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NEW YORK EDITION Vol.4 No.38 January 14-20, 2012 60 Cents Indian American dean for Cornell’s business school

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14 awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman at PBD 2012 PBD Jaipur, Page 14

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NRIs launch Punjab Chalo to help Congress in poll Tristate Community, Pages 18-19

Abhi-Ash to host Oprah Winfrey in India Bollywood, Page 26

PBD 2012: A catalyst for 30-mn strong diaspora Now given voting rights, overseas Indians move to partner in and benefit from India's march towards progress and prosperity.

Pravasi Bharatiya award winners with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his counterpart from Trinidad & Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, at the Jaipur PBD.

PPP govt vs army battle of nerves in Pak Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has left Pakistan, tense with rumors and fears of another military coup, and gone to Dubai amid a stand-off between an increasingly belligerent political leadership and the powerful military. Political parties were quick to speak up against a likely army take-over.

Zardari went to Dubai, as per BBC, to attend a wedding. A month back, Zardari, 56, had abruptly left for Dubai from where he returned Dec 18 after nearly two weeks of medical treatment.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Wednesday asserted his authority by dismissing defense secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a retired lieutenant general close to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Gilani also accused the army chief and ISI chief Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha of violating the constitution by submitting their replies to the Supreme Court without the government

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has called a meeting of the defense committee Saturday and the army chief will attend, a possible sign of efforts to defuse tensions. approval in the case over a memo sent to Washington that said President Zardari feared a military take-over following last year's killing of Osama bin Laden.

The Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media arm, took a serious view of Gilani's statement: "This has very serious Continued on page 4

Jaipur/New Delhi: The 10th edition of the annual diaspora meet 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012' saw the highest participation this year.

Over 2,000 delegates from 59 countries participated at the three-day event in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

"This PBD also signals a paradigm shift in the level, the range and the pace of our engagement. It is our conviction that the vast majority of overseas Indians have the ability and the willingness to

partner in and benefit from India's march towards progress and prosperity," said Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.

The highlight of the annual congregation that kicked off in the Pink City Jan 7 was fulfilling a longstanding demand of the diaspora on voting rights.

Continued on page 4 See pages 13-17 for more PBD stories.

Punn arraigned on child sexploitation and healthcare fraud charges “date-rape drug.”

Punn, who has remained in state Hicksville, NY: On January 11, custody since his arrest, has had his bail set at $5 million. The federal Rakesh K. Punn, 53, was arraignment, held in Central Islip arraigned on a 36-count federal indictment alleging his sexual at the US Courthouse before US District Judge Joanna Seybert, is exploitation of children and fraudulent billing of insurance based on an indictment returned on Jan 4, 2012. Alleged in the 36companies.

Punn, a Long Island pediatri- Bethpage pediatrician count indictment are the multiple acts of sexual exploitation Punn cian, was first arrested on July Rakesh Punn committed between September 6, 16, 2010 by Nassau County law enforcement and charged with sexual 2007 and January 21, 2008. exploitation of three children under the pre“As alleged in the indictment, the defentense of medical treatment at his Bethpage dant not only violated criminal law, he also clinic cum residence. After filming the sexu- betrayed his oath as a licensed physician to al acts, he fraudulently billed insurance com- first do no harm,” said Loretta E. Lynch, US panies for those three children who were as Attorney for the Eastern District of New young as 11 years old, and three others under York. “These children were entrusted to the the guise of standard pediatric procedures. defendant by their parents for health care He is also accused of a prescription scam for and what they allegedly received was sexual Continued on page 4 obtaining chloral hydrate, described as a

By Vikas Girdhar/SATimes

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January 14-20, 2012

Trinidad's 'daughter PM' returns to village in Bihar for emotional reunion Bhelupur (Buxar): It was an emotional 'pilgrimage' for Trinidad and Tobago prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to her ancestral village Bhelupur. She tried to fight back her tears but failed. As tears rolled down her cheeks, the 'granddaughter of the soil' entered her ancestral home and hugged women relatives in this remote and dusty village on Wednesday afternoon.

Looking resplendent in a red sari with floral borders and a matching color flower tucked in hairs, Kamla, 60, seemed to face no language bar as she made a forceful speech in English, starting with 'Bhaiyon aur bahno, Pranam' and told the people how she traced her roots to

Trinidad & Tobago prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar visiting her ancestral village in Buxar district of Bihar.

this village. "Your granddaughter has come here. I can see one hundred thousand people here to greet me. I say 'dhanyavad' for this love and hospitality," she said.

The visiting VIP's great grandfather Ram Lakhan Mishra from this village had set out for the Caribbean islands in 1889 as Girmitia labourer. He had boarded Volga ship from the then Calcutta on October 21, 1889.

"Whatever I am today is because Bihar is in my DNA and whatever my ancestors taught me," she said as villagers from Bhelupur and surrounding villages cheered her lustily.

Earlier, she and her entourage

reached here in two IAF choppers.

She straightaway went to the house of her uncle Jagdish Mishra on foot and spent a good 40 minutes there meeting women and children. The relatives presented her with a silk sari and ornaments besides serving local dishes and sweets.

Accompanied by husband Gregory Bissessar and other relatives who came from Port of Spain, she was overwhelmed by the people's response.

She came to India to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jaipur as chief guest, where she was also bestowed the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award.

Guyanese Indian broker in Queens accused of massive mortgage fraud New York: Edul Ahmad was a real estate magnate in Richmond Hill, Queens, who drove a Lamborghini, sponsored a cricket team and held white-glove parties at a lavish banquet hall that he owned.

Awed by his magnetic personality, many residents of the area took out high-risk mortgages with him. In July, it all came crashing down when FBI agents arrested Ahmad, charging him with masterminding a $50 million mortgage fraud that seemed to exemplify a nationwide phenomenon of celebrated immigrant brokers who were accused of preying on their own.

Now, scores, if not hundreds, of Guyanese immigrants are facing financial ruin because of loans said to have been arranged by Ahmad, and the repercussions from the case have extended from Queens to Washington to Guyana.

Guyanese Indian broker in Queens accused of massive mortgage fraud Ahmad is currently engaged in intensive plea-bargain negotiations with federal prosecutors, according to court documents, but it appears that the impact of the loans will endure for years. Richmond Hill has been hit harder by the foreclosure crisis than most other neighborhoods in the city, officials and analysts said. Mr. Ah-

mad’s case has also ensnared two politicians whom he considered friends: US Representative Gregory W. Meeks, a Queens Democrat, and John L. Sampson of Brooklyn, the Democratic leader of the State Senate.

A House ethics panel is investigating Meeks for failing to disclose that he received $40,000 from Ahmad. Mr. Sampson worked as Mr. Ahmad’s lawyer and was disciplined by the New York secretary of state for notarizing a document for Ahmad without a license.

Mr. Ahmad, 44, is charged with luring buyers into subprime mortgages, inflating the values of their properties and concealing his involvement by using straw buyers, like his wife and the Guyanese-born captain of the US cricket team, Steve Massiah.

Mr. Ahmad pleaded not guilty and posted $2.5 million in bail in July.

Woman files class-action lawsuit against company for discrimination New Jersey: Deepa Shanbag of New Jersey has filed a classaction lawsuit against Edison, N.J.- based L&T Infotech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mumbai company Larsen & Toubro, claiming discrimination on grounds of sex and pregnancy. The suit was filed Jan. 3 in the U.S. District Court in New Jersey.The lawsuit seeks damages of "not less than $20 million" on behalf of a class of about 1,500 past and present women employees and injunctive and declaratory relief to stop further misconduct.

Shanbag was employed by L&T Infotech in October 2010 as a contractor and was made an employee after three months.On March 2, 2011, she told the human resources de-

partment and her immediate supervisor that she was pregnant. On March 4, she was fired, the court filing said. It also notes that Shanbag made attempts to resolve the issue through proper channels and then went to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission.

New York attorney Krishnan Chittur who is handling Shanbag's case, alleges that L&T Infotech, "discriminated against her and other employees on grounds of sex and pregnancy." "Women in the work- place should be treated with respect and dignity," Chittur is quoted as saying in a press release. "We intend to hold L&T fully accountable under the law for what these women had to suffer."

Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni presented the first copy of English edition of the magazine ‘Aahwan’ to President Pratibha Patil last week in Delhi. Cabinet Minister Shriprakash Jaiswal and Swami Chidanand Saraswati were present on the occasion. The Acharya, founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, talked about their campaign against female feticide, drug addiction and environment pollution and announced ‘Clean Election Campaign’ in 5 states going to the polls.

FeTNA’s silver jubilee convention for Maryland in July New York: The Federation of Tamil Sangams (Associations) of North America called FeTNA will hold their annual convention in Baltimore, MD from July 6-8, 2012. It will be the Silver Jubilee Convention for FeTNA with an anticipated attendance of 5,000 Tamils from all over North America.

For the last 24 years, FeTNA, an umbrella organization for nearly 40 local organizations, presents a

mega event each year in a different state and city where Tamils of North America congregate, celebrate their culture, recognize community achievements, organize professional forums, enjoy music, dance, literature and theater performances, rejoice meeting Gollywood (South Indian movie) artists, film and music directors, eminent speakers/poets, soap opera stars from India. The locals also get to showcase their talent.

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Indian American suspected of fraud in red wine research Hartford, Conn: A charge of widespread scientific fraud, involving 26 articles published in 11 journals, was leveled by the University of Connecticut Wednesday against Dipak K. Das, one of its researchers, whose work reported health benefits in red wine.

Many of the articles reported positive effects from resveratrol, an ingredient of red wine thought to promote longevity in laboratory animals.

The charges, if verified, seem unlikely to affect the field of resveratrol research itself, because Dr. Das’s work was peripheral to its central principles, several of which are in contention.

Federal grants are increasingly hard to get, even for high-quality research, yet money seemed to have flowed freely to Dr. Das, who was generating research of low visibility and apparently low quality. The University of Connecticut said Wednesday that it was returning two new grants to Dr. Das, worth a

total of $890,000, to the federal government.

The agency that granted the funds was the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Renate Myles, a spokeswoman, said in response that scientific misconduct “can go undetected for a length of time even under the most rigorous systems of research oversight and review.”

The investigation of Dr. Das’s work began in January 2009, two weeks after the university received an anonymous allegation about research irregularities in his laboratory. A special review board headed by Dr. Kent Morest of the University of Connecticut has now produced a 60,000-page report, which has been forwarded to the Office of Research Integrity, a federal agency that investigates fraud by researchers who receive government grants.

According to a 60-page summary of the report, Dr. Das’s published research articles were found to contain 145 instances of fabrication and falsification of data.

Corrections in Amb. Puri article There were some differences between the text of your article titled, "Seasoned Diplomat who took India to new heights at UN" in the January 7-13, 2012 issue and the actual comments of Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN. i) While your piece refers to PR as saying that India will be the third largest power in the world, he had actually said that India will be the third largest economy in the world. ii) You stated: “Puri is more than confident that India will finish its term as a permanent member by the end of the year 2012. Today we are at a crucial stage when the final rounds of negotiations are due to begin in the fourth week of January and expected to complete in March."

The actual transcript of PR's interview reads: “…The Chair of the informal negotiations will be holding a series of meetings starting with the fourth week of January to about the fourth week of March in which the different proposals which are on the table including the one by the G4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) and proposals by the L69 for expansion in both categories. These will be discussed as the proposals by others like UFC and the C10, which is the African Group. The year 2012 will see forward movement and it is my hope and we will certainly work towards it that before the end of 2012 and before we leave the Security Council, we will have at least the contours of the expansion of the Security Council ready.”

--Vinod K Jacob, First Secretary, Indian Mission to the UN. The errors are regretted. The author of the article, Ashok Ojha, responded: “While writing the article about accomplishments of Amb. Puri as at the UN, it was my goal to reproduce the essence and spirit of his thoughts for the readers of the paper.

--Managing Editor

PBD Story Continued from page 1 India said it would allow NRIs to vote and participate in the election process. "Pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable NRIs to vote in our national elections, the government has issued notifications for registration of overseas electors under the Representation of People Act, 1950," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced while inaugurating the event.

"This constitutes the first major step to enable Indian residents abroad to participate in our election process," the prime minister added.

In another major initiative, India asked its 30million strong diaspora, spread over 130 countries, to contribute in the development of healthcare, energy and infrastructure sector.

The Indian government also launched a special pension and life insurance scheme that would benefit over 5 million unskilled and semi-skilled workers employed overseas mostly in Gulf countries on temporary contract visas.

Chief ministers of several states urged overseas Indians to step up investment, assuring a businessfriendly environment.

Showcasing the development initiatives launched by their respective governments, they assured NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) that their states would facilitate investment providing all possible support.

"We welcome with open hearts whatever support or contribution you may wish to extend. Your support will be a great morale booster for us," said Ashok Gehlot, chief minister of Rajasthan.

On the last day, President Pratibha Patil conferred the "Pravasi Bharatiya Samman" awards to 14 eminent overseas Indians, including Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and a Canada-based institution, for their outstanding contributions in enhancing India's image globally.

PPP Vs. Army Story Continued from page 1 ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country."

Pentagon spokesperson George Little said that US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey had spoken to General Kayani.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said US fully backs the civilian government.

Soon after Lodhi was dismissed for "gross misconduct", General Kayani decided to call an emergency meeting of his top commanders.

Lodhi's dismissal came after the Pakistani Army angrily reacted to Gilani's recent remarks to a

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Chinese daily that the statements of Kayani and ISI chief submitted to the Supreme Court were "unconstitutional". As the military and the government slugged it out, political parties made it clear that they were against any army coup.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan said the party would not support a military coup.

The former cricketer said in Lahore that any unconstitutional way would not be tolerated.

Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali said that his party would continue to back the government and fully oppose any undemocratic move.

Punn Story Continued from page 1 abuse. Dr. Punn then compounded his charged offense by billing insurance companies for his sexual misconduct. He will now be held to account.”

Evidence seized in this case includes cellphones, a video camera and Punn’s laptops and computers, which contained a self-compiled “how-to” guide on molestation and included passages from the Kama Sutra and naked photographs and videos of young girls, prosecutors say.

Prosecutors have also noted that Punn has a 24year old wife living in India and had a large amount of cash at his Bethpage residence at the time of his July 2010 arrest. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen M. Rice said that as a doctor in the Indian community, Punn was wellrespected and trusted by many parents, who would often send their children to Punn in Bethpage for private visits.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas V. Dale stated that “the arrest and prosecution of Dr. Punn is the direct result of an investigative commitment to end this alleged criminal conduct, and to prevent others from falling victim to the reprehensible acts charged in the indictment.

These efforts demonstrate the effectiveness of law enforcement’s combined efforts to apprehend sexual predators and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

Punn, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment for each individual count of sexual exploitation of a child, if convicted. In addition, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for each individual count of health care fraud, if convicted.

Punn is due back in federal court on March 2 and has thus far been unable to post bail.

Photographs: Gunjesh Desai/ masalajunction.com.

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Salman Rushdie brushes off call for festival 'blasphemy' ban New York: The vice-chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, one of India's most influential Islamic seminaries, has called on the government to deny Indian-born writer Salman Rushdie a visa to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival over the insult caused to Muslims by his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses.

"I call upon the Muslim organizations of the country to mount pressure on the centre to withdraw the visa and prevent him visiting India, where community members still feel hurt owing to the anti-Islamic remarks in his writings," Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani said this week. "The Muslims cannot pardon him at any cost. If he visits India, it would be adding salt to the injuries of Muslims."

The call has drawn some support from Muslim political figures and cast a shadow over an event that this year boasts the most impressive line-up of international literary stars in its six-year history.

Rushdie is one of the biggest names in a rollcall of star writers to attend this month's Jaipur Festival, including Michael Ondaatje, David Hare, Tom Stoppard, Annie Proulx, Mohammed Hanif, Lionel Shriver and even

Salman Rushdie Oprah Winfrey.

Rushdie is scheduled to appear at three events during the five-day festival, has vowed to attend regardless, tweeting: "Re my Indian visit, for the record, I don't need a visa."

The Indian government has also refused to intervene, confirming that Rushdie - who holds a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card does not need a visa to enter the country.

Court asks for specifics of financial benefits made by Rajat Gupta New York: A US judge has asked prosecutors to provide specific financial benefits they allege former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta made by passing inside information to his friend Raj Rajaratnam amidst allegations that he also tipped him about Proctor and Gamble's 2008 sale of Folgers Coffee Co to JM Smucker.

The judge's direction came after Gupta's lawyers claimed he made no profits and called the government's allegations "mumbo jumbo."

In a pre-trial hearing in Manhattan federal court here, Judge Jed Rakoff said he

would "encourage" the government to be "more specific" about the financial benefits accrued to Gupta, as alleged in the indictment filed against him in October last year.

Rakoff said the prosecutors should "spell them (any financial profits) out with reasonable specificity" in any superseding indictment the government may bring against Gupta in the coming weeks.

During the hearing that lasted for over an hour and which Gupta attended, the government said it is likely to bring slightly revised and

expanded charges in a superseding indictment against Gupta by the end of January.

"A final decision has not been made, but more likely than not there will be a superseding indictment," Assistant US Attorney Richard Tarlowe told the judge. Prosecutors also disclosed during the hearing that apart from passing confidential information about Goldman Sachs and Proctor and Gamble to Rajaratnam, Gupta tipped the Galleon hedge fund founder about P&G's three billion dollar sale of Folgers Coffee Co to JM Smucker in 2008.

Indian cabbie arrested on charges of rape in NY New York: An Indian cab driver in New York has been arrested on charges that he raped and robbed a 26-year-old passenger in his taxi last year.

Gurmeet Singh, 40, had allegedly held his victim at knifepoint and bound her wrists. He faces charges of rape, assault and robbery among others.

The woman had told the police that she fell asleep after she got into Singh's cab on her way back to her home one night in May last year.

When she woke up Singh allegedly held her at knifepoint and raped her, The New York Post reported.

Singh, who is a Sikh, also stole her cellphone and some cash before letting her go in the morning.

Police officers had posed as city taxi commission inspectors to get evidence that Singh was the cab driver they were looking for.

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Gurmeet Singh They matched his DNA, obtained through a glass of water they had offered to him, with evidence uncovered in the police investigation of the sex assault.

Singh has been driving a cab since 1999 and his license was suspended in 2007 for violating motor vehicles rules.

Dr Sudhanshu Prasad takes oath of office on Gita for NJ council

Dr Prasad taking the oath New Jersey: Indian-American physician Dr Sudhanshu Prasad, who was re-elected on a New Jersey township council, took oath of office on Gita for his second-term.

An internal medicine physician and a resident of the Iselin-Edison - which is dominated by Indian Americans -- area in New Jersey for over 25 years, Prasad was re-elected for his second term in the November 2011 elections.

57-year-old Prasad, with his roots from Patna in Bihar, said he chose the Gita because he grew up believing in it, and it is "where my conscience is."

He said his top goal in his second-term is to ensure that municipal property taxes remain as stable as possible, especially in the current challenging economic times, and to make the township more businessfriendly.

Prasad, a former chairman of the JFK Hospital Department of Medicine in Edison, in his acceptance speech said in addition to providing essential services like police protection, fire safety and public works, he wants to be able to preserve high-quality health services for senior citizens and children in Edison.

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Sikh Coalition trains America's largest police force

The Sikh Coalition delivering first-ever presentation on Sikhs and Sikh practices to the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) newest graduating class of 1500. The new police officers watch the presentation by the Coalition members which also included a turban tying demonstration.

Bernards School District is considering Diwali holiday New Jersey: Bernards Township School District (BTSD) in Somerset County is considering Diwali as a school holiday.

Official summary of its Board of Education December 19 meeting says: "A request by a group of Indian American parents and students to make Diwali (the Indian New Year) a school holiday was referred to the Board's Policy Committee for further consideration." About 28,500 students, including about 20% Asians, attend Bernards schools and 11 Indian languages are spoken as principle language in their homes. BTSD, which believes "Children learn in different ways", has been ranked by Forbes magazine as one of "America's Best School Districts for Your Housing Buck."

South Brunswick School District and Passaic City School District, both in New Jersey, have already declared Diwali as holiday. Los Angeles Unified School District (California) lists Diwali in its "Calendar of Commemorative Dates and Observances", while New Jersey Department of Education includes Diwali in its "List of Religious Holidays Permitting Pupil Absence From School."

Raj Kapoor Film Festival on at MoMa New York: The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa), in New York City is hosting a Raj Kapoor film festival titled "Raj Kapoor and the Golden Age of Indian Cinema" from January 6 and January 16.

The festival kicked off with Awaara.

Directed, produced, and starring Raj Kapoor, Barsaat was the next film being shown.

Taking an emotional story with the next film, Boot Polish showed a more heart wrenching film produced by Raj. This star makes the smallest cameo in the film and focuses all his attention to production. Aag, Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai, Shree 420, Mere Naam

Joker and, Bobby are the rest of the films being showcased in this film festival.

Chatwal plans to open 52 hotels in India New York: Hospitality major Hampshire Hotels and Resorts promoted by Indian American entrepreneur Sant Chatwal plans to launch 52 hotels in India in the next five years, under the Dream and Night brands.

About 40 Night Hotels, which is a luxurious lifestyle brand, and 12 Dream Hotels, a boutique hotel targeting the business traveler, would come up in places like Goa, Chennai,

Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

The hotels, brainchild of Chatwal's son Vikram, would be managed by one of the world's largest chain of hotels, the Wyndham Group."We would like to give more options for the 70 million Indians that travel within the country. Our aim is to be the largest boutique hotel company in the world in the next 10

years," said Vikram Chatwal. Sant Chatwal said his company would invest Rs.2,000 crore in these ventures -- many of which would be operated on a franchisee basis."We have already signed 18 deals for both Dream and Night hotels. Most of them would be on the franchising and management model," said Sant Chatwal, chairman and chief executive of Hampshire Hotels and Resorts.

Woman gets 38 years for killing Indian student Bridgeport, Conn: A woman who fired the fatal shot that killed Arun Narote, a 26-yearold engineering student working part-time in a grocery store, was sentenced to 38 years.

Vanessa Ortiz, 21, pleaded guilty in September to felony murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. She, along with two others, was charged in Narote's July 12, 2010, murder and was singled out by prosecutors as the one who fired the shot that killed

Arun Narote was shot through the plexi glass at grocery store him at Norman's Grocery and Deli in Bridgeport, Conn. Luis Torres, 25, who pleaded guilty to the same charges as Ortiz,

has also been sentenced to 38 years. The driver of the getaway car, Marisol Malave, is yet to be sentenced.The murder of Narote was particularly ruthless for what was meant to be an armed robbery. Ortiz committed the robbery/murder while already on probation for one year for a disturbance she caused in a local hospital.

Narote, originally from Hyderabad, was studying in Virginia's Stratford University and had taken the summer job

MOIA scheme helping women deserted or divorced by NRI husbands revised New York: The Scheme of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs(MOIA) for providing legal/financial assistance to Indian women deserted or divorced by their overseas spouses has been revised in November, 2011 based on suggestions received from various quarters.

The scope of the Scheme has been extended so as to cover as many of the needy Indian women who have been either deserted or divorced from funds available under the Scheme. The scheme would be available to Indian women who have been deserted by their overseas Indian / foreigner husbands or are facing divorce proceedings in a foreign

Raj Kapoor

country, subject to the following conditions: (i) The woman is an Indian passport holder; (ii) The marriage of the woman has been solemnized in India or overseas with an overseas Indian or a foreigner; (iii) The woman is deserted in India or overseas within fifteen years of the marriage; or (iv) Divorce proceedings are initiated within fifteen years of the marriage by her overseas Indian / foreigner husband; or (v) An ex-parte divorce has been obtained by the overseas Indian / foreigner husband within twenty years of marriage and a case for maintenance and alimony is to be filed by her; (vi) The scheme would not be available

to a woman having a criminal case decided against her, provided that a criminal charge of Parental Child Abduction shall not be a bar if the custody of the child has not yet been adjudicated upon; (vii) The domicile of the Indian woman seeking relief under the Scheme is not relevant for allowing the benefit. The woman may be domiciled in the country of her overseas Indian /foreigner husband or in India at the time of making the application; (viii) Preference will be given to applicants on the basis of financial need; (ix) Assistance will be provided to meet the legal and other costs, by the Heads of Indian Missions/Posts overseas

at Norman's to meet his expenses. He was behind the plexiglass enclosure when Torres and Ortiz entered the store; Ortiz pointed the gun through the access hole in the plexiglass and later shot him, while Torres grabbed the cash register and left, the Connecticut Post reported.

Stratford University officials called it "a senseless murder" in a release. Before he was at Stratford, Narote was a student at the University of Bridgeport.

directly to the applicant’s legal counsel empanelled with the concerned Indian Mission/Post, or through the Indian Community Associations /Women’s organizations / NGOs acting on the woman’s behalf in an overseas legal institution; (x) The assistance will be limited to US$ 3000 per case and will be released to the empanelled legal counsel of the applicant or Indian Community Association / Women’s organization / NGO concerned to enable it to take steps to assist the woman in documentation and preparatory work for filing the case; (xi) The Indian Women’s Organizations / Indian Community Associations / NGOs will make efforts to enlist community advocates, preferably women advocates, to extend further legal assistance / appearance in court etc on a pro-bono basis. The Scheme has been posted on MOIA's website "http://moia.gov.in/".

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January 14-20, 2012

Bobby Jindal takes oath as Louisiana Governor Houston: Indian-origin Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal took the oath of office for his second term before hundreds of people, with a focus on education and a pledge not to rest on the accomplishments of his first four years. Jindal who won re-election with no formidable challenge from democrats walks into his second term with a huge mandate. "I love to boast about the progress the people of Louisiana have made over these past four years but I won't and here is why. All of that was yesterday, we cannot stand, we must not rest on our laurels," said Jindal.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal takes the oath of office from Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine “Kitty” Kimball.

He expressed the need for more jobs and even more gains in public

education. When it came to overhauling education, Jindal said "I believe

Hindus, Huntsman condemn political advertisement Washington, DC: Republic bindi in the picture. presidential candidate Jon The Huntsmans have Huntsman has slammed as seven children, two of "stupid" a web video using them adopted. Meanwhile, images of his adopted a Hindu American group daughters from India and also strongly condemned China to suggest that he the advertisement, as the doesn't have American valad criticizes Huntsman for ues. raising his adopted Indian "If someone wants to poke Republic presidential candidate daughter in her native fun at me, that's OK," Hindu faith.

"This Jon Huntsman adopted Asha Huntsman said. "What I deplorable ad is blatantly from Gujarat, India. object to is bringing forward racist and religiously intolpictures and videos of my adopted daughters erant, and crosses all lines of acceptable politand suggesting there's something sinister ical discourse," Hindu American Foundation there." managing director Suhag Shukla said in a He called the video, posted by a group back- statement. ing GOP rival Ron Paul, "stupid" and "politi"Instead of vilifying Governor Huntsman, cal campaign nonsense.”The video includes he should be applauded for being open mindfootage of Huntsman, a former US envoy to ed enough to raise his adopted daughter as a China, speaking Mandarin and holding his Hindu," Shukla said. adopted Chinese-origin daughter 12-year-old "To attack a candidate's family, particularly Gracie. his young daughters, is completely unacceptThere is also an image of him holding able and should be denounced by all another daughter, Asha, who was adopted Americans," said Samir Kalra, HAF director from India and is now 6. Both are sporting and senior fellow for Human Rights.

we all need to check our party affiliations, our ideologies and our political agendas at the door... Reforming and improving education should not be a partisan issue. Getting our kids ready to face the challenges this world has to offer, getting them prepared to succeed and triumph should not be a political matter."

"Look our kids only grow up once.

Waiting for the system to reform itself is not an option, now is the time to act," he said.

Jindal easily coasted to a second term Saturday, winning in a landslide election after failing to attract any

well-known or deep-pocketed opposition. The 40-year-old Republican overwhelmed nine competitors in the open primary, where a candidate wins the race outright if he or she receives more than 50% of the vote.

With four-fifths of precincts reporting, Jindal had received about twothirds of the total vote.

His closest competitor, Tara Hollis, a Democrat from north Louisiana, garnered about one-fifth of the total vote.All of the other candidates were in single digits. He's had consistently high approval ratings since taking office in 2008.

Opening of single-brand retail in India will promote investment: USIBC Washington,DC: The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) has welcomed the Government of India Press Note finalizing the 100% opening of foreign direct investment (FDI) in single-brand retail. This policy will be a win-win for Indian consumers and companies, as well as global retailers.

India's growing population of consumers, including 300 million individuals identified as 'middle-class' with a purchasing parity equivalent of $30,000/year, are seeking access to world-class products offered by foreign single-brand retailers, the arrival of which will encourage a competitive environment to stimulate Indian manufacturers and retailers.

"The opening of India's single-brand retail sector sends a crystal clear signal that India is open for business at a time when economic opportunity is certainly welcome amidst global uncertainty," said Ron Somers, President of USIBC. India's single-brand retail market is valued at roughly $7 billion, and is expected to reach $20-25 billion in value over the next five years. Prominent American brands, including Nike, Reebok, Calvin Klein, Estée Lauder and others have

already established a presence in India under various operating models. The lifting of FDI restrictions in single-brand retail now presents an attractive option that will broaden brand awareness, and incentivize many other companies to enter the Indian market.

After an initial opening to 51% in 2006 for single-brand retail, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has now fully liberalized investment to 100% under the Government Approval route, allowing foreign investors complete ownership of their Indian operations. Sourcing requirements attached to the Press Note mandate that a minimum 30% of the value of products sold is to be sourced from Indian small industry.

"While USIBC is encouraged by this lifting of FDI caps in single-brand retail, there is still much work to be done. USIBC will focus on helping companies navigate the conditions required by the Press Note, particularly concerning local sourcing, recognizing India's goal to spur local manufacturing and create employment. USIBC will simultaneously continue to seek an opening for the multi-brand retail sector, as well," Somers said.

Wadhwani Foundation and Virginia Foundation for Community College Education sign MoU New Delhi: The Wadhwani Foundation (WF) and the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) USA signed a memorandum of understanding here Jan 10. The memorandum was signed by Dr. Ajay Kela, President and CEO of Wadhwani Foundation and Dr. Glenn DuBois, member, Virginia Foundation for Community Colleges Education and Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Union Minister of HRD for India, Kapil Sibal and U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Co-chair of the Senate India Caucus who is

visiting India with his delegation were also present at the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion Kapil Sibal underlined the requirement for enhanced skilled development in the country. He said that considering the high rate of growth India needs massive skill upgradation to prepare for the jobs that will be created.

The Wadhwani Foundation and Virginia Foundation for Community College Education partnership seeks to leverage the combined expertise of Virginia’s Community College system in running industry relevant

professional education sharing technical and organizational know-how, curriculum/courseware and teacher training to enhance such programs in India.

As part of the memorandum, the VFCCE and the WF will together identify highimpact skill development programs in India that need such support. These partnerships could be forged with government or private initiatives and would involve vibrant exchange of ideas and technology transfer, adapting U.S. expertise to position Indian institutions to meet local needs. Virginia

Community College experts will serve as consultants, sharing best practices. The Wadhwani Foundation will provide local support and co-funding for this capacity building. “Virginia’s two-year community colleges play a vital and unique role in our workforce training efforts,” Senator Mark Warner said. “This partnership agreement will allow Virginia’s Community Colleges to share their expertise and materials as we work with the Wadhwani Foundation to expand skills-based job training for India’s young people” he added.

8

National Community

January 14-20, 2012

Colorado celebrated New Year with Panchatantra tales Denver: On New Year`s day, works are produced in children in Colorado woke up English, except for to celebrate the new year with "Sniff" (based on an animation series made by "Gandhabichar"), which Denver-based Indian American is in Bengali with Manick Sorcar. The program, English subtitles. These which was aired for two hours animations are popular at on the PBS channel, has been the elementary schools running every year since 1992, where Sorcar is frequentmaking it a record of sorts. ly invited to make a The series "Animation of presentation and conduct India" included four of workshops on animation Sorcar`s award-winning claswith the students. sics -- "Deepa and Rupa: A Sorcar, an engineerFairy Tale from India", "The artist-animator, is the Sage and the Mouse", "The eldest son of celebrated Woodcutter`s Daughter", and Manick Sorcar’s animation series Indian magician the late "Sniff." was aired for two hours on PBS P.C. Sorcar. Referring to While "Deepa and Rupa", the 20th anniversary of which won the Gold Plaque at the 26th Sorcartoons, as it is called here, Sorcar said, Chicago International Film Festival, is based "When you fall in love doing something, you on a popular story from Bengal`s "Thakumar find magic in it. I can`t believe it has been that Jhooli" (Grandmother Tales), "The Sage and many years - many of the kids who watched the Mouse" and "The Woodcutter`s Daughter" the first telecast are probably watching with are from the fables of the Panchatantra. kids of their own now and new kids are join"Sniff" is based on a popular nonsense ing in each year. What can be more pleasing poems by satirist Sukumar Ray in "Aabol than watching the smiling and giggling faces Tabol." "Deepa and Rupa" is India`s first film of happy children first thing in the morning of that mixed animation with live action. All a New Year!"

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Hotelier C K Patel named 2011 “Person of the year” by Blue Mau Mau Atlanta: Hotelier and immediate past chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) Chandrakant “C.K.” Patel has been named 2011 “Person of the Year” by the daily franchise news site Bluemaumau.com for his many innovative initiatives on behalf of hotel franchisees.

During his term as chairman, C.K. Patel led AAHOA to combine forces with the Coalition of Franchisee Associations so together the two groups can push for better contracts with franchisors as well as for stronger lobbying influence on behalf of franchise owners.

He became one of the founding drafters of a Bill of Rights for franchisees in all industry segments.

In announcing the “Person of the Year” recognition, Blue Mau Mau founder and editor Don Sniegowski said, “Years

Chandrakant “CK” Patel from now franchisees may affectionately look back to 2011 and refer to C.K. Patel as the franchise industry’s George Washington.”

Also last year, Patel launched a study by AAHOA of return on investment (ROI) for franchise units among various hotel brands so potential owners will be able for the first time to compare independent information with the disclosure documents provided by franchisors.

Two other pioneering pro-

grams begun last year at AAHOA by Patel were an online supply chain cooperative and an online travel portal – mybesthotelrate.com – to book hotel rooms at the 20,000 properties owned across the country by AAHOA’s 11,000 members.

Patel, who has been a hotelier since 1982, is president of Atlanta-based BVM Holdings, which owns and operates hotels as well as certain commercial real estate investments in Georgia. In January of 2011, he was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the prestigious 30-member Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which advises about industry program and policies.

He was a founder of two community banks in Georgia – Quantum National Bank in 1996, the first bank owned by Indian Americans in the southeast, and Home Town Community Bank in 2005.

Indian-American owned Piping Technology faces $1 mn in fines Houston: Indian-American owned Piping Technology and Products has been slapped with more than $1 million in fines for allegedly exposing workers to hazardous substances.

According to the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the company was being investigated for six months, wherein they found 13 willful and 17 serious violations of worker safety regulations at the company’s Houston facility. The amount of fines totals $1,013,000.

“Piping Technology deliberately exposed its workers who operate band saws and other dangerous machinery to amputation hazards while misleading OSHA investigators about the use of these machines,” David Michaels, OSHA’s Assistant Secretary of Labor, said in a written statement.

The company has 15 days to pay the fine, request a conference with OSHA or contest the citations before an independent review board.Piping Technology Vice-President, Rakesh Agrawal, declined to address specific violations cited by OSHA but said that company leaders “disagree strongly with the conclusions that they reached.’’

He said the company has cooperated with OSHA’s investigation.

“We started out in a garage in Southeast Houston and we have grown the company to nearly 600 employees over the last 30 years.

All the while, we’ve maintained employee safety as our first priority. And we think the data supports it,” Rakesh said.

OSHA launched an investigation into the company’s operations after an employee tipped the federal agency of alleged workplace violations, including lack of brakes on overhead cranes. Agency inspectors found several cases where required protective gear and equipment were not being used to shield employees from machines, OSHA said.

According to the announcement, the inspection not only substantiated the complaint items, but it found that that employees were permitted to cut metal I-beams and pipes without the proper machine guarding, which exposed them to possible severe injuries.

Inspectors also found that during machine maintenance, workers were exposed to the unexpected release of stored energy because of improper safeguards.

Piping Technology, a supplier of piping products to petrochemical and oil industries, is owned by Houston-based Indian American and philanthropist, Durga D. Agrawal.

WLP accepting applications for summer program he Washington Leadership Program (WLP) is accepting applications from highpotential South Asian college students for the 2012 summer leadership program scheduled to take place from June 9, 2012 to August 3, 2012. The WLP cultivates the South Asian

T

American community's next generation of leaders by placing them in Congressional offices or Government Agencies for eight-week summer internships and a structured leadership-training curriculum.

The students gain a firsthand view of the policymaking and legislative

process, as well as gain access to high-profile South-Asian leaders in the nation's capitol.

Applications are available online at http://www.thewlp.com/wl p-2012-application.html.

The deadline for submitting applications is January 20, 2012.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

9

January 14-20, 2012

GOPIO honors seven with community service awards

By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: The Global Organization of the Persons of Indian Origin (GOPIO) during its 10th annual conference and community service awards honored seven eminent persons of Indian origin. The function was held here a day prior to the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas meet.

Rajasthan governor Shivraj Patil and the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were present during the function.

The awardees: Faisal Kottikollon (Bahrain): As the founder-chairman of the UAEbased KEF Holdings, he has scripted a phenomenal success story that continues to inspire many entrepreneurs. With many years of service in practicing corporate social responsibility, he also set up the Shabana & Faizal Foundation charity organization directing funds and support for the betterment of deprived people.

Raghunath Manet (France):

The awardees with GOPIO members Prominent Indian classical dancer and teacher with exemplary contribution to social and humanitarian activities that include active collaboration with UNESCO for promotion of art and Indian culture worldwide. He offers basic education, training facilities, shelter, access to art & culture, including handicrafts, to the disabled, blind

persons and kids and disadvantaged persons through his own school based in Pondicherry.

Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda (USA): Director of the International Legal Studies Program at the University of Denver and an internationally renowned jurist. He was also the former president of the World Jurist Association and President of

Satyendra Huja tapped for Charlottesville mayor Virginia: Satyendra S. Huja has been chosen as the next mayor of Charlottesville after the City Council voted unanimously Jan 3 to elect the longtime city planner as the ceremonial head of local government.

Huja, known as being one of the architects of the Downtown Mall, was nominated by fellow Councilor Kristin Szakos, who in turn was elected to be the next vice mayor, also by a unanimous vote.

A Sikh who came to America from India at the age of 19 to attend college, Huja thanked his wife, his council colleagues and the city voters for giving him the

Satyendra Huja opportunity to serve as mayor.

“It says a great deal about our

community that someone like me can become mayor,” Huja said.

“Our community appreciates … diversity.”

“As the mayor, I will work with City Council for a future agenda for the community,” Huja continued. “I will listen to the desires and concerns of the citizens, residents and businesses. I’m accessible 24/7 to hear your concerns and ideas. As mayor, I will work my very best to protect the interests of our community. I will work to enhance the quality of life and the environment, so that Charlottesville can be a great city, a great community for all of its residents.”

Soumitra Dutta to head Cornell's Business School Bangalore: Soumitra Dutta, a 48 year Skorton, President of Cornell University. old Indian American, will take the posiSoumitra was born to an Indian Air tion of Dean of Cornell University’s Force doctor in Chandigarh. He is an Management School on July 1, 2012. He alumnus of IIT-Delhi campus where he is the first Indian origin person to be in completed his BTech in electrical engicharge of a top American Business neering and computer science securing school. second rank. Even though Soumitra has Soumitra Dutta is a Professor of busibeen outside his native land for more than ness and technology, who is also the 22 years, he does not have a Western founder and faculty director of a newaccent nor does he have the famous media and technology innovation lab at European indifference. "I strongly hold on INSEAD’S French Campus. The search to two things that I brought with me from Indian American for a new dean for the business school India: respecting diversity and the imporSoumitra Dutta began from August last year and tance of family values," he says.

Soumitra Dutta turned out to be one among the two Professor Dutta is also involved in policy developfinalists in the end. ment activities, both at national and European levels.

"Professor Dutta's appointment is a natural fit with Apart from being an academician and businessman, he Johnson's increasingly global outlook," said David is also the author of many books.

the World Association of Law Professors.

Dr. Rami Ranger, MBE (UK): A very successful businessman with recognition from the Queen five times, four times for business (Sun Mark Ltd) and once personally for community service. This year the company was added to the Sunday Times most profitable 100 companies in Britain in their "Profit Track 100". He also devotes his time to benefit society by launching ground breaking initiatives designed to strengthen social cohesion in Britain.

Ajeet Singhvi, MD (USA): Immediate Past President of American Association of Physicians of India Origin (AAPI).

Prominent physician with faculty appointment at Loma Linda University Medical Center, a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterological Association. He is presently serving on the Board of Riverside

County Medical Association.

Datuk A. Vaithilingam (Malaysia): A dedicated national leader of NGOs for social service and community development in Malaysia; recognized as a spokesperson for the advancement of inter-faith advocacy and its role in fostering harmony within the multi-religious communities of Malaysia. He has helmed various leadership roles of Malaysia Hindu Sangam that is Malaysia's national representative organization of the 1.8 million Hindus in the country.

Hendry H Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka): Secretary/Consultant at Office of M.P. Praba Ganesan. He has participated in the peace process activities in Sri Lanka at the grass root level, representing Indian origin Tamils. Actively campaigns for the civil rights of Indian origin Tamils in Sri Lanka who were disenfranchised in 1948.

Gopio also honored bureaucrat K.Mohan Das of India for his services to the Indian diaspora.

Indian food is now officially vegan in the US Houston: A frozen Indian cuisine producer has been awarded the vegetarian and vegan food certification by the US’ prestigious American Vegetarian Association. The award represents an acknowledgment of the growing demand for Indian food, especially vegetarian Indian food.

The growth of the Indian vegetarian food industry in the US and other countries represents a booming market, that is likely to grow further as being vegetarian is now seen as a healthier, alternative food choice.

“As consumers become more and more health conscious, it’s our responsibility to offer a diverse range of restaurant quality Indian cuisine that is 100 per cent safe for vegetarians and vegans, and for those with allergies,” said Mike Ry a n , VP Marketing, Deep Foods.

“For that reason, Deep Foods is proud to manufacture products that are AVA vegetarian and vegan certified.”

The AVA-certified logo will be clearly displayed on a total of 35 Deep Foods products, denoting either vegetarian or vegan certification.

The product line of the company offers 19 vegetarian and 16 vegan options, that tanta-

lizes the taste buds of Indian food lovers by using authentic recipes, that include snacks, frozen food, ice creams.

Deep Foods is a second-generation family owned and o p e r a t e d c o m p a n y. S i n c e 1977, the company has been producing restaurant quality, all natural frozen Indian food.

The AVA aims to provide a widely recognized certification program that will enable vegetarian-minded people to make accurate food choices, being certain they can be confident in their selection and t h a t o f t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r ’s claims.

Law Office of Bikram Singh & The Patel Law Firm 233 Fifth Ave, Suite 4A, New York, NY 10016 • Real Estate (commercial & residential closings) • Business Law (business incorporations, contracts) • Corporate Transactions & Litigation • Labor & Employment • Administrative Law • Immigration Law (all immigration matters) • Collections • Landlord/Tenant Law • Entertainment Law • Criminal Defense Languages: Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Swahili

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10

US Affairs

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Romney concedes 'uphill climb' in South Carolina Washington: After winning New Hampshire with ease, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Wednesday he has "an uphill climb" to win South Carolina primary, but is ready to defend himself from the "underbelly" of politics in a state known for bare-knuckled tactics.

Boarding a plane Columbia, S.C., to campaign for the Jan. 21 primary, Romney said he's prepared for the direct and indirect attacks that are sure to come from Newt Gingrich and other rivals for the GOP nomination.

"Politics ain't bean bags and I know it's going to get tough and no one's going to be happy if things are said that are untrue. But I know that

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney with his wife and sons, who are aiding his poll campaign. is sometimes part of the underbelly of politics," the former Massachusetts governor said when

Easier green card for illegal immigrant spouses and children Washington: Obama administration officials announced last Friday they are proposing a fix to a Catch22 in immigration law that could spare hundreds of thousands of American citizens from prolonged separations from illegal immigrant spouses and children.

Although the regulatory tweak appears small, lawyers said it would mean that many Americans will no longer be separated for months or years from family members pursuing legal residency. Even more citizens could be encouraged to come forward to bring illegal immigrant relatives into the system, they said.

The move was greeted with unusually broad praise from immigration lawyers and immigrant and Latino groups, which have been critical of the high rate of deportations under President Obama.

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, called it a “welcome rational solution to a simple problem” that will mean “thousands upon thousands of families will remain together.”

The fix is one of a number of

recent measures by the administration that do not require the approval of Congress, designed to ease the effects on immigrant communities of contradictory or outmoded statutes. White House officials have been seeking ways to shore up sagging support for the president, particularly among Latinos.In essence, officials at Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) are proposing to change the procedures by which illegal immigrants with American family members apply for green card, allowing a crucial early step to take place in the United States rather than in the immigrant’s home country. The new step was only the beginning of a long process the CIS hopes to complete by issuing a new rule before the end of this year. The new rule would make no change in the situation of illegal immigrants who do not have immediate American family members. White House officials acknowledge that there will be no progress before the November elections on legislation the president supports to give legal status to millions of illegal immigrants.

asked if he was prepared for a whisper campaign about his Mormon religion or other aspects of his

is more severe."

Pew looked at children born in the early- to mid-1960s and assessed their economic status roughly 40 years later. Being middle class in the parents' generation meant a household income of roughly $33,000 to $64,000 in 1979. But their children had to earn between $54,000 and $111,000 to maintain their relative standing in society in the mid-2000s (adjusted for inflation.)

The middle class is defined as

line of attack against President Obama, and said Obama has been "a venture capitalist at Solyndra," referring to a California energy company that declared bankruptcy and laid off 1,100 workers despite a $528 million loan from the Obama administration. He also said Obama was a "private equity guy at General Motors and Chrysler," referring to Obama's intervention to save the companies from collapse.

"So I'll be talking about his record when I'm facing him," Romney said.

The GOP front-runner, Romney said he faces "more of an uphill battle" in South Carolina, where he is less well known than in New Hampshire, which handed him a victory in its primary Tuesday night.

Michelle rejects ‘angry black woman’ portrayal Washington: Michelle Obama said depictions of friction in a new book, "The Obamas," between her and former top aides to her husband, President Obama, aren't true.

In a wide-ranging interview with "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King, the first lady also said that some have tried to portray her as an "angry black woman" since Barack Obama first announced he was seeking the presidency. " ... I guess it's more interesting to imagine this conflicted situation here and a strong woman and-you know? But that's been an image that people have tried to paint of me since the day Barack announced, that I'm some angry black woman."

"The Obamas," written by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor, reports that there was tension with former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and with former presidential Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

But Mrs. Obama told King that simply wasn't so.

"Rahm is -- and Amy, his wife, are some of our dearest friends," Michelle says. "Rahm and I have never had a cross word. He's a funny guy."

The book also reports that Gibbs cursed Mrs. Obama during a meeting dealing with the fallout from a book written by her French counterpart, Carla Bruni Sarkozy, which claimed that Mrs. Obama said living in the White House "was hell."

Mrs. Obama says she hadn't heard that at the time, and that Gibbs "is a trusted advisor. He's been a good friend and remains so."

She added that she hasn't read Kantor's book. "...who can write about how I feel? Who? What third person can tell me how I feel, or anybody for

One-third of middle class suffer downward mobility New York: Nearly one third of Americans who were raised in the middle class dropped down the economic ladder as adults -- and that's before the Great Recession hit.

"Being raised in the middle class is not a guarantee that you'll have that same status as an adult," said Erin Currier, project manager at Pew's Economic Mobility Project.

"With all the economic turmoil in the past four years, there's good reason to think that downward mobility

background.

Romney said he was surprised that Gingrich was so aggressively attacking his past tenure at the private equity firm Bain Capital.

Gingrich, soundly defeated in the first two Republican contests, has gone after the front-running Romney as a former venture capitalist who earned millions through buyouts of companies that ultimately cost people their jobs.

"We understood for a long time that the Obama people would come after free enterprise. (I'm) a little surprised to see Newt Gingrich as the first witness for the prosecution but I don't think that's going to hurt my efforts," Romney said.

Romney also previewed a new

those between the 30th and 70th income percentile.

Marital status and educational attainment had a great bearing on whether people were able to remain in the middle class, Pew found.

Race and gender were also factors.

Those who are divorced, widowed or separated are more likely to fall out of the middle class, particularly if they are women. And Americans who don't attend college are also more likely to slip.

The First Lady gave an interview to Gayle King for CBS that matter," she told King.

The first lady admits she's one of her husband's "biggest confidantes, but he has dozens of really smart people who surround him. ... That's not to say that we don't have discussions and conversations.

That's not to say that my husband doesn't know how I feel."

"You know, I just try to be me. And my hope is that over time people get to know me. And they get to judge me for me."

As for living in the White House, Mrs. Obama told King, "It has been a privilege, from day one.

Now, there are challenges with being a mother and trying to keep your kids sane. And I worry a lot about that. I mean, if there's any anxiety that I feel, it's because I want to make sure that my girls come out of this on the other end whole. But me, Barack, we're grown-ups. You know, all the ups and downs, we take it on."

Appeals court blocks Oklahoma's ban on Sharia Law Denver: An amendment that would ban Oklahoma courts from considering Sharia law is discriminatory and unnecessary, a federal court ruled Tuesday in a decision that allows a Muslim community leader to push forward with his attempt to challenge the ban's constitutionality.

The Associated Press reports that the ruling from the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a previous federal ruling that blocked implementation of the so-called Save Our State Amendment shortly after it was approved by a whopping 70 per-

cent of Oklahoma voters in November 2010. The amendment seeks to prevent courts from looking "to the legal precepts of other nations or cultures" and specifically singles out Sharia law. Sharia law is a term for the laws of Islam as laid out by the Quran and

by Muhammed's example. In some Muslim countries, Islamist groups have imposed strict versions of it as the primary governing code. A small group of Americans -- but apparently quite a few Oklahomans -- believe that the U.S. is also at risk for such a scenario.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Govt seeks report on Jarawa tribes video

A video of Jarawa women a tribal group inhabiting the islands allegedly dancing for food was released by The Observer, a London-based newspaper.

New Delhi: The Union government has asked the Andaman and Nicobar authorities to file a report on the incident of Jarawa women dancing for food. A video of Jarawa women— a tribal group inhabiting the islands— allegedly dancing for food was released by The Observer, a Londonbased newspaper, along with a report.

The video enraged both rights activists and the authorities.

Even though the authorities say the video, which is doing rounds on networking sites like Facebook, is fourfive years old, the home ministry

sought a detailed report to verify the authenticity of the video and the incident involving contact of the tribe with outsiders.The Andaman police were quick to state that the person alleged to have asked tribals to dance for the tourists is not a policeman as has been “widely and erroneously reported.”“We are ascertaining the year when the video was shot.” The statement also said the police had asked The Observer, which claimed that a policeman had taken bribe to make the tribals, especially women, dance naked, to apologize to police.

Home minister P Chidambaram, who is touring the islands on January 21, will take up the issue.

“We asked for a report from the UT and I will also visit the islands. The government will continue its efforts to preserve the identity of tribals,” union tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo said. The tourism ministry said it was planning a policy to prevent such incidents. “I have sought a report and will take action against the tour operators concerned,” tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay said. Jarawa is one of the most primitive tribal groups in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and close contact with the huntergatherers is prohibited.

11

January 14-20, 2012

India denies hacking into US emails New Delhi/Washington: India has dismissed claims that its military intelligence had snooped into emails of an American commission that monitors economic and security matters with China with the help of mobile service providers.The issue surfaced after an alleged memo from the Director General of Military Intelligence, Foreign Division appeared in the cyber world, according to which Indian officials discuss plans to target the US-China commission. The documents shown in the memo doing rounds on the internet are forged and don't belong to us, Army sources said here. However,

The issue surfaced after an alleged memo from the Director General of Military Intelligence, Foreign Division appeared in the cyber world.

the US has already ordered an investigation into these claims.

"We are aware of these reports and have contacted relevant authorities to investigate the matter," said USChina Economic and Security Review Commission spokesman Jonathan Weston.

"We are unable to make further comments at this time," said Weston, who was responding to questions about the alleged memo.

The memo stated that the Indian military used "backdoors" provided

by RIM (Research in Motion), Nokia, Apple and unspecified other mobile service providers.

Suspended Indian diplomat granted bail

Madhuri Gupta was arrested in 2010 for passing country's sensitive information to Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.

New Delhi: Suspended Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta arrested over 21 months ago allegedly for passing country's sensitive information to Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, was granted bail by a Delhi court.While enlarging Gupta on bail, Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Kumar Jain, however, restrained her from leaving Delhi without prior permission of the court. The judge, who had on January 7, charged her with offences entailing three years jail term on conviction, released her on bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and surety of same amount. The court granted bail on her plea that she has already spent over 21 months in jail while the offences she has been charged with carries a maximum jail term of three years on being held guilty.

Gupta, 55, was arrested on April 22, 2010 by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. She was posted as Second Secretary (Press and Information) in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

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India Newswire

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Assembly polls: EC puts minorities quota on hold New Delhi: Amid fierce resistance by the BJP to religion-based reservations, the Election Commission asked the government to put on hold the implementation of the 4.5 percent subquota for minorities in the five poll-bound states till the elections are complete.

Last month, just before elections were announced for five states including Uttar Pradesh, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government decided to provide 4.5 percent reservation to minorities in central government jobs and educational institutions within the 27 percent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Taking note of the opposition, the poll panel ruled Wednesday that the decision was taken and announced on Dec 22, much

BJP leader Uma Bharti said that the Muslim community should also oppose the proposal as it was "against the basic tenets of Islam".

Samajwadi Party plans a Muslim-quota ace

before the coming into force of the model code of conduct on Dec 24.

It, however, directed the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions that the office memorandum (on the minorities quota) issued by them shall not be given effect to in the five pollbound states -- Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand -- until the completion of the election process in these states.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid promised that the party will provide nine percent reservation to backward Muslims within the OBC quota if the Congress was voted to power in Uttar Pradesh.

The move has elicited vehement opposition from the BJP, with party leader Uma Bharti accusing the Congress of a "bigoted men-

tality" for talking of "religionbased reservation" ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

The BJP had even complained to the EC Tuesday, which issued notice to Khurshid.

Uma Bharti, a former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, said that the Muslim community should also oppose the proposal as it was "against the basic tenets of Islam".

"Islam does not accept discrimination. Caste inequality has been a part of Hindu society," Uma Bharti said.

"It reflects the bigoted mentality of Congress. Muslims should also condemn the Congress... We will not tolerate it. We will fight on the streets, in parliament," Bharti said and added that the party will not allow a "second partition of the country".

Congress condemns BJP's criticism New Delhi: The Congress Party condemned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharati's criticism of its promise of nine percent reservation for the backward sections of Muslims and other minorities in Uttar Pradesh, if voted to power.

"It is ironical that the BJP, which is culpable of injecting

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

communal element in the body politic, is accusing the Congress of psychological division of the society," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said at a press briefing here.

"All know the character and conduct of the BJP. Even their phraseology is condemnable," he added.

Salman defends self on Muslim quota row

The party, led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, is busy finalizing the party manifesto that might push the Congress to the wall on the issue of reservation to Muslims.

Lucknow: The Muslim quota politics seems to be the flavor of UP poll season. Even as the Election Commission directed the Centre to put on hold the 4.5% sub-quota to minorities it announced recently, the Samajwadi Party think tank is busy finalizing the party manifesto that might push the Congress to the wall on the issue of reservation to Muslims.

"It would be something no one would have imagined," said a senior SP leader who is also a member of the party's manifesto drafting committee.

The committee includes Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav, Mohan Singh, Azam Khan and Akhilesh Yadav.

Reports suggest the committee has given its nod to the proposal of offering reservation to Muslims

higher than whatever given in any state of the country.

Though Mohan Singh was the only senior member of the committee who did not attend the meeting, party leaders said he was unwell. "He had instead sent a detailed representation comprising his views on various topics on the agenda," a senior leader said.

Some party leaders, however, said Singh is annoyed after being removed as party's national spokesperson.

Apart from Muslim reservation, the SP election manifesto is likely to promise sops like free irrigation, water and cheaper power supply to farmers, additional unemployment allowance to jobless, free medical treatment for all including advance level surgeries and free education.

New Delhi: Slapped a notice by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to explain his remark that if elected to power Congress would provide nine percent reservation for Muslims in jobs in Uttar Pradesh, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said he was only uttering what was in the manifesto.

He said while opposition leaders like Mulayam Singh demanded 18 percent and even 28 percent he only said what they had come up after survey when he was at helm in UP and had followed at the centre.

"I will explain my position to the Election Commission," he said, adding that a notice is not an order to shoot someone. said even with model code of conduct a party has the right to speak about its policies.

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections, political parties are in a race to outdo each other over wooing the minority and Congress courted a fresh controversy when Salman Khurshid promised nine percent sub-quota for the backward Muslims in the state jobs, inviting an explanation from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The ECI, which was moved by parties like the BJP over the issue, has issued a notice of Khurshid and

Congress courted a fresh controversy when Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid promised nine percent sub-quota for the backward Muslims in the state jobs. his wife over the remark.

The statement was made in the constituency of Salman's wife Louis Khurshid in Farrukhabad.

Before the announcement of poll dates in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress had played its Muslim card as the union cabinet announced a 4.5 per cent sub-quota for the minorities under the 27 per cent quota reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). With Muslims forming a major chunk of the vote bank (18.5

percent) in Uttar Pradesh, the political parties are in a battle to woo the community with promises and sops.

The Congress led by Rahul Gandhi and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by present UP chief minister Mayawati are engaged in a fullscale war over Uttar Pradesh, a state the Gandhi scion is desperately trying to get back to the Congress fold.

UP is going to a seven phase election in Feb-March this year.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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January 14-20, 2012

NRIs get right to vote in Indian elections

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: Fulfilling a long-standing demand of its diaspora, India said it would allow NRIs to vote and participate in the election process.

"Pursuant to the law that was enacted to enable Non-resident Indians to vote in our national elections, the government has issued notifications for registration of overseas electors under the Representation of People Act, 1950," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

"This constitutes the first major step to enable Indian residents abroad to participate in our election process," the prime minister said while addressing the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas diaspora meet here.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launching a book at PBD-2012 in Jaipur.

He said the diaspora plays an important role in the growth and development of the country. The government recognizes it, and was committed to address their concerns and fulfil their demands.

"The government and people of India recognize and value the important role being

played by Indian communities living abroad.

We believe that Indian diaspora has much more to contribute to the building of modern India," the prime minister said.

"We propose to facilitate, encourage and promote this engagement. Over the past year, we have taken a number of steps towards

CMs urge diaspora to step up investment

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addressing the session on ‘Global Indian: State Initiatives and Opportunities’ at PBD-2012.

He said the proposed Delhi- the development of the state.

Jaipur: Chief ministers of severHe said remittances by nonal states urged overseas Indians Mumbai Industrial Corridor to step up investment, assuring a would boost manufacturing resident Indians to Kerala were activities in Rajasthan as the to the tune of Rs.49,965 crore business-friendly environment.

Showcasing the development maximum 39 percent of the dedi- (around $10 billion), which is initiatives launched by their cated corridor would pass almost 22 percent of the state's respective governments, they through the state. "Infrastructure gross domestic product (GDP).

According to a World Bank assured the Non-Resident will be developed in a band of Indians and Persons of Indian 150 km on both sides of the cor- report, the total remittance flow to India was around $58 billion Origin at the 10th Pravasi ridor," he added.

Gujarat Chief Minister in 2011, which was around 4.2 Bharatiya Divas here that their states would facilitate investment Narendra Modi said his state was percent of the country's GDP. Chandy said Kerala planned to a model of development and providing all possible support.

"We welcome with open hearts overseas Indians should play a organise a global investor meet called "Emerging Kerala" in whatever support or contribution role and benefit from it.

Modi, however, said he was September this year to woo you may wish to extend. Your support will be a great morale concerned about the well-being investments from the diaspora.

Urging overseas Indians to booster for us," said Ashok of overseas Indians. "The first Gehlot, chief minister of thing that we in Gujarat think is come and invest in the state, Rajasthan, which is co-hosting what we can do for the diaspora Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun instead of expecting something Munda said: "I assure you that the meet. the government will extend all Gehlot said his government from them."

Kerala Chief Minister necessary help in making was taking proactive measures to attract investments from over- Oommen Chandy said the dias- Jharkhand the first choice for pora played an important role in your valued investment." seas Indians.

this end," he added, as he formally inaugurated the 10th annual diaspora meet, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said NRIs would be able to exercise their franchise in upcoming elections.

"Indian nationals living abroad can now exercise their franchise in India at the time o f the elections," Ravi said.

Now those NRIs who have registered with the embassies of their respective countries of stay, would be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. Polls will take place in these countries between Jan 28 and March 3.

Ravi said objective of the government was to further increase engagements with diaspora. "Our objective is to raise the level of engagement to go beyond mere investment related issues and address a broader agenda."

"We believe that this will provide the vast majority of you the opportunity to benefit from as well as contribute - each in your own way - to India's development story," the minister said.

India pushing Gulf nations for liberal labor laws Jaipur: India will enter into bilateral agreements with the Gulf countries to curb exploitation of Indian labor in the region and ensure a decent working environment for its diaspora, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said.

Addressing the inaugural session of the annual diaspora meet here, Ravi said India has already signed bilateral agreements with some of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to ensure a decent work environment for its diaspora, especially women workers.

The minister said majority of Indian workers in the Gulf region were on temporary contractual visas employed in informal sectors.

"They often do not have the protection of labour laws in the host countries. A significant number of them are women.

This makes them especially vulnerable to economic downturns and sometimes exploitation," Ravi said.

Ravi said the appalling conditions of work and the absence of social security protection for women domestic workers in the Gulf region needed strong governmental interventions.

"Even the International Labour Organisation has recently drawn attention to the urgency in this regard," he said.

The minister said an estimat-

ed five million Indians were employed on contractual temporary visas abroad mostly in Gulf countries and Malaysia.

"There is a net annual outflow of over half a million workers from India, excluding returnees," he said.

Ravi complimented the contribution of these workers in the development of Indian economy. "These workers make a significant contribution to India and account for close to 40 percent of the total remittances that India receives each year," he said.

According to a World Bank report, India is estimated to receive around $60 billion remittance in 2011. "Over the years the PBD has gained in stature and is now globally recognized as a pre-eminent platform for overseas Indians to engage with India and its leadership," Ravi said.

On the occasion, Ravi announced that Indian government has created a special fund called "Indian Community Welfare Fund" that will be used to provide "on-site" welfare services to overseas Indians in distress.

The new fund is placed at the command of the heads of the Indian missions across the world. The fund provides for food, shelter, legal assistance and other welfare support to overseas Indians on a "means tested" basis.

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

14 awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

Jaipur: President Pratibha Patil Monday conferred the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman' awards to 14 eminent overseas Indians, including Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, and a Canada-based institution, for their outstanding contributions in enhancing India's

image globally.

The other Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardees include: P V Radhakrishna Pillai (Bahrain) for his outstanding contribution to the Indian community, Prof Sachchidanand Sahai (Cambodia) for his scholarly work, Indo – Canada Chamber of Commerce (Canada) for its role in fostering relation between India and Canada, Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani (Cote D’Ivoire) for his services to the Indian community and promoting India in Africa, Dr Victor Shahed Smetacek (Germany) for his outstanding contributions in the field

Kamla Persad Bissessar P.V. Radhakrishna Pillai

Jose Parayanken

Kiran Navinchandra Asher

of science, Sri Prakash Lohia (Indonesia) for enhancing the Indian community’s prestige abroad, Jose Parayanken (Mozambique) for furthering the Indian community’s interests abroad through his activities, Kiran Navinchandra Aher (Oman) for his outstanding contribution to the Indian community abroad, Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule (Qatar) for his contributions towards the welfare of the Indian community abroad, Dr Khorshed Noshir Ginwala-Rustomjee (South Africa) for her outstanding contributions to the local community and public service,

Rajesh Kumar Saraiya (Ukraine) for his contributions in the field of business and for outstanding community service, Prof Surendra Kumar Kaushik (USA) for his contributions in the field of economics and for enhancing the Indian community’s stature abroad, and Dr Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli (USA) for her contributions in the field of medicine and for outstanding public service.

Also awarded was S R Nathan, Former President, Singapore, for his outstanding contributions in the field of public service, in absentia.

Sachchidanand Sahai

Satish Thakkar

Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani

Victor Shahed Smetacek

Sri Prakash Lohia

Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule

Khorshed Noshir Ginwala-Rustomjee

Rajesh Kumar Saraiya

Surendra Kumar Kaushik

Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli

‘Jewels of Rajasthan’ – a proud chronicle of NRRs Jaipur: Maneesh Media Agency released its 24th publication titled ‘Jewels of Rajasthan’ in an extraordinary event held at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur on January 8, 2012 on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

The publication covers 64 profiles of Non-Residential Rajasthanis (NRRs) especially from United States of America, United Kingdom, Middle-East and other states of India.

The event received more than 40 attendants out of its 64 profiles who were felicitated with the ‘Jewels of

Maneesh Media Agency CEO Chand Mal Kumawat

Rajasthan’ award.

This 10th PBD gave a platform to Maneesh Media Agency whose CEO Chand Mal Kumawat has a lateral vision to host an evening for NonResidential Rajasthanis. The publication was also titled the same as it has life stories of such successful people.

Managing Director, Manish Kumawat revealed that “Jewels of Rajasthan’ not only focus on entrepreneurs or business tycoon but also those who have dedicated their life for human welfare, social cause and other distinguished fields.” When

asked about what was the criterion to declare people as the Jewels? Manish replied that any Rajasthani who has made a positive impact on the society through their act of working even when living outside their domain was featured in the coffee table book. The evening had Chandu K. Patel, Chairman for National Federation of Indian-American Associations (NFIA) as the special guest. He had a special message for the evening as he announced the opening of Rajasthan Chapter of NFIA. Moreover, Mrs. Mamta Sharma, Chairperson for

Guests such as Dev Ratnam and his wife Runi (middle) were given a traditional welcome.

National Women Commission, India also graced the event by being a distinctive guest for the evening. These two shared the dais with O.P. Modi (Chairman and MD , Okay Plus Group, India), Haridas Kotahwala (President – RANA), Kuldeep Mathur (CEO and Board of Member, Blueline Shipping, Dubai), Suresh Gandhi (MD, Al Samier Electricals and Equipment Trading Co. Ltd, Dubai) and Dr. Ramesh Sharda (Professor – Oklahoma State University, USA). Dr. Renu Khator (Chancellor – University of Houston

System and President – University of Houston, Texas) was the early attendant. Although Narpat Bhandari of Bhandari Foundation, USA had the plan to come to Jaipur he did not make it because of unavoidable circumstances, his message was read out by Sarika Saggar, chief editor, Maneesh Media Agency. The publication was co-sponsored by Okay Plus Group, Jaipur; Media partner was ETV Rajasthan; while other associates were Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha, Meri Car and Wow Retail Pvt. Ltd.

The coffee table book features 64 Non-Resident Rajasthanis.

Chandu Patel (left) Chair of NFIA, was special guest at the event.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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January 14-20, 2012

India seeks diaspora investment in energy, health care Jaipur: India has asked its 30 million strong diaspora spread across over 130 countries to contribute in the development of health care, energy and infrastructure sector.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said the event would provide an opportunity to the overseas Indians to understand about their motherland and explore business opportunities here.

He said the event also provides an opportunity to the Indian government to understand issues and problems affecting the workers employed abroad.

On the occasion, India launched a special pension and life insurance scheme that would benefit over 5 million unskilled and semi-skilled workers employed overseas mostly in Gulf countries on temporary contract visas.

The government has created a special fund called Pension and Life Insurance Fund which will be used to partly contribute to pension and insurance cover to the low-paid workers.

Ravi also urged overseas Indians to play a role in development of infrastructure and energy security in the country.

India targets to invest over $1 trillion in infrastructure development in the next five years. To fund the major infrastructure projects, the government is trying to woo foreign investors and overseas Indians.

"Come back and give something that is

important for the development of your motherland," said New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah.

He asked the Indian diaspora to invest in development of solar and non-conventional source of energy, saying it would offer lucrative returns in the coming years.

"You should look at generating capacity and investment in research and development. It has the potential of high profits," Abdullah said.

Addressing a conference on the first day of the three-day event, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad urged the NRIs to help develop health care infrastructure in the country.

He said the government targets to increase spending on health care to 2.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) during the 12th Five Year Plan, that starts April 1, 2012, from the present level of around one percent.

"Indian diaspora of over 30 million people has acquired an enviable reputation for innovative start-ups, successful businesses, ground breaking research leading to Noble prizes and countless distinguished contributions in diverse fields such as education, energy, environment, research, literature, business and industry," Azad said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the event was intended to enhance interaction with the diaspora, rather than seek investment.

Some of the diaspora, especially those in Europe and north America showed eagerness to move back to India because of economic turbulence in those countries.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union Minister for Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, during a seminar on solar energy.

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi addressing a Seminar at PBD-2012.

Azad seeks diaspora's participation in health sector

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: Seeking active participation of the diaspora in health sector, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government will walk the "extra mile" to liberalise policies to facilitate their "meaningful" participation in areas of medical research and skill building.

He also said that the Government is piloting necessary changes required in the relevant legislations to facilitate overseas Indians with foreign medical qualification to practice and teach in India.

Addressing overseas Indian and Indian-origin delegates from 24 countries on the first day of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, Azad listed the number of initiatives and schemes launched by the Government like the flagship National Rural Health Mission to improve the public health system in the country.

The Minister said India wants to forge one of the "most effective partnerships" in a slew of areas like medical research, academic collaboration, telemedicine and skill building.

"The Government has now taken the initiative to facilitate overseas citizens of India to both practice and teach in India. The Health Ministry is piloting the necessary changes required in the relevant acts," he told the gathering.

He said the government was prepared to go an

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad addressing the seminar on health care. "extra mile to adequately liberalise policies and set up a single window within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ease the process of your meaningful participation."

Azad also noted that the government is now recognising post-graduate degrees of five English speaking countries like the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for teaching as visiting faculty in the country.

He also said there are 300,000 doctors of Indianorigin working abroad out of which 40,000 work in the National Health System of the UK alone, forming the core of its service delivery.

'India requires genderbased teaching' Jaipur: Overseas Indians attending the Pravasi Bharati Diwas (PBD) here Jan 7-9 feel that to become a developed country, India requires to fill the gaps mainly in the education sector.

"India requires gender-based teaching and it will help to utilize 50 percent of human resources meaningfully. This would also help in women empowerment," Anita Singh, an academician at the University of Toronto, said.

Singh, who belongs to Bhilawat village near Ajmer district of Rajasthan, said that mathematics can be understood differently by girls and boys and so teaching should focus on gender too.

She said that in India, the majority of girls do not have access to quality education, which undermines the overall efficiency of human resources as almost 50 percent do not get proper education.

She said that there still exists conservatism, old values, superstitions and traditions which widen the gap between economically growing India and developed countries.

The most important sector to overcome such obstacles is education, Dr Singh added.

She said that in the next 10 years, India will require thousands of colleges and if teaching is modernized as per the requirements of the day, India will surpass all developed countries in more than one way.

Earlier, Dr. Singh interacted with youth during a session and answered their queries. She said that the rural students like urban should also get top priority.

Dr Singh visited her home state after 10 years and was mesmerized to see changes especially in Jaipur.

"I am very excited and thrilled to be here and after the PBD, I will go to my village to meet family members," she added.

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Modi steals the show at PBD-2012

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: Speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas – 2012 Conclave, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said new India should stand on the three pillars - Scale, Speed and Skill – a model propagated by the state of Gujarat, to realize its full potential.

The Gujarat’s chief minister was the star performer at the event and shared the platform with three chief ministers - Kerala’s Ooomen Chandy, Rajasthan’s Ashok Gehlot and Jharkhand's Arjun Munda.

The Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister were absent.

Modi was given a standing ovation by the audience after his 30-minute speech, highlighting the growth achieved in his state.

Modi said Gujarat is the India’s rather global capital of solar energy. Gujarat and Rajasthan are major hubs of solar energy radiations. “When I think of Gujarat, I think of Rajasthan too. Gujarat is the first state in

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the PBD-2012 in Jaipur.

India to have a solar energy policy which was later adopted by the Government of India.

World’s largest solar park with 3,000 MW capacity is being established in Gujarat jointly with Clinton Foundation," he added.

He said that when he became the chief minister of Gujarat in 2001, there was a shortfall of 2,000 MW power in the State.

Rajasthan invites diaspora youth to come visiting Jaipur: Youth from the Indian diaspora will be invited to visit Rajasthan and know the state better, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 10th annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas diaspora meet here, Gehlot emphasized on the need for ensuring that the younger generation of the diaspora remained "connected" with India.

The chief minister stressed the need for regular interaction between the youth of the country and the youth of Indian origin living abroad.

He said that regular exchanges were necessary to connect the NRI youth with their motherland and to educate them about their heritage.

"It is with this objective that on this auspicious occasion, I declare Know Your

Rajasthan Scheme," Gehlot said.

Under this scheme every year 50 men in the age group of 18-28 years from the diaspora would be invited by the state government to visit and experience Rajasthan.

"Ninety percent of the cost of air fare will be borne by the Rajasthan government. Besides this, the expenses on their internal transport, boarding and lodging will also be borne by the Rajasthan government," the chief minister said.

He said that the diaspora from Rajasthan was recognized for its entrepreneurship and hard work and had done the country proud.

"The achievements of business houses like Birla, Bangur, Bajaj, Goenka, Singhania, Poddar and Mittal and others are well known," said the chief minister.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Indian Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi at one of the pavilions at PBD-2012.

"Whereas the nation is still facing a similar situation, we introduced the Jyotigram scheme to provide round-the-clock power in every nook and corner of Gujarat and today state has become, a power surplus state," he added.

Narendra Modi said that Gujarat has 4,000 MW suplus electricity and it will generate

7,000 MW surplus power by the end of 2012, which is the overall production rate of many Indian states.

While interacting with the delegates, he said the event was not for discussing investments but for interacting with overseas Indians and making them aware about the development and opportunities in the country.

Speaking of global recession, the chief minister apprised that Gujarat took the initiative to host Global Investors Summit in 2011 which invited a record investment of 450 billion US dollars.

He further cited the example of Tata’s Nano car project which came to Gujarat after falling in troubled waters and has become a success story, followed by other auto majors establishing their manufacturing bases in Gujarat.

He stressed that within a decade, the State will be producing five million cars annually.

Shri Modi told the gathering that the metro coach manufacturing factory in Gujarat has yielded tremendous results and today coaches are supplied to all metro projects.

"The state of Gujarat has the biggest ship breaking industry in the world and we have moved from ship breaking to ship repairing to ship making industry. Gujarat plan to contribute five percent to the world’s entire ship building industry," he told the gathering.

NRIs shop, soak in Rajasthani delights in Jaipur

Artists performing Rajasthani folk dance at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2012 conclave outside the B.M. Birla Auditorium in Jaipur.

Jaipur: Dal-bati-choorma, lak jewelry, bandhej textiles...Most overseas Indians participating in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here took time off from their busy schedule to shop, sightsee and soak in the rich culture of Rajasthan.

The state government spruced up Jaipur's old city areas, known as the Walled City, for them. The pink-colored buildings and shops are sparkling with glittering lights and decorative items.

Many enthusiastic delegates, braving the winter cold, went for a ride of the Walled City after dinner at Sisodia Rani Garden.

"I really liked the rich heritage of the city. The Walled City is really beautiful.

The outer part of the city has a sign of modern development, but the old city still has the old charm," said A. Bhattacharya, a delegate from the US. He said he was attracted the most to the small shops on both sides of the road in the Walled City selling traditional items.

The markets here are crowded with delegates who were seen shopping.

Traditional clothes and accessories, including lugadis, chunnis, bangles and handbags, are turning out to be a major draw.

"I've come with my family. So while I am attending the sessions here, my family is busy shopping. They bought lak bangles, bandhej and some jewellery," said Mahaveer Singh from France.

Another delegate said apart from meeting businessmen from all over the world, getting an opportunity to observe Rajasthani culture had been a major advantage of his visit to Jaipur.

"I really enjoyed Rajasthani food like dal-bati-choorma, which I had at a place near the main bus station," said Deepak Kumar from Canada.

However, he said, the traffic and encroachments seemed to be a major problem. "The authorities should do something about the traffic," he said.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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January 14-20, 2012

Increase investment in India: Pranab urges diaspora Jaipur: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged non-resident Indian (NRI) entrepreneurs to increase investment in India, saying the the economic engagement of the diaspora was not been upto the potential so far.

"We have not yet reaped the full benefits of India's great diaspora. The most obvious area remains that of investment and entrepreneurship," Mukherjee said while addressing the 10th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas annual diaspora meet here.

The finance minister pointed out that flow of foreign direct investment in the countries like China had been mostly by the Chinese living overseas, while in case of India, it was not upto that level.

"I am aware that there have been large ticket investments by non-resident Indian

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee addressing at PBD-2012. entrepreneurs. But I think it is far less than the potential and perhaps too concentrated

Regional diaspora meet in Dubai this year: Ravi Jaipur: The regional annual diaspora meet, the mini-Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, will be held in Dubai later this year, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said.

"I am happy to announce that the regional PBD for 2012 will be held in Dubai for the Gulf region," Ravi said while addressing the valedictory function of the 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here.

Last year the regional diaspora meet took place in Toronto,

Canada. It was organized by the overseas Indian affairs ministry in partnership with Indo Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been s one of the recipient of this year's "Pravasi Bhartiya Samman" awards.

Ravi said the 10th edition of the annual diaspora meet saw the highest participation. Over 2,000 delegates from 59 countries participated at the three-day event.

on the formal sector," he said.

"Rather, we must pursue an alternative

model. One that is more balanced and holistic in a socio-economic sense," he added.

Mukherjee said the entrepreneurial skills of the Indian business community settled abroad were a matter of envy for other nations.

"Foreign firms are increasingly aware of the sharp business acumen of the Indian entrepreneur and managers. They have come to respect our business houses and practices," he said.

The finance minister said India was emerging as a major player in global economic affairs and talents and entrepreneurship of its citizens were widely recognised.

"We are widely recognized as a major driver of global growth. India is a member of the G20 and, within the G20, it is considered a part of the systemically most important 7," he said. Mukherjee said migration of people should not be regarded as a "brain drain".

Jharkhand poised for higher industrial growth: Munda Jaipur: Jharkhand, which has huge mineral resources and hosts some of India's big companies like Tata Motors, is poised for higher level of industrial growth on the back of liberal government policies and increased investment in soft infrastructure, Chief Minister Arjun Munda said.

"The state is determined to reach another higher level of industrial growth and invest more in training and skill development to achieve high employment generation for the educated youths,"

Munda said here at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual diaspora meet.

He said Jharkhand has already achieved high growth in mineral based industries like steel, alumina and power production.

Munda said his government was taking steps to convert the abundantly produced metals like steel and alumina into high value intermediary or end products through downstream processing in a bid to boost manufacturing activities in the state. Some of the big private

and public sector steel companies like Tata Steel and Bokaro Steel are based in Jharkhand.

Tata Motors, which is the largest producer of commercial vehicles, is also based in Jharkhand. Munda said Jharkhand was also giving priority to development of information technology and information technology enabled services.

"We are in the process of setting up IT-Special Economic Zone at Jamshedpur besides IT hub around capital city of Ranchi," the chief minister said.

PBD-2012 In Pictures

Former West Indies cricket player Brian Lara attends the closing ceremony of the 10th PBD-2012.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot felicitating Chief Guest and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor at the session on 'Partnering for Prosperity' at PBD-2012.

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Tristate Community

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Punjab Chalo launched to boost Congress chances in polls The campaign was formally launched at a gala event in New York where it was announced that coordinated by Shudh Prakash Singh, around 200 NRIs from Punjab will travel to their home state on January 19 to canvass in support of the Congress party and dislodging the Akali government in the election scheduled for January 30.

Shudh Prakash Singh, Chief Coordinator of Chalo Punjab campaign, gave a rousing speech at the Sunday event.

Former chief minister of Punjab, and Patiala Maharaja Capt.

Amarinder Singh, spoke to the gathering via video conferencing.

(Photos: Baldev Singh/BJ Digital Video & Photo)

New York state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli gave a brief address.

Honor to Kanwal Sra of KSRA group for serving the community in Punjab was presented by Comptroller DiNapoli.

Jaswinder Singh Johal and Desh Deepak Bharadwaj, co-owners of Apna Bazar, were also honored.

Rajesh K Singh of Raj and Rajeshwari Foundation receiving the plaque from DiNapoli.

Dr Kiranpreet S Parmar receiving the citation from NY Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel.

New York Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel lauded India’s democracy and Punjab Chalo’s ‘Get Out The Vote’ campaign.

Bhangra by boys and girls concluded the program.

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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January 14-20, 2012

NRIs for Congress launch Chalo Punjab to woo voters in Jan 30 state poll

By Jinal Shah/SATimes New York: On Sunday a group of NRI Punjabis gathered under the banner of ‘NRIs for Congress’ at World’s Fair Marina in Flushing to demonstrate their solidarity for the Indian National Congress which is contesting the state assembly elections later this month to wrest power from the Akali Dal-BJP alliance. The gala event, also graced by New York State comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, saw the launch of the ‘Chalo Punjab’ campaign with Shudh Prakash Singh as chief coordinator.

The event was aimed to urge Punjabi NRIs to visit their state to campaign for Congress party. “We are trying to take about 200 NRIs to support the party in Punjab as a whole and also in their respective constituencies. The visiting group will be received in Delhi from where a luxury coach will be flagged off from the AICC headquarters,” said Shudh Prakash Singh. He said about 125 NRIs had already registered for the campaign.

The group will head to India on January 19 and will campaign till the end of elections on January 30.

About expenses on the trip, Shudh

Lavika Bhagat Singh, General Secretary, Punjab Election Campaign Committee (USA) compered the program. maintained, “NRIs will be bearing the cost of flight and hotel accommodation themselves.”

Shudh Singh, who was recently appointed as chief coordinator of Congress party’s Election Campaign Committee (USA), had asked for at least five assembly seat tickets for NRIs. “We had demanded at least five seats for this election however except for the two already given, no fresh seats have been given to the NRI community,” said Singh partly blaming the NRI community for the same. “No new member of the NRI community

applied for it.”

How will the recent corruption scandals rocking the Congress party and its partners in the UPA government affect the party’s prospects in five states going to the polls in the next two months?

Shudh Singh is optimistic.

“Corruption is everywhere, however people understand Congress is the first party to have actually taken action against their own party leaders, putting them behind bars.”

Shudh Singh’s personal take on the Lokpal bill. “Lokpal bill itself is a good effort to curb corruption.

Phuman Singh, President East Coast of Punjab Election Campaign Committee (USA), giving his speech.

(Photos: Baldev Singh/BJ Digital Video & Photo) However, Anna Hazare’s version goes too far in putting the prime minister under radar. In my opinion prime minister and president should not be screened under Lokpal to keep sanctity of the high office.

Prosecuting them after their tenure is the right thing to do.”

At the Sunday event, Captain Amarinder Singh, President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Dr Karan Singh, head of the Foreign Affairs Deptt, AICC, and Inder Dev Singh Musafir, chairman, NRI cell (PPCC) addressed the gathering from India

through pre-recorded video messages shown on overhead screens.

The gala event also honored illustrious Punjabis rendering service in India: awards were given in the field of medicine to Dr Kiranpreet S. Parmar, a physician at Staten Island University Hospital, in philanthropy to Kanwal Sra of KSRA grou and Rajesh K Singh (not strictly from Punjab) of Raj and Rajeshwari Foundation and for extraordinary friendship and brotherhood to Jaswinder Singh Johal and Desh Deepak Bharadwaj, coowners of Apna Bazar.

Capt. Amarinder Singh promises to put Punjab back on path to progress

By Parveen Chopra ormer Punjab chief minister and President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Captain Amarinder Singh’s videotaped speech was shown at the launch of the Chalo Punjab campaign and was the centerpiece of the evening. He regretted that he wanted to address the gathering in person but could not make it because of his busy schedule in the run up to the elections in Punjab.

Amarinder Singh voiced a sharp criticism of the incumbent Akaliled government of Prakash Singh

F

Badal. He said Punjab had become debt ridden, rife with lawlessness and faced with rising unemployment, particularly among the youth who were getting trapped by drugs.

He promised that the Congress government will initiate a number of development projects, add new crops to revive agriculture and bring in new industry. In sports like hockey too, he said, Punjab will again see its glory days of old.

The Patiala Maharaja promised his NRI audience that the Congress government would set up an NRI affairs department to resolve their cases and problems in the state on a priority basis. For the development

projects NRIs want to set up in their town or village, the government will give a matching grant and give a single window clearance. Arguing that Captain Amarinder Singh led Congress government in Punjab (2002-07) was the most honest, most transparent ever, Shudh Prakash Singh in his speech implored NRI Punjabis to join the Chalo Punjab kafila going to their home state to bring back Congress to power. It was their responsibility, he added, to volunteer in this project for a better Punjab, for a corruption free Punjab. He also gave logistics and flight cost etc details of the travel to

A group of attendees at the event held at World Fair Marina in Flushing.

Some more prominent Punjabis were honored with saropas by New York Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel.

Delhi and further on to Punjab.

Shudh Singh also praised the honorees mentioning the community service they were rendering back home in India. The honorees were also given an opportunity to speak.

Dr Karan Singh also spoke to the audience via video conferencing.

He said each NRI was an asset for India. He deplored factionalism, and invited NRIs from Punjab to join the group coordinated by Shudh Prakash Singh and visit their village or constituency in Punjab where they have rapport and support the Congress.

Inder Dev Singh Musafir, chairman, NRI cell (PPCC), in his prerecorded speech, gave details of the welcome awaiting the Chalo Punjab kafila of NRIs converging on Punjab via Delhi from New York, Chicago and Toronto.

New York Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, in her address, lauded India’s democracy as the largest in the world. She highlighted the importance of ‘Get Out The Vote’ (GOTV) in a democracy, and so the significance of Chalo Punjab campaign to make India and the world a better place.

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Diaspora

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Alok Gupta murder: No racist angle Hindus in Russia celebrate Gita verdict; brace for in the attack, says Canadian envoy New Delhi: Canada has assured that there will be no repeat of incidents like the murder of Indian student Alok Gupta. It also added that there was “no racist angle in the attack.”

In an interview to Headlines Today, the Canadian high commissioner to India, Stuart Beck said: “We regret the tragic incident and will ensure that there is no repeat…There is no racist angle in the attack.”

“We value Indian Diaspora…millions of Indians in Canada. I can assure people of India that Canada is safe for Indian students and visitors,” Beck was quoted as saying to Headlines Today.

Alok, an Indian student, working part time at a convenience store, was shot dead in the west-

possible appeal

Alok Gupta was shot dead in a shocking Christmas Day attack ern Canadian city of Surrey, in a shocking Christmas Day attack.

27-year-old Alok had volunteered to work the afternoon shift to allow the store owners celebrate Christmas together and was killed by an unidentified gunman.

It is not yet clear whether Alok was shot during a robbery attempt.

Police is yet to make an arrest in connection with the case, but say they do not believe it was gangrelated.

6.7 percent ethnic Indians in Malaysia Kuala Lumpur: Around 6.7 percent of Malaysia's total population of 27.5 million are people of Indian origin, according to the country's latest census report.The decennial census report was released by the statistics department Thursday, Xinhua reported. Ten years ago, Malaysia's population was 22.2 million.

Of the 27.5 million people counted till 2010, ethnic Malays made up 50.1 percent, followed by ethnic Chinese at 22.5 percent, natives at 11.8 percent and ethnic Indians at 6.7 percent, the report said.

Around 71 percent reside in urban areas. Capital city Kuala Lumpur alone has the largest population of 1.58 m

Norwegian court, mandated under Norwegian laws. The Indian government is concerned that the circumstances prevailing in this case may not justify an extreme step like long-term separation of the children from their natural parents, the ministry said.

The Norwegian authorities have expressed understanding for the government’s concerns.

Bhattacharya and his wife have been appealing to the Indian government for help in getting their children back. As the matter is sub-judice, the external affairs ministry has also advised Bhattacharya to take suitable legal recourse.

Speaking to Indian dailies, the couple from Kolkata have said that the Norwegian authorities came up with “bizarre explanations” for taking away their children and it appeared to them like “child kidnapping in a civilized society”.

Das, a leader of the Iskcon movement in Russia, told over the phone from Moscow.

The Tomsk court verdict came about after India took up the matter with Russia, following an IANS report on the case caused a political storm in parliament, with MPs calling for the government to protect the rights of Hindus in Russia.

Meanwhile, Hindus in Russia are watchful of the Tomsk state prosecutors as the law provides for them to appeal in the supreme court of Russia in their case seeing a ban on "Bhagavad Gita As It Is" written by Iskcon founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhapada and declare distribution of its Russian translation in Russia illegal.

He said personally, he was hopeful the state prosecutors may not appeal, as there was no private party in the case that was aggrieved by the judgment.

"It is a state prosecutors' case.

So they may decide against appealing. We hope they decide against it," he

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan to be honored with knighthood

India to Norway: Separating kids from NRI parents unjustified New Delhi: India has made it clear to Norway that the decision of the Norwegian Childcare Services to separate two children from their NRI parents was an extreme step and unjustified. Strong demarches were made to the Norwegian embassy in New Delhi and to the Norwegian foreign ministry and the ministry of children, equality and social inclusion in Oslo to reiterate the government’s serious concern, the external affairs ministry said in a statement here.

Three-year-old Abhigyan and oneyear-old Aishwarya, infant children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, an NRI couple living in Stavanger, Norway, were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) in May on grounds that they were not looked after properly by their parents. Barnevarne has placed them in foster parental care as per the directive of the local

New Delhi/Moscow: As Hindus in Russia celebrated their legal victory over efforts to have the Bhagavad Gita banned, they are bracing to counter any move by Tomsk city state prosecutors to appeal against the Siberian court verdict dismissing the plea to brand the revered text as "extremist" literature.

With the Leninsky district court Federal Judge G.E. Butenko rejecting the petition of Tomsk city state prosecutors to ban the Gita, Hindus and Krishna devotees in Russia and members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) in India held celebratory sessions at their temples and held prayers to express their happiness over the verdict.

"We are very happy with the judgment of the Tomsk city court.

To express thanks and our joy, several thousands of Hindus in Russia and Iskcon devotees gathered at the Krishna temple in Moscow and other Iskcon centres in 80 cities of Russia to celebrate and hold prayers," Sadhu Priya

London: Indian-origin scientist Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, a winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize for chemistry, will be honored with knighthood in 2012.

Venkatraman works as a biologist

at the Medical Research Council's Molecular Biology Laboratories in Cambridge, BBC reported.

Born in 1952 in Chidambaram in India's Tamil Nadu state, Venkatraman was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2009 along with two other scientists "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome", according to the Nobel Prize website.

The ribosome -- the cell's protein factory -- translates genetic code into proteins, which are the building blocks of all living organisms.

Experts said the India-born scientist's work solved an important part of the problem posed by Francis Crick and James Watson when they discovered the now-iconic double helix DNA structure as to "how does the code become a living thing."

Australian teen gets 13-year jail for killing Indian student Melbourne: A teenager in Australia was sentenced to 13 years in prison Thursday for stabbing to death an Indian student here last year.Nitin Garg died of his injuries after a 15-year old tried to snatch his mobile phone while the former was walking through a park on his way to work in January last year, The Australian reported. Supreme Court judge Paul Coghlan sentenced the youth, who cannot be identified, to 13 years in prison for the murder, with a minimum of eight years before parole.Justice Coghlan said, without a guilty plea, the sentence would have been 16 years with 12 years before parole. The teenager, who has already served 18 months in jail, is now aged 17.

In his judgement, Justice Coghlan said he accepted the boy had not intended to kill Garg, saying the foreign student was a "completely innocent" and random victim chosen not because of his race but because of his mere presence in the park."Although this is a very serious crime, it was committed spontaneously," said Justice Coghlan.

Garg, following the attack, tried to call 000 before dropping his phone. But his call did not get through. He staggered to the Hungry Jacks where he worked before collapsing just inside the door.The teenager was arrested six months later, after a friend he was with came forward to police.

Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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January 14-20, 2012

Gilani sacks Defence Secretary, takes on army Islamabad : Pakistan's political and military establishments were set for a showdown as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked the defence secretary Wednesday after coming under attack from the military.

In a move that caught many by surprise, Gilani asserted his authority by dismissing Naeem Khalid Lodhi, a retired lieutenant general widely seen to be close to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi was quickly asked to take charge of the defence secretary's post, which Lodhi had held since November last year, Geo News reported.

A peeved Kayani called for an emergency meeting of the army's top commanders Thursday.

Pakistan's all-powerful army

Yousuf Raza Gilani warned earlier Wednesday that the prime minister's recent "critical comments" of the military would have "serious ramifications" with "potentially grievous consequences for the country".

The public criticism of the prime minister by the army and Gilani's counter quickly fuelled speculation of a possible military takeover in the world's only nuclear-armed Islamic state.

Pakistan to blow up Osama's hideout London: The house in Pakistan where former AlQaeda chief Osama bin Laden was hiding, before he was killed by US commandos in a special operation last May, will be blown up and bulldozed, The Sun reported.

Military officials in Pakistan plan the event to be carried out in front of TV cameras to prevent the walled complex from becoming a shrine to the former Al-Qaeda chief. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said: "We will hit it like an enemy fort. But first we must erase everything related

to bin Laden from our country."

The demolition will take place next month. According to chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas, US and European officials will be invited to witness the event.

"It will be a big event," he said.

Osama, the world's most wanted terrorist who orchestrated the 9/11 attack on the US through his Al-Qaeda outfit, was killed in Abbottabad near the Pakistan capital by US special forces, ending one of the world's biggest and costliest manhunts.

While sacking him, Gilani charged Lodhi with "misconduct" and taking "unlawful steps" over what has come to be known as memogate -- a row that has pitted the military against the civilian leadership.

Glani said Lodhi had created "misunderstanding between the state institutions" by submitting statements of Kayani and Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha, who heads the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), on the scandal.

The Pakistani judiciary is probing a memo delivered to former US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen by Pakistani American Mansoor Ijaz seeking to prevent a military coup which President Asif Ali Zardari feared after the killing of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden by US commandos in May 2011.

Gilani told a Chinese daily that Kayani and Pasha acted illegally by making unilateral submissions to a Supreme Court inquiry on the memogate. The Inter-Services Public Relations, the military's media arm, said Gilani had termed the responses of Kayani and Pasha in the court as illegal and unconstitutional.

"There can be no allegation more serious than what the prime minister has levelled against (Kayani and Pasha) and has unfortunately charged the officers (with) violation of the constitution.

"This has very serious ramifications with potentially grievous consequences for the country," it warned.

The dramatic developments come at a time of growing turmoil in Pakistan, which has been increasingly at loggerheads with the US

over the conduct of the war in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Many in Pakistan also believe that the military is quietly siding with cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, whose recent public meetings have attracted tens of thousands.

With Zardari denying that he had contemplated stepping down and with Gilani taking a hard line vis-avis the army, some fear that chances of a military coup cannot be ruled out. Retired army officer Talat Masood told India's CNN-IBN channel: "The military thinks it is being blamed very badly in public. I hope they don't take over but it is very much possible."

Since its independence in 1947, Pakistan has had four spells of military rule -- headed by Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf.

Zardari has not offered to resign: Spokesman Islamabad : Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari did not offer his resignation during a meeting with coalition partners, presidential spokesman Farhatullah Khan Babar said Wednesday.

In a statement issued in the capital, the spokesman said the issue of the resignation was not discussed during a meeting Tuesday night with the allies of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Online news agency reported.

Earlier media reports quoted Zardari as saying that he was ready to give up his post if the PPP and coalition partners so desire.

The president reportedly told his allies that he was elected president with their help, and if they wanted he was ready to resign and even hold new elections.

The meeting was held after the Supreme Court warned that action could be taken against Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for failing to reopen graft cases against the president.

The meeting was attended by Awami National

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

Party chief Asfandyar Wali, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Muttahida Quami Movement leaders Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghauri and other leaders of the PPP.

SAARC can bring real cooperation in South Asia

By Ravi M. Khanna t last India and Pakistan, it seems, have woken up to the need for genuine cooperation in South Asia where countries of the region start depending on each other for those crucial products which they now import from the West. This way they will pay lower freights and at the same time contribute to the economic growth of the region.

May be the first step in this direction came this week when New Delhi and Islamabad agreed in principle to trade in electricity through a specially-built high voltage direct current link between Amritsar and Lahore.

Right now the plan is to transfer 500 MW through the Punjab border with the tariff linked to the market rate.

If this kind of pragmatism spreads in the region, the region, given its potential, can become a bigger market than China and the whole of Europe and can also become selfreliant in a number of products and services that they now import from the West. And the West knows that, and may be that is why it

A

Bangladesh is among the fortunate to have a substantial volume of natural gas resources. does not encourage such logical moves that may not serve their self-interest.

Let us take Sri Lanka first. It produces almost 150,000 tonnes of rubber annually.

This trend continues with Sri Lanka exporting about 20 percent - 30 percent of the rubber production in raw form while 70 percent80 percent is used by domestic industries. So, given the quantity and quality of the rubber produced in Sri Lanka, they can even produce more quality tyres than the total demand of the South Asian countries and then even

export some.

If its tyre industry gets a boost from SAARC, or just India, it can produce enough tyres itself and for the whole region. Then countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh will not have to import tyres from Western countries. They will also have to spend less on freight due to the proximity of the supplier.

Bangladesh is among the fortunate to have a substantial volume of natural gas resources.

Part of it is discovered, and only part of discovered resources has been proven. But the natural gas situation in Bangladesh is a desperate situation because it is letting its gas fields to hibernate. So it needs swift development and production of natural gas in order not to allow it to hibernate. SAARC countries can help Bangladesh do it and at the same time produce fertilizer and also power in some sectors. Such a pragmatic move can help Bangladesh in producing power and also fertilizer to meet the demand of the whole region, eliminating the need for importing fertilizer from the West by India, the biggest importer of fertilizer in the region..

Power is also in shortage in Nepal that has a huge hydropower potential. In fact, the perennial nature of Nepali rivers and the steepness of the country's topography provide ideal conditions for the development of some of the world's largest hydroelectric projects there. According to some estimates, Nepal's hydropower potential is more than 40,000 MW of which it has developed less than 1,000 MW. Therefore, bulk of this economically feasible generation has not been realized yet. SAARC countries can help Nepal generate enough hydroelectricity for domestic consumption and then also for export to neighboring countries like Pakistan and India.

So, if the SAARC countries begin looking beyond their noses, they can prosper themselves and in the process make South Asia a self-reliant region, perhaps to the envy of the West.

(Ravi M. Khanna is a longtime South Asia observer. He has also headed the South Asia Desk in the Voice of America Newsroom in Washington.)

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International

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Iran N-scientist killed in China criticizes new US defense policy car bomb blast

Tehran: An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in a Tehran car bomb assassination blamed on Israel that threatens to ignite a dangerously tense international standoff over Iran's atomic program.

An Iranian official immediately blamed "the Zionist regime" for the explosion, saying the method -- two men on a motorbike attaching a magnetic bomb to the target's vehicle -- was similar to those used in the assassinations of three other scientists over the past two years.

Iran's parliament erupted with yells of "Death to Israel" and "Death to America" during a speech by one MP who said Wednesday's attack would not dissuade the Islamic republic from "achieving progress."

Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, 32, died immediately in the blast, which occurred in

Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, 32, died immediately in the blast. front of a university campus in east Tehran.

Two other occupants of the Peugeot 405, one of them his bodyguard/driver, were wounded, Iranian media reported. Ahmadi Roshan was a deputy director at Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility, according to the website of the university he graduated from a decade ago, Sharif University.

He was specialized in making polymeric mem-

branes to separate gas. Iran uses a gas separation method to enrich its uranium.

"The responsibility of this explosion falls on the Zionist regime," the deputy governor of Tehran province, Safar Ali Bratloo, told Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam broadcaster, using Iran's term for Israel.

"The method of this terrorist action is similar to previous actions that targeted Iran's nuclear scientists," he said.

US condemns Iran's move to start uranium enrichment Washington: The US has condemned the Iranian government's decision to begin uranium enrichment operations at a facility in the country's north.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Monday confirmed that Iran had started enriching uranium to the 20-percent level at its Fordo plant near Qom city.

"This step once again demonstrates the Iranian regime's blatant disregard for its responsibilities and that the country's growing isolation is selfinflicted," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement Tuesday.

Clinton lamented that the construction of the new plant in Qom had been carried out secretly for three years.

"Iran only declared the Qom facility to the IAEA after it was discovered by the international community following three years of covert construction.

Iran has announced it intends to consolidate and increase its production of uranium

enriched to a near 20 percent level at this facility," she said.

"There is no plausible justification for this production.

Such enrichment brings Iran a significant step closer to having the capability to produce weapons-grade highly enriched uranium," Clinton said.

She said Tehran's statement that the decision was necessary to produce fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) was "false".

"We call upon Iran to immediately cease uranium enrichment and to comply with its international nuclear obligations. We also call on Iran to return to negotiations with the P5+1 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany)," Clinton said.

Western nations suspect Iran, already under international sanctions, of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons programme but Tehran insists it needs nuclear power solely for civilian purposes.

Beijing: Beijing said a new US defense strategy focused on countering China's rising power was based on "groundless" charges, and insisted it posed no threat to any nation.

President Barack Obama unveiled the strategy, calling for a leaner US military focused on countering China's rising power and signaling a shift away from large ground wars against insurgents.

But China, whose People's Liberation Army has benefited from a huge and expanding budget boosted by the nation's rapid economic growth, said the fears were baseless, urging the United States to "play a more constructive role".

"The charges against China in this document are groundless and untrustworthy," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in response to a question from state media about whether China poses a threat to US security.

Liu was referring to the strategy document released last week, which said the growth of China's military power "must be accompanied by greater clarity of its strategic intentions in order to avoid causing friction in the region".

"To maintain the peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region serves the common interest of all countries within the region," he added. "We hope the US side will play a more constructive role to this end."

President Barack Obama unveiled the strategy, calling for a leaner US military focused on countering China's rising power.

Washington's focus on Asia is fueled by concerns over China's growing navy and its arsenal of anti-ship missiles that could jeopardize US military dominance in the Pacific.

China's responses to recent US moves to boost its military presence in Asia -- including the deployment of up to 2,500 Marines to northern Australia -- have so far been restrained.

China's official Xinhua news agency said it welcomed a bigger US presence in Asia as "conducive to regional stability and prosperity", while urging it against "warmongering".

China "adheres to the path of peaceful development, upholds an independent foreign policy of peace and a defense policy that is defensive in nature," said Liu.

NATO urged to properly plan Afghan withdrawal Islamabad: The withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan should be properly planned and executed to ensure that the law and order situation does not go out of control, a Pakistani think tank has said.

Though the main focus of the discussion at a round-table organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) Tuesday was the situation in Afghanistan, the participants also expressed optimism over the improvement in PakistanIndia relations, Dawn News reported.

Participants also discussed the volatile Pakistan-US relations and US relations with Iran.

Shaheen Akhtar, senior

research analyst at the IRS, said that for long-term stability in Afghanistan, NATO forces would have to plan their withdrawal in a very responsible manner.

"It has to be ensured that a power vacuum is not left in Afghanistan, which will give rise to non-state actors in the country," he said.

Some of the speakers said Afghanistan had become a battleground for a "proxy war" between many powers and the growing Indian influence could not be ignored by Pakistan.

Most of the speakers stressed direct dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the issues between the two countries.

George Perkovich, vice president for Studies and director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said India was eyeing a global role for itself, which made it more inclined to talk peace with Pakistan.

In this, he saw an opportunity for Pakistan to build a peaceful future for the region.

He dispelled the impression that the heavy presence and investment by India in Afghanistan could be a threat to Pakistan.

India could never substitute Pakistan in Afghanistan, as there was a historical interdependence between Kabul and Islamabad, another expert said.

Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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January 14-20, 2012

India opens retail sector to foreign brands New Delhi: India has allowed 100 percent foreign equity in single brand retail, notifying the norms that among other things said all wholly-owned international brands will need to source 30 percent of their requirements locally.

The government justified the move, saying that foreign direct investment (FDI) in single brand will attract investments in production and marketing, improve the availability of such goods for the consumer and encourage sourcing of goods from India, according to a notification by the commerce and industry ministry.

"The cabinet took the conscious decision to liberalize policy for FDI in single brand retail. FDI in single brand has led to emergence of some global majors in Indian

Until now, global retailers owning a single brand had to look for an Indian partner as the cap on foreign equity was 51 percent. market," said Commerce and ing a single brand had to look for Industry Minister Anand Sharma. an Indian partner as the cap on Until now, global retailers own- foreign equity was 51 percent.

Moody's upgrade India's ratings, Sensex soars New Delhi: Global credit rating agency Moody's Investor Services has raised India's sovereign credit ranking to investment grade.

The Moody's upgraded the country's short-term foreign currency rating from speculative to investment grade, saying "diverse sources of Indian growth have enhanced its resilience to global

shocks". The present slowdown, it said, "could reverse sometime in 2012-13, as inflation cools from current 9 percent levels".

The news was welcomed by the markets with the 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) rallying 350 points or 2.22 percent to close at 16,165.

Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi

The ministry had earlier mooted relaxation in multi-brand retail investment norms up to 51 percent, which led to a nation-wide furore and unrest, even within the ruling United Progressive Alliance government, resulting in the withdrawal of the decision last month.

"This is a welcome move with a clear potential to lift the general mood in the economy. Increased investments by foreign single brand retailers will not only help improve consumer choice but also enhance competitiveness of Indian enterprises," said Rajan Bharti Mittal, vice chairman and managing director, Bharti Enterprises.

As per the notifications, products to be sold should be of a single brand only as they are sold

internationally. Companies which propose to set up wholly owned subsidiaries under the single brand format would have to source at least 30 percent of the value of products sold from Indian small industries, artisans and craftspersons.

"Further, if at any point in time, this valuation is exceeded, the industry shall not qualify as a 'small industry' for this purpose.

The compliance of this condition will be ensured through self-certification by the company, to be subsequently checked, by statutory auditors," according to the notification.

"This step will provide stimulus to domestic manufacturing value addition and help in technical upgradation of our local small industry," said Sharma.

With $378m, Apple CEO to top 2011 pay list In comparison, Jobs Los Angeles: Tim Cook could well end up being the accepted a $1 annual salary highest paid CEO in America for years and owned about 5.5 million shares, worth in 2011, after Apple granted about $2.3 billion today. him a million restricted stock In total, Cook has about units last August for taking the reins shortly before co1.36 million restricted founder Steve Jobs died. shares that haven't yet vested and 13,754 regular An Associated Press shares worth a combined review of a securities filing $580 million, the filing shows Cook's pay package showed. Cook's award is was valued at $378 million.

Tim Cook, the new Apple CEO. The vast majority came in a well above that given to grant of a million restricted stock units worth $376 Philippe Dauman, the Viacom chief executive who led million at the time. Half of the stock units will vest in the top-paid CEOs of 2010 with an $84.5 million haul based on a new contract that granted him shares and August 2016, the other half in August 2021.

His salary and performance bonus, about $900,000 stock options. each, made up much of the rest. He also made $16,520 Cook's pay package was also valued at more than all from company contributions to a retirement account of the next nine highest paid CEOs of 2010 combined, and company-paid life insurance premiums. or about $356 million.

Wall Street at 5-month high

The 11th edition of the Auto Expo promised a slew of launches and first-time exhibits of vehicles in virtually every segment. Here is, the Tata Pixel concept car.

New York: US stocks climbed to a five-month high, led by materials stocks after an upbeat forecast by aluminum company Alcoa and strong gains in bank shares.

Alcoa Inc posted revenue that topped expectations late Monday and gave a bullish outlook for the aluminum industry. The stock gave up early gains to end at $9.44, up 1 cent. However, data

showing strong Chinese imports of copper helped buoy the rest of the sector. A gauge of materials companies' shares was among the leaders of S&P 500 sectors, with a gain of 1.8 percent.

The U.S. equity market continued its recent divergence from the woes of the euro zone.

Recent economic reports and optimism about the U.S. earnings

season have pushed stocks higher in the start of the new year, with the benchmark S&P 500 rising in five of six sessions.

"Investors are still focusing on Europe but not putting as much weight on Europe as they were in November," said Jonathan Corpina, head of NYSE floor operations for Meridian Equity Partners in New York.

24

Sports

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

No rift in Indian dressing 2008 Monkeygate inspired India at Perth: Hussey room: Dravid Perth: India's veteran batsman Rahul Dravid rubbished Australian media reports of a rift in the dressing room and defended the decision of some of the players to go for a go-karting session here at a time when the team has suffered two embarrassing losses in the first two Tests.

Dravid laughed off rumors of rift between India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Shewag.

"When you do badly, suddenly everything is seen as wrong with the team. There is no truth (in Sehwag vs Dhoni reports) to those matters. As I said, the spirit of the team is really good," Dravid said.

Defending his team mate decision to skip nets for gokarting session, Dravid said: "One of the good things about traveling abroad is you are in a bit of a cocoon. You don't gauge what's happening back home. There's a sense of disappointment with the results so far, we would certainly like to do better but the

Rahul Dravid laughed off rumors of rift between India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Shewag. spirit of the team is very Dravid said young Indian good." batsmen have a daunting task Dravid also said that the in hand and the seniors will team was not bothered about always help them out. comments from Australian "There's no formal talk as vice captain Brad Haddin, such. In the course of spendwho said Indians are fragile. ing time in dressing room, at "We haven't bothered (with team dinners or go-karting Haddin comments) really. for that matter, conversations There are five days of impor- can happen which are useful. tant cricket to worry about It's not like a powerpoint and there is no time about presentation, that's not how anything else to be honest. teams work. We speak to You don't need anyone's com- each other, juniors to seniors ment to motivate yourself. and seniors to juniors, and it's We are not even bothered" he always a healthy conversasaid. tion," he said.

Perth: Australia's veteran middle-order batsman Mike Hussey feels the 'Monkeygate' incident during the 2008 Sydney Test motivated the Indian team to come back strongly and win the Perth Test in the 2007-08 series.

Australian Andrew Symonds had accused Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh of calling him a monkey during the acrimonious Sydney Test. The duo, however, made up later and played together in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Mumbai Indians.

Hussey felt the Monkeygate incident galvanized India to rattle Australia at the WACA Ground by 72 runs, just a week later.

Australia, however, held their nerve at Adelaide to secure a 2-1 series win with a draw in the fourth Test.

"There was obviously a lot of controversy after the Sydney Test match, which I think in a way really galvanized the Indian team.

They came to Perth with a real determination to do well," Hussey was quoted as saying by The Age. "I didn't feel at the time that it affected our team, but maybe it did a bit with all the controversy going on outside of the game," he said.

With India trailing 0-2 in the current series, Hussey said it was too early to write off the visitors. Hussey also praised the calming influence of India captain

Mike Hussey.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with whom he shared the dressing room at Chennai Super Kings during the Indian Premier League.

"Whether things are going well or whether things are going poorly, he keeps a very level head. He doesn't get too emotional.

He's a very calm character and he tries to instil a lot of belief into his players," he said.

Hussey also praised Australian skipper Michael Clarke, who posted an unbeaten 329 last week.

"I think Michael Clarke learnt a lot from playing under Ricky Ponting for quite a few years. He wants the game to go forward all the time. He's an aggressive sort of a captain and he wants the team to be scoring quickly.

He's always thinking as a captain and he's very passionate about the job," he said.

Bhutia dazzles in last match against Bayern New Delhi: Iconic footballer In 2008 a packed Salt Bhaichung Bhutia got a grand Lake Stadium in Kolkata farewell at the Jawaharlal gave a grand farewell to Nehru Stadium here though it legendary German and was Bayern Munich who Bayern goalkeeper Oliver stole the show pumping in Kahn, Tuesday was four goals and making it look Delhi's turn to honour too easy against the Indian Bhutia, who remained a team. crowd puller during an The Bavarians led 4-0 in the era when Indian football first half with goals from was in its sorry stage. striker Mario Gomez (14th), Emotions ran high Thomas Mueller (28th and among fans, when 37th) and Bastian Bhutia, who retired last Schwiesteiger (43rd). In the August after being frussecond half, the Indian team trated with a spate of fought valiantly to go down injuries, posed for the with a respectable scoreline. with Baichung Bhutia presented photographers The 30,000-odd fans didn't with a team jersey by Philipp Bayern captain Phillip bother too much about the Lahm of Bayern Munich at the Lahm with a Bayern jernumber of goals scored, they Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in sey that had the Indian's relished how the Bavarians name on it.

New Delhi. got them. For India, every Fans went wild every minute was a learning experience of what time Bhutia touched the ball. Though it was European football is all about. a one-way traffic but for Indian fans it was The atmosphere was electrifying and the surely a double delight. talking point was whether this team Indian Bayern, who are on their third trip to could stop the Germans from getting to the India, have come with their best team, and margin by which their predecessors in 1991 the grand farewell for Bhutia was somelost on a similar chilly January afternoon. thing unheard of in past in Indian sports.

The Dutch club PSV Eidenhoven had Bhutia was also honored with an Audi Q8. pumped in seven without reply at the Finally, Bhutia's journey that started from packed stadium. a sleepy hamlet in Tinkitam in Sikkim in Though this time the showpiece stadium 1993 ended and even in last match he conof the Commonwealth Games was only tributed for a noble cause ensuring that half-filled, the attendance was enough to some of the proceeds from the match will create a deafening support for the Indian be given to the earthquake victims of his team. home state.

Health TheSouthAsianTimes.info

25

January 14-20, 2012

Controlling blood pressure through lifestyle changes: power of cutting salt intake

By Premila Bhat MD Director of Home Hemodialysis, Atlantic Dialysis What is sodium?

Sodium is the main ingredient in table salt. Sodium is also found in some quantity in natural and processed foods. The body needs a small amount of sodium for survival, but most people eat much more sodium than their body requires.

Why is it important to pay attention to sodium intake?

Experts say that no one should have more than 2,300 milligrams a day, and many people—particularly those with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease—should have even less.

Yet the average American man takes in about 4,000 milligrams of sodium each day and the average American woman about 3,000. One study of South Indians showed an average intake of 3,400 milligrams sodium daily.

Lowering sodium intake can result in many health benefits: • Lower blood pressure, resulting in lower risk of stroke, heart attack, blindness, and kidney damage.

• Reduced tendency to retain water, which is especially important for people with heart failure and kidney disease.

• Reduced chance of kidney stones • Reduced risk of osteoporosis The relationship between blood pressure and sodium intake is very strong. In fact, high blood pressure is seen almost exclusively in societies with average sodium intake above 2,300 milligrams per day.

High blood pressure is rare in societies with average sodium intake of less than 1,200 milligrams per day.

Where is sodium found?

The sodium content of several common foods is listed below. Notice that even foods that seem harmless—like diet soda—have some sodium content. And foods that do not even taste salty, like donuts, can add a substantial amount of sodium. When eating out, keep in mind that you will usually have no idea of sodium content.

Generally speaking, “processed foods” have the most sodium. These foods are processed from their original state and are usually sold in cans, boxes, and jars.

Many of these foods do not taste salty.

Often the sodium is “hidden” in the preservatives. In fact, 75-80% salt in the U.S. food comes from processed foods, not from salt added during food preparation or consumption. Many countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom, have regulations on salt content in processed food.

The U.S. Institute of Medicine has strongly recommended that sodium in processed food should be regulated in this country.

In the mean time, many companies have voluntarily started reducing sodium content in their foods.

Here are some examples of foods that often have too much sodium: • Canned soups • Rice and noodle mixes • Sauces, dressings, and condiments (such as ketchup and mustard, soy sauce) • Pre-made frozen meals (also called “TV dinners”) • Deli meats, hot dogs, and cheeses • Smoked, cured, or pickled foods • Restaurant meals • Snack foods like crackers and chips • Baking soda Also be aware that some medications contain sodium. For example, one tablet of Alka-Seltzer contains 445mg of sodium.

How can I limit my sodium intake?

The only way to know the sodium content is to look at the label. Food labels can be very helpful in monitoring and limiting sodium intake. Be aware that the “%DV” (Percent of Daily Value) is a calculation based on a 2,400 milligram per day sodium recommendation.

Some people may be advised to consume only 1,600 or 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day, and will need to adjust their calculations accordingly. Also pay attention to serving size.

Labeled sodium content is measured per serving, and sometimes the serving size on the label may be different from what you consider a portion of food.

Some foods are advertised as having less

sodium content. As per the Food and Drug Administration, a food can have the following labels if it meets certain criteria:

• Replace salt in cooking with herbs and spices • Put away the salt shaker from the

In fact, 75-80% salt in the U.S. food comes from processed foods, not from salt added during food preparation or consumption

How can I reduce my sodium intake?

The start of 2012 is a great time to make positive health changes for you and your family. No one is immune to the health consequences of excess salt intake—not even children or young adults. Changes in food choices that you make at home can impact the long-term health of your lovedones.

Reduce your sodium intake gradually.

Over time, your taste buds will adjust to the lower levels of salt and sodium, and you (and your family) will not taste the difference. Small steps that you can start taking today include:

table • Replace regular foods with lower sodium versions when available. For example, replace buttermilk with plain yogurt and choose unsalted butter and margarine • Replace canned foods with fresh or frozen • Look at labels for sodium content.

Read ingredients for foods and medications, and Avoid products that contain sodium carbonate or Sodium bicarbonate • Ask for no salt when eating out and ask for any sauces or gravies to be served on the side.

The author of this article, Dr Premila Bhat is board certified nephrologist and internist.

Atlantic Dialysis Management Services, LLC (ADMS) provides new dialysis site development, day to day administration and management of dialysis services and related business development activities. Its business strategy is to produce economies of scale and maximize individual site results through consolidated activities. Central to the ADMS approach is the long term control of clinical services by nephrologists. In 2010, ADMS affiliates provided over 225,000 dialysis treatments to over 2,500 patients in New York City and Long Island.

Information provided in this article is only for educational purposes. Please consult your personal physician for specific advice on these and any other health related matters.

26

Ultimate Bollywood

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Abhi-Ash to meet Oprah Winfrey in India alk-show queen Oprah Winfrey is coming to India next week and has expressed desire to meet Bollywood couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, whom she hosted on her popular talk show, and the junior B has confirmed the news.

"Oprah is coming here to shoot a documentary and she has expressed a desire to meet," the 35-year-old actor said here at the Filmfare Awards press conference.

Aishwarya made her maiden appearance on the "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 2005, the year in which she featured in an IndoBritish production venture "Mistress Of Spices". In 2009, she was invited with her spouse Abhishek to the show and in the same year Ash featured in "The Pink Panther 2".

Abhishek is looking forward to meeting Winfrey. "She is always very respectful and

very loving towards both of us and it'll be wonderful to meet her," said Abhishek whose latest flick "Players" received mixed reviews at the box office.

Buzz is that the Bachchan clan is planning to host a private dinner for Winfrey.

This is Winfrey's first visit to India and she is also expected to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival scheduled for later this month.

The visit is largely a part of her new show "Next Chapter", which will see Winfrey travelling around the world and interviewing celebrities.

Reportedly, she is planning to interview Indian spiritual guru Deepak Chopra for her new show.

T

Bips upset with leaked b'day party video

Bipasha Basu dancing during her B'day party.

ipasha Basu is comfortable with her sexuality and doesn't mind getting steamy on screen if the scene demands. Here's a look at her boldest B-Town moments.

Bipasha Basu's crazy birthday party is out there on the internet for all to see. But the leaked video has left the actress miffed as she feels her privacy has been invaded.

"I'm still in shock that my privacy has been invaded! These were private moments from my birthday that were leaked The actor turned 33 and true to her latest song Ho Gayi Tunn from her new release, Players, Bipasha seemed to be high in the video.

She can be seen dancing around with celebrity friends like Milind Soman, Aftab

B

Shivdasani, Sikander Kher and Abhay Deol, amid a lot of drinks and cheers.

She even cut a quirky cake, with special candles on it, and looked fabulous in a nudecoloured gown. She can even be seen dancing in the washroom with a couple of girls, and later grooving on the dance floor with Sikander.

No wonder Bipasha is so upset. "Just because we are actors doesn't mean we are not entitled to our privacy! These troublemakers should just get more productive with their time!" Bips wrote on her Twitter account. “I'm still in shock tht my privacy hs been invaded! These were pvt moments frm my bday tht were leaked n m very upset!�

She went on to add.

Buzz is that the Bachchan clan is planning to host a private dinner for Oprah Winfrey when she visits India.

Richard Gere to work in Indian film? f the grapevine is to believed, Hollywood biggie Richard Gere may feature in "I Am Kalam" fame director Nila Madhab Panda's next, an untitled project based on the issue of world food security.

Gere, a regular to India thanks to his Buddhist beliefs, was offered the role of a foreigner who visits India and gets involved with the socio-political set up of a village.

Panda, who enjoyed rave reviews for the critically acclaimed "I Am Kalam", contacted Gere for the role through a common friend, said a statement.

According to a source, the 62-year-old veteran was impressed with the script and consented to do the film, which will also star Harsh Mayar, the National award-winning child protagonist of "I Am Kalam".

To be produced by a company from the Netherlands, the film's pre-production work is expected to begin this month, and Panda will shuttle between India, Amsterdam and Los Angeles for the shooting. If all goes well, singer-actor Will Smith might also come on board, says the source.

I

Richard Gere was recently spotted at a Buddhist event in India.

Jackson unreleased lyrics up for sale ate pop legend Michael Jackson's unreleased lyrics has been put up for auction. Singer's dermatologist Arnold Klein, is selling the eight-and-a-half line handwritten lyrics after being declared bankrupt.

"It looks like it is written in poetic format. There are eight-and-a-half lines and they feel like lyrics.

We could not find it in any of his published music so maybe it was a work in progress or is a song that has not yet been released, femalefirst.co.uk quoted Catherine Williamson an auctioneer from Bonhams, who is expecting offers from 3,000 pounds to 5,000 pounds.

"These lyrics are pretty intriguing and we will expect they will attract a lot of attention," Williamson added. The verse reads as "Across the sea of time, we shall meet on endless shores, counting our blessings of love's eternity."

The auction is set to take place in Los Angeles Jan 23.

L

Late pop legend Michael Jackson.

Ultimate Bollywood TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 14-20, 2012

Lean, mean heist flick

ilmmakers Abbas-Mustan, known for making fast-paced action thrillers, are set to entertain their fans with another lean and mean heist flick, "Players", that releases Friday.

Co-produced by Viacom 18 and AbbasMustan, the film is the official remake of Hollywood movie "Italian Job" and stars Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Sikander Kher and Omi Vaidya in prominent roles.

Abhishek plays Charlie Mascarenhas, a chartered accounted by day and a master thief in the night. He's got razor sharp intelligence, is an expert in conning people and loves to call himself an artist.

Naina (Sonam) is an expert in ethical hacking. A beautiful girl who did everything right in her academic life but for personal reasons decides to be a part of the heist.

Riya (Bipasha) is known to charm her way into the hearts of rich and famous men

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27

and later into their safety vaults. She has been Charlie's longstanding partner-incrime and is also an automobile expert.

Ronnie (Bobby) has no experience in the game of conning people, but is a master of illusions. He was one of the most popular illutionists in the country, but abruptly switched tracks at the peak of his career.

Bilal (Sikander), having worked in the secret services, has strong contacts all over the world and is fluent in several languages.

He also has had a thing for home-made bombs.

Spider (Neil), a quintessential computer geek and a master hacker, has robbed millions from banks all over the world. Sunny Mehra (Omi) is an aspiring Bollywood star, but when rejected by all the producers, he goes on to become a face-changing expert - a prosthetics expert.

All of them come together and plan to pull off the heist of their lives by creating the largest traffic jam ever.

"People love the commotion in such

REVIEW films. The way actors escape through tunnels and drainage pipes makes the film interesting. The double crossing, scheming and plotting are something that keeps people glued to the screens," said AbbasMustan.

The makers started shooting in Goa and then embarked on a journey to places like Wellington and Auckland in New Zealand, Siberia and St Petersburg in Russia, as well as the North Pole to make the backdrop as thrilling as possible.

"Shooting in foreign locations isn't new, but we chose locations that are different from the rest. We even shot a part of the film at the North Pole. It has been the best experience for us. We knew we couldn't go in the winter as it is dark all day," said Abbas-Mustan.

Neil was left battered and bruised while doing stunts in the film. Sonam is getting rave reviews for her cool and glamorous

look in the film. "Players" found itself in trouble after the censor board raised objections over her middle finger act in the film.

"Players" is the first big release of 2012 and many hope it will ring in profits in the new year.

'Heroine' Kareena Katie Holmes goes topless for jewelery ad will shock you: Bhandarkar K ilmmaker Madhur Bhndarkar asserts that K a r e e n a Kapoor's performance in his latest project Heroine is not only fabulous, it will also be a shocker for her fans.

"Her character Mahi Arora is very contemporary, very edgy, very hard-hitting and very real like my other cinema.

Kareena will definitely be a shock element to the people because of the way she has worked in the film," the 43-year-old producerdirector said here at the launch of photographer Dabboo Ratnani's calendar.

"I am looking at the film because I know the story, I know the screenplay, I know the dialogues. She will be fabulous," he added.

Known for his films like Chandni Bar, Satta, Page 3, Traffic Signal and Fashion, Bhandarkar believes Heroine will be a milestone in Kareena's career.

atie Holmes has gone topless in the latest ad campaign for jewellery brand, H. Stern.

In the sexy new commercial Holmes looks seductively into the camera as her long brown hair blows out around her as she showcases a pretty necklace, the Daily Mail reported.

In another shot, mother-ofone is seen writhing around in the sand, advertising a pretty chain bracelet.

F

Katie Holmes.

Katie, who is married to Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise, is also seen displaying her stunning figure in a sexy black one-piece, going for the wet look with her hair slicked back to show off her modellike bone structure.

While the advertisement, 33-year-old’s third campaign for H. Stern, are currently only running in Israel, they are set to hit America this autumn.

Bhopal's teenager plays Hrithik's sister in 'Agneepath' anika Tiwari, a 15-yearold girl from the City of Lakes, got a life-time opportunity when she was selected to play Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan's younger sister in the forthcoming film "Agneepath".

Kanika, who studies in Class 11 in the Sharda Vidya Mandir in Bhopal, was selected after the audition of 6,500 girls.

"Agneepath", a remake of Amitabh Bachchan starrer 1990 movie of the same name, is scheduled for a Jan 26 release.

"I used to take part in the cultural activities in school. I participated in a few dramas also. My grooming teacher Ravindra Mathur told me to take part in the audition of Dharma Production, which was searching for a young girl for Hrithik Roshan's younger sister role," said Kanika.

She has almost an hour-long

K Kareena Kapoor.

"Heroine is 25% over. The next schedule is in February, March and April and the picture will release in September.

The way you people are waiting for the film, so am I. I hope it finishes really soon," he said.

The director found himself in a tight spot when Aishwarya Rai, the original choice for the film, decided to quit the project due to her pregnancy.

Kareena is also expected to tie the knot with Saif Ali Khan early this year and the actress may wrap the film up before that.

A poster of Hritik's new film 'Agneepath.' role in the movie and she will Kapoor is the one who kidnaps me share screen space with Hrithik, in the movie."

Priyanka Chopra, Rishi Kapoor The only connection Kanika has and Zarina Wahab. with showbiz is her cousin, televiExcited Kanika said: "Zarina sion actress Divyaka Tripathi of Wahab is my mother and Rishi "Bano Mein Teri Dulhan" fame.

28

Humor

January14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Humor with Melvin Durai

The challenge of being a stay-at-home dad or the last nine years or so, I’ve been a stay-at-home dad, but I prefer to call myself a write-at-home dad. That’s because I spend a lot of time writing. I mostly write emails to my wife with questions such as: “Why isn’t the baby drinking from the bottle? Doesn’t she like Coke?” and “Is it okay if the baby watches Law & Order with me? She seems to like it.”

Actually, I don’t ask many questions these days. That’s partly because my three kids aren’t babies anymore -– the youngest is 5 –- and partly because I’ve become an expert at being a stay-at-home dad.

If this were a real job, I would have been promoted by now. I’d be the Director of Domestic Affairs or the CEO of Home Management.

Being an expert at this job does not mean doing everything well. It means making a list of everything that needs to be done and figuring out a way to get the kids to do it.

My youngest child, Rahul, often helps me load the washing machine.

My oldest child, Lekha, often helps me sort the socks and underwear.

My middle child, Divya, doesn’t help much, but at least she doesn’t leave her dirty clothes lying around on the floor like a few other members of this household, who appar-

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ently believe that Dad has nothing better to do than pick up after them.

I do have something better to do: watch Law & Order.

Yes, being a stay-at-home dad isn’t easy, even when you’re an expert. There’s so much to do at home -- cooking, washing, sweeping –- and it’s hard to get it all done during the commercial breaks. I don’t know how the stay-at-home moms do it –- I just don’t.

Thankfully, I don’t do most of the cooking –- my wife does. It’s her main responsibility when she returns from work, aside from spending time with the kids and asking me why the house is such a mess.

Most of the cleaning falls on my shoulders –- and then I flick it onto the kids’ shoulders. At least I try to.

When I turn on the vacuum cleaner, my son gets excited and I can usually con him into doing some of the

vacuuming. He loves to watch things get sucked up. This arrangement has worked rather well, especially since my wife hasn’t counted our children recently.

The biggest challenge for a stayat-home dad, I’ve come to realize, is dealing with society’s expectations.

Dads are not supposed to stay at home. We’re supposed to go out and make money. And if we can’t make money, we’re supposed to go out anyway –- go out and play golf, go out and watch a movie, go out and do yoga under a tree.

A woman can call herself a housewife and no one will bat an eyelid.

But you should see the looks I get when I call myself a houseband.

“Stay-at-home dad” is more acceptable, of course, but even then, the first question you’ll get is “Are you looking for a job?” Trust me, I know. I’ve heard that question hundreds of times –- and not always from my mother.

It’s going to take another century, perhaps, for society to completely embrace the idea of a father staying at home, looking after his kids. After all, the custom of fathers working outside the home goes back thousands of years. Just imagine a caveman saying to his wife: “You go kill mammoth. I stay in cave, look after

baby.” What do you think would have happened to him? Yes, he would have received a threat: “You no kill mammoth, you no get my mud pudding tonight.”

Caveman: “Me no need your nasty pudding.”

Wife: “You no kill mammoth, you no get my fire-roasted worms

tonight.”

Caveman: “Me no need your nasty worms.”

Wife: “You no kill mammoth, you no pudding your little worm anywhere near me tonight.”

Caveman (grabs spear): “How many mammoths you want me kill?

One or two?”

Laughter is the Best Medicine

by Mahendra Shah

Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons.

Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tech Life Facebook, Angry Birds most downloaded apps in 2011 Toronto: Angry Birds and Facebook were the most downloaded iPhone apps of 2011, according to Apple, but some less predictable apps also made their lists.

Craig Palli, a vice president at Fiksu, a marketing company for app developers, explained that this year's top apps incorporate three main trends: the ability to connect with friends, discovery and games that let users past the time and pick up where they left off.

The top app in the social networking category was Facebook. But Palli said the trend of connecting with friends extends further.

"It also encompasses Skype, all the free texting apps and even Bump. These are all apps that lend themselves to enriching our lives through an easier and greater amount of communication and connections with friends," Palli explained.

In the music category, Pandora, which generates

personalized radio stations for its users based on their music preferences, was the top app.

TuneIn Radio Pro, which provides access to over 50,000 local and global stations, was another popular music app. In the games category, Words with Friends, a multi-player game, and Angry Birds were the most downloaded apps. Games captured nine of the top ten spots on the paid apps list.

He added that phones are beginning to replace cameras, which explains the success of apps in the photo and video category.

Groupon, the daily deal service, and Pimp Your Screen, which lets users customize their device with backgrounds and other visual features, were the top apps in the lifestyle category.

Netflix, the video streaming service, was the top app in the entertainment category, along with FatBooth, which lets users visualize how they might look with a few extra pounds.

See what makes your smartphone waterproof Las Vegas: As sleek new smartphones prepared to make splashes at the Consumer Electronics Show, a Californian firm was out to prevent water from being the death of them.

Liquipel was showing off a clear coating a thousand times thinner than a human hair that shields smartphones outside and inside from damaging effects of water.

"Water will just run through the machine," Liquipel president Danny McPhail said as he casually tossed an iPhone into a tub of water and watched it sink. "It actually beads right on top of

the circuit board and rolls off."

He plucked the unscathed iPhone from the tub and shook the water from the gadget, which continued to work.

About six weeks ago, the Southern California company launched the first public service that let smartphone owners send gadgets in to be coated using the nano-technology.

Liquipel came to CES to close deals with major electronics makers to have protective coating preapplied to new smartphones.

Astrology TheSouthAsianTimes.info

January 14-20, 2012

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Stars Foretell: January 14-20, 2012 Aries: This week you should cut down your expenses to ease financial constraints.

Moneymaking ventures will not be as good as they appear. You are likely to be bothered with too much work and too many family obligations and it will cause mental stress. Try to relax as much as possible and go after recreation and entertainment.

Travelling will promote new romance and additional knowledge.

Taurus: This is a good week for making important decisions. You should work towards completing your projects and remember to take into confidence all those who are involved with you. You will be able to get along well with your colleagues. The best way to keep yourself happy and relaxed will be to get involved in new hobbies. Opportunities for new and exciting relationship will be yours if you go out and socialize.

Be very careful about what you say in public.

Gemini: This week financially you will be on a better footing. Investments in stock may not bring in desired results, but real estate matters look promising and can bring you handsome gains. Friends will seek your support and someone will even share a secret with you, make sure you keep it to yourself. Efficiency will be more important than creativity and try not to let any underlying discord ruin your mental peace.

Travel will be important for strengthening ties.

Cancer: Friends and near ones will provide financial support. However, you may be a bit reluctant and hesitant to accept it. This is the period of compensation and rewards and you will be appreciated for the good deeds you have done in the past. If you go out shopping, you will find it extremely difficult to control yourself from overspending. Driving too fast and getting involved in gossip will put you into trouble with elders in the family.

Leo: Sudden speculative gains during this week may not be ruled out. Expenditures on the renovation or beautification of the house or on the other domestic requirements are likely to rise. This is a good period to work on creative hobbies and to purchase mart items that will grow in value. Professionally your hard work will pay off, and you will be appreciated for your efforts, but try to keep your professional life completely separate from your personal one.

Virgo: Although it will be a hectic and tiring week yet you will be extremely pleased with your achievements. Fresh business deals will bring in good financial gains.

Emotionally things might be disturbing and someone close to your heart will disappoint you immensely, but you should follow your conscience and behave exactly the way you normally do. Your friends and coworkers will be grateful to you for the help that you extend to them. You will be generous and enjoy the pleasure of giving.

Libra: Take time off to have fun with family members.

You need to remember that life is short and you should enjoy each and every moment of it. You will make some new friends if you go out and socialize. You will have good opportunities to make major changes that will swing you in a position of leadership. Your unique and original ideas will be appreciated. Financial gains are certain, but speculation should be completely avoided.

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Scorpio: This week you will buy luxurious and exorbitantly expensive items for the spouse or beloved to attract more love and affection. Your income will increase, but so will your expenses. Investments put in the past will fetch returns. Past differences with colleagues if any will get sorted out. By doing what makes you happy, you will attract the right crowd. Everything that happens around you will bring you lot of fun.

Opportunity for a new romance seems likely for those unattached.

Sagittarius: This is a mixed period of gains and losses. On one side financially things will improve and on the other side some unexpected development on the work front may disturb your mental peace. Sudden romantic encounter will set your head spinning, but you should make sure that this doesn’t distract you from your responsibilities. You will be in the mood to overspend, however if you don’t control yourself you could have a severe financial constraint in the coming days.

Capricorn: Funds may flow in through various sources to ease out your financial constraints. You may spend lavishly on your friends as well as your family members.

Concentrate on your pending work. Someone with big plans and ideas will capture your attention but you should not make any financial commitments until you are sure you can keep to it. Business dealing with relatives or friends will definitely not be in your interest. You will enjoy the time you spend with children.

Aquarius: This week don’t force your opinion on others. Lectures and meeting that you attend will help you in building important professional contacts. Money gains from unexpected sources likely to boost up your spirits.

Ignoring your spouse will only bring tensed moments at home. Avoid any arguments or confrontation. Travel and communication will be important but will not go as smoothly as expected.

Focus your attention on domestic issues and look after the needs of others.

Pisces: This week you should use your extra energy to finish pending jobs.

Prevailing projects and plans will carry on in a smooth pace. Children may cause some dissatisfaction as they get distracted from their responsibilities.

Be careful of your belongings while travelling.

Foreign transactions expected to yield good returns. It would be better to control over your expenses and plan out the budget according to your sources and means. Spiritual gains for some will bring solace and mental peace.

Before you consult... i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, don’t feel shy. It’s his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week January 14 Ruled by number 5 and the planet Mercury, you are active, intelligent, sensible, systematic and highly courageous person. You are a great admirer of music and literature, but you need to curb your tendency to behave moody, spendthrift and careless at times. This year you would be more inclined to work than usual. Improving your earnings would be your primary concern. Promising and long lasting contacts would build through social get-togethers and traveling. Your beloved would provide you with love and affection. He/She would be so devoted to you that you may take this person for granted. Pilgrimage or overseas journey for some. The months of February, May, September and November would prove to be highly significant. Grilled by number 5 and planet Mercury, you are dynamic, wellinformed, reasonable, passionate and extremely audacious personality.

You thoroughly understand the esoteric nature of music and art but should erase the word like gloomy, extravagant and cavalier from your vocabulary. Now you will act as policymaker for the organization. You try to bamboozle to make huge profits out of the deal. You start from scratch and sustain the relation till the end. You are out going fellow. Your better half will the most closest to you and act as energy provide to you. Their utmost concern might low down their image in front of you. Visit to different villages and cities for finding the deity is o the anvil. February, May, September and November will be fruitful.

January 15 Ruled by number 6 and the planet Venus, you are energetic, smart, attractive, accommodating, diplomatic & highly practical person. Your great assets are your charming personality and confidence, but you need to check your tendency to behave too outspoken and restless at times. This is the perfect time to put in maximum efforts to reap long-term rewards. Your family members will be supportive and assist you in making important decisions. Pending jobs and projects will get completed to your satisfaction.

Your health will be normal but health of a family member may become reason for stress and anxiety. A distant journey preferably overseas brings financial benefits and opportunity to meet eminent and influential people.

The month of January, April and October will prove to be eventful. You have special intelligence and resplendent features which makes you killing and captivating in nature. Despite being adjusting, political and pragmatic fellow you also possess some human enemies like restive and straightfrom-the-shoulder attitude which needs to be alter. You always found to implement your growing plans with the mindset of having several facets.

You well connected with your blood relatives who always stand by you.

Delayed jobs will be back on track by breaking the cordon. In holistic view health concern might be there not of you but of someone close to you. Your mania percolates down to grassroots and energizes the international decrepit associations. January, April and October will be advantageous time. Number 6 and planet Uranus will make you to take advantage of the situation.

January 16 Influenced by number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are trustworthy, affectionate, creative, sensitive and an emotional individual. You are a person who always wears a million-dollar smile on your face, which makes it very easy for you to make friends and win favours. You are smart and talented, but you need to control your tendency to behave stubborn, arrogant and extravagant at times. You will find many good investment opportunities this year, so be highly judicious in making your decisions.

Dont share your ideas and plans with people you cant trust. Businessmen will expand into new and more profitable ventures. Especially rewarding period for journalist, doctors and marketing professionals. Spouse and children will be supportive, but require your additional attention. Health of a near one, possibly a young infant may bring stress and tension. Wedding bells for those eligible. The months of February, April and September will prove to be significant. Number 7 and planet Neptune will channelize your way. You are true, lovable, artistic, emotional and delicate personality. You manage to garner everyone’s applauds because of your miraculous grinning that you possess all the time irrespective of the situation. Also you are fresh chic with witted mindset but you should smash your adamant, arbitrary and profligate nature. Many new unheard and incredible deals will find your way so be vigilant to track them before others which are anticipated to be record breaking monetary gains ventures.

Be aware of the term plagiarism as you might fall into its pit. Rejoicing, thriving and amplifying period for entrepreneur. Media, professional and marketing personnel will excel and reach to newer heights. Spearhead your family in systematic way which are the end source of your contending life. Take good care of small babies if any in family. February, April and September will be tremendous time for you.

January 17 Influenced by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are smart, practical, honest, disciplined, methodical and authoritative person. You are helpful and sincere to your friends and enjoy enormous respect in your group, but you need to check your tendency to behave rigid, extravagant and jealous at times. This year you should concentrate on your priorities and your efforts will definitely bring desired results. Past investments will fetch returns and long pending property disputes will settle amicably. Unexpected gifts and presents from near ones and friends will keep you in high spirits. New plans and ventures will start on a positive note. Family front will be pleasant as children and spouse will provide you with love and affection. Health seems fine but even then, it is recommended that you avoid overeating and alcohol. The months of February, June and August will prove to be highly important. Number 8 and planet Saturn will provide lifetime experience to you besides making you a saucy, pragmatic, loyal, decent, systematic and dominating soul. You are honored by your loved ones as you always tend to increase their self-worth and confidence level.

Moderate your way like acting stiff, spendthrift and envious at times. You are an integral part of your organization so you should know the importance of task beforehand to do remarkable job on time. Furnishing time for your bank balance and any arguments with anybody to what extent it may be will settle down seamlessly. You will be amazed by some surprises from loved ones. Acquaintance with new technologies will help you to start your own business. Abuzz by the unending cooperation of your personal people. Elude bad habits and live life disease free to the fullest. Feb-

ruary, June and August will be favorable for you.

January 18 Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are intelligent, energetic, confident, enthusiastic and courageous person. You make firm decisions and once you have taken a decision it lasts forever. You are strong and highly diplomatic person, but you need to check your tendency to behave short tempered and vindictive at times. This year you will make major gains if you associate with creative people. Your performance will be at its best and you will easily impress your seniors with your dedication and ability to handle jobs, which require immense responsibilities. Property transaction, or construction, or renovation will be high on your agenda.

Moments at home will not be all that pleasant. You will suffer due to the very unpredictable behaviour of your spouse. Spiritual gains provide solace and comfort. A journey abroad is also on the cards for some of you.

The months January, April, July and November will remain significant.

Energized by number 9 and planet Mars, you are witted, industrious, positive, excited and dauntless lad. You have great vision combined with high efficiency which helps you to take plausible decisions which last forever.

Your political attitude and bold attempts will help you to increase the size of your pocket but need to bar your revengeful and impulsive nature. This time you will develop strong nexus with some innovative people. Your popularity is on the rise and there is no substitute for you and everybody know this within the system so they can’t afford to lose you. Buying and selling of immovable items will cater required thrust to your growing business. A dismal ambience at abode might strain you. Lack of interest of better half might put you in pitiable circumstances. Inner silence and immortal nature by paying special obeisance to the deity. January, April, July and November will be accomplishing period.

January 19 Influenced by number 1 and the Sun, you are authoritative, confident, determined, responsible and creative person. Your are very attracted to your father who is generally your inspiration and best friend. You are highly decent and well mannered, but you need to curb your tendency to behave careless and spendthrift at times. This year your energy will be high and you will feel strong enough to face any challenge. Middle of the year seems exceptionally good for those who are looking for a change in their career, as they will receive an excellent job offer. Frequent and fruitful journeys will be undertaken. You will also improve your relationship with important people during this period. Children will win laurels at school and over achieve the expectations of their parents. Family members will gather around you providing you with love and affection. The months of April, July and December will be highly eventful. Your father is your role model whom footprints you always try to follow and create benchmark for upcoming generation.

A well disciplined and sincere lad who should give second though before behaving cavalier and prodigal in nature. There is not any unacceptable stance for you as you are mentally and logically very stable. Another version of your job is calling you with added advantage and hike in salary package. Travelling suits you a lot with increase in your overall well being, so do not avoid any chances. This time you will show more flexibility towards your enemies or loved ones who carries grudges for you and tries to patch up with them. A thriving period for students as they will surpass everybody’s expectations. A cordial relation in family continues to flourish. April, July and December will be full of events. Number 1 and the Sun will take you to the newer heights of excellence.

January 20 Ruled by number 2 and the Moon, you are highly imaginative, practical, emotional, honest, simple and generous person. You have a very sharp mind, an exceptionally good grasping power and you believe that its never to late to learn. You have a pleasing personality and manners, but you need to check your tendency to behave extravagant and moody at times.

This year new plans and projects will be alluring but instant gains might not be possible. Great period for consultants and brokers. Investment is definitely recommended but sudden losses due to thoughtless decisions cannot be ruled out. New romance for some as others get involved in a matrimonial wedlock. Distant pilgrimage is certain later in the year. Dont be too friendly with strangers and avoid disclosing your plans, as chances of deceit are very strong. Be extra careful while lending money and take extra care of your jewelry, precious gifts and items. The months of March, June, August and November will be important. Number 2 provides speculative, pragmatic and sensitive approach while the moon will imbibe feeling of simplicity, loyalty and kindness in you. These both are the two basic foundation of your life. You always gives your best throughout your life whatever work you undertake irrespective of the age factor. You always maintain decorum and decency in all your attempts. But beware of threatening and profligate approach. Your fate will be on full height to make big money for you but slowly and steadily. Traders and service oriented people will grow remarkably. Do not trifle with any risk taking deal or instead avoid it which might block your money rather spend in transparent assignments.

A widespread notion in your family regarding your marriage is strong, so be ready. At the end of the year a quest for sacred deity is predictable. Do not brush your stand before everyone as you might get plagiarized by someone. Be cautious towards your hard earned money. March, June, august and November will be best time for you.

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Spiritual Awareness

January 14-20, 2012

TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Winners don't let failures stop them Part two of the discourse on ‘Olympics of meditation’

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Perseverance The life story of gold medal winners at times reveals they had uphill battles against many obstacles. They may have suffered physical pain, emotional pain facing criticism of others, or financial setbacks.

Many gold medal winners suffered falls with resulting broken bones or torn muscles. Did that stop them? No, they were back in action as soon as possible. We have seen people win gold medals with colds, flu, and fevers. Some competed with their legs or arms wrapped up because they had not completely healed.

Tiger Woods won a major golf tournament playing with a broken foot! These great athletes rise above their physical challenges and compete despite their pain.

Many athletes faced criticism and ridicule from others who may have said, "You must be crazy!

What makes you think you can win a gold medal in the Olympics?" Family and friends may have tried to dissuade the athlete from competing by putting them down or saying they do not have the right stuff. Gold medal winners have worked through the criticism of others because they stayed focused despite outer challenges.

Many other obstacles can deter an athlete. Some face financial challenges. It costs money to have a coach, to practice, to get the right equipment, and to pay membership in certain sports training facilities. Over many years, these costs become daunting. The parents of one gold medal winner had to mortgage their house several times to pay the fees for their child to practice.

Where there is a will, there is a way for winners.

Unaffected by Failure Many athletes have a defeatist attitude. If they cannot do it well the first time around, they give up. The first time someone loses a race they take it as a sign that

they do not have a chance. What sets an Olympic gold medal winner apart is that they learn from their failures. If they do not win the first time, they try again.

They take that as an incentive to try even harder.

The winners will look at videotapes of their performance to spot their errors and fix them. If they fall, they get back up on their feet and try again. They do not let failure stop them. They take it as a challenge to overcome and keep going.

Olympians who were runnersup or who only made silver or bronze may return four years later to try again for the gold.

Sometimes they get it on their second or third try. They do not let failure sidetrack them from their goal.

Full Concentration and Focus Watch any gold medal winner perform and one finds an almost superhuman ability to concentrate and focus. Before they perform, they are mentally focused.

They mentally rehearse the movements they must do. They

passing away in 1974. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj helped spread the teachings of Sant Mat outside the borders of the East to reach the entire world. He was the first Master of Sant Mat to undertake world tours to North America, South America, and Europe. He published over twenty books in English which were translated into many other languages. He made the teachings accessible to a Western audience who had a scientific bent of mind.

Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj as a Model of These Qualities Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj exemplified qualities that make a gold medal winner. His achievement was the Olympics of Meditation and Spirituality. He attained the goal that every person who meditates is trying to attain—union of the soul with God. His life exemplified all the qualities an Olympic gold medalist needs to win the gold. If we examine his life from this angle, it gives a blueprint of what we need to do to also achieve the same goal.

he wanted to do in life. He had interests in being a doctor and having a huge library. But he ultimately came to the decision, "God first and the world next."

Once he took that decision he never looked back. He did attend to his duties in life as he had a successful career and raised a family. But his mind, heart, and soul were all focused on achieving God-realization. He never swerved from that goal and stuck with it until he attained union of his soul with God. A Ruling Passion and Drive to Achieve His Goal From the moment the question about solving the mystery of life and death entered his being, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj had a ceaseless ruling passion and drive to achieve that goal. When he was a youth, he observed at a cremation ground that the body of a young person and an old person had both passed away. He pondered over what was that element within a person that made that person alive and then left when the person died. He began seek-

Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj exemplified qualities that make a gold medal winner. His achievement was the Olympics of Meditation and Spirituality. He attained the goal that every person who meditates is trying to attain—union of the soul with God. are focused within themselves on what they must do. They visualize the task they are going to perform over and over to set their mind in gear. They do not let anyone distract them. When they perform, they have one hundred percent attention on what they are supposed to do.

When one watches those who make mistakes in gymnastics, in diving, or in any routine, one may at times see a moment of distraction set in. They lost focus. Those who win are those who are able to maintain full concentration for the entire duration of their performance. This is one of the keys to going from good to great.

If we look at the qualities mentioned above in the field of sports, we will find they also apply to spirituality. We can look at the life of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj who left this earth in 1974. He started his mission in 1948, after Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji commissioned him to carry on the spiritual work of initiation into the Light and Sound for sincere seekers after truth. He continued his mission until his

In the physical Olympics there can only be one gold medalist, but in the field of meditation and spirituality each of us can win the gold medal. Winning the gold medal means meditating on the inner Light and Sound, rising above physical body-consciousness, soaring on the current of Light and Sound through all the higher realms and reaching the abode of God, Sach Khand, where our soul merges with the Creator and becomes one with God. It is not restricted to an Olympics every four years—we can participate in this Olympic all 24/7 and can attain it at anytime.

The questions are: Why wait?

Why not start now and complete the course now?

We have observed each of the traits of a gold medal winner in the life of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj.

100% Focus on the Goal Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj had one hundred percent focus on his chosen goal. When he had matriculated from high school he took seven days to decide what

ing answers by studying books and visiting those who could answer these questions. He had a continual prayer to meet a perfect Master who could lead him to the Truth. In fact, when he had compassionately nursed his own father back to health after a serious illness, his father told him to ask for anything he wanted. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj said that all he wanted was to find someone who could show him the way back to God. When Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj began seeing the inner radiant form of a Master in 1917, he took the form to be that of Guru Nanak. That form continued appearing to him within until finally in 1924 he came in contact with Hazur Baba Sawan Singh Ji Maharaj and realized that this was the form he had been seeing within all along. He thought it was due to the boon granted by his father that he was able to meet the Master who could show him the way back to God. Once he took initiation from Hazur, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj fully committed to fol-

low the teachings to the letter.

Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj often exhorted his disciples, saying, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Why? The reason was that this was the attitude he had when he followed the teachings of his own Master. He obeyed Hazur implicitly with full passion and zeal which was another gold medal trait that helped him achieve union of his soul with God in his lifetime.

Time Commitment to Meditation and Spirituality When we observe the life of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji we find that he made a time commitment to meditation and spirituality far beyond that made by many others, This was a key component in his success in finding God. When he asked Hazur about how much time he should put in for meditation, Hazur told him to mediate six to eight hours a day.

This was the schedule he was told to keep even while holding a fulltime job and having a wife and children to support. He also put in time for selfless service, helping the sick and needy at their homes or in hospitals. It is hard to believe as we try to meditate even two and a half hours a day, as a minimum, in our own lives, while working fulltime and raising our own family, what an amazing feat this was. He made the commitment and stuck to it no matter what.

Sant Kirpal Singh Ji often told the story of a wrestler who would go out every night in the cold weather to practice. It was this nightly practice that made the wrestler successful. Similarly, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj would sometimes meditate on the banks of a river to help him stay awake.

When Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj began his mission, he started by spending time in Rishikesh. He would put those with him into meditation for six to eight hours a day. He lived that example in his own life and encouraged others to do the same. Through his time commitment to meditation and spirituality he was able to achieve union of his soul with God in his lifetime.

(To be continued..)

Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.

Flight takes off on Jan 19, 2012