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Latha Nehru with UNA-USA Co chair William J McDonough

Top leadership award for Indian American Details on page 16

India offers $850b worth opportunities Details on page 6

Bhangoo moves High Court, writes to Rahul Details on page 9

Protests before NY Consulate on Bhopal injustice Details on page 17

NEW YORK • WASHINGTON D.C. • CHICAGO • ATLANTA • CALIFORNIA

VOL 15, No. 825

July 2, 2010

50¢

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$10 B PLEDGE FOR INDIA INFRASTRUCTURE India-US CEO Forum's ambitious program

India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The India-US CEO Forum has recommended an Infrastructure Debt Fund of $10 billion for development of infrastructure in India.

The recommendations, among other interesting and ambitious ideas such as collaboration under the National Solar Mission of India, a long term initiative on diabetes research and treatment, linkages between educational institutions and joint research in clean energy including bio-fuels came about during the India-US CEO Forum held in Washington DC on June 22.

Details on page 5

Details on page 37

INDIA POST SURVEY survey@indiapost.com This week’s question

Will Nikki win Governor contest in November?

Last week’s result

Should Barry Bhangoo continue his fight for justice?

YES 92%

NO 8%

Details on page 8

AAHOA meet a mixed bag but lively affair Details on page 14

Andhra student lured to death by online dating Details on page 16

Canadian PM apologizes for Kanishka Details on page 7

Julia Gillard Australia's first woman PM Details on page 11 INDO-US SYNERGY: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the US India CEOs Forum Meeting in Washington, DC on June 22

Nikki Haley wins run off with 65%

3 Indian workers killed in Sharjah Details on page 10

India Post News Service

Community groups protest profiling

Nirupama Rao flags terrorism during Pak talks

NEW YORK: Nikki Randhawa Haley, the Republican contender in South Carolina's gubernatorial race pulled off a victory in the June 22 runoff against Representative Gresham Barrett, a four-term congressman, 65 percent to 35 percent.

Haley is already a clear favorite among South Carolina voters as she now faces Democrat Vincent Sheheen in the elections this fall.

The overwhelming margin of votes that Haley bagged in the runoff catapulted her into GOP's national politics and now not only is her victory in the November elections being considered a foregone conclusion, but she is also being touted already as a possible vice presidential candidate in the 2012 general elections.

Details on page 7

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 24-25 Classifieds ------------------------- 48 Community Post -------------- 14-23 Date Book -------------------------- 46 Edit Page --------------------------- 50 HealthScience Post --------- 34-36 Horoscope ------------------------- 47 Immigration Post ------------- 37-39 India ------------------------------ 44-45 Life Style ----------------------- 26-28 Philosophy ------------------------- 49 Publisherís Diary ------------------ 4

Nikki Haley celebrates her nomination as Republican candidate for Governor of South Carolina at a party in Columbia

Real Estate ------------------------ 40 TechBiz Post ------------------- 42-43 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 29-31

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ast week's drama around General Stanley McChrystal's resignation as chief of the American troops in Afghanistan, prompt these thoughts in my mind: Time magazine has called the Afghanistan war as Barack Obama's 'Big, Fat dilemma'. I guess it's okay to describe a war situation as a dilemma for a Commander-in-Chief who is tens of thousands of miles away from the war zone and 'strategizing' from the safety and comfort of the White House - a dilemma that at the worst gives him sleepless nights and a few more gray hairs.

Of course I don't mean to undermine the responsibility of the President in the situation, but my empathies are entirely with the men and women who are directly or indirectly connected to the war and posted in Afghanistan by virtue of their job - and not just for the Americans and the allied forces that are present in that god forsaken country, but even countries like India that are purportedly doing developmental work and therefore have personnel officially posted there.

Who can deny the fact that all the outside entities present in that country are making more of a political point than of waging a just war? It's especially frustrating when a country like India, which has no greater purpose than countering Pakistani influence in that country, is using as collateral 'bodies' a handful of diplomatic officers and other related personnel to do the nation's dirty work.

I am not being naïve when I ask why can't all these 'outsiders' simply leave Afghanistan to its fate and get out of there? That country has a history of bloody local politics which others need not interfere in. Do the Afghan people interfere in the Democrats vs Republican politics in the US; or between the UPAs and NDAs of India? The cultural divide between these countries and Afghanistan is as wide as the geographical miles between them. The Afghans don't pretend to understand the Lady Gaga's or the Real Housewives of American culture; so why do Americans think they can understand the way the tribal warlords in the Afghan valleys behave?

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Bollywood: Manisha weds In a fairytale wedding, actress Manisha Koirala tied the knot with Nepali businessman Samrat Dahal.

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Cover Story: Infrastructure fund The India-US CEO Forum has recommended an Infrastructure Debt Fund of $10 billion for development of infrastructure in India.

Community: AAHOA convention

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The three-day AAHOA annual convention beginning June 16 in Chicago turned out to be a mixed bag.

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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Travel: Periyar Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve in Kerala is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world.

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$10 b pledge for India infrastructure India-US CEO Forum's ambitious program India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The India-US CEO Forum has recommended an Infrastructure Debt Fund of $10 billion for development of infrastructure in India.

The recommendations, among other interesting and ambitious ideas such as collaboration under the National Solar Mission of India, a long term initiative on diabetes research and treatment, linkages between educational institutions and joint research in clean energy including bio-fuels came about during the India-US CEO Forum held in Washington DC on June 22.

Co-chaired by Ratan Tata,

Chairman, Tata Sons and Dave Cote, CEO of Honeywell Corp, the Forum was attended by eight CEOs from each side, led by India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton respectively.

There was very high level government participation from both sides reflecting the importance attached by both Governments.

From the Government of India, the Forum was attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia. From the US side, there were six Secretary level representatives who included Treasury Secretary Timo-

Ambassador Meera Shankar at the INDIA-US CEOs Forum Meeting in Washington, DC on June 22

thy Geithner, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, USTR Ambassador Ron Kirk, Director of the National Economic Council, Larry Summers and Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg.

The Forum was reconstituted last year with 12 CEOs from India and the USA nominated by PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama respectively.

This was the second meeting of the Forum, the first having been held in November last year on the sidelines of PM Singh's visit to Washington.

The CEOs met in a smaller format this time around, before interacting with the Government representatives. They presented recommendations to both governments in four core areas including (i) Infrastructure; (ii) Clean Energy; (iii) Education and (iv) eHealth/Biotechnology. The Forum also discussed impediments and some breakthrough long term ideas.

To follow up on the ideas, finance minister Mukherjee announced that a Committee headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission would be formed in India to carry forward the ideas with implementable action plans.

CEOs from both sides and rep-

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the US India CEOs Forum Meeting in Washington, DC on June 22. Also seen is Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission

resentatives of the two Governments agreed that there was tremendous potential and synergy in the economic partnership between India and the US. The forthcoming visit of President Barack Obama to India would provide an opportunity to intensify the economic engagement and translate some of these ideas into deliverables.

Mukherjee also had a meeting with his counterpart, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and discussed bilateral issues and the outlook for the global economy.

They also discussed the eurozone crisis and how this would

impact on the global economy.

They discussed issues relating to fiscal consolidation and the finance minister suggested that fiscal exits could be staggered and be country specific, depending on market conditions in each country.

Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma separately met USTR Ron Kirk and discussed issues relating to India-US trade relations. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia met US Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack to discuss progress in India-US Agriculture cooperation.

US-India CEOs moot $1b clean energy fund India Post News Service

NEW YORK: The India-US CEO Forum has launched a $1 billion venture capital / private equity fund for Clean Energy technology projects. The forum has also established a joint Indo-US Drug Discovery Fund to enhance the R&D efforts in the area of biotech and health care in the two countries.

These initiatives are among the many recommendations made by the US-India CEO Forum to representatives of both the governments - recommendations that broadly cover areas like infrastructure; clean energy; education and skill development; bio-technology and breakthrough long term ideas like a diabetes breakthrough project and strategic space co-operation.

Anand Sharma, Minister for Commerce and Industry led an official delegation for the second meeting of the reconstituted India-US CEO Forum at Wash-

ington DC June 22.

At the meeting, Sharma said that the West, including US, will continue to lead technology development. But when it comes to adaptation, a number of emerging economies have the capability to adapt the technology to their situation.

"The issue is one of access to the latest technology," he said urging the CEO Forum to suggest specific mechanisms to make clean technologies accessible to the resource poor countries, given that these are protected by IPRs and often out of their reach.

Sharma also welcomed the CEO Forum initiative to participate and support the joint research centre proposed as part of Indo-US Clean Energy Research and Deployment Initiative.

Welcoming the establishment of the Indo-US Drug Discovery Fund, Sharma said that collaboration between research institutions and private sector cooperative research between India and the US would greatly enhance the R&D

efforts in the area of biotech and health care in the two countries.

Emphasizing that India is committed to a strong and equitable IPR regime and has put in place legislation and enforcement mechanisms to this effect, Sharma said, "Be it technology or life saving

The minister said, ‘India has a liberal and transparent FDI regime in place except for a few sectors like banking and insurance, defense and retail trade’ drugs, there has to be balance and sharing so that the resource poor countries are not denied access to these."

During the interactions, Sharma explained that India was in the process of conceptualizing National Manufacturing Investment Zones as integrated industrial townships

with state-of-art infrastructure and complete eco-system for manufacturing industry. This mechanism is being developed in response to the concerns on availability of developed land, infrastructure and other services for industry, he said.

In response to a suggestion for reduction in Indian import duties on security technologies and products, he explained that 100% FDI is permitted under automatic route for manufacture of such equipment in India for non-defense application. There is a large and growing market and it would be a win-win situation for both sides if concerned businesses could establish in India.

On India's Foreign Direct Investment regime, the minister said, "India has a liberal and transparent FDI regime in place except for a few sectors like banking and insurance, defense and retail trade in which we favor calibrated liberalization on account of domestic sensitivities." He said that initiatives like e-biz; incorporation of the Invest India Company, simplifica-

tion and consolidation of the FDI policy pronouncements would go a long way in improving business environment.

During the bilateral meeting, Sharma and United States Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk reviewed the implementation of the India- US Trade Policy Forum Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment singed in March 2010 and agreed to further the engagement to build on the success of the Trade Policy Forum by facilitating trade and investment flows between the two countries.

They agreed to hold the next meeting of the Trade Policy Forum at an early date and also work towards identifying deliverables for the forthcoming visit of US President.

Sharma also discussed a wide-range of issues including the Totalization Agreement, H1B visas for Indian skilled labor, Generalized System of Preferences, labor related non-tariff barriers, other market access issues and removal of India from

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India offers $850b investment opportunities: Pranab India Post News Service

NEW YORK: India offers investment opportunities in excess of US$ 850 billion over the next five years, India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the India-US CEO Forum meeting in Washington DC on June 22. The Minister further said that in the infrastructure sector, India envisages investment at US$ 1 trillion between 2012-13 and 2016-17, with a potential funding gap of 25-30% bridged through innovative modes of financing.

Finance Minister Mukherjee was upbeat as he addressed the high-level meet stating that considering the global economy often feels like a stormy sea or like a tsunami, industry leaders were rightfully called 'Captains of industry' for their capabilities to navigate a economy through stormy seas. "Having been the Finance Minister of India, I realize that the global economy can be as stormy as any sea. In fact very often it feels like a Tsunami. Anybody who tries to navigate his or her corporation through the global economy is, therefore, rightly called a captain," he said.

As captain of a national economy, he said the world was going through a very difficult phase, just about coming out of the great recession. "Economists used to tell us last year that the global economy will make a Vshaped recovery. That is, it will turnaround very quickly," he said.

"Then, I was told that it will be Ushaped recovery, meaning that it will stay at the bottom a little longer before recovering. Recently, with the risk of a new crisis in Europe, experts are saying that it may be a W-shaped recovery. Frankly, I am beginning to feel

that for every alphabet in the English language there is a theory of recovery. What so many competing theories of recovery mean, is, that we really do not know the answer. There is uncertainty concerning which way the global economy will go."

Fortunately, for India, Mukherjee said, the recovery seems to be on a surer-footing.

‘Economists used to tell us last year that the global economy will make a V-shaped recovery. That is, it will turnaround very quickly,’ he said. ‘Then, I was told that it will be U-shaped recovery, meaning that it will stay at the bottom a little longer before recovering. Recently, with the risk of a new crisis in Europe, experts are saying that it may be a W-shaped recovery "The Indian economy has done exceedingly well in these difficult times through a combination of careful policymaking, dynamic industrial leadership and luck. Last quarter our GDP grew at 8.6% and this year my Ministry has predicated a growth rate of 8.5%," he said, adding uncannily, "I notice that the IMF has recently challenged our prediction. For once, however, I am not going to argue with the IMF. The IMF believes that the Indian economy will grow by 8.8%!"

Conceding that India used to watch with envy how the East Asian super-performers saved and invested over 30% of their GDP, Mukherjee said, "What many observers do not know is that, from 2003, India has broken into this high-growth circle. We now save and invest around 34% of our GDP. And that data we have received over the last couple of months sug-

and India in the development process," he said.

Mukherjee assured the CEOs group that the Indian government was working to make the governance more efficient, transparent and in step with the modern world. He pointed out to the process of major reform of the direct and indirect tax systems underway in the country. "I have also

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with US Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner in Washington, DC on June 22

gest that this is still rising."

Lauding the private corporate sector in India for adding to India's growth story, Mukherjee said the multiple source growth was a sign of robustness. "A significant part of India's growth impulse is from our rural sector which has been prioritized in our developmental plans for inclusive growth. Focus is on innovation with a broader outreach at the grassroots level and engaging medium sized companies in the US

asked my Ministry to prepare an annual report on India's public debt, which will be available to all.

I have made a commitment to bring down the public debt as percentage of GDP from the current level of around 75% to below 68% in three years. India's fiscal health is good now and this new target will make it even better. It will also make more room for private sector borrowing and investment.

Our ultimate aim is to make India a vibrant economy that attracts glo-

bal capital and trade," he said.

In the context of working together with the US, Mukherjee said, "The trust that we have built through our 100% compliance record in the safeguarding of imported technology should help us to increase our bilateral high technology trade. “I am aware that this is presently under discussion and I would only underline that India has a record of being a trusted a customer. I am sure that our Governments should be able to work together to create the conditions for a win-win situation in advance technology trade between our two countries."

Referring to the Financial and Economic Partnership that was launched during Secretary Geithner's visit to Delhi in April this year, Mukherjee said, "We are currently negotiating a Bilateral Investment Treaty and are committed to take further initiatives that will contribute to creating a more conducive environment for investment flows."

Stating that while the industry's focus would be on profits while his own as a politician would be on votes, Mukherjee said, "All of us must have ambitions that go beyond these. Our ultimate aim has to be the wellbeing of human beings. “We have to strive for inclusiveness not only in our individual nations and corporations but in the world and across nations. We live today in a world where all our fates are tied together. For that reason, if for no other, we have to strive together to create a better world."

In conclusion, Mukherjee said, "I know that this sounds as if I am trying to reach for the stars. I want to assure you that that is exactly what I am doing. Together we must try to reach for the stars."

Revised DTC draft not throwback to days of exemptions: FM WASHINGTON: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has asserted that the revised draft direct tax code was not a throwback to the days of exemptions, saying it only addressed the areas of concerns expressed by people.

"What is progressive?

What is populist? Who are to judge over it? People expressed their concern. Those concerns have been addressed and the revised draft has been placed before the people," Mukherjee told PTI in an interview, rejecting the criticism following dropping of proposals to tax retire-

ment benefits contained in the original draft.

He was responding to a query on the criticism that the revised DTC, which would replace the archaic Income Tax Act, 1961, was a throwback to the days of tax exemptions and that the government had developed cold feet on reforms to toe a populist line.

"If somebody assumes that the indicative rates in the direct tax hood is the final rate; it is for them to come to the conclusion, that is far from reality. What rate of taxes will be there only Parliament can decide. Nobody else," he said.

Stating that stakeholders had been asked to give their comments

by June 30 on the revised draft, he said: "But again this is the draft.

Therefore, you cannot presume that this progressive, this is regressive.

"This is nothing but the indicative rates, final rates will be determined by Parliament as is the Constitutional approach," Mukherjee said.

Contrary to the proposal to tax retirement benefits like PF and pension at the time of withdrawal contained in the first draft, the revised document unveiled earlier this month withdrew these taxa-

tion proposals, as also reversed the earlier move to levy Minimum Alternate Tax from corporate based on gross assets.

Also, it retained the exemption granted towards interest paid on housing loans, but did not mention the liberalized tax slabs contained in the first draft.

On the issue of tax slabs, Revenue Secretary Sunil Mitra said the rates in the first draft, which suggested 10 per cent tax on income from Rs 1.60-10 lakhs and 20 per cent on income between Rs 10-25 lakhs and 30 per cent beyond that, were illustrative.

"That's why every year Finance

Minister states before Parliament and seek the approval that this will be the rate of taxes. So what is progressive, what is populist, who are to judge over it ... this is the draft. Therefore, you cannot presume that this is progressive, this is regressive," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee said that the new draft addresses 11 grievances expressed by stakeholders to the proposals in the first discussion paper.

Mukherjee had promised in his Budget speech to implement the new direct tax laws from next fiscal. -PTI

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Nikki Haley wins run off with 65% India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Nikki Randhawa Haley, the Republican contender in South Carolina's gubernatorial race pulled off a victory in the June 22 run-off against Representative Gresham Barrett, a four-term congressman, 65 percent to 35 percent.

tions being considered a foregone conclusion, but she is also being touted already as a possible vice presidential candidate in the 2012 general elections.

Whether it was a last minute endorsement by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin or the bizarre and unsubstantiated accusations of extra-marital affairs

Dr. Sampat Shivangi, Chairman of RIC-Mississippi, remarked, ‘It is very heartening and upbeat news for all Indian Americans that we can prevail against racist and negative campaigning in the Southern States. Governor Bobby Jindal paved the way and Louisiana is seeing the fruits of his brilliance, post Katrina and now during the Gulfshore oil mess. We look forward to November when Nikki Haley will be sworn in as Governor of South Carolina’ Haley is already a clear favorite among South Carolina voters as she now faces Democrat Vincent Sheheen in the elections this fall.

The overwhelming margin of votes that Haley bagged in the runoff catapulted her into GOP's national politics and now not only is her victory in the November elec-

worked in her favor, Haley is now poised to become South Carolina's first female governor, not to forget, the first Indian American woman to break into the strictly conservative Bible belt.

Haley was also strongly backed and endorsed by former Massachusetts Governor and Presidential candidate in 2008 Mitt

Romney, and Jenny Sanford, exwife of former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.

Interestingly, the Sanfords, who had divorced after the former governor got involved in a scandal involving an extra-marital affair, came together on the run-off night in support of Haley.

Commending her victory in the run off primary, the Republican Indian Committee (RIC) enthusiastically congratulated Haley stating that it was a clear demonstration of her popularity and the resonance of her message with the voters. "She will soon join Bobby Jindal, as the second IndianAmerican to become a state Governor in the United States," a RIC release said.

Dr. Sampat Shivangi, Chairman of RIC-Mississippi, remarked, "It is very heartening and upbeat news for all Indian Americans that we can prevail against racist and negative campaigning in the Southern States. Governor Bobby Jindal paved the way and Louisiana is seeing the fruits of his brilliance, post Katrina and now during the Gulfshore oil mess. We look forward to November when Nikki Haley will be sworn in as

Governor of South Carolina."

The RIC points out that while typically the Republican nominee stands a good chance to win the governorship in South Carolina, it cannot be taken for granted, especially in the unusual election year that 2010 was turning out to be. "To defend against attacks like she has overcome so far, Haley will need to have the resources on hand to respond," the RIC says, urging support from the community.

RIC endorsed Haley before the Primary Election earlier this month, and has helped raise funds allowing Haley to respond to last minute attacks by desperate opponents.

Nikki Randhawa Haley

Thirty-eight year old Haley is the daughter of Sikh immigrants; is married to Michael Haley and was baptized at a Methodist Church.

Canadian PM apologizes to Kanishka victims' families TORONTO: Twenty-five years after the Kanishka tragedy that claimed 329 lives, Canadian Premier Stephen Harper has apologized for the "institutional failings" that led to the Air India bombing and took the first step towards providing compensation to the victims' families.

In an emotional speech marking the 25th anniversary of the attack, Harper said: "the mere fact of the destruction of Air India Flight 182 is the primary evidence that something went very, very wrong. For that, we are sorry.

"For that, and also for the years during which your legitimate need for answers and, indeed, for empathy, were treated with administrative disdain."

Harper's apology came less than a week after a damning report on the bombing by Kanishka Inquiry Commissioner Justice John Major concluded that a "cascading series of errors" by police and authorities had led to the country's worst act of terrorism which could have been prevented.

The Prime Minister recommended that an independent commission be established to determine appropriate amounts of compensation for the victims' families.

Air India Flight 182, Kanishka

plunged into the Atlantic on June 23, 1985, after an explosion in the aircraft killing all 329 people on board.

Without naming Khalistan demand by a section of Sikh community in Canada, Harper said that

battles of India's past here and then to export them back to that great and forward-looking nation," he said at a function also attended by members of the victims' families and Canadian politicians.

Stephen Harper

For too long, he admitted, the disaster was seen wrongly by many Canadians as a foreign act with foreign victims.

"This atrocity was conceived in Canada, executed in Canada, by Canadian citizens, and its victims were themselves mostly citizens of Canada. We wish this realization had gained common acceptance earlier,’ he said

his government was committed to marginalize extremists and would not allow them to use Canadian soil to export terrorism to India.

"It is incumbent upon us all, not to reach out to, but rather to marginalize, to carefully and systematically marginalize those extremists who seek to import the

"Whoever would lift up a perverse ideology by casting down the innocent- we must learn how to thwart them," he said.

Indian High Commissioner to Canada S M Gavai, Consul General of India Preeti Saran, former Supreme Court judge and Chairman of Air India Inquiry Commis-

sion Justice John Major and Liberal leader Bob Rae were present on the occasion.

"Let me say that again; the finest memorial we can build to your loved ones is to prevent another flight 182," Harper said.

He stressed that it is not enough to say the system failed, as that would only "sanities with words a succession of woeful inadequacies."

The Prime Minister regretted the years of shabby treatment the families faced at the hands of security agencies and other government offices.

For too long, he admitted, the disaster was seen wrongly by many Canadians as a foreign act with foreign victims.

"This atrocity was conceived in Canada, executed in Canada, by Canadian citizens, and its victims were themselves mostly citizens of Canada. We wish this realization had gained common acceptance earlier," he said.

Harper said he makes no excuses for the "deeply disturbing" findings released last week by the Air India inquiry, which focused largely on bumbling by security services.

Tributes were paid and wreaths were laid at the Kanishka memorial by the Prime Minister Harper,

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayer David Miller and families of the victims.

In a message Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "This was a horrific incident which shook the world's conscience. It is with a sense of deep pain and sorrow that I join the families and friends in paying my homage to all those who fell victim to this most barbarous act of terrorism."

"No religion, faith or cause can justify such violence or inhumanity. On this solemn occasion, we must rededicate ourselves to fighting and eliminating terrorism and determination and joint action," Singh said.

Singh's message was readout

by Bal Gupta, President of the Air India victims' families' association.

The bombing attack was blamed on Sikh militants avenging Operation Blue Star of 1984.

Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only person ever convicted in the case, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2003.

Suspected ringleader Talwinder Singh Parmar died in India in 1991, and the two main surviving suspects, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, were both acquitted in March 2005 after a 19-month trial. -PTI

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Nirupama Rao flags terrorism during talks in Pak

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir (R) hold talks with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao (L) during their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on June 24

ISLAMABAD: Making the first effort to bridge the trust deficit between the two countries, Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan here discussed all issues of mutual concern with New Delhi flagging its core concern of terrorism emanating from that country.

Meeting for the second time in four months, Foreign Secretaries Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir

sons why there was a trust deficit and how it can be bridged.

"We discussed all issues, obviously our core concerns on terrorism were also articulated," Rao told a joint press conference with Bashir after their meeting.

She also noted that Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani had assured his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in Thimphu in April that Pakistan will not allow

tries here on July 15, Bashir said he felt "much more optimistic" about a good outcome at the talks.

He said the two countries should "work towards restoring confidence and building trust with a view to make it possible to have comprehensive, sustained and substantial dialogue."

"The meeting was marked with a great deal of cordiality, sincerity and earnestness. The dialogue was very constructive...We have been able to review comprehensively the state of our bilateral relations. All issues of concern and

it will help in strengthening and solidifying the efforts to address the issue.

Both sides also exchanged proposals on outstanding issues including on Kashmir, humanitarian issues and terrorism, diplomatic sources said.

Unlike their last meeting in New Delhi on February 25, both sides were cautious in articulating their positions before the media on various issues raised during the

countries should build on this development.

"I think this dialogue is a step forward. The fact that the two sides have resumed the dialogue, have agreed to sit together and talk on issues of mutual concerns is an important development. And we should build on this development," Qureshi said.

Asked whether the trust deficit can be bridged, he said: "Why not? where there is a will, there is

‘The meeting was marked with a great deal of cordiality, sincerity and earnestness. The dialogue was very constructive...We have been able to review comprehensively the state of our bilateral relations’

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir (R) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao (L) prior to their meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on June 24

described their parleys as "cordial" and "constructive" during which they tried to "understand each other's position" and concern.

Rao, the first senior Indian official to travel to Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, asserted that the orientation of the re-engagement between the two countries was to look at the rea-

its soil to be used for terrorist activities against India.

"We believe that it is an important commitment and what we also believe is that we should jointly work together towards our goal of resolution of outstanding issues," she said.

After his meeting with Rao to prepare ground for the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the two coun-

interests were touched upon," Bashir said.

Rao said the discussions were not only "exploratory", but the two sides also tried to "understand each other's position."

The Indian Foreign Secretary said both countries must "deny the terrorist elements any opportunity to derail the peace process."

Both sides also noted that Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik would discuss terrorism and hoped that

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (L) talks with Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao during their meeting in Islamabad on June 24

parleys.

After their meeting, the two sides had held separate press conferences during which they came out with different versions on issues raised during the parleys.

Describing the meeting as a step forward in bilateral relations, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the two

a way."

Later, speaking to reporters, Bashir refused to go into specifics of what was discussed during his meeting with Rao. ‘I think what we are trying to do here is to create the right environment. What is in the interest of both countries is to re-engage on each and every issue," he said.PTI

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Bhangoo moves High Court, writes to Rahul Gandhi India Post News Service

NEW DELHI: Barry Bhangoo, the California CEO who was beaten up nearly to death in a New Delhi market last month, has filed a case in the High Court against Delhi Police for not apprehending the known culprits in this case.

Justice Ajit Bharihoke has issued a notice to the police to respond to the writ by the next court date 15th July.

Bhangoo has also written to Rahul Gandhi, with a copy to Sonia Gandhi, detailing the case and lack of response from Delhi Police. In his letter, Bhangoo says that among those who attacked him, "The leader of the gang, a Mr. Maninder Singh claimed to the police that his father Capt Amarjit Singh Sethi is your and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's private pilot.

“Capt Amarjit according to press reporters, is also very well connected with several members of parliament, the Lt. Governor's office and high ranked police officers. As a result of his connections, even after a month, none of the well connected culprits have been charged with anything at all.

Bhangoo added, "I have already been scarred for life both mentally and physically, I hope at least I get justice so that it is a little bit easier to live with these scars. I am under heavy medication and will have to go through a long medical treatment and recovery process. “I came very close to death the night of the inci-

dent and it is going to change the rest of my life for sure. I live in the fear of the culprits hurting or killing me and/or my family everyday now due to the numerous threats given to me by the culprits and their connections."

He concludes the letter with, "My quest for justice is not just

the system I hope the right thing is done at the end."

Barry Bhangoo told India Post that a journalist investigated and found out that Capt Amarjit Singh is indeed Rahul Gandhi's pilot; even Sonia Gandhi uses him occasionally. He said that the ATS air service is actually owned by

Barry Bhangoo

about me but about our children's future. It is about India's future!

How will India ever be a world class nation if our civil rights are violated everyday and that too by the agencies hired and trained to protect them? As you will see from the tremendous support from people on the Facebook group about my case, everyone wants this to stop. For the sake of restoring everyone's confidence in

Capt Satish Sharma (MP). He also said that DCP Dhaliwal is related to Capt Amarjit Singh.

When contacted, an official of the US Embassy in Delhi confirmed to India Post that they were investigating the matter and were in touch with the concerned authorities in Delhi. The official remarked that they were taking the issue of assault on a US citizen seriously.

Five Americans sentenced to 10 years on terror charges in Pak LAHORE: In proceedings held under heavy police patrolling, a Pakistani court has sentenced five American Muslim youths to 10 years in prison after convicting them on terror charges.

The five Americans aged 19 to 25 from Washington DC were found guilty of two charges -criminal conspiracy and funding terrorist groups -- but the judge acquitted them of three other charges.

Authorities alleged they were planning to carry out terror attacks in Pakistan and to travel to Afghanistan to fight with militants against US and NATO forces.

The investigators also claimed that the five youths had planned to travel to South Waziristan, a lawless territory which is a training ground for Taliban and al Qaeda militants.

The five were arrested in the country in December after their families reported them missing and were on trial in a closed court in the eastern city of Sargodha since March.

The accused Americans -- of Egyptian, Eritrean, Pakistani and Yemeni descent were each handed down concurrent sentences of 10 years and five years and fined Rs 70,000 each.

The judge announced the conviction of the five youths under the provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code for conspiracy against the state and under the Anti-Terrorism Act for funding terrorist organizations.

The judge sentenced the Americans - Ramy Zamzam, 22, Waqar Hussain Khan, 22, Ahmed Abdullah Minni, 20, Iman Hasan Yemer, 17 and Omar Farooq, 24 -

to 10 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each for their conviction under the Pakistan Penal Code.

He sentenced the youths to another five years in prison and fined them another Rs 20,000 for their conviction under the AntiTerrorism Act. Prosecutor Rana Bakhtiar said the authorities were not satisfied with the verdict as the accused should have been awarded life imprisonment.

The prosecution will file an appeal in a higher court, he told reporters in Sargodha.

The defense lawyers maintained the youth were innocent and that they would challenge the verdict in a higher court.

The judge said the youth could appeal against the verdict.PTI

Oz closes college with over 450 Indian students MELBOURNE: Careers of over nity services work, aged care, busi450 Indian students in Australia ness management, automotive has been jeopardized following studies and security, were first closure of an Adelaide-based col- raised in May after a state govlege after it failed audits of the ernment audit in March. government on standards of eduAt the time, management said cation it was offering. it had been a victim of fraud and The South Australian Govern- turned the matter over to police. ment cancelled the registration of But Snelling said the response the Adelaide Pacific International from the college had been considCollege (APIC) which failed au- ered and it remained critically nondits this year. compliant.

State Education Minister Jack The audit found the college Snelling told Parliament that the had failed to adequately monitor APIC in Currie Street is no longer student progress and attendance, registered to operate. The college and had failed to provide quality has as many as 450 students who had come to Adelaide from India.

It's registration will be ‘I have repeatedly stated cancelled from June 28 students' welfare is a parawhen it will be removed mount concern and all from the National Training Information Service. available steps will be The college has 28 days taken,’ the minister said. to appeal against the Snelling said he had spodecision.

The college ken with Indian Consulbreached 12 of 14 national standards, General Amit Dasgupta and Snelling told parliament, president of the local Indian the Sydney Morning association Major-General Herald reported.

Snelling said every Vikram Madan to advise effort would be made to place its students in al- them of the decision ternative colleges or in TAFE courses.

"I have repeatedly stated stu- training and assessment to maxidents' welfare is a paramount con- mize outcomes for its clients. cern and all available steps will be APIC said recently police was taken," the minister said. also investigating alleged fraud by Snelling said he had spoken a former senior employee. with Indian Consul-General Amit Indian students are the second Dasgupta and president of the largest group of foreign students local Indian association Major- in Australian after those from General Vikram Madan to advise China. Over one lakh Indian stuthem of the decision. dents are enrolled in different colHe said students would be pro- leges in the country. vided with written advice on their Australia's Education Minister rights and obligations through the and Deputy Prime Minister Julia South Australian Training Advo- Gillard last year said that the govcate. ernment is acting on the problems Problems with the college, facing international students which offered courses in commu- studying in Australia. -PTI

India extends ban on milk and milk products import from China NEW DELHI: India has extended the ban on import of milk and milk products from China for another six months, according to the foreign trade office.

The items prohibited for import into India from the neighboring country would include chocolate and chocolate products, candies, confectioneries and food preparations with milk as an ingredient.

The ban was notified by the

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the Commerce Ministry.

Imports of milk and milk products from China have been prohibited since September, 2008.

Though the DGFT has not cited any reason for the ban, it is understood it was over fears of Chinese milk containing melamine, a deadly chemical, sources said. -PTI

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Protests before Indian Consulate on Bhopal injustice

Protest before Indian Consulate in New York India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Overseas Indians outraged by the injustice in Bhopal continued the protests against Indian Government's lackadaisical attitude towards Bhopal tragedy survivors and against the DOW chemical company's refusal to own up the responsibility and clean up the

mess from the disaster that occurred 25 years ago. Protestors showed their solidarity with Bhopal survivors by carrying placards which read "We all live in Bhopal" written in multiple languages. They highlighted the road map released by Bhopal survivors group and demanded that the Group of Ministers (GoM) appointed by the Prime Minister

Same of the placards

implement the demands of the survivors in a timely manner.

Members of Asha for Education - Central New Jersey, Association for India's Development NYC, (AID Princeton), Sanhati and South Asia Solidarity Initiative met with Consul General in New York Consulate and handed a petition with demands including Medical, Economic, Social and Environmental Rehabilitation, the bringing of charges of Criminal Liabilities against Indian and Foreign Accused, and the Environmental Liabilities and Action against crimes of The Dow Chemical Company, USA in India.

"The protest is not just about bringing the criminal corporation and its absconding CEO to trial immediately but more importantly the justice and a life of dignity for the Bhopal survivors and victims. We are here to stand by their demands of full compensation, medical rehabilitation, clean water and excavation of all toxic waste sans further delay" said Kasturi Basu of Asha for Education - CNJ chapter. "If BP can be made to pay up for its mess, so should DOW. Human life is priceless, no matter which side of the ocean".

The protest, in front of the Indian consulate in New York City, attracted lot of passersby's as protestors shouted slogans and sang songs in solidarity for more than three hours in sweltering heat. They gave fliers and patiently explained the issue to all those who stopped by.

Murli Natarajan, one of the organizers of the protest said "The big questions that we are raising are: Whose interests do governments serve -- the interests of their most vulnerable citizens

whose lives have been devastated by a corporate crime or the interests of the investor classes from India, US and other global sites, the interests of those who place profits above people, and who really have no national interest? Bhopal is one of the earliest symbols of global profit mongering, better known as corporate globalization". He continued "We want all the Government officials and CEOs in Indo-US CEO forum to know that citizens of India are against their secret back-room deals and will not let them get away with this kind of corruption".

Preeti Sampat, a PhD student from CUNY, a New York City based University, said "It is real shame on the Government of India and the Government of MP for their brutal negligence of this issue so far and they have unbelievably gotten away without delivering redress for 26 years.

We are here to show our wholehearted solidarity with the survivors of Bhopal and we will not rest until their demands are met."

Protestors carried posters of children of Bhopal who have severe malformation because of their parents' exposure to the deadly gas. Swathi Komandur, who was carrying the poster, said "Bhopal has been under toxic influence for 25 yrs with almost 3 generations of people suffering.

The survivors are struggling from breathlessness, failing eyesight, painful stomachs, missing limbs and angry skins. The children of exposed parents are born with incapacities of varying degrees.

The survivors of Bhopal need safe environment to live in. The government and corporation should stop passing the buck and take action. We want the betterment of Bhopal where children can become healthier, happier and eventually be educated".

Protest before Indian Consulate in San Francisco

3 Indian workers killed in Sharjah DUBAI: Three Indians were among four construction workers who were killed after their suspended working platform collapsed in Sharjah in UAE, police said here.

The workers were reportedly putting up a billboard on the sixth floor of a mall when the steel wires holding the platform snapped plunging them to their deaths.

The fourth worker was a Bangladeshi, police said, without revealing the identity of the victims.

According to the reports, the workers had started their shift at an early hour in order to adapt to the midday break rule for summer months that came into effect in mid-June, which prohibits workers from working between

12:30pm and 3pm.

An official at the Kuwaiti Hospital said they had received three dead bodies and an injured worker, who died in the hospital after several hours in the intensive care unit.

Hamid Al Mansouri, Director General of Ansar Mall, told the media the four workers were putting up a signboard.

"They were not employed by us, but by a contracting firm that specialized in advertising," he said. "It is now up to the police to investigate who is responsible for the incident, but there were safety concerns because the workers were not equipped with safety belts," he said.

Sharjah Police is investigating the incident. -PTI

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Julia Gillard Australia's first woman PM; Rudd ousted MELBOURNE: Julia Gillard here scripted history when she was sworn-in as Australia's first woman prime minister after a tearful Kevin Rudd stepped down following a sudden revolt against him within the ruling Labor Party.

49-year-old Gillard was swornin by Australia's first female Gov-

change "because I believed that a good government was losing its way."

Health and education services, and fair treatment at work, were at risk at the next election, she warned.

After taking over, Gillard said she is not a "political rookie" and promised to lead a strong and responsible government that would take control of Australia's future.

be elected unopposed.

Rudd had been rated high in opinion polls as one of the most popular Australian prime ministers of modern times until he made major policy changes, including a decision in April to shelve plans to make Australia's worst polluters pay for their carbon gas emissions.

Addressing a press conference, Gillard said she was "truly

Governor-General to call a general election so that the Australian people can exercise their birthright and choose their prime minister."

"I am utterly committed to the service of our people," she said,

my Cabinet and ministerial colleagues," she said, but denied she was beholden to Labor's factional bosses, pointing out she was no political rookie and had been in Canberra since 1998.

Gillard said she was well aware

Gillard said Australia will go to the polls within months. ‘In the coming months, I will ask the Governor-General to call a general election so that the Australian people can exercise their birthright and choose their prime minister’ Kevin Rudd

ernor-General Quentin Bryce at the Government House in Canberra.

Gillard had spearheaded the rebellion against 51-year-old Rudd opposing his policies on health, education and climate change.

She said she had asked her colleagues to make a leadership

Gillard had been deputy to former Prime Minister Rudd since their Labor Party swept to power in a landslide election victory in 2007.

Earlier, Gillard was elected as Labor leader unopposed at a ballot held this morning after Rudd stood aside with tears in his eyes.

Rudd acknowledged that the party's factional leaders had lost faith in him and did not contest the leadership, leaving Gillard to

honored" to become Prime Minister and lead Australia.

"Can I say Australians one and all, it's with the greatest, humility, resolve and enthusiasm that I sought the endorsement of my colleagues to be the Labor leader and to be the Prime Minister for this country," she said.

Gillard said Australia will go to the polls within months. "In the coming months, I will ask the

Ness Wadia wants Modi back, says franchisees miss him MUMBAI: Lalit Modi may now have become a pariah in BCCI circle but if Kings XI Punjab coowner Ness Wadia is to be believed, the IPL franchisees still long for the league's suspended commissioner.

Wadia spoke fondly of "family friend" Modi, lamenting how he had been "hung without trial" by the media and expressing confidence that "he would be back soon".

"Of course I miss Lalit, I have known him for 25 years.

All the franchisees miss him and I think he was hung without a trial by the media," Wadia told reporters after the meeting between the franchise owners and the BCCI officials here.

This was the first meeting between the franchisees and the BCCI since Modi's April 26 suspension and Wadia felt the difference.

"We miss Lalit Modi. It was different (when Modi was the face of IPL). We have been together for the last three years.

He's also a family friend," he said.

Apart from Wadia, none of the

other franchisee owners came out in the open in Modi's support.

Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya skirted the issue when asked if franchisees discussed Modi's suspension, say-

All the franchisees miss him and I think he was hung without a trial by the media," Wadia told reporters after the meeting between the franchise owners and the BCCI officials here.

This was the first meeting between the franchisees and the BCCI since Modi's April 26 suspension and Wadia felt the difference ing "Don't ask me about Lalit Modi. That is between the BCCI and Modi."

Modi remains suspended mainly on charges of financial irregularities during his tenure as IPL boss and his fate is likely to

be decided in BCCI's July 3 Special General Body meeting.

Wadia, however, hoped that Modi would be back again at the helm of the Twenty20 league.

"I hope he gets a fair trial. Hopefully things will work out and he will be back soon. Hopefully he would get a fair trial from the government of India and the BCCI," said Wadia, who, along with Bollywood star Preity Zinta, Mohit Burman and Karan Paul, owns Kings XI Punjab.

The industrialist also confirmed plans to sell out the franchise.

"It's not about emotions, we are here to do business. We have met a lot of people and the day we get a good buyer we will announce it," he said.

"We have applied (to BCCI) to sell it. It was a unanimous decision of all the owners. We have been talking to many people and eventually when we feel there is a good offer we will go for it," he said.

Wadia described the meeting with BCCI officials as a means to set a road-map for IPL in the future. -PTI

Julia Gillard

adding "I believe we had, on a set of issues, not delivered the kind of stability and certainty and good management that Australians would seek."

"It is my intension as Prime Minister to lead a Government that draws on the best efforts of

she was the first woman to step into the top job.

"First woman, maybe first redhead, we'll allow others to delve into the history and I'll allow you to contemplate which was more unlikely in the modern age," she said. -PTI

BJP tells JD (U) conditions on Modi, Varun not acceptable NEW DELHI: BJP has sent mixed signals to its ally JD (U) by making it clear that conditions like keeping Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Varun Gandhi away from the election campaign in Bihar for continuance of the coalition were not acceptable to it.

At the same time, the party is keen that the alliance between the two parties should continue in their mutual interest, reliable party sources said.

The party said the reason behind Kumar returning Rs five crore of flood relief fund to Gujarat was still unknown to it and JD (U)'s behavior had "hurt" the feelings of the party.

The two issues dominated the meeting between BJP President Nitin Gadkari and Core Group of the party's Bihar unit last night. Though both the Central and the state leaders are in favor of continuing the alliance, they do not want to be seen as compromising on their self-respect, the sources said.

BJP sources said Kumar's condition that Modi and Gandhi should keep out of campaigning in Bihar for the Assembly elections later this year was conveyed by some middle-rung JD (U) leaders

to the party.

Senior BJP leaders have formally conveyed to Kumar that such conditions were not acceptable to it and that the party would decide who its campaigners would be, the sources said.

"BJP and JD (U) are keen to run a good government and serve the people. That unfortunate incident (involving the advertisement showing Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Modi and the reaction of Kumar) was avoidable," senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "We want to continue with the coalition for the development of Bihar but will not compromise on self-respect," Naidu also raised the issue of Kumar returning the flood relief fund to Gujarat after an advertisement appeared in local newspapers of Patna thanking Modi for the help.

"We do not know the reason why Rs five crore was returned.

The money does not belong to Narendra Modi and it was not given to Nitish Kumar.... We don't know why it was returned. We are hurt by that," Naidu said.-PTI

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Davidar says he had consensual relationship with colleague TORONTO: Breaking his silence, India-born David Davidar, the former CEO of Penguin International, has claimed that he had a "consensual, flirtatious relationship" with his ex-colleague Lisa Rundle, dismissing her accusation of sexual harassment.

52-year-old Davidar said the two had offices next to each other at Penguin in the latter part of 2005 and had become friends. Two years later, their friendship had become "flirtatious", a statement issued by his lawyer Peter A Downard here said.

Davidar had last week said that the company had terminated his services in the wake of the sexual harassment suit slapped against him

by Rundle, a former Rights and Contracts Director of Penguin Canada, who demanded 523,000 dollars in damages.

She filed the suit on June 10 in an Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleging that Davidar, who was also President of Penguin Canada, sexually harassed her repeatedly over the past three years, culminating in outright assault at the 'Frankfurt Book Fair' last fall, and that she was fired after complaining to superiors about his "twisted treatment" of her.

Rundle of Toronto is claiming

damages of 423,000 dollars from Penguin for "wrongful" dismissal and the "harsh, vindictive and malicious fashion" with which it allegedly treated her following her complaints against Davidar.

She is also seeking damages of 100,000 dollars against Davidar

David Davidar

personally.

"David Davidar has not sexually harassed anyone. He has not assaulted anyone. David Davidar had a consensual, flirtatious relationship that grew out of a close friendship with a colleague. He deeply regrets the hurt this has caused his wife," Downard said in the statement.

He said at Rundle's invitation,

Davidar had played tennis with her and in 2007, Davidar suggested to her that the relationship become "more romantic", but the woman said she had more than one suitor, he being one among them, and that it would be important to her that any such relationship is not kept a secret.

Accepting the situation, Davidar wrote to her personal e-mails, read poetry to her and the two exchanged gifts from time to time, the lawyer said.

In August 2008, Rundle invited Davidar to a tennis tournament and their personal, social friendship resumed after a gap of six months during which the two had agreed to keep their relationship "strictly professional."

Downard said Davidar and Rundle "kissed on two occasions".

"The first was in Rundle's room during the October 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair referred to in Rundle's claim.

However, contrary to Rundle's claim, Davidar did not bully his way into her room nor did he force himself upon her," he said.

"Two days later, Davidar and Rundle went to dinner at a restaurant. After dinner, Davidar kissed Rundle again, this time in his hotel room," the statement said. -PTI

Army conducts countrywide tour for J&K children JAMMU: To generate better trust and goodwill, the army has conducted a fortnight-long countrywide tour for a group of children belonging to far-flung border areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Twenty-three children along with two teachers from remote areas of Rajouri and Reasi districts of the state had left from Budhal in Rajouri district on June 7 to visit Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore for a period of 15 days," a defense spokesman said here.

The children visited all the tourist places in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

The tour, which was con-

ducted by Rashtriya Rifles and Counter Insurgency Force (CIF), was flagged in by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of CIF at Reasi as the children returned from the tour, he said.

The successful completion of the tour has resulted in fostering close relationship between the locals and the army, he said, adding that it has also developed a deep sense of belonging to the nation amongst these children of remote areas.

This project will help the army to generate better trust and goodwill amongst the masses besides winning their hearts and minds, he added. -PTI

Tata conferred with Honorary degree by Cambridge LONDON: India's leading industrialist Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group, has been conferred with a honorary degree of Doctor of Law by the University of Cambridge.

Tata, Hon KBE, and seven others were conferred with the doctorate at a congregation held in Cambridge on Monday. It was presided over by Chancellor Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The other recipients of the Honorary degree include George John Mitchall, lawyer (Doctor of Law), Dame Louise Napier Johnson, DBE, FRS (Doctor of Science), Sir Andrew John Wiles, KBE, MA Ph.D. FRS (Doctor of Science), Geoffrey William Hill, (Doctor of Letters), Richard Sennett (Doctor of Letters), Sir Harrison Birtwistle, (Doctor of Music), Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie (Doctor of Music). -PTI

A defiant Shahzad calls himself a 'Muslim soldier' NEW YORK: Describing himself a "Muslim soldier", a defiant Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad pleaded guilty to carrying out the botched Times Square bombing and warned that US would face more attacks, if they don't leave the "Muslim lands".

Shahzad read out a combative statement in the US District Court in Manhattan as he pleaded guilty to all the ten charges including attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and transportation of an explosives.

He appeared in a Manhattan Court in a white cap and sporting a shaggy beard just days after a Federal grand jury indicted him of the same charges, some of which carried mandatory life sentences.

"I want to plead guilty, and I'm going to plead guilty 100 times over because until the hour the US pulls its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and stops the drone strikes in Somalia and Yemen and in Pakistan, and stops the occupation of Muslim lands, and stops killing the Muslims, and

stops reporting the Muslims to its government, we will be attacking US and I plead guilty to that," Shahzad said in a statement.

The district judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum repeatedly questioned the Pakistani born

"Listen, you are attacking children with your drones in Afghanistan. I would not consider what I did is crime. I'm aware its violation of the US laws, but I don't care for the US laws," he said.

The Pakistani-American was

I want to plead guilty, and I'm going to plead guilty 100 times over because until the hour the US pulls its forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, and stops the drone strikes in Somalia and Yemen and in Pakistan, and stops the occupation of Muslim lands, and stops killing the Muslims, and stops reporting the Muslims to its government, we will be attacking US suspect whether he had looked at the children in the Times Square, where he planned to carry out the lethal bombing.

To the questions Shahzad said, "One has to understand where I'm coming from, I consider myself...Muslim soldier".

pulled off a Dubai bound flight on May 5, two days after he parked a car packed with rudimentary explosives in New York's Broadway entertainment district.

Shahzad, 30, admitted that he tried to detonate a car bomb hidden in a Nissan Pathfinder in a

crowded area of Times Square.

He also pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction when asked by the Judge and then said "yes" when asked if he pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Faisal Shahzad

Shahzad told the judge that he had gone to Pakistan to find the Taliban to get training from them and described himself as "part of the answer to the US terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people".

The father of two children

worked as a financial analyst in Connecticut where he lived with his wife. They have gone back to stay with his parents in Pakistan.

Shahzad told the judge that he picked Times Square, a popular tourist spot, on a Saturday evening in order to a "kill" and "injure" many people and it was fair to target civilians because they elected the government.

The indictment against Shahzad said that he was trained in Pakistan by affiliates of Tehriki-Taliban, which is connected to the Pakistani-Taliban and prosecutors claim that he got the money for the terror attack by Pakistani militants.

The US authorities had suspected the hand of the PakistaniTaliban in the attack since the beginning of the investigation.

"The facts alleged in this indictment show that the Pakistani Taliban facilitated Faisal Shahzad's attempted attack on American soil," Attorney General Eric H Holder Jr said in a statement last week.-PTI

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India Post 13

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Russia launches second stealth warship for India MOSCOW: Russia launched the second of three stealth frigates for the Indian Navy under USD 1.6 billion deal inked in July 2006.

The launching ceremony of the missile frigate Tarkash (Quiver) in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, was attended by senior Russian and Indian naval officials, state-owned Yantar shipyard said in a release.

The first of three Project 11356 (modified Krivak III) frigates, named the Teg (Sword), was

launched in last November.

The third frigate, Trikand (Bow) is due to be delivered in 2011-12.

The new frigates, also known as Talwar class, will be armed with eight BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

They will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil surface-toair missile system, two Kashtan air-defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo launchers, and an antisubmarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.

Earlier, Russia's Baltiisky Zavod shipyard had built three stealth frigates of the same class INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar.

Continuing the tradition of the Indian Navy to name naval ships of the same class with same letter in the beginning, President Pratibha Patil during her Russia visit last September had christened the new frigates as the Teg, the Tarkash and the Trikand at various stages of completion at Yantar Shipyard.-PTI

Japan studying whether to start N-cooperation with India TOKYO: With billions of dollars from contracts to be earned from India's ambitious nuclear power projects, Japanese government has started intra-governmental negotiations to decide whether it should ink a civilian atomic pact with New Delhi, which is yet to sign the NPT. Major US and French nuclear power companies are keen that Japan should conclude an agreement with India so that they can use Japanese technology for an Indian reactor project they are seeking to win, Japanese government sources said.

Intra-governmental negotiations are under way in Japan to decide whether to start negotiations with India over an agreement to cooperate in the field of civilian nuclear power, Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese government officials as saying.

The transfer of Japanese technology to India for civilian use requires a nuclear pact, but Tokyo has so far declined to conclude one as New Delhi has not signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), the report said.

Japan -- which suffered US atom bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II -- maintains an official policy of not possessing or producing nuclear weapons, and not allow-

ing them on its territory. The nuclear issue is sensitive in Japan, which campaigns for a nuclearweapons-free world.

While the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is pushing for the nuclear treaty, Foreign Ministry officials are studying the terms under which India can effectively contribute to nuclear arms reduction as a prerequisite for concluding the ac-

When METI minister Masayuki Naoshima visited India in late April, the two governments set up a joint working group to discuss nuclear policies and safety standards to pave the way for a future bilateral nuclear pact, according to a senior ministry official cord, it quoted sources as saying.

For the Indian project, the major US and French nuclear companies, including Areva SA of France, want to use reactor vessels made

by Japan Steel Works Ltd., which commands some 80 per cent of the global market for the equipment, it said.

The companies plan to work out a system for the supply of related equipment for the Indian project after Japan determines its stance on the issue, the report said.

The government needs to decide whether to launch negotiations with India "by autumn or by the end of this year at the latest" to let Japanese companies participate in the project, a METI source said.

When METI minister Masayuki Naoshima visited India in late April, the two governments set up a joint working group to discuss nuclear policies and safety standards to pave the way for a future bilateral nuclear pact, according to a senior ministry official.

A possible nuclear pact between Japan and India may adversely affect the international nuclear non-proliferation framework at a time when Pakistan, which is also a non-member of the NPT, is moving to import Chinese nuclear power- generation technology, the report said.

With an increasing number of countries inclined toward cooperating with India in the field of nuclear power, "I wonder if it is meaningful for Japan to say something different" from them, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said during a recent interview with Kyodo News.-PTI

Bhopal tragedy: Arjun lobs ball in Centre's court NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Arjun Singh, who is in the eye of a storm over the issue of safe passage given to the then UCC Chairman Warren Anderson in the wake of the Bhopal gas tragedy, has sought to lob the ball in the Centre's court and the party declined to join issue.

"I have no locus standi on this issue," Singh, who was then the

Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh when the Bhopal Gas tragedy occurred was quoted as saying in a newspaper here, breaking his twoweek long silence on Anderson's exit.

Congress, which has so far been targeting Arjun Singh, however, declined to comment on his remarks.

"GoM is looking into the whole matter and the party has nothing

to say. The party has already said whatever it had to say on the issue," AICC General Secretary and media department in-charge Janardhan Dwivedi said, when asked to comment on Singh's remarks published in the newspaper.

Singh has also indicated that his autobiography, on which he is working, will have details, the newspaper said.-PTI

TarkashĂ­ being launched at Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia on June 23

Pakistan still courting militant groups: Report WASHINGTON: Pakistan is still courting militant groups and needs to abandon militancy as a tool of its foreign and domestic policy as this has the potential to backfire, a new study has warned.

"Pakistan's decision to support some militant groups has been counterproductive and a key objective of US policy must be to get Pakistan to end its support to militant groups", leading US think tank Rand Corp has said in its latest study.

"The US should continue to make this position clear as it began to do so in 2010", the report said.

Similarly, other states and international organisations, such as China and NATO should issue similar statements. The report said that Beijing had become increasingly concerned about militant groups, including the Uighur groups that have used Pakistani soil for training and sanctuary.

The country's policy of use of militancy is not new and acquisition of nuclear weapons by Islamabad appears to have emboldened its support of militant groups by dampening its con-

cerns about Indian retaliation, the think tank said in its latest report "Pakistan: Can the US secure an insecure state?".

Rand has said that the policy of supporting militants began to backfire after 9/11, some changes were discernible in 2010 following the capture of top Taliban leaders like Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

"But Pakistan has not yet made a systematic break with militant groups", the study, released here said.

Rand said rising number of terrorist plots in the US with roots in Pakistan, were the outcome of Islamabad still following a strategy of keeping links alive with some groups.

Citing the botched Times Square bombing, the report said it was an example of how militant groups, some with shadow links with the government can export terrorism far beyond Pakistan's border.

The US is not getting its money's worth for all the billions it is pumping into Pakistan as aid, and the report suggests that Washington should withhold some aid until Pakistan makes "discernible progress".-PTI

Desi News Fundraiser for Raj Goyle’s candidature MEGHA PANDYA

DALLAS, TX: Prominent community activists including Madan Goyle, a long time resident of Dallas, Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical School and Prasad Thotakura, TX State Coordinator of the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC) recently hosted a fundraising luncheon at FunAsiA, Richardson to support Raj Goyle, State Representative from Kansas.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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Kumar Swami's healing through sound

July 2, 2010

Details on page 22

AAHOA Convention a mixed bag but lively affair

Details on page 16

RAMESH SOPARAWALA & INDER SINGH

PCS honors Class of 2010 at Awards Night RAJINDER SINGH MAGO

CHICAGO: Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) organized its tenth annual "Punjabi Youth Graduation and Scholarship Awards Night" on Sunday, June 13 at Viceroy of India Banquet Hall in Lombard, a northwest Chicago suburb.

More than 250 attended. The guests of honor were the class of 2010 graduates from the community.

The celebration included recognition awards, scholarships, keynote address, cake cutting ceremony, DJ music, dancing, networking, and delicious Indian cuisine.

Details on page 18

NRIs, TN join hands to prevent school dropouts SHREE GURUSWAMY

PHILADELPHIA: In a historic move, the Government of Tamil Nadu signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with the U.S. based Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) to prevent school dropouts in the villages of Tamil Nadu.

The MoU signing ceremony took place on May 29 during TNF's 35th National Convention at the Valley Forge Convention Center in Philadelphia. M. Kutralingam.

Details on page 20

Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev with trophy presented by CK Patel. Left to Kapil is outgoing Chairman Tarun Patel and Right to CK Patel is Hemant Patel

CHICAGO: The much talked about and much expected annual convention of one of the most premiere ethnic organizations - Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) - finally came to Chicago last week and the threeday affair beginning June 16 at Navy Pier turned out to be a mixed bag.

For one, as jokingly put by Karl Rove, a former advisor to President George Bush, it was not a reunion of Patels although Patels outnumbered others among Asian Indians in attending the event.

This outnumbering was to the extent that the AAHOA host committee had to set up a separate registration booth for non-Patel registrants. Overall speaking however, they were all a family of ho-

teliers and moteliers who do come to attend this annual event for a

Governor Pat Quinn at the AHHOA Meet L to R Vandana Jhingan, Governor Pat Quinn and Indian community leader Nirnajan Shah (Pics Asian Community News Services USA and Inder Mohan Singh)

the industry.

The attendance this time prob-

For one, as jokingly put

by Karl Rove, a former advisor to President George Bush, it was not a reunion of Patels although Patels outnumbered others among Asian Indians in attending the event break from their routine as also to exchange views, ideas and learn more about things happening in

AAHOA President Fred Schwartz addressing AAHOA Convention

ably hit a new low and even the boldest estimate did not put it more than 2000 members com-

pared to anywhere from 4000 to 8000 participants years in and years out. The low turn out as explained by Alkesh Patel, the newly elect treasurer, is due to the bad economic times besetting the industry as a whole.

"It is one of worst downward cycles facing us and obviously members would be cutting edges to make two ends meet," he said.

But he was optimistic about the future saying that "the industry has now entered the plateau and that its fortune should look up mid 2011 for sure." The newly-elect chairman CK Patel also sounded very optimistic as he charted out his line of action for improving the outlook in this Gala dinner speech.

Cont’d on page 15

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AAHOA Convention a mixed bag but lively affair Cont’d from page 14

The 2011 convention in Las Vegas would reflect this change, he said.

The Federation of Indian Association (FIA) hosted a welcome and thank you dinner to the AAHOA office bearers and members a day before the Convention at India House in Chicago. Also Illinois Governor Pat Quinn came in the morning to be part of a formal launch. Accompanying him was Ms Smita Shah, Niranjan Shah, Babu Patel, Vandana Jhingan and others.

In his brief speech, Governor Quinn lauded Indian American hoteliers for their contribution to the economic well being of society thru job creations and helping economic revival. He was specially touting their resolve to withstand the present crisis and was confident that better days are ahead.

The newly elect President Chandrakant Shah addressing the Gala Dinner Meet

The re-union of Patels and non Patels alike at Navy Pier in all other respects was a lively affair and the credit should go to organizers for presenting a well thought out informative and educational program with great entertainment events involving musical concert, Casino visit and grand fireworks.

Tarun Patel the outgoing chairman, was in his elements recapping the events of last year as also endeared himself with members of the audience on Gala dinner nite thanking all and one for their sup-

port. His gesture in offering tributes to his wife and recognizing the role of his father was heart warming.

Treasurer Hemant Patel presented Treasurer report while President Fred Schwartz presented his yearly overview of the industry talking about the hard times faced by many a hotelier. CK Patel at the end introduced his new team of directors and other AAHOA office bearers.

From view point of Midwesterners, the election of Sunny Gabhawala as director at large was a welcome development. So also welcome was the recognition of another stalwart of Indian community Babu Patel for his Community Service with an award. Awards were also presented to Outstanding Woman Hotelier and Outstanding Young Professional Hotelier at the convention.

In his brief speech, Governor Quinn lauded Indian American hoteliers for their contribution to the economic well being of society thru job creations and helping economic revival

In his more than one count unique speech at the Gala dinner, CK Patel for the first time asked all members of his new team to take a pledge "to serve the best interests of our members, our association and our heritage being guided at all times by principles and programs rather than by politics or personalities" and laid down his plan of action - Step up to Solution for changing the fortune of the industry and organization. He said that he intended to continue some important programs, expand and

Chicago Community activist Babu Patel with Community Service Award

improve some valuable programs and initiate some exciting programs.

He would make efforts to make significant progress on fair franchising in three key areas: a liquidation damages cap, realistic brand standards and performance based results for both franchisee and franchiser. The economic well being or rather very survival of the industry is conditioned upon a fair resolution of these issues, he said among applause.

He coined new term for these efforts and named it AAHOA's Bill of Rights for franchisees. He said that he has invited other franchisee associations - groups such as Burger Kings, Pizza Hut, Meinke Muffler, Dunkin Do Nuts and many more for making a serious dent and significant progress in this direction.

He pitched for legislative actions at national, State and even at local to realize his objectives "We have to talk to the government with united and powerful voice, he thundered.

He touted to expand the Ambassador program to reach more areas and more people. Besides, he would continue to emphasize on AAHOA's programs on professional development, for women and young hoteliers. His new exciting program would dwell on controlling inventories. He floated the idea of starting AAHOA

Newly elect Board of Directors and office bearers

backed travel Agency which can be accessed by traveling public to make their reservations at hotels.

He also talked about setting up a purchasing cooperative in conjunction with existing vendors to manage costs.

There were a good number of educational seminars covering variety of subjects like Franchises Go to Court, Surviving and Thriving through the recovery, Easing the Credit Crunch and Finding Answers to Legal Problems. The

Bear Coach Mike Ditka giving his inspiring speech

most attended was Easing the Credit Crunch. The mortgage crisis has hit the industry badly and Karl Rove, the former advisor to George Bush harped on this point in his well engaged dialogues with Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National

Committee, castigating President Barack Obama for not doing much to aid this industry in getting over its credit crunch. Both crossed swords over who is doing better or who to blame for the economic downturn in a hilarious and yet highly intellectual interaction with each in a debate moderated by Steven Roberts.

Mike Ditka, a former Chicago Bear coach that helped Bear winning the national crown in 1986 in football, was a welcome speaker and won loud applause when he said that plan without action is a joke and action without plan is tantamount to failure.

It is not that practice makes one perfect but a perfect practice would make one really perfect. He touted happiness with success and observed that the quality of life is directly proportionate to what you practice.

Cricket legend Kapil Dev endeared himself while accepting a trophy presented to him at the event saying that he normally would not care much for such recognitions but this he would specially take this trophy to India as it symbolized a collective goodwill

Cricket legend Kapil Dev said that he normally would not care much for such recognitions but he would specially take this trophy to India as it symbolized a collective goodwill gesture on the part of NRIs gesture on the part of NRIs. He attributed his 1985 World Cup Victory to team effort and said that the victory and the trophy that he won belonged to the entire nation.

One of the great attractions of the AAHOA three-day event was the exhibition by vendors. It provided with "one-stop shopping" platform as the Annual Convention & Trade Show equipped exhibitors with the opportunity to interact with thousands of key industry decision makers, to the clear benefit of their bottom line.

There were 350 plus vendors and one of the regrets was a relative poor attendance. "But that is part of life," said philosophically Sunil Shah, an insurance agent.

AAHOA founded in 1989, is now one of the fastest-growing organizations in the industry, with more than 10,000 members owning more than 22,000 hotels that total $60 billion in property value.

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Fundraiser for Congress candidate Raj Goyle MEGHA PANDYA

DALLAS, TX: Prominent community activists including Madan Goyle, a long time resident of Dallas, Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical School and Prasad Thotakura, TX State Coordinator of the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC) recently hosted a fundraising luncheon at FunAsiA, Richardson to

"My vision is one where we work together, where we use common sense to find common ground, where bipartisan solutions fuel the economic growth and prosperity we all deserve, where we seize this moment and make it our opportunity to better our nation. Economic growth and prosperity will not be achieved until we get a serious, bipartisan

Goyle is running for US Congress for the open congressional seat in Kansas' 4th district. More than fifty people in attendance congratulated him for his good work on behalf of his district and contributed to his campaign support Raj Goyle, State Representative from Kansas.

Goyle is running for US Congress for the open congressional seat in Kansas' 4th district. More than fifty people in attendance congratulated him for his good work on behalf of his district and contributed to his campaign, one of the strongest in the country.

effort launched to cut wasteful government spending; lessen our tax burden; and eliminate our staggering deficit' Raj Goyle said Goyle thanked Dallas community for their whole hearted support and blessings for his candidacy. Madan Goyle welcomed everyone and opened the meeting by sharing his family attachments and

Congressional candidate Raj Goyle (center) in Dallas during Fundraiser event.

experiences with Raj Goyle family.

Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal while introducing Raj Goyle stated that Raj's hard work and honesty will certainly take him to DC. "His impressive record speaks for itself and all will be glad to see him in US Congress very soon. At present, we don't have anyone of Indian descent in US Congress after Bobby Jindal left the office

Indian American wins national leadership award PRASAD THOTUKARA

DALLAS, TX: Latha Nehru, an Indian-American who has served as a local and national leader in both the United Nations Association and Network of Indian Professionals (NetIP), has been presented with the 2010 Global Young Advocate Award by the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA).

A resident of Dallas, Latha received the award on June 8 in Washington D.C. at the Annual Conference for UNA-USA. In her local community, Latha is active with many organizations including the Network of Indian Professionals and ONE. She is also a certified American Red Cross humanitarian worker and has helped people affected by disaster when they need it most.

Latha has served as a leader volunteer with the Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC), the young professionals group within UNA-USA, since 2005. In 2007, she was elected as the youngest UNA Chapter President in UNA USA history and reassumed the Dallas chapter Presidency in 2010.

She also helped to develop and launch the Global Young Professional Program at the World Federation of UNAs (WFUNA) Con-

to become the Governor of Louisiana."

Prasad Thotakura in his closing remarks urged the community to actively participate in the election process irrespective of party lines and be part of the mainstream; there would be no recognition and survival to the Indian American community if they live in their own comfort zones and small pockets.

We can make a change with united community and unified voice. He further stated that it is our moral responsibility to support candidates who strive for better Indo-US relations especially Indian descent candidates. Prasad thanked all who attended to support Raj Goyle and FunAsiA for providing an elegant banquet hall for the occasion.

Lured to death by online dating ASHOK JAIN

DETROIT, MI: Venkata Subba Reddy Cuttamanchi, 35, a software engineer, hailing from Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India, was shot dead by a group of people in Southfield near Detroit on June 16.

Venkat Reddy met a 23 year old Mexican woman through Internet

no time and arrested all five people involved in the homicide.

Several friends of Venkat Reddy contacted Prasad Thotakura, Executive Vice-president of TANA who helped with the process to send the body of the deceased to India.

Venkat Reddy met a 23 year old Mexican woman through Internet dating, had a meal at Wendy's restaurant, and drove to a nearby EZ Rest motel.

This woman's boyfriend and four other cronies who were already waiting at the motel robbed Venkat and shot him to death Venkata Subba Reddy Cuttamanchi

Latha Nehru with UNA-USA Co chair William J McDonough

ference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2006.

"Her leadership has strengthened UNA-USA's programs," said GYAA Committee Chairwoman, Elizabeth Latham. "Latha has been a dedicated volunteer, advocate, teammate, mentor, and friend, and we are proud to award her the 2010

Global Young Advocate Award."

In addition to her volunteerism for UNA-USA, ONE and NetIP, Latha has participated in Rotary International's polio eradication efforts in India. She plans to return to India later this year to provide hope and encouragement to slum children.

dating, had a meal at Wendy's restaurant, and drove to a nearby EZ Rest motel around 2:00 am. This woman's boyfriend and four other cronies who were already waiting at the motel robbed Venkat and shot him to death.

People who saw this shooting called police. Police responded in

Jayaram Komati, TANA President, and Mohan Nannapaneni, TANA Secretary expressed deepest condolences on behalf of TANA to Cuttamanchi family and urged the Indian American community to get familiar with Safety and Security guidelines that are available onwww.tana.org.

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AAHOA Convention a mixed bag but lively affair

AAHOA Convention audience Cont’d from page 15

It is a voice of owners in the hospitality industry. AAHOA officers include Chairman Chairman ChandraKant "C.K." Patel, vice chairman Hemant D. "Henry" Patel; Treasurer Alkesh R. "Al" Patel, Secretary Mehul Patel of Dallas and President Fred Schwartz, who work closely with a 33-member board of directors to provide direction for the

association. AAHOA is dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of its members by inspiring excellence through programs and initiatives in advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community involvement.

The 2010 Board of Directors comprises the following Officers and Directors, with the terms of the newly elected members indi-

cated below: Officers Chairman, ChandraKant "C.K." Patel, CHO Vice Chairman, Hemant D. "Henry" Patel Treasurer, Alkesh R. "Al" Patel, CHO Secretary, Mehul B. "Mike" Patel, CHA (Newly elected Officer) Ex-Officio/Past Chairman, Tarun S. Patel, CHA President, Fred Schwartz

Large turnout for Bhagwad Geeta Unity Homam SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: Members of Geeta Ashram, Forum of Hindu awakening, Spiritual Science Foundation, North South Foundation, Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, Manav Seva Mandir, Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh,

day. This was followed by entire 700 shlokas recitation and Homa offering lead by Dr Rajni Patwari of Geeta Ashram and Vedanta Society. Children were specially encouraged to perform the Homa based on Bhakti Yoga (Chapter 12th) of Bhagwad Geeta.

Many attendees felt spiritual upliftment resulting from the energy generated by the Homa.

Right in the middle of the rainy weather the heavens cleared for the three hour event at Winnetka, Illinois. God's grace was felt by all present through a light shower immediately after event concluded. The Homa concluded with heartParticipants at Interfaith Yagya Homa in Willment felt bhajans sung by the attendees.

ISKCON, Vivekan and Vedanta Society, Bhagwad Geeta is an ancient Vedantik Satya Sai Center, Christian, Sikh, Muslim and text believed to be the direct message given Buddhist committee joined hands to per- by God for the upliftment of all humanity. It form first ever Interfaith Bhagwad Geeta is for people of all races, color, nationality Unity Yagna in Willment, a Chicago sub- and religious believers. The message of urb. unity and universal divinity in Bhagwad The Homa started with a melodious flute Geeta is unmatched. And respected by all recital by Madhu Patel, editor of NRI To- saints and enlightened religious leaders.

Directors at Large Director at Large, Rajesh "Raj" Bhagia Director at Large, Shailesh "Sly" Patel Director at Large, Hitesh "H.P." Patel (Elected to a 3-year term) Director at Large, Satish "Sunny" Gabhawala (Elected to a 3-year term) Director at Large, Eastern Division, Heena S. Patel Director at Large, Western Division, Kalpana Patel Young Professional Director, Ankit Bhakta (Elected to a 3-year term) Regional Directors Central Midwest Regional Director, Paresh "Pete" Patel (Elected to a 1-year term) Central Pacific Regional Director, Jitu Ishwar Florida Regional Director, Vacant (Will be appointed by the BOD following the nomination process) Gulf Regional Director, Nimesh Zaver (Elected to a 1-year term) Mid East Regional Director, Bhavesh Patel Mid South Regional Director, Ramesh "R.K." Patel North Carolina Regional Director, Jay "Jimmy" Patel

North Central Regional Director, Davang V. "Dave" Patel North Georgia Regional Director, Atul Patel (Elected to a 1-year term) North Pacific Regional Director, Shailendra N. "Sam" Devdhara North Texas Regional Director, Mehul B. "Mike" Patel, CHA Northeast Regional Director, Kirit "Kenny" Patel Northwest Regional Director, Arvind Patel South Carolina Regional Director, Mitesh Patel (Elected to a 1year term) South Central Texas Regional Director, Pratik R. "Prat" Patel (Elected to a 3-year term) South Pacific Regional Director, Balvant M. "B.M." Patel Southeast Texas Regional Director, Vinod N. Patel Southeast Regional Director, Jay Patel (Elected to a 1-year term) Southwest Regional Director, Hitesh Patel (Elected to a 1-year term) Upper Midwest Regional Director, Chandresh Brahmbhatt Washington District Regional Director, Dharmendra Patel (Elected to a 3-year term) Allied Director Allied Director at Large, Mike Ryan

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PCS honors Class of 2010 at Awards Night RAJINDER SINGH MAGO

Dr Sunil Chopra being honored by PCS Chairperson Mohina Ahluwalia

CHICAGO: Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago (PCS) organized its tenth annual "Punjabi Youth Graduation and Scholarship Awards Night" on Sunday, June 13 at Viceroy of India Banquet Hall in Lombard, a northwest Chicago suburb.

More than 250 attended. The

year was awarded to Ryan Preet Singh of Stevenson High School for his high scholastic achievements and also participation in Punjabi cultural activities including Bhangra dance and playing Punjabi dhol drum.

The second scholarship $750 award went to Gagandeep Singh

The graduating class of 2010 cutting the ceremonial cake at PCS award Nite

Harinder Singh, President of Management and Information Technology Solutions.

done are changing. This makes it a time to innovate and come up with new ideas. In order to suc-

supportive environment that allows an individual to recover from any setback is critical. Secondly,

PCS $1000 scholarship this year was awarded to Ryan Preet Singh of Stevenson High School for his high scholastic achievements and also participation in Punjabi cultural activities guests of honor were the class of 2010 graduates from the community. The celebration included recognition awards, scholarships, keynote address, cake cutting ceremony, DJ music, dancing, networking, and delicious Indian cuisine. The participants of "Rangla Punjab 2010" the PCS Annual

Sandhu of Michigan High School for his high scholastic grades and participation in cultural activities and volunteering for community service.

The scholarship winners among the applicants were determined by an independent panel of judges according to the marking

Youth dancing at PCS Award Night

Vaisakhi cultural program were also recognized at the event.

PCS $1000 scholarship this

criteria established by PCS. The scholarships were presented by Diljit Singh Ahluwalia, and

The graduating class of 2010

The scholarship event was cosponsored by Dr. Surjit Singh Patheja and Dr. Robert Singh. Dr. Diljeet Kaur Singh and Karamjit Kaur Singh established a PCS scholarship in fond memory of their father Dr. Pritam Singh, a scholar, educationist, and a freedom fighter with deep love for his community, who passed away on June 3.

The Keynote Speaker for the evening was Dr. Sunil Chopra, Interim Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. In his inspiring address he remarked, "Times of greatest change are also times of greatest opportunity. The graduates should view this time as one where the fundamental models of how many things are

ceed, there are some key points that the graduates should keep in

‘The graduates should view this time as one where the fundamental models of how many things are done are changing. This makes it a time to innovate and come up with new ideas’ mind: Firstly, "The environment" - A

"Openness to other ways of thinking" - All innovation occurs at the interface of different ideas and ways of thinking. As the graduates go off to college, they should embrace other ideas allowing them to expand their horizons.

Thirdly, "Stay positive during a setback" -All individuals react well (and largely alike) when things are going well. A key differentiator is how people react to a setback.

Look forward whenever a setback arises. Fourthly, "Hard work" There is absolutely no substitute for hard work. As many, including Edison and Einstein, have said, "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. To be successful you simply need ten thousand hours of practice!"

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PCS honors Class of 2010 at Awards Night

Lord Jagannath idol installed in Chicago ASIAN COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICES, USA

Cont’d from page 18

Dr. Sunil Chopra was honored with a plaque presented to him by the PCS Chairperson Mohina Ahluwalia with all the PCS officials standing by her side.

Both Dr. and Mrs. Chopra got pulled into the Bhangra jam session by the jubilant dancing party crowd. The scholarship donors and event sponsors were honored with plaques presented to them by Dr. Sunil Chopra.

The PCS Chicago recognition certificates were presented to all the graduates by Dr. Surjit Singh Patheja, a retired radiologist and past president of India Medical Association N.W. Indiana.

All the performing artists of "Rangla Punjab 2010," the PCS Vaisakhi cultural show were given trophies and certificates for their hard work, participation, and excellent performances. The awards were presented by Kalyan Singh

All the performing artists of "Rangla Punjab 2010," the PCS Vaisakhi cultural show were given trophies and certificates for their hard work, participation, and excellent performances Bagga, Mrs. Mindi Patheja, Mrs. Serbjeet Kaur Singh, Mrs. Cristina Chopra, Mr. Jassi Dhaliwal, Dr. Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, and Mrs. Jaswinder Kaur Bhattal.

The retired PCS official Baljeet Kaur Randhawa and volunteer Surinder Singh Bhatia were honored with plaques, and Navrang Singh Bajwa and Sukhwinder Kaur were awarded certificates for excellence in volunteer work by the PCS Chairperson Mohina Ahluwalia.

The graduates relished a special cake cutting ceremony for them and an exclusive invitation for the first dance at the celebration party.

All of the attendees enjoyed the party with delicious food, DJ music and dance. The dance floor was jam packed with young Bhangra lovers till late into the evening.

The upcoming PCS events are a two days "Punjabi Sports Festival 2010," comprising an all-day basketball tournament on Saturday July 17 and the community sports day including Kabaddi on Sunday July 18, both at the Addison Park District Community Park at 120 E. Oak Street in Addison, IL.

Devotees praying Lord Jagannath and other deities

CHICAGO: Sri Jagannath Society of Greater Chicago (SJSGC) has installed the world famous deities of Srikhetra, Puri, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarsan, known as "Chaturdha Murty", in Bishnu Shiva Shakti Mandir, Aurora, IL. The Prana Pratistha of Lords along with other deities Nilamadhab, MadanMohan, Mahalaxmi, Bhoodevi, Sridevi, and Garuda was performed in a four days long event starting from June 3rd to June 6th, 2010.

Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are the three presiding deities of Puri temple in Orissa, India. The name Jagannath literally means the Lord of the Universe. The Pratistha Mahotshav was observed in a pi-

ous, religious, and sacred manner inside the temple with the presence of blissful devotees. A team of five priests led by Swami Adyanada Saraswati from Nashville and supported by Acharya Sarat Chandra Mohapatra from Minneapolis,

Priests offering Puja to Lord Jagannath and other deities

Vedic and Tantric rituals. The mode of worship at the Jagannath Temple, Puri is an unusual blend of Vedic, Puranic and Tantric rituals.

The four days long rituals started with the purification of the worship place followed by Ankura-

The Prana Pratistha of Lords along with other deities Nilamadhab, MadanMohan, Mahalaxmi, Bhoodevi, Sridevi, and Garuda was performed in a four days long event starting from June 3rd to June 6th Acharya Pitamber Sarangi from New Jersey, Acharya Alekha Dash from Omaha, and Acharya.

Panchanan Satpathy from Nashville performed all customary rituals of "Prana Pratistha". The Pratistha was performed in both

ropan (sowing seeds) in which five types of seeds were planted in five pots with organic soil in it.

The third day started with worship to Sun god, mother cow, mother earth followed by "Ankurauthapana" a Vedic ritual

that symbolized the burgeoning of seeds after rain due to Yajna producing plenty of crops that were offered to Lords.

The eye-opening ceremony ("Netronmilan") of deities started followed by offering milk, bath (Mahasnana), and slumber. The whole process resembled the birth of deities from the womb of mother earth.

The deities were anointed with Sandal wood paste & turmeric paste (chandan & haladi) and given bath in holy water of the river Ganga (Gangajal) before moving in to the "Yajnashala". After few ritualistic activities and Yajna (havan) the deities were taken back in to an enclosed room for a slumber. In the evening Nyassa-karma the "Tantric" way of rituals performed in the enclosed room.

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India Post

Community Across America

July 2, 2010

www.indiapost.com

NRIs, TN join hands to prevent school dropouts SHREE GURUSWAMY

PHILADELPHIA: In a historic move, the Government of Tamil Nadu signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoU) with the U.S. based Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF) to prevent school dropouts in the villages of Tamil Nadu.

The MoU signing ceremony took place on May 29 during TNF's 35th National Convention at the Valley Forge Convention Center in Philadelphia. M. Kutralingam, Principal Secretary to the School Education Department in the Government of Tamil Nadu signed the MoU in front of 1,500 Tamils and applauded them for their passion to educate underprivileged children.

In a special video message to the convention delegates, Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for School Education, said, "I am

the state's school education system." Mrs. Manimegalai Thennarasu, a child sociologist and wife of the School Education Minister, participated in the convention and lauded the humanitarian and educational support provided by NRI Tamils through TNF. TNF President Dr. Rammohan mentioned that the MoU is a milestone in the Foundation's 35 year history of serving Tamil Nadu. He added that the focus of the initiative is to prevent school dropouts in the villages and the project will include counseling of students and parents to ensure continuation of schooling and bring back drop-outs to government and government-aided schools.

He added that Dr. Abdul Kalam is a product of Tamil Nadu's gov-

Actor Y Gee Mahendra being honored by TNF Founding Member Dr.Balasubramaniam with a Service Excellence Award for his contributions to TNF's projects to benefit mentally challenged children in Tamil Nadu. (photos by Satish-123smileportraits.com)

schools.

Somalay Somasundaram, Chairman of the National Convention added that the project is a joint effort with several Tamil organizations including Michigan Tamil Sangam, Chicago Tamil Sangam, Tamil Association of

help prevent school dropouts in Tamil Nadu.

Shelley Seale, Author of Invisible Children of India, addressed the audience and encouraged them to reach out to the poor children of India. Shelley mentioned that she was impressed by the

The audience gave a rousing reception to 6year old Abirami Chinnakaruppan of Macungie, PA, as she received the TNF Service Excellence Award for Children. Young Abirami donated her birthday gifts to blind children in New Jersey and is now advocating to help poor children in Tamil Nadu TNF Past President Dr. Palanisamy recognizes Abirami Chinnakaruppan of Pennsylvania with Service Excellence Award. Abirami started donating toys and other gifts to blind children since her fourth birthday.

very glad that TNF has decided to undertake school education in Tamil Nadu as its Focus Project.

We are looking forward to working with TNF in strengthening

ernment school system and the vision of TNF is to motivate the rural children to stay in schools and help bring down the current dropout rate of 43% in high

Greater Delaware Valley, Dallas Metroplex Tamil Sangam, Houston Bharathi Kalai Mandram, South Carolina Tamil Sangam, Georgia Chapter of TNF and Bay Area Tamil Manram. He noted that all these organizations conducted regional charity events to

passion of the delegates to help the needy in Tamil Nadu. The convention honored three second generation Tamils for their service to the community. Nita Umashankar of Tucson, AZ was recognized with TNF Service Excellence Award for her pioneer-

ing work in rescuing women and children from sex trade in Tamil Nadu.

Maduhmita Parmar, a high school student from Scotch Plains, NJ, is the recipient of TNF Service Excellence Award for Youth for her community service ranging from helping Katrina victims to promoting traditional Ayurveda medicine in Rajasthan.

The audience gave a rousing reception to 6-year old Abirami Chinnakaruppan of Macungie, PA, as she received the TNF Service Excellence Award for Children. Young Abirami donated her birthday gifts to blind children in New Jersey and is now advocating to help poor children in Tamil Nadu. Service Excellence Awards were given to four noted Tamils, Y Gee Mahendra of Chennai, A. Vedaratnam of Vedaraniam, A.M. Swaminathan of Chennai and Mani Balu of Pittsburgh for their services to the Tamil community.

Cont’d on page 21

Lord Jagannath idol installed in Chicago Cont’d from page 19

On the concluding day the morning started with regular worship and Yajna. The "Singhasan "(throne) of the lord was made ready with "navaratna" (nine precious jewels) put under each seat for deities making this as the Ratna Singhasan/Ratna Bedi. The Ratna Singhasan was purified and Yantra puja was performed. Final Yajna rituals were performed where all the devotees participated in the "Purnahuti". (The complete offering away of oneself). In this different type of

grains, ghee etc was offered into the sacred-fire (Yajna) while chanting the specified mantras.

As per the Vedas these mantras have the power of creating special vibrations which creates a divine atmosphere around to fulfill one's wish.

All the priests performed Prana Pratistha , the process of infusing life to the deity and brought to inhabit a "Murti" of that deity, on the Ratna Bedi followed by Mahati Bhogo, the special food offered to god, and Vesh (dress up) behind a curtain. After the curtain was unveiled the elated

All the priests performed Prana Pratistha , the process of infusing life to the deity and brought to inhabit a "Murti" of that deity, on the Ratna Bedi followed

by Mahati Bhogo, the special food offered to god, and Vesh (dress up) behind a curtain

devotees got mesmerized at the first view ("Darsan") of Lords on the Ratna Singhasan. All chanted "Haribolo" and offered flowers and Arati to the Lords.

For all the four days of Pratistha Puja devotees and visitors were served with fabulous lunch and dinner. The whole event was completed in peaceful and disciplined manner. It was the result of a year long planning and relentless effort by the committee members and devotees of the Sri Jagannath Society of Greater Chicago.

Sri Jagannath Society of

greater Chicago is a non-profit religious, socio-cultural, and philanthropic organization established in 2007 to practice and promote Sri Jagannath culture in greater Chicago area. Apart from worshiping Lord Jagannath, it celebrates famous Ratha Yatra, festivals of Lord Jagannath, and carries out a number of charitable activities. It is now temporarily located in Bishnu Shiva Shakti Mandir inside Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Aurora and looking for a permanent place in future with the help of some generous donors.

Community Across America

July 2, 2010

India Post 21

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Sikh Coalition testifies before Congress India Post News Service

WASHINGTON, DC: "[I]t is my humble submission today that the use by law enforcement of classifications based on race, national origin, religion, or ethnicity has severely undermined both our liberty and our

view, usually in a segregated glass box. The screening typically involves a public pat down of a Sikh's turban (many Sikhs do not know that they have the option of a private screening), and in some rare instances even its removal. Fellow airline passengers often view Sikhs being

bers, the Coalition believes that Sikhs are subjected to 100% secondary screening at Oakland International Airport, O'Hare International Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. These searches occur despite official assertions from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that it does not engage in profiling.

The testimony also underscored the fact that while an array of law enforcement officials state that profiling is ineffective, profiling still occurs regularly.

Renowned law enforcement leaders like New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, former

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden, have all stated that profiling is ineffective.

The hearing featured testimony by a range of experts and advocates, who pointed out the flaws in using profiling as a law enforcement technique. These witnesses included: Hilary O. Shelton, Director, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Washington Bureau; Christopher Burbank, Chief of Police, Salt Lake City Police Department;

David A. Harris, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh Law School; and Farhana Khera, Executive Director, Muslim Advocates.

Members of Congress who made statements or asked questions during the hearing included, House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers, Jr. (DMI); Subcommittee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA); Rep. Hank Johnson (DGA); Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN); Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX); Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA).

Cont’d on page 23

NRIs, TN join hands to prevent school dropouts Cont’d from page 20 Sikh Coalition representative testifying

safety. As the experience of the Sikh American community makes clear, the use of these classifications by law enforcement is invariably inaccurate, inevitably misused, and ultimately detri-

pulled aside for extra screening by officers, thereby undermining confidence in Sikh passengers.

The Coalition testimony highlighted the fact that Sikhs are subjected to these searches

The testimony, which condemned the profiling of Sikhs at U.S. airports, went on to explain that Sikhs traveling in the United States have consistently been subjected to additional secondary searches mental to the important work of our men and women in uniform.

In short, we profile, we lose," the Sikh Coalition testified before a U.S. Congressional Committee on Thursday, June 17.

The hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties was entitled, "Racial Profiling and the Use of Suspect Classifications in Law Enforcement."

To the Coalition's knowledge, the hearing marked the first time a Sikh testified before the United States Congress on an issue of national significance.

The testimony, which condemned the profiling of Sikhs at U.S. airports, went on to explain that Sikhs traveling in the United States have consistently been subjected to additional secondary searches, even after successfully passing through airport metal detectors.

Such searches of Sikhs are often conducted in full public

100% of the time at some airports around the country. Through surveys of Sikh community mem-

The convention had a record registration and the delegates were entertained for three days with literary talks, Carnatic music, light music, cultural program, comedy skits and poets meet.

The newly introduced children's convention was attended by about 150 children.

Concurrent sessions included entrepreneur forum organized by Tamil Entrepreneurs Association and addressed by Madurai Thiagarajar Mills Chairman Karumuthu Kannan, continuing medical education session organized by the American Tamil Medical Association, Tamil computing workshop organized by INFITT, youth forum, women's forum and yoga sessions.

Kutralingam, Principal Secretary of Education signs the MoU. TNF President Dr. Rammohan witnessing the signing ceremony

Many delegates expressed that despite the usual entertainment and fanfare the convention added value to the community by empha-

sizing the theme of charity and education for the underprivileged and unity among the Tamil community in the U.S.

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India Post

July 2, 2010

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Kumar Swami's healing through sound Indis Post News Service

Brahmarishi Shree Kumar Swami

LOS ANGELES: Brahmarishi Shree Kumar Swami Ji, an avid proponent of healing through cosmic sound, will address a series of congregations in various cities of USA and Canada in the month of July. The most fascinating spiritual event scheduled to be attended by Swami Ji, who is affectionately called Guru Ji by his followers, will be held on a boat on the Hudson River in New York City on 23rd July.

"We have organized this event for our fellow truth seekers to experience the unique teachings of Guru Ji in an exclusive setting while cruising on the waters of Hudson River", said Ashwani Kumar, President of Bhagwan Shree Lakshmi Narayan Dham of Edison, New Jersey. "This program aims at soothing our mind and body with the cool breeze blowing over the river while receiving the blessings of one of the popular spiritual gurus of India", he added. The boat ride on Hudson will be followed by a two-day discourse called 'Cosmic Grace Convention' on July 24 and 25 at Holiday Inn, Raritan

Center in Edison, NJ. The convention in New Jersey is being organized on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima. It will be attended by a host of community leaders and public officials of New Jersey.

"This program aims at soothing our mind and body with the cool breeze blowing over the river while receiving the blessings of one of the popular spiritual gurus of India", he added. The boat ride on Hudson will be followed by a twoday discourse Before arriving in New YorkNew Jersey, Guruji will address a Samagam (Convention) in Norco near Los Angeles, CA on July 13 and 14. He will visit Chicago on July 17 and 18 and in Ohio on July

21. Thereafter Guruji will address a Convention in Chesapeake, Virginia before leaving for Europe.

Prior to arriving in USA he will address congregations in Etobicoke, Toronto on July 2 and 3, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec on July 4, in Edmonton, Alberta on 7th July and Richmond, Vancouver, BC on July 10 and 11.

According to Guru Ji 'When we practice Cosmic Sound Secrets, we bring our energy into harmony with cosmic energy and immediately it starts working on us. The Cosmos is the embodiment of the divine energy that plays in many forms.'

Emphasizing that the secret of positive energy that benefits all, Guruji recently said, "The power of Cosmic Sound is capable of dissolving negative energies around us. We can achieve harmony and total peace by practicing cosmic sound."

The spiritual Guru told his audience that secrets through which mystics developed Ayurveda, chemistry and other sciences were derived from God's grace. This dimension means helping others with love and positive energy.

Mesmerizing singing at Karaoke Competition

India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: L A Sargam sponsored, Charter Karaoke Competition 2010, was staged at the India Palace Banquet Hall in Canoga Park on Saturday June 12.

Being the first program of its kind in San Fernando Valley, the event drew a full house.

The audience was treated to an evening of mesmerizing melody and a nostalgic journey into the music of the yesteryears.

Avtar Chadda, who in his own right has earned kudos for his performances of Mohammed Rafi songs, was the force behind the competition. He explained, "An

event of this nature cannot be achieved by one individual. I had the able support of my L A Sargam colleagues Nirmal Sandhu and

Syal."

In all, about thirty artistes vied for winning laurels in their respective categories,

Being the first program of its kind in San Fernando Valley, the event drew a full house. The audience was treated to an evening of mesmerizing melody and a nostalgic journey into the music of the yesteryears Sunny Singh. We also utilized the talents of film director Mobin Khan and community activist and stage personality Dr. Parvin

judged by a panel of individuals well versed in the nuances of music and stage performance. The panel comprised Dr. Devinder

Bassi, music teacher and erstwhile TV & Radio artiste from India. He was supported by musician and showbiz promoter, Iqbal Hussain, and by Indian film actress and accomplished singer, Radha Saluja Zaidi.

In an exhibition of unbridled experience paired with exuberant youth, the show was emceed by Dr. Parvin Syal and Karan Chadda. Sound engineering was provided

by DJ Sanjay Syal.

In the under 14 category, Shruti Chakraborty gave a foot tapping and enthused performance of the song, "Fame" and won outright.

Cont’d on page 23

July 2, 2010

Community/California

India Post 23

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Mesmerizing singing at Karaoke Competition

Satrang participates in LA Pride Parade

India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: Satrang, the only volunteer organization of its kind, with the mission of serving the needs of the South Asian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning (SA LGBTIQQ) population in Southern California recently participated in Los Angeles Pride Parade and festival. This year marks a historical first for Satrang as the organization presented their first ever float at the Parade in West Hollywood.

The Float was adorned with flags from countries in the South Asian Diaspora. The float incorCont’d from page 22

The runner-up in this category was Aarushi Walia who belted the song,"Chhalia Chhalia" in true Bollywood style.

In the 14 to 21 category, Payal Chakraborty, performed with such excellence and such an understanding of music that she earned special praise from the judges. In fact, she was among the top two artistes in the entire competition.

In over 21 category, the Solo artiste category drew the biggest interest with a wide array of singing styles and song selection.

Most singers, however, relied on the time tested favorites of the six-

ties and the seventies. The competition was close and was finally won by Harmit Singh singing the Mohammed Rafi song, "Door reh kar na karo baat."

The runner up was Prabhjot Ahluwalia. The over 21 Duet category was won by the team of Prabhjot and Rupinder Ahluwalia, singing the song, "Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche" in a romantic style.

According to Avtar Chadda, the winners will perform at the next Mohammed Rafi night, slated for September 2010. The audience reacted very positively to the competition and requested the organizers to make this an annual event.

Sikh Coalition testifies before Congress Cont’d from page 21

A Note of Thanks The Sikh Coalition thanked House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) for his and his staff's tireless leadership on the issue of racial and religious profiling and for giving the community a voice at the hearing. The Coalition also thanked Subcommittee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) for holding and chairing the hearing.

The Coalition also thanked the rest of the Members of Congress

who spoke so supportively of the Sikh community at the hearing. Every member who spoke on the issue was supportive of Sikh concerns.

In particular, the Coalition thanked Rep. Judy Chu (D-Ca) for her extensive comments on the profiling of Sikhs at U.S. airports and her commitment to write to the TSA about the issue. The Coalition also commended fellow Sikh organization United Sikhs for briefing Rep. Chu on Sikh airport profiling issues very well.

Satrang's current president, Vikas Sood, founding members of Satrang, allies of Satrang including, South Asian Network and Trikone members from San Francisco participated to support Satrang at the Parade porated cultural symbols, music, dance, and costumes into the Parade entry and float. The reason for Satrang's participating in the LA Pride Parade is to help raise the visibility of South Asian LGBTIQQ community not just in the city of Los Angeles, but worldwide and empower our community to share and raise visibility of our cultural and sexual identities. This Pride event was a huge success.

Over 50 community members of

Satrang joined the parade and marched with Satrang's float.

Satrang's current president, Vikas Sood, founding members of Satrang, allies of Satrang including, South Asian Network and Trikone members from San Francisco participated to support Satrang at the Parade and the festival. Satrang's float received the maximum number of applause and appreciation for its uniqueness, colorful outfits and remarkable music. One of Satrang's member's mother from India marched along-

side Satrang's float with a sign stating "Proud mother of an Asian kid" Funds for Satrang's first ever float and booth at the LA Pride was raised by donations from community members, collections at Ms. & Mr. Satrang event and grants received by LA IFC and Liberty Hill Foundation. Satrang was also honored with a $500 grant from Christopher Street West Association, Inc. (CSW) for its amazing support of the South Asian LGBTIQQ community.

1 Khili Re - Raavan

6 Bekarar - Paathshaala

2 Ghum Suhm Ghum Suhm - IAWA

7 Ranjha Ranjha - Raavan

3 Dont Know What To Do - Housefull

8

4 Mein Tenu Samjjawan - Virsa

9 Rang De - Bumm Bumm Bole

5 Chaska - Badmaash Company

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India Post

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Yaadan - Virsa

10 Ankahi Si - Chase

July 2, 2010

M

anisha has finally got hitched. In a fairytale wedding, actress Manisha Koirala tied the knot with Nepali businessman Samrat Dahal in a traditional Nepali ceremony after an elaborate engagement and mehendi ceremony.

The 40-year-old was wedded to the 33-year-old entrepreneur at a fivestar resort in Kathmandu.

Though her first hero in Bollywood, Vivek Mushran, flew to Kathmandu to attend the four-day extravaganza, as did Manisha's friend and director Deepti Naval, there was not much Bollywood presence besides Sunita, who stood in proxy for her husband Govinda.

There was also virtually no sign of the Nepali film industry that has impassively accepted her return almost after two decades. Manisha returned to the Nepali film industry a few months ago, playing wife to its superstar Rajesh Hamal.

Dahal, an MBA from Texas, comes from a non-filmi business family that is into education as well as leather goods. He himself is involved in launching a biogas factory in Pokhara city, where Manisha did a little bit of shooting recently for her new Nepali film Dharma.

The alliance has plunged him from relative obscurity into the limelight, thanks to Manisha's Bollywood career as well as family background. She is the grand- Mumbai, where Manisha will continue to keep a foothold.

Manisha, who had been busy shooting in India less than a week before her wedding, has not made daughter of BP Koirala, Nepal's first elected prime minister, and her family boasts her future plans public as yet. The couple will reportedly move out of Dahal's family home in the of three prime ministers, two deputy prime ministers and two MPs. The newlyweds plan to throw a separate bash for tinsel town stars in Bansbari area of Kathmandu for a pied-a-terre of their own.

Best Dad

I

n a poll conducted by a matrimonial site on the occasion of Father's Day, actor Amitabh Bachchan was found to be most admired celebrity father in Bollywood film industry.

The poll, My Daddy Strongest, carried out by Shaadi.com received re-

Dharam, Esha in tears

T

here's this scene in Hema Malini's Tell Me Oh Khuda which is picturised on Dharmendra and his daughter, on screen as in real life, Esha Deol... Yes, this film's all in the family. And the dialogue had Esha telling Dharmendra, "You're the best father in the world." Garam Dharam's emotional response was, "...and you're the best daughter in the world."

When the cameras rolled and the scene got underway, Esha broke down uncontrollably when her father said his dialogue.

And Dharmendra, who is a big softie in person - his tough image on screen notwithstanding - joined her as tears welled up in his eyes as well. Unit hands who

were stunned, touched and embarrassed by this emotional baap beti scene, said that "only Hemaji kept her composure".

Esha, who is working with Dharmendra for the first time, admitted that doing Tell Me Oh Khuda was as much a nightmare as a dream come true. "Mom's really strong," said Esha, "it was an emotional moment for her as well, though she didn't show it." She was surprised to learn that Dharmendra has never relied on glycerine when it came to shooting tearful scenes. "But that day was special, with me thoda zyada ho gaya, something just gave way and I cried. Maybe it was those words that I had bottled up inside me and wanted to say to Dad all these years," admitted the young actress.

sponses from over 85,000 people. Of the Southern actors, Rajnikanth topped with 47 percent votes.

As per votes, B-town's top five dads are: Amitabh Bachchan 67% Rishi Kapoor 13.9 % Dharmendra 9.5% Anil Kapoor 9.4% Jeetendra 6.6%

July 2, 2010

Bollywood www.indiapost.com

T

he Kapoors are soon going to be shifting. The exact location hasn't been decided yet, but it will be in Bandra, either a duplex apartment they own or a bungalow they will rent. Ranbir Kapoor confirms that his home, the iconic Krishna Raj bungalow that has been a landmark in the tony Pali Hill neighborhood for decades, will be razed in a month or two and in its place will come up a 14-storey structure that will house his parents on the lower three floor and him on the uppermost three.

"It won't look like a tall building at all," he says, "the structure will still look like a bungalow. The aesthetics have been taken care of." One expected no less from Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, who have, perhaps, one of the best designed and kept homes in Bollywood.

The Kapoor home will also include a 160-seater theatre and perhaps a swimming pool. Other floors could have offices or edit suites.

Aren't three floors too much for a single man? "By the time it comes up, which will be at least a couple of years, I hope to be a married man," Ranbir says matter-of-factly, "I want to have a family, I want to have children, and I don't want to be a bachelor. I want to have a child by the time I am 32. I want to be 50 when he or she is 20. I aspire to have a life like that. I'm not looking for love, but I would love for it to happen."

"But," he clarifies, "I am single at the moment and have been for around six or seven months and I am very happy, very, very happy. I am enjoying my work, I am doing things that I wouldn't do when I am in a relationship, like hang out with my guy friends, learn to play the guitar, try to play soccer or watch DVDs. It's a very important time and I respect it. I am not in depression.

Being in a relationship is lovely, it's the most beautiful thing. But not being in a relationship is also lovely."

Which is all very cool, but Ranbir will need to get cracking if he is to meet his self-imposed deadline.

Mature Sonam A

fter playing the giddy headed starry-eyed young lover-girl in all her films so far, including the about-to-be-released I Hate Luv Storys, actress Sonam Kapoor in Mausam is all set to play a girl who evolves into a woman in the course of the movie.

Her clothes which are always a source of powerful on-screen personality-transference for her have been worked on at great lengths by designer Anamika Khanna.

And the result, says a member of the crew, is no less than devastating. Apparently Sonam was initially reluctant to get into the mature mould.

"She had reservations about being bracketed in the maturer mould so early in her career. In all her films so far from Saawariya to Thank You, Sonam has played girls her own age and dressed accordingly in what she's comfortable with.

The Western clothes that'd transform her into a chic Delhi socialite in Aisha are as much a part of her personality as the salwarkameez that she wore in Delhi 6."

Shahid Kapoor, who needed to make a sartorial changeover to play the mature mellow lover in the later part of the film, has also been heard joking about how Mausam has turned him and Sonam into overnight adult stars.

Hisss to Hayek?

I

f all goes well, Mallika may soon share screen space with Salma Hayek. It seems Mallika Sherawat is in no mood to return to India anytime soon. After bagging Love, Barack with Laz Alonso, the buzz is that Mallika may soon share screen space with Salma Hayek in another international project.

Both the actress got friendly during the Cannes Film festival and had a chat about cinema. A source reveals, "Salma Hayek was impressed with Mallika's film Hisss and complimented her for it.

Even after they returned to the US, they were in constant touch and arranged to meet each other for dinner few days back. That is when Salma narrated a script of a women-centric film and suggested that Mallika play the protagonist.

The movie deals with the abuse women face in various parts of the world. That is the basic gist of the script - it still needs to be worked on. Mallika has really liked the idea and would love to be a part of this film," adds the source.

Mallika's official spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied the news and said, "We haven't received any such information as yet, but we will be making an announcement if anything is finalized."

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July 2, 2010

One of the finest music concerts by AR Rahman MOHAMMED GHOUSE

CHICAGO: Jai Ho means Victory and this was a victory nite for all Chicagoans and lovers of music from across Midwest as 9000 plus members of the audience jamming Sears Arena center last week to attend Jai Ho Musical concert presented by legend-

ary artist AR Rahman were treated to one of the finest musical fares for over three hours.

Many in the audience dubbed it show of the decade.

Victory was not for only A Rahman, Hariharan and their troupe of musicians and dancers. Victory was also for the organizers of the show -

Shows2U headed by Syed Monty and his group members. Victory was also to the attendees who despite inclement weather flocked in huge numbers to Sears Arena just to be part of the top musical extravaganza.

Rahman in his pre concert talk had said that this show was primarily connected to Indian sub continent, covering India Paki-

stan and Bangladesh. And all efforts were made to see that it stayed to its roots. He also took pains to mention that there would be a cultural diffusion within the show and efforts were made to showcase global performers. There were 50 performers from United States.

Cont’d on page 28

July 2, 2010

India Post www.indiapost.com

Vivek is a wonderful kisser: Shields MUMBAI: The bold actress of Mr Singh Mrs Mehra says that after doing a lot of stunts, it was a relief to stand still and kiss Vivek Oberoi.

"Plus, he's a wonderful kisser," tells British actress Aruna Shields to Mid-day.

"But the experience of kissing Prashant wasn't that wonderful as he has a stubble. He was very uncomfortable shooting intimate scenes and finally I had to pitch in with 'much needed help'.

Later, he was comfortable," adds Aruna.

Well Aruna, hope your acting is as promising as your kissing in the movie.

Goa offers 'raindrop' tourism PANAJI: Goa's crowded beaches wear a largely deserted look during the monsoon, a scene which the government intends to change by promoting `raindrop tourism'.

Swimming is banned on beaches after south west monsoon hits the state. But the June-September period is also the time for a different experience with giant sea waves hitting the shores, cool breeze welcoming tourists and numerous streams and waterfalls sprouting amidst lush green landscape.

The tourism department, which had promoted Goa as a 365-day holiday destination, is set to sell the concept of raindrop tourism, especially to travelers from West Asia, where rains are sparse.

For this authorities are streamlining the promotional campaign. "We lack integrated campaign. Our promotional campaigns are distributed amongst multiple agencies.

Other states have a single agency doing the job," Swapnil Naik, director, Goa Tourism, said.

Official figure reveals that of the total tourist inflow, around 10 per cent are received during monsoons.

The coastal state is facing tough competition from Kerala, which has branded itself as God's own country and aggressively promotes backwater tourism concept.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), which has 13 properties, has introduced discount offers under themes like 'monsoon glee' and 'monsoon honeymoon' at its resorts and hotels to attract holidaymakers during the off season.

GTDC managing director Nikhil Desai said the corporation has opted for an aggressive campaign on Internet and through travel marts. Tapping popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter is another way of reaching out to youngsters.

Festivals like Sao Joao, which has revelers jumping into water

bodies to welcome monsoons, are promoted by GTDC. Also, the corporation is exposing hinterland to the tourists, who usually don't think of Goa beyond beaches.

GTDC hotels have 60 per cent occupancy along the coastal belt and 50 per

The tourism department is set to sell the concept of raindrop tourism, especially to travelers from West Asia, where rains are sparse cent in other places during the lean season, public relations officer Dipak Narvekar said.

The corporation is offering 30 per cent discount on stay and food during monsoons.

27

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India Post

July 2, 2010 www.indiapost.com

Raavan gets decent reviews Hacker makes Meghna 'pregnant' but poor BO in US

R

aavan, which got fairly de cent reviews in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, opened to a disappointing box office in North America.

Distributor Reliance has said it grossed $550,000 in three days.

The previous Mani Ratnam film Guru which also paired Abhishek Bachchan and Aiswarya Rai had opened three years ago with a $1 million weekend in America and Canada and went on to earn an impressive $2.4 million in both countries.

If Raavan follows the standard rate of attrition in North America (about 60 percent slum in the second week), it will have a hard time reaching $1 million.

Many viewers in New York and New Jersey cinemas thought that the film was too brutal and at times very dark. A few said they had come to the theatres imagining the film was a modern day take on Ram, Ravan and Sita but were surprised by the twists in the story and that the character played by Vikram had shades of good and bad. They had thought only the character of Ravan would be dark and demonic.

It looks like Raavan will gross about half of what two recent successes have grossed in North America. Raajneeti, a bonafide success and Kites each grossed about $1.6 million in North America, though the latter was deemed a flop because of its huge production cost (estimated to be $20 million).

How Raavan will hold in the next two weeks will be crucial to the film's final fate.

Meanwhile, it is getting some respect from mainstream publications. The New York Times called the film 'richly atmospheric.'

It added: 'Raavan has Bollywood glamour aplenty, with the lovely if occasionally dramatically challenged Aishwarya Rai Bachchan'

But the film's real star is Mani Ratnam, it asserted, ' a talented visual storyteller who directs action crisply and fills the screen with striking images. Artful but not arty, Mr. Ratnam‌delivers the goods.

A R Rahman's score is 'excellent,' the review added, and singled out 'an eye-popping climactic battle, between the bad-good Beera and the good-bad Dev, on a teetering suspension bridge. And that, folks, is entertainment.'

LA Times argued that it is Aishwarya who is a scenestealer in the film. 'Bollywood superstar Abhishek Bachchan has the title role of the romantic adventure epic Raavan, the review asserted, ' but the movie belongs to his exquisite reallife wife Aishwarya Rai. A blueeyed beauty who resembles Myrna Loy...'

It added: 'Director Mani Ratnam and his colleagues give Bollywood fans full value.

Ratnam's pace is steadfastly brisk, and his film is replete with dizzying camerawork, myriad complications, violent mayhem, broad humor, usual musical interludes, a cliffhanging climactic confrontation and a finish that strikes a note of poignancy.'

MUMBAI: Actress Meghna Naidu complained to the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell in Mumbai this week, about a hacker who got her 'pregnant'.

Unknown to the actress, a

Meghna Naidu

hacker had breached her Gmail account a few weeks ago and was chatting away with her friends, falsely claiming that Meghna 'was pregnant from a fling with a guy whose name she couldn't remember' and that she 'needed advice'.

How imaginative!

But when this impersonator said hello to the actresses' ex-publicist Dale Bhagwagar on the chat,

the PR specialist sensed something fishy about the way Meghna was chatting. So immediately after the chat, Dale called her residence to verify if it was Meghna on the chat, and her parents told him, she had gone for her yoga class.

When the actress returned the call an hour later, she was shocked to learn about the conversation. Meghna said, "I was paranoid when I checked my Google chats. This imposter had been chatting with a lot my friends and claimed I was pregnant out of a fling. To add to this craziness, he wrote, I'd forgotten the name of the guy who made me pregnant. All this bogus talk was insane and scary."

The publicist calmed the horrified actress and guided her to change her email privacy settings and escorted her to the Crime Branch the next morning. "We complained at the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell. Sadly and strangely, the cops there didn't seem to be much interested about my case," lamented Meghna. "I hope they are able to track the hacker," she added.

Victory Nite: One of the finest music concerts by AR Rahman Cont’d from page 26

This was evident as the show moved on from start to finish.

There were Bollywood film songs (many in the audience craved for more but the time factor was a restraining factor) interspersed with Tamil songs which was a delight to a huge number of those hailing from South India. There were a few renderings for a large number of Pakistani community members and of course, there was also a tribute presentation to Michael Jackson.

Audience presented a great ethnic mix with many non Indians, Americans included, too attending the show. Even among Indians, Rahman had erased language and religious borders and brought entire community - Indians, Pakistani and Bangladeshi, North and South Indians - together and he along with Hariharan saw to it that each and every one enjoyed their singing as also the concert as a whole.

Many in the audience did however, feel that Rahman and for that matter Hariharan should have concentrated more on their Hindi film songs. A few felt that Rahman and even Hariharan did not come out with some of their more popu-

lar ever green songs of Hindi films. They wanted that Rahman & Co. should have had more

aries," he said Orchestra was excellent and the female singers did not disappoint.

There were Bollywood film songs (many in the audience craved for more but the time factor was a restraining factor) interspersed with Tamil songs which was a delight to a huge number of those hailing from South India. populist approach. But that is an opinion. Dr Rahul Gandhi was one of the members of the audience and he said that he was literally thrilled to the toe and said that he would walk down miles if need be to come again after the concert was over Bhupen Damani attends many such shows regularly and he felt that the show was great. Both were all praise with the extraordinary lighting arrangements. Nayan Shah was a young attendee and had come with lot of expectations.

His regret was that Rahman did not do justice to his class of attendees by not singing very popular Hindi film songs.

Mohammad Hussein hailed from Hyderabad and he felt that this was truly the show of the decade if not the century.

AR Rahman in Chicago

Syed Shiraz, young lad from Pakistan, was happy to see that great fusion of Indian and Pakistani music lovers. "I counted my Pakistani friends streaming in and was happy that interest in music crossed geographical bound-

Dancers were up to the mark and were very pleasing, he said.

Accompanying artist Hariharan in his pre-show interview with this writer said he has made his mark in Bollywood Hindi films as playback singer and it is heartening to note that not only music composers but even the public at large has welcomed him with accolades. He would now graduate from an ac-

claimed playback signer to a fullfledged music director. It would not be exaggeration to state that the long-underrated singer has finally arrived and will remain a permanent fixture on the Indian musical scene for a long time to come.

The wholesome credit goes to organizers - Shows2u headed by Syed Monty and supported by a team of dedicated showbiz entrepreneurs. This entertainment company in Midwest has blossomed to be a front ranking agency that brings top ranking Bollywood and non-Bollywood artists not only for entertaining Midwesterners but also creating a distinctly different cultural image of India even within main stream American society.

The Rahman show had been preceded by hosting of a Carnival of artists and cultural ambassadors from India last year by the same company and they have been pointers in this direction. Carnival concept did not catch with the public but this did not deter the Shows2u organizers to host Rahman. Upbeat Syed Monty announced that he would come out with more such shows in the near and distant future.

29 India Post

www.indiapost.com

Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world. Elephant in Periyar is another major attraction. In 1895, the British undertook water resource management plans for the area and started work on a dam and an artificial lake under the auspices of Col. J. Pennycuick

S

ituated within the confines of the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world. Elephant in Periyar is another major attraction. In 1895, the British undertook water resource management plans for the area and started work

on a dam and an artificial lake under the auspices of Col. J. Pennycuick. The picturesque lake in the heart of the sanctuary was originally 26 sq km but now spans an area of 55 sq km.

This perennial source of water, which initially led to the submersion of large tracts of forestland, slowly attracted wild animals. It eventually resulted in the adjoining forests being granted protection by the Maharaja of Travancore.

Post-1975 Periyar finds itself in the enviable position of being a national park as well as a protected tiger reserve.

Periyar (also known as Thekkady) is a park where one can witness playful elephants, whose population is currently around 800. Elephants in Periyar make excellent wildlife watching. The population of tigers is also increasing appreciably. The terrain ranges from hilly to flat grassland areas at the edges of the lakes. The vegetation is of moist deciduous type. Elephant in Periyar re-

July 2, 2010 main the key attraction.

Best time to visit: The temperature during summers (April-June) ranges from 21°C to 24°C. During the monsoon (July-August), it ranges from 19°C to 21°C. Winter season lasts from October to March and is cool and pleasant. Visit the national park with elephant in Periyar make the entire experience unforgettable.

Tourist attractions Periyar National Park is a veritable paradise of elephants. Herds of playful wild elephants have made Periyar Lake their favorite haunt for frolicking in the water. Scores of elephants in Periyar can be witnessed bathing and swimming here. The Indian female elephants in Periyar do not posses tusks like their African relatives.

Cont’d on page 30

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India Post

Travel & Hospitality Post

July 2, 2010

www.indiapost.com

India is sitting on a treasure trove: Adelson SINGAPORE: India is losing out on billions because of the government's disinterest in seeking out new avenues like casino tourism and integrated resorts, feels tourism mogul Sheldon Adelson, whose retinue includes the world's largest casino, Venetian Macao.

Adelson, who was ranked the third richest person in the US by Forbes magazine two years in a row in 2007 and 2008, had plans to build a Las Vegas style strip in India, but it was vetoed by the government in 2008.

"India is such a fascinating country but receives only about 3.5 million foreign tourists a year, which baffles me. I am really keen

on setting up an integrated resort experience on the lines of the Las Vegas strip in India, anywhere Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore or Delhi. But the government is sadly not keen," Adelson told PTI. "Why does not India want tourism, I do not understand it. There are thousands of underground gambling holes, people bet on cricket, horses, so why not use it as a legitimate source of income and employment, coupled with world class spas, restaurants, ballrooms," said Adelson who is here for the inauguration of his pet project, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, built on a whopping budget of USD 5.5 billion.

‘Why does not India want tourism, I do not understand it. There are thousands of underground gambling holes, people bet on cricket, horses, so why not use it as a legitimate source of income and employment’

The 76-year-old billionaire said that India could become the biggest tourism player in the world, if it stopped ignoring the trends that are sweeping the sector.

He gave the example of Singapore, a world leader in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) tourism, to say that the Indian government needs to stop looking at casinos as gambling holes.

"The Marina Bay Sands has a casino, but that is just 1 percent of the total property but is its central

feature," said Adelson.

The casino at Venetian, situated in Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, counts Indians among one of its biggest spenders and Adelson said that the Indian middle class is the target audience of Marina Bay Sands.

"We are definitely not looking at the working class who would not be able to afford it, but we are targeting the Indian middle class, offering them a experience they have not had before," said Adelson. -PTI

GCCI for golf courses to attract high-end tourists PANAJI: Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has favored for 'golf courses' that will attract high-end tourists to the state.

"We recommend golf course which will attract high-end tourists to the state, which is need of the hour," GCCI president Cesar Menezes said while addressing the body's 102th annual general meeting here last evening.

Jamshyd N Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej & Boycee Manufacturing company, was the chief guest for the event.

In the past, Goa has witnessed massive agitation against golf

course projects with people expressing their apprehensions.

Expressing concern over deteriorating environment, Menezes said that Goa is facing "red alert" in the form of irreversible deterioration of environment Menezes said that the state needs to boost its tourism. "It's

important for us to attract highend tourists.

It's better to chase for good tourism rather than number of tourists."

Tourism industry should ensure that it brings in more revenue by attracting high-spending tourists, he said.

Expressing concern over deteriorating environment, Menezes said that Goa is facing "red alert" in the form of irreversible deterioration of environment.

"We have to deal with this issue collectively. Inland waterways authority of India had recently suggested desilting of our water ways," he said. -PTI

Periyar: Playground of tiger, elephants & other animals Cont’d from page 29

They are also not as swarthy as their African counterparts. Other inhabitants of Periyar include the leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar and sloth bear. There are approximately 40 tigers in the area. The tigers, along with the Nilgiri tahrs (a kind of a wild goat), are elusive creatures. However, an early morning visit, with luck on your side, could yield results.

Amidst the rocky hinges along the lake, monitor lizards may be spotted. Trekkers have also sighted pythons, king cobras and flying lizards. Some 260 species of birds are found at Periyar. These include darters, cormorants, ibises, gray herons, mynas, flycatchers, orioles, wood pigeons, kingfishers, kites, ospreys, thrushes, and an appreciable number of blue-winged parakeets.

The months of March and April constitute the driest part of the

year, because of which the animals spend a lot of time near the lake.

Even the tiger may be spotted approaching the waters. Animals may be seen from motorboats on the lake or from watchtowers. A

Amidst the rocky hinges along the lake, monitor lizards may be spotted. Trekkers have also sighted pythons, king cobras and flying lizards. Some 260 species of birds are found at Periyar special permission is required to travel by boat to the source of the artificial lake, the River Periyar.

This area is generally not open for tourists, but is the favorite haunt of the sloth bear. There is a good chance of spotting an occasional

tiger in this relatively peaceful corner of the forest. One can also form a group and go on a walking tour with locally available guides.

Places around: There are some tribal villages around Periyar, which are worth a visit. The tribal people are expert fishermen and farmers. Some are still engaged in the traditional practice of collecting honey of dangerous hill bees.

They have built interesting tree dwellings.

These dwellings do not signify a 'perched' existence. Quite the contrary, they are comfortable watchtowers for taking note of any wild pig or elephant in Periyar that might ruin the cultivated fields.

Nearby Kottayam (117 km) and the temple town of Madurai (140) km) should not be missed.

How to reach: The park is well connected by bus service from the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram (271 km), as well as the cities of Cochin (200 km), Kottayam (117 km), and Madurai (140 km). The nearest major rail junction is Kottayam.

Travel & Hospitality Post

July 2, 2010

India Post

31

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Tourism police set for re-launch CHANDIGARH: With the influx of foreign tourists to the city on the rise and the Commonwealth Games drawing near, the administration would soon re-launch tourism police to look after the security needs of visitors.

Tourism police, a specialized force to look after the security needs of tourists, was launched two years back after a young German girl was sexually assaulted in the city but soon hit technical roadblocks.

"Procedural hitches and functional handicaps that stalked the initiative two years ago, have been taken care of and measures outlined to make the force play the purposeful role with which it was conceived and help promote safe tourism in Chandigarh," an official said.

"Besides, the UT Administration is expecting greater influx of tourists during the

World's tallest Shiva statute unveiled in Nepal KATHMANDU: The world's tallest Shiva statue built by Indian businessman Kamal Jain has been unveiled in Nepal.

Built at the cost of Rs 8 crore, the statue was inaugurated by Swami Shankaracharya Madhav Sharanji Maharaj of Badrinath, India, at Sanga, a village situated in the east of Kathmandu.

The statue, which is made of cement, concrete and iron is coated with zinc and copper, depicts Lord Shiva carrying a trishul in his hand while a snake is resting on his shoulder. Jain has spent six years and to build the statute. -PTI

Palace on Wheels fourth best in the world JAIPUR: Rajasthan's luxury train 'Palace on Wheels' has been adjudged the fourth best among the top ten luxury trains of the world by noted global travel magazine Conde Nast. For the year 2009, the magazine had asked its readers for the first time to vote for their favorite train. They were asked to rank each train out of 100 points.

"The Palace on Wheels attained 83.94 points and was ranked fourth below the Venice Simplon-Orient Express (89.92 points), Eurostar (86.92 points) and Pride of Africa, Rovos Rail (84.25 points)," MD and Chairman of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) Manjit Singh said. -PTI

Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in October," he said.

Chandigarh has, of late, been witnessing greater influx of foreign tourists.

While in 2007, 26,567 foreign tourists visited the city, their number increased to 34,762

Territory's Police Department would be given special training at Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Sector 42, Chandigarh.

"The training module will cover subjects such as personal grooming hygiene, moti-

The force will guide the tourists on law and order, security measures, places of medical help, matters relating to passport, visas, exchange of currency and immigration issues in 2008; and to 37,967 in 2009. Between January-April this year, 15,260 foreign tourists visited the city.

Chandigarh's Inspector General of Police (Administration) Pradeep Shrivastava said here that selected personnel from the Union

vation, leadership, stress management, tourism basics, city's tourism action plan; and social mannerism. They will be groomed in friendly techniques besides basics of English and some other foreign languages to assist and interact with the tourists, espe-

cially the foreigners, visiting the city easily," he said.

Besides the normal uniform of the Chandigarh Police, tourism police personnel would wear special jackets to facilitate identification from a distance.

The force will guide the tourists on law and order, security measures, places of medical help, matters relating to passport, visas, exchange of currency and immigration issues.

"They will also help them in getting easy transport and lodging at appropriate rates.

It will also assist them in case of any emergency and provide security against unscrupulous elements," Shrivastava said.

He also informed that before the start of the games, special seminars will be held at taxi/ scooter rickshaw stands to educate the drivers on friendly behavior with tourists. -PTI

India to participate in Rainforest music fest KUCHING: Two performers from India will be participating in the 13th edition of Malaysia's Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF 2010) to be held from July 9 to 11, along with artists from 17 other countries.

Layatharanga and Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan from India will perform at the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living museum at the foot of Mount Santubong where the traditional habitats of Sarawak's major ethic groups have been lovingly reproduced.

Supported by Malaysia's Tourism Ministry, the Tourism and Heritage Ministry of the government of the eastern state of Sarawak, and Tourism Malaysia, the three-day annual festival will this year feature 20 confirmed performers, including two local bands -- Bakih and Pingasan'k from Sarawak.

A Sarawak Tourism Board statement here said that the foreign performers are Debu from Indonesia, De Temps Antan

(Quebec, Canada), Farafina (Burkina Faso), I Beddi (Sicily, Italy), Kimura Ono Duo (Japan), Layatharanga (India), Leila Negaru (Reunion Island), Minuit Guibolles (France), Monster Ceilidh Band (Britain), Novalima (Peru), ReelRoad (Russia), Shanbehzadeh Ensemble (Iran), Yerboli (China), Galandum Galundaina (Portugal), Musafir Gypsies of Rajasthan (India), Bisserov Sisters (Bulgaria), BraAgas (Czech Republic), and Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band (United States).

"The magic of the festival is our afternoon themed interactive workshops, where artistes of similar instruments or interests are pulled from the various groups to demonstrate their craft and to find a common music," the statement said.

The festival also features two side-by-side evening stages which run alternately for a nonstop evening of music. -PTI

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Health Line Feds sue abortion protester under little-used law

SAN ANTONIO: The U.S. Justice Department has sued a San Antonio abortion protester under a little-used federal law that prohibits blocking access to reproductive health services.

Juan Antonio Gaona often protests outside clinics that offer abortions. But the Justice Department says the 56-year-old crossed the line when he stepped inside a Planned Parenthood clinic and blocked entrance to the waiting room in April 2009.

Gaona was sued under a 1994 law that makes it unlawful for a person to use force, threats or physical obstruction to injure or intimidate a person seeking reproductive health services.

The DOJ wants a restraining order and a $10,000 penalty. -AP

Health Science 34

India Post

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July 2, 2010

Quinn urges prostate cancer screenings for men CHICAGO: Gov. Pat Quinn spent Father's Day in Chicago urging men in Illinois to be screened for prostate cancer. Quinn attended an event at Access Grand Boulevard Health and Specialty Center in Chicago where health care workers offered men prostate cancer screenings. -AP

Santhigram sets up fourth center in New Jersey

Free clinic draws hundreds of patients PIKEVILLE, Ky.: Hundreds of people showed up at a free clinic in eastern Kentucky to receive medical, dental and vision care.

Alison Sizemore of Hazard camped in a tent with her 3-yearold son, while her husband slept in the truck, so they could be ready for dental checkups early morning at the clinic at a high school gym in Pikeville.

Sizemore tells the Lexington Herald-Leader that her husband was laid off from his job at WalMart in January, so they lost his health care coverage. She lost her job when a sandwich shop closed.

The clinic is offered by the Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps, a nonprofit group based in Knoxville, Tenn. Pikeville dentist Bill Collins says the patients rely on the clinic or they go without health care. -AP

Idaho saves money on inmates with preventive care LEWISTON, Idaho: An Idaho Department of Correction official says the agency is saving more than $525,000 on a new medical contract for state prison inmates due to increased preventative care.

Education and Treatment Division Chief Shane Evans says the cost per inmate has been reduced from $12.45 per day to $12.15 per day in the contract that starts July 1 with a minimum of at least 4,800 inmates.

Correctional Medical Services of St. Louis, Mo., the state's current medical contractor, won the bidding process. -AP

Economist and business leader Sreedhar Menon doing the ribbon cutting to inaugurate the 4th Santhigram center in the US, in Denville, New Jersey India Post News Service

NEW JERSEY: Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Co. of US Inc launched its fourth center in the US, at Denville, New Jersey.

Santhigram Ayurveda with its corporate headquarters in New Delhi, India, after a decade long successful operations in India, spread its wings to the United Kingdom five years back. The re-

cent popularity of Ayurveda in the United States and its continued acceptability and success in UK encouraged the company to further extend its unique services to the United States. Santhigram launched its first US center in November 2007 and presently is running three centers in New Jersey.

The Denville was inaugurated on June 13 by noted economist and business leader, Sreedhar

The Santhigram at Denville in NJ

Menon. New Jersey Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, Alex Vilanilam Koshy, former Global President of World Malayalee Council and Aniyan George, former Secretary of FOMA were the guests of honor on the occasion.

Sreedhar Menon spoke at length of his experience using Ayurvedic therapy to cure his knee joint problem for which knee transplant was recommended. He

said he was greatly thankful to have managed his knee condition without surgery. With his own experience, he advocated the use of side-effect-free Ayurvedic treatment for very many health problems for which the modern system either recommends surgery or drug therapy, which may have side effects.

Cont’d on page 36

Minn. medical inventor has dozens of patents DULUTH, Minn.: Dr. John Brekke sensed he was on the threshold of a scientific breakthrough. But something was missing.

So he walked to the Blue Heron in the Dewitt-Seitz Building in Canal Park and bought some coffee grinders. ``They're really high-speed blades,'' he recalled. ``And they churn out about 10,000 rpm.

They're impressive. And they're cheap. I got a couple of those, and I had chitosan in the lab waiting to be dissolved and I had hyaluronic acid, and I blended them up, chopped them up as small as I could and put them together. ``Remember, this is just killing time on a Saturday.''

More on that Saturday - Aug. 16, 2003 - later.

Suffice it to say that Brekke doesn't mind going outside the box

when he's on the hunt for answers.

Brekke, 67, of Duluth may be the most famous inventor you've never heard of. He has 26 U.S. patents and an uncertain number of foreign patents. Technology he invented in the 1970s is still foundational to three products sold by the Kensey Nash Corp., the Exton,

has a mischievous grin and frequently breaks out in contagious laughter. He returns often to favorite adages. Matt Stuart, a former student at the University of Minnesota Duluth now working in cellular and molecular biology in the Twin Cities, recalls him saying, ``If there's a button, push

Brekke, 67, of Duluth may be the most famous inventor you've never heard of.

He has 26 US patents and an uncertain number of foreign patents Pa., medical device company. His inventions have been used in dental and facial surgery and in the early treatment of osteoarthritis.

The technology he's been developing for the past seven years could change the way cell research is conducted.

Brekke has wavy gray hair, wears outsized, frameless glasses,

it; a knob, turn it; a lever, throw it; or a switch, flip it.''

People who have known Brekke, worked with him and studied under him describe him in different ways, but sooner or later they all use the word ``brilliant'' or its equivalent. ``John is eccentric, and he comes across that way,'' said Tim

Ringeisen, senior director of biomaterials research at Kensey Nash, who got his start working for Brekke. ``But he's also brilliant.

When you spoke to him you could just see how brilliant the man is.''

Brekke has an ``unbelievable ability to shut out everything around him and concentrate on what's at hand that he's thinking of,'' said David Langley, a technical librarian from Esko who spends anywhere from one hour to 30 hours a week researching for Brekke.

Brekke, who earned his dental surgery degree from the University of Minnesota and got his start as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, has had research labs on Central Entrance, in the Meierhoff Building in Canal Park, at UMD during a recent teaching stint there, and, currently, in the basement of his Lakewood Township home.

Cont’d on page 36

July 2, 2010

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www.indiapost.com

Patients undergo dialysis at night while sleeping NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Treating patients with lifesaving kidney dialysis during their sleep is becoming more popular and research suggests it might work better for some patients.

The nighttime treatment has recently become available at Fresenius Medical Care in Nashville, where Clyde Ward goes three times a week starting at 6 p.m., The Tennessean reported.

Ward, 59, was missing a halfday of work three times a week to get the treatment after he began having kidney failure about seven years ago. ``I had to take time off from work, and it made the paychecks smaller,'' said Ward, a quality auditor for computers. ``Doing it at nighttime, I don't have to ask for an excuse at work.''

Dialysis is a treatment for people whose kidneys have lost about 85 percent of their ability to function. A machine helps to rid the body of waste, salt and extra water. ``In a person with normal kidney function, the kidneys are working 24 hours a day, seven

days a week,'' said Dr. Stanley Lee, a kidney specialist and medical director at Nephrology Associates in Nashville. ``The more kidney function they have, the better they feel.''

About 8,200 people in Tennessee live with end-stage renal disease. Nationally, about 355,000

A Turkish study at Ege University of about 250 studied for one year showed that patients who had dialysis at night for longer hours reduced their risk of death people go through dialysis each year, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Ward's routine begins around 6 p.m. at the clinic. He hooks up to the dialysis machine and reads a book or watches TV. At 9 p.m. it's lights out for all the patients.

Around 2 a.m. a nurse wakes him

up and he drives about a mile back home to finish sleeping.

The average life span of a person on dialysis is about five years, but that varies with age and medical condition. ``It depends if the person takes medications, if they take care of themselves and eat properly,'' Lee said. ``A person who is 30 years old could go 20 years on dialysis.''

Some small studies done abroad have shown people on nighttime dialysis might be healthier.

A Turkish study at Ege University of about 250 studied for one year showed that patients who had dialysis at night for longer hours reduced their risk of death by 78 percent compared to those who did treatment during the day.

Maureen Playford, clinic manager for Fresenius, said patients who come in at night need fewer medications for issues like blood pressure and phosphate levels. ``We can by no means do what the body does or replace the 24hour work of the kidneys,'' said Playford. ``Nighttime dialysis does help provide a more natural process.'' -AP

White supremacists march at Pa.'s Gettysburg GETTYSBURG, Pa.: Several white supremacists demonstrated amid tight security at Gettysburg National Military Park, the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The small group of Aryan Nations members arrived by school bus, escorted by police on motorcycles. They demonstrated a few hundred yards from where Union soldiers turned back Pickett's Charge by Confederate forces.

As they marched, members carried a Confederate flag and two other Aryan Nations standards.

One demonstrator gave the stiffarmed Nazi salute.

The park installed fencing for the rally and officers with metal detectors screened anyone who came within 500 yards of the group.

A few hundred yards away, some park visitors stopped to look. But the demonstration attracted little notice except from about a dozen news reporters and photographers.

Aryan Nations leader Gordon Brown of Sharpsburg, Md., said in his permit application that the group would talk about immigration, crime and the new federal

health care law.

Counter-demonstrations were also planned.

Officials said last month they were obligated to make the park available to the public to exercise their free speech rights.

As they marched, members carried a Confederate flag and two other Aryan Nations standards. One demonstrator gave the stiff-armed Nazi salute In 2006, about 30 Klan members demonstrated behind barricades and attracted about 200 spectators and several groups who demonstrated in opposition. That event was also heavily policed.

The 1863 battle resulted in 51,000 casualties and ended Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate push into the North. It marked a turning point in the war. The battlefield also was the site of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. -AP

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www.indiapost.com

Senate backs objection to federal health revamp BATON ROUGE, La.: A largely symbolic bill registering Louisiana's objection to the federal health care overhaul neared final legislative passage getting the backing of the state Senate.

With a 28-4 vote, the Senate returned the measure to the House for approval of Senate changes. Among those changes, a Senate committee added language to explain that nothing in the bill should be interpreted to overrule federal law.

The proposal by Republican Rep. Kirk Talbot, of River Ridge, would put opposition to President Barack Obama's signature health care revamp into Louisiana law, declaring that no one in the state can be required to have health insurance

If passed by the Senate, the proposal isn't expected to have any substantive impact on the insurance coverage requirement or be required to pay a penalty if they refuse to carry insurance. ``It simply reinforces what I believe is the will of the people in the state of Louisiana,'' said Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, who handled the bill in the Senate.

No one spoke against the proposal on the Senate floor. Oppo-

nents previously have said the measure is unnecessary because the issue ultimately will be decided by federal courts. They called the bill a maneuver to score cheap political points in a state where Obama lost handily.

If passed by the Senate, the proposal isn't expected to have any substantive impact on the insurance coverage requirement set to go into effect in 2014. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether the insurance mandate can be enforced in states.

Louisiana is among the states challenging the constitutionality of the legislation.

Gov. Bobby Jindal supports Talbot's bill. -AP

Minn. medical inventor has dozens of patents Cont’d from page 34

He has worked with scientists at Colorado State University, Walter Reed Hospital, the University of Iowa, the University of California-San Diego - and with students at UMD. He has lectured and presented papers in Sacramento, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Boston; Chicago; New Orleans; and Hilton Head, S.C., among other places.

And he has never considered a home base other than Duluth. ``The deal when we sold to (Kensey Nash) was: I live in Duluth,'' Brekke said. ``If you don't agree with that, then we don't have anything more to talk about. I'm going to stay here.'' Brekke worked for the corporation out of Duluth and then as a consultant, but he ended his ties with Kensey Nash in 2003.

Brekke, who is divorced and has two grown daughters, grew up in Minneapolis. He was 9 when a family trip to the North Shore fixed the idea of living in Duluth in his mind, and after completing a residency in Washington, D.C., and after a couple of years in the Army, he set up practice here. His career direction changed drastically in 1974 when he was performing a procedure requiring bone grafting, with bone being taken from the hip and grafted into the facial skeleton.

That was routine, Brekke said, but it bugged him. ``In 1974 we had guys walking on the moon, and we as surgeons were still doing at least a hundred-year-old procedure to get graft bone that worked only 85 percent of the time,

that's fraught with numerous technical difficulties.''

That led Brekke to the experiments that resulted in a biodegradable, artificial substance for use in bone-graft surgery - and ultimately to the products that Kensey Nash still markets today.

But by that fateful Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, Brekke had no more role in his own technology. He was to leave the next day to lecture at a symposium in Pittsburgh, but his Saturday was free.

His goal was 'to create a more realistic environment in which to study cells.' They had been studied in a two-dimensional, rigid environment ``For the first time in ... almost 30 years, I had nothing to do,'' he said.

With research help from Langley and John Gubbe, a chemist who is the quality assurance manager for Tate & Lyle of Duluth, he had been experimenting with hyaluronic acid, at one time thought to be a ``big, stupid molecule,'' in Brekke's words, but by 2003 wellestablished as a critical component in wound-healing and tissue regeneration. He had been working on ways to combine it with chitosan, the substance that gives the exoskeleton of shellfish its hardness.

``I rigged up every kind of Rube Goldberg apparatus you could think of to get these together,'' he said.

His goal was ``to create a more realistic environment in which to study cells.'' They had been studied in a two-dimensional, rigid environment. ``And we are trying to make things to regenerate tissue, three-dimensionally and malleable,'' Brekke said. ``That's a huge disconnect.''

He went to the lab in the Meierhoff Building and looked at notes he'd written on a legal pad.

He realized that mixing the chemicals as diluted solutions hadn't worked. ``The message was clear,'' he said. ``Don't dissolve these things first in dilute solutions.

Rather, blend them as dry particles, and add the water later.''

So he walked over to the Blue Heron and got those coffee grinders.

What results from the mix is an unexciting, white, granular powder.

But when Brekke looked at it through his stereoscope, he saw what he needed to reach that realistic environment for studying cells.

He also knew that following through was going to end his financial security. ``These kinds of things, you can't just dabble your toe in them,'' Brekke said. ``If you're going to be an entrepreneur of any description, but on top of that also an inventor and then business entrepreneur, it will take everything you've got, every time you go out.'' -AP

WHO creates data base on use of child medicines GENEVA: The World Health Organization has issued it's firstever guidance on how to use more than 240 essential medicines for children under 13.

The data provide information on use, dosage and side effects of medicines as well as warnings about which children should not take them, the U.N. health agency said. The 528-page document also tells users about common drug interactions. ``To be effective, medicines must be carefully chosen and the dose adjusted to suit the age, weight and needs of children,'' said WHO's Dr Hans Hogerzeil. ``Without a global guide, many health care professionals

have had to prescribe medicines based on very limited evidence,'' he said in a statement.

Some countries have developed their own instructions for giving medicines to children, but there are no universal standards.

The WHO document only exists in English. But the agency recommends that governments use it as a model and translate it into their national language, spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said.

Around 8.8 million children under 5 die every year, many from diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia that could be avoided with the correct use of medicines, according to WHO. -AP

Santhigram sets up fourth center in New Jersey

New Jersey Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula lighting a lamp to inaugurate the 4th Santhigram center in the US, in Denville, New Jersey.

Economist and business leader Sreedhar Menon looks on Cont’d from page 34

Assemblyman Chivukula appreciated the efforts of Santhigram Inc. in bringing authentic Ayurvedic therapies to the United States and assured that he would try his best to bring in proper legislation to support Ayurvedic system of medicine in New Jersey, in line with what is as being done in the state of California.

Gopinathan Nair, President & CEO of the company said they would be launching a Center in Houston, Texas in July and another one in Manhattan, New York, in August.

He also acknowledged the fact that with the recent joining of Dr. Ambika Nair, the renowned Physician of Complementary and Alternative Medicines from Delhi, who was also the personal physician to the former President of India, late K.R. Narayanan, Santhigram USA's client list has grown many folds and people from other States are also coming to

New Jersey to avail of its specialized services.

Dr. Ambika Nair who also spoke during the occasion expressed her satisfaction in getting the opportunity to take care of long standing health problems of a number of clients in United States.

Santhigram has cut out an ambitious plan of setting up multiple Ayurvedic Centers in all the 50 states in the US Santhigram has cut out an ambitious plan of setting up multiple Ayurvedic Centers in all the 50 states in the US and is looking for partners in every state in its mission to launch world class Ayurvedic centers.

In Brief Lawmaker pushes for Va. immigration crackdown MANASSAS, Va.: The chairman of Prince William County's Board of Supervisors is calling for a statewide law to crack down on illegal immigration, similar to a controversial Arizona measure.

Corey Stewart is calling on state lawmakers to pass the ``Virginia Rule of Law Act,'' which would allow police to make arrests without a warrant if they have ``reasonable suspicion'' a person is in the country illegally. It would also allow them to break up day laborer centers and prohibit solicitation on all public roads.

Prince William's own law on illegal immigration requires that police officers inquire about the immigration status of all people arrested on suspicion of violating a state or local law.

A spokesman for Gov. Bob McDonnell says the administration will review the proposal. -AP

Immigrant detainees moved miles from home and help NEW YORK: It's been over a year since Joey Wong left Long Island.

Since then, he's been in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Louisiana and now likely heading back to New Mexico.

The 32-year-old immigrant is fighting deportation. Like thousands of other immigrants, he's bounced through immigration detention facilities across the country to wherever U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can find space even if that's far away from family and their lawyers.

Immigrant advocates say the common practice often maroons immigrants in remote outposts and unfairly disadvantages them in their fight to avoid deportation. -AP

Ohio City to urge Congress to act on immigration COLUMBUS, Ohio: The Columbus City Council is poised to call on Congress to tighten U.S. borders against illegal immigration while allowing certain undocumented workers already in the country to gain legal status.

Councilwoman Charleta Tavares expects to sponsor the resolution and it has the support needed for passage. The measure also asks federal and state lawmakers to help communities pay for immigrant services.

Tavares says ``all 50 states need uniform immigration policies,'' and her resolution says changes should keep families together and protect immigrant's civil rights. -AP

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July 2, 2010

Immigrant families leave Arizona and tough new law PHOENIX: "Cuanto?'' asks a young man pointing to four bottles of car polish at a recent garage sale in an east Phoenix neighborhood.

Details on page 39

Community groups testify to the House on profiling India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Community activist group South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) submitted written testimony to the House Committee on Judiciary regarding the impact of profiling on the South Asian community.

Convened by Congressman John Conyers, Chairman of the Committee, this was the first hearing in the House of Representatives on the issue of profiling in nearly a decade.

On behalf of United Sikhs, a Sikh civil rights group, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA - 32) introduced a written testimony at the House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties on June 17, addressing concerns of racial profiling of Sikhs at airports.

Various witnesses testified about the ineffectiveness of profiling for law enforcement and its impact on a range of communities.

Amardeep Singh of The Sikh Coa-

lition testified regarding the exceedingly high rates at which Sikh and Muslim passengers are subjected to additional screening by the Transportation Security Administration and recounted an incident where his 18-month old son's belongings were searched by airport officials. Farhana Khera of Muslim Advocates conveyed

"As the witnesses attested to, profiling is not only unfair and unconstitutional, but it is also a wasted use of limited law enforcement resources and strains relationships between the government and affected communities.

We hope that this hearing can lay the foundation for Congress to support federal legislation that

Farhana Khera of Muslim Advocates conveyed the chilling effect that surveillance and border questioning has had on the Muslim community's First Amendment rights the chilling effect that surveillance and border questioning has had on the Muslim community's First Amendment rights.

"SAALT commends the convening of this hearing on the use of profiling by law enforcement, which has resulted in discrimination against various communities of color, including the South Asian community," said Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of SAALT.

eliminates profiling in the various contexts where it arises."

Profiling is a tactic employed by law enforcement to target individuals or communities for suspicion based upon characteristics unrelated to criminal conduct, such as race, religion, ethnicity and national origin. Such practices have long curtailed the rights of African-Americans and Latinos in this country.

Since September 11th, the South Asian community has been affected by profiling in various contexts, including additional secondary screening of passengers at airports; travelers being subjected to intrusive questioning at the border; FBI surveillance and interrogation; local law enforcement targeting youth in schools; and federal, state, and local immigration policies that result in profiling, a SAALT release stated.

According to SAALT, despite evidence regarding its detrimental effects, such activities continue because existing anti-profiling policies have significant gaps.

The Department of Justice's (DOJ) 2003 Guidance against profiling contains significant exceptions in the context of national security and the border and does not cover profiling based on religion or national origin. In addition, Congress has yet to pass federal legislation that categorically prohibits the practice.

USCIS proposes changes in fees CYRUS D MEHTA

A

new proposed fee rule would increase the aver age application and petition fees by a "weighted average" of approximately 10 percent, and would establish a hefty new fee of $6,230 for an application for regional center designation under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program.

"Understanding the unique importance of naturalization," U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it is not proposing a naturalization application fee increase. The proposed rule would establish several other new fees, however, including for individuals seeking civil surgeon designation ($615) and recovery of the cost of processing immigrant visas granted by the Department of State ($165). Among others, the Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Form I-140) fee

would increase from $475 to $580; the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129) fee would increase from $320 to $325; and the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) fee would increase from $340 to $380.

The rule also proposes to raise

DHS also proposes to specify that it will use the CPI-U to calculate all future inflation-based fee adjustments and will publish a notice in the Federal Register annually (if applicable) to adjust this fee.

The proposed fee structure reduces fees for several individual

‘Understanding the unique importance of naturalization,’ US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it is not proposing a naturalization application fee increase the fee for premium processing from $1,000 to $1,225, calculated by using the percentage increase in inflation according to the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers (CPI-U) since the fee's inception in 2001. The final rule will establish the amount based upon the latest published monthly CPI before the final rule publication.

applications and petitions, including the Application to Extend/ Change Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-539) and the Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident (Form I-698).

Written comments must be submitted by July 26, 2010, using a method set forth in the proposed rule.

The proposed fee rule is available at edocket.access.gpo.gov/ 2010/pdf/2010-13991.pdf.

USCIS's announcement, which includes a table of current and proposed fees, is available at uscis.gov/portal/site. A transcript of USCIS's related press conference is available at uscis.gov/ USCIS/News Lawsuit challenges H-1B memo on employer-employee relationship A group of IT staffing firms and associations has filed a lawsuit challenging a memo issued in January 2010 by Donald T. Neufeld, Associate Director of Service Center Operations for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), that provided guidance on determining employer-employee relationships for H-1B purposes.

Cont’d on page 38

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Clinton comment on immigration law riles Arizona gov

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PHOENIX: Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has said she's angry over comments by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that the Obama administration will sue the state over its new immigration law.

In a June 8 media interview in Ecuador, Clinton said President Barack Obama thinks the federal government should determine immigration policy and that the Justice Department "will be bringing a lawsuit against the act.''

Justice spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler declined to say whether the department would sue and that ``the department continues to review the law.''

The department has been looking at the law for weeks for possible civil rights violations, with an eye toward a possible court challenge.

It's unclear why Clinton made the comment since it's not her area.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Obama and Clinton have both made it clear that the administration opposes the law. ``I will defer to the Justice Department on the legal steps that are available and where they stand on the review of the law,'' Crowley said. ``The secretary believes that comprehensive immigration reform is a better course of action.''

Brewer, a Republican, said in a statement that ``this is no way to treat the people of Arizona.'' ``To learn of this lawsuit through an Ecuadorean interview with the secretary of state is just outrageous,'' she said. ``If our own government intends to sue our

state to prevent illegal immigration enforcement, the least it can do is inform us before it informs the citizens of another nation.''

Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman said the governor was ``outraged'' and that Clinton's comments make it appear that the Justice Department has decided to file suit.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Obama and Clinton have both made it clear that the administration opposes the law ``But she's confident that in the end, the state of Arizona, the citizens, will prevail,'' he said.

On April 23, Brewer signed what is considered the toughest legislation in the nation targeting illegal immigrants. It is set to go into effect July 29 pending multiple legal challenges and the Justice Department's review.

The law requires police investigating another incident or crime to ask people about their immigra-

tion status if there's a ``reasonable suspicion'' they're in the country illegally. It also makes being in Arizona illegally a misdemeanor, and it prohibits seeking day-labor work along the state's streets.

The law's stated intention is to drive illegal immigrants out of Arizona and discourage them from coming in the first place. It has outraged civil rights groups, drawn criticism from Obama and led to marches and protests organized by people on both sides of the issue.

The law's backers say Congress isn't doing anything meaningful about illegal immigration, so it's the state's duty to address the issue.

Critics say it will lead to racial profiling and discrimination against Hispanics, and damage ties between police and minority communities.

Brewer met with Obama in the Oval Office about the law on June 3, telling him: ``We want our border secured.'' Obama reiterated his objections to the law. Neither side appeared to give ground although both talked about seeking a bipartisan solution.

Other Arizona politicians, political candidates and activist groups were quick to weigh in on Clinton's remarks. U.S. Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth, who is challenging Sen. John McCain, called them appalling; attorney general candidates Tom Horne and Andrew Thomas also denounced them.

Joanne Lin, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, urged the administration to take swift action against the law. -AP

USCIS proposes changes in fees Cont’d from page 37

The firms, Broadgate Inc., Logic Planet Inc., DVR Softek Inc., and trade associations TechServe Alliance and American Staffing Association, filed the lawsuit on June 8, 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Among other things, the suit alleges that the memo is arbitrary and capricious and not authorized by law or under USCIS's statutory

and regulatory authority. The group argues that denials are being issued under the memo's guidance for beneficiaries whose visa applications were approved previously under the regulatory criteria.

"IT staffing is a lawful business model that greatly benefits the U.S. economy, U.S. businesses and U.S. workers. The government should not be allowed to attack

the industry by circumventing the rulemaking process and reversing long-standing policy by decree," said Mark Roberts, chief executive officer of TechServe Alliance.

The Neufeld memo is available at http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/ Laws/Memoranda * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Immigration Post

July 2, 2010

www.indiapost.com

Immigrant families leave Arizona and tough new law PHOENIX: "Cuanto?'' asks a young man pointing to four bottles of car polish at a recent garage sale in an east Phoenix neighborhood.

The question, Spanish for ``How much?'' sends Minerva Ruiz and Claudia Suriano scrambling and calling out to their friend, Silvia Arias, who's selling the polish. ``Silvia!''

Arias is out of earshot, so Suriano improvises. ``Cinco dolares,'' she says. ``Five dollars.'' And another sale is made.

As the women await their next customer in the rising heat of an Arizona morning, they talk quietly about food and clothes, about their children and husbands. They are best friends, all mothers who are viewed as pillars of parental support at the neighborhood elementary school.

All three are illegal immigrants from Mexico.

They're holding the garage sale to raise money to leave Arizona, and to escape the state's tough new law that cracks down on people just like them.

Ruiz and Suriano and their families plan to move this month.

Arias and her family are considering leaving, but are waiting to see if the law will go into effect as scheduled July 29, and, if so, how it will be enforced.

The law requires police investigating another incident or crime to ask people about their immigration status if there's a ``reasonable suspicion'' they're in the country illegally. It also makes being in Arizona illegally a misdemeanor, and it prohibits seeking day-labor work along the

state's streets.

The law's stated intention is unambiguous: It seeks to drive illegal immigrants out of Arizona and to discourage them from coming here.

There is no official data tracking how many are leaving because of the law, but anecdotal evidence provided by schools, businesses, churches and healthcare facilities suggests that sizable numbers are departing.

Anecdotal evidence provided by schools, businesses, churches and healthcare facilities suggests that sizable numbers are departing Ruiz, Suriano and Arias are representative of many families facing what they consider a cruel dilemma. To leave, they must pull their children from school, uproot their lives and look for new jobs and homes elsewhere. But to stay is to be under the scrutiny of the nation's most stringent immigration laws and the potentially greater threat of being caught, arrested and deported. They also perceive a growing hostility toward Hispanics, in general.

On the quarter-mile stretch of Phoenix's Belleview Street where both Ruiz and Suriano live, more than half the apartments and single-family homes have ``for rent'' signs out front. The women say most of them went up after the new law was signed in late

April. ``Everyone's afraid,'' Arias says.

The three friends are key members of a parents' support group at their children's school down the street, said Rosemarie Garcia, parent liaison for the Balsz Elementary School District. ``They are the paper and glue and the scissors of the whole thing,'' Garcia said. ``I can run to them for anything.''

With two of the women leaving and the other thinking about it, Garcia is concerned about the school's future. ``It'll be like a desert here,'' she said. ``It's a gap we'll have all over the neighborhood, the community, our school.''

Ruiz, Suriano and Arias met three years ago at cafecitos, or coffee talks, held at the school.

Now their families hold barbecues together and their children have sleepovers.

Arias, 49, and her day laborer husband paid a coyote to come to Arizona 15 years ago from Tepic, Nayarit on Mexico's central-western coast. Their children, ages 9, 11 and 13, are U.S. citizens. ``I don't want to leave but we don't know what's going to happen,'' she says.

Ruiz, 38, and her husband, who builds furniture, came to the U.S. from Los Mochis in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa about six years ago on tourist visas, which expired long ago. Two of their kids, ages 9 and 13, are here illegally, while their 1-year-old was born here. The family is moving to Clovis, N.M., where they have family. “It's calmer there,'' Ruiz says. -AP

India Post

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Realty Tidbits

Banks go slow on commercial realty lending

Real Estate

B

anks are wary of lending to real estate firms despite early signs of a pick up in demand in the sector, as commercial projects continue to face oversupply. Demand in commercial real estate has not picked up compared to the sharp uptick in demand for residential units over the past few months. While office spaces are still unoccupied, ready projects are unable to find takers. The lack of cash flow in multiplexes, retail and office spaces have kept bankers averse to fresh lending.

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1-BHK flat in Mumbai sold for Rs 4.5 cr

I

n a bonanza for residents of a Khar housing society, a builder has been buying off their midsized flats, paying each family between Rs 4 crore and Rs 5.5 crore.

Mumbai-based Parinee Developers claims to have shelled out between Rs 4 crore to Rs 4.5 crore for a one-BHK flat and Rs 5 crore to Rs 5.5 crore for a two-and-ahalf-BHK in the three-decade-old Bharatiya Bhavan Cooperative Housing Society, which is located at the corner of 17th Road in Khar (west).

„ Ashiana plans retirement resort at Lavasa

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shiana's target is to bring re tirement resorts to at least 10 locations by 2013. Ashiana will move to southern part of the country to explore the possibility of setting up retirement resorts in key cities of south India such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Bangalore. It also intends to set up retirement resorts for senior citizens in other cities such as Mumbai and Pune.

Already, a popular concept in the west, the trend of retirement communities is getting an acceptance in Indian market.

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Sayaji Hotels wins fivestar hotel project

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ospitality firm Sayaji Hotels said the firm in part nership with Kohinoor Hospitality Pvt Ltd has been awarded a five-star hotel project on a build and operate basis in Madhya Pradesh. The MP government's tourism department has awarded the project, Sayaji Hotels said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. It has been given land at Kotra Sultanabad in Bhopal on a lease for 90 years, it said.

Indian govt chalks out new norms for realty valuation

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he Urban Development Ministry, along with the Indian Banks Association (IBA), the National Housing Bank (NHB) and the corporate affairs ministry, has drafted a handbook on policy, standards and procedures for real estate valuation by banks and housing finance institutions. The exercise, the first ever, is to put some order in real estate valuation.

In parallel, the company affairs ministry has drafted a Valuation Professionals Bill. It seeks to create a Council of Valuation Professionals of India. It will have experts from professional institutions and regulate the business of valuation.

The council will set standards for valuers, train them, set qualifying norms and monitor them.

The norms include educational qualifications, work experience, membership of professional bodies, registration with the government and references. An IBA official told Financial Chronicle that the draft bill was now in the consultation stage.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) India managing director, Sachin Sandhir,

who helped in drafting the bill, said, the valuation practice in this country was replete with instances of bad corporate governance, bad debts and fraud. "It is an accepted fact that property valuation methods in India are as varied as the property laws in different states.

In the absence of any prescribed standards, guidelines or reporting formats, valuers could manipulate

RICS standards could not have come at a better time," he said.

According to officials, the need for some regulation has arisen because of the fly-by-night operators in the real estate business who take customers as well as the tax authorities for a ride and whose valuation systems are, at best, opaque.

The new policy will also look at

The norms include educational qualifications, work experience, membership of professional bodies, registration with the government and references assumptions, calculations and approaches.

"In the past, the Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has said disclosures made by real estate developers prove there are no standards of valuation. In some cases, inflated valuations are based on assumptions about future property values. Internationally recognized and International Valuation Standards-compliant

other features like term of the empanelment, compliance to standards and procedures, obligations and other aspects. Importantly, an annual performance review by senior officials of banks will be undertaken. According to the draft, if the performance of the valuer is unsatisfactory, he or she can be taken off the panel. Use of unfair practices, professional misconduct, violation of the code of eth-

ics and professional practice, will also invite similar action.

A valuer will be expected to address all conflicts and help arrive at an amicable solution; supportive documents are to be provided before the valuation work begins.

According to the draft, banks will raise objections, if any, within 15 days of the submission of rectification and resubmission. Two valuers will be appointed if the property value exceeds Rs 10 crore and the maximum acceptable difference between the two evaluations should not exceed 15 per cent.

The draft says membership of RICS will be a key necessity for registration of valuers. RICS, headquartered in London, has also offered support to develop skills and capacity of valuers. Ashish Jindal, northern region director of Knight Frank, said property valuation in India was done by diverse groups of people with varying backgrounds and skills. "Property valuation is considered just a part of the disciplines of engineering and architecture, so a degree in these subjects is sufficient to become a property valuer.

Real estate full recovery to take more time

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n the back of economic re covery, the commercial real estate sector has shown some resilience during the first half of calendar year 2010.

Most markets across India have started recording stable rentals, indicating a gradual revival in demand. This trend is likely to remain constant in 2010, where consult-

ants expect rental values to remain stable with a strengthening bias across established markets like Mumbai (BKC) and Delhi (NCR and Gurgaon) regions.

"Although there is a huge oversupply in this sector, commercial real estate demand has started gaining momentum since the first

Axis Bank recently bought 4,00,000 sqft from the Wadia group at Worli (extended central business district) at Rs 640 crore. A Bhushan Steel consortium bought 200 acre at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai for approximately Rs 1,530 crore. Further, Sheth developers also reportedly bought the Golden

Companies like TCS, Microsoft, Oracle and Accenture, amongst others, have gone for expansion in their office space." The trend that we see is the resurgence of commercial real estate quarter of this calendar year. We have witnessed an increase in the number of queries for buying or renting of these spaces. Marred by the slowdown, commercial real estate has seen an improvement of only 20% and still has a long way to go," said Raja Kaushal, executive director & COO, BNP Paribas Real Estate.

Tobacco land at Vile Parle for Rs 591 crore and Wadhwa Builders bought 18.18 acre at Ghatkopar for Rs 571 crore. "These large scale commercial transactions are a signal towards the revival of the markets and will propel other large space occupiers to quicken their decision making for real estate," Kaushal added.

Companies like TCS, Microsoft, Oracle and Accenture, amongst others, have gone for expansion in their office space." The trend that we see is the resurgence of commercial real estate. Most of the technology companies have gone for expansion in the last 12 months. Rentals for commercial properties on a wider scale have stabilized while for a few cases have also gone up," said Kaustuv Roy, executive director, Cushman & Wakefield India.

However, the little cheer in the commercial real estate is shortlived, given the over supply existing in the market and the new supply coming in the next few months.

"The oversupply in the market is pressurizing the rentals. Premium office spaces have picked up faster than the periphery spaces.

Some recovery in residential is giving developers a leg-room to hold on to their properties.

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Tech News Punjab CM approves industrial park in Mohali CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has given the nod for setting up of an Industrial Mega Park over 15002000 acres of land by Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) in Mohali.

A decision to this effect was taken by Badal at a meeting with the senior officers of GMADA here, said an official release issued here.

The Chief Minister also gave in-principle approval to a local bus service within Mohali to facilitate local residents and commuters.

The Chief Minister also gave approval to setting up of a modern fire station at Mohali at a cost of Rs 15 crore. -PTI

Spectrum haul trims deficit to 4.47pc NEW DELHI: The better-thanprojected revenue from the 3G and broadband spectrum auctions is likely to reduce fiscal deficit to 4.47 per cent of GDP this fiscal from the budget estimate of 5.5 per cent.

With an additional revenue windfall of Rs 71,262.26 crore from the spectrum auctions, which is over three times the original estimate of Rs 35,000 crore, the fiscal deficit, which was budgeted at 5.5 per cent or Rs 3,81408 crore, will come down to 4.47 per cent or Rs 3,10,146 crore.

Of the overall spectrum revenue of around Rs 1,06,262.26 crore, the government has already received Rs 97,948.46 crore from the 3G and BWA radio waves. Besides, Rs 8,313.80 crore is expected from state-run BSNL. -PTI

CIL workers to oppose disinvestment KOLKATA: Trade union CITU has claimed that workers of Coal India Ltd (CIL) would oppose disinvestment in the company which, it feared, would lead to gradual privatisation of the public sector giant.

The general secretary of CITUaffiliated Colliery Workers Federation, Jiban Roy, said that although the government had announced only 10 per cent stake sale in CIL, it was feared that it would ultimately lead to privatisation of the PSU. He said that workers apprehended that disinvestment would result in worsening of the working conditions of the miners. -PTI

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July 2, 2010

CNN parts ways with Associated Press

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n a recent announcement, CNN, citing the offered terms unfit for its business model has put a full stop to its contract with Associated Press. The announcement came from Nigel Pritchard (Spokesman, CNN).

On the other hand, AP expressing disappointment on the break up has said in a statement that it "it is unfortunate that CNN's viewers will no longer have access to the breaking news and worldwide reporting resources of The Associated Press." Reports are that CNN, will however now is all set to focus on facilitating its customers with its own and exclusive content. Also, it is looking to use inputs from another big news player Reuters for the supplementation of its news content.

India tells US to remove ISRO and DRDO from blacklist WASHINGTON: India has asked US to remove its two staterun frontline technology establishments ISRO and DRDO from the entities list, in apparent anticipation of Washington and New Delhi opening cooperation in hitech systems.

India has also asked American companies to invest in defense sector in the country with the vis-

Sharma said.

In his high level interaction with top US officials, the minister said, "It is high time to remove these organizations from the entities list, keeping in view the fact that DRDO, ISRO and other institutions, which are bold and high in research, are very actively involved in partnership or in co-ordination with the US agencies".

ISRO and DRDO were put on American technology export control blacklist after the 1998 Pokhran nuclear blast iting Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma assuring that the major changes in the liberalization of FDI policy were under debate.

"Now that the Indo-US relationship has gained a new momentum with the Strategic Dialogue, it makes no sense to keep vital research organizations like Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) and Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in the entities list",

ISRO and DRDO were put on American technology export control blacklist after the 1998 Pokhran nuclear blast.

Saying that India cannot be bracketed with other countries, the Commerce Minister told reporters that New Delhi's record in missile and nuclear non-proliferation was exemplary and "thus our entities particularly the governmental research organizations including ISRO and DRDO should not be on the entities list".

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma with US Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke in Washington on June 23. On right is Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar

"I must say that they have been very receptive and reassuring," Sharma said in response to a question referring to his meetings here with top US officials in this regard.

On the investments in defense sector, the minister said 26 per cent FDI in the sector was very high, and Government was very hopeful that along with investments the foreign investors would bring in technology collaborations.

He said this technology inflow

would not be restricted to defense field only but also have multiple industrial application.

"We are open to foreign investments in defense. India is willing to change. We have friendly investment regime and there is very little negative list", he said.

On the demand to raise the FDI cap in defense sector to 49 per cent, the Commerce Minister said a national debate was on the country which could lead to a change in then policy.-PTI

Govt released UCC from liability: Dow NEW DELHI: The Dow Chemical Company, which owns Union Carbide Corporation, has said the Indian government had "fully released" UCC and its subsidiary in Bhopal from any civil liability for the 1984 gas tragedy.

"In 1989, the Government of India -- acting on behalf of the victims by virtue of an Act of Parliament -negotiated a 470 million dollar settlement and fully released UCC and Union Carbide India Limited from any civil liability for the gas tragedy," Dow Chemical Company spokesman, Scot Wheeler, said.

Replying to a questionnaire from PTI, he said the Dow Chemical Company never owned nor inherited the facility in Bhopal.

"When Dow acquired the shares of Union Carbide Corporation, UCC had long ago ceased

conducting business in India and had sold its interest in Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL)," Wheeler said.

He asserted that the UCC remains a separate company and entity with a separate board, sepa-

Eveready Industries India Limited.

Dow has never been connected to this company," Wheeler explained.

"The fact is that Dow never owned, operated nor inherited the facility in Bhopal and efforts to attach Dow are inappropriate and

Dow had bought Union Carbide in 1999, whose local 51-percent-owned Indian unit was responsible for the gas leakage in Bhopal rate financial reporting and its own employees.

"Union Carbide India Limited, the company that owned and operated the Bhopal plant, is a viable corporation that still exists to this day and had been renamed

misdirected," he said.

In 1984, both UCC and UCIL participated in the settlement of claims related to the gas tragedy, the spokesman said.

Referring to the 470 million dollar settlement reached with the Indian

government, he said the Indian Supreme Court had upheld and affirmed it as complete and final.

"UCC fully met its obligations under this agreement with the Government of India and has no further legal responsibility for the matter," Wheeler said adding, as per the terms of the settlement if there was any shortfall in compensation it was to be borne by the Indian government.

Dow had bought Union Carbide in 1999, whose local 51-percentowned Indian unit was responsible for the gas leakage in Bhopal.

However in 1994, UCC had sold its 50.9 per cent share in UCIL to McLeod Russell (India) Limited, part of the Williamson Magor group, which renamed the company as Eveready Industries India Limited. -PTI

July 2, 2010

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British budget steeply hikes taxes, freezes pay, cuts incentives LONDON: The new British government has unveiled what it called an 'emergency budget' with a steep hike taxes including VAT, and a slew of spending cuts, besides a pay freeze for public sector employees.

Chancellor George Osborne and other leaders of the David Cameron government had been preparing the country for a 'no pain, no gain' budget after a slash-and-burn of several of Labor government projects that had not been properly funded.

Presenting a harsh budget, Osborne said, he did not have an option but to unveil these tough measures as the government found that the previous Labor regime had bequeathed a worse financial situation than expected.

Unveiling the budget in the House of Commons, Osborne increased VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent as he announced the biggest package of tax increases and spending cuts in a generation. He said his "tough but fair" budget is "unavoidable" although he said there will be no more tax on alcohol, tobacco and fuel.

Child benefit will be frozen for three years and there will be cuts to family tax credits and housing benefits. He also announced a

two-year pay freeze for public servants with an annual salary of over 21,000 pounds.

Osborne said the economy is predicted to expand at a slower rate than forecast by former chancellor Alistair Darling in his final budget in March. The GDP growth fore-

Osborne increased VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent as he announced the biggest package of tax increases and spending cuts in a generation. He said his "tough but fair" budget is "unavoidable" cast for 2011 is now for 2.6 per cent, not 3.25 per cent.

Osborne, who at 38 became the youngest chancellor for more than a century, vowed to eliminate budget deficit within five years, faster than planned by the previous Labor government. -PTI

Mamata rules out privatisation; opts for PPP route

indiapost.com

NEW DELHI: Ruling out privatization, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has said her ministry will follow public-private partnership (PPP) mode for infrastructure development of the largest PSU. Banerjee, while addressing the Railway Consultative Committee meeting here, told the members that the PPP mode will be followed in expanding infrastructure and assets and for creating more employment.

Pointing out that many socially desirable projects could not be implemented because of funds shortage, she told the committee that PPP is an instrument of mobilization for increased revenue from new business opportunities for infrastructure investment.

Referring to the Indian Railways Vision 2020 she said there is a need to adopt new vision and new thinking for the development of the PSU. On commercial utilization of railway land, she said those not required for immediate railway operations can be adopted to set up manufacturing facilities for locos, coaches, and components as also for hospitals, medical colleges and training institutions.

The minister further said that employees unions are regularly involved and consulted in major decision making process.

Some of the members suggested to focus on basic passenger amenities. -PTI

Mining cess should be increased significantly: Godrej PANAJI: Industry veteran Jamshyd N Godrej has said that there should be significant increase in cess imposed on mining and revenue earned through it should be pumped back into welfare of people residing in mining belt.

"Local community will not allow mining project if it is not beneficial to them. We have seen in Orissa what has happened," Godrej commented talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function.

"I feel that mining cess should be increased significantly and that money should go to the areas where extraction takes place.

It should be invested in education, health care and related sectors," Godrej, the Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej & Boycee Manufacturing company, said.

"Everything should be done in a transparent way. How will government decide in which area there should be a mine? All the stakeholders including local population must be involved in the decision making," he said.

Sharing a view point on Goa scenario, former president of World Wide Fund for Nature-India said that whatever state does, it should be in a sustainable way.

Responding to a question, Godrej said that lot of places in world do mining in a

sustainable way.

Godrej said that tourism is best industry for Goa. "But for the (tourism) industry to work, you need good infrastructure and it should be an affordable place," the CMD added.

‘I feel that mining cess should be increased significantly and that money should go to the areas where extraction takes place. It should be invested in education, health care and related sectors,’ Godrej, the Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej & Boycee Manufacturing company, said "There are some places in the world like Balli where the cost of visiting is very reasonable. They are well organized as a tourism destination," he explained. -PTI

„

Briefs

'Make Tamil literary works accessible across the globe' COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said Tamil literary works should be translated into other Indian and world languages so that people across the globe can have access to them.

"Tamil literary works should be translated into other languages...Tamils own an illustrious tradition. They should realize this and should also try to make others aware of it," Karunanidhi said after inaugurating a seminar as part of the ongoing World Classical Tamil conference here.

Similarly, writings on Tamilology and works regarding the language in Greek, French, German and other languages should be translated into Tamil. -PTI

„

Top LeT commander among 2 killed in Sopore firing

SRINAGAR: A top Lashker-eToiba commander and a policeman were killed and four others injured in an overnight gun battle in Sopore town of North Kashmir, police said here.

The fire fight commenced at Bhagat Mohalla, 55 kms from here, when militants opened fire on a search party of special operations group (SOG) of local police, around 9.50 am on Monday.

A policeman identified as Ghulam Hassan was injured in the firing and was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to injuries, a police spokesman told PTI. SOG personnel and security forces then tightened the cordon around the house in which the militants were hiding and engaged them. -PTI

„ Today's cinema is not for family viewing: Lalu NEW DELHI: He is known for his outspoken nature and blunt words and former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has now taken aim at the Hindi film industry saying today's cinema is not suitable for family viewing.

Participants of a TV reality show were asked to interview the Bihar MP as a part of their contest and Lalu answered queries not just about politics but issues related to media itself.

Taking a dig at the film industry, Lalu said that today's cinema is not suitable for "family-viewing". He even said that he would clear the mess in the industry if given a chance like he had done in the railways. -PTI

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High taxes hurting Punjab's food processing sector CHANDIGARH: The agri-food processing sector in Punjab has complained that prevailing high tax rates in the state in comparison to neighbouring states do not encourage them to expand business and offer value addition, despite having immense potential to do so.

Punjab charges the highest tax rate of over 13 per cent on several processed food items such as ketchups, sauces, Namkeen, Bhujia and potato chips. -PTI

Jaswant rejoins BJP, Gadkari says 'past is past' NEW DELHI: Expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh on June 24 rejoined the party nine months after he was summarily thrown out for writing a controversial book on Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

At a function organized to announce his re-induction into the party fold, 72-year-old Singh profusely thanked senior BJP leader L K Advani for taking the initiative to bring him back to the BJP of which he was a founder member.

"It is good to be back in familiar surroundings... I wish to unreservedly express my gratitude to Advaniji who took the initiative," Singh said. Among others present were party President Nitin Gadkari and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

Recalling his expulsion from the party at its 'Chintan Baithak' in Shimla in August last year, the MP from Darjeeling said, "I was

Jaswant Singh being welcomed back by BJP leaders

'It is good to be back in familiar surroundings... I wish to unreservedly express my gratitude to Advaniji who took the initiative,' Singh said hurt and humiliated by what I had encountered."

Advani said he was "very happy" that Jaswant Singh,

whom he had met as an RSS pracharak in Rajasthan, has rejoined the party. "I am very happy. With happiness there is

also a sense of relief. I welcome him," he said.

Gadkari said the "past is past" and hoped that Singh will work to make the party's future bright. He said this was a day of "great happiness" for him and the party workers.

Singh was expelled from the BJP in August 2009 for praising the Pakistan founder in his book "Jinnah - India, Partition, Independence".

While holding Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel responsible for partition, Singh maintained that Jinnah was secular, a position that was unacceptable to the Sangh Parivar.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had banned Singh's book in his state.

After his expulsion, BJP also asked Singh to step down from the Chairmanship of Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee but he refused. He gave up the post in December last year.-PTI

President Patil inaugurates World classical Tamil Conference COIMBATORE: The five day World Classical Tamil Conference was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil with Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi attending the glittering function here.

Inaugurating the conference, the President praised Tamil language and said it reflected the heritage of the country, which was now following an inclusive growth paradigm to benefit all, particularly those in rural areas.

"As our nation progresses economically, we have sought to follow an inclusive growth paradigm so that growth brings benefits to all sections of society," she said.

With special foucs on rural areas, our developmental efforts are becoming increasingly participatory with more powers devolving on Panchayati Raj institutions," Patil said.

This model of rural development

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil addressing the first World Classical Tamil Conference, in Coimbatore on June 23

can bring progress and prosperity in Indian villages, she added.

The President said, "The history of Tamils is our nation's pride.

Many concepts intrinsic to India's society and basic to its polity are found in Tamil discourse over the millennium.

For example, respect for each other's religion has long been part of Tamil cultural tradition."

Reciting a Tamil saying 'Thiraikadal odiyum thraviyam thedu' (earn wealth even if one has to go abroad), she said their hard work was depicted in the saying even during the Sanga period.

The state had been a source of both Shaivite and Vaishnavite philosophies while a 'substantial body' of work exists on Jain and Buddhist beliefs, as well as on Is-

lam and Christianity, she said.

"A principal tenet of the Constitution of our country is to secure social, economic and political voice to every adult citizen of the country. Universal Adult Franchise and our democratic framework have given a political voice to every adult citizen of the country," she said, pointing out that adult franchise was in practice even during Chola dynasty rule in the state.

She also praised Tamil Nadu for leading in social reform, fighting social biases and working to achieve a society where all would be treated with equality.

Patil said she has a special place for Tamil Nadu and recalled that it was in Chennai that she began her campaign for the Presidential elections. She also said that her first tour out of Delhi (as President) was to the state to address youth at Rajiv Gandhi National Institute if Youth Development. -PTI

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Rs 1,500 crore package for Bhopal gas tragedy victims NEW DELHI: A Rs 1,500 crore package for enhancing compensation for the kin of those who died and those debilitated in the Bhopal gas disaster has been finalised by a Group of Ministers (GoM).

The GoM, headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram, that went into a whole range of issues, including relief and rehabilitation of the victims, is believed to have recommended payment of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the dead in the world's worst industrial disaster nearly 26 years ago.

Those permanently disabled or suffering from critical ailments arising out of the deadly methyl isocyanate gas leak are likely to get Rs five lakh while those partially debilitated will get Rs three lakh.

These are among the recommendations of the GoM made to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a report that will be considered by the Union Cabinet at a special meeting.

Chidambaram told reporters after the final meeting of the GoM

that the Ministers have made "significant recommendations" and their immediate focus was "to bring relief to those people who had suffered as a result of the ghastly tragedy".

Sources said among the major recommendations of the group are a fresh attempt to be made for extradition of former CEO of Union Carbide Warren Anderson and filing of a curative petition in the Supreme Court against dilution of charges against the accused in the case.

The group is also believed to have cleared a proposal for clean up of the toxic site at the plant in Bhopal for burying the poisonous materials there itself. The job will be done by the Madhya Pradesh government in which the Central government will provide financial and technical assistance.

A sum of Rs 300 crore will be set apart for the clean up job, the sources said.

The GoM is also believed to have favoured the take over of Bhopal Memorial Trust hospital, set up in the aftermath of the trag-

edy, for whose upgradation Rs 230 crore will be spent.

Altogether 5,295 people lost their lives immediately after the gas disaster while 10,047 others succumbed to various diseases in the following months.

'We think we have made significant recommendations.

GoM is not over. It will continue to address any issue that will come up before it,' he said Out of the 5,60,000 affected people, nearly 37,000 were permanently disabled while the rest received minor injuries.

The fresh amount decided in the new package will be given after deducting the compensation moneys given to the victims in the past, the sources said.

The GoM, which was reconsti-

Jehangir Sabavala sets 1.7 cr world record in summer auction NEW DELHI: Modern Indian painter Jehangir Sabavala set a new world record with his "The Casuarina Line I" selling at Rs 1.7 crores at the Saffronart's summer online auction.

The Mumbai-based Sabavala, whose art is a blend of impressionist and cubist styles of painting sold for a personal record price according to figures released by the online auction house.

Casuarina Line, a serene landscape, was acquired by an Indianorigin buyer for Rs 1.7 crore far exceeding the pre-sale estimate of Rs 50 lakh.

The 88-year-old Sabavala, got his initial training from the J J School of Arts in Mumbai in 1944.

He then went to the Heatherly School of Art in London in 1947, to the Academic Andre Lhote in Paris and to the Academic de la

Grande Chaumiere in 1957.

Sabavala's 60-year career started with his first solo exhibition at the

Jehangir Sabavala

Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, put up with the help of fellow artist M F Husain and some carpenters. His last exhibition was in 2008.

Even as Sabavala created a

personal record in this auction, modern master S H Raza who had set the auction charts blazing with a record over Rs 16 crore earlier this month topped Saffronart's summer auction.

Raza's "La Provence Noire" went under the hammer at Rs 3.3 crore the highest fetched by the auction house in this season's sale, followed by an untitled work by Subodh Gupta which sold for Rs 2.2 crore.

"Fifty-three per cent lots sold for above the higher estimate, and 10 lots sold for over a crore each, pointing to a broad level of interest across the auction," says Dinesh Vazirani, CEO and Cofounder of Saffronart.

M F Husain's untitled work fetched the highest value sold via mobile, at Rs 1.06 crores and another of his work "8 horses" sold for Rs 2 crores. -PTI

Pakistani officer fired at CRPF camp in Liberia NEW DELHI: A Pakistani officer allegedly fired at a CRPF camp, which is part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in violence-hit Liberia, leaving a civilian seriously injured.

There was no casualty in the CRPF camp. The incident took place on June 8 in Zwedru, the capital of Grand Gedeh County, one of the 15 counties in the West African country of Liberia.

Asked about the incident, CRPF Director General Vikram Srivastava, who is currently on an official tour to Orissa said, "There was an incident of firing in Liberia.

There was, however, no casualty.

"We have submitted a report to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs apprising them of the incident," he said.

According to CRPF officials, the incident happened when con-

stables Jeet Singh and Kaptan Singh were manning the sentry post made of mud and bamboo.

"Suddenly there was indiscriminate firing from outside the camp.

The firing ended after a while. On check, we found a civilian severely injured and admitted him to hospital. We also found one rifle, three magazines, 32 live rounds and 20 empty cases in front of the camp," an official said. -PTI

tuted in the wake of nationwide outrage over the light punishment given to the accused, concluded its four-day deliberations.

It is believed to have recommended that the government make fresh efforts for the extradition of 89-year-old Anderson, who now lives outside New York.

The government would also file a curative petition before the Supreme Court challenging the dilution of the charges against the accused in the Bhopal gas leak case. In 1996 the apex court had reduced the charge from Section 304-Part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) to Section 304 A (criminal negligence) of IPC. While Section 304 II provides a maximum imprisonment of 10 years, Section 304 A provides a maximum jail term of two years.

The GoM is also believed to have recommended to the government that it pursue the civil liability of Dow Chemicals, the successor of UCC world wide, by following up on a case in the Bhopal High Court in its Jabalpur bench.

The GoM discussed various issues relating to criminal and civil liability, relief and rehabilitation and remediation in the wake of the Bhopal court verdict in the case two weeks ago.

"We have dealt with all issues -- compensation, legal and pursuing the extradition of Warren Anderson, the legal options available to the government of India and most importantly the remediation issues and health-related matters," Chidambaram said.

The Home Minister said thousands of people continue to suffer due to the tragedy and the Central government was "extremely sympathetic" to their plight.

"We think we have made significant recommendations. GoM is not over. It will continue to address any issue that will come up before it," he said.

Chidambaram said the GoM has also identified several residuary issues which will be dealt with in the future meetings of the GoM. -PTI

HRD's plan for 20 IIITs fails to get nod of Finance Ministry NEW DELHI: An ambitious proposal of HRD Ministry to set up 20 Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT) could be a non-starter with the Finance Ministry not favouring it during the 11th Plan.

A note issued by the HRD Ministry for clearance of Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) has been returned by the Finance Ministry with the suggestion that the proposal may be considered during the 12th plan, official sources said.

The Human Resource Development Ministry had proposed to start the institutes in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode during the 11th plan (2007-2012).

"The Finance Ministry did not agree to the proposal of setting up of 20 IIITs in 11th Plan. It has said the scheme can be considered during the 12th Plan," the sources said.

The HRD Ministry is yet to decide its future course of action on the matter and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal will now take call on the matter.

The ministry had earlier prepared a PPP model for setting up 20 IIITs under which the expenditure could be shared in the ratio of 85 to 15 between the government and industry.

According to the EFC note prepared by the ministry for these projects, each IIIT would be set up

with an investment of Rs 200 crore and the government would bear 85 per cent of the expenditure.

Of the 85 per cent spending, the Centre would provide 50 per cent and the state government would bear 35 per cent of the expenditure.

It means the Centre will provide Rs 100 crore while the state government will give Rs 70 crore and the industry will provide Rs 30 crore for setting up of each IIIT.

The HRD Ministry is yet to decide its future course of action on the matter and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal will now take call on the matter The Planning Commission had also given in-principle approval for it.

The Ministry had overruled a proposal of NASSCOM, the country's information technology and business process outsourcing trade body, which had prepared a Detailed Project Report suggesting that the private sector should bear more than 50 per cent of the cost.

As per the plan, each IIIT would be a centre of excellence and specialise in specific area. -PTI

46

Datebook

India Post

July 2, 2010

www.indiapost.com

NEW YORK

ILLINOIS

NEW JERSEY

WASHINGTON DC

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Fri July 2

Fri July 2

Every Sunday

Sun July 4

• Ariz Presents Atif Aslam Live In Ny

• Bottles, Babes, & Bikram Singh Live

• DC Rathyatra & Festival of India

Venue: Colden Center, Queens, NY, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, New York Time: 8:30pm to 11:30pm Contact: 646-452-3424

Venue: VIBE Nightclub (previously known as Crobar Chicago), 1543 N Kingsbury, Chicago, Illinois Time: 9pm to 4am Contact: 630-699-5654

• Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan host Satsang, Bhajan & Meditation Program

Sat Jul 3

Fri July 9

• Ghulam Ali Live in Concert - New York

• Life Via Virpur - Family Drama

Venue: Hindu Auditorium, 143-09 Holly Ave, Flushing, NY Time: 8:00pm Contact: Balwinder Bajwa, Phone: 516-852-2222

Venue: Manav Seva Mandir, 101 South Church Road, Bensenville, Illinois Time: 6pm to 11pm Contact: 708-975-0076

Thur July 1 • The Infamous NYC Lock & Key Party

Sat July 10

Venue: Kush, 191 Chrystie Street (Between Stanton & Rivington Street, New York Time: 6:45pm to 4pm Contact: 4420-7112-2280

• The 2010 South Asian Spelling Bee in Chicago

Venue: Woodbridge township ambulance and Rescue squad, 77 Queen Road, 3rd Floor, Iselin, NJ 08830 Time: 10:30am to 1pm Contact: (732) 485-0647 Highlights: Lecture by close disciple of Shree Ashutosh Ji Maharaj, Bhajans, free meditation and Mahaprasad.

Venue: National Mall, 4th Street & Madison Ave, Washington, DC Time: 10am to 9pm Contact: 301-299-2100

Sum July 4 • Manav Prem Venue: Knights of Columbus Hall, 116 Grand St., Iselin, New Jersey Time: 10am to 11:30am Contact: 732-207-7592

Venue: Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine, Illinois Contact: 848-248-4199

Mon July 5 • Indian Cultural Enrichment Summer Camp

Fri July 9

• Amma's North American Tour Summer 2010 - New York

Sat July 10

Venue: TBD, TBD, New York Time: 10am to 7:30pm Contact: 212-714-5445

Venue: North Shore Center For Performing Art, Skokie, Ill Time: 7:30pm to 9pm Contact: 414-336-5982

Venue: Kulture Kool LLC, 225, highland cross, Rutherford, New Jersey Time: 8:30am to 5:30pm Contact: 201-933-6651

Venue: Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22311 Time: 10am to Jul 11 7:30pm Contact: 240-696-1927

Sun July 4

Fri July 9 • South Asian Music Festival Venue: Fontana's, 105 Eldridge Street, Manhattan, Alabama, NY Time: 9pm to 2am Contact: 917-9710-2373

Sat July 17 • Evening of Bharata Natyam Venue: Atman Yoga, 34 Elton Street, 3rd floor, Rochester, New York 14607 Time: 7:30pm Contact: (917) 214-6466

• Dealmaas 2010 USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN

• Amma's North American Tour Summer 2010 - Washington DC

Wed July 7

Sun July 11

San July 10

• Kumon Franchise Seminar

• Ghulam Ali - Mehfil-E-Ghazal - VA

• Yoga-Meditation Sessions & Spiritual Talks By Swami Mukundananda

Venue: 3150, Brunswick Pike, Route 1 North, Lawrenceville, New Jersey Time: 11am to 3pm Contact: 201-692-3159

Venue: Sheraton Premiere, 8661 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia Time: 7pm Contact: 703-200-9292

Venue: Holiday Inn, 3405 Algonquin, Rolling Meadows, Ill Time: 10:30am to 9pm Contact: (630)-915-1281

Fri July 23 • Single Gujarati Find your Perfect Match at Matri 2010 Venue: Ramada Inn, 999 Rt. I S, North Brunswick Time: 8pm Contact: 2010@matri.org

San July 17 • The 2010 South Asian Spelling Bee in NJ Venue: North Brunswick High School, Route 130 South, Raider Road, North Brunswick, New Jersey Contact: 848-248-4199

Sat July 17 • Sarvam Sai Mayam Venue: Centerville High School, 6001 Union Mill Road, Clifton, Virginia Time: 7pm to 10pm Contact: 703-544-5670

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

Fri July 2 • Mary Poppins Movie Musical Singalong Venue: Ohlone College Smith Center Amphitheatre, 43600 Mission Boulevard in Fremont Time: 8:15pm Contact: 510-659-6031 Highlights: Enjoy the amazing antics of Mary Poppins, Bert, the jack-of-all-trades, and two precocious Banks children as they sing and dance their way through the city streets, over the rooftops, and into the sidewalks of London. Sidewalk chalk drawing contest for all ages thirty minutes before the show.

Sun July 4 • Transformation through Meditation Venue: San Ramon Marriott, 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, California Time: 2:30pm to 4pm Contact: 888-248-3962

Thurs July 8

Every Sat (start from Sat Aug 8) • Gurukul Classes for Children Venue: Sindhu Center, South California Time: 2pm to 4pm Contact: 818-541-1754 & 909-576-1114 Highlights: Children between the ages of 5 and 18. Children will be taught the Fundamentals of Hinduism, Prayers, Shlokas, Bhajans and Values of our culture.

Fri July 2 • NAVIKA 2010 World Kannada Summit Venue: Pasadena Convention Center (Los Angeles), 300 E Green Street, Pasadena, California Time: 2pm to 11:35pm Contact: 949-415-2125

Sun July 11 • AATIF ASLAM Live in Concert "IMPACT"

Venue: Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento, CA Time: 7pm to 5pm Contact: 916-529-7800

Venue: Long Beach Terrace Theatre, 300 East Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, California Time: 6pm Contact: 562-436-3661

Sat July 10

Sun Jul 31

• Mehta Entertainment presents Aatif Aslam Live In Concert

• Arangetram by Sneha Jayaprakash

• Art of Living Course

Venue: Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA Time: 8pm Contact: 925-980-9297

Venue: Cubberley Theater, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, California Time: 4:00pm to 6:00pm Hosted By: Jayendra Kalakendra

Sun July 11

Wed Aug 7

• Solo Recital by Divya Vetturi

• Jinnder's RED CARPET GALA

Venue: Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, California Time: 4pm to 6pm Contact: sugandaiyer@comcast.net

Venue: Long Beach Hilton Hotel, 701 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, California Time: 6pm to 2am Contact: 310-994-9500

Mon July 19 • Panini Summer camp for Kids Venue: Ortega Park, 626 Harrow Way, CA 94087, Sunnyvale, California Time: 8:30am to 12:30 Contact: 408-431-9214

Sun July 25 • Madumita's Bharathnatyam Arangetram Venue: Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, California Time: 4pm to 7:30pm Contact: 510-299-1844

Sun July 18 • Virgelia Productions, Inc Presents the Launching of Miss Asia USA & Mrs Asia USA Venue: Sheraton universal Hotel, 333 Universal Hollywood Dr. Universal City CA Time: 2pm (on the Red Carpet with the Delegates), 3pm (Fashion show) Contact: 818-891-5556, info@missasiausa.org Highlights: Meet the final delegates selected to represent their country as they parade in their lavish national costumes, the latest collections of Scala and BG Haute, InVein and Malibu Dream Girl.

Horoscope

July 2, 2010

India Post

47

www.indiapost.com

ARIES Mar 21-Apr 20 Trip will turn out to be more exciting than earlier expected. Friends and new contacts you make this week will be very helpful later. You will be full of energy and stay very cheerful. You will contribute money to a holy place or make commitment for the future.

Opponents at work will make futile attempts to disturb you.

LEO Jul 23-Aug 22 Taste of success will fill you up with extra energy. You may invite few close friends at your place this week. Some money will go towards repairs of an automobile. Do not risk all when it comes to making an investment. Kids will make plans to visit an interesting place and leave soon. There will be some interesting changes at work.

SAGITTARIUS

July 2, 2010 to July 8, 2010

Nov 23-Dec 22 You will continue to make steady success on your projects. Tough stand will calm down people trying to make trouble. You will become friend with a well known person and discuss your plans with him. You will have to cancel plans with family become of last minute engagement. Bank balance will continue creeping up.

IAF proposes honorary post for Sachin Tendulkar NEW DELHI: Another feather is set to be added to star cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's cap with the Indian Air Force sending a proposal to the Defense Ministry to confer on him an honorary Group Captain's post.

"IAF has proposed to honor Sachin Tendulkar by granting him the honorary rank of Group Captain. We have sent the proposal to the Defense Ministry and they are considering it," an IAF official told PTI. Once the Ministry clears it, the file will go to the Prime Minister's Office and then to the President, the supreme commander of the armed forces, for approval.

In 2008, India's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army.

Tendulkar is arguably the best batsman in the history of cricket, having amassed some 31,000-plus runs in Test and ODI cricket with a staggering 93 international centuries under his belt.

The 37-year-old is hailed as

perhaps the most complete batsman in the history of the game with no real chink in amour. He not only the highest run-getter in both Test and ODI versions of the game but also the only player to have scored a double century in a One-Day International.

One of India's most decorated

In 2008, India's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had received the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army sportspersons, Tendulkar has won the country's highest sports honor -- the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna -- and the Padma Vibhushan award.

The IAF had earlier conferred the honorary rank of air commodore on industrialist and aviation enthusiast Vijaypat Singhania. -PTI

TAURUS Apr 21-May 20 A person from different culture will enter your life. You may make some money through stocks also. Letter or mail you send out will get quick response and in positive only. People prone to blood pressure problem shout watch out for next few weeks. Things will get more relaxed at work as boss will take off some load of work.

VIRGO Aug 23-Sept 22 And this could be the start of an exciting relationship. You will have multiple choices but will go with what you think is more legitimate and right. People in power will extend a helping hand in your crusade. Spouse will go on a shopping spree with children so don't be surprised. Assignment offered will require move to another state.

CAPRICORN Dec 23-Jan 19 Your risky attempt will make every body nervous at home. Some of you will be traveling long distance this week. You will be spending lots of time with a child trying to straighten things about further education. Extra running around will make you feel tired. A close relative will call to invite you for a get together.

GEMINI May 21-Jun 20 Efforts will pay off and the contract will finally get signed. It will be a very favorable week for people in banking or connected with finance industry. Try to make good use of time on hand and open mail on time. You will be getting ready to attend an upcoming event and may buy new cloths or costumes for the family members.

LIBRA Sept 23-Oct 22 Money wise it looks like another promising week. Planets favors those connected with real estate especially.

Several deals can materialize this week. You will be little aggressive on the phone but will get several jobs done quickly. You will be successful in recovering part of money long overdue. Trip will be relaxing.

AQUARIUS Jan 20-Feb 18 Offer will be good and you will quickly jump onto it and start preparing for the big move. You may also dispose off some stocks and pocket the profit.

Mind will be full of bright ideas and you will be looking for ideal partners.

Bachelors will be introduced to a person from different culture and quickly come close.

CANCER Jun 21-Jul 22 Do not be nervous and go for it. You will spend money towards a property or do some work around the house.

You may also start a legal process to reclaim your rights. Other side will provide almost no resistance. You will continue to do charity and also visit a holy place with family. Bank balance will shot up all of a sudden.

SCORPIO Oct 23-Nov 22 Business trip will be a grand success.

You may make up your mind and try for another addition in the family. You will make a very calculated move in career and wait for response. It will be better to dispose off money making stocks and wait another week to buy them back. your eyes will be set on an empty land for sale.

PISCES Feb 19-Mar 20 You will be content the way things are going on at work. It will be a very relaxing week other wise. You will get to see many old friends this week at the party. People in business will spend more on advertising. Spouse will feel little exhausted. You will meet all financial commitments and still have some left in the savings.

48

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Philosophy

July 2, 2010

India Post

49

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aharishi Ramana's death experience is a clear pointer to the method of enquiry: Below is the version from the English translation of Ramana Leela: "Venkataraman was lying down upstairs. Nobody else was present. Suddenly for no reason, Venkataraman felt 'I will die', 'I am dying'. There is no reason for so feeling, I do not feel any condition due to fear. There was no thought to consult elders or doctors.

What is death? How to escape it? This is the predominant problem, no other thought. It has to be solved this instant.

In death the legs become stiff.

The lips tighten the eyes close.

The breath ceases. Thus the feelings came upon strongly. My legs too have become stiff, lips tightly closed, eyes have closed, the breath stopped.

Yes, without losing consciousness everything is clearly intuited (the outgoing senses have disappeared with the senses getting established inwardly).

In spite of the death of the body, the 'I consciousness' remains. The intuition of the personality clearly remains. When the body is cremated and turned to ashes, 'I' will not be destroyed.

Because 'I' am not the body.

Now the body is insentient without intelligence. But 'I' am en-

dowed with intelligence. Therefore, death is for the insentient body. 'I' am the deathless, conscious Self.

When there are no bodily activities connected with indriyas, the realization that ensues is not indriya generated. That 'I' intuition is direct and self luminous. It is not subject to inference. The Self after death is ever-new true Self.

Thus this new realization dawned upon Venkataraman in an instant."

Bhagavan said, "In the vision of death, though all the senses were benumbed, the aham sphurana (Self-awareness) was clearly evident, and so I realized that it was that awareness that we call 'I', and not the body.

This Self-awareness never decays. It is unrelated to anything. It is Self-luminous. Even if this body is burnt, it will not be affected.

Hence, I realized on that very day

something separate, almost intangible, dreamlike. There is no desire because thought is almost impossible, yet the normal functioning of the individual continues. Discrimination between you and everything else is no longer possible, even though it is seen as separate through the senses - this non-difference is not a thought, not an impression, but a fact.

This state is identical to that

is a useless object, a burden to be carried until the time arrives when it can be dropped, never to rise again. He is eternally free from desire of any kind and therefore has no motive.

He sees all as only himself and acts accordingly. He becomes the servant of all, never placing himself first, but is always last. He avoids any special treatment and never inflicts suffering upon others.

JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU

citizen lawgiver. All laws must ensure liberty and equality: beyond that, they may vary depending on local circumstances.

While the sovereign exercises legislative power by means of the laws, states also need a government to exercise executive power, carrying out day-to-day business. There are many different forms of government, but they can

the sovereign, and the two are almost always in friction. This friction will ultimately destroy the state, but healthy states can last many centuries before they dissolve.

The people exercise their sovereignty by meeting in regular, periodic assemblies. It is often difficult to persuade all citizens to attend these assemblies, but attendance is essential to the well-

To prove that even large states can assemble all their citizens, Rousseau takes the example of the Roman republic and its comitia.

Rousseau recommends the establishment of a tribunate to mediate between government and sovereign and government and people. In cases of emergency, brief dictatorships may be necessary. The role of the censor's of-

W

ith the famous phrase, "man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains," Rousseau asserts that modern states repress the physical freedom that is our birthright, and do nothing to secure the civil freedom for the sake of which we enter into civil society. Legitimate political authority, he suggests, comes only from a social contract agreed upon by all citizens for their mutual preservation.

Rousseau calls the collective grouping of all citizens the "sovereign," and claims that it should be considered in many ways to be like an individual person. While each individual has a particular will that aims for his own best interest, the sovereign expresses the general will that aims for the common good.

The sovereign only has authority over matters that are of public concern, but in this domain its authority is absolute: Rousseau recommends the death penalty for those who violate the social contract.

The general will finds its clearest expression in the general and abstract laws of the state, which are created early in that state's life by an impartial, non-

so clearly that that was 'I'."

Maharishi did not describe other types of experiences in this but mystics have recorded bliss arising from within and embracing them in an ocean of love, silencing the mind, a transitory experience lasting for hours, days or even weeks.

In this state, happiness beyond all description overwhelms everything. The world is still clearly seen, but the body is perceived as

of the Jnani acting his part in the world. It is the state experienced through complete surrender to the Self Supreme. Here there are no stages of effort, only the finality itself, but transitory, except in the rarest of cases; transitory because the one experiencing it simply enjoys it in the body and does not dive within to make it permanent.

Whoever attains this state completely, knows that the body

Death experience of Maharishi Ramana

Maharishi Ramana

This Self-awareness never decays. It is unrelated to anything. It is Self-luminous. Even if this body is burnt, it will not be affected.

Hence, I realized on that very day so clearly that that was 'I'

Modern states do nothing to secure civil freedom

Jean Jacques Rousseau

roughly be divided into democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy, depending on their size. Monarchy is the strongest form of government, and is best suited to large populations and hot climates.

While different states are suited to different forms of government, Rousseau maintains that aristocracies tend to be the most stable.

The government is distinct from

While everyone should be free to observe their personal beliefs in private, Rousseau suggests that the state also require all citizens to observe a public religion that encourages good citizenship being of the state. When citizens elect representatives or try to buy their way out of public service, the general will shall not be heard and the state will become endangered. When voting in assemblies, people should not vote for what they want personally, but for what they believe is the general will. In a healthy state, the results of these votes should approach unanimity.

fice is to voice public opinion.

While everyone should be free to observe their personal beliefs in private, Rousseau suggests that the state also require all citizens to observe a public religion that encourages good citizenship.

The 298th birth anniversary of Jean Jacques Rousseau was observed on June 28

From the Bhagvad Gita: To the illumined man or woman, a clod of dirt, a stone, and gold are the same.

Creation is only the projection into form of that which already exists Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower are the three factors which motivate action; the senses, the work and the doer comprise the threefold basis of action.

Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice. Better than knowledge is meditation.

But better still is surrender of attachment to results, because there follows immediate peace.

Those who eat too much or eat too little, who sleep too much or sleep too little, will not succeed in meditation. But those who are temperate in eating and sleeping, work and recreation, will come to the end of sorrow through meditation."

Fear not what is not real, never was and never will be. What is real, always was and cannot be destroyed.

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Edit Page

50 India Post

July 2, 2010

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Should India give up its NFU doctrine?

D SUBA CHANDRAN

D

octrines are not static and are always linked to an objective. If the primary Indian objective is to have a stable nuclear South Asia, then New Delhi should consider giving up its No-First-Use doctrine (NFU), for the following three reasons.

First, the India's NFU contradicts its other nuclear emphasis Minimum Credible Deterrence (MCD), and has the potential to convert its deterrence into maximum and not minimum. NFU means, that India will not be first to use its nuclear weapons; this prepares India to absorb the first strike. Why would India prepare to take the first strike and how can this secure India from receiving a first strike?

India's NFU implies that to be safe and secure, and prevent any first use against it, India should have a large second strike capability. This second strike capability, should frighten the adversary to an extent, that none will consider using nuclear weapons against India in the first place.

Since, there are only two likely adversaries - Pakistan and China in India's neighborhood, who could consider using nuclear weapons against India, what will be the size of nuclear arsenal, that will take the first strike, and deliver the second one?

To have a deterrence, that is

us first. The numbers may not be the same in both the cases. For example, India may consider X-1 number of weapons to have a credible deterrence with second strike against a Y-1 number of weapons with its adversaries.

On the other hand, China and Pakistan may consider India to have X-2 number of weapons, if it has to be credible to avoid their first strike, with Y-2 number of weapons. The danger in this calculation is what if X-1 and X-2, and Y-1 and Y-2 are not the same

IndiaĂ­s nuclear missile

numbers?

NFU is unlikely to make the situation stable in Southern Asia. It will only lead to a nuclear arms race.

A second reason for New Delhi to give up its NFU is because it makes India's credible deterrence no more minimum. NFU, as dis-

Though India has proposed a limited war doctrine to undercut this strategic deficiency, Pakistan has not taken this seriously. As a result, Pakistan not only disbelieves India's NFU, but also uses the same against New Delhi to make military and militant exercises under the nuclear umbrella considered 'credible' by India, in case if New Delhi is willing to take the first strike, will that number be minimum or maximum? From the adversaries' perspectives, if China and Pakistan are to be frightened against using the nuclear weapons against India, what will be the size that will scare the hell out of them?

The first question is inward looking, in terms of what will make us safe and protected against the first strike. The second question is how our adversaries will feel, in terms of getting absolutely frightened, that they will dare not strike

Second strike capability, undoubtedly an option, which India has the right to pursue. But unfortunately, such an option will not only be expensive, but also affects it deterrence numbers. In case of India wanting to have a credible deterrence with second strike, it will no more be minimum. India can have either NFU or a MCD. Both are not complimentary.

The final reason why India should give up its NFU is the Pakistan factor. No one in Pakistan believes India's NFU. In fact, no

cussed above, means that India is willing to take the first strike. This essentially means that India not only should have sufficient second strike capability - to first, prevent the first strike, and second, to have sufficient number of nuclear weapons, that will survive the first strike. This will not only result in increasing the number of India's nuclear arsenals, but will also take New Delhi into the dangerous path of building a triad.

Second strike capability necessitates the triad, especially nuclear weapons in mobile platforms.

other countries (except for China, that too with a footnote) that possess nuclear weapons have an NFU. Pakistan also believes, that in case of a crisis, it can never trust India's NFU. In short, for Pakistan, India's NFU is frivolous and not trustworthy.

Besides, from an Indian perspective, New Delhi's NFU is self defeating vis-Ă -vis Pakistan. Since India follows the NFU, it only provides Pakistan with a space to make calibrated military efforts (as in the case of Kargil) and support proxy war and militant attacks across India (as in the case of the Parliament attack, 2001 and Mumbai, 2008).

Though India has proposed a limited war doctrine to undercut this strategic deficiency, Pakistan has not taken this seriously. As a result, Pakistan not only disbelieves India's NFU, but also uses the same against New Delhi to make military and militant exercises under the nuclear umbrella.

If the presence of nuclear weapons has already dented India's conventional superiority, its NFU has in fact given an edge to Pakistan.

NFU is not in India's interests and is only destabilizing. India should give up its NFU doctrine.

The writer is Deputy Director, IPCS

India Post Flop movies

M

ovies are no longer being made for normal human beings. Whether in Hollywood or the copycat Bollywood, it has become fashionable to have perverted themes and disabled or diseased protagonists. There are more movies sympathizing with terrorists than with their victims. Gays, lesbians, criminals and addicts are favored subjects. And to ram such subjects down unsuspecting throats, big business distributors proudly distribute thousands of prints simultaneously throughout the cinemaviewing world. And claim a killing even if there has been one week of houseful-viewing. Unfortunately, this flimsy claim has also been demolished by the super flops of the last few weeks. Audiences have told them, O 'Raavans' of cinema, go fly 'Kites.'

What a great effort the famed Mani Ratnam has made to throw up virtues in Raavan and find flaws in Ram! There may not be much sympathy in India for the BJP version of mythology but the extremism displayed by Ratnam can only leave the ordinary viewer aghast.

According to one review, "With a title like Raavan, the demon king, who couldn't be vanquished by gods, demons or spirits, you expect Raavan aka Beera to be equally powerful, who could send a chill down your spine, who spells terror and fear. But, in Raavan, Beera comes across as a psycho. The streak of madness in his character makes a mockery of the character itself."

The massive pre-publicity about a Mexican beauty Barbara Mori and her explicit love scenes with heart throb Hrithik Roshan in the so-called international movie 'Kites' was expected to sweep us off our feet. So much smitten was Hollywood too with this subject that A-list Hollywood director Brett Ratner made a slick Hollywood version of 'Kites.' Why did both sink without a trace? Would you like to see a protagonist whose business is fake marriages to promote illegal immigration into US? The very basis of the movie was flawed.

The hero evoked little sympathy.

Exploiters that abound in Bollywood thought of making another killing by dubbing Barbara Mori movies in Hindi and showing them to the supposedly Barbara-enchanted public. They had made a wrong call. One producer, who dubbed Mori's Spanish film 'My Brother's Wife' in Hindi and English, is now shuddering in his shoes. He expected 'Kites' to be a super hit. Now he says he's waiting for the negative buzz on 'Kites' to die down.

Mainstream Bollywood producers these days make movies specifically keeping NRI audiences in mind. And the themes do attract the India-loving Diaspora. But in the bargain these producers have lost their Indian audiences. There are super-luxury sets and shooting in scenic locations of America, Europe or some other exotic venues which carry extravagant costs but little appeal for small town audiences in India. The result is small town India has started producing its own low-budget films to cater to the real 'Desi' tastes.

There are millions of viewers turning away from Bollywood and lapping up Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bengali regional films. Bollywood continues to masquerade as Hindi version of Hollywood. A side story told about the flop 'Kites' comes from Bihar. A distributor there sued the makers of the film for sending them an 'English-Spanish' film in the name of Hindi film. He couldn't market it!

Why is Bollywood embarrassed with talking of normal subjects for normal Indians? Or have they lost touch with the real India, living in their ivory towers? Big money has obviously invaded Bollywood and themes are being dictated, not by writers and sensitive artists, but by profit makers.

The last word was recently said by the irrepressible Lalu Yadav: "Today's cinema is not suitable for family-viewing".

July 2, 2010

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July 2, 2010