted by Lion Dinesh Shonchhatra, in which Lion Surendra Popat was elected as president. Lion Sanjay Morjaria was elected as secretary, and Lion Bharat Sheth as a treasurer. The MC of the event was Lion Narendra Shonchhatra. In his speech, Mr Surendra Popat, the new president said "it is my immense honour and privilege to lead our club. I am grateful of all the members who have bestowed their trust in me for this position and will do my utmost to fulfil my role to the best of my abilities". He went to say, "We are looking forward to a busy 2016/2017 in the upcoming months, we will be working on a new fundraiser and community service project". Each year we have Hanuman Chalisa, Diwali function, and Mehfil in December, and we raise funds for various charities and our aim is to help others who are not as fortunate as us. The year will start with Jalaram Bhajan and Bhojan at the Jalaram temple (Repton Avenue) in Sudbury on 7th July 2016 at 7PM.

Pear for an Apple

According to scientist Amit Dhingra pre-sliced pears could make the fruit as popular as apples who is keeping the pears fresh with the help of new technology. Professor Dhingra who works for the department of horticulture at Washington State university said “ Apples are ready to eat off the tree. But it’s a different story with pears.”

Professor Dhingra’s innovation involves applying a new compound that helps ripen pears after they have been treated with SmartFresh. Professor Amit Dhingra is also known among fruit growers as “Yogi Pear”.

Hindu Forum of Europe gets new President

At its recent Annual General Meeting, the Hindu Forum of Europe has elected Dr Lakshmi Vyas as its new President.

Dr. Lakshmi Vyas is an educationist cum academician and has earlier served as the Principal of Elphinstone College, one of the most reputed colleges in Mumbai before moving to Britain. Her knowledge on Hinduism and her objective towards uniting the Hindus of Europe under one umbrella makes her the most suitable person to head the HFE. She is also member of Religious Education Council, UK. Hindu Forum of Europe has six countries in membership with two more in pipeline. “Hindus re not recognised under a religious category in many European countries, but under “others”. Hindu Forum of Europe strives to protect the rights of Hindus, run temples in these countries”, says the newly elected president.

UK Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Farrukh Dhondy, Writer Extraordinaire and anti Privatisation of C4 Farrukh Dhondy is one of the most prolific Indian origin writers in the world.

He writes for Film, TV, books and columns. His productivity is mind-blowing.

He always wanted to be a writer, but his writing career took off when he wrote several short pieces about his experience as a school teacher in London in a multicultural school. It was the 1970s and Farrukh was part of a radical political group- the British Black Panther Movement which ran a weekly newspaper for which I wrote these ‘stories’. The newssheet featured the experience of members in their workplace.

“My stories of happenings in a multicultural school became a regular feature and one day, despite the pieces being published without a by-line (no bourgeois egotism of authorship here!) a publisher from Macmillan’s tracked me down and said he wanted a book of short

Farrukh Dhondy stories from me. He said, memorably, “an audience for writing about the experience of immigrants to this country exists, but the books don’t.” He was inviting me to be a pioneer of ‘Multicultural literature,’ said Dhondy, indicating a dislike of the term.

He wrote four books for Macmillan.

Then a TV producer asked the Parsee to turn his short stories into a series for the BBC. “I had quit teaching and trusted myself to earn a living as a writer, and this was a break. Other series followed, situation comedies and dramas. It was 1982 and Britain’s new TV Channel 4 was entrusted

by the UK parliament to do programmes that other TV channels, including the BBC had neglected.”

So Channel 4 had recruited a Commissioning Editor for Multicultural programming who would get material about and from the new communities of Britain in every shape and TV genre—documentaries, feature films, drama series, art work, experimentation, sport – anything was possible. The channel featured several of Farrukh’s programmes. He worked as a writer from the outside for it.

“In 1983, the first Commissioning Editor, Sue Woodford, who had commissioned several series from me including the sit-com Tandoori Nights, left for the US with her husband.” Her husband had become a peer and she was now Lady Hollick.

Farrukh continues, “The Channel needed a replacement and its Chief Executive invited me to lunch at a fancy restaurant, treated me to an expensive bottle of Claret and asked me if I’d take the job and replace Sue. I said I’d never thought of an office job, I enjoyed being a writer and was earning enough that way.

‘You realise that could dry up,’ he said. I couldn’t refuse. I took the job.

I thought I’d stay in the

9

tional film of Shekhar job for two years. I stayed Kapur.” for fourteen! Channel Four The government and gave the Commissioning some potential buyers have Editors absolute leeway. estimated the commercial We were assigned budgets worth of Channel 4 and are according to the bids we taking soundings about made for them and were selling this public service then left to spend the milbroadcaster on the open lions on programming as market. imaginatively as we could.

“It would turn an enterThe editorial freedom prise that began as an allowed me and my colimportant and corrective leagues to drive a wedge of cultural venture into just creativity into another commercial Mainstream TV.” channel catering to Channel 4 the lowest common pioneered a Channel Four denominator of new era in TV popular taste. in Britain gave the There is no and influcommissioning upside for the e n c e d editors viewing public but Channels it would certainly around the absolute give the owner a world. leeway. licensed up and Farrukh running vehicle to determined that make millions,” comhis programming ments Farrukh, grimly. would not be about This year Dhondy has anti-racism or about written a couple of screen‘positive images’ of Black plays, for India and for a and Asian people. “That UK director, both of which would bore the public. So I are close to being financed commissioned a provocaand produced. “On August tive current- affairs and the 15th Rumour books of international news series India will publish my stab called The Bandung File at a history of India – an whose editors were the opinionated if simplified radical journalists and version entitled India My activists, Tariq Ali and India. And Hachette will Darcus Howe. I also set out publish the third in my to pioneer a different sort semi-autobiographical trilof subcontinental film – ogy called Cambridge not Bollywood and not ‘art.’

Company.”

So I commissioned the first This gifted artist never feature films of Mira Nair, stops, long may he continof Deepa Mehta, of Jamil ue to bless us with his talDehlavi and’‘Bandit ent.

Queen;’ the first interna-

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READERS’ VOICE

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Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

Case for airport expansion is fantasy The case for airport expansion is built on sand; the vote to leave the EU must bring it crumbling down.

The Transport Secretary's announcement to delay the controversial decision on how to move forward with airport expansion in the South East is political manoeuvring at its most cowardly by a government in disarray.

More than that, however, passing the buck on this call demonstrates the Conservatives fundamentally miss the point. It is time to recognise that the case for expansion is fantasy.

It is, and always has been, a myth that the UK faces an airport capacity crisis; we already fly more than any other country, yet the huge budgets of the airport and pro-expansion lobbies are busy trying to convince us otherwise. All but one UK airport is under-capacity and demand is likely to fall, rather than rise, following Britain's decision to leave the EU. Nine of the ten most popular destinations from Britain's busiest airport are short haul flights. Existing rail services could offer workable alternatives on most of these routes, thus freeing up landing slots for longer haul flights. As trains are ten times less polluting than planes, this would also be better for the environment.

We cannot hope to meet vital climate change targets while building major new runways – the two policies are wholly incompatible.

Furthermore, the economic case cited by the Airports Commission when recommending expansion was based on implausibly optimistic assumptions.

These assumptions cannot claim any credibility, especially in light of the current economic uncertainty.

With the economic case for expansion no longer tenable and environmental case never adding up, it is clear that it's time for the government, whatever shape it might take, to be bold and dismiss these proposals out of hand.

Keith Taylor Green Party MEP for the South East European Parliament

Breakthrough in diabetic blood test There is good news for type 1 diabetic suffers who may have to test their sugar level up to twelve times day, pricking fingers which become painful over number of years. Cambridge scientists have developed a test whereby the exhaled air will tell the sugar level without the need of testing blood.

Low sugar level, Hypos can suddenly trigger life threatening fits, sending the patient in a coma, thus the need to test blood sugar level every few hours, needing patients to keep handy sugar products, like glucose cubes, sweet chocolate to be taken at the first sign of sugar level dropping.

Presences of high level of certain chemicals in the breath expelled indicate the dropping of sugar level, alerting the patient of imminent danger. As the test is not intrusive, it can be carried out as many times as necessary without any side effects.

As with any new drugs invented, it has to be thoroughly tested on volunteers before it could be widely available to public. So it may take few years before it is available on NHS. But the preliminary results are encouraging. So let us hope for the best.

Kumudini Valambia By email

EU Ref vs Indian Vote

EU Ref vs Indian Vote

The EU Ref results once again reinforced there is same major changes in the voting pattern of Indian voters. Leicester, Brent & Harrow all voted to Remain.

But dig down a little bit more and you find Leicester East which has 49% Indian voters which on paper was in the top ten solid Remain, actually voted Leave, similarly Harrow East with 30% Indian voters also voted Leave and Brent North 32.9% Indian voters also voted Leave.

One person within Labour who recognised this shift is ex Leicester Cll Sundip Meghani who highlight in 2005 and his concern Labour were taking Indian voters for granted while Tories were proactively engaging with Indian voters. Hopefully if Labour are really serious they should have people like Sandip to help it reengage its too late. One thing is clear if MP's in these seats pledge to re-join EU in there manifesto for 2020 General Elections they may find on the wrong side again.

Ravi Shah Harrow

Challenges of Integration

Just to congratulate you and let you how much I have enjoyed reading your article on the "Challenges of integration". It is full of information giving the historical background and the key dates of the previous events taken place. I found the references given to Sir Winston Churchill and Chanakya very interesting and well researched.

Charu Jasani By email

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Labour Party has landed itself in a leadership crisis at the wrong time. This was the opportunity for them to take advantage of the disarray in the Tory Party and fill in the vacuum created by the Brexit fiasco, rather than shooting themselves in the foot.

Sudden resignations by the shadow cabinet members and the vote of no confidence in Jeremy Corbin’s leadership by the Labour parliamentary members could have been resolved in a much better and sensible way rather than confrontation and levying accusations. It is not easy to hound out a democratically elected leader by undemocratic means. Its effects are counter-productive and cause disunity and divisions unnecessarily in the Party and the membership. This could have been avoided but fear of losing their seats the Labour members of parliament resorted to pressurising the leader to resign rather than follow the laid constitutional procedures in replacing a leader.

Now to resolve is issue in a fair way is to have another election of the leader as laid down in the Constitution based on one man/woman vote. All organisations should follow the rules laid down in such situations. Whoever wins, everyone should accept the result with good grace and put an end to the bickering and levelling of aspersions. At the end of the day the majority’s will should prevail. That is democracy and the acceptable way. Or is there another way?

Baldev Sharma Harrow

Michael Gove

As there are five candidates, every Tuesday and Thursday from July 5, secret ballots will be held until two candidates emerge. This will be among 330,000 Conservative members. When the final two candidates emerge, a secret ballot will take place and one final one will be chosen. Result will be announced on September 9.

Michael Gove is likely to be announced as the new Prime Minister. He plans to postpone triggering clause 50 until 2017. By this I believe he is adding 113 days to the 75 days delay that would already have happened by September 9th. With two year limit to negotiations we are just adding another six months to one year to worldwide market uncertainty. Ideally he should trigger clause 50 as soon as possible after he is appointed so that EU/UK can start formal negotiations.

Nagindas Khajuria By email

Conscious uncoupling

We the British people, after a 43 year wait, delivered a verdict on June 23rd to separate ourselves from the so called “European Union”. (There is no union, Mrs Merkel unilaterally invited migrants and also dealt with Turkey). Now, it is the responsibility and duty of the politicians and bureaucrats to work out a conscious uncoupling. Everyone should remember that we are still a member of the most advanced family of European Nations and have not drifted away in the Pacific Ocean.

On our side it seems that both major political party leaders are behaving like a pack of jackals bickering over a piece of meat. They have neither shown a matured response to the democratic event or a vision for the future of this great nation. There is no going back without destroying our democratic values which we dearly cherish. On the other side, the conduct of Mr Juncker and others in Brussels by giving a warm reception to Mrs Sturgeon does not seem right unless their intentions are rotten.

We have not lost any of our enterprising spirit, talents and value system. Let us all unite as a citizenry of this sovereign nation and resolve to create our own brighter future by judicially dealing with Europe and developing a closer relationship with more than 7 billion other decent humans on our earth.

Narsibhai Patel New Malden

British politics in the doldrums

In my fifty years living here, I never saw two main political parties in such turmoil, being eaten away with infighting, Conservative moving to Right and Labour to extreme Left where Jews, Hindus and other ethnic minorities feel unappreciated under leadership of unpredictable Jeremy Corbin who has made Labour unelectable with 80% MPs in open revolt. Yet Labour is being flooded with Left leaning members enjoying unprecedented surge in membership in living memory.

Michael Gove, an arsonist turned fireman and his associates used popularity of Boris Johnson with electorate to win Brexit referendum, then promptly stabbed him in the back in one of the most brutal betrayal ever witnessed in British politics, putting in shade even turbulent Indian politics where such a scenario is not uncommon! Boris who surrendered so meekly has lost his invincibility and our respect. How come decent leaders like John Major, George Brown, Michael Hazeltine and Neal Kinnock have lost their influence? Could British politics ever regain its sense of fair play? Let us hope Teresa May will provide stability and Labour under new leader effective opposition that is the hallmark of true democracy or are we heading for “Banana Republic” type democracy?”

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email Continued on page 11

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Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

Pupils 'fear being forced out' Young pupils from European backgrounds fear they may be forced to leave Britain, heads are warning in an open letter to the Prime Minister.

National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby says many are fearful of a potential rise in racism and community conflict. He called for a government statement to reassure European Union pupils.

David Cameron has told MPs that EU nationals' rights are guaranteed while Britain remains in the EU. And he stressed that those in the Leave campaign also wanted to guarantee the rights of those working and studying in Britain.

"But," he added, "we

can't say that now, we have to say that as part of the negotiation that will shortly take place."

Mr Hobby said in his letter: "Pupils are worried about being forced to leave Britain.

"They are fearful of a potential rise in racism and community conflict. They are concerned about their

prospects in an uncertain and isolated Britain.

"It is not just the economic markets that need calming. Our young people need a statement from the government to address their fears.

"Our schools are the places in which we shape our future as a nation. Our teachers and school leaders can help young people make sense of dramatic changes and build their own plans.

"To do this, we need clarity, swiftly. Please do not ignore the impact of the EU referendum result on the next generation."

The National Union of Teachers is now working on materials to teachers to use in schools at a time of increasing racial tension.

Readers Voice Invasion of Istanbul

Don’t panic! This city of Turkey has not been invaded by another country.

Rather it came under attack by Islamic State militants. At least 36 people were killed and 147 were injured when terrorists armed with bombs and assault rifles opened fire and detonated explosives at Ataturk airport. How could we put a stop to this indiscriminate killings of people who may have caused no offence or harm to these suicide bombers? In recent months, two attacks in Paris were followed by the attack in Brussels. Then there was the outrage in Orlando.

Having been to Marmaris in Turkey for a holiday, I can say that the Turks are the most friendly and hospitable people. The country boasts of a range of beautiful places, not to mention the while rockey paths of Pamukale or the rejuvanating and healing mud baths, or the hamams and a swim in Cleopatra’s pool! These are my fond memories of a beautiful country. Since the attacks at Sharm-elSheikh in Egypt or the coup in Tunisia, people have stopped using these places as holiday destinations. I sincerely hope that this recent attack in Istanbul will not stop people from holidaying there. There must be a way of stopping such killings from happening again and again. How can we make the world a safer place for us, our children and the posterity to live in? The inequality between the haves and have-nots must be the culprit and needs to be tackled.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Brexit blues

Morgan says teachers' strike 'unnecessary' Tuesday’s strike by teachers in England would "harm children's education" and inconvenience parents, says Education Secretary Nicky Morgan.

The National Union of Teachers staged a strike over what it says is inadequate school funding.

NUT acting leader Kevin Courtney called for an increase in funding to meet rising costs for schools. But Mrs Morgan says the strike would "damage the profession's reputation in the eyes of the public".

The strike by one of the country's biggest classroom unions saw many schools closed and disrupted. The union also staged a series of regional rallies and marches in support of the strike. The education secretary on Monday said the walk-out was "unnecessary" and accused the union of "playing politics with children's futures".

Teachers held a strike on Tuesday over funding for schools

Mrs Morgan said the government had protected school funding "when other areas of spending are having to be reduced".

Mr Courtney, the NUT's acting general secretary, said the union "wholeheartedly apologised" for disruption to parents, adding: "Teachers do not take strike action lightly."

"The problems facing education, however, are too great to be ignored and we know many parents share our concerns.

"The strike is about the underfunding of our schools and the negative impact it is having on children's education and teachers' terms and conditions."

Mr Courtney said it meant teaching posts were being cut or not filled and that class sizes would have to be increased. But Mrs Morgan, writing to Mr Courtney, said: "I am sorry that you have chosen the path of disruption over negotiation and discussion."

In the aftermath of a referendum, our pragmatic and principled PM David Cameron has announced his resignation in due course and rightly so.

There is a mutiny in the Labour party and Jeremy authority as its leader has been challenged.

The country is experiencing the worst crisis ever. There have been number of xenophobic incidents in the country.

People, especially the ethnic minorities are nervous, gripped with panic and fear.

There is a climate of uncertainty all around. The economy seems to be in the doldrums. The nation is divided.

Scotland and N.Ireland that voted to remain are dissatisfied with the result and may want to go their own way.

After 42 years in marriage with E.U., the divorce is not amicable.

In the situation, favourable terms for the access of single market are very unlikely.

Boris Johnson appears to have put his person interest before the Nation and mislead the public.

The immigration issue remains in hanging if E.U. single market is to be accessible.

David Cameron, a great statesman, had spelled out the catastrophe foreseen by him all along during his campaign for leaving E.U. but sadly there was lack of trust in him.

Now let Boris Johnson and his cronies face the music.

Niranjan Vasant By email

Brexit - sowing seeds of racism and hatred Why after Brexit is the UK flag still hanging in Oxford Street?

Tony Blair sowed the seed of "the bomber" after the illegal invasion of Iraq and the Iraq war, and now Britain is sowing the seed of "racism and hatred".

"Brexit" added more fuel to the far

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David Cameron is now sowing the seed of an unequal society.

Yam Gurung (rtd) By email

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MEDIA WATCH

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Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

There is tumult and uncertainty in Britain, varying degrees of apprehension abroad following the Brexit referendum victory.

The establishments in the UK and EU, certain Remain party would carry the day, scarcely gave thought to possible defeat.

Shock and awe have characterized their reactions to the decline and fall of those believing in their divine right to rule, come what may. Election results have nothing to do with approval ratings.

Instead of sulking as bad losers, the Remain would do well to accept the democratic verdict with grace and move. It is preposterous to suppose that a second referendum would be possible or that the Scottish Assembly could veto the David Cameron after Brexit defeat people’s mandate.

Stakeholder It will take time for the tumult in Britain to die down and things to fall into place before normal political life resumes. India is a major stakeholder in the British economy. Eight hundred Indian companies have investments in Britain – indeed, India is thirdlargest investor in the country – hence a take from one of the captains of Indian indury on the impact of the UK situation on India should be of interest.

India to ridev out crisis

India’s Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, reacting to the Brexit vote, said, ‘We are well prepared to deal with the short and medium term consequences to Brexit.

Our macro-economic fundamentals are sound with a very comfortable external position, a rocksolid commitment to fiscal discipline, and declining inflation.

Our immediate and mediumterm fire walls are solid too in the form of a healthy reserve position.’

According to Shaktikanta Das, Economic Affairs Secretary, Government of India, India will ‘stabilize faster than others.’ He said: ‘It is difficult to predict how long the volatility will persist but we expect Indian markets to stabilize than other markets mainly due to our strong macro-economic parameters.’

Positives

Robust growth; high foreign exchange reserves 2)Lower commodity prices 3)Room for rate cut as price pressures abate 4) Expectation of robust monsoon, revival of rural demand 5) Government’s reform measures.

However, much will also depend on fast and smoothly Britain’s exit from the EU is negotiated.

Opportunities for India in UK

While India will have to await further developments, consequent to Brexit, but if the statement of Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP is anything to go by, Indians will be in a position to benefit. Why? Because, says Mr

India top destination for R&D investments

Farage, ‘people from India and Australia are more likely to speak English, understand common law and have a connection with the country,’ than, say, people from Eastern Europe. According to BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Swapan Dasgupta, ‘Brexit signals new opportunities for India and Indians.’ (Times of India June 27)

List of leaders

‘From April to December 2015, we found details of 190 ER&D centre announcements, India leads the pack with 57 per cent of those ER&D announcements.

Other countries are the US, China, Singapore, France, Israel, the UK, South Korea and Ireland,’ said Pareekh Jain, Research Director at Hfs research. The ‘Make in India’ and ‘Sell in India’ are making a visible impact on the market. (Business Line June 28)

The Indian Army’s efforts to acquire more lethal weaponry received a major boost with the government’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approving the purchase of America’s M777 ultra-light Howitzer, and the indigenous Dhanush howitzers.. The US howitzers will be particularly effective in mountain warfare on the borders with China.

Other acquisitions

The DAC chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, approved 19 other acquisitions, including the much anticipated Russian S-440 Triumph air

Confidence in India

Honeywell, a Fortune 100 American multinational firm, has already invested $200 million in its largest global engineering centre in Bangalore in the current year, where 6,000 of its 8,000 engineers in India operate. The company plans to accelerate its investments in India, where its businesses are clocking growth thrice as fast the country’s GDP. Honeywell President Shane Tedjarati, speaking to the Hindu newspaper, said:: ‘There is lot of engineering talent here – India is one the biggest exporters of talent for Honeywell. Some of our biggest leaders now come from India.

Centre of gravity

‘For us, India is becoming the world’s centre of gravity for innovation and production…we have five major engineering centres with 8,000 engineers and seven manufacturing sites here. All our Indian businesses are growing healthily at double-digit rates…

Over the last 12 months, we have ramped up up to make India a global centre for finance,’ said Tedjarti (Hindu June 27)

Sukhoi aircraft tests BrahMos missiles

India’s arrival as a global hub for research and development (R&D) is epitomized in the strides it has made, and is making, in attracting in R&D investments in electronics and Information Technology, beating the US and Germany. According to the latest report by the US-based Hfs Research, India leads with 30 per cent of the global ER&D centre announcements.

India’s defence purchases

UKIP leader Nigel Farage

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In a landmark development, India’s frontline Sukhoi 30MKI warplanes have integrated the heavy 2,500 kg supersonic cvo-developed Indo-Russian force multiplier BrahMos cruise missile in its armoury by modifying the aircraft’s frame. The successful test flight took place at Nashik, where a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) team witnessed the flight. HAL Chairman & Managing Director, T.Suvarna Raju said a further 14 to 15 tests would be carried out before induction at the end of the year. HAL’s modification of the Sukhoi was ‘an engineering marvel,’ said Mr Raju.

Integration

BrahMos CEO and Managing Director S.K.Mishra, said: ‘The world did not believe that we could do it, and thanks to the vision of of the late President APJ Abdul Kalam, we did and made history.’ There was critical cooperation between different bodies in this endeavour. Forty Sukhois will carry this game changing missile (Hindu, Times of India June 26).

India joins elite missile group

India has been admitted to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). A ceremony marking membership of the group was held last week at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, where the French Ambassador-designate to India Alexandre Ziegler handed over the relevant papers to S. Jaishanker, India’s foreign secretary (administrative head of the ministry). Membership of the MTCR should improve India’s chances of eventually joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). (Hindu, Times of India, Telegraph June 28).

Economic Adviser to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The Prime Minister spoke warmly of Mr Rajan, saying tht he would always at the service of India, whenever required (Times of India, Hindu June 28)

Lead by example

Defence Manohar Parrikar

defence system, indigenously developed simulators for Jaguar aircraft and an electronic warfare system developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (Hindu June 26)

PM warning to Swamy

To the visible relief of the BJP mainstream, Prime Mini8ster Narendra Modi has issued a warning to the party’s maverick loudmouth Subramanian Swamy to button up. The unlicensed Swamy launched a swinging attack on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, followed another intemperate outburst at Arvind Subramanian, Chief

Mr Modi was speaking to the media, when he made veiled reference to the irresponsible and obstructionist tactics of the Congress party, which in its present dire straits is unelectable. But mentioning the Emergency yet again ad nauseam has its limits.

In fairness why does he not refer to Jayaprakash Narayan’s call to Army and Police to revolt against the government, and George Fernandes attempts to disrupt the country’s rail network through sabotage, prior to the declaration of the Emergency.

Indira Gandhi’s service

Mr Modi’s government in unable to handle Pakistan; Mrs Gandhi presided over its defeat and the thwarting of American and Chinese designs to keep the Pakistani military dictatorship afloat. Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has attacked the the Modi government’s craven Pakistan policy, highlighted by another jihadi attack on a paramilitary CRPF unit in Kashmir, resulting in eight fatalities and two of the jihadis shot dead.

Their weapons were of Pakistani make (Times of India June 27)

IS module busted

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has busted an Islamic State module in Hyderabad and arrested 11 men, including their handler, at ten different locations in the early hours of Wednesday (June 29) last week. The arrested men, in their 20s and 30s, were university graduates from a middle class background. The jihadis were getting funds via Dubai and had been under close watch for the past three months. Their recruitment took place through the Internet, Explosives, incrimination laptops and weapons were seized. Planed attacks were imminent when NIA operatives struck. Earlier in January, NIA arrested 25 men with IS links (Times of India, Hindu June 30)

Green shoots in rural India

Spending in rural India is rising steadily, leading to visible growth in the agriculture sector.

Increasing sales of tractors and mopeds have been recorded, pointing to green shoots of economic recovery following two years of drought. With a good monsoon forecast this year, revived rural growth is expected to spur overall national growth this fiscal (Business Line June 30).

UK/COMMUNITY Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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Reasons for Remainers to be Happy

I have lost count of the ironies of Brexit. If like me you were a remainer – there are many things to be happy about…just don’t tell the Brexiters!

It Gets Cheaper to Borrow – for the Government Well, we knew Brexit would bring a downgrading of the UK’s sovereign debt – but instead of that meaning that it costs more for the British Government to borrow money from the international debt markets to fund the budget deficit (ie the difference between its spending on things like NHS and how much it gets in tax); instead it became cheaper! I know. That is nuts. The reason is that in times of crisis the world turned to buy Gold, Swiss Francs, and…wait for it…British Government issued debt. So that brought the cost of borrowing by the UK government down. This is great news as you will see in a second.

Your Mortgage Gets Cheaper The Governor of the Bank of England pretty much said he is going to undertake policies which will effectively bring the cost of your mortgage down too. His aim was to avoid a recession and provide ‘growth’ policies as he feared a recession brought on by businesses investing less. So the Government wants you the consumer to spend more, or at least have more money to spend.

Corporation Tax Drops The Chancellor, fearful of a drop in investment by businesses and a drop in investment by overseas investors decides to slash corporation tax to 15%. Great. We should have a Brexit vote every year at this rate.

Austerity Ends Again the Chancellor announced he does not intend to cut Government spending in order to cut the annual deficit the government runs. By the looks of it he’s realised he can borrow at just above 1% fixed interest rate for 30 years and so should be spending on infrastructure and really does not need to worry about the deficit since it doesn’t cost much to run, and rather should borrow his way to growth to pay for it – I don’t mind!

It Becomes Easier to Export Well with Pound at a thirty year low – you know all export businesses will do a lot better. In the age of the internet and solo online entrepreneurs, this is great news.

But it gets better. The Pound dropping makes French and German imports just got more expensive – we just screwed the Germans and the French. Our businesses are more competitive compared to German and French imports.

The Stock Market Goes Up Really didn’t see this coming – the FTSE 100 is already back above the pre-Brexit levels and at the highest it has been all year. Seriously!

The Leaders for Brexit Resign Yeah…jobless BoJo and Farage…come on Remainers – you gotta laugh…and the next PM will be a Remainer too…who lost?

Dangers are Hidden Sadly, it is not all good news. Racism is up.

Investments will drop. Companies will cut jobs and move abroad. We won’t know the impact for a while. But if our luck continues we may well still do very well at this rate.

Athens – getting ready for Morari Bapu’s historic Ram Katha With less than a month to go, preparations are well underway for Morari Bapu’s historic Ram Katha in Athens.

Athens, renowned for being the birthplace and cradle of democracy, will host this Katha at a poignant time as Europe comes to terms with waves of changes across the continent. The nine day Katha will be held at the Intercontinental Athenaeum Hotel, on the doorstep of the Acropolis of Ancient Greece from Saturday 23rd July to Sunday 31st July.

The Katha, which is being organised by a team of dedicated, young volunteers from the UK, is expected to attract thousands to the city from

across the world to take refuge in Bapu’s teaching of Satya, Prem and Karuna; Truth, Love and Compassion.

Bapu’s Vyas Pith will pay tribute to Socrates and other great scholars from Ancient Greece including Plato and Aristotle; schol-

ars who helped shape the world as we know it today. Bapu hopes to touch on the teachings of all of these great Scholars and will help place their teachings within both the Hindu Scriptures and a modern context.

There is a wave of excitement amongst all attendees traveling to Athens this summer, particularly young people. Speaking exclusively to one attendee from the UK, he told Asian Voice/Gujarat Samachar, “I love Bapu, because he resonates with young people and the challenges we face living in the west. I think Europe is in need of Bapu’s wisdom! It will also be a great opportunity to

Was Arjuna the first and the most original journalist?

Anand Pillai Was Arjuna the first and the most original journalist? I sometimes wonder he was. Although no-one calls him one or for that matter he has never ever been labelled as a journalist in the epic Mahabharata, I think he was one. My feeling stems from the wonderful dialogue that he had with Lord Krishna when he developed cold feet at the beginning of the Mahabharata war.

If you closely look at the questions he asked his charioteer guide and friend Krishna – the Supreme Personality of Godhead, according to Hindu mythology – during the Bhagavad Gita, you realise that they could have come only from a brilliant student with a journalistic bent of mind.

And so was the supreme archer, I guess. I think Lord Krishna initially only wanted to teach Arjuna about his supreme duty (Karma Yoga) which is beautifully mentioned in Chapter 2 verse number 47 of the Bhagavad Gita.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo stvakarmaṇi (You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not explore this Ancient capital.”

This summer, Athens will join the list of other global cities, such as Jerusalem, Vatican City, Mount Kailash and Toronto, all of whom have had the honour of hosting Bapu’s Kathas.

Bapu has been reciting The Ramcharitmanas for over fifty years. During each Katha, Bapu selects a couplet from The Ramcharitmanas and expounds upon its meaning, explaining its relevance for modern day life.

Although Bapu is Hindu and uses ancient Hindu texts to illustrate his teachings, he insists there is nothing reli-

entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.)

This sloka from Bhagavad Gita is a philosophy that is common knowledge and universally applicable. It applies to everyone whether you believe in it or not.

The point here to make is – in today's world almost all the journalists know the answer to the questions they pose to the authority. So there isn't much revelation to them, because they know what is coming. There is no excitement in hearing the reply. They are only interested in getting the quote from the horse's mouth.

But Arjuna was not satisfied with Krishna's sermon on duty. His inquisitiveness grew further and he kept on asking questions, and the Lord revealed himself. And the Bhagavad Gita graduated from Karma Yoga to Bhakti Yoga and finally to Gyana Yoga. Altogether there are 18 chapters in the Song of God with 700 verses. The first six chapters talk about Karma Yoga, the next six focus on Bhakti Yoga and the last six emphasise on Gyana Yoga.

But in Arjuna's case it was different. He didn't know the answer. He only had questions to pose to the authority (Krishna).

Each and every revelation from the Lord was a revelation to Arjuna, each and every reply from the God was an education for Arjuna. And that's what makes him stand out from the horde of journalists we have today.

Now, do you think I am wrong in assuming Arjuna was the first and the most original journalist?

gious about his beliefs and calls for acceptance of all faiths.

A spokesperson for the Katha has said, “Spiritual lessons are fundamentally inclusive and it’s this open, practical approach to living a life rooted in the foundation of Truth, Love and Compassion that millions around the world find so compelling. As today’s youth abandon the mantle of religion, disillusioned with illogical decrees and unjustified righteousness, it’s no surprise that Bapu has so many devout, young followers.

Free from the binds of religion, Bapu’s teachings allow

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14

FBI 2016

FINANCE, BANKING AND INSURANCE MAGAZINE LAUNCHED AT A GALA EVENING IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

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AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Rupanjana Dutta

worked in different functions such as Branch Operations, Credit Department, Treasury Operations and International Operations.

Prior to coming to UK in 2013, he was part of Bank’s UAE team for 4 years. In absence of BoB Chief Executive, European Operations, Mr Dhimant Trivedi, at the event, Mr Sachdeva introduced the bank to the attendees and described the role it plays in the UK as well as globally and among the diaspora.

The FBI magazine was formally launched by Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, CB Patel and Pradeep Sachdeva. The evening was a spectacular success, with plenty more to follow in the coming years.

Thursday 30th June, the Members Dinning Room in House of Commons witnessed the official release of the 16th Finance, Banking and Ins0urance (FBI) magazine amidst prestigious guests. Delicious canapes and beverages were also served- making it an evening to remember.

Pradeep Sachdeva, Deputy General Manager, Bank of Baroda, London Main Office

Compere Rakesh Shah, Managing Director, Kingly Capital

The annual FBI magazine, published by the Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, covers a range of financial products and services. The selectively published articles, written by experts are much sought after as tips for investments or otherwise. The magazine has its unique distinction being the only recognised finance and business publication tailored to meet the needs of the Asian community.

The event was hosted

by Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, and present at the event were Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, CB Patel, Adam Holloway MP and Pradeep Sachdeva, Deputy General Manager, London Main Office from Bank of Baroda. BoB UK was one of the key sponsors of the FBI event. The compere for the evening was Rakesh Shah, MD Head of Trading Strategies, Kingly Capital.

Yadav Bhandari, Pashupati Bhandari with CB Patel and other guests

Reena Popat (Carter Bond Solicitors), Pragnesh Modhwadia (Axiom Stone Solicitors) Jay Gajjar, Parul Gajjar

Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, Pradeep Sachdeva, Deputy General Manager, BoB (London Main Office) and CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar officially launch the magazine

The evening started with a networking session, followed by an official welcome by the Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, who briefly touched upon the Brexit issues, the current political cauldron and talked at length about diabetes. He paid triibute to the attendees- and the contributions they all make through various businesses and professions. Silver Star was the charity for the evening and people bought raffle tickets to support it, some won fantastic prizes- including a House of Commons whisky and a ticket to Leicester City match. Mr Vaz described our Editor

CB Patel as the doyen of the media world- and a community leader, everyone looks upto.

CB thanked Mr Vaz, the attending guests, and told the audience how the Asian community has always helped Britain during its difficult times since the 19th century. He also

Surendra Popat, Dinesh Sonchhatra, Divya Kumar Shah and Chetan Shah with L George, (ABPLGroup)

Prideview Management team- Jesal Patel, Nilesh Patel, Vishal Patel, Priyen Patel and Pritesh Patel

James Newell, Rovin George (ABPL Group), Chandru Iyer and Tom Moore (Kingston Smith)

Kishore Gohel and Ankur Sharma

subtly urged the community to help the country now, as Brexit looms dark clouds of uncertainties over Britain.

Mr. Pradeep Sachdeva joined Bank of Baroda in 1986 and in a career spanning over 30 years, has risen to the rank of Deputy.

General Manager. He has

Wallace Wormley, Howard Lewis-Nunn, Rakesh Ramana, Director, Santander Bank, Kishore Parmar (ABPL Group) Ramnik Hindocha (Sam Travel) and Upendra Pandya (Dave and Sons)

Mr and Mrs Amarnath Telwar, Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP and Gurpal Gill

Bhavesh Bhudia and Rekha Kanji

Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, Prmediapix Video courtesy: Vineet Johri

Samit Biswas and Ajay Rathi

Cecil A Soans (ABPL Group), Rakesh Shah, MD Kingly Capital; Subhash V Thakrar, Partner CBW Blackstone Franks LLP

Virender Adhikari and Salil Kumar

AAA-2016 Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

15

The People's Choice Awards awaiting your nomination this year The Asian Achievers Awards (AAA), also known as The People's Choice Awards, organised by Asian Business Publications Limited (ABPL), is a star-studded event where the renown and crème de la crème attend to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution and hard work of the British Asians in today's society. The awards has been taking place annually; this will be the 16th ceremony and will be held at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel, in September 2016.

The awards recognises the outstanding work from the individuals from across all walks of life within the Asian community, and acknowledge the accomplishments of the finest in the UK's Asian community.

Each year, the awards illustrate and celebrate a certain aspect of society, and this year there will be an emphasis on the Professional of the Year category.

There are ten categories for the Asian Achievers Awards. We shall tell you about the other categories

Asian female football agent approved by the F o o t b a l l Association (FA) and Ira Banerjee, Britain’s top badminton star.

The Uniformed & Civil Services, is Moeen Munir Ali given in recognition for the outstanding achievements or contribution to the community through any of the above services.

Last year the theme for Asian Achievers Awards 2015 was Uniformed & Kamran Khan on behalf of Moeen Ali (centre), with Robin Civil Services, it made winChhabra, Group Director, William Hill (left) and Greg Dyke, ning the award even more Chairman of Football Association, inset Moeen Munir Ali special. Lance Corporal chair of the Muslim in the coming weeks. This Tuljung Gurung of the Women’s Sport week we will talk about two Royal Gurka Rifles took Foundation (MWSF) and categories: Sports home the award last year. the only muslim woman Personality of Year and Shortlisted canUniformed & Civil didates included Services.

Imam Asim The Sports Hafiz OBE MA is Personality of Year the dedicated is awarded to a Islamic Religious sports person who Advisor to the is successful in the Chief of the field of sport. Last Defence Staff year the celebrated and Service member among the 21 cricketer, Mooen Ali took Chiefs, Jaswant Kaur Football Association (FA) home the award.

Narwal is the Chief Crown Council, Sheneela Ahmed, Shortlisted candidates Prosecutor for the Crown Britain’s and world’s only included Rimla Aktar, Prosecution Service in

PRESENTS

ASIAN ACHIEVERS

AWARDS

The people’s choice awards

Lance Corporal Tuljung Gurung (centre), with Michael Fallon MP (left) and Air Marshal Sir Bal North

South East region and Makhdum (Mak) Ali Chisty is a Chief Officer with Met Police leading on Community Engagement

and also is the national lead responsible for Honour Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation, and Religion and Belief.

There are many British Asians in the UK who deserve the recognition along with their contributions in their respective fields. If you know someone who has contributed to the community, has broken the glass celling and deserves recognition then nominate them online at www.asianachieversawards.com or register their details on the nomination form below.

Deadline for nominations is 31 July 2016.

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

NOMINATION FORM

The prestigious Asian Achievers Awards is hosted every year by UK’s leading news weeklies Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to honour British Asians par excellence. If there is someone you know who has broken boundaries and deserves recognition for their unique contribution to the community and the nation then please nominate them for one of the awards listed below.

Make sure that you fill in this application form and send it on or before 31st July, 2016 by post, fax or email to Mr. L George, Tel: 020 7749 4013, Fax 020 7749 4081, Email: aaa@abplgroup.com. If you are sending it by post the address is Mr. L George, ABPL Group, Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW.

Please tick the appropriate category Uniformed and Civil Services For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or contribution to the community through any of the above services.

Entrepreneur of the Year Awarded to an entrepreneur with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.

Achievement in Community Service In recognition for an individuals service to community.

Woman of the Year The award will recognise and honour a woman who has made a significant mark in any chosen field.

Sports Personality of the Year Awarded for excellence in sports.

Professional of the Year Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen profession.

Business Person of the Year Awarded to a business person who is a success in every sense of the word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social issues.

Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture Someone who has made a mark in media including print and broadcast media; cinema, art and culture.

Lifetime Achievement Award To honour those individuals, who during their lifetime, have made immense contributions in any given field. This remarkable individual can be marked as an example for the younger generation.

Application Form Full Name of the Person you are Nominating: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ His/Her Contact Details (Tel & email): ___________________________________________________Occupation of the Nominee:____________________________________________ Plea s e a tta ch the Nominee s' s CV w hic h include s the f ollow ing informa tion (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) (1) Personal background ( 2) Most important career achievements till date.

(3 ) Nominee's contribution to the community and nation.

(4 ) Future Plans, ambitions and visions.

( 5) Any notable obstacles in the Nominee's career that has helped him/her to reach where they are today.

Summary- (Please include a summary in not more than 150 words why the nominee is worthy of winning the particular award in a separate sheet) Your name and contact details: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your current Occupation/Company: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your contact ____________________________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________________________

Radio Partner

16

SPECIAL

Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

SOMME & 7/7 BOMBINGS

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Somme Centenary: Remembering the Fallen Anand Pillai

Imagine 1916. Europe was in the grips of the most destructive conflict yet known – the Great War or the World War I. Much of the brutal battle took place on the Western Front where British, French and German armies were locked in a bloody stalemate along 450 miles of trenches.

Neither side could break the deadlock. The combination of barbed wire, machine guns and heavy artillery meant troops trying to cross No Man’s Land, the open ground between the trenches, were decimated en masse. But the Allies were determined to free the areas of Belgium and France occupied by Germany.

British soldiers leave their trenches at the Somme

its wall are names of the sacrifice not just of the 72,000 soldiers. Each one thousands of British and mines were detonated The British and French died on the battle of Commonwealth troops who under German bastion. had agreed to launch a joint Somme but their body was gave their lives, but of the In the 7 days leading up offensive in the summer of never found. So they don’t men on all sides who did to the big push 1.5 million 1916. But before that in have a grave of their own. not return home”. shells were fired from the February the Germans Commonwealth and launched a massive attack The fallen Handing out cards French trenches. Germans on the French fortress city As part of Battle of the remembered waited for the shelling to of Verdun. Its defence Somme commemorations, The thousands of soldiers stop. At 7.30am when required all the available commuters in London who perished on the first British officers blew their French reserves. So the were stopped in their tracks day of the Battle of the whistles, the Allied troops summer offensive was led by volunteers dressed as Somme have been honwent over the top. Lying in by the British. Its main World War I soldiers, oured at commemorations wait the German troops objective was to take the singing “We are here in the UK and France. raised themselves up from pressure off the French at because we are here”.

The Prince of Wales their dug-outs to set up Verdun.

The 1,400 participants The attack was walked through to take place along train stations, a 25-mile front near shopping centhe River Somme in tres and high July.

General streets.

Each Douglas Haig was represented a the British comsoldier killed at mander on the the Somme on Western Front for July 1, 1916. most of World War They handed I. out cards across The Somme had Britain with the so far been a quiet sector allowing the French President Francois Hollande, Prince William, British PM David Cameron, name and regiment of their solGermans to build up Prince Harry and Prince Charles at the Theipval Memorial ceremony dier and, where strong defensive known, his age. Passerby and Prime Minister David their machine guns. And positions. In front of their said they were moved to Cameron joined French the rest is history. trenches there was barbed tears by the experience. president Francois In fact, some of the wire. Below were 10-metreHollande in remembering British soldiers assumed deep dug-outs to shelter those who sacrificed their Indian Soldiers' that German defences were German troops from lives for their country durSacrifice destroyed in the shelling artillery fire. ing a ceremony at the The World War I battle was and so they just walked The zero hour was Thiepval Memorial on the seen as a military tragedy over the No Man’s Land 7.30am. To overcome the former battlefield in the for Britain and expecting no resistance.

German’s formidable Picardy region of France.

Commonwealth countries.

However, much to their defences the British carried Duke and Duchess of Britain declared war dismay, the opposite hapout a week-long artillery Cambridge, Prince Harry against Germany on 4th pened. The Allied troops bombardment with 1,400 and the Duchess of August, 1914. became easy targets of the guns. This was expected to Cornwall also paid their The British German machine gunners. destroy German barbed tributes to the fallen.

Expeditionary Force did a The British infantry wires, flatten trenches and Some 10,000 people great job in holding superiadvanced bravely but were decimate their soldiers. The were invited and watched or German forces but after shot down one after the British were confident of the ceremony which includother. victory. But on the eve of ed Army personnel and July 1, 1916, was the the assault there were music from military bands. worst day in British milireports that the British The Duchess of tary history. bombardment had only Cornwall visited the grave By the end of the first been partially successful. of her great uncle, Captain day 57,000 Commonwealth 1.6 million shells were fired.

Harry Cubitt, who was the soldiers had been killed, But due to inexperienced eldest of three sons killed injured or missing. gun crews, a shortage of and the only one whose This was the biggest heavy guns and faulty body was found. single loss of lives in the shells, much of the German She was quoted on Sky history of the British Army. barbed wire remained News as saying: “It is such a The fighting continued intact. German defenders long time ago and it made over the next five months too remained unharmed in me suddenly realise what it and by the end of the battle their dug-outs. And from must have been like for my about 420,000 British solcaptured prisoners and lisgreat grandparents, to have diers had perished. The tening in to uncoded phone three sons within 18 battle would see both sides calls the Germans knew months of one another lose 1.2 million soldiers. exactly when and where the being killed.”

Today cemetries dot the British were coming.

The service was also country lanes of this part of On July 1, 1916, at attended by the Queen.

France. 100 years on they 7.20am the British detonatPrayers were also offered are maintained immacued a huge mine under for the First World War lately.

The Thiepval German strong point – the dead.

Memorial to the Missing of Hawthorn Redoubt – and Cameron said the 100the Somme is the largest the British troops rushed year commemoration Commonwealth war forward to occupy the allows people to “reflect on memorial in the world. On crater. At 7.28am further

2 months of hard Where is the Somme? fighting they had suffered very heavy The Somme is a river in northern casulties and had France and the fighting was reached the end of along a 40km line north and their capacity to hold south of the river, between Serre on further. It was at and Curlu. this critical juncture that the Indian diviThe Battle of the Somme sions were thrown in July 1 – November 18, 1916 to reinforce the Casualties during Battle of the B r i t i s h Somme Expeditionary Force.

German Soldiers: 500,000 Indian soldiers were British Soldiers: 419,654 deployed widely and French Soldiers: 204,253 fought in the battles British Soldiers on the first day of of Ypres, Neuve Battle of the Somme: 57,470 of Chapelle, the which 19,240 died.

Somme and Total Casualties: 1,123,907 Passchendaele and in even greater numcontribution to the two ber in Mesopotamia. world wars, said: “I am It is universally acceptgoing to wait for another ed that the arrival of Indian week or so to see how much divisions helped in stabilisthey say, because every time ing the line and prevented they talk about British solthe Germans from overrundiers’ contribution. I am ning France and reaching just waiting how much they the channel ports. mention it in the media.

The Indian forces were Only once or twice I heard however not equipped to British authorities say fight a modern war. They Commonwealth soldiers were trained and equipped without giving any specific to fight on North West figure. I am angry about it Frontier against tribal but I thought I will wait for forces. some more time. But this They were therefore illSomme thing is very very equipped to meet the conupsetting. They haven’t ditions they faced in given any breakdown of Europe. They entered the how many people (Indians war in mid-september at or from the the onset of a severe Commonwealth) died. You European winter. Clad in can’t keep on saying that so their summer uniforms and many British died. The equipped with obsolete Indians were soldiers of the weapons, yet they fought Raj. In a way we were with distinction, dedication under the British rule. lBut and courage, and helped to they haven’t mentioned break-up the repeated anything specific about German assaults.

Indian soldiers’ contribuBy the end of 1918, over tion. It’s very disappoint11 lakh Indian soldiers had ing.” served overseas, more than 74,000 died, and over 7/7 bombings 1,37,000 were wounded. anniversary Speaking to Asian On July 7, 2005, London Voice, Dr Kusoom was rocked by the worst Vadgama, a historian and single terrorist attack on an authority on the history British soil. of the Indian peoples in the A decade has passed British Empire, who has after the incident. This been fighting to give Indian week the Queen and Prime soldiers their due (in terms Minister David Cameron of recognition and will lead services to acknowledgement by the remember those caught in British) for their immense the crossfire.

A total of 52 people were killed in the attacks and more than 770 people were injured.

On the fateful day, four men with rucksacks full of explosives attacked central London. The target was London’s transport system, at the end of the morning rush hour. Four bombs went off there – three on the London underground and one on a bus.

The Tube station bombs went off at about 8.50am on trains near Liverpool Street and Edgware Road stations, and on another Tube train travelling between King’s Cross and Russell Square.

A fourth bomb went off on a bus in Tavistock Square, London, about an hour later.

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A HOME

CARE HOME SPECIAL Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

17

AWAY FROM

Moving your loved one to a care home is an emotional affair.

Not only finding the best one within affordable range is a tricky choice, the baggage of sending family members away to a care home is a difficult decision- especially within Asian households. While from childhood we are told about our duty to look after our elderly parents and grandparents, but even unwantedly we hand over our family members to care homes- often for their own safety and the much-needed round the clock attention.

However before you choose to move yourself or select a care home service for your family member you need to consider the following:

• Do you/your family member actually need a care home?

• What type of care home do you want?

• How do I find a care home in my area?

• What should I look for in a care home?

It may have been suggested to you that you need a care home because of an accident or some other event, but it is not always the right decision. In fact, there may be other options available, such as: • adapting your home to make life easier • getting some support to help you with things that are becoming difficult • moving into sheltered housing, where you can live independently but where there is support on-site.

What type of care home do you want?

Care homes are all different from one another, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for you.

They can be run by private companies, local authorities or voluntary organisations.

Care homes: Help with personal care, such as washing, dressing, taking medication and going to the toilet. They may also

HOME offer social activities such as day trips or outings.

Nursing homes: Sometimes called care homes with nursing.

Personal care as well as assistance from qualified nurses.

Care homes with dementia care: Sometimes called elderly mentally ill (EMI) homes. They are designed to make people with dementia feel comfortable and safe.

Dual-registered care homes: They accept residents who need both personal care and nursing care. This means that someone who initially just needs personal care but later needs nursing care won’t have to change homes.

How will you find a care home in your area?

Treat finding a suitable care home like buying a new house. You can initially search online. But after that go there and see the place personally. You need to get a feel for what’s out there before making a decision.

The Elderly Accommodation Counsel provides a directory of over 40,000 retirement housing and care homes in the UK. Or see HousingCare.org.

Personal recommendations are also important, so talk to friends or relatives, as they may be able to point you towards a home with a good reputation.

What should I ask for in a care home?

This list is very important and includes vital points for consideration, such assecurity, location, accessability, noise, wheelchair access, if it feels homely, if it's clean, if other residents have the same background as you, if there is a manager on site, if the rooms are airy, if visitors are welcome etc.

For a full and comprehensive checklist see: www.ageuk.org.uk/Document s/EN-GB/Informationguides/AgeUKIL5_care_home _checklist_inf.pdf?dtrk=true

Choice of accommodation for local authority-funded care home resident If you are a local authorityfunded care home resident, the Age UK explains what rights you have when

choosing which home you live in.

Government guidance on choice of care home accommodation allows you to choose which home you would like to live in. If you prefer a particular care home, the local authority must try to arrange accommodation in that home, subject to the following conditions: • the home chosen is suitable to meet the your assessed needs.

• it doesn't cost more than the local authority would expect for this type of accommodation.

• the provider is willing to enter into a contract on the local authority's usual terms.

This can be locally or anywhere within the UK. If you'd prefer to live in a care home that costs more than the local authority would usually expect to pay, it can arrange this, provided that someone else is willing to meet the difference in cost.

This is usually known as a top-up or third-party payment.

Financial assessment of your affordability If your care is being organised by the local authority, then the main steps of the process are: • Your local authority will firstly do a care needs assessment to identify what help you need.

• They will make recommendations about your needs and whether or not you need residential care – this is called a Care Plan.

• They will then work out a budget to ensure you get what you need – this is called a Personal Budget.

• Then, they will do a means test, also called a financial assessment, to work out how much you should pay towards your care home fees and how much they will cover.

• If your care is arranged by the NHS or social services, you may not have to pay for some or all of the care. For more information, see our page on NHS continuing healthcare.

Asian parents and care homes In 2011, Sarfraz Manzoor in Guardian wrote that

among Asians, parents look after children who, in turn, look after parents: elderly relatives being cared for inside the family is something that Asians have taken great pride in, something that separated them from the supposedly heartless western custom of throwing their parents into a home.

He remembered his father saying once that the British treated their pets better than their parents; to men and women of his generation, care homes were nothing less than a moral obscenity. “In this sense, care homes like Aashna House should not exist. The fact that it does is evidence that times are changing.

Some British Asian children are, reluctantly and gradual-

ly, realising that they can no longer care for their parents at home,” he added.

It is a decision few take lightly and it is rarely reported – which made Fozia Khan's Channel 4 documentary, Asian Gracefully, which was shown on 4 March 2011, so revelatory and compelling. Khan lost both her parents during four months in 2009, and that colossal loss coupled with being pregnant at the time led her to reflect on how her generation of young British Asians was dealing with its ageing parents.

Khan befriended the residents of Aashna House, who were mostly British Gujaratis, few Pakistanis and for six months she followed their lives. Their rou-

tines, their reasons to make the care home their new home varied- and each story touched her heart.

It was perhaps inevitable that times would change and that the tradition of Asian children looking after their parents will change too. 5 years from Khan's documentary, now, many more care homes have Asian residents and some of these homes are designed to cater to particular communities- including food and culture. Some such care homes we can name are: Abbey Totalcare, Pranam Care Centre, Meera Nursing Home, Neemtree, Karuna Manor, Bhaktishyama Care Home, among others.

Ref: Ageuk.org.uk, Guardian.com

18

BREXIT

www.asian-voice.com

Brexit aftermath: Keep calm and carry on!

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

Rupanjana Dutta

The EU Referendum result has brought along an incredible amount of uncertainties in the UK. The Brexit camp winning EU referendum by a margin of 4% has changed the fate of the country- though the effects have been something pundits have not expected at all. To everybody's shock, racism is on the rise, wheeling the country back by at least 50 years, economic apocalypse- financial markets in doldrums (may whatever Boris Johnson writes in his Telegraph column), pounds hitting 31 years low and pessimism looming in housing markets, a power vacuum in Whitehall- half of the leaders resigned from respective roles- including 'Brexit champion' Nigel Farage, others demanding clarity out of the mess and Jeremy Corbyn- who refuses to step down with dignity as the Labour party head.

On top of this, the government is facing a lawsuit, by a prominent law firm, which is taking pre-emptive legal action following the EU referendum result, to try to ensure article 50 is not triggered without an act of parliament, the Guardian has reported. Acting on behalf of an anonymous group of clients, solicitors at Mishcon de Reya have reportedly been in contact with government lawyers to seek assurances over the

Andrea Leadsom, Theresa May and Michael Gove

process, and plan to pursue it through the courts if they are not satisfied.

The leadership campaign in Whitehall has gained momentum. Theresa May, an all time favourite of the party as a tough negotiator, has let her guard down and spoken about personal life- children, her husband Philip John May and has given us the first glimpse of her softer side as a woman.

She has already warned the government to replace the Trident in the wake of Brexit. Her over-commitment to immigration control- including her threat to deport EU citizens, have displeased Britons while Chancellor Angela Merkell of Germany has started discussion on offering dual cit-

izenship to British youth.

The Tory leadership contest has finally boiled to Andrea two womenLeadsom, backed by Boris Johnson and Theresa May. Michael Gove’s chances of winning are getting bleak, as Johnson supporters are following Leadsom. As we went to press, Theresa May was the frontrunner in the Tory leadership race as Conservative MPs began casting their votes in the contest to decide who would be the next prime minister and Dr Liam Fox was eliminated.

In City AM of Tuesday, Rajesh Agrawal, Sadiq Khan's new Deputy Mayor for Business wrote, “London is and will always be open for business...Sadiq and I

are clear that, as the driving force of the UK’s economy, London must have a seat at the decision-making table for the process of negotiation with the EU. “Within that discussion, first and foremost, we will seek to protect our access to the Single Market and passporting, which have long been central to London’s appeal as a base for financial and professional services.

Sadiq will be pressing the new Prime Minister, whoever he or she may be, and the EU to reach agreement on this key principle as soon as possible. “While we go about that process, writing as a businessman to other businesspeople, I ask for your support and confidence. Working together,

we can keep London open for business, and keep it leading in the world. This is no time for knee-jerk decisions, and I know that our international businesses, and their leaders, will share in my aim of keeping the ship steady as we enter choppy economic waters...”

In the same issue, Priti Patel, The Minister for Employment and Alpesh Patel, Chief Executive of Praefinium Partners, a UK based global asset manager said, “Our vision is to make doing business in Britain easier than in any other country, creating more growth and more jobs. All sides of the debate know this is a worthy goal. And if you want to see this at work in its early stages, look at the

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

positive comments in the Indian press about the prospects for a future trade deal with Britain outside the EU. India is one of the largest investors in Britain, and deepening our ties will hugely benefit both of our economies.

We need a calm, stable, open and balanced economy in which all sections of society share in our prosperity.

To achieve this, both politicians and business must move forward with a common vision to make the most of the opportunities that are opening up for Britain outside the EU.” While UK after Brexit is attracting Swiss right wing support to fight immigration, the Labour party has planned a debate over EU immigrant future on Wednesday. Jeremy Corbyn has pleaded with his Mps to come together to fight odds, but its the Labour deputy leader Tom Watson held talks with trade union chiefs in an attempt to end the impasse over Jeremy Corbyn's position, but a solution is yet to be found.

While Boris continues to condemn the government for failing to highlight positives of Brexit, the Queen has called for “quiet thinking and contemplation” in her first public address since the EU Referendum. These are definite trying times for the UK, but it may not take long for the UK to look like a relative safe haven as summer approaches finally.

Toxic atmosphere of Britain’s race relation after Brexit deserves national attention

Aaditya Kaza

Its been 10 days since Britain voted out in the Brexit referendum. Since then the UK has been gripped with the continuing fallout. From a prime minister resigning, currency fluctuating, to now three parties consumed in bitter internal fighting.

Among the number of things to have happened is the rise of outward racism.

One might think following the referendum this outward aggression would be directed predominantly towards Eastern Europeans and people from the continent. Yet among the many reports of insults and racial abuse across the country British Asians are also the victims of this. And it seems that ordinary people and celebrities alike are the targets of them.

In Saturday’s issue of The Daily Telegraph, BBC presenter Anita Anand wrote about the very issues now faced by British Asians across the country.

Her piece in The Daily Telegraph starts off with her recalling an incident

aged five of a large sign with an official insignia which acted a kind of ‘lighthouse’, a saviour from getting people lost, the sign was graffitied overnight with words ‘Pakis Out’. Following this she didn't live like a ‘lighthouse’ but rather invisible and safe.

Over 30 years from that incident but as Britain voted out and she tells of her friends who have faced racist taunts. Statistics from the National Police Chief’s council have indicated a 57% rise in racial hate crimes post Brexit.

The reports surfaced also immediately with her BBC Radio 4 colSima league Kotecha tweeting about being called a Paki in Basingstoke and her shock. Her friend, film producer, Nisha Parti was at a zebra crossing in London when the

Anita Anand

van approaching sped up instead of slowing down, the driver lend out of the window shouted ‘Fucking Paki’, a word she hadn’t heard for nearly 30 years.

Nisha wonders if this why he didn't stop for her.

24 year old Chayya Syal from Bromley who had a middle aged man sat opposite her on the train home, there were two other Asian girls in the carriage, she said. He looked at us and kept saying ‘ D i r t y i m m i grants.’

Anita also says the plight of racism affected even her most optim i s t i c friend.

A t i y a Gourlay who lives in Brighton and has broken her leg recently.

Atiya says “On Tuesday, my sister was helping me hobble down

Western Road, a man walked towards us and tried to trip me up. He hissed something, but my brain just wouldn't accept that he called me a ‘Paki’ In her article, Anita says ‘In the heat of the referendum battle some ghastly things have been said and sometimes put on posters. The boiling rhetoric du ring the campaign has left us all scalded, no matter which way we voted. A nasty minority, who previously felt the pressure to behave in a civil manner towards those they secretly detested, have been given the licence to let loose.’

Over the weekend on 2nd July radio host Trish Adudu received more racist abuse, only this time over Twitter. The radio host of BBC Coventry and Warwickshire was still recovering from racial abuse heard at a car in Coventry City Centre as she tried to defend an Asian student who was racially abused by a passing cyclist. The cyclist turned to her and called her a ‘Nigger’. West Midlands police have been

alerted and are investigating the latest abuse against Ms Adudu and have urged the Asian man from the car park to step forward.

A statement by Operation Black Vote said “The rise in racial hatred and xenophobia demands a National Hate Crime Strategy. Less than two weeks post the EU referendum, Britain has returned to a level of racism, violence and fear not seen since Enoch Powell delivered his ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech in 1968. A key element of the Brexiters campaign negatively targeted immigration and migrants, thereby legitimising the racial abuse and violence we are now seeing on a daily basis.

We demand the Government urgently commit to the development of a comprehensive National Hate Crime Strategy which can both offer protection and provide public confidence and reassurance. It must be made clear that as a Government, and as a nation, we have zero tolerance for all forms race hate.”

REAL ESTATEVOICE Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap London Property Investment

Only yesterday I sat down with an agent who had a flat on sale for £3.3m, which was located in the prime part of Kensington in a well maintained block; consisting of 2,100 sq. ft. the property came with a long lease and a roof terrace.

There was a deal to be done on the table, apparently the owner was in a pickle with some of his businesses. He needed the deal done yesterday and needed the exchange money to be released to him on the day of exchange.

The agent was not privy to the exact details of the issues the vendor was having, being naturally nosey I did try and pry.

The vendor was realistic about the price given as he needed the deal to be done quickly. He was prepared to take £2.5m.

This equates to £1,190 per sq. ft., in prime Kensington in a prestigious block; this is a deal.

The downside to this deal is the increased stamp duty and the market concerns in response to Brexit. The upside is you’re getting a big chunk off a prime property nearly 25% to be precise.

This is just one of the deals which has floated to the surface.

The market is in a flux, not a good time to sell. Most vendors will hold on if they are able to do so and see the season through, after all it will not last forever.

You will get three classes of seller regardless of market conditions, the divorced, the dead and the distressed. These three categories have to sell, it is not a choice.

There is another deal on the table, this time it’s in Muswell Hill, not an area I'm familiar with, but these days you can glean a lot from the internet, and a cursory investigation revealed this was indeed a great deal.

This is an old spacious Victorian house detached and needing complete refurbishment. This property is cheap, as it is, and could be sold on prior to completion leaving the incoming buyer with some margin and angle to the deal. The property has potential to be converted into flats as many properties have been on the street.

The cause of this deal was death, it is a probate deal. The deal was introduced pre Brexit, and it was still going through the motions of being finalised. Post Brexit we are in a different world, the price will need to come down even lower, just because everyone thinks it should.

In this respect we are also on the selling end of one property as well, having to take a haircut on a property is never fun, but sometimes necessary in order to move on. If you’re in a hole it’s never wise to keep digging.

We are also in the midst of closing a mixed commercial deal.

The property is in N3, and consists of a commercial tenant occupying the whole building.

Real Deal The

19

The divorced, the dead and the distressed

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

The tenant does not need the whole building, just the ground and lower ground floor. As they are a large retail company, trying to get to the decision maker to make a decision can take a very long time. However in this situation we have had previous dealings with this tenant on another site and have an amicable relationship.

Because we know the tenant, we know the decision and execution will be painless. The strategy on this property is to develop nine flats above the commercial and then go in for a further penthouse unit, making ten units in total. This gives a conservative GDV of £3.15m with the downstairs commercial being valued at £2m.

In addition there is a large car parking site to the rear, which will also have a small ground floor office unit, valued at £300k, bringing the GDV total value to £5.45m.

We’re picking this deal up at just over £3m. The intention is not to develop and resell, but to pick up, develop, refinance and hold the asset. Because the long term goal is to hold on to this asset, there will be a focus on maximising income on this deal.

It will be a yield based investment rather than trying to maximise capital growth. On an end value of £5.45m we anticipate a loan of 70% which means £3.815m coming back out of the deal once it has been completed, subject to the rental cover of course.

In order to maximise the returns on this property the number of liveable units will be increased post planning, so that it is done within the regulations and at the same time the amount of rent generated is maximised.

The types of property built for resale and rental have generally two very distinct finishings. In developing to resell the property needs a wow factor in order to attract a premium. In the same way one would pay a premium for a new car, it is purchased with emotions rather than with common sense.

When developing for rental the property needs to be hard wearing and designed to cause the least hassle when renting.

We envisage the N3 deal to be closed shortly and the contracts will be with our lawyers soon. If you like the sound of this deal, why not call the office to find out more.

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l Remember that investing in property is a decision based on calculations and statistics, it should not be an emotional decision as it would be when buying your own home. l When purchasing and developing always keep the buyer in mind, not your own preferences.

20

FINANCIAL VOICE Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel

Dear Financial Voice Reader, The FTSE 100 has hit a high for the year. Everything has changed. The Americans will not raise interest rates, neither will the British. Taxes are set to drop.

Spending by Government will increase. There should be a big fat boom. I know, I know, won’t there be a recession?

Well we need to focus on certain sectors and not others. Exporters should do very well because the Pound i s so cheap. So will Gold companies because the price of gold is up because people buy gold in times of uncertainty.

The big issue is banking and housing companies. I think housing companies are going to do a lot better than people think. For a start interest rates are low and foreign buyers remain. But what about jobs? If people are unemployed as companies lay them off because of uncertainty about the future, surely there will be fewer buyers?

It is all correct, except the pent up demand, met with cheaper financing should overcome any possible unemployment.

What about banks? Surely they will suffer? Less business. More question marks? Well, most are so cash rich, I cannot see them worth 40% less than a week earlier. Take Barclays, and I am a shareholder – it’s at a 20 year low. Is it really worth what it w as at the credit crunch when we thought banks would actually fail?

Is it worth that when the Governor of the Bank of England tells us how much has been done to protect banks.

This is before I even look at their business model, their global presence, their cash piles, their dividends.

So I continue to believe that that my decision on the day after Brexit to buy gold companies, banks and builders was indee d well made.

The simple maths I do at these times is this – if Barclays were to recover to where it was last year, at any point in the next three years I will have a 100% return in that time. Not bad over a maximum of three year period.

Sometimes it helps to simplify investment, from the complexities of cashflows and the like. I learnt this from Warren Buffett who will often just simply do the bigger equat ion than the more complicated one to make investing a simple binary choice.

Speaking of ‘binary’ you may have come across online brokers offering ‘binary trading’ where you just pick direction of a trade. Beware a lot of these online brokers are based out of bandit country – Cyprus and basically will steal your money.

German companies to support Indian schemes German companies have shown interest in participating and contributing to Ganga Rejuvenation Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Smart Cities Mission of the Government of India. Dr Andreas Jaron, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, said both India and Germany identifies specific areas and projects to develop the water and waste sectors in India, including identification of Best Available Technologies, assistance in capacity building, developing markets, business models and a roadmap for bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at a business meeting organised for the investors and technology providers in the water and waste sector at the Embassy of India, member of CMD Vishvaraj Infrastructure Ltd and

FICCI Water Mission, Arun Lakhani said that the German companies should take note of the market developments in the water and waste sector in India which is rapidly changing. He advised them to adapt as well and improve their technologies and solutions to suit the Indian conditions and suggested they adopt successful business model including PPP models to find success in India.

The country has already pledged €126 million for the Ganga rejuvenation mission and has identified Kochi, Coimbatore and Bubaneswar for development as Smart Cities.

Several companies showed interest in forging a new partnership with India seeking support under the Make In India Mittelstand programme, run by the Embassy to ease the entry of German SMEs to India.

www.asian-voice.com

Tatas put Port Talbot sale on hold AsianVoiceNews

Tata Steel will soon freeze auction of its UK steelworks as it weighs the consequences of the Brexit vote. While the giant had announced its plans to auction its Port Talbot steelworks in Wales, earlier this year, the move was stalled in order to assess the fallout of the Brexit vote.

The board has not made a formal decision yet, but is without doubt under less pressure to sell, given the jump in steel prices that has cut losses at the south Wales site. It will

reportedly stall the auction to await the outcome of a UK government deal to cut

its £14 billion pension liabilities as well as talks on European Union (EU)

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

trade deals.

"The strategic review of our UK business continues.

Like business across the UK, parties involved will be considering implications from the referendum. We remain committed to working towards the best possible outcome for our UK business," Tata said in a statement. The decision will not go down well with the bidders' throats, including Indian-origin businessman Sanjeev Gupta and his commodities trader Liberty House.

Brexit may hit export of India's lady's finger to UK The Lady's Finger has taken the beating following Britain's decision to exit the European Union.

The vegetable, which is considered popular and "exotic" in the UK, is likely to become expensive due to exchange rate-related issues affecting exporters in India as they fear a steady drop in demand.

Traders said during periods of economic uncertainties, demand for exotic and organic food declines.

While the South Asian community would buy it

irrespective of the prices, those who experiment with it may not do so.

"Exchange rate vis-a-vis the pound is likely to have long term implications.

Food prices in UK would go up.

This will invariably lead to a fall in sales," said Kaushal Khakhar, CEO, Kay Bee Exports. In 201415, India exported vegetables and fruits worth £747.4.4 million, fruits worth £277.13 million

and vegetables worth £470.27 million.

Some of the main Indian vegetables exported to the UK include, Indian mangoes, pomegranates, vegetables like Lady's Finger, Baby Corn and Chillies.

"Now the UK will have to consider only its own quarantine concerns.

Being a Northern European country, we expect it to have far fewer restrictions," Khakhar said.

SEC probing SoftBank Group, former chief Arora US Securities and Exchange Commission is currently probing Japanese internet and telecommunications giant SoftBank Group Corp, and its former executive Nikesh Arora. The former chief operating officer and president of the group, had recently walked out just when things began to

Nikesh Arora

go south for him.

Arora had been under the radar over lacklustre investments, along with several shareholders marching up a campaign to boot him. His record and role as an adviser to private-equity firm Silver Lake was being questioned. Lawyer Ira Sorkin said, "We do know that the

SEC is inquiring into certain matters concerning SoftBank and Mr Arora."

The company issued a statement saying it doesn't comment on press reports of regulatory inquiries, adding a committee of its board reviewed the shareholder allegations and concluded they were without merit.

India bright spot amid gloom, says World Bank chief World Bank president Jim Yong Kim praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, calling it "a lesson in leadership" for him.

In an interview, the leader said, "We are worried about the global economy and again and again I find myself saying that there are some bright spots. I say 'some' because I want to be optimistic, but generally I point to India as a bright spot."

He said India had dealt with the impact of Brexit creditably and expected economic growth to get better than 7.6 per cent despite the global headwinds.

World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim with Narendra Modi

"There is a resilience to this economy, there is a confidence in what is happening with this government and

that's leading to all the foreign direct investment growth we see," Kim said.

Meanwhile, the World

Bank committed $1 billion to support the solar energy programme in India, which is decreasing its dependence on conventional energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a pact signed between power minister Piyush Goyal, and Kim, the multilateral funding agency will provide more than $1 billion to support India's ambitious solar initiatives through investments in generation. India has a target to generate 100,000 MW power through solar energy by 2022 and is trying to attract investments from various sources.

Manufacturing growth in India at 3-month high Manufacturing in India has recorded a visible trend, hitting a three-month high in June as it found the support of stronger business orders. Nikkei Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index, showed a rise to 51.7 in June from 50.7 in May, amid a sharper rise in new orders. Polyanna De Lima, economist at Markit and author of the report, said,

"Indian factories registered a welcome upturn in growth of both production and new orders mid-way through 2016, but producers clearly remain stuck in a low gear. The domestic market continues to be the main growth driver, as the Indian economic upturn provides a steady stream of new business... new foreign orders rose in June following a decline in May.

However, it looks as if lacklustre global demand remains a headwind for Indian manufacturers."

Lima added that "rates of expansion remain weak by historical standards, with the PMI average for AprilJune being lower than that seen in the prior quarter."

As far as jobs are concerned, sustained growth of output and orderbooks failed to push producers to

hire more. "It has been roughly three years since the sector has seen any meaningful job creation," Lima said.

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan kept interest rates intact, in its policy review meet in June, citing rising inflationary pressure. He did however, hint at a reduction later this year with the help of a good monsoon.

CURRENCYVOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX,

UK's rating downgraded Currency Specialists.

On Tuesday 28th June UK financial markets remain volatile in the wake of the Brexit vote, with sterling plunging to a 31-year low against the dollar after Standard & Poor and Fitch downgraded the UK’s credit rating yesterday. S&P downgraded the UK's rating by two notches, from AAA to AA, with a negative outlook and Fitch also downgraded the UK, from AA+ to AA with a negative outlook.

Earlier on in the session Chancellor George Osborne gave a statement before the financial markets opened, his first since the referendum result, the chancellor said the UK was ready to face the future "from a position of strength". He also indicated there would be no immediate emergency Budget. He continued to discuss there would still need to be an "adjustment" in the UK economy, but added it was "perfectly sensible to wait for a new prime minister" before taking any such action.

On Tuesday Day 1 of the EU Economic Summit took place in Brussels. European Union lawmaker’s stated that the UK should exercise article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty as soon as possible.

Furthermore, Nigel Farage took the opportunity to speak to its members, saying that he had

21

Foreign Exchange

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

achieved his ultimate goal and that the referendum’s result was a reaction to Europe’s intention to impose a political union by “stealth” and “deception” and that policy makers are in denial about their failures. In addition, Angela Merkel, in what seems her toughest comment yet, warned the U.K. to have no illusions about life outside the European Union while meeting David Cameroon for his final EU summit following last week’s result. At the same time Jeremy Corbyn loses no confidence vote by 172 to 40 as Labour MPs try to remove him as party leader after his ‘weak’ remain campaign.

The main headline of Friday was Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney saying the BoE could ease monetary stimulus over the summer following the shock result of a Brexit. The Monetary policy committee will make their initial assessment of the situation on July 14th after its next scheduled meeting and thus paving the way for the announcement of an interest rate cut at the August meeting, moving the interest rate lower than the current record low of 0.5%.

In Europe German Chancellor Angela Merkel and fellow European leaders kicked off a series of crisis talks, she urged

Britain to get on with it. “An extended waiting game” was bad for both sides, she said. Europe’s leaders must decide how to treat Britain in the divorce talks and what steps to take to reinforce confidence in a bloc set to shrink with the departure of its secondbiggest economy.

Failure to deliver a strategy could prompt markets to force their hand -- as they did after the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Greece’s debacle. Cameron told Parliament on Monday that while Brexit won’t be “plain sailing” as the country adjusts, “Britain is ready to confront what the future holds for us from a position of strength.”

Merkel, speaking to reporters in Berlin Monday, said the U.K. has to file official notification of its intention to leave before negotiations can start on its future relationship with what would be a 27member EU. It is widely expected that the ECB will again expand the current monetary policy in a bid to push inflation to their target level of 2%. Although current expansionary monetary policy measures have proven to have been positive for inflation; it is yet to have the desired effect which has also been exacerbated by the vote for Britain to leave the EU last week.

In the US Final gross domestic product quarter on quarter was released at 1.1% on Tuesday, which is slightly better than forecast at 1.0%. However, undermining the dollar, US money markets are pricing out any chance of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in the coming months, most likely due to potential impact and systemic ramifications of a Brexit on global financial markets - as mentioned by Fed Chair Janet Yellen at the previous FOMC meeting. Also Oil prices jumped more than 2 percent on Wednesday after the U.S. government reported a larger-thanexpected weekly drawdown in crude inventories, adding fuel to an existing rally on fading concerns over Britain's exit from the European Union. Finally The Institute of Supply Managers index climbed for a second straight month in June to its highest level since February 2015, putting the sector on stable footing for the second half of the year.

The indexes for both new orders and production rose in June, and both have been expanding for the past six months.

Meanwhile, the exports index hit its highest level since November 2014. But some economists said the Brexit vote could hamper the sector going forward.

We e k ly Currencies

As of Tuesday 5th July 2016 @ 11.10am

GBP - INR = 88.60

USD - INR = 67.65

EUR - INR = 75.35 GBP - USD = 1.31 GBP - EUR = 1.18

EUR - USD = 1.11 GBP - AED = 4.82

GBP - CAD = 1.69

GBP - NZD = 1.82

GBP - AUD = 1.75

GBP - ZAR = 19.37

GBP - HUF = 374.06

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

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Chagos Islanders lose case in SC Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

LONDON: The UK Supreme Court has dashed the dreams of Chagos Islanders, issuing a verdict that prevents the exiles from going back. The court upheld a 2008 ruling of the House of Lords in a three to two vote. Families were made to leave the Indian Ocean islands in the 1960s and 70s, for a US Air Force base to be constructed in Diego Garcia, largest of the group of islands.

An Immigration Order was issued preventing anyone from going back, in 1971.

Olivier Bancoult, Chargossian leader, who has also been representing the islanders in the case, argued that the decision should be set aside. The panel

precarious.

The courts had ruled in 2000 that the Chagossians could return to 65 of the islands, but not to Diego Garcia. However, the government, in 2004, used the royal

of five judges were told it relied heavily on a 2002 feasibility study into resettlement, which concluded that the costs of long-term inhabitation of the outer islands would be prohibitive and life there,

UK woman wins petition to use dead daughter's eggs to give birth LONDON: A 60 year old woman in the UK won a Court of Appeal battle against the UK regulator's refusal to allow her to take her only child's eggs to a US clinic. In a bid to fulfil her daughter's final wish, she wanted to use her frozen eggs to give birth to her own grandchild.

While the woman had lost a High Court case last year, she was subsequently granted permission to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal in London.

Fertility regulator, Human Fertilisation and

to perish". She argued there was "clear evidence" of what the daughter wanted to happen to her eggs after she died, and that "all available evidence" showed she wanted her mother "to have her child after death". The HFEA which was opposed to the appeal said, "The law requires us to consider whether there is sufficient evidence of informed consent. After looking at the matter in great detail we decided that there wasn't a decision which was supported by the High Court last September. "

Embryology Authority had said the daughter's eggs could not be released from storage as she had not given her full written consent before she succumbed to bowel cancer at 28. In the latest proceedings, the mother's lawyers told judges she wanted to fulfil her daughter's wishes to carry a child created from her frozen eggs and "raise the child".

Counsel Jenni Richards said that if the judges did not overturn the High Court's ruling, the "inevitable" consequence would be that the eggs "will simply be allowed

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prerogative, exercised by ministers in the Queen's name, to effectively nullify the decision.

In 2007, the following year, the government won an appeal, and the House of Lords ruled that the exiles could not return. Sabrina Jean from West Sussex, chairs the Chagos Refugees UK group. Her father was a native of the islands and is one of the 3,000-strong Chagossian community who live in the town. "We are disappointed about the result but we will never give up. We will continue our fight to find justice for the Chagossian community.

All the people have the right to live on the islands."

Islamabad may get first Hindu temple

ISLAMABAD: A Parliamentary panel has directed the government to build a temple and a crematorium for Hindus in the capital, after it was known that Islamabad has no Hindu shrine. It is reported that committee members were shocked when they came to know there was no cremation ground for Hindus in the city. At least 500 Hindus are said to have made the Pakistan capital their home.

Ramesh Lal, who chaired a meeting of sub-committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, said, "It is surprising and sad that there was not even a single temple in Islamabad for Hindu community to worship." He added, "This is how the government is treating minorities in the country. It is the basic right of Hindus to have a temple in their own city for worship."

While the government put forward concerns saying there would be security issues if a Hindu temple came up in the area, the committee was quick to reject them. "Hotels and restaurants are being provided security by the government, why a temple cannot be provided security?" a member asked. The panel has proposed to allot land for the temple in Saidpur village area.

Hindus and Christians make up for over three per cent of the total population of Muslim-dominant Pakistan.

Hindu journalist barred from sharing utensils

KARACHI: In an incident highlighting racism and discrimination, a Hindu reporter in Pakistan's state-run news agency was barred from sharing utensils with other Muslim staff when they came to know his religion. Sahib Khan Oad, senior reporter with Associated Press of Pakistan, was appointed as a reporter in APP Islamabad, then transferred to Hyderabad, later Karachi, this year. Behavioural changes in his colleagues was noted after his younger son Raj Kumar visited his office and everyone found out he was in fact, a Hindu. "Actually my name contains the word 'Khan' so everyone in the office initially thought I was Muslim. The bureau chief asked me to separate my drinking water glass in the office because some colleagues had reservations," Oad claimed.

In Brief

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4 Indian-Americans honoured with immigrants award

WASHINGTON: Four Indian-Americans, including Google CEO Sunder Pichai, were among 42 US nationals to be honoured with the prestigious 'Great Immigrants: The Pride of America' award.

Other recipients include Hari Sreenivasan, anchor and senior correspondent of PBS NewsHour, Vikram Malhotra, Chairman of the Americas, McKinsey & Company and Bharati Mukherjee, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author. Vartan Gregorian, President of Carnegie Corporation of New York, said, "These accomplished Americans are immigrants like our forefathers who founded this nation of nations. They are representative of the millions of immigrants who have come to the United States for economic opportunity, education, political or religious asylum, security, or reunification with families and relatives. They, like all Americans, share a common faith in this country."

40 Afghan cops killed in suicide attack

KABUL: A suicide attack near Kabul claimed the lives of at least 40 Afghan policemen, a week after an attack on a bus carrying Nepali security guards working for the Canadian embassy. At least 40 officials were reportedly killed when a bus carrying police personnel from Wadrak to Kabul was attacked. Local media reported Taliban claimed responsibility for the incident. Afghan Internal Affairs Ministry spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi tweeted "We are working on details of today's terrorist attacks on Police convoy in Kabul, we will release updates shortly."

Pak actor Nadeem Jafri shot in Karachi

LAHORE: Prominent Pakistani actor and musician Nadeem Jafri sustained injuries after an attack by suspected robbers who opened fire at him in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area in Karachi. Television actor and host Fakhr-e-Alam tweeted update on the injured saying he received multiple bullet wounds in an alleged robbery. "My dear friend artist Nadeem Jafri was shot at multiple times at sehri time today in a robbery. He survived miraculously. Thank you Allah." He also added, "Though Jafri survived the attack, the incident left his family shaken up." The artist community is still recuperating from the fatal attack on qawwali singer Amjad Sabri, when armed motorcyclists shot bullets at him in broad daylight.

4 killed in blasts near mosque in Medina, Qatif

RIYADH: Four people were killed and several injured in three separate explosions that shook holy cities of Medina and Qatif in eastern Saudi Arabia. Witnesses accounted seeing body parts in the area of the blast, and preliminary reports said number of casualties are likely to rise. While the first explosion happened near a mosque, followed by another, just before 7 pm, it was scheduled hours after a suicide bomber was killed and two others injured in a blast near the US consulate in Jeddah. The attack was the first in years, targeting foreigner in the kingdom.

Baghdad blast toll crosses 200

BAGHDAD: Baghdad's suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State killed at least 213 people, making it one of the deadliest militant attacks in Iraq.

The bomb ripped through a shopping area, sparking inferno in nearby buildings and wounding more than 200. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider alAbadi vowed "punishment" for those responsible, and declared three days of mourning. He also ordered changes aimed at the long-standing flaws in Baghdad security measures, including scrapping fake bomb detectors used at checkpoints.

Sikh saves drowning girl using turban in Canada

TORONTO: A quick-thinking Sikh saved the life of a drowning teenage girl, as he used his turban to pull her out of an ice-cold river. The 65 year old Avtar Hothi, a farmer from Kamloops, British Columbia, used his turban to save the teen who fell into the North Thompson River.

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Modi set for four-nation Africa tour AsianVoiceNews

Escalating cooperation in fields of hydrocarbons, maritime security, trade and investment, agriculture and food will be the major focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five-day visit to the African continent. Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya has begun preparations for the PM's visit that will commence on July 7 and end on the 11th.

The trip follows President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice

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Narendra Modi

President Hamid Ansari's visit to Africa to strengthen and reinvigorate India's ties with the nations. MEA

spokesperson, Vikas Swarup said, "The Prime Minister's visit reflects India's desire to further strengthen and reinvigorate bilateral ties with our African partners which were renewed at the successful IAFS-III in October last year. The visit will provide opportunities to build on close contacts at the highest political level."

Amar Sinha, Secretary, Economic Relations in the Ministry of External Affairs, said a number of pacts will be signed with

each of the four countries in a variety of areas during the visit. Modi will leave for Mozambique on the 7th, where he will hold bilateral talks with President Felipe Nyusi.

Later he will meet President Jacob Zuma in SA, visit Tanzania on July 10, where he will hold bilateral meetings with President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli. Modi will be in Nairobi on July 11, where he is scheduled to address the University of Nairobi.

Indian couple accused of faking photo of summit at Mount Everest Not long after an Indian couple claimed to reach the top of Mount Everest, eight other mountaineers lodged a complaint saying they never made it to the summit and had "morphed" photographs of them at the top.

Critics of Dinesh Rathod and his wife Tarakeshwari said they arrived at the base camp very late in the climbing season to have a chance of reaching the top. A group of mountaineers accused them of making false claims, and several of them even recorded statements with the Pune police.

Photos include one of Tarakeshwari brandishing the Indian flag on the

summit, which was used by the Nepal Tourism Board to verify their claim.

Jharkhand BJP chief, son in soup In more trouble for Jharkhand BJP president Tala Marandi and his son Munna, Godda district administration has instituted a civil suit against the father-son duo in connection with Munna’s wedding to allegedly an underaged girl. The lawsuit accuses the girl’s father, too.

Following a local

court’s direction, the police had registered an FIR against Munna after another girl had accused him of sexual abuse after promising to marry her.

Marandi, appointed the BJP’s state unit chief last month and the first Santhal to get the post, has rejected the allegations and blamed the opposition for fabricating a story

People, please be seated. He will be right back, on bail.

about the girl being a minor.

According to an official communication issued by Godda administration, the civil suit was instituted before a First Class Judicial Magistrate under Child Marriage Prevention Act against Munna, Tala Marandi and the minor’s father for the June 27 wedding.

The Sections under which they have been charged pertain to contacting a child for marriage and entails punitive action against parents/guardians involved in such child marriages. The civil suit was instituted on the directions of Deputy Commissioner (Dumka), Rahul Kumar Sinha, who holds charge of Godda district as well.

Sinha directed Vijay Prakash Marandi, the Block Development Officer and Child Marriage Prevention Officer of Boarijore Block, to conduct preliminary inquiry into allegations that the girl Munna had married last week is a minor.

Citing media reports and statements of some witnesses, including a panchayat functionary, and the documents submitted by her school, the inquiry says prima facie it appears the girl was born on July 25, 2005, making her less than 11 years old.

"These are the biggest give aways, the pictures are clearly morphed. Both seem to have changed their climbing boots, too, in separate pictures. Being able to change one's clothes mid-climb and not get frostbitten would be a miracle," said Anjali Kulkarni.

Both constables, the Rathods had taken an official leave from their work to attempt the climb.

Tarakeshwari said she and her husband could finally start a family, a decision they had been putting off to complete their longheld dream of climbing Everest.

INDIA - WORLD Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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Sikh politician targeted with `racist' flyers MELBOURNE: A Sikh female candidate of the federal election in Australia was made target of a racist propaganda when residents of her constituency in the north of Melbourne received flyers calling Sikhism "violent, racist, and homophobic".

Alexandra Kaur Bhathal, a Greens party candidate for the House of Representatives from the seat of Batman, Victoria, is a second-generation Australian whose father migrated to the country in 1952. The flyers show a picture of her speaking at a Sikh congregation in Melbourne commemorating the 'Sikh Genocide Remembrance Day' on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots anniver-

sary last year. It also claims she supports 'Khalistan terrorist movement' to create a "racist" nation in Punjab.

The flyer says "male Sikhs carry daggers, using for beheading and genital mutilation".

It called Bathal a "militant Sikh extremist who falsely claims Indians did 'genocide' against Sikhs, and infiltrated the Greens to promote her hidden race agenda and the militant Sikh separatists against India." "This is an attempt to malign me politically," said Bhathal. "I am sickened and disturbed at this vicious and defamatory attack on Sikhs and Sikhism. I am a proud Sikh and this unfortunate hatred won't sway me from my political commitment.

HUMOUR CORNER A Drunk's Prayer A drunk man was staggering home with a pint of booze in his back pocket when he slipped and fell heavily.

Struggling to his feet, he felt something wet running down his leg. "Please God," he thought. "Let it be blood!" *** God is busy!

In a Catholic school cafeteria, a nun places a note in front of a pile of apples, "Only take one. God is watching." Further down the line is a pile of cookies. A little boy makes his own note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples." *** It's a wreck Wife: Honey, I have both good news and bad news.

Husband: Okay. Give me the good news first Wife: Well, the airbags work!

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Telangana advocates on strike over

Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

HYDERABAD: Chief Justice of India TS Thakur has asked the advocates from Telangana to withdraw their ongoing agitation over allotment of judges from Andhra Pradesh in courts of the newly formed state and seeking bifurcation of the high court in Hyderabad. The CJI made the request when a delegation of Telangana advocates called on him in New Delhi.

Members of Telangana High Court Advocates Association, Federation of Bar Associations Telangana, Telangana Advocates Joint Action Committee and other organisations spearheading the agitation submitted a representation listing their demands to the CJI. "We explained to him our

allotment of judges

TS Thakur

demands for withdrawal of provisional list of judges of AP nativity who were allotted to subordinate courts in Telangana, revoking the suspension of 11 judges and for initiating steps to bifurcate Hyderabad High Court," Telangana High Court Advocates Association

Elephant agony reaches Kerala assembly

THIRU VAN ANTHAPU RAM: 'Gods in Shackles', an award-winning documentary directed by Canada-based Sangita Iyer, was screened in the Kerala State Assembly, on the suggestion of Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan. A brilliant depiction of the abuse the mammoths are put through in the name of Kerala festivals, the movie features some of the best-known elephants in Kerala and outside, who are also either blind, bruised or tortured by their mahouts.

A Keralite by origin, Iyer said, "I was in Kerala for my dad's first death anniversary when I came across the elephants that were being abused for temple festivals.

It's shocking to see how peo-

ple get so lost in excitement and revelry that they just don't see the bleeding wounded elephants in front of them.

How can they miss it?"

Official figures show the region has witnessed 11 deaths of captive elephants already in 2016, in comparison to 11 such deaths last year.

Left legislator, AN Shamseer said, "This cruelty needs to end in Kerala. I am going to bring this issue up during the Assembly session and I need everyone's support on this issue." VT Balram, of UDF said, "This is not about UDF or LDF. This is an issue that has to be resolved slowly by getting more and more people involved. It's time now to take a bold step."

President Gandra Mohan Rao said.

"The CJI asked us to withdraw the agitation and said he would discuss the matter with Union Law Minister. He assured us to initiate steps to fulfil our demands," he said.

Rao said that the decision to withdraw the agitation would be taken only after taking everybody into confidence.

Acting Chief Justice Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale and Judges of the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad had on July 1 appealed to agitating employees and judicial officials to immediately withdraw the "illegal" strike in public interest.

The High Court Registrar General's office has warned that if the strike is not called

off, it may have to consider "other options" to ensure the litigants do not suffer.

However, the protesting advocates have urged the High Court to first look into their demands before they considered ending their stir.

Advocates and judicial employees across Telangana had been protesting since June 6 against allotment of judges from Andhra in Telangana's courts. Around 200 judges from Telangana are also on a mass leave since June 28.

The High Court had earlier suspended 11 judicial officers on disciplinary grounds.

They had taken part in a rally.

The advocates are demanding revocation of their suspension.

11 Hyderabad youths picked up for IS links HYDERABAD: The National Investigation Agency busted a suspected ISIS terror module last week, detaining 11 people for questioning. After inputs from specific intelligence sources, the agency teams, with assistance from Hyderabad Police and Telangana Counter Intelligence sleuths, conducted searches in Mirchowk, Mogulpura, Bhavani Nagar, Barkas and other places in the Old City of Hyderabad.

"The search operations are still going on," and NIA official said. Three of the 11 youngsters are identified as Abdul, Habeeb, and Farhad. They got in touch with IS handlers

operating from abroad through social networking sites like Facebook. Reports said some cash and explosive material were seized from the detained youngsters.

An IS module comprising six persons from Hyderabad was busted during the country-wide raids by the NIA, which included raids in Hyderabad three months ago.

The module secured explosive substance and even conducted blast on experimental basis in Narsapur forest of Medak district. Police are verifying if the six Hyderabadis detained recently were connected to the Old module. The detained persons were being interrogated.

Panel probing Vadra case gets extension Robert Vadra

the youth who make it a way of business."

Present at a function on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Swami Vivekananda Drug De-addiction centre, the minister said the state government was committed to make the region free from drug addiction.

"The government is working for getting rid of the drug menace in the state. We have taken several initiative of making Punjab a drug-free state." The drug problem in the north was recently taken up by film 'Udta Punjab', which became a topic of debate after the Censor Board ordered massive cuts in the film.

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Lanka navy damages 7 boats of Tamil fishermen

RAMESWARAM: Tamil Nadu fishermen suffered massive loss after a total of seven boats were allegedly damaged by Sri Lankan personnel off Nedhunthivu. The naval personnel also damaged their nets, warned them against fishing in their territorial waters and chased them away, a Fisheries Department officer said.

Around 2,148 fishermen were put out to sea in 537 boats that night.

Puducherry to build toilets for 55,000 households

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government has come up with a ÂŁ12 million plan to build toilets for 55,000 households in the union territory without the facility under the Swachh Bharath Abhiyan scheme, announced Chief Minister V Narayanasamy. He urged the Prime Minister to make funds available for the scheme during his visit to the Capital, and was given a positive response. Narayanasamy also alleged that the previous AINRC government had not properly implemented the free rice scheme, and had shown interest only in the run up to the May 16 Assembly polls.

Python barges into police station, cops flee

HYDERABAD: Banjara Hills Police Station had an unexpected visitor, an unusual guest, one that made them flee. Cops and locals were mortified at the sight of a five foot long python that had strayed into the building. Sources said there were three policemen on duty inside the police station and it was a home guard walking outside the station that spotted the reptile. He informed other policemen and they allegedly fled the spot. Sources said the station alerted a local animal welfare NGO that sent its personnel to rescue the animal. It is said to be in good health and will be handed over to the forest authorities who will release it into an appropriate habitat in the wild, soon.

Every 1984 riot victim will get justice: Rajnath

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims of justice saying a Special Investigation Team, after reviewing 286 cases, has recommended 22 cases to be re-investigated. Addressing a function marking the 300th martyrdom anniversary of Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab, the minister called upon the youth to come forward and get inspired by heroic deeds of the legendary warrior to fight against the divisive forces of terrorism.

Sacrilege part Of Akali-BJP's ploy: Amarinder

Minister denies widespread drug addiction in Punjab AMRITSAR: Ruling BJPSAD government maintains its commitment to deal with drug menace in the region and said only a mere 1.8 per cent of the state population indulges in the addiction.

Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani said a survey conducted in 10 districts of Punjab revealed that only 1.8 per cent of the population is addicted to drugs.

"We had conducted a survey in ten districts of Punjab.

It shows that 1.8 per cent of the population is addicted to drugs; we didn't conduct the survey in all the 22 districts of the state," Jyani said. "The survey has pointed out that the addiction of drug takes place mainly because of the peer group and because of

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

CHANDIGARH: The commission set up to investigate into AICC chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra's case got another extension of six weeks. The Justice SN Dhingra Commission of Inquiry set up by the Haryana state government last year to look into matters pertaining land licenses to certain companies including a firm owned by Vadra.

Retired judge of Delhi High Court, Justice Dhingra said, "I was on my way to submit the report, somebody approached me with a bunch of documents, saying these were related to benami transactions by those who had benefited from land licenses.

These needed to be studied

further." This is the second time the term of the commission is been extended.

Meanwhile, the Congress has kept its attack on Justice Dhingra steady, saying he was hence "incompetent and unsuitable to deliver a verdict." Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda demanded the panel be revoked saying it had been set up "contrary to established rules and norms, without Cabinet approval and prompted by malice and political considerations."

The one-man commission was set up on May 14, 2015, by the NDA government, to probe the grant of licenses to "some entities" in Sector 83, Gurgaon, to develop commercial colonies.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh condemned the spate of "sacrilege" incidents in the state and accused the ruling SAD-BJP government of "polarising" it ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections. "Recent spate of religious violence not isolated, but part of SAD-BJP's premeditated ploy to polarise the state ahead of elections. Despicable!" he tweeted. Torn pages of a religious book were found on the road near Jarag Chowk in Malerkotla.

Singh said the incident was a "conspiracy at the behest of the ruling party to disturb peace and destabilise Punjab" ahead of elections.

Sidhu in BJP core committee

AMRITSAR: Rajya Sabha member Navjot Singh Sidhu has been included in the state Bharatiya Janata Party's core committee, with the Assembly elections in the offing. The former cricketer and his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary in the state government, aren't really on good terms with the leadership of the BJP's ally, Shiromani Akali Dal. Sidhu, three-time Amritsar MP, had stopped playing an active part in state affairs since the constituency's Lok Sabha seat was given to Arun Jaitley. The recent move is a hint saying he would soon be playing a pivotal role in the state.

INDIA Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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25

Uproar over Salman's 'raped woman' comment AsianVoiceNews

"When I used to walk out of that ring, it used to be actually like a raped woman walking out," said controversy's favourite child Salman Khan at a promotional event for his upcoming film, 'Sultan.' The unfortunate statement not only garnered massive media attention, but brought with it the wrath of thousands of people, including several 'Bhai' fans.

Singer Sona Mohapatra was one of the very few who very openly kicked dirt at the superstar. Calling it a state of sad affairs, she referred to Salman as a "talented thug". No soon did she issue her stand in

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

the matter, did she get attacked by online trolls.

Matters reached to an extent where she received death and rape threats. Her photos were even morphed into naked porn images as Salman fans did their best to degrade her and show her what they really stood for. Responding to the matter with utmost grace, Sona said, "Poison that gets a chance to flow freely when national 'icons' created not only by their followers and audience but encouraged by their peers and media, regularly misbehave, talk rubbish, do rubbish, don't get punished, don't learn from their mistakes, but instead

Salman Khan

get encouraged, celebrated, pack cinema halls and become brand ambassadors of 'goodwill'.

Depressing to say the

least."

In times when rape attacks on women have glaringly increased, the star's choice of metaphor

Salaries of Central staff, pensioners hiked In a move that is beneficial and slightly destructive, the Indian government has approved the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, which came with an overall hike of 23.5 per cent. The changes will be implemented from 1st January 2016, and will cost the government over ÂŁ10.2 billion annually.

"I'm quite confident that after implementation of the 7th Pay Commission awards, government salaries are distinctively higher than market salaries and private sector salaries," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said at a briefing.

Entry-level pay has been raised to Rs 18,000 per month from the existing Rs 7,000, and maximum pay, drawn by Cabinet Secretary, has been fixed at Rs 250,000 per month from the current Rs 90,000. Jaitley said budget provisions will take care of the hike in salaries suggested by the panel. The government will also examine whether extra resources are needed to be raised from the market, to meet these suggestions.

A new Pay Matrix has been approved on the recommendation of the com-

Arun Jaitley

mission. Gratuity ceiling for employees has been doubled to Rs 2000,000, while housing loan allowance has been hiked from Rs 750,000 to Rs 2500,000.

The government has retained four interest-free advances, including for medical treatment, tour/transfer, for family of deceased employees and leave travel concession, also abolishing all other interest-free advances. It said, "The commission examined a total of 196 existing allowances and, by way of rationalisation, recommended abolition of 51 allowances and subsuming of 37 allowances."

The existing allowances of employees will continue till a government panel takes a call on scrapping many of the allowance as

suggested by the panel. A decision has also been taken on whether arrears pay and pension benefits will be paid during the current financial year, unlike in the past when parts of arrears were paid in the next financial year.

The recommendations will be of benefit to over 4700,000 central governmental employees and 5300,000 pensioners, out of which, 1400,000 employees and 1800,000 pensioners are from the defence forces, the government said. Regarding administrative reforms suggested by the panel, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said all such issues, on which suggestions or advice have been given by the commission, are being looked into by the adminis-

trative ministries.

"In the past, employees had to wait for 19 months for implementation of the commission's recommendations at the time of 5th CPC, and for 32 months at the time of implementation of 6th CPC. However, this time, 7th CPC recommendations are being implemented within 6 months for the due date." Hospital leave, special disability leave and sick leave have been subsumed into a composite new leave named ‘Work Related Illness and Injury Leave’ (WRIIL).

Full pay and allowances will be granted to all employees during the entire period of hospitalisation on account of WRIIL. While the government did not explicitly specify an amount for Pay Commission provisioning in the Union Budget for 2016-17, it had said that an interim allocation for various ministries was made in the budget. Asked on the likely impact of salary hikes on inflation, Jaitley said some impact on inflation will be natural as more resources are being made available in the hands of the government employees.

Ghost tourism at a railway station in West Bengal!

Ghost Tourism is a thing now, and those who love themselves a thrill, can seek it in West Bengal. A paranormal research organisation, along with a local tour operator has decided to organise guided tours to a haunted railway station, in a bid to earn money off its notorious reputation. In partnership with a local tour operator named Purulia Tourism, the Systematic Paranormal Investigation and Research Team is looking to start guided tours to the haunted railway station.

Begunkodar Railway Station in Purulia district of

Bengal, has remained abandoned for over four decades, as the local population believes the place to be haunted since the 1960s.

People have reported of spotting a woman in a white saree walking down the tracks, disappearing soon after. The haunting soon

became frequent and railway employees began to drop. There have also been reports of a death.

The Kolkata-based team will make the most of the reputation, and is all set to put Begunkodar on the map for Ghost Tourism.

While it has not officially

been a thing until now, the team is determined to make it a hit. Soumen Roy, a mechanical engineer and one of the personnel of the team, said, "We invite everyone to experience the world of the paranormal.

We will create the right atmosphere at the rail station. So far we have got a good response and the first trip will be announced soon." Their 'package' includes travel, hotel accommodation, and a midnight visit to the station where a storytelling session on the history of Begunkodar will be organised.

could not get any worse.

Consequences were, his 70 year old father Salim Khan issued a public statement asking people to forgive his son. "Undoubtedly what Salman said is wrong. The intention was not wrong.

Nevertheless, I apologise on behalf of his family, his fans & his friends."

Now, the actor himself remains silent and refuses to apologise, a storm cooks outside with multiple sources issuing summons after summons on him if he did not say sorry. Truth be told, are we even addressing the real issue here? This isn't the first time the word 'rape' has been used as a metaphor

for something far less gruesome and low.

Salman's statement just brought to light the gentle misogyny that persists in our society. Just like the actor, there are many who have taken the subject lightly, refusing to take the crime with gravity.

Sure, Khan's statement can in no way be justified, but then he, a superstar, is one of the easiest targets.

There are several others who have a similar kind of attitude. Indian author Chetan Bhagat once compared falling of the Indian rupee to rape. Why so insensitive? It is about time all of us realised the severity of the situation.

Followers of Orwell and Gandhi fight for a piece of land

Mahatma Gandhi

Followers of novelist George Orwell and Mahatma Gandhi are in a deadlock as both sides decide which of the two figures are to be commemorated. Orwell was born in Motihari village, as Eric Arthur Blair, in 1903, while his father RW Blair worked in the opium trade.

Incidentally, that is the same village where Mahatma Gandhi mobilised farmers forced to work in the opium factory, triggering a satyagraha movement in one of the most historic step against British Raj. Orwell fans discovered the small cottage where he was born and secured political agreement that the location would be preserved as a memory to the writer. However, followers of Gandhi now want to use

George Orwell

the same location to commemorate their hero because of its links to the independence leader's efforts drive the country to sovereignty. The Indian government has passed work on the Orwell project which would over look a split of the 2.48-acre land to honour both men.

Orwell society member Debapriya Mookherjee said, "I don't think they have read anything Orwell wrote or are aware of who he is. Most people in Motihari now know he was a great writer. May be few have actually gone through his writing, but most people know who he was and about his famous books.

But these developers have no knowledge of him. It is a few people with vested interests. They just want to gain monetary profit."

Train runs 10 km without driver Passengers of the Madgaon-Nizamuddin Rajdhani had a narrow escape, as the train engine was reported to have run on a downward slope for around 15 km without a driver. It is known that a fault in the engine caused the automobile to stop inside a long tunnel near the Ratnagiri station.

While the technicians tried to fix the problem, the train began to move and unconfirmed reports suggest, the driver of was in the Guard's cabin at the time and could only get in after the train slowed down

near an upward incline.

While senior officials confirmed the incident, Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta said the news was wrong. He, however confirmed the "loco failure" saying the "train did roll for some time". "A high level inquiry has been ordered," he said. The engine's vacuum brake was de-activated, which led to the loco going rogue. Once it slowed down, the driver applied the brakes. Eventually, another engine arrived and dragged the train to next station, Chiplun.

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Modi inducts 19 new ministers AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

Modi Sarkar's much-awaited Cabinet expansion finally took place after months of anticipation and rumours doing the rounds. With the UP elections in the offing, the move comes as a cry for reform.

The reshuffle took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan with Modi Sarkar inducting 19 new faces as ministers of state. All new ministers are from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party except for Ramdas Athavale and Anupriya Patel. Top four ministries; the Home, Finance, Defence, and External Affairs, remained untouched. Modi didn't shy away from mixing things up, including Dalit and OBC leaders in ministerial positions.

Bird's Eye View of the new Cabinet Prakash Javadekar: The lone Minister of State in the government to be elevated to Cabinet rank, the ceremony started off with Prakash Javadekar administering the oath in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee. He was the BJP spokesperson and party incharge of Andhra Pradesh during his inclusion, and was instrumental in striking a deal with Chandrababu Naidu's TDP. Arjun Ram Meghwal: Bureaucrat-turned-politician, Arjun Ram Meghwal is known for his active participation in Lok Sabha debates on a variety of issues. The dalit leader had recently attacked the judiciary for its "extra constitutional" activism, and demanded that the "running commen-

Continued from page 1 Hossain and friend Abinta Kabir were students at Emory University in Atlanta and were enrolled at Oxford College.

Emory released a statement saying Hossain had just finished his second year and planned to study business in the fall.

Spokesman of the university said, "Emory University has learned that two Emory students, Abinta Kabir and Faraaz Hossain, were among those taken hostage and murdered by terrorists in the attack in Dhaka. Abinta, who was from Miami, was a rising sophomore at Emory's Oxford College. Faraaz, who was from Dhaka, was a graduate of Oxford College and a student at the university's Goizeuta Business School."

Tarishi, a student of the University of Berkeley, is said to be amongst one of the victims who were tortured before they were killed. Her family was settled in Bangladesh for the last 20 years. She was a member of the International Student Association at Berkeley,

tary" by judges should end.

He has been a member of different parliamentary committees including on defence, science and technology, environment and forest, personnel, public grievances, law and justice.

P P Chaudhary: After working as a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, Chaudhary was given a ticket from Pali, Rajasthan, by the BJP, and won the seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He has handled cases relating to farmers, land acquisition, as well as public interest litigations. He was part of the Joint Committee of Parliament that inquired into the Land Acquisition Bill brought in by the NDA. He has been elected for three years as Member of the International Executive Committee, and the C o m m o n w e a l t h Parliamentary Association, London.

Ajay Tamta: Induction of Tamta, dalit leader from Uttarakhand, comes right when BJP puts its focus on dalit and backward communities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand where the polls are due soon. He is a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Water Resources, and River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Mahendra Nath Pandey: The 58-year old leader is a two-time MLA and was elected to the UP Legislative Assembly in 1991 and 1996.

He was the secretary of the BJP legislature party, and in 1997, became the Minister

of State for Housing and Urban Development and was the MoS Planning between 1998 and 2000.

Pandey is currently member of the Business Advisory Committee and the Committee of Parliament on Official Language.

Rajen Gohain: The fourtime BJP MP from Assam was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1999 from Nagaon.

Member of the Ahom community, his inclusion is seen as the NDA's attempt to poke into the society that consists largely of Congress supporters. "I will try my level best to serve the people of Assam. I request the people of Assam to be with me in this journey," he said.

Gohain is the leading figure in the state's fight for the cause of small tea garden owners.

Krishna Raj: First time BJP MP and one of the party's Dalit faces from Uttar Pradesh, Krishna has been an active member of the Committee on Petitions, Standing Committee on Energy, Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Subhash Bhamre: Oncologist and first-time MP, Subhash Bhamre is seen as a compensation for the exit of Raosaheb Danve, from Maharashtra. He is known for helping the financially weak cancer patients, and conducting free multiple medical camps and surgeries. Bhamre has also organised public education speeches for cancer awareness and its early detection

and prevention. He is a member of the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Railways, and the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes.

Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala: A well-known Modi-loyalist, and member of Kadva Patidar community, Rupala is among those who offered kar seva at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, in 1989. His name comes up at a time when the Gujarat state BJP faces flak from the Patel community for reservation.

He was elected MLA thrice and held various positions in the state government. He also held the position of national vice-president of the party in 2010 and was in-charge of states like Andhra Pradesh and Goa in the past.

Jaswantsinh Bhabhor: A native of Dahod, and a popular tribal leader of central Gujarat, Bhabhor served as deputy minister of Food & Civil Supply between 1999 and 2001 in the state government. He later on served as minister of state for health and family welfare, forests and environmental tribal development, rural development, panchayats and labour and employment during different periods till 2012. Bhabhor is known to keep a low-profile and considered to be an accessible leader.

Mansukh Mandaviya: Apparently being groomed by the BJP as the "next generation leader", the 44 year old started off as a student

leader of ABVP. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat in 2012, where he was also the Member of Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, National Welfare Board for Seafarers, and Member of a Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers. He has served as a spokesperson of Gujarat BJP and is a state party executive member.

C R Chaudhary: The 68year-old Nagaur MP is a Jat leader from Rajasthan.

Chaudhary became member and later Chairman of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission. He is also an honorary Chairman of Veer Teja Mahila Shiksahn and Shodh Sansthan MarwarMundwa in Nagaur.

Anupriya Patel: A first time MP, Patel is an eloquent pro-Modi voice within and outside the Lok Sabha whose OBC roots have made her an important BJP ally in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh. The 35-year-old Lok Sabha member from Mirzapur in UP won on the ticket of Apna Dal, a party founded by her father and Kurmi leader Sonelal Patel which later split, with the major faction siding with her mother, who expelled her from the party.

Anil Madhav Dave: From Barnagar, Ujjain, in Madhya Pradesh, Dave has been a member of the Upper House of Parliament, along with being a member of the Committee on Water Resources, member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

M J Akbar: An articulate and modern Muslim voice

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in the BJP, 65-year old Akbar was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.

S. S. Ahluwalia: From being a minister in the P V Narasimha Rao Cabinet to a 'research scholar' for BJP, Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia has links across different parties. The Patnabased politician is known for taking stand, at times, contrary to the party's.

Fagan Singh Kulaste: Representing the Mandla constituency of Madhya Pradesh, Kulaste’s name had figured in the 2008 cash-for-vote scandal. He was jailed for two months over a sting operation exposing what was called the cash-for-vote before the trust vote of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government in 2008. However, he was acquitted by a Delhi court.

Vijay Goel: Vijay Goel’s inclusion in the Union Council of Ministers marks a comeback of sorts for the leader after BJP virtually removed him from Delhi, where he once hoped to be the chief ministerial face, and sent him to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

Ramdas Athawale: Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (Athawale), an NDA ally, has been a trade unionist and is known more for his blunt remarks and popular speeches in the Parliament.

Calling himself "the fearless panther of India", the 56year-old leader claims to have led the 'Dalit Panther Movement', a social movement for equality, justice and human rights worldwide.

Bloodbath in Bangla Daesh

Tarishi Jain

and had travelled widely to place including Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, and Singapore. She also worked for a studentrun business that sells Tshirts to help underprivileged entrepreneurs across the world. Jain and seven other students were completing internship with UC Berkeley's Subir and Malini Chowdhury Center for Bangladesh Studies, according to statement from the university. Tarishi reportedly made a chilling call to her father, a little before 6 AM, moments before she and her friends were hacked to death. "I am very afraid... I'm not sure whether I will be able

to come out alive. They are killing everyone here... I think we will be killed one by one," she said.

"We have been in contact with her family to provide assistance in any way that we can and are working closely with our other students there to assist them in staying safe and determining whether they leave the area. On behalf of our entire campus, we send our deepest condolences to

Faraaz Hossain

her family and friends and to all the other families who have suffered such a devastating loss," said UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas B Dirks.

Another Indian was also present at the bakery during the attack, however, Doctor Satyapal's fluent Bengali came to his rescue as the terrorists counted

him as a Bangladesh national and let him go.

Highly-educated Terrorists, Affluent Backgrounds The thing about terrorism is that people imagine villainous looking people.

Men who swear by their religion, Men who don't blink twice before butchering people by the masses, Men dressed in "traditional", and what can now be identified as, militant attire. After the attack on the Dhaka bakery, and the safety of human lives in Bangladesh, an ISIS-affiliated website released the data on the five militants who carried out their mission. While the ethics behind their agenda to shoot down harmless people remains a whole other argument, a little background search brought the officials face to face with harsh reality.

Nibras Islam, one of the terrorists, who was later killed in a 10-hour face-off with Bangladeshi authorities, was an educated young boy belonging to a rich family in the country. His social media shows him as a well-spoken,

Abinta Kabir

pleasant kid who spoke fluent English, loved travelling with his friends, and once even shook hands with Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor. Nibras was allegedly brainwashed and radicalised by terrorists to carry out the gruesome attack in the name of his religion. Several reports suggested all the terrorists were aged between 20 or 21, and belonged to Dhaka's North South University. They belonged to elite families, and had studied in the best schools in the city including Scholastica and Turkish International School. One of them, identified as Meer Saameh Mubasheer, had gone missing between February 29 and March 1.

Another young militant Rohan Imtiaz, son of an Awami League leader, propagated on Facebook last year quoting Peace TV's controversial preacher Zakir Naik "urging all Muslims to be terrorists".

"They are all highly educated young men and went to university. No one is from a madrassa," said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan. "It has become a fashion."

There is no generation gap any more. Just a huge crack in culture and a grave misunderstanding of what religion should truly be. Terrorist groups like the ISIS are hitting the very nerve of the world, influencing the youth, bringing them to their side.

Are we to blame? For exposing our children to those demons.

While we have Faraaz, Abinta, and Tarishi on one hand, we have Nibras, Meer, and Rohan on the other. Maybe this time, world leaders take the attack as a sign to unite and call for a collective and fundamental attack on those who preying on the vulnerable.

INDIA - HELALTH Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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Portfolios of Modi’s ministers Health benefits of sweet Potatoes the HRD minister, with Prakash Javadekar being given the post. Irani has been given the textiles ministry. Below are the portfolios of the Union Council of Ministers: Prime Minister Modi:

CABINET MINISTERS’ PORTFOLIOS 1 Rajnath Singh: Home Affairs 2 Sushma Swaraj: External Affairs 3 Arun Jaitley: Finance and Corporate Affairs 4 M. Venkaiah Naidu: Information & Broadcasting Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation 5 Nitin Jairam Gadkari: Road Transport and Highways Shipping 6 Manohar Parrikar: Defence 7 Suresh Prabhu: Railways 8 D. V. Sadananda Gowda: Statistics & Programme Implementation 9 Uma Bharati: Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation 10 Dr. Najma A. Heptulla: Minority Affairs 11 Ramvilas Paswan: Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution 12 Kalraj Mishra: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises 13 Maneka Sanjay Gandhi: Women & Child Development 14 Ananthkumar: Parliamentary Affairs Chemicals & Fertilisers 15 Ravi Shankar Prasad: Law & Justice Electronics & Information Technology 16 Jagat Prakash Nadda: Health & Family Welfare 17 Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati: Civil Aviation 18 Anant Geete: Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises 19 Harsimrat Kaur Badal: Food Processing Industries 20 Narendra Singh Tomar: Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Drinking Water & Sanitation 21 Chaudhary Birender Singh: Steel 22 Jual Oram: Tribal Affairs 23 Radha Mohan Singh: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare 24 Thaawar Chand Gehlot: Social Justice and Empowerment 25 Smriti Zubin Irani: Textiles 26 Dr. Harsh Vardhan: Science & Technology, Earth Sciences 27 Prakash Javadekar: Human Resource Development MINISTERS OF STATE PORTFOLIOS 1 Rao Inderjit Singh: Planning (Independent Charge) Urban Development Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation 2 Bandaru Dattatreya: Labour & Employment (Independent Charge) 3 Rajiv Pratap Rudy: Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) 4 Vijay Goel: Youth Affairs and Sports (Independent Charge) Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation 5 Shripad Yesso Naik: AAYUSH (Independent Charge) 6 Dharmendra Pradhan: Petroleum and Natural Gas (Independent Charge) 7 Piyush Goyal: Power (Independent Charge) Coal (Independent Charge) New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) Mines (Independent Charge) 8 Dr. Jitendra Singh: Development of North Eastern Region (Independent Charge) Prime Minister’s Office Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Department of Atomic

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Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, All important policy issues, and All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister.

Energy Department of Space Nirmala Sitharaman: Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge) Dr. Mahesh Sharma: Culture (Independent Charge) T o u r i s m (Independent Charge) Manoj Sinha: Communications (Independent Charge) Railways Anil Madhav Dave: Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge) General V. K. Singh: External Affairs Santosh Kumar Gangwar: Finance Faggan Singh Kulaste: Health & Family Welfare Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Minority Affairs Parliamentary Affairs S. S. Ahluwalia: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Parliamentary Affairs Ramdas Athawale: Social Justice & Empowerment Ram Kripal Yadav: Rural Development Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Hansraj Gangaram Ahir: Home Affairs G. M. Siddeshwara: Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Ramesh Chandappa Jigajinagi: Drinking Water & Sanitation Rajen Gohain: Railways Parshottam Rupala: Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Panchayati Raj M. J. Akbar: External Affairs Upendra Kushwaha: Human Resources Development Radhakrishnan P: Road Transport & Highways Shipping Kiren Rijiju: Home Affairs Krishan Pal: Social Justice & Empowerment Jasvantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor: Tribal Affairs Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan: Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Vishnu Deo Sai: Steel Sudarshan Bhagat: Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Y. S. Chowdary: Science & Technology Earth Science Jayant Sinha: Civil Aviation Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Information & Broadcasting Babul Supriyo: Urban Development Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti: Food Processing Industries Vijay Sampla: Social Justice & Empowerment Arjun Ram Meghwal: Finance Corporate Affairs Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey: Human Resource Development Ajay Tamta: Textiles Krishna Raj: Women & Child Development Mansukh L. Mandaviya: Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Chemicals & Fertilizers Anupriya Patel: Health & Family Welfare C. R. Chaudhary: Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution P. P. Chaudhary: Law & Justice Electronics & Information Technology Dr. Subhash Ramrao Bhamre: Defence

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weet potatoes have over 400% of your daily needs for vitamin A in one medium spud, as well as loads of fiber and potassium. Studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like sweet potatoes decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion, increased energy, and overall lower weight.

DIABETES

Sweet potatoes are considered low on the glycemic index scale, and recent research suggests they may reduce episodes of low blood sugar and insulin resistance in people with diabetes. The fiber in sweet potatoes makes a big difference too. Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One medium sweet potato provides about 6 grams of fiber.

BLOOD PRESSURE

Maintaining a low sodium intake is essential to lowering blood pressure, however, increasing potassium intake may be just as important. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, fewer than 2% of

US adults are meeting the daily 4,700 mg recommendation for potassium.3 One medium sweet potato provides about 542 milligrams.

CANCER

Among younger men, diets rich in beta-carotene may play a protective role against prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Nutrition.

Beta-carotene has also been shown to have an inverse association with the development of colon cancer in the Japanese population.

DIGESTION AND REGULARITY

Because of its high fiber content, sweet potatoes help to prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.

FERTILITY

For women of childbearing age, consuming more iron from plant sources appears to promote fertility, according Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Publications. The vitamin A in sweet potatoes (consumed as betacarotene then converted to vitamin A in the body) is also essential during pregnancy and lactation for hormone synthesis.

IMMUNITY

Plant foods like sweet potatoes that are high in both vitamin C and betacarotene offer an immunity boost from their powerful combination of nutrients.

INFLAMMATION

Choline is a very important and versatile nutrient in sweet potatoes that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline also helps to maintain the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, assists in the absorption of fat and reduces chronic inflammation.

VISION

According to Duke ophthalmologist Jill Koury, MD, vitamin A deficiency causes the outer segments of the eye's photoreceptors to deteriorate, damaging normal vision. Correcting vitamin A deficiencies with foods high in betacarotene will restore vision.

Also of note, the antioxidant vitamins C and E in sweet potatoes have been shown to support eye health and prevent degenerative damage. A higher intake of all fruits (3 or more servings per day) has also been shown to decrease the risk of and progression of age-related macular degeneration.

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Ilaiyaraja Hiphop Tamizha's 'Takkaru reintroduces Takkaru' creates huge record Sudha Ragunathan M Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

usic Director, Rapper and Lyricist, Hiphop Tamizha's 12-minute music album has become a super hit among Tamils across the world. A strong call against the banning of traditional bull taming sport Jallikattu, his video 'Takkaru Takkaru' has crossed one million hits on YouTube. With strong lyrics that force one to consider making the sport legal, Tamizha has certainly outdone himself this time. While the depiction is fictionary, a small commentary has been put at the end of the video saying, "It is not just a sport, it is breeding science. If a

bull wins, it is sent for breeding... the ones which lose are sent for farming.

The government is not against jallikattu, the protests are by many organisations, many of those from abroad."

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Samantha to get engaged to Naga Chaitanya?

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ne of the current trending topics in Kollywood is the alleged love affair of young and talented actors Samantha and Naga Chaitanya. The 'couple' were cited hanging out together, and were recently spotted in

an airport. Unconfirmed sources said families of the both the parties concerned met recently and fixed the alliance and an engagement announcement can be expected soon after Naga finishes work on his 'Premam' remake.

Tamizha said, "A decade ago, there were 900,000 bulls, but now there are only 60,000. It is only due to our ignorance.

Jallikattu is our identity. It is more than entertainment, it is livelihood."

Mohanlal bags rights of Rajini's 'Kabali'

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ell-known music c o m p o s e r I s a i g n a n i Ilaiyaraja has produced compositions for several films in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages. The septuagenarian recently re-introduced popular Carnatic singer Sudha Ragunathan to cinema by offering her a song in his Kannada-Telugu bilingual 'Idolle Ramayana' (Kannada) and 'Manavoori Ramayana' (Telugu), directed by Prakash Jha. Sudha, who enjoys a distinguished position as a classical vocalist, was introduced to the field by Ilaiayaraja in R Partheipan's 'Ivan', released in 2002. The veteran singer's melodious voice will be heard after a gap of 14 years.

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alayalam actor Mohanlal has o f f i c i a l l y acquired the Kerala distribution rights to Thalaivar Rajinikanth's upcoming 'Kabali'.

The actor's company Max Lab bought the rights for a whopping amount of ÂŁ850,000. Produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu, the project is deemed as the release of the century and promotions are on full rage with the producer collaborating with corporate companies like AirAsia, Amazon and Cadbury.

The story revolves around a rubber factory worker (Rajini) who goes on to become a gangster to save the Tamil community. Directed by Ranjith, it also features Radhika Apte, Dhanshikaa, Dinesh, Kalaiyarasan and John Vijay in pivotal roles.

Kangana avoids question on Hrithik

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'Sultan'

Watch Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma in this action packed sports drama depicting the achievements and struggles of Haryana-based wrestler Sultan Ali Cheema.

angana Ranaut is n o t known to swallow her words.

However, the usually outspoken actress decidedly avoided a masked question on former beau Hrithik Roshan recently, at the launch of a fashion magazines' 100th issue. The cover of the issue features Ranaut, with the headline 'Ordinary is my superpower'. An enthusiastic journalist asked the actress on how she plans to defeat a superhero, a direct reference to Roshan's 'Krrish' character. She merely smiled and said "Please ask a decent question. You are completely into scandal." The 'Queen' actress was one of the very few celebrities who openly spoke their minds in the backdrop of the 'raped woman' remark made by Salman Khan lately.

Shilpa turns down a Spanish show

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hilpa Shetty Kundra reportedly turned down a Spanish yoga-related show opportunity. Known for her yoga expertise, Shilpa has often promoted a healthy lifestyle, along with her very informative and inspirational yoga CDs. After hosting a yoga masterclass at an awards function in Madrid, she was apparently approached by the channel and made an offer that she politely declined due to time constraints. She refused due to the dates clashing with her upcoming dance reality show 'Super Dancer'.

However, it is also known that the actress will be shooting two special episodes for the show where she will prominently speak about the basics of yoga and its effects in everyday life.

SRK threatens Uday Chopra

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ajor Nerd Alert! When actorproducer Uday Chopra posted his brand new Batman armour on Instagram, little did he know it would attract a threat, from none other than Badshah Shah Rukh Khan. Flaunting his new gear, Uday posted a photo with a caption that read 'Today I'm batman @underarmour with gloves!" Shah almost immediately tweeted, "If you don't get me these body armours and a Spider-Man also... by like yesterday, I will tell everyone you are sane and normal." Uday replied, "Oh I can't let that happen... Ok done! Do you also want iron Man?" Unable to contain his excitement the father of three replied, "You are killing me! Yes yes yes! Please."

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Sonam Kapoor in 'Paradise' with Chris Martin and Co AsianVoiceNews

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onam Kapoor was chilling backstage last week, hanging out with Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion and Phil Harvey, after a Coldplay charity concert at the Kensington Palace, London.

Looking every bit the rock star herself, in a black crop top, leather jacket, skinny jeans and boots, Sonam said she was buzzing from all the energy.

"The concert was epic with a great vibe. They played my all time favourite track

Jacqueline ready to do adult comedies....

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'Paradise' too. I went with my London girl gang, we were singing and dancing all through it," she said. The fashion icon had shut haters down after they mocked her for her 3-second stint in the group's 'Hymn For The Weekend' song. She said her agent had warned her it was just three shots, but she pointed out that it would get her VIP access to her favourite band forever.

The 'Khoobsurat' actress took off to Paris the next day for close friends Ralph and Russo's fashion

week as the chief guest. Her next film will be director Shashanka Ghosh's 'Veere Di Wedding', along with Kareena Kapoor Khan.

"I am working with Kareena, I can't believe it!

I've known her all my life and am her biggest fan. She plays my best friend. Then, there's dear behen Swara Bhaskar and debutante Shikha Talsania. After 'Khoobsurat's Milli, we're bringing a never-seenbefore story about young, modern Indian girls to life.

I can't wait for the journey to begin," Sonam said.

dial. Apart from that, they behaved as if they were strangers and that was quite surprising." The source also said the actress

openly showed her irritation. When Priyanka was contacted, she said, "As per my knowledge that film is not happening now."

Priyanka, Farhan snub each other

a c q u e l i n e Fernandez said she wanted to try different genres in cinema, and may even do a sex comedy if it is done aesthetically. When asked if she is comfortable doing a sex comedy, she said, "It depends with the making it could be tricky.

There is a thin line so it actually depends on who is making it and how it's being made." Talking about opening up to Hollywood, she said, "If it works out, I will definitely do it. We are moving into a time where cinema has become so globalised and actors have become globalised.

I would love to be a part of as many different kinds of cinema as possible. It's interesting to work with different actors. I have done a Toronto film, British independent film... So it's interesting. It would be amazing to get that kind of opportunity."

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he world saw Farhan Akhtar and Priyanka Chopra hug in good humour at the IIFA 2016 press conference held in Madrid, recently. However, the backstage story was very different. A media report suggested that they are not in good relations and the tiff started way before the awards when Akhtar showed interest in casting Deepika over Pee Cee for his upcoming 'Don 3'.

A source from IIFA said, "Where Deepika and Farhan were bonding off stage, Priyanka and Farhan kept safe distance from each other. They shared the stage together for the press conference and were cor-

Madaari Official Trailer Out

Ugly spat between Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli

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railer of the Irrfan Khan starrer 'Madaari' is out, and has left a lasting impression on the audience! Directed by Nishikant Kamat, the film is inspired by true events, and shows us the anguish of a father who thrives on hate and revenge. Irrfan plays the

role of a man who kidnaps India's Home Minister's son in a way to avenge losing his own son in an incident. With actor Jimmy Shergil playing an officer incharge of the case, 'Madaari' brings us a true reflection of the political state of the country.

f grapevine is to be believed, the unit of 'Rock On 2' saw some real life drama when co-actors Purab Kohli and Arjun Rampal indulged in a major spat on set over creative differences.

Confirming the news an onset source said, "Purab and Arjun had a spat in front of the entire crew. When things got nasty, the two actors decided

to make a quick exit from the location. The shoot came to grinding halt following the episode. Farhan was present on the sets and had a shot with both actors for a live concert sequence. He met them in their respective vanity vans and managed to calm them down. The shoot then went smoothly with all three actors sharing the stage."

Saifeena expecting baby in December!

Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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ctor Saif Ali Khan finally confirmed speculations that have been burning for months. Thanking wellwishers, he said, "My wife and I would like to announce that we are expecting our first child in December. We would like to thank our well wishers for their blessings and support and also the press for their discretion and patience."

Once known as the 'Queen of Flops', Kareena Kapoor Khan, who took the title with stride (and style), has come a long way in Bollywood. With lowkey appearances and one film a year, Bebo has made a blissful life of her own.

Talking about fellow actors Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, who have been making

their names in the West, Kareena said in an interview, "My priorities are very different. The kind of work that these girls have put in, you need to have that kind of dedication of wanting to achieve so much and do it so wonderfully. I don't want to conquer the world, but I don't mind having a little place of my own. It's as simple as that."

When asked where she sees herself 10 years down the line, she answered, "Hopefully giving another interview, making some sense, working all my life.

I think we are in the habit of aping the West a lot.

And the West has amazing actors who are married and with children. It has never stopped them. I think we are getting there."

Govinda is Farah Khan's favourite

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hile she has made the biggest B-town celebrities to dance to her tunes, actor Govinda remains director-choreographer Farah Khan's favourite. "For me, Govinda is the ultimate Bollywood dancer. I can't see anyone beyond him. You can show me the most technical dancer but the fun that you have in watching him can't be matched. I can see him dancing for hours," she said. She said it was hard to match the rhythm and abandon that Govinda channels in his songs.

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BAPS Charities donates £15,000 to Imperial College Trust Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar would like to wish their readers a Happy Eid Mubarak

Harrow husband and wife jailed for decade-long insurance fraud A married couple from Harrow have been jailed for committing insurance fraud which spanned more than a decade.

Rehman Kahn, 61, and Shagufta Kahn, 56, both of Greenleaf Way, Harrow, made more than £18,000 worth of fraudulent claims on their Simplyhealth policies between January 2002 and February 2012. They plead guilty to fraud by false representation in March, and were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Monday shortly after being made to pay back the full sum.

In 2013 a routine audit of their account revealed a number of invoices which, when investigated, proved

to be fraudulent.

After further investigation, it became clear that both Rehman and Shagufta had been submitting false claims throughout the duration of their policies. The case was referred to detectives from the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), who arrested the couple in January 2014.

Over the course of ten years, the pair submitted 245 claims for treatment they said they had received at various medical centres.

Investigating officers found they had been altering genuine invoices in order to receive bigger payouts, and in many cases had simply fabricated claims entirely.

Coming Events

l Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan presents Guru Vandana by talented adult singers from the North-West and Greater London sing together, finest vocal compositions in traditional Indian style. Date: Sunday 10th July 2016 Time: 5.30pm Venue: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London. For more information email bvg.theindianchoir@gmail.com Phone: 07973 306125.

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BAPS Charities presented a cheque for £15,000 to the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust on Saturday 25 June 2016 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.

Dr Stephen Mangar, Consultant Oncologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London, was present at the evening assembly to receive the donation. Dr Mangar has conducted extensive research in developing treatments for prostate cancer.

Following the presentation, Dr Mangar addressed the assembly and thanked BAPS Charities “for your very kind donation”.

He went on to say: “What stimulates me to strive for constant improvement through research is for those who have suffered before to leave a legacy to those suffering now and in the future. This kind gift of

money will be used to fund research in prostate cancer.

“What is remarkable about this evening is that the money has come from a community from whom at least one of their members has been under my care and has undergone this journey. Despite his suffering, his resolve to help raise gifts of money is truly amazing.”

Dr Sejal Saglani, a lead volunteer for BAPS Charities and herself a Reader in Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College London, added, “BAPS Charities is committed to helping alleviate suffering for people affected by serious health conditions. The research by Dr Mangar is an important tool to achieving this objective and we are privileged to be able to help advance his programme and improve the quality of life of those affected by prostate cancer.”

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 Venus, Mercury and Sun

transit your solar fourth house now. During this cycle, you are especially fond of spending more time at home around the family. You are more receptive and tend to be sentimental or nostalgic now. Loyalty and sensitivity in your relationships are more important to you than typically.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Your communication sector is all-abuzz with planetary energies firing you up preventing you from sleeping properly. Give yourself plenty of physical outlets to drain off some of the excess mental stimulation. You feel like you can finally settle into a more grounded and steady routine instead of letting your schedule run you.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 If you are your own boss, then you can look forward to a fairly good week. Geminis who face a strict schedule may find the next seven days a little frustrating, because this is a week where you will need a certain amount of personal space. You may be absorbing new ideas about how to create financial independence. Others may not understand, so you may have to keep your ideas to yourself.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Pursuit of pleasure increases and you are more inclined to take the initiative in affairs of the heart. Brilliant energy is with you, take advantage of this phase and make changes in your life where required. This is especially a passionate time for you - be careful not to burn the candle at both ends.

Spend your money wisely.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 The transit of three planets in your Solar 12th House indicates that experience will put you in a deeply reflective mood. This is a favourable time for getting away from usual routines and seeking a retreat for a few days. It will be good for you to get involved in therapies that help you to get in closer touch with your inner self.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Mercury, Venus and Sun continue to journey through your solar eleventh house.

This is a time when various networking activities are much appreciated and offer you learning experiences.

Your ideas are progressive and you are also interested in spending time with people who are like-minded.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

With Sun, Venus and Mercury in your solar 10th house, your career is lit up and bodes well for the coming weeks. Some of you will be in a reflective mood and taking stock of your lives and working out the best direction to take. This is a good time to re-assess your home and work balance.

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SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Extra drive and initiative enable you to accomplish more than usual. You should be successful in both your mundane routine and health issues - some of you will start a healthy regime and even join the gym. Loved ones will be feeling especially close.

Not a good week for gambling or financial risk-taking.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

With Mars moving through your solar twelfth house, this is the time to research and reflect upon your goals. Some may experience insomnia during this phase, especially if they are not relaxing. This is in fact a good time to identify the true source of problems.

Many of you will be making changes in your careers reflecting the principles closest to your heart.

You'll probably be in the mood for peace and quiet as Sun, Venus and Mercury transit your solar 7th house. You will be feeling a bit edgy as the week begins. You will need to guard against the possibility of injury due to dashing first and looking later. Everyone is a bit sensitive now. Either you or someone you're dealing with may over-react - be calm !

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

The fiery planet Mars, continues to occupy your Solar 10th house for some time to come. Its influence will help you to maintain a high energy level and achieve positive results in anything that requires drive and initiative. If you are involved in a fairly competitive field of activity, you will be the one who comes out on top.

A blast of personal energy comes your way, and showing your leadership skills works for you now. Romance and pleasure are highlighted this week. The flowing, expressive, and spontaneous energy surrounding you attracts like-minded people. Be sure to take time to enjoy yourself, preferably around others!

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

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British tennis instructor Marcus Willis wins the heart of crowd AsianVoiceNews

It was dream come true for Marcus Willis, a 25-yearold British tennis instructor who is ranked 772nd in the world and had never played a tour-level let alone Grand Slam match until a victory on last Monday, to play against Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player, in the second round of Wimbledon at the Centre court.

He was the last man invited to a playoff for lowranked Brits to try to earn a wild-card entry for Wimbledon qualifying, won three matches at that event, then another three in qualifying rounds to get into the main draw at the All England Club. Though nobody thought he could beat Federer anyway. He didn’t. Yet, somehow, he won.

Willis showed the

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Marcus Willis

world he can play a bit.

And he has a memory that will not quietly leave him – like some of those he has tried to park in the past.

He said: “This was great. I want more. Got to knuckle down, work harder. I’m just going to keep my head down. All the support has been overwhelming. I’m

absolutely exhausted and will get myself a beer.”

Federer observed: “I thought Marcus brought some unbelievable energy to the court, with his fans, and his play. He came up with some great shotmaking. I always knew it was going to be completely different to everything I’ve

experienced here at Wimbledon. I remember what it was like when I walked out for the first time against Pete [Sampras] in 2001. I hope the best for him.”

Both played their shots.

Federer’s were better and more frequent. But, until his drained stamina started to tug at his brain, Willis made plenty of good choices, kept it clever and did not lose faith in his gifts, of which he has many. Patience and consistency might not be among them, however, and for someone who had waited all his life for this opportunity, it seemed at times he was rushing through it like a kid let loose in a sweet shop. He hit 21 unforced errors – alongside nine aces and three double faults.

Morgan says Bangladesh tour a 'concern' England team's limited overs captain Eoin Morgan said that his team's planned tour to Bangladesh is under cloud following last week's terror attack that left 20 people dead.

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman said they would follow government advice on the trip to the South Asian country, where the team were due

Eoin Morgan

to play three one-day internationals and two tests from Oct. 7 to Nov. 1.

"I think it is quite a big concern at the moment," Morgan told reporters.

"We've always left the big decisions to the ECB. "They write reports, send guys out to see if it's safe then come back to the players to see if they're happy or unhappy. But certainly it's a concern at the moment." Security concerns have been a major issue in South Asia, starving Pakistan of international sports at home, while the Australian cricket team postponed their

Bangladesh tour last year and then pulled out of the under-19 World Cup following a warning from their government. The Bangladesh Cricket Board said England's reaction was normal but hoped the tour would go ahead as scheduled. When asked if the matches could be played on neutral territory, Morgan said: "I think that could be feasible if that came to it."

Amir Khan wants to bring India-Pak rivalry to the boxing ring British boxer of Pakistan origin Amir Khan wants to see the boxers from India and Pakistan compete inside a boxing ring through Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). "I am waiting for the day two nations, India and Pakistan compete in a cage. That will be a fair fight which people wants to see and it will entertain them," said Khan through a video conference

Amir Khan

Khan, who became youngest British world champion at the age of 22, is chairman of the Super Fight League (SFL), a league which promotes MMA in India.

Last month Khan expressed his wish to represent Pakistan in the Rio Olympics.

But he said later that he would not like to betray his British upbringing.

Khan who will be coming to India for Vijender Singh's Pro bout on 16th July expressed his support for the Indian Olympic medalist. "My support is always there for Vijender and I will be always there for him.

Vijender has made a name for him and I want to bring MMA to India to create more fighters like Vijender," said Amir.

in England, with the series over within a couple of James Anderson spells.

During the warm-up match with Pakistan, Somerset dropped four chances of varying difficulty and also missed a couple of sharp run-out chances but Pakistan enjoyed a relatively untroubled day, even if the two batsmen they will rely on for leadership had varying days of success. Captain Misbahul-Haq’s two-ball duck – he was caught at second slip chasing an away swinger – in his first-class innings in England was worrying for Pakistan but Younis Khan made batting

look easy as he finished the day one short of his 53rd hundred.

He put on 179 for the fifth wicket with Asad Shafiq, who looked comfortable from the moment he walked to the crease, as both batsmen showed the benefit of long preparations for the tour. The Pakistan players have not appeared in first-class cricket since January but their build-up has been extensive with a boot camp in Abbottabad with the Pakistan Army and two weeks netting in Southampton.

Birmingham set for competitive match between

SPORT Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

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Prideview Cricketers’ Cup

The 5th edition of the Prideview Cricketers’ Cup will be held at Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood, on 16th July. The donations raised during the event will go to charity - One Kind Act. The organisers will provide light tea, lunch and drinks during the event. They will also organise an auction of merchandise signed by Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Stuart Broad as well as a coaching session for 6 people with England batting coach Mark Ramprakash and a raffle in which the top prize is an IPAD Mini 2. You can also win a Marbella holiday and some cricketing memorabilia in the mix. You can purchase tickets in advance by making a donation on One Kind Act’s website via: https://onekindact.org/events/the-prideview-cricketerscup-2016. The organisers are also looking for volunteers and umpires. A lovely little trophy is up for grabs for the winner of the Ladies Bowl-Out which consists of qualification and then the final. To qualify, the contestant must hit the stumps once in 4 attempts. This year the Super Soccer stars will run a kids cricket coaching class for those aged 1 – 6 years. For details contact Nilesh Patel,The Prideview Group.

Indian-origin boxer Sahota to meet Vikas Lohan

Indian-origin British boxer Sanjeev Singh Sahota will meet Haryana boxer Vikas Lohan in one of the five undercard fights during WBO Asia Pacific Middleweight Championship, featuring Vijender Singh against Kerry Hope on July 16.

Sahota, a super lightweight boxer, recently turned professional and has played two bouts winning one by knockout. Early this month, Sahota defeated British boxer Silvije Kebet in a four-round contest to register his second win. “I am very excited to be a part of a historical event and I am ready to fight. I’ve been training extremely hard and it’s not just a fight, I am also representing all the British Asian and British community in India as I am the only one that I know of at the moment fighting from the UK,” Sahota said. “I am honoured that my promoter has given me this great opportunity and I will give 150% of me. I am looking forward to meeting all the people in India who said that they will come and will be watching my fight in India and I’m just happy to have such a great support.”

Rape charge: FIR demanded against India hockey captain

Swati Maliwal, Delhi Commission for Women chief, met Union minister Sushma Swaraj and demanded the registration of an FIR against India Hockey captain Sardar Singh, for an alleged sexual assault on an Indian- origin British woman hockey player. Maliwal, along with the woman player, met the minister and complained of alleged inaction by police despite DCW forwarding the complaint to the police some time back. “We forwarded the complaint 14 days ago but there has been no FIR yet. If there is merit or no merit in the case that can be investigated later but why no FIR has been lodged?”

Maliwal told reporters after the meeting. The woman had approached DCW alleging that she was physically assaulted by Singh, that there was an attempt to push her from the top floor of a five-star hotel in Delhi and that she was raped by Singh therein.

Pak bowler Amir warned of hostile reception in England

England captain Alastair Cook has warned bowler Mohammad Amir to expect hostile reception from crowds during the visit of Pakistani team.

Much tougher challenges await when the Test series starts in 10 days’ time at Lord’s, where Amir will return to the scene of his spot-fixing crime six years ago.

Pakistan are prepared for the inevitable questions about Amir and have contracted a public-relations company to advise them throughout the tour on how to handle the attention. The best way is to produce good cricket and,

at an event to promote MMA.

Mohammad Amir

for that to happen, their batsmen must find form quickly. Pakistan know their bowlers are good enough to take 20 wickets but recently saw how Sri Lanka quickly subsided against the swinging ball

England, Pak fans: A cricket match between England’s fans and their British-Pakistani counterparts will take place in Birmingham prior to Pakistan’s first Test at Lord’s. The Barmy Army will compete for the Edgbaston Fans Trophy against the newly-formed National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) in a T20 match at Attock Cricket Club on July 13.

According to Edgbaston Stadium’s chief executive Neil Snowball, the match will give a greater profile to fans ahead of Pakistan’s tour of England and will also pro-

mote an atmosphere of unity among fans from both sides.

“Edgbaston has been working closely with both supporter groups for several years and, with excitement building towards the start of the Investec Series, we wanted to give a greater profile to fans,” he said.

“The sport is able to unite people from different cultures and beliefs from around the world. We’re thrilled to be the architects of this first competitive match between England and Pakistan fans, and hope that this is something we can repeat for future series,” he added.

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Asian Voice | 9th July 2016

British counties planning IPL-like league to tide over financial woes Some of the leading British county cricket clubs are planning an Indian IPL like league to tide over the dire financial crisis. County clubs like Yorkshire and Durham are in debts of millions of pounds. One option they are planning are a new league in the Twenty20 format. First they have to get the approval of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and then they can decide on other formalities.

Headingley cricket ground, the home of Yorkshire, was the venue for England's epic Ashes victory over Australia in the third test in 1981. But the club is struggling with more than £22 million of debt, which has been restructured to reduce interest payments. Earlier this year Geoffrey Boycott, the former Yorkshire and England batsman warned that the debt would kill the club.

Other clubs are also facing hefty interest payments on sizeable debts. Durham has £6 million and the latest annual report for Lancashire for the year

ending December 31, 2014 records an operating profit of £2 million, but net debt of more than £13m.

The proposal under consideration involve nine of the big clubs forming a new league. The other clubs would be Hampshire, Glamorgan, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Middlesex and Surrey.

Many county clubs rue that the England team has enjoyed financial success with lucrative television deal with Sky, but that they are struggling to repay

debts.

Rod Bransgrove, chairman of Hampshire, who has accused the ECB of failing to pay adequately for developing England players, is convinced a new Twenty20 league could match the success of the Indian Premier League. He said that they would establish some form of broadcasting and audiencefriendly English Twenty20 cricket that will really stimulate maximum interest.

He said the four-day county cricket was no longer com-

mercially viable and which does not fit with modern living.

Some of the biggest clubs are due to meet soon to discuss ways to boost the game's finances, including the option of new league.

Bransgrove said that there was talk of a cricket league, but said the possible structure had not been examined. Steve Denison, chairman of Yorkshire, said one problem was that county clubs submitted financial bids to the ECB to boost test matches.

British envoy meets Pak women's cricket team British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew CMG, along with his wife Joanna Roper, met the Pakistan’s National Women Cricket Team before they take on England’s National Women Cricket Team in Bristol.

Although Drew recently hosted the Pakistan’s Men’s Cricket Team in Lahore, the Women’s Cricket Team had already left for their tour of England.

Highlighting sport as one of the strongest links between the UK and Pakistan, he wished the team the best of luck for the remainder of their tour.

Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was named in Norwegian club Stabaek FC's squad for their Europa League qualifying match against Welsh Premier League side Connah's Quay Nomads FC, making him the first ever player from India to play in the competition. The former East Bengal goalkeeper played a number of matches in the Norwegian cup competitions last season and also started a league game in May this year. Before Sandhu, the likes of Mohammed Salim, Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri and Subrata Paul have all played for European sides, but never took part in any top-division game or in the continental competition. Sandhu joined the Norway side in 2014 and has been their second choice goalkeeper for the last one and a half season.

India thrash Laos, book Asian Cup Qualifiers berth

Jeje Lalpekhlua inspired the Indian football team to a 6-1 second leg victory against Laos and ensured progression to the 2019 Asian Cup’s third qualifying round with a 7-1 aggregate score. India, who won the first away leg game 1-0 thanks to a Jeje goal, saw their advantage evaporate as Laos took the lead at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium through Khonesavanh Sihavong. But India’s response was impressive and clinical, scoring through the in-form Jeje (43th, 74th minutes), youngster Sumit Passi (46th), Sandesh Jhingan (48th), Mohammed Rafique (83rd) and Fulganco Cardozo (87th).

Kerala want to host 2018 Asian Beach games

British High Commissioner Thomas Drew CMG and his wife Joanna met Pakistan’s National Women Cricket Team in Bristol, ahead of their T20 match against England.

'King Shazad' recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours Stone lifter and taxi firm boss Shahzada Saleem, known as King Shazad, was honoured by Queen with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to the traditional Asian sport.

Saleem has been hailed the greatest athlete in the sport which sees competitors lifting a massive stone block.

The 50-year-old grandfather, who runs Sedgley based Beacon Taxis and Express Taxis in Halesowen, said: "This really is a honour, never in my dreams did I think I would ever be recognised in such way." Following his retirement from the sport - King Shazad set up the Shazad Academy in Dudley to pass

Sandhu becomes first Indian to play in Europa League

on his skills to the next generation and help keep youngsters off the streets, and the venture now has bases in Birmingham and Manchester as well.

Saleem said: "I worked hard to be the best but then

it became about trying to do something for every one, especially our youngsters. "I feel blessed and I will continue to do the work I do as my love for the sport will never die. I want to dedicate this honour to all those who believed in me and supported me."

Saleem became the youngest world stone lifting champion in 1985 aged 18 and during a decade-long reign he enjoyed repeated record-breaking success. In 1995 he became the first person to lift 201kg - a record that remained unbroken for 13 years. The following year 50,000 people watched his final appearance in Pakistan

before he retired from the sport due to lack of competition.

Then after a 14-year break from competing, he made a comeback at age 45 and lifted a massive 210kg in front of 10,000 fans at the 2010 Manchester Mela becoming the oldest world champion ever seen in the sport.

In recognition of his achievements - the borough's Dudley Mela event was renamed the Shazad Mela and in 2010 he was presented with a lifetime achievement trophy by the Mayor of Dudley and the following year he scooped the borough's Duncan Edwards Award for Sport.

Kerala government is interested in hosting the 6th Asian Beach Games, to be held in 2018, and sought central aid for promotion of sports in the state. Kerala sports minister E P Jayarajan met Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Jitendra Singh and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

"Kerala is an ideal place to conduct the Beach Games as we have a nearly 600-km long coastline and we are waiting for the nod from the central government and Indian Olympic Association to start the preparations," Jayarajan said after meeting the the Union minister.

"We had also requested for sports incubation centres at various universities and colleges as the people in the state are sports enthusiasts and there is a need to develop the skills of youngsters," he said. Jayarajan, who is also the Minister for Industries in state, was in New Delhi to attend the three-day Central Committee meeting of CPI-M. He also met Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Kalraj Mishra and discussed about the MSME projects in the state.

Jayarajan, who submitted a memorandum requesting for more projects in the state, said the Union minister had promised all help in promoting new startup projects in Kerala. Jayarajan said out of nearly 45 Public Sector Undertakings in Kerala, only 10 are profitable.

"At the end of the tenure of the last LDF government, around 18 PSUs were financially stable but now the number has come down to 10. Even the profit ratio of those has also come down. We plan to make them profitable along with creating new jobs," Jayarajan said.

On the state's mining policy, he said it would be allowed under a public sector entity only. "It's the policy of this government that we will allow mining only under public sector undertaking. Those existing in private sector will be retained but no new private licenses will be granted," he said.