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Rajnath Singh

Kashmir unrest: Rajnath puts off US trip Details on page 5

VOL 22, No. 1137

July 15, 2016

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Periodical Postage

PM APPEALS FOR CALM IN KASHMIR

Kashmir an internal matter of India: US

Obama Legacy: Immigration glaring failure

Indian rapper targets Dow for damages

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GRIM CABINET: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other ministers during their high level cabinet meeting on Kashmir,

This week’s question

Should India talk with Kashmiri separatists? Last week’s result

Radicalizing youth is a crime? YES 73%

NO 27%

US to help India in roads safety tech

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survey@indiapost.com

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Yashwant too questions growth rate

US introduces bill to bar Indian firms hiring H-1B

INDIA POST SURVEY

Tribunal rules against China in Sea dispute

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Spratly Islands

in New Delhi on July 12

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain calm so that the situation can normalize in the violencehit Valley even as he hoped that no innocent person faces inconvenience or loss. Chairing a high-level meeting here on the situation in Kashmir Valley, where 24 people have lost lives in the protests triggered by the killing of Hizbul militant commander Burhan Wani, Modi voiced concern over the situation in the state. "He has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace so that the situation can normalize. He also expressed hope that no innocent person should face

any kind of inconvenience or loss," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said after the meeting. The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Amarnath Yatra and said whatever help needed by the state government will be provided by the Centre. Singh said the Prime Minister voiced concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, gave guidance and also appealed for peace. The meeting was convened within hours of Modi's return from his visit to four African countries.

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hildish as it may sound, I decided not to go past the stage of denial with regard to what is happening in our country today. I would rather be in denial and pretend all's normal as can be than grieve over something as deep rooted a scourge as racism in this country or worse still, accept it as a fact of life. Yeah, I am talking about all the recent deaths - I guess, you could call them senseless - due to volatility of race relations, fundamentalist ideology, hate over sexual orientation, and simply because some dope head had easy access to several semi-automatic assault weapons. Well, race as an issue has become an incurable disease that is fast becoming contagious and unfortunately nobody has a cure in sight. Did you see President Barack Obama's statement from Poland the night after the Dallas police officer killings? He so didn't seem to mean a single word that he was uttering and worse, appeared like he couldn't care anymore who killed whom; because they have guns, so they will kill, he seemed to say. Anyway, like President Obama who appears to be visibly tired and exhausted of having to deal with giving insipid statements after each such episode, my worn-out mind too just wanted to look for something "easy" on the senses. Mind you, it is not easy to find what may be construed as "good news" anymore, but hey, in this situation, the "no news" headlines are as good as any headline that might dramatically proclaim that heaven is real! So, here are a few stories that also made it to the headlines on CNN.com today: 'US stocks hit new record high' 'Jupiter pics leave scientists giddy' 'Rocker becomes grandpa … again' 'MIT robot helps deliver babies' 'Amazon Prime reaches nearly half of US households' 'Gene-editing shows promise against herpes' 'This dog raises baby cheetahs' 'Sanders poised to endorse Clinton' 'Some Ashley Madison women were actually computer fembots' 'Thanks Brexit: London vacations dirt cheap' Well, that last one shows there can be good coming from what many thought of as only bad news. Hope survives!

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Cover Story: Appeal for calm PM Modi has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain calm so that the situation can normalize

Community: ATA Convention The ATA Convention hosted by American Telugu Association drew recordcrowds who relished every bit

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Immigration: Glaring failure When Obama leaves office in January, immigration overhaul will stand as the most glaring failure in his 7 1/2-year effort

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Barring Indian firms A bill in the House of Representatives will bar Indian companies from hiring IT professionals on H-1B and L1 visas.

Gangtok, Sikkim There are many vantage points in and around Gangtok from where you get magnificent views of Kanchenjunga

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PM appeals for calm in Kashmir NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain calm so that the situation can normalize in the violencehit Valley even as he hoped that no innocent person faces inconvenience or loss. Chairing a high-level meeting here on the situation in Kashmir Valley, where 24 people have lost lives in the protests triggered by the killing of Hizbul militant commander Burhan Wani, Modi voiced concern over the situation in the state. "He has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace so that the situation can normalize. He also expressed hope that no innocent person should face any kind of inconvenience or loss," Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said after the meeting. The Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Amarnath Yatra and said whatever help needed by the state government will be provided by the Centre. Singh said the Prime Minister voiced concern over the situation

CRPF personnel guard a street during restriction and strike on fourth consecutive day in Srinagar on July 12

in Jammu and Kashmir, gave guidance and also appealed for peace. The meeting was convened within hours of Modi's return from his visit to four African countries. The Prime Minister was given

a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley which has witnessed escalating protests following the killing of Wani. The meeting was attended by

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh,

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar among others. "The Prime Minister kept taking updates about the Jammu and Kashmir situation during his visit abroad. The biggest evidence of his concern is that he called this review meeting within hours of returning from the tour and took details," Singh told reporters. Earlier, Parrikar, Jaitley and Doval, who returned a day earlier from Africa where he was accompanying the Prime Minister, had met to discuss the situation. The Ministers were briefed by Chiefs of central security agencies about the steps taken to bring back peace and normalcy in the Valley. All forces have been asked to ensure security of Amarnath pilgrims and enhance vigil along the border to check fresh attempts of infiltration from across the border. Parrikar had told reporters that an overall assessment of security situation in Kashmir has to be done by the Home Ministry and Army was ready to provide any assistance like increasing force levels in any areas required.-PTI

Kashmir unrest: Rajnath puts off US trip NEW DELHI: With Kashmir on the edge, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has postponed his visit to the United States to attend the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue scheduled for next week. A Home Ministry official cited the busy schedule during the coming Monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 18 as the reason for the deferment of the

visit. However, tension in Kashmir Valley in the wake of killing of Hizbul Mujahedeen militant Burhan Wani could be the other key factor for the postponement of the Home Minister's five-day visit to America, sources said. New dates have not been fixed but the trip now may take place sometime in September, the offi-

cial said. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi away on a foreign trip, the Home Minister, who is responsible for the internal security of the country, has been leading the central government's efforts to bring back normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, where 24 people have lost their lives ever since violent protests started following Wani's death.

UN chief calls for 'maximum restraint' UNITED NATIONS: Expressing regret over the loss of lives and injuries in the clashes in Kashmir, UN chief Ban Ki-moon has called on all parties to exercise "maximum restraint" to avoid further violence and hoped that all concerns would be addressed through peaceful means. "The Secretary-General is closely following the recent clashes in Kashmir. He regrets the reported loss of dozens of lives and the injuries to many others," a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson said here. The statement said Ban "calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further violence and hopes that all concerns

would be addressed through peaceful means". Earlier during the daily briefing,

UN chief Ban Ki-moon

Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the reports of the clashes in Kashmir, in which about

23 people have been killed so far and over 250 injured, "are of concern to us". Dujarric rejected remarks by a Pakistani journalist that the UN chief, who had earlier in the day addressed the press on the situation in South Sudan, had "brushed aside" the Kashmir issue and was not taking note of the situation there. "I think no one is denying that we are concerned about the situation in Kashmir. The fact that the Secretary General did not raise it as he did not raise many other critical situations around the world does not mean that he is brushing anything aside," Dujarric said.-PTI

Singh has held a series of meetings with top Union Ministers, officials and reached out to opposition leaders like Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah as parts of efforts to bring back peace and normalcy in Kashmir Valley. The Home Minister was supposed to lead the Indian delegation at the Indo-US Homeland Security Dialogue to be held in Washington with the US team to be headed by Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Charles Johnson.

Further cementing anti-terror cooperation, real-time sharing of intelligence inputs, cyber security and critical infrastructure protection, countering illicit finance, global supply chain security, megacity policing and science and technology are some of the other key issues supposed to be discussed at the strategic meeting. This senior-level exchange between India and the US is part of the strategic homeland security partnership and aimed at enhancing operational cooperation in investigations, capacity building, and countering threats.-PTI

Kashmir an internal matter of India: US WASHINGTON: Kashmir is an internal matter of India, the US has said and asked all stakeholders to make efforts towards finding a peaceful resolution of tensions in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. "We have seen reports of the clashes between protestors and Indian forces in Kashmir, and are concerned by the violence. We

encourage all sides to make efforts towards finding a peaceful resolution," a State Department Spokesman said. The spokesman said the US has not spoken with Indians on this issue as it is an internal matter of India. "We have not. This is an internal matter for the Government of India," the spokesman said.-PTI

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Sharif, Saeed express shock over Wani killing ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Wading into the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed have attacked the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani and made some strong comments against the action of the security

force, Sharif said, "Oppressive measures such as these cannot deter the valiant people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions." Joining forces against India, Saeed welcomed the statements

Expressing concern over the detention of Kashmiri separatist leaders, Sharif said in the statement that India should fulfill its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council resolutions forces in the valley. Exploiting the violence that has led to 24 deaths in the wake of killing of the poster boy of militancy, Sharif, who returned from London after an open heart surgery, expressed "deep shock" over the killing of Wani and civilians by the forces. Deploring the "excessive"

of Pakistan's foreign ministry and the Prime Minister and said the Pakistan government should raise the issue at the international level at a juncture when the "movement" has gained momentum. "I urge Pakistan government to avail this opportunity and announce its open support for those who seek freedom," Saeed, the

Jamaat-ud Dawah chief, said in a recorded message. In another statement, Saeed said killing of the Kashmiris and firing at their funeral is the "worst form of terrorism". "Kashmiris cannot be made slaves through use of force any more. We will continue to support the Kashmiris," he said. Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-eTaiba who carries a bounty of USD 10 million, lamented that the international community was not condemning the killings in Kashmir. Expressing concern over the detention of Kashmiri separatist leaders, Sharif said in the statement that India should fulfill its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that "Sharif-Modi friendship" was causing "irreparable damage" to the Kashmir issue.

"While Muslims celebrated Eid-ul Fitr across the world, our Kashmiri brethren marked the day of festivities amid violence carried

ing the foreign policy by giving his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi a "certificate of friendship". "Sharif is jeopardizing the

Top leader of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Salahuddin, center, leads a prayer for a slain leader of the Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Wani during a rally near the United Nations office in Islamabad, Pakistan, July 12

out by the Indian army," Bilawal said in a statement. He accused Sharif of damag-

Kashmir issue by building his association with the Indian prime minister," he said.-PTI

'Pak comment reflects links to terrorism' NEW DELHI: Reacting sharply to Pakistan's strong comments on Kashmir situation in the wake of killing of militant Burhan Wani, India has said it reflect its continued "attachment to terrorism and its usage as an instrument of State policy." India also asked Pakistan to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbors. "We have seen statements from Pakistan on the situation in

the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. They reflect Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism and its usage as an instrument of State policy. "Pakistan is advised to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of its neighbors," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. India's reaction came after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been under attack from the oppo-

sition for remaining "silent" over the killing of protesters in Kashmir, issued a statement expressing "shock" at Wani's killing. "The Prime Minister of Pakistan has expressed his deep shock at the killing of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and many other civilians by the Indian military and paramilitary forces," Sharif's office said in the statement. Sharif said it was "deplorable that excessive and unlawful force

Rajnath Singh meets Imams on Kashmir NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh met a group of Imams who urged him to help restore calm in the Kashmir Valley which is witnessing turmoil following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. The Imams told Singh that they would be meeting Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and local clerics of the state in an attempt to help bring calm in the Valley. "We had detailed discussions with the Home Minister on the prevailing situation in Kashmir. We have urged him to ensure that calm and peace returns to the Valley. Just like Muslims from any other part of the country, Kashmiris are also our brothers. We are with them and appeal to them to bring normalcy and peace," Umer Ahmed Ilyasi of All

India Organization of Imams of Mosques said after the meeting. He said a group of Imams will be meeting the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and also Imams in the Valley to ensure peace and calm is restored as quickly as possible. Ilyasi said they are opposed to any kind of terrorism in any part of the world. "We are talking

about Kashmir but not Kashmiris. It is time that we take forward dialogue with Kashmiris," he said. Earlier, the Home Minister had reached out to opposition leaders including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Parliamentary leaders of all parties, and discussed the prevailing situation there.-PTI

was used against the civilians" who were protesting against the killing of Wani. "Oppressive measures such as these cannot deter the valiant

people of Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions," he added.-PTI

Pakistan summons Indian envoy ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned the Indian High Commissioner to express serious concerns over the killings of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and many civilians in Kashmir and called for "fair and transparent" inquiry against individuals responsible for "blatant" violation of fundamental rights. The Foreign Secretary called in Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale "and conveyed Pakistan's serious concerns over the recent killings of Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani and many other civilians in Kashmir by the Indian military and paramilitary forces", a statement said. He said that the use of excessive force against innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings, is deplorable and a blatant violation of the Right to Life, Right to Freedom of Expression and Opinion, Right to Peaceful Protest, Right to Peaceful Assembly and other funda-

mental rights. The Foreign Secretary also deplored the firing by Indian security forces on peaceful protesters, the statement said. He highlighted that such brutal use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances, it said. The Foreign Secretary called for fair and transparent inquiry against individuals responsible for these killings. It was emphasized that oppressive measures cannot deter the valiant people of the Jammu and Kashmir from their demand of exercising their right to self determination in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said. The Foreign Secretary reiterated Pakistan's call on the Indian government to fulfill its human rights obligations as well as its commitments under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, it said.-PTI

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Naidu hints at support from Govt to ensure safety of Kashmiri Pandits neighborhood NEW DELHI: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said that terrorists were getting support from the "neighborhood", apparently referring to Pakistan, even as he welcomed the statements by Congress leaders on the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. "I heartily welcome the state-

regard. These statements indicated a "collective stand" on terrorism, he said. Naidu was asked about reports that Pakistan based Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin had a meeting and also Pakistan's stance on Wani's death. "Pakistan should take note of what is happening in their land.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu

ment by senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and former minister Salman Khurshid on Burhan Wani being a terrorist," he said while lauding the statement made by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, in this

Today these two people coming together and they are openly saying that they would spread terrorism. That has to be taken note of by the Pakistani government and they have to take appropriate action," the Union minister said. Naidu said that as far as India

is concerned, it will crush any sort of terrorism with all the force that is required. "It is a long issue because they are getting support from the neighborhood. Aiding, abetting, funding, training terrorism has been going on" he said apparently referring to Pakistan. We have to take it seriously and the government has taken it seriously, he added. The Union Information and Broadcasting minister appealed to media agencies to "exercise restraint," and ensure that while reporting in such matters "one should not create sympathy for terrorists." "This man who is responsible for killing of many innocent people, does not deserve any sympathy at all," Naidu said adding that those "giving sermons should understand that Indian Army and forces are working day and night to protect the unity and integrity of the country." There are "safeguards" in India if there is any violation of human rights, he emphasized. "The issue is concerning national security, religion does not come in to the picture at all. Anybody with common sense would know who are these Hizbul Muzahiddin commanders? Who are these terrorists," Naidu said.-PTI

Yashwant too questions growth rate NEW DELHI: BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has joined skeptics saying the 7.6 per cent growth rate for 2015-16 may have been "inflated" due to "discrepancies" which if removed would bring it down "drastically". He said the discrepancy figure of a whopping Rs 1,40,000 crore in 2015-16 that went into the calculations for the GDP may have inflated the growth rate. The figure stood at only Rs 30,000 crore a year ago, he noted. "If the discrepancies are removed, then the growth rate falls down drastically," said Sinha, who takes frequent potshots at the government. The former finance minister demanded that the government issue a clarification following the US State Department's observation that the growth may be overstated. He also noted there has been domestic criticism of the growth figures as well. "The government should clarify the situation not because I care for what the US has said but

because there has been domestic criticism of it from certain quarters too," the senior BJP leader, who has often faulted the Modi government over its economic and foreign policies, told PTI. Even if domestic criticism is ignored, the government should

Yashwant Sinha

now come out with a clarification after India's "best friend" - the US - has also sounded unconvinced, he said in an apparent jibe at the Modi government. The NDA government has changed the criteria by which growth figures are evaluated and

it has resulted in sharp upward revision of previous growth rates. He also wondered if the Department of Statistics, which puts out the figures, was fully equipped to deal with the changes. Sinha said when he chaired the standing committee on finance during the previous Lok Sabha, he found the department making many "bloopers" in its report. The former finance minister questioned whether the statistics put out by it can be trusted. A report produced by the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs of the State Department said that India's 7.5 per cent growth rate may be "overstated" and the Narendra Modi government has been "slow" to match its "rhetoric" in economic reforms. "Ostensibly, India is one of the fastest growing countries in the world, but this depressed investor sentiment suggests the approximately 7.5 per cent growth rate may be overstated," the report titled "Investment Climate Statements for 2016" said.-PTI

NEW DELHI: All possible steps are being taken by the government to ensure safety of Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said here. He was speaking after meeting a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits led by All India Kashmiri Samaj here. They sought the Centre's intervention to ensure safety of the community members living in the Kashmir Valley, in the wake of the situation following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani. In a memorandum, the delegation alleged that, at a time when the demand for the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir was gaining momentum and the central and state governments seemed serious on this, such large-scale violence at this junc-

ture, appears to be orchestrated by separatists and radical elements supported by Pakistan, with a motive to put the issue once again on the backburner. Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office, assured the members of delegation that the Union government, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the security agencies are taking every possible step to ensure absolute security and protection of Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley. Singh said, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was receiving regular updates on the situation. "It is a joint responsibility of both the State and the society to ensure the safety of minorities in the Valley," he was quoted as having said in a press release issued by his office.-PTI

Pak role 'evident' in violent protests NEW DELHI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said the role of Pakistan in the violent protests in Kashmir after killing of militant Burhan Wani there was more than evident now. "As far as Pakistan's involvement is concerned it is more than evident now. From time to time India has also been providing evidence and proof of that. "There has been involvement and there has been perpetration of terrorism on the India's soil from Islamabad," he told reporters here. He said the available inputs also hints at the Pakistan's involvement.

"As far as the foreign hand is concerned, it has been the experience in last 20-25 years of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir that from time to time there has been evidence forthcoming of Pakistan's involvement. "Therefore, there is a reason to believe, on the inputs which are available today, Pakistan's involvement in the recent episode," said Singh, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office. The Minister said any disruptions in Amarnath yatra would not augur well for the society. "Amarnath yatra is symbolic of composite unity in the Kashmir society.â&#x20AC;? -PTI

Omar questions CM's absence from meet SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah took a swipe at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for not taking part in the crucial meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to review the volatile situation in Kashmir. However, a senior official in Jammu and Kashmir clarified that since it was a briefing by central ministers on the Kashmir situation, Mehbooba had no role in the high-level meeting. On the micro blogging site twit-

ter, Omar criticized Mehbooba, who is heading PDP-BJP Government in the state, for leaving the meeting unrepresented by the state. "I understand if @MehboobaMufti didn't leave the state to attend but why not by video conference? State unrepresented. "We set up video links for all sorts of meaningless things but here where it matters to have @MehboobaMufti involved in the process - nothing," the former chief minister tweeted.-PTI

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Tribunal rules against China in Sea dispute THE HAGUE: An international tribunal has ruled against China in a bitter row over territorial claims to the South China Sea that is likely to ratchet up regional tensions. "The tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights within the sea areas falling within the 'ninedash line'," the Permanent Court of Arbitration said in a statement. All eyes were watching for reaction from the Asian political and military powerhouse, which had fired off a barrage of criticism even before the decision by the PCA in The Hague was announced. China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the strategically vital waters in the face of rival claims from its Southeast Asian neighbors. Manila had lodged the suit against Beijing in 2013, saying that after 17 years of negotiations it had exhausted all political and diplomatic avenues. Beijing waged a months-long campaign to discredit the panel, which it says has no jurisdiction in the multinational dispute, and it refused to take part in the case. The state-run China Daily topped its front page with a picture of Woody Island in the Paracels, emblazoned: "Arbitration invalid". English-language headlines on the official Xinhua news agency included: "South China Sea arbitration abuses international law: Chinese scholar", "Permanent Court of Arbitration must avoid being used for political purposes" and "The sea where Chinese fishermen live and die". Ahead of the decision, new

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte had signaled he did not want to antagonize China, saying he would not "taunt or flaunt" a favorable ruling and would seek a "soft landing" with China. China's claims were first enshrined in a map drawn in the 1940s with a nine-dash line stretching south from China and encircling almost all of the sea, although it says Chinese fishermen

Spratly Islands, supported by aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the US-based Navy Times reported. Chinese state media have said Beijing will not take a "single step back" after the ruling, and President Xi Jinping said earlier this month that China would never compromise on sovereignty, adding: "We are not afraid of trouble."

Vietnamese expatriates cheer while displaying placards during a rally by the Manila's baywalk

have been using it for centuries. To bolster its position it has rapidly turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. It has held naval drills between the Paracels and the southern Chinese island of Hainan in recent days. US naval destroyers have been patrolling near the Chineseclaimed Scarborough Shoal and

China had sought diplomatic support around the world, and foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said its latest backers included Angola, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea, showing that "justice and righteousness always have popular support". "Who is upholding the sanctity of international law and who is breaking international law, I think people are all clear about

US embassy staff families leaving Dhaka WASHINGTON: The US has authorized voluntary departure of family members of its staff posted at the American embassy in Dhaka in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Bangladesh. "Effective July 10, 2016, the Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of family members of US government personnel posted to the US Embassy in Dhaka," an official statement said. At the same time, it said the US Embassy in Dhaka remains open and will provide all routine consular services. "The US government assesses that the terrorist threat is real and credible," the State Department said. In a travel warning, the State Department warned US citizens to consider carefully whether they

that," Lu said. Manila lodged its suit against Beijing in 2013, saying China was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to which both countries are signatories. One of the key issues was whether the land features in the area are islands capable of supporting human habitation - which under UNCLOS are entitled to

need to travel to Bangladesh, in light of the latest attacks. On July 1, attackers killed 22 people in a restaurant frequented by foreigners in Dhaka s diplomatic enclave, including one US citizen. Other attacks continue to be carried out against religious mi-

norities, bloggers, publishers, and security forces throughout the country. Daesh (also referred to as ISIL, or ISIS) and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) have publicly claimed credit for various attacks since September 2015, the Department said.-PTI

territorial waters and an exclusive economic zone - or rocks, which only have territorial waters, or low-tide elevations, which get neither. If none of the outcrops are islands, then none of the claimants to them would gain sole rights to major expanses of the waters around them. "The ruling can reduce the scope of the South China Sea dis-

putes, but will not solve them," said analysts Yanmei Xie and Tim Johnston of the International Crisis Group in a report. The ruling was likely to "escalate the war of words", they said, but added: "Escalation to military standoffs is not inevitable." China could choose to withdraw from UNCLOS, or begin building on Scarborough Shoal, which Washington would view as a provocation. Beijing could also declare an air defense identification zone over the South China Sea, claiming the right to interrogate aircraft passing through the airspace, or try to remove a ship grounded by the Philippines on Second Thomas Shoal for use as a base. Alternatively, it could move to reduce tensions. Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay told AFP that Manila hoped to open direct talks with Beijing on the dispute, and presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said: "The top priority will be national interest." The Philippine embassy in China has warned its citizens to beware of personal "threats" and avoid political debates. Nationalist demonstrations are not rare in China, sometimes apparently with the tacit backing of authorities. More than 20 Chinese police were positioned outside the Philippine embassy, with more in vans nearby - a significantly larger presence than usual - along with two lorries loaded with crowd control barriers, a possible indication that authorities expected protests at the building.-AFP

Philippines 'welcomes' Tribunal ruling MANILA: The Philippines welcomed a ruling by a UN-backed tribunal that declares China has no "historic rights" in the South China Sea, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said, as he urged restraint. "The Philippines welcomes the issuance today... on the arbitration proceedings initiated by the Philippines with regard to the South China Sea," Yasay told reporters minutes after the court in The Hague released its verdict. The Permanent Court of Arbitration said the tribunal ruled there was no legal basis for China to claim "historic rights" to resources within the South China Sea falling within its claimed nine-

dash line, which is based on a Chinese map dating back to the 1940s. "Our experts are studying the award with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserves. In the meantime, we call on all those concerned to exercise restraint and sobriety," Yasay said. "The Philippines strongly affirms its respect for this milestone decision as an important contribution to ongoing efforts in addressing disputes in the South China Sea." He added the decision upheld international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.-AFP

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PM warns against preachers of hate NAIROBI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned here that "preachers of hate and violence" are threatening the fabric of the society, in comments that assume significance amid the controversy surrounding Islamic preacher

Zakir Naik. He also appeared to be hitting out at Pakistan as he emphasized that those giving shelter to terrorists and using them as political instruments must be condemned. Addressing the students at the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the students, at the University of Nairobi, in Kenya on July 11

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage, at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, at the University of Nairobi, in Kenya on July 11

University of Nairobi here, Modi pitched for a world free from terror and hate, saying safety and security of people and societies is essential for realizing the benefits of the economic progress. "Preachers of hate and violence are threatening the fabric of our society," he said without taking any names. Underlining the need to counter radicalization, he said "Youth can play an important role in building a counter narrative to extremist ideologies." His comments assume significance in view of the expanding footprint of ISIS terror group, which is particularly attracting the youth through a campaign of radicalization. A recent case in point was the attack in Bangladesh some days back at a cafe by a group of six educated youth in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed. Some of these six attackers were allegedly influenced by the controversial Indian Muslim preacher Zakir Naik, who gives sermons on a TV channel, which is under scrutiny of the Indian government now. Apprehensions of some Indian youth getting attracted towards ISIS is also gaining ground with 15 youngsters from Kerala going missing mysteriously. The Prime Minister, while speaking about developmental strides, said, "A steady march towards our economic goals is indeed a priority. But, we also cannot ignore the safety of our people." -PTI

Arrested ISIS suspects tech-savvy HYDERABAD: Investigating a suspected terror module of banned ISIS here, the NIA has said the accused were tech-savvy and using a modern software to

abroad. The coordinates of places where logistics like weapons were to be delivered, were sent to him by his handler through this email. Tutanota is a combination of

According to the NIA, alleged kingpin Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani was using 'tutanota' software, a secure encryption mail to be in touch with his handler abroad secure their email conversation with their handler in Syria. According to the NIA, alleged kingpin Mohammed Ibrahim Yazdani was using 'tutanota' software, a secure encryption mail to be in touch with his handler

Latin words "tuta" and "nota" meaning "secure message". It provides a platform for not having any personal data and also does not log Internet Protocol address to secure locations of sender or receiver.

The platform encrypts data including its subject, content and attachments. Ilyas had also purchased a weighing machine from a shop at Biwi bazar for weighing explosive precursors and chemicals, the NIA alleged. Another accused Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Amoodi alias 'Fahad' had procured nine Aircel preactivated SIMs from a promotional temporary stall at Charminar bus stop. Subsequently he had purchased five Chinese mobile phones from a mobile shop at the Charminar bus stop so that they can be used in their planning and operations.-PTI

Modi back after 4nation Africa tour NEW DELHI: Prime Minister talks with South African President Narendra Modi has returned home Jacob Zuma on a wide range of after his four-nation Africa tour issues, particularly in the ecoaimed at enhancing ties with the nomic sphere. continent. Showcasing India as an attracModi came back from Kenya, tive destination for defense prowhich was the last leg of his visit duction, the Prime Minister also that also covered Mozambique, sought deeper collaboration in the South Africa and Tanzania. sector with South Africa, a major "After a vital Africa tour which arms exporter, even as he thanked witnessed key talks, interactions it for supporting India's bid for & agreements, PM membership of Nuclear Suppliers @narendramodi reaches Delhi," Group. the PMO tweeted. Modi held talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during India has offered USD 92 which the two sides demillion Line of Credit to cided to deepen and expand cooperation in a Tanzania for a key water wide range of areas as they signed seven supply project and signed pacts, including in the five agreements with it field of defense and security and avoidance of double taxation. Earlier the prime minister visIn Mozambique, Modi held ited Tanzania, South Africa and wide-ranging talks with President Mozambique as part of the five- Filipe Nyusi. The two countries day tour. signed three pacts, including a India has offered USD 92 mil- significant "long-term agreement" lion Line of Credit to Tanzania for under which India will buy pulses a key water supply project and from this African nation to meet signed five agreements with it. its recurring shortfall and contain In South Africa, Modi held prices of this commodity. -PTI

Indians is S. Sudan asked to stay calm JUBA: Indian embassy in Swaraj asking for help, saying South Sudan has asked Indians that they are stuck in between stranded here to stay calm, assur- heavy gunfire. Swaraj retweeted ing them that they are in constant the Indian embassy in South touch with authorities in India and Sudan's statement and said that all options are being considered concerned authorities have to provide relief to them amid been intimated to extend help. heavy in fighting between South Heavy fighting in South Sudan's army and former rebels. Sudan's capital was witnessed "The Indian embassy is in as former rebels and governregular touch with concerned authorities with concerned authorities in India and Heavy fighting in South all options are being considered for provid- Sudan's capital was ing relief to Indians witnessed as former rebels stranded here in Juba. All are requested to and government soldiers keep calm and await further development exchanged and further inputs from the embassy," External Affairs Minister ment soldiers exchanged fire in Sushma Swaraj retweeted Indian several parts of the city. embassy in South Sudan's stateThe violence comes a day afment. ter the world's youngest country Bhupat Patel, an Indian resi- marked its fifth independence andent in South Sudan, tweeted to niversary. PTI

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US to help India in roads safety WASHINGTON: The US will cooperate with India in making its roads safe by offering a range of innovative technology and software in intelligent traffic management to reduce road accidents in the country, Union for Road and Surface Transportation Nitin Gadkari has said. Acknowledging that road

lot of accidents on national highway," he said. "Road safety is highest priority for our government," Gadkari told Indian journalists during a media round-table after his-day long meetings including that with US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and American business community.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari greets US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx before their meeting in Washington on July 11

safety is a "big problem" in India, Gadkari said every year more than 150,000 people are killed in five lakh road accidents. "We are taking the co-operation of the US Government in particularly in road safety and intelligent traffic management system, which we are also going to implement in India," he said. "I am very much disturbed (by the status of road safety)," he said. Gadkari said the US has also promised to give "all technical cooperation for standardization of our Indian code" for road construction, bridges and flyovers. "Their experience and their present rules and regulations, codification, all the manuals are there and they are ready to share all types of manuals, code and rules and regulations with us," he said. "In India we are critically facing the problem of road accidents. We have 96,000 kms of road length as national highway and 40 per cent of national traffic on this two per cent of road. We are facing a

"Today we discussed all our problems related to road safety

with the (US Transportation) Secretary. The good thing is the Secretary promised me all types of cooperation with the rules, regulations, the software they have already developed, the system, the technology, the innovation. They are ready to co-operate with us in everything," Gadkari said. During the meeting, the US also promised full co-operation in the development of inland waterways. The Minister also spoke on new highways under construction in the country, financing mechanisms under PPP models, framing policies for logistics parks, modernization of roads, building intelligent traffic systems for road safety and further innovation and technology to India's logistics sector. Rohit Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, highlighted specific investment opportunities in the highways sector whereas Alok Srivastava, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, shared details on the Sagarmala Program the Ministry's flagship port-led development initiative to bring down logistics cost and boost investment, exports, and jobs. "India needs USD 1 trillion for developing new roads, ports, rail lines, and airports over the next few years and US companies can provide the necessary expertise as well as capital to enable the robust growth of this sector," he said.-PTI

2 Indians held in China for molestation BEIJING: The Indian Embassy says it is following up with Chinese officials about the detention of two Indian men who were held for allegedly attempting to molest a Taiwanese woman in a hotel here. "The matter is being followed up with authorities. We are not in a position to share further details at this stage," a senior Indian diplomat here told PTI. The two men, aged 50 and 28 hailing from Haryana, were held in detention. It is not clear yet whether they would be released and allowed to go home. The Chinese government was expected to provide con-

sular access to Indian embassy officials to meet them. The men were on a visit to China along with a group of traders brought in by a tea company from India. They were taken into custody on July 7 by the local police following an alleged attempt to molest the Taiwanese woman tourist in the lift of a hotel here. Much of the woman's ordeal was reportedly caught on CCTV. In the footage, they were purportedly seen first taking photographs with her and later pulling her inside the lift as she was getting out after the lift reached the lobby, officials said.-PTI

Alappuzha, Panaji, Mysuru cleanest cities NEW DELHI: Alappuzha in Kerala, Panaji and Mysuru are cleanest cities in India, a survey based on solid waste management practices in towns across the country said even as it placed Delhi at the "bottom of the heap". "Alappuzha, Panaji and Mysuru are three of the cleanest cities in India, with municipal waste management systems that actually work," a latest rating by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. CSE's report on solid waste management in Indian cities is titled 'Not in my backyard.' "CSE rated Indian cities on their management of solid waste metros like Delhi feature at the bottom of the heap," it said. "This book started as a survey, we wanted to simply know which city is India's cleanest. We knew that once we found out which is the cleanest, we would also find out what makes it so. This would give us the answers for future policy," said CSE Director General Sunita Narain. Noting that the last survey to understand quantity and composition of garbage was done over a decade ago, CSE said that the methodology used to calculate waste generated is to simply extrapolate an assumed quantity estimate with the population. "There is, however, no real on-ground data available. In addition, not much information is available on the composition of waste in terms of organic, bio-degradable, or plastic, or the quantum. In essence, what had started as a survey was turning out into a gap analysis," CSE said. Referring to the Department of Economic Affairs position paper on solid waste management of 2009, CSE said that urban India was already producing some 80,000 MT of waste a day. It projected that by 2047, India

would be producing 260 million tonnes of waste annually needing over 1,400 sq km of landfills which is an area equal to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai put together, CSE said referring to the paper. Referring to the 2007 report of the Comptroller and Auditor Gen-

Panaji

eral of India (CAG), CSE said that the report found waste was collected in 22 per cent of 56 sampled municipalities, segregation was done in 10 per cent, storage in 17 per cent, transportation using covered trucks was done in 18 per cent of the sampled municipalities and only 11 per cent had waste processing capabilities. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates, over 90 per cent of Indian cities with a functional collection system dispose of their waste in landfills, CSE said. It said that in 2008, CPCB's

Mysuru

monitoring of cities found that 24 out of 59 cities were making use of landfills, covering 1,900 hectares of land while another 17 planned to create landfills. "As India becomes more literate and politically aware, most cities are encountering stiff resistance when they attempt to dispose of waste in somebody else's backyard. In Pune, Bengaluru, Panaji, Alleppey and Gurgaon, village communities have been up in arms against the dumping of waste by a neighboring city.-PTI

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Drug addiction in Pakistan at an alarming level TUSHAR RANJAN MOHANTY

n June 22, the Sargodha District Police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) claimed to have arrested sixteen drugs dealers, recovering narcotics and illegal weapons. A Police spokesman disclosed that during a continued drive against drug pushers and criminals, special teams of different police stations conducted raids within their jurisdictions and arrested the 16 accused, recovering over 2.5 kilograms of hashish, 1.5 kilos of heroin, 10,000 bottles of liquor, six 30 bore Pistols, two .32 bore Revolvers, one Kalashnikov rifle, and one Carbine, along with bullets and cartridges. On June 12, the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) conducted 11 operations and recov-

Multan, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Nowshehra, Karachi and Quetta. During the operations, ANF also arrested 21 persons, including three foreigners, while seven vehicles were seized. The value of seized narcotics was PKR 577 million in the international market On May 31, ANF recovered 2.28 tons of narcotics worth ten billion rupees from different parts of the country. According to details, in six intelligence-based operations at Lasbella, Qilla Saifullah, Chaghi, Faisalabad and Gilgit, ANF arrested four accused including a woman and seized two loaded vehicles. On May 26, ANF recovered a huge stash of narcotics from the Malir town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh. A massive volume of drugs recovered from Acting on a tipoff, ANF several parts of the country by the ANF, conducted a apparently accumulated over five years of raid and was seizures, from 2011-2015, was destroyed on able to seize 442 kilograms of April 18. Balochistan was on top of the list charas and 13 kilograms of with 492 tons of drugs destroyed, with Sindh opium. following with 111 tons. A report on the mid-year performance of ered a huge cache of narcotics weighing the ANF revealed on June 14, 2016, that 1.16 tons worth PKR 7.6 billion in the Inter- 49.12 tonnes of drugs, worth PKR 3.985 national Market. billion, had been recovered during the preThe seized drugs included 1.147 tons ceding six months. heroin, 17 kilograms of hashish and 2.4 kiloThese included 2.233 tonnes of heroin, grams of opium. ANF also arrested 12 per- 33.248 tons of hashish, 7.703 tonnes of sons, including four women, involved in opium, 1.443 tonnes of morphine, 1.62 kilodrug smuggling during the operations. grams of cocaine, 931.87 kilograms of amThese operations were launched at phetamine, 6.085 kilograms of methamphetRawalpindi, Attock, Nowshehra, Peshawar, amine, 790 Ecstasy tablets and 28,550 Xanax Hyderabad, Karachi and Pishin. tablets. During the period, 426 cases were On June 6, ANF recovered 20 kilograms registered and 506 drug criminals were arof heroin, 716 kilograms of hashish, 1.3 ki- rested. These cases included 57 cases at lograms of methamphetamine and 4.8 kilo- airports and 11 cases of parcel consigngrams of opium in 16 operations at ments destined for receivers abroad. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Lahore, A special Anti-Drug Drive was also

launched in April 2016 with a particular focus on the educational institutions in Islamabad and all provincial capitals, which

impounded in 2015, as against 2014. In 2015, more than 261 tons of narcotics were seized, while 123 tons were seized in 2014.

helped ANF recover drugs worth PKR 1.17 2013 saw 130 tons of narcotics' seizures, billion in the international market. In this while 119 tons were seized in 2012. connection, 136 operations were conducted by ANF across Pakistan, resulting Afghanistan chief producer in the arrest of 155 drug suppliers and the Afghanistan is the world's largest opium seizure of 19 vehicles. producer, accounting for some 70 per cent During these operations, 1.344 tons of (3,300 tons) of global opium production, narcotics were recovered, including 44.726 according to the United Nations World kilograms of heroin, 1,274.775 kilograms of Drug Report of 2016. hashish, 23.150 kilograms of opium and The United Nations Office on Drugs and 1.120 kilograms of cocaine. The majority of Crime (UNODC) Report 2015 said that 40 the operations were undertaken in The United Nations Office on Drugs and I s l a m a b a d , Crime (UNODC) Report 2015 said that 40 Rawalpindi, per cent of the drugs (heroin and mariJhelum, Lahore, A t t o c k , juana) originating in Afghanistan are routed H a r i p u r , through Pakistan en route to China, the Gulf Peshawar, Kohat, Multan, States, Africa, and Europe. There are beGilgit, Sukkur, tween 300 to 500 heroin-producing factoKarachi, Quetta and Qilla ries operating in Afghanistan Abdullah. A massive volume of drugs recovered per cent of the drugs (heroin and marijuana) from several parts of the country by the originating in Afghanistan are routed ANF, apparently accumulated over five through Pakistan en route to China, the Gulf years of seizures, from 2011-2015, was de- States, Africa, and Europe. According to the stroyed on April 18. Balochistan was on same report, there are anywhere between top of the list with 492 tons of drugs de- 300 to 500 heroin-producing factories operstroyed, with Sindh following with 111 ating in Afghanistan, mostly located in the tons. provinces of Helmand and Nimroz near the KP was in the third position with 91 border with Pakistan. tons; while 63 tons were discovered and destroyed in Punjab. Official sources indiContâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; d on page 13 cate that larger amounts of narcotics were

July 15, 2016

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India Post 13

www.indiapost.com Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; d from page 12

There is no presence of the anti-narcotics department on the Pakistani side along these areas. Media reports suggest that the drugs smuggled from Afghanistan to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), KP and Balochistan are used by terrorist formations. An unnamed local journalist claimed, "The Restoril capsule is used by the local militants' organizations to energies their fighters and make them brave and bold for the missions," adding that the medicine is used to motivate young men to undertake suicide attacks. Sources claimed that several Afghan drug-peddlers and officials of the border posts and other agencies were involved in the business. For long, in addition to extortion and

kidnappings for ransom, the greatest source of income for terrorist groups based in KP, Peshawar and Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar has been the 'taxation' of narcotics. A confidential report prepared by lawenforcement agencies on May 19, 2014, noted, "International efforts to curb militants' access to foreign funds have forced such organizations to rely on criminal activities to cover their expenses." The report identified three terrorist groups working in and around Peshawar: Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) in Bara, Khyber Agency; Tariq Afridi group of Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) based in FR Peshawar and Darra Adam Khel in FR Kohat; and Mohmand chapter of TTP based in the Mohmand Agency and the Kunar Province of Afghanistan. According to the report, LI was indirectly involved in the sale and purchase of narcotics and organized a hashish fair in Orakzai Agency three times a week. Similarly, drug transporters were 'taxed' by banned outfits in areas under their control. LI charged PKR 1,330 on a kilogram of hashish as 'tax', while another terrorist group, Amar Bil Maroof, popularly known as the 'Namdar group', charged PKR 100 per kilogram. On December 9, 2014, United States (US) officials had pointed out that TTP could also be using drug money to finance its activities. "The logic is rather overwhelming. Drug traffickers have a substantial presence in the region where the Taliban (TTP) also operate," Dawn reported on December 9, 2014, while quoting an unnamed senior US official who was part of the delegation of Ambassador William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary of State for International Nar-

Drug addiction in Pakistan at an alarming level cotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. "Obviously, TTP is earning revenue, when an illicit drug moves through their areas. We are almost 100 per cent certain that they are," the official added. The claim was reinforced when TTP targeted Tehsildar (revenue official) Faramosh Khan, who was on an anti-poppy drive along with ANF officials and USAID campaigners in the Ambar Tehsil area of Mohmand Agency in FATA, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) device planted on the roadside exploded on March 1, 2016. The Jama'at-ul-Ahrar (JuA) faction of TTP claimed responsibility. The two USAID campaigners were killed while Tehsildar Faramosh and an ANF official sustained injuries. On February 18, 2016, two Police officers were shot dead by unidentified terrorists in the Machni area of Mohmand Agency in FATA. Earlier, on 26 November 2012, Lance Naik Azad Khan was shot dead by unidentified assailants during an Antinarcotics Operation in the Nullah area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. On 13 January 2011, Havildar Farooq Ahmed of the Quetta Regional Directorate, ANF, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants in the main bazaar of Panjgur town of Balochistan. The involvement of Police officials in the drug trade has also been in evident. On February 19, 2016, for instance, the Special Branch of Sindh Police revealed that an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Bilal Qayyum, who was posted at Kiamari Town, Karachi, was found to be the ring

leader of a drug dealing gang. With the sheer volumes of drug movement within the country, drug addiction in Pakistan is at an alarming level. According to Dr. Darya Khan Leghari of Sir C.J Institute of Psychiatry, there are nine million drug addicts in Pakistan, out of which two million are in the age band of 15 to 25 years. Leghari asserted that drug abuse was growing rapidly, especially among youth, including those in colleges and universities, resulting in serious social and health implications. Almost five per cent of the adult population of the country is already addicted, putting Pakistan at the top of the list among countries affected by this scourge. Leghari

backed and supported by powerful, wealthy and influential persons. The situation appears to be even worse than Leghari suggests. The Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control was told on July 6, 2015, that around seven million people in Pakistan were drug addicts, and that 700 persons die every day in the country due to drug-related compli-

The large volumes of drugs seized by state agencies, and the significant numbers of arrests, represent the tip of the iceberg in Pakistan. They would have little impact on the total volume of the trade as long as the roots of the problem in the Pakistan backed instability and terrorism across Afghanistan are not recognized claimed that the reason behind the alarmingly increasing number of drug addicts in Pakistan was that the drug cartels were fully

Afghan farmers harvest raw opium on a poppy field in the village of Bawri, outside of Lashkar Gah, Helmand, southern Afghanistan

cations. The Committee, chaired by Senator Rehman Malik, was briefed by the Director General (DG) of ANF on the steps undertaken by the Narcotics Control Division for the welfare of those suffering from addiction. Recognizing the problem of the growing nexus between terrorists, drugs peddlers and their facilitators, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif declared on August 3, 2015, "We will break the nexus between drug dealers, financiers and perpetrators of terrorism... We will not allow these drug barons to negatively influence and spoil our future generations." The large volumes of drugs seized by state agencies, and the significant numbers of arrests, represent the tip of the iceberg in Pakistan. They would have little impact on the total volume of the trade as long as the roots of the problem in the Pakistan backed instability and terrorism across Afghanistan are not recognized, and the collusion of state entities and elites within Pakistan is not addressed. The writer is Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management

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Desi News Rauner proclaims July 9 as Jalaram Day YOGESH THAKKAR

CHICAGO: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner proclaimed July 9 as Jalaram Day in Illinois commemorating the three-day Pran Pratish at Mahotsav organized by the Jalaram Mandir at Hoffman Estate beginning July 6. The Proclamation was formally handed over to the Mandir team Chiyay Parkih and Bakulbhai Thakkar - by Nimesh Jani, Schaumburg village Trustee. With over 2500 devotees and guests the event was also attended by Hoffman Estates Mayor William D. McLeod, Trustee Anna Newell, Trustee Michael Gaeta, Schaumburg Trustee Diane Dunham, Trustee Nimesh Jani, Supervisor Mary Wroblewski and State representative Michelle Mussman.

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'Thoughts can pollute environment more than plastic'

Record crowds at ATA Convention showcasing Telugu culture KEERTHI KUMAR RAVOORI

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AI updates menu for Hyderabad passengers RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The Air India Logo of Maharaja welcoming all aboard may be a relic of the past like all Indian Maharajas but the underlying message of treating Air Indian patrons as Maharajas continues with the management. It was this motivating factor which induced the Chicago Air India team to host a food tasting event last week at its Flying Food facility in Schiller Park, near O'Hare airport. The near two hours event hosted by the Chicago Air India team headed by Nakul Chand and comprising Ms Katherine Thorat, Rajiv Batish, Nadeem Rahamat, James Wagoner and Paul Verdi detailed the additions to the menu for First and Business class passengers flying from Chicago to Hyderabad. Details on page 21

Team with Bruce Rauner and Indian Minister Venkaiah Naidu

CHICAGO: The ATA Convention hosted by American Telugu Association [ATA] drew recordbreaking crowds who relished every bit of the silver jubilee festivities that showcased a rich Telugu cultural heritage and its burgeoning Telugu constituency in America. The three-day ATA Convention held on July 1-3 at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, was a mega success by all account. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner issued a proclamation declaring July 2nd and 3rd as American Telugu Association Day in the State of Illinois. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti pre-

sented Illinois Governor's proclamation to ATA leaders. ATA President Sudhakar Perkari and ATA Founder/Presi-

banquet on Friday July 1 with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating the three-day cel-

nity he would love to visit India. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, in his address inspired the fami-

ATA Convention logo

dent Hanumanth Reddy expressed happiness at the presence of such a huge number of Telugu people under one roof. The convention was set in motion with a grand gala

ebrations. Governor Rauner commended the Telugu community for keeping up the great cultural heritage and added if he gets an opportu-

lies to stay rooted in Telugu culture while appreciating the other languages and cultures.

Kabaddi & Volleyball contest at Punjabi Mela Asian Media USA

A group of ATA officials, guests with Governor Bruce Rauner and Indian Minister Venkaiah Naidu

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 19

July 15, 2016

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Gujarati Samaj hosts Midwest dance competition Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: The Federation of Gujarati Associations of North America (Fogana) held its 36th Midwest Regional Cultural event of Raas, Garba, and Folk dance competition on Saturday, July 9 at Copernicus Center (Gateway Theater) in Chicago. The event attended by over 1000 members, guests and participants, was hosted by Gujarati Samaj Chicago and featured performances by over 266 participants. The Chief Guest was Shri Chhotabhai Patel and Guests of Honor were Dr. Bharat Barai and Dr. Umang Patel. Nirisha Shah, Joint Cultural Secretary of Samaj, welcomed the sponsors, judges, choreographers, managers, participants and volunteers and reviewed the basic rules and guidelines for the attendees. The Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the third time was

Fogana Chief Guest and Guests of Honor Chhotubhai Patel, Dr Bharat Barai, Dr Umang Patel

the past presidents, Board of Trustees, volunteers, generous donors and current and past sponsors. Introduction of guests was performed by President Suryakant Patel and Jayesh

Past presidents who were awarded for their outstanding and dedicated work

Bharti Desai. The event began with the traditional Mangal Deep lighting ceremony by Chhotabhai Patel, Dr. Bharat Barai, and Suryakant Patel with their respective families. A prayer dance by Nrutya Kalashree Dance Academy was followed by the song title Mangalastakam. The second prayer dance was performed by Mudra Dance Academy with the song title Shree Ganeshay Dheemahi. Suryakant Patel, GSC President gave a brief history and highlight of Gujarati Samaj Chicago, founded in 1976. He thanked all

Parikh GSC General Secretary. Judges were Bhartiben Jobanputra (Canada), Alka Patel (NJ), Geetaben Shah (VA), Pranjal Katwala (Washington DC) and Payalben Jariwala (MA). Eighteen dances were performed as part of the Fogana dance competition. Participants were from Illinois, Michigan and Texas. Overall 266 participants competed in Raas, Garba, and Folk dance in four different categories which included Minor, Junior, Senior and Adult. The following were the teams in these four categories:

Bharat Barai presenting award to First Prize winner Minor Garba Gurjari of Chicago (Illinois)

Minor Raas by Srujan Dance (Illinois) and Sur Sangam (Texas); Minor Garba by Gurjari of Chicago (Illinois); Minor Folk Dance by Gunjan Group of Chicago (Illinois), Nartan Group of Detroit (Michigan) and Gujarati Samaj Chicago (Illinois); Junior Raas by Srujan Dance (Illinois) and Sur Sangam (Texas);Junior Garba by Gurjari of Chicago (Illinois); Junior Folk Dance by Sur Sangam (Texas); Senior Garba by Sur Sangam (Texas); Senior Folk Dance by Nartan Group of Detroit (Michigan); Adult Raas by Gujarati Samaj Chicago (Illinois) and Sur Sangam (Texas); Adult Garba by Gurjari of Chicago (Illinois); and Adult Folk Dance by Nartan Group of Detroit (Michigan) and Sur Sangam (Texas). The event winning teams in the four categories were as follows:

Minor Garba Gurjari of Chicago (Illinois) First Prize, Minor Raas Srujan Dance (Illinois), Second Prize, Minor Raas Sur Sangam (Texas) First Prize, Minor Folk Dance Gunjan Group Chicago Third Prize, Minor Folk Dance Gujarati Samaj Chicago (Illinois) Second Prize, Minor Folk Dance Nartan Group of Detroit (Michigan) First Prize and Minor Best Choreographer Raksha Dave. Junior Garba Gurjari of Chicago (Illinois) First Prize, Junior Raas Srujan Dance (Illinois) Second Prize, Junior Raas Sur Sangam (Texas) First Prize, Junior Folk Dance Sur Sangam (Texas) Second Prize, Junior Folk Dance Nartan Group of Detroit (Michigan) First Prize, Junior Best Choreographer Induben Mongrola and Sunita Narayana and Minor Best costume Raksha Dave. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 19

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Rauner proclaims July 9 as Jalaram Day YOGESH THAKKAR

CHICAGO: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner proclaimed July 9 as Jalaram Day in Illinois commemo-

Shree Jalaram Mandir management planned a grand celebration of Murti Pran Pratishtha after busy-

ing itself with a hefty renovation, remodeling and expansion of the temple for the past eight years. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this three-day event attended by hundreds of devotees from far and wide places even beyond Chicagoland, met with a huge success. The three-day Mahotsav beginning July 6 had commenced earlier with 108 Kundi Shubh Sankalp Yagna followed by Deh Shuddhi Karna Vidhi (day 1), Panchang Karmaand Shobha Yatra (day 2), Vastu Pujan, Snnapam Vidhiand Abhishek (day 3) and finally Murti Pran Pratishtha on Saturday, July 9. Jalaram Bapa Idol at Mandir in Hoffman Estate. Chanting Mantras, Shlokas, Pics Suresh Bodiwala Asian Media conducting floats dancing, singrating the three-day Pran Pratish ing, and cultural perat Mahotsav organized by the formances on last day Jalaram Mandir at Hoffman Estate by kids were the highbeginning July 6. lights of the festiviThe Proclamation was formally ties. Mahaprasad was handed over to the Mandir team served every day afChiyay Parkih and Bakulbhai ter the Puja Vidhi. The Thakkar - by Nimesh Jani, entire event was Schaumburg village Trustee. broadcast live on AirWith over 2500 devotees and wave and YouTube. guests the event was also atThis sacrament was tended by Hoffman Estates Mayor performed by total of William D. McLeod, Trustee Anna 11 high ranking Newell, Trustee Michael Gaeta, Acharyas who had Schaumburg Trustee Diane Duntravelled from differham, Trustee Nimesh Jani, Superent parts of US. The visor Mary Wroblewski and State ceremony marked the representative Michelle high point of the Pooja Hoffman Estate Mayte Mayor William D. McLeod Mussman. and invocation ritual. addressing the gathering After this, the deity statues were henceforth considered as consecrated. The event included grand reopening ceremony for major structural upgrades of the temple and installation of nine deities carved from precious 'Makrana' marble

Trust Board Chirayu Parikh Chandulal Thakkar Jashwant Patel Dharmendra Thakkar Rajesh Thakkar Raju Thakkar Hasmukh Thakkar Bhavik Thakkar Harivadhan Thakkar Ramesh Thakkar Dr. Ghanshyam Thakkar Yogesh Thakkar Niranjan Nathwani

Executive Board Bhupendra Thakkar Bakul Thakkar Ashish Thakkar Ravi Thakkar Jayshree Thakkar Mahesh Patel Vipul Thakkar Jiga Thakkar Dipak Thakkar Nayna Soni Rajendra Thakkar Chandrakant Thakkar

stones, along with installation of statue of Shree Jalaram Bapa. Major expansion project costing upwards of $3.2 million was started

The facility had outgrown to accommodate ever increasing number of devotees and visitors, and Trustees had to go back to drawing board for major expansion soon after the opening of the doors of the temple. T h e priests coming from all over the country were Anantbhai Dixit (Main Acharya) from Toledo O H , Jayeshbhai Pandya from Presentation of Illinois Gov proclamation to Jalaram Mandir Philadelphia, officials by Nimesh Jani Manishbhai few years after foundation of Trivedi from Cleveland OH, Mandir. Janakbhai Joshi from Birmingham, AL, Yogesh Kumar Joshi from Chicago, Mayurbhai Shastriji from Merryville IN, Kaushikbhai Joshi from Detroit MI, Rohitbhai Joshi from Chicago, Satishbhai Joshi from Chicago and Shree Jalaram Mandir Pujari Keyurbhai Sevak and Dharmendrabhai Pandya. In addition, the event was performed under spiritual guidance of Shri Adhyatmanand Swamiji of Shivanand Ashram from Ahmedabad and Rajendra Prasad Shastri from Bhavnagar, India.

Jalram Mandir Pranpraishta Kalash Shobha Yatra

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

Upcoming Event: Shrimad Bhagvat Katha by the Internationally Renowned Pujya Shri Rameshbhai Oza (Bhaishri) Sunday, Aug 7th to Sunday, Aug 14th 2016 (8 days) Sun, Aug 7th - 3:00pm - 8 pm, Mon to Sat (Aug 8th to 13th) - 6 pm - 9:30pm. Sun, Aug 14th: 9:00am - 12:30pm. Kids Session: Tuesday, Aug 9th - 5 pm to 6 pm.

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Gujarati Samaj hosts Midwest dance competition Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 17

Senior Garba Sur Sangam (Texas) First Prize, Senior Folk Dance Nartan Group of Detroit (Michigan) First Prize, Senior Best Choreographer Raksha Dave and Minor Best costume Induben Mongrola. Adult Garba Gurjari of Chicago (Illinois) First Prize, Adult Raas Gujarati Samaj Chicago (Illinois) Second Prize, Adult Raas Sur Sangam (Texas) First Prize, Adult Folk Dance Sur Sangam (Texas) Second Prize, Adult Folk Dance Nartan Group of Detroit (Michigan), First Prize, Adult Best Choreographer Raksha Dave, Adult Best costume Neha Patel, New Choreographer Sunita Narayana and New Choreographer Vrushank Shah and Sonam Mehta. At the end of all performances, Chief Coordinator Jayesh Parikh observed that "Fogana fosters dreams to help take its performers to new heights and gives its participants self-confidence, motivation, and a spirit of comradeship by creating a huge network of

friends." Dr. Bharat Barai in his remarks stated that in his personal communications with last 4 American

of tradition and culture. He wished success to all participants now and in their future endeavors. Chhotabhai Patel congratulated

Adult Raas Gujarati Samaj Chicago (Illinois)

Presidents, he learned that they all highly value India as successful diaspora primarily due to rich family values, hard work and the importance of education. This type of cultural program infuses values

organizers of Gujarat Samaj, entire group of participants and their mentors for taking part in such a cultural show. "Most of us are aware of the hard work and struggle faced by Indians who

came to USA for a better life and economic progress. Fogana provides a platform for interaction amongst the persons of Indian origin to keep up our cultural heritage intact for the coming generations," he said As part of the program, the following community leaders and event guests were presented with appreciation awards: [ 1 ] Chhotabhai Patel: Shri S a r d a r Va l l a b h b h a i Patel Award. This award was initiated by Gujarati Samaj Chicago and is awarded at an event like Fogana once or twice every decade. [2] Dr. Bharat Barai, M.D.: Appreciation award for his long out-

standing support and service to the Gujarati community. [3] Dr. Umang Patel, M.D.: Appreciation award for his long outstanding support and service to the Gujarati community. [4] All Past presidents were recognized as the pillars in the formation and growth of Gujarati Samaj Chicago. Those recognized were Jayantilal Mashar, Babubhai Contractor, Arvind Modi, Bhupen Shah, Sharad Patel, Jashwant Sheth, Jawahar Sheth, Chandrakant Patel, Deven Parikh, Manu Shah, Bharat Acharya, Mrs. Vanleela Amin, Avinash Desai, Nikunj Baxi, Girish Kothari, Mukesh Shah, Suryakant Patel and Mrs. Urvashi Patel for their outstanding work and dedication Serving on the Fogana Midwest regional council are Mukesh N. Shah, Chicago (Chairman), Kanu Patel, Cleveland (Vice Chairman), Devanshu Dave, Detroit (Secretary), Dhaval Ghiya, Cleveland (Treasurer) and Dolat Desai (Trustee). Dr. Manish Pandya, GSC Cultural Secretary proposed a vote of thanks at the end.

Record crowds at ATA Convention showcasing Telugu culture Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 16

Venkaiah Naidu stressed on the ripe climate in India, ideal for global investments. Some of the prominent attendees included Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India, Democratic Nominee for U.S.Congress Raja Krishnamoorthi, and prominent MP Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Deputy Telangana Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, GMR Chairman Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao, ATA

inspired Telugus in America to instill and nurture Telugu language to the succeeding generations. He said that among the most successful people in North America are Indians and added, half of them were Telugus. Rasamayi Balakrshinan Troupe provided an upbeat 'Dhoom Dham' Telangana traditional dance and musical presentation. Youth forum was inaugurated by ATA founder Hanumanth Reddy, convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai and

Rasamayi Balakrshinan Troupe provided an upbeat 'Dhoom Dham' Telangana traditional dance and musical presentation. Youth forum was inaugurated by ATA founder Hanumanth Reddy, convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai and Director K.K. Reddy Benefactors Dr. Prem Reddy and Dr. Paila Malla Reddy joined by a large contingent of MPs and MLAs from Andhra and Telangana states represented by all political parties including TRS, YSRCP, TDP and Congress. On Saturday July 2, the ATA Convention set the stage on fire with a huge 100-group dance troupe presenting an epic inaugural dance presentation 'Jyothi Prajwalana' that evoked applause and standing ovation. Keynote address by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was stirring as he

Director K.K. Reddy. Re-enactment of 'Bahubali' movie with its huge cast held the audience in rapt attention. TV hosted event 'SYEATA' had youth performing colorful cultural and western presentations. Kuchipudi dance by Padmaja Reddy displayed wide swath of emotions. Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Telangana Member of Parliament applauded the sense of unity of Telugu people showcased at the convention. Iftekhar Shareef, Reception Chair, introduced the Telangana MPs and MLAs. The

vendors' booths were crowded by shoppers. On Sunday July 3, the convention drew wall-to-wall crowds to witness the spectacular fashion show, contemporary dance presentations and grand musical show presented by Mani Sharma. In the afternoon, heated debates with political leaders participated by TRS, YSRCP, TDP and Congress party reached a fierce pitch battle between the party leaders held by Chalma Reddy and moderated by renowned TV host Venkata Krishna. Some of the politicians participating in the Political Forum included Telangana Dy CM Kadiam Srihari, L. Ramana, Pedireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Jithender Reddy, Madhu Yashki, Keshav Rao, Roja, Ambati Rambabu, Srikanth Reddy, Malla Reddy and others. The evening segment began with youth-centric dance and musical presentations. ATA felicitated their past presidents, its board and trustees. Chandrasekhar Reddy lauded the undying commitment of over 60 committees while K.K. Reddy expressed jubilation having such a fine contingent of committed teams. Some of the Tollywood movie actors attending the convention included Kajol Agarwal, Jagapathi Babu, Nani Babu Ghanta, Rashi Khanna, Bhanu Sree, Lavanya Tripathi, Rashmi

Gautam, Jyothi, Ramya Sree, Neeliya, Rachna Mourya. Prominent political elected leaders who attended were Ganta Srinivas Rao, Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Dr. Venugopala Chary, Ambati Rambabu, Roja and Jatinder Reddy. The Youth committee organized Lake Michigan dinner cruise for youth 16 and above in which 200 youth participated. The business forum included workshops by CEOs and Entrepreneurs who

loss of a partner as they grow older in America. Yoga and meditation sessions were conducted throughout the day and many attendees took advantage learning and practicing these relaxation techniques. Vendors' booths carried mouth-watering Telugu delicacies, jewelry, fashion apparels and accessories and real estate companies promoted their housing projects in India. Convention attendees were treated to a great

The Youth committee organized Lake Michigan dinner cruise for youth 16 and above in which 200 youth participated. The business forum included workshops by CEOs and Entrepreneurs who presented workshops about doing business in India and the US. presented workshops about doing business in India and the US. The Women's Forum workshops were designed to empower and motivate women. Health and wellness seminars focused on preventive health screening and medical advice from leading medical experts, Matrimonial services were provided to parents of prospective brides and grooms. Seminars for Senior Citizens were organized to educate seniors about Government benefits, health Insurance options and navigation and dealing with the

shopping experience and were able to support participating vendors. Painstaking efforts were made to serve authentic native Telugu cuisine for record number of guests. ATA leaders and the Convention team received glowing accolades for securing runaway success of the silver jubilee convention. The convention drew to a grand conclusion with high decibel musical concert rendered by well-known Tollywood music director Mani Sharma along with a team of singers and musicians.

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India should harness research: NJ author PM SWAMY

NEW YORK: The number of Indians and persons of Indian origin who have enriched many nations, and humanity as a whole, through applied research and innovation in a multitude of fields has increased dramatically, says V. Ramaswami, the New Jersey based author of the to-be released book "Innovation by India for India: the need & the challenge." This should be re-assuring for India particularly because a significant fraction of these have had their initial graduate education and training in India. There can be no doubt that the capacity of the Indian mind and the will of the Indian can match any other. India's indigenous scientific advances in the nuclear, space, and super-computer technologies are remarkable and attest further to the scientific and engineering talent in the country, he says. India's scientific and technical establishments have many feats to boast about, including the recent successful launch of an orbiter to Mars at a per kilometer cost "less than that of a one kilometer auto-rickshaw ride in Ahmedabad." Despite all of its above accomplishments, India is yet to harness commercially its

research and innovation capabili- many start-ups but unfortunately, ties. Despite being a significant it has not worked out well from the contributor to the information response to the call for applicasector, not a single Indian enter- tions for funding, the author says. prise has come close to any of the new age technology giants. What are the impediments that hold back the Indian in India in the sphere of applied research and its commercialization? Why it is that new product generation is low even at the low end where little technology is needed? Can The author V Ramaswami. Cover of the yet those issues be reto be released book dressed and if so The most poignant exhow? These concerns form the main focus of this book. Some key ample is the fact that our factors are identified and examined soldiers in Kargil were in detail in the Indian context to struggling with hand find some possible actions for im- cranked telephones while Pakistanis had Motorola satelprovement in the book. The book deals with the cre- lite phones for which Indian engiation of ecology for neers wrote the software. Whocommercializable innovations by ever got rich by working for othIndians in India and owned by In- ers? "Make in India" is much dia. The timing of the book is per- needed but if we stop there, we fect. There is so much interest in will become a nation of coolies the Modi government to generate and laborers for others and not

realize our "tryst with destiny" much talked about, he says. He was motivated to write the book by former Indian President

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam whom he had met in Anna University in Chennai where he had gone to deliver the Ramanujan lecture series. "In a 45 minute one on one session, I gave him a lot of my views and he felt I should put them down in writing. He said he is betting entirely on

India's young." The book comes recommended by Dr. Anurag Kumar, Director of the Indian Institute of Science and Padmabhushan Dr. Rajaraman of IISC's supercomputer center." The author, Dr. Vaidyanathan Ramaswami, a former Chief Scientist at Bell Communications Research, has an innovative track record of research in applied probability and telecommunications with work impacting many real world systems and international standards. He is the author of over seventy five research papers and a noted monograph, and holds many patents related to communications. His career has also covered academia as a faculty member and is embellished further by his involvement with several start ups in the areas of strategy and research. He has a deep interest in India and has written many articles and blogs on Carnatic music, Hindu philosophy, and Indian economy and politics. The book is to be released in Chennai on July 22 at the Alumni Association meeting of the Madras Institute of Technology which is the alma mater of Dr. Abdul Kalam.

Rauner proclaims July 9 as Jalaram Day Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 18

Murti Pratistha Yajmans, sponsors and devotees opened up their heart and soul and donated generously. There were 16 Main Yajmans for Murti Pran Pratishtha,including: Jigar & Bhumika Thakkar, Ketu Amin & Komal Patel, Dr. Kamal, Dr. Charu, Neil & Bindi Vibhakar , Dr. Bharat & Dr. Panna Barai, Manish & Asmita Patel, Jitendra & Rashmi Patel, Rohit, Jyotsna, Chirag & Samir Patel, Ghanshyam & Trusha Patel, Rajesh & Arti Thakkar, Kalpesh & Deepa Modi, Madhusudan & Nirmala Thakker, Sudhir, Raksha & Sameer Manek, Hiren & Chandani Thakkar, Vitthal

A group of priests with Jalaram Mandir officials

& Jaya Patel, Sanjay & Ila Patel, Piyush, Geeta & Soni Chaudhari. The sponsors for groceries were Jalaram Produce, Deep

Devotees gathered at the starting gate

Foods, Primer Foods, Nirav Foods, Rajshree Groceries, and Tulsi Grocers. Also, many other sponsors donated generously for

Puja in progress

Float that was part of the celebrations

Mahaprasad including sweets. Behind this success, there are many people who put in a lot of effort ranging from those who vol-

untarily jumped in to seven days festivity and worked round the clock in order to make this event a historical one.

Ecstatic devotees

July 15, 2016

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Air India updates menu for Hyderabad passengers RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

Air India's Updated menu for Hyderabad passengers

This change or additions though appearing minor, underline the bid by the Air India management to do one better for its passengers and lure them to fly with the airline mark of our efforts to fly high in teeth of severe competition", said Nakul Chand, Midwest manager. Nadeem, in charge of local catering, talked of the Shikampuri Kabob in the nonveg menu and Qutub Shahi Paneer Tika as well as Mushroom Buchee in veg menu on top of many a mouth watering dishes in both First, Business and Economy classes. The changes in the menu right now are for Chicago-Hyderabad route and with favorable inputs, could be extended or a bit modified for other routes too. Katherine Thorat said that many a passenger to Hyderabad are Muslims and care has been taken to ensure that their religious Firman and dictates are fully adhered to. The Menu is decided at the corporate office in New Delhi but it is done after a thorough review of changing tastes, menus offered

Air India team (L-R) Nadeem Rahamat, Rajiv Batish, Nakul Chand, Ms Katherine Thorat and Paul Verdi

by other airliners and passenger inputs. Nadeem, who has wide experience in the field working with top class restaurants here and back home besides other airliners too, would be more than willing to offer suggestions, if asked. Nadeem said that the major problem faced by all flying club caterers in this country pertained to the relative poor availability of experienced and skilled hands in the cooking section. Local talent needs to be supplemented with help from outside skilled hands but all that depends on government policy.

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Kabaddi & Volleyball contest at Punjabi Mela Sidhwan and Gori. Best Stopper trophy was claimed by Donte California. Best Kabaddi were Vicky Ghour, Baljeet Sadoke, Navi Johal, Sodhi Jodhe, Rana Bhandal. In separate category of "under 21 years" Kabaddi players from Michigan claimed 1st place. Runner-up team winner was from Virginia. First place winner in Volleyball

Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: The annual "Punjabi Mela" and the 14th International "Kabaddi" and Volleyball tournament organized by Punjabi Sports Club and Cultural Club Chicago was held on Saturday, June 25 at Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Elk Grove Village, a northwest suburb of Chicago. This annual mega event was well attended and enjoyed by all attendees thanks to complimentary entrance, mouth watering dishes, mehndi application, and competitive traditional sports (Kabaddi and Volleyball). This was followed by an award ceremony and live musical performance by famous Punjabi singers. The game of Kabaddi has huge following in India and this was also reflected here with a big number of people flocking to the Busse Woods to watch this game. The game is known by various other names viz. Chedugudu or Hu-Tu-Tu in southern parts of India, Hadudu (men) and Chu - KitKit (women) in eastern India, and Kabaddi in northern India. This sport is also popular in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Japan and Pakistan as well. Tournaments were kicked off after traditional opening prayer (Ardaas) ceremony by Palatine Granthi Bhai Gurjant Singhji. There was live commentary by Makhan Ali who made a special

Final championship match between Indiana and Milwaukee. Indiana beat Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

Kabaddi game in progress

championship was S. Bhagat Singh Sports Club Chicago, Illinois and Second Place was claimed by Madison Sports Club of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At the conclusion of sport tournaments, social and entertainment "Mela" commenced attended by big crowd. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 23

Tributes paid to Gandhi & Jefferson HARISH RAO

DALLAS, TX: Mahatma Gandhi Memorial of North Texas (MGMNT) leadership and many other community leaders along with Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad gath-

in 30 year-long American Revolution. Finally, US got independence from Britain on July 4th, 1776. Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who played a very crucial role in freedom

Indian CG with a group of Sikh community members

trip for the occasion all the way from India. Competing teams hailed from the States of Wisconsin, Indiana, New York, Texas, Illinois, Virginia and Michigan. Principal Kabaddi Referees were Dawinder Singh and Pandit Surkhpur both from Punjab. The 3rd referee was Kippa Tanda. Final championship match was between Indiana and Milwaukee. After intense competition, Indiana beat Wisconsin (Milwaukee) by the score of 23.5 points Indiana vs. 21 points. The winning Indiana team was Meri Peri. Second place winner prize to Milwaukee Team was sponsored and awarded by Ghuman Brothers (Indianapolis). Best Raider special prize of Kabaddi was claimed by Jassa A section of the attendees

Dallas Indians led by Prasad Thotukara pay tributes to Freedom leaders Gandhi and Jefferson

ered at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza, the largest Gandhi Memorial in USA, on July 4 to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Thomas Jefferson, the third President of USA. Mrs. & Dr. Yarlagadda paid floral tributes to Gandhiji and congratulated MGMNT for building the largest Gandhi Memorial in USA. He said this memorial will be an inspiration to the next generation to know and follow Gandhi's principles. He also said that Gandhi's teachings, philosophy and principles are relevant even more now in this current world. On this occasion, Dr. Prasad Thotakura released a book titled "Dakshina Africa lo Mahatmodayam" written by Prof. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad. "We extend our Happy US Independence Day greetings to all Americans and deepest condolences to the families of more than 4,500 fallen heroes who lost their lives

struggle, was the principle author of the declaration of Independence," Dr. Prasad Thotakura, MGMNT Chairman said. MGMNT Secretary Rao Kalvala congratulated Dr. Yarlagadda for receiving the coveted "Padma Bhushan" award from the Government of India recently and thanked him for visiting Mahatma Gandhi Memorial again after a long gap of two years. Shabnam Modgil, MGMNT Board of Director, expressed her joy in wishing Happy Independence Day greetings to America from the Gandhi Memorial. Mrs. Yarlagadda, Dr. Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Dr. Prasad Thotakura, Rao Kalvala, Shabnam Modgil, Dr. C.R. Rao, Subramanyam Jonnalagadda, MVL Prasad, Dr. Srinivas Reddy Alla, Ram Tatineni, Dr. Subbarao Ponnuru, Venkata Anil Potturu, Sridhar Tummala, Dr. Uma Maheswara Reddy and Krishna Mohan participated in the event.

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Boston celebrates July 4 with gusto GEETHA PATIL

BOSTON: July 4th is celebrated across the USA as the day Americans got rid of British monarchy and obtained resurrection of liberty. Hundreds of years later, the national holiday remains important, as a day to pay tribute to the United States of America-its laws, heritage, history, and people. The City of Boston commemorates this day with a classic daylong celebrations where thousands of people from Greater Boston area and the tourists participate with full spirit. At 9 am, there was a flag raising ceremony on City Hall Plaza followed by a parade to the Granary Burial Ground, where wreaths were laid on the graves of the patriots and then the parade continued on to the Old State House. At 10 am, the Declaration of Independence was read from the balcony of the Old State House just as it was read to the citizens of Boston on July 18, 1776. Hundreds of thousands of people attended an evening archetypal festive event on the Boston's Charles River Esplanade where a free concert featured the Boston Pops Orchestra, as well as other major artists. At 8:30pm, crowds came out to listen to the performers as Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops conductor, led a star-studded concert in the Hatch Shell, an outdoor venue. The Esplanade became swamped with a mass of people,

With fireworks (below) and huge gathering, Boston celebrates American Independence Day

and the Charles River Basin was filled with countless pleasure boats to watch the 23-minute Fire-

works Spectacular which was set to music of the Boston Pops in the second portion of the concert.

Traditionally, the grand finale of the Independence Day concert is a stirring rendition of

Fathers' Day fun at Hari Om Mandir

Tchaikovsky's1812 Overture by the Pops which features real cannons and the live ringing of area church bells. A huge fireworks display lights up the entire Back Bay area, with hand-powered bells ringing from ancient edifices in the nearby neighborhoods. Fireworks are exciting and mesmerizing part of America's birthday celebrations

for all ages. The explosive sounds, the bright colors and the unexpected displays of beautiful patterns are magnificent as they blast through the dark sky over Boston Harbor and the spectacular city skyline. The Boston Fireworks Spectacular concluded with a 21minute pyrotechnic extravaganza from Grucci Fireworks. Beautiful weather and clear sky allowed the pedestrian views of the pyrotechnics from both sides of the river. Nearby high-rise hotels and chartering boast also presented excellent views of the fireworks. Thousands of spectators were eagerly taking pictures of magnificent fireworks array that filled the skies above Boston with a stunning presentation of color and breathtaking display. This is a wonderful experience for us. 'We enjoyed the sights, sounds and tastes of Boston while exploring the city by day or night' said Mamata Mahadevappa, a tourist from Bay area who came to Boston with her son just to tour around.

Kabaddi & Volleyball contest at Punjabi Mela Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 22

Ayodhya Salwan (center) being honored at Hari Om Mandir Fathers' Day celebration Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Celebration of Fathers' Day has become an annual event at Hari Om Mandir high-

lighted with an evening of songs, Bollywood and folk dances, Sher-o-Shairi, Qawwali, Giddha etc. followed by a lavish dinner. This year was no excep-

tion as it got celebrated on Sunday, the 19th of June. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 25

Various prominent community leaders including sponsors of events were present. Special Guests for the evening were Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India, Chicago and Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, who was the Grand Sponsor of the event. K K Pamma provided fresh hot and delicious food. Delicious lunch and dinner comprised

paronthas, Mixed Vegetable Pakoras, Chana Palak, Dal Makhani, Mater Paneer, Rice, and homemade sweets like Jalebies. Also served were cold drinks, Masala Chai, Coffee etc. Live performance by Punjabi singers entertained the audience with their melodious folk songs. Overall, the event was a great success and all guests raved about the wonderful organization of the unforgettable event.

24 India Post

Community Across America

July 15, 2016

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'Thoughts can pollute environment more than plastic' India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: For most scholars of environmental studies, Ayurveda is an unexpected topic to find at an academic conference. But as Acharya Shunya spoke about the teachings of Ayurveda on the relationship between Ayurveda and Dharma, at the Embrace of the Earth Conference on May 23, the compelling relevance of Ayurveda's teachings became clear. The conference was held at the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS) Public Programs & Performances in San Francisco, cosponsored by the Society for Consciousness Studies. The aim was to explore the connections between consciousness studies, depth psychology and ecology. The co-hosts Dr. Allan Leslie Combs (Professor and Director of the Center for Consciousness Studies) and Dr. Craig Chalquist (Professor and Department Chair, East-West Psychology), did an excellent job of bringing together a diverse and meaningful range of experts, including Jungian psychologists, quantum physicists, environmental activists and those

leading research in cutting-edge Consciousness Studies. Acharya Shunya acknowledged that Ayurveda may be

Acharya Shunya

known to those present as primarily a system of herbal remedies. But, in fact, the sages of Ayurveda had a much larger vision, which details human beings' deep interconnection and co-creative rela-

tionship with nature. Shunya emphasized the interconnected web of conscious existence and underscored the fact that not only do we have the capacity to shape the universe, but we are, in fact, shaping the universe at every moment with our thoughts and actions. Throughout the room, heads nodded as Shunya emphasized, "Your thoughts can pollute the environment more than your plastic." Shunya quoted from one of Ayurveda's foundational texts, the Charaka Samhita, which was written over two thousand years ago, yet sounds so contemporary in what it addresses. Sage Charaka, the author, says: "The root cause of the derangement of seasons is the loss of dharma or ethical behavior. If dharma is lost, over time the seasons will get disrupted, rivers will be disturbed and their course

Since ancient times, Ayurveda will change, meteorites will appear more frequently, earthquakes will has championed a non-polluted, shake the terrain. In this natural clean and pure environment, and man-made mayhem, diseases along with deep respect for the will thrive and multiply, causing natural web of mutual depenmass scale harm to both people dence and respect between huand all living creatures." (Charaka mans and their universe. Though the role of Ayurveda Samhita, Vimanasthana III:20) Shunya explained that this in environmental studies must means self-serving, exploitative have seemed unclear before she and shortsighted actions, which spoke, Shunya's presentation inindicate a loss of dharma, ulti- tegrated seamlessly into the mately lead to the upset of natural laws and the disruption of nature's Attendees were both fragile ecological balmoved and deeply interance. She went on to de- ested to discover so many scribe how the remedy prescribed by sage parallels between her Charaka is to cultivate a points and themes raised deep sense of oneness with all life, to envision in other talks oneself as spread across the universe, and the universe as held within broader topics of the conference. Attendees were both moved and one's own being. Shunya pointed out that this deeply interested to discover so vision is both spiritual and prac- many parallels between her points tical. When the sense of being and themes raised in other talks, separate from the world and such as those from the vantage people around us gives way to a points of quantum physics, convision of unity and oneness, the sciousness studies, and cultivatimpulse to abuse and misuse the ing inner resilience in the face of ecological change. natural environment dissolves.

Community Across America

July 15, 2016

India Post 25

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'Instant Karma' celebrates 10th anniversary India Post News Service

MILPITAS: Instant Karma is Bay Area's premier entertainment company founded by Bhavini Joshi in 2006. The company covers all aspects of the entertainment including Live Concerts, Dramas, Bollywood Parties, Personal Celebrations, Networking Events, Mela, Plays, Concerts, Trade Shows, Property shows. The promoters are committed to raising awareness of various causes and organizations and uplift the talents among the Bollywood followers in Bay Area. Instant Karma organizers come from various backgrounds and possess years of entertainment experience and strive to provide the best entertainment in various ways. IK celebrated their 10th anniversary on June 9 at India Community Center, Milpitas. Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri was the special guest for the evening. The event was at-

Instant Karma team and their sponsors

tended by over 1000 people who were Instant Karma's customers, past and current sponsors, supporters, media, community leaders, karma pass members, and last but not the least, their hard working team members. IK is organizing the biggest concert of 2016 "Sonu Nigam/Atif Aslam - Live in Concert" on September 24 at Oracle Arena. Atif

Fathers' Day fun at Hari Om Mandir Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 23

The Mandir basement hall & stage were decorated with colorful hats & ties to set the tone and mood for an entertainment program for all fathers. The program started with an Invocation to Lord Ganesha by the

seen tapping their feet and dancing in their seats. Punjabi Tadka was provided by Asa Singh Mastana & Surinder Kaur duet "Man Ja Balma" performed by Uma Nauth and Dr. Suman Setia. Another performance that had the entire audience going crazy was the "Chad gayo papi bicchua" by

Qawali by local artists

MC of the evening, Vipan Wadhera. Old romantic hits like "Aa Jaa Sanam Madhur Chandini Mei Hum", "Na Munh Chupa Ke Jiyo", "Nain So Nain Nahin Milayo" etc were some of the popular numbers which were enjoyed by the young and the old. Ghazals like "Chitthi aye Hai", Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera" sung by Hardev Raj, Vipul Srivastava and Madhu Salwan were hummed all along by the audience. As the evening advanced, Punjabi Giddha (Manisha Garg and Group), folk dances & songs energized one and all. People were

Alka Sharma & Manisha Garg. The Grand Finale of the evening was the Qawwali. As soon as the artists dressed in traditional qawwali costumes stepped on the stage, the whole atmosphere transformed into a Mehfil of Courtesans. The stage was set on fire as "Parda hai Parda" This Father's Day was also special as Ayodhia Salwan was honored with the title of "Guardian" getting a Plaque of Recognition for his services, contributions and continued support to the temple for over two decades. The program concluded with Vote of Thanks by KrishanTejpal.

Aslam and Sonu Nigam will bridge the gap between the two politically hostile countries as they belt out soothing, melodious tracks together. They are two irreplaceable powerhouses when it comes to singing and will be paying rich tributes to music legends of India and Pakistan.

Nargis Fakhri

26 India Post

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July 15, 2016

Horoscope

July 15, 2016

India Post

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July 15th - July 21st 2016 Please send your birthday, place of birth and time, so I can give you your zodiac sign, according to Vedic astrology. Send to Jaysastrology@gmail.com

hose who are appearing in selections may get good results.The new professional opportunities may be rewarding.The week brings some good news for the family.The child may also bring some happy news.Work with patience. Avoid new ventures and relationships. Enjoy time with family and children. Can involve in stock market. Focus on general health especially kidneys.

rofessional matters look good and some additional income is likely. The inheritance matters face conflicts. Some stress is likely.Some sudden health concern is likely for parents.The incidence of difficulties is indicated for those who are in foreign lands.Better to avoid unnecessary driving. Work with patience. Take care of your relationship matters.

rofessional matters may face obstructions. Social interaction increases. Health of the spouse causes concern.The health of father starts improving.Say no to involvement in speculation. Continue to work with patience up to September, 2016. It is better to avoid haste, conflicts and unnecessary driving.Take care of your health and don't get involved in arguments.

he professional matters look up.Social interaction increases.The new professional opportunities are likely.Avoid conflicting situations during 2016, and take due care of your health. Exercise patience and avoid over ambitiousness Patience is your remedy. Focus on health of father. Mars weak avoid arguments, and can see trouble to younger siblings.

he professional matters may face difficulties. Some gains are likely.Business ventures may develop some problem. Things are improving further.Mercury and moon weak creating anxiety, sleepiness nights. Focus on children and avoid speculation. As expenses and losses are there. Might have to go to foreign land for further studies. Lack of vitality and digestion.

he professional problems face obstructions. Stay away from manipulations.Take care of your health.Avoid aggressive behaviour and haste up to September, 2016.Silence is golden for you.Better to avoid driving and conflicts. Problem in income and older sibling and friends. Enjoy time at home, relax, mental stress is low. Enjoy time with parents. Trouble sleeping.

he professional matters may face difficulties. Handle relationships and health matters with patience. Child may need help. Avoid haste, conflicts, speculation, aggressive behaviour and unnecessary driving. Conflicts and financial concerns are likely to continue. Take care. Enemies are likely to trouble. Conflicts will put you to harm. Manage obstructions with due patience.

he professional matters look good.Handle relationship and property matters with patience.Take care of the health of the parents and children.The week is difficult for those who are in foreign lands.It is better to avoid conflicts and driving. Short temper avoid conflict. Anxiety and moody behavior is here. Feeling lack of energy. Extra loss and expenses.

he professional matters look better.Some additional income is seen.The mental stress eases. Avoid haste, conflicts, unnecessary driving/travel.Handle obstructions and relationship matters with care up to September, 2016. Some additional expenses are likely. Sudden setbacks and obstructions in ventures and younger siblings. Mental peace is disturbed as take rest.

rofessional matters may face obstructions. New professional opportunities should be put on hold. Child may need special attention upto September, 2016. Avoid speculation. Patience is the best medicine during this year. Short temper avoid conflicts and arguments. Lack of energy and vitality due to weak sun and mars. Digestion problems.

he professional matters look good.Some new opportunities are likely.Handle obstructions and manage/ avoid conflicts with patience.Health of parents cause concern. Relationship faces disputes, conflicts and even debts and litigations. Avoid starting new venture. Short temper. Trouble to younger sibling. Lack of energy and vitality. Trouble to those in foreign land.

rofessional matters continue to face concerns and obstructions. Some health concerns are likely.The incidence of conflicts, obstructions and sudden setbacks continues. Health of spouse may cause concerns.It is better to avoid unnecessary driving.Manage persisting difficulties with patience.Lack of energy and vitality, take rest. Relationship wise keep your cool.

This weekly horoscope is more focused and accurate as these are based on ascending signs. The ascending sign is worked out on the basis of your date, time and place of birth. You will find the predictions at other places based on your Sun sign or Moon sign. The Sun remains in one sign of zodiac for one month whereas the Moon remains in one sign for about 54 hours. It is the ascending sign, which changes every couple of hours." That is how this site offers you more focused predictions.

JATIN P - ACHARYA MIHIR â&#x20AC;˘ JAYSASTROLOGY@GMAIL.COM â&#x20AC;˘ 630-675-7148

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Jag Ghoomeya: Sultan 2 Sab Tera: Baaghi 3 Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai: Sultan 28 India Post

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ecently during the IIFA Awards show in Madrid, Deepika Padukone was seen openly blowing kisses to Ranveer when he was performing on stage. The video went viral. Now, reports have surfaced that the duo has secretly got engaged earlier this year. According to a Mumbai Mirror report, Deepika and Ranveer had a secret engagement ceremony - something like a Punjabi 'roka' -when their parents met a few months ago. Both the families were eager to get the

July 15, 2016

4 Ud-Daa Punjab: Udta Punjab 5 Salamat: Sarbjit 6 Chitta Ve : Udta Punjab 7 Bol Do Na Zara: Azhar 8 Kar Gayi Chull : Kapoor & Sons 9 Cham Cham : Baaghi 10 Ikk Kudi : Udta Punjab

"I prefer to work with people who have an appetite and zest for life, and believe in the mantra of success,''

A couple married, but Deepika apparently wanted some more time before tying the knot. Reportedly, the 'Tamasha' actress has asked for two more years before officially marrying Ranveer. No wonder, Deepika too is now displaying her fondness for Ranveer publicly. Reports are rife that the lovebirds are planning to go on a short trip.

fter wrapping up her shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Rangoon' Kangana Ranaut is preparing for her role in National Award winning director Hansal Mehta's 'Simran'. Kangana will play a Gujarati character, Praful Patel and her first look from the film has been released. It has the actress smiling with her arms crossed across her chest. She has no make-up on and her curly hair is tied in a topknot. She is seen wearing a black and white quarter sleeved dress, a thin chain with a pendant around her neck and a wrist watch. Kangana reportedly plays a housekeeper. The story revolves around a girl, her ambitions and how she gets addicted to the world of crime. Apparently, Rajkummar Rao, who starred opposite her in 'Queen', is being finalized as the lead actor in the movie.

amir Khan may be 50year-old, but he still feels young at heart. "I feel like an 18-year-old boy who is curious about the world and his surroundings," the actor was quoted as saying in a report. For Aamir, age is just a number and he believes that as we grow older, we must keep our minds active and open. He lives life on his own terms. "I prefer to work with people who have an appetite and zest for life, and believe in the mantra of success,'' says the actor. Aamir is a risk taker and believes in working in a film which is challenging and gives him an opportunity to experiment. He also keeps getting inspired by the works of other filmmakers, actors and directors.

Bollywood

July 15, 2016

India Post 29

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ami Gautam, who was recently seen in the romantic flick 'Junooniyat', is in talks to star in the third installment of the hit 'Race' franchise. A source close to Yami was quoted as saying, "The producers have already been in talks with Yami and they are keen on having her on board. They are waiting for Yami's confirmation now." However, when producer Ramesh Taurani was asked about it, he said, "I am still working on the script and the cast is yet to be decided." The 'Vicky Donor' star has a lot on her plate this year. She would be seen in Sanjay Gupta's 'Kaabil' and Palash Muchhal's movie 'Brojaan'. The first installment, 'Race' featured Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Akshaye Khanna. Deepika Padukone, John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez joined Saif and Anil in 'Race 2'.

atrina Kaif, who recently turned down Tarun Mansukhani's project opposite Sushant Singh Rajput, might team up with Karan Johar for his next project. Katrina 32, and Karan, 44, were recently seen partying together, leading to speculations that the two might team up for a film soon. A report quoted a source, as saying, "Of late, Karan and Katrina have been seen bonding more often than usual. The actress who rarely parties has been a frequent visitor to KJo's impromptu get-togethers. Karan was keen to cast her in Tarun's film, but when the director gave Kat a narration, she turned down the role as the film centers around Sushant." The insider added, "Katrina and KJo are in talks for another project. It will be directed by another Dharma director and the role is a good one. She has heard the story and liked it a lot and that is the first film she will sign post her break-up from Ranbir Kapoor.

The 'Vicky Donor' star has a lot on her plate this year. She would be seen in Sanjay Gupta's 'Kaabil' and Palash Muchhal's movie 'Brojaan'

ooja Hegde will be making her debut with Hrithik Roshan-starrer 'Mohenjo Daro'. She got selected for the "right combination of innocence, grace, dignity and strength" that the character demanded, says it's co-producer. Written, produced and directed by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, the epic adventure-romance is set in the city of Mohenjo Daro in the era of the Indus Valley civilization which dates back to 2600 BC. Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Sunita Gowariker, 'Mohenjo Daro' is slated to release on August 12. Ashutosh has always looked at casting new faces as the female lead when he has wanted someone to completely embody the character without any previous image attached to the actor themselves," Sunita said in a statement. She added: "That is why he cast Gracy for 'Lagaan' and Gayatri in 'Swades'. We wanted a new face for 'Mohenjo Daro' to play the chosen one - Chaani, for the same reason.

Realty Tidbits

Pending US home sales slumped in May WASHINGTON: Fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes in May, with the year-overyear pace of pending sales sliding for the first time in nearly two years. The National Association of Realtors said that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales in-

dex fell 3.7 percent last month to 110.8, slightly below its May 2015 reading of 111. Overall home sales have steadily improved over the past year. But buyers are facing a shortage of available homes that might have curtailed pending sales last month. Pending sales contracts are a barometer of future purchases. A sale is typically completed a month or two after a contract is signed. May's decline suggests that completed home sales could slow in July or August. In May, completed sales of existing homes rose 1.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.53 million, the highest level since February 2007, the Realtors reported last week. But the number of listings sank 5.7 percent from a year ago, meaning that homebuyers have limited choices.

Cont’d on page 31

Spokane rental market at low vacancy

SPOKANE, Wash.: It's tough to find an apartment to rent in Spokane. The city's apartment vacancy rate is at a near-historic low of 1.3 percent. That's according to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research. The Spokesman-Review reports that a 5 percent vacancy rate is typical for a robust, healthy rental market. But Spokane's rate was last above 5 percent in March 2012. Landlords say they receive dozens of responses within hours of posting ads for available rentals. The roots of Spokane's rental shortage lie in the Great Recession. When the housing market collapsed in 2007, new construction halted and many people lost their homes to foreclosure. -AP

Real Estate 30 India Post

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July 15, 2016

PE investment at Rs 1,000 crore

NEW DELHI: Indian retail real estate has become attractive again for global investor as private equity (PE) investment in this segment has reached $149 million in the first five months of this year and likely to break previous record of 2008, according to property consultant JLL. During the entire 2008 calendar year, PE investment in retail real estate stood at $267 million. "As of May 2016, the total PE investment into Indian retail real estate stood at $149 million or Rs 10 billion. -PTI

U.K. Brexit vote raises fears of real estate slide LONDON: The British pound dropped sharply to a 31-year low on concerns that the country's decision to leave the European Union will cause a steep slide in U.K. commercial real estate values and hurt the wider economy. Markets were jittery after three financial firms stopped trading in their respective U.K. commercial property funds because of a rapid increase in investors trying to sell their holdings. The funds buy commercial property and offer shares to investors. Some of those investors now appear worried that companies might opt to leave London and move operations to mainland Europe to retain access to the EU market. That would vacate office space and weigh on real estate values in Britain's capital. Aviva Investors, Standard Life and M&G Investments said they froze the property funds to protect other investors who wished to remain in the funds. "Redemptions have now reached a point where M&G believes it can best protect the inter-

ests of the funds' shareholders by seeking a temporary suspension in trading," the company said of

A group of senior bank leaders including the chairmen of Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland

Bank of England Gov. Mark Carney

the $5.8 billion fund. The moves came as the Bank of England worked to reassure markets that it would avoid a repeat of the 2007-08 financial crisis, freeing up more money for loans to business and households.

and HSBC - met with Treasury chief George Osborne and promised to keep money flowing into the system. "We have a clear plan. We're putting measures in place," Bank of England Gov. Mark Carney said.

"And it's working." In a time of political upheaval, Carney sought to offer the counterpoint of confidence and control, announcing changes to the amount of rainy-day funds banks have to hold. The move is intended to help the banks lend as much as $199 billion more, supporting the economy during the uncertainty surrounding the exit from the EU's single market. Carney, however, said some of the risks to the economy predicted before the referendum had, in fact, begun to crystallize. Among them was concern about the skyscrapers, shopping centers and other big buildings that have come to epitomize London's growth as a financial powerhouse. The Bank of England had cited the commercial real estate market as one of the risks to the British economy, saying the sector had taken in capital from overseas and become "stretched." The concern is that other funds will have to be frozen as investors look to get their money back. Cont’d on page 31

Office space leasing up 55% in Hyderabad NEW DELHI: Hyderabad saw a maximum increase of 55 per cent in net office space absorption in January-June period among eight top cities on improving business climate in the city, according to realty consultant Cushman & Wakefield. Net office space leasing in Hyderabad rose to about 2.9 million sq ft in the first half of 2016 calendar year from about 1.9 million sq ft in the corresponding period of 2015. "Improving business climate and the Telangana government's efforts to create more visibility for 'Brand Hyderabad' led to the city witnessing a steep rise in net absorption in H1 2016 to 2.9 million sq ft, a 55 per cent increase from corresponding period last year," C&W said in its report. The competitive rentals, quality infrastructure and a proactive

government have been attracting global companies to increasingly prefer to set up offices in the city, it added.

Among the eight major cities, the net absorption of office space increased in Hyderabad by 55 per cent, Delhi NCR (+39 per

Hyderabad continues to witness strong demand for space from IT-ITeS and technology companies. Net absorption during AprilJune period stood at roughly 1.7 million sq ft, of which 70 per cent came in the form of previously recorded pre- commitments by ITITeS companies.

cent), Ahmedabad (+27 per cent) and Kolkata (+10 per cent) in the first half of 2016 compared to same period last year. However, net leasing of office space fell in Chennai (-51 per cent), Pune (-41 per cent) Mumbai (-36 per cent) and Bengaluru (-34 per cent) during

the period under review. Overall in the eight cities, the total net absorption of office space declined by 18 per cent to 14.5 million sq ft during January-June period of this calendar year, while supply fell by 7 per cent at 19.9 million sq ft. Commenting on the fall in leasing activities, C&W India Managing Director Anshul Jain said this is going to be only temporary as the second half looks promising. "A large number of companies have committed space foreseeing limited availability of upcoming quality stock in select markets which will push up absorption in the second half of the year. These pre-commitments are bound to steer net absorption, going forward," he added. -PTI

Real Estate Post

July 15, 2016

India Post 31

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Builder to pay Rs 2 lakh for 'service deficiency' NEW DELHI: A consumer forum here has asked real estate major Arun Dev Builders Ltd to pay about Rs two lakh to a woman for not giving her a plot booked four years ago in its Haridwar project, terming it "deficiency in service". South Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by Justice A S Yadav, directed the firm to pay Rs 1.91 lakh to Delhi resident Renu Aggarwal. In its order, the forum also noted that the firm had violated various provisions of law by advertising the project without obtaining the proper license. "It is significant to note that even after four years of taking the money from the complainant, construction was not even completed and stated to be in progress only... It is a clear-cut case of deficiency in service on part of Opposite Party

(firm)," the forum said. It directed the firm to refund the

Aggarwal had booked a plot in the firm's proposed project at Haridwar in Uttarakhand and paid Rs 1,76,382. It said the firm had promised to make allotment within six months but did not. amount of Rs 1,76,382, along with nine per cent interest per annum from 2008. Besides, the forum also directed the firm to pay Rs 10,000 as

compensation and Rs 5,000 towards litigation expenses. According to the complaint, Aggarwal had booked a plot in the firm's proposed project at Haridwar in Uttarakhand and paid Rs 1,76,382. It said the firm had promised to make allotment within six months of booking of the plot, which was not done. It also said that even an approach road for access to the project was not built. Aggarwal, thereafter, approached the company to refund the total booking amount and a compensation of Rs one lakh and litigation expenses of Rs 25,000. The firm, however, denied any deficiency in service on its part and stated that Aggarwal had made a default in the payment and claimed that it had never promised that the allotment will be given within six months. -PTI

U.K. Brexit vote raises fears of real estate slide Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 30

"The problem these funds face is that it takes time to sell commercial property to meet withdrawals," said Laith Khalaf, a senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. The funds have cash buffers to protect them when investors sell their shares. But those seem to have been exhausted, Khalaf said. The fund managers will now have to sell commercial property to return money to the investors. "These managers will now be adding to the supply of commercial properties on the market, which is likely to put downward pressure on prices," Khalaf said. The pound fell another 1.7 percent to $1.3054, its weakest in 31 years. Shares in real estate companies were battered. Barratt Developments plunged 9.8 percent, Taylor Wimpey 7.1 percent and Persim-

mon 7.2 percent. Carney said the bank had drawn up extensive contingency plans and that things were moving smoothly. The move to free up more lend-

The central bank said there will be a period "of uncertainty and adjustment" after the referendum and that "market and economic volatility is to be expected ing was intended to prevent a repeat of the 2007-08 financial crisis, when banks refused to lend to the wider economy in order to keep themselves solvent.

The Bank of England said that, despite a severe drop for the pound and declines of up to 20 percent for bank shares since the EU vote, the banking sector has so far proved resilient, with little sign of a credit squeeze. The central bank said there will be a period "of uncertainty and adjustment" after the referendum and that "market and economic volatility is to be expected as this process unfolds." Some have expressed concern that the economy will slip into recession amid fears of a drop in investment after the vote. When asked what message he had for British households considering a loan, Carney said that central bankers always advise people to be cautious and prepared to weather the ups and downs when taking on a major expense. "We're advising people to be prudent," Carney said.-AP

Pending US home sales slumped in May Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 30

The tight inventory has caused homes to sell after fewer days on the market and pushed up prices. Homes sold in May after an average of just 32 days on the market, the fastest pace ever measured by the Realtors since they

began tracking the figure in 2011. Homes stayed on the market on average for 40 days a year ago. The median sales price was $239,700, a 4.7 percent increase over the past 12 months. Rising prices and a limited supply of homes have likely constrained sales, which have been steadily improving from the

depths of the housing bust. Would-be homebuyers have been able to consider higherpriced homes because of mortgage rates near historic lows. Mortgage purchaser Freddie Mac said the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage last week was 3.56 percent, down from 4.02 percent a year ago. -AP

Unitech to pay Rs 5 crore for delay NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed real estate major Unitech Ltd to deposit an amount of Rs 5 crore in its Registry for failing to hand over apartments in Noida area in the national capital region to consumers which were to be given three years ago. A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan also warned the developer to deposit the amount by August 12, failing which its directors may be sent to judicial custody. The order came during the hearing of a plea filed by Unitech against National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's

the commission alleging that despite having paid more than 95 per cent of the agreed sale consideration to the real-estate major, the possession of the flats have not been offered to them and the construction was "still far from complete". Advocate Ashwarya Sinha, appearing for the consumers, said the builder had failed to hand over the possession of the apartment which was due to be given on April 16, 2013. "The apartment relates to Sector 96 of NOIDA for which a payment of Rs 3.8 crore per flat for 3 flats was already received by

(NCDRC) October 12, 2015 order which directed the firm to pay compensation and litigation costs for delay in handing over three flats in project Burgandy in Sector 96 of Noida in Uttar Pradesh. The apex consumer commission had also directed Unitech to hand over possession of the flats booked by Diwakar Mishra and others on or before October 31, 2017. The complainants had moved

Unitech Ltd," he said. On May 9, the apex court had directed Unitech to deposit the amount by June 10, 2016 and said "the amount so deposited shall be kept in a short term fixed deposit in the UCO Bank, Supreme Court Compound, New Delhi so that interest can be accrued on the same". Later, the firm had moved an application seeking extension of time for depositing the amount. PTI

Ex-CM's wife still living in bungalow SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has distanced himself from the occupation of a bungalow belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir government in Delhi by his estranged wife Payal. Referring to media reports on the issue, he said in a statement that he had responded to the state Estate officer's eviction notice as far back as June 4 this year informing him that he was not in occupation of the bungalow in question. "This I did, after informing my wife, who I have been separated from for more than five years now and also after having informed her of the alternative arrangements available to them," Omar said in the statement. He was responding to media reports that said that Payal had approached Supreme Court against the eviction notice issued by the Jammu and Kashmir government for vacating 7- Akbar Road, which is the official residence of the state

Chief Minister. Requesting the media to respect his privacy, Omar said that as regards the circumstances that led to the "breakdown of my marriage, that matter is currently sub judice and awaiting adjudication in court. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter." "In the past, the media have acceded to my request to respect the privacy of the persons involved as also avoid any unnecessary speculation around this issue, for which I'm grateful. "This was primarily to protect the interests of my children, who are the real victims of these unfortunate circumstances. Over the years, I have done everything within my means to try and shield them from the fallout of these circumstances and will continue to do so," he said. Omar reiterated his request to the media in the hope that the media will be sensitive to these concerns going forward. -PTI

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Ohio seeks approval to charge more COLUMBUS, OHIO: State officials are seeking federal approval to charge a new monthly cost to Ohioans with Medicaid health coverage. House Republicans inserted plans for the so-called Healthy Ohio Program into the state budget last year. The proposal would require certain adults in Medicaid to pay into a health-savings account to help cover their medical expenses. The proposal has drawn mostly criticism from health care advocates, Democrats and others who say it puts people's health care access at risk. Backers say opponents are overlooking the proposal's efforts to get Medicaid beneficiaries to take healthier steps. Ohio must first get permission from federal regulators to implement the plan. The federal government has no formal deadline to respond. If successful, the new charges would be imposed in 2018.-AP

Â&#x201E; Punjab emerging as medical hub: Badal MOHALI: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has said Punjab was swiftly emerging as a global hub of medical institutions and expressed hope that people across the world would come to the state to avail healthcare facilities. Inaugurating Chiropractic and Massage Therapy institutes at Ranbaj Hospital here, Badal said these state-of-the-art medical institutions would provide the best health services in their fields. He said it was a matter of pride for Punjab, which has taken a lead in setting up these institutions in collaboration with Canadian partners, first of their kind in the country. Highlighting achievements in the medical sector, the Chief Minister said Punjab was providing free treatment to patients suffering from Cancer and Hepatitis C. Advanced Cancer Treatment Centers have also been set up in Government Medical Colleges in Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot besides institutes at Bathinda and PGI Satellite Hospital in Sangrur. Similarly, Bhagat Puran Singh Health Insurance scheme covering nearly half of state's population had already been started to provide cashless treatment, he said. Speaking on the occasion, Consul General of Canada, Chandigarh, Christopher Gibbins, said this venture set up here with the support of Canadian partners would help the health infrastructure in the state.-PTI

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No evidence of Planned Parenthood tissue sales: Senate panel JEFFERSON CITY, MO.: A Missouri Senate investigation into Planned Parenthood found no evidence that the organization illegally sold fetal tissue but did raise questions about the procedures for disposal or testing of such tissue, Republican leaders of the probe said. At a news conference, the Republicans accused Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri of troubling gaps in record keeping, The Columbia Daily Tribune reported. Planned Parenthood has vehemently denied it ever sold fetal tissue. It is legal to use fetal tissue for research and to accept payment for storing and shipping donated tissues but illegal to provide it for commercial sale. Mary Kogut, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, accused lawmakers of being more interested in denying access to abortion services than in finding the truth. ``Political opportunists in the Missouri Senate signaled their desire to shame Missouri women and men and deny them access to health care instead of focusing on the priorities of the people of our

state,'' she said in a statement. ``The time for them to move on from this sham has long since passed.'' State Sen. Kurt Schaefer, RColumbia, said pathology reports obtained for the investigation

Cecile Richards, CEO Planned Parenthood

were sloppy. Planned Parenthood says it packs the fetal tissue in a preservative before shipping it to James Miller's Pathology Services Inc. lab, but state laws requires samples that go to the lab not be kept in a preservative, he said. ``There is either incredibly sloppy record keeping or, there is an obfuscation, an attempt to make it very difficult to find out

FDA approves dissolving stent in US WASHINGTON: A slowly dissolving medical implant for treating clogged arteries has won approval from the Food and Drug Administration. The agency approved the Absorb stent for patients with coronary artery disease, which causes the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries and causes about 370,000 U.S. deaths each year. The new stent is designed to dissolve over three years. Older stents are permanent, mesh-wire tubes that hold open arteries after a procedure to clear plaque. Each year, those are implanted in about 850,000 U.S. patients who have suffered a heart attack

what in fact happens,'' Schaefer said. The legislators also noted that materials Planned Parenthood gives to women seeking abortions encourage them to call the clinic if they have complications rather

or experienced chest pain. Their safety has been questioned after some studies suggested stented arteries faced a higher risk of blood clots. However, the new stent

Older stents are permanent, meshwire tubes that hold open arteries after a procedure to clear plaque. hasn't been shown yet to reduce risk of clots and heart complications.-AP

than calling 911 for emergency services. The investigation began in July 2015 after an anti-abortion group released undercover videos that claimed to show top Planned Parenthood officials discussing commercial trade in fetal tissue for research. The videos have been called misleading and the producers were indicted in

Texas for tampering with government records and purchasing human organs. No Planned Parenthood has been charged with violating laws governing fetal tissue research. Democratic members of the senate committee did not sign the report. Schaefer said the committee has not technically existed since January and the documents obtained by the Senate subpoena were circulated only among interested Republicans. State Sen. Jill Schupp, a Democrat from Creve Coeur and a member of the committee, said the continuing investigation was a waste of time and money. ``The information that launched this investigation has been widely discredited,'' Schupp said. ``It is a misuse of taxpayer time and dollars to undermine a woman's access to the full range of safe, legal and affordable reproductive health care services.'' The lawmakers at the news conference included Schaefer, a candidate for attorney general; Sen. Eric Schmitt of Glendale, a candidate for state treasurer; and Sen. Will Kraus of Lee's Summit, a candidate for secretary of state.-AP

Kerala told to make immunization mandatory THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala: The Kerala Human Rights Commission has ordered the state government to make immunization mandatory for getting admission in educational institutions, including schools, colleges and professional institutions. The direction assumes significance as it came in the wake of the return of diphtheria, a disease believed to have been completely eradicated from Kerala through vaccination, in the northern district Malappuram due to lack of proper immunization. Two children had died and eight others had been affected with diphtheria in the last one month in Malappuram, where a section of people are reportedly reluctant to undergo immuniza-

tion drives, according to health department sources. In his order, SHRC chairperson J B Koshy said denying children immunization was a crime and the parents, who act so, should be punished for that. "In the wake of the diphtheria deaths in the state, those who have not been immunized should not be given admissions in schools, colleges or professional institutions, "the order said. It also said the government should immediately consider the suggestion to make mandatory immunization cards for every child before granting admission in schools. Steps should be taken to examine if the present school going children are fully immunized, it said. -PTI

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Kansas can't cut Planned Parenthood's money TOPEKA, KAN.: Kansas cannot cut off Medicaid funding for two Planned Parenthood affiliates, a federal judge has said. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson in Kansas City, Kansas, issued the temporary ruling in a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri and the organization's St. Louis regional affiliate. Robinson wrote that Medicaid patients have ``the explicit right to seek family planning services from the qualified provider of their choice.'' The court also noted that Planned Parenthood is likely to succeed on their claim that the state violated a free-choice provider provision in the Medicaid Act. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment planned to cut off funding for health services offered at Planned Parenthood facilities, such as exams and cancer screenings, for poor patients receiving health coverage through the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid funds do not cover abortions. ``The Governor will continue the fight to make Kansas a pro-life state,'' Eileen Hawley, spokeswoman for Gov. Sam Brownback, said in an email. ``We will review the preliminary ruling and move forward with the litigation.'' Federal courts have blocked attempts by other states to cut off Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, including Arkan-

sas, Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana and Utah. ``We promised to fight Governor Brownback's fool's errand in his attempt to cut funding to Planned Parenthood and today marks one more step forward in defending access for patients,'' Laura McQuade, the affiliate's president and CEO said in a written statement. In its defense, Kansas' health department

cited a dispute in December over its attempts to inspect the handling of solid waste at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Overland Park, Kansas, which was later resolved. The department also cited allegations against Planned Parenthood affiliates in Oklahoma and Texas that Planned Parenthood called unfounded.

'Organ donation should be social movement' NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister J P Nadda has stressed the need to create a system for safe and effective organ-donation and make it a social movement, saying the demand for organs will grow "manifold" in future due to increased lifestyle diseases. Terming organ donation as "altruistic, egalitarian and essentially moral act", Nadda urged the people to come forward and donate organs to save lives. "The demand for organs continue to increase manifold in future keeping in view the increased incidence of lifestyle diseases. "So, there is a need to create a system for improving the rate of safe, effective and ethical donation of cadaver organs for transplantation in needy," Nadda said addressing a function here. The Health Minister also sought suggestions to encourage people for organ and body donations and assured that government would not delay in its implementation. "The Ministry has started taking concrete steps for harvesting of cadaver organs and tissues and hope that the government will be able to optimally utilize this vast national resource," he said. Nadda said the benefits of initiatives should reach out to every nook and corner of the country and not be limited to cities only. The Health Minister said that organ donation can benefit the recipient largely by

improving health, quality and span of his life and even save him from death or other critical conditions. Special DGHS B D Athani said the government was taking various steps to simplify organ donor laws and procedures and

Health Minister J P Nadda

13,443 donors have already pledged for organ donation. He said the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization website provides updated information and online facility for registering pledges for organ donation. Athani said a 24x7 call centre with tollfree helpline has been established for providing information on organ donation and coordinating matters relating to retrieval and allocation of organs recovered from cadaver donors.-PTI

Planned Parenthood attorneys argue that the organization is being targeted because it provides abortions. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, a conservative Republican, is a vocal abortion opponent. Kansas already has blocked Planned Parenthood from receiving federal family planning dollars for non-abortion services in the state. The affiliate provides both surgical and medication abortions at its clinic in Overland Park, in far eastern Kansas near Kansas City, Missouri. It began providing the medication abortions at its Wichita clinic in March. Planned Parenthood's St. Louis affiliate is involved in the lawsuit because its clinic in Joplin, Missouri, serves some Kansas patients. Kansas initially planned to cut off Med-

icaid funding on May 10, but the state delayed the action three times after the lawsuit was filed. Heath department officials have cited videos secretly recorded and released last year by anti-abortion activists that show Planned Parenthood officials in other states talking about the handling of fetal tissues. Planned Parenthood officials contend the videos were selectively edited as part of a smear campaign, and two anti-abortion activists involved in the videos have been indicted on criminal charges in Texas. Brownback last year directed the state's medical board, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, to investigate whether commercial fetal tissue sales were occurring in Kansas. Planned Parenthood's Kansas-Mid Missouri affiliate doesn't have a program for fetal tissue donations, and a board attorney said in January that no action would be taken. Kansas health officials also cited concerns about Medicaid claims and overbilling raised publicly in November by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, another anti-abortion Republican. Planned Parenthood has said her claims are exaggerated. Oklahoma had threatened to cut off Medicaid funds to two Planned Parenthood affiliates last month but extended it for another year.-AP

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Health providers face lack of psychiatrists FORT COLLINS, Colo.: David Sehr is an ``aberration'' in psychiatry. He loves the job from which most of his peers steer clear. Sehr is an inpatient psychiatrist, a position that area mental health hospitals and clinics struggle to fill. ``We've lost a lot of really great candidates because they were not interested in working with an ER overnight, and taking calls from multiple ERs, working weekends and rounding (making rounds) on inpatients,'' said Sehr, who has been a psychiatrist at Mountain Crest Behavioral Health in Fort Collins for five years. ``(But) this is sort of my deal. I like it here.'' Sehr's job includes treating the most critical patients with the most daunting needs so they can move on to less intensive care, reported the Coloradoan. While most strive to avoid such a job, Sehr thrives on it. ``Granted, when I'm working here on a Sunday afternoon or getting called at 2 in the morning, private practice might seem more appealing,'' he said. Thanks but no thanks There is plenty of demand for mental health services in Larimer County. Clear View Behavioral Health opened in Johnstown in November because one third of patients at the private hospital's sister facility, Peak View Behavioral Health in Colorado Springs, were from northern Colorado. Psychiatrists, unlike psychologists, can prescribe medications and have medical training. Clear View community liaison

Ethan Dexter said hiring psychiatrists is ``the biggest challenge'' for the new hospital, which has hired five so far. Eventually, Clear View hopes to have up to 10. Mountain Crest Behavioral

SummitStone Chief Operations Officer, adding there is a national shortage of psychiatrists. ``We simply do not have the numbers to meet the demand,'' Dodds said. ``One person was

Dr. David Sehr has been an inpatient psychiatrist at Mountain Crest Behavioral Health Center for 5 years. Psychiatrist are in high demand and many facilities, including Mountain Crest, have struggled to hire them.

Health, UCHealth's mental health site that offers inpatient care, has been trying to hire a psychiatrist for more than a year. SummitStone Health Partners faces a similar issue, with two prescriber positions - psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioners - open for at least a year. One was filled June 17. The other remained open. That has forced area providers to become more nimble, utilizing nurse practitioners instead of psychiatrists to meet the demand for mental health care. ``Flexibility is the name of the game,'' said Cyndi Dodds,

looking at four other states and ended up finding another state that better met his family needs.'' Part of the problem is salary UCHealth Director of Behavioral Health Services Monica Smith said psychiatrists in northern Colorado typically earn an annual salary between $200,000 and $280,000. Forbes named the field one of the worst paying jobs for doctors, along with family practitioners and pediatricians. Local clinics are competing with each other and state and national clinics for a limited number

of recruits who have multiple, more appealing options than inpatient care. Private practice or primary care offices offer more traditional hours and less intense patient needs than inpatient services. Smith's eight psychiatrists are each on call seven or eight weekends a year. On-call weekends include working Saturday and Sunday and making themselves available overnight if a patient is processed. Hospitals require an order from a psychiatrist to admit patients into psychiatric care, Smith said. That's at least seven two-week stretches without a break a year. ``Most psychiatrists look at that and say, `I don't have to work that hard,''' Smith said. That's not to say it's easy to find a psychiatrist even for cushier jobs. Carl Nassar, a therapist at Heart-Centered Counseling in Fort Collins, said the collaborative of therapists, which began as Nassar's private practice in 1999, abandoned the idea of hiring a psychiatrist because they were completely unable to find one. At area mental health hospitals, however, giving up on finding psychiatrists isn't an option. ``It would be like sending someone to open heart surgery without a physician to do the surgery,'' Smith said. Combating the shortage Clear View is taking a slow but steady approach, opening programs gradually and hiring ac-

cordingly. Since November, the hospital has opened two adult inpatient programs, which serve 32 patients at a time, a senior program that serves 16 and a medical detox that serves 16. The hospital has served more than 700 patients since opening. Mountain Crest uses recruiters to identify candidates then sell them on the Fort Collins lifestyle to win over candidates, touting a collaborative model and positive culture, Smith said. At SummitStone, Dodds relies on recruiters and internal referrals. She moves ``immediately'' if she thinks someone is interested in taking a job and tries to be ``as flexible as possible.'' They reach out to schools, with SummitStone speaking to Colorado State University seniors twice a year. The organization is considering partnering with Thompson and Poudre school districts to start educating high schoolers on the benefits of working in mental health. Sehr said it will take showing young minds the benefit and thrill of his professional setting to fix the problem. In a world where private practice seems more appealing, he wants medical students to see the pros of inpatient care. ``You would be very supported from the hospital system and what you want to do,'' he offered. ``There is a very good group of providers here. A good share have been here over a decade ... I think that stability means a lot.'' -AP

Butter may not be bad for your heart WASHINGTON: Consuming butter in limited quantities may not increase the risk of heart disease or stroke - and it might actually be slightly protective against diabetes, a new study has claimed. Researchers from Tufts University in the US found that butter consumption was only weakly associated with total mortality, not associated with cardiovascular disease, and slightly inversely associated with diabetes. Based on a systematic review and search of multiple online academic and medical databases, researchers identified nine eligible research studies including 15 country-specific cohorts representing 636,151 unique individuals with a total of 6.5 million person-years of follow-up. Over the total follow-up period,

the combined group of studies included 28,271 deaths, 9,783 cases of cardiovascular disease, and 23,954 cases of new-onset type 2 diabetes. Researchers combined the nine

studies into a meta-analysis of relative risk.

of a serving per day to 3.2 servings per day, they said. The study found mostly small or insignificant associations of each daily serving of butter with total mortality, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. " E v e n Butter may be a though people who eat more "middle-of-the- butter generally have road" food: a worse diets and lifestyles, more healthful it seemed to be choice than pretty neutral overall," said sugar or starch Laura Pimpin, previously from Tufts and currently with consumption across the nine stud- UK health forum. ies ranged from roughly one-third "This suggests that butter Butter consumption was standardized across all nine studies to 14 grams per day, which corresponds to roughly one tablespoon, researchers said. Overall, the average butter

may be a "middle-of-the-road" food: a more healthful choice than sugar or starch, such as the white bread or potato on which butter is commonly spread and which have been linked to higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease," said Pimpin. According to her, butter is a worse choice than many margarines and cooking oils - those rich in healthy fats such as soybean, canola, flaxseed, and extra virgin olive oils - which would likely lower risk compared with either butter or refined grains, starches, and sugars. "Overall, our results suggest that butter should neither be demonized nor considered "back" as a route to good health," added Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University. -PTI

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More or less sleep raises Diabetes risk LONDON: Men who sleep either fewer or more hours than average may face a greater risk of developing diabetes, a new study has warned. In a group of nearly 800 healthy people, researchers observed sex-specific relationships between sleep duration and glucose metabolism. "In men, sleeping too much or too little was related to less responsiveness of the cells in the body to insulin, reducing glucose uptake and thus increasing the risk of developing diabetes in the future. In women, no such association was observed," said study's senior author, Femke Rutters, from the VU Medical Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The study examined the sleep duration and diabetes risk factors in 788 people. The researchers analyzed a subset of participants in the European Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular Disease (EGIRRISC) study, who were healthy adults ranging in age from 30 to 60 years old. Study participants were recruited from 19 study centers in 14 European countries. Researchers measured the participants' sleep and physical activity using a singleaxis accelerometer, a device to track movement. To assess the risk for diabetes, researchers used a device called a hype rinsulinemiceuglycemic clamp to measure how effectively the body used the hormone insulin, which processes sugar in the bloodstream.

The study found that men who slept the least and the most were more likely to have an impaired ability to process sugar compared to those who slept an average amount, about seven hours. The men at either end of the spectrum had higher blood sugar levels than those who got the average amount of sleep. Women who slept less or more than average, however, were more responsive to the hormone insulin than women who slept the average amount. They also had enhanced function of beta

cells - the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin. This suggests lost sleep may not put women at increased risk of developing diabetes. The study is the first to show opposite effects of lost sleep on diabetes risk in men and women. "Even when you are healthy, sleeping too much or too little can have detrimental effects on your health," Rutters said. "This research shows how important sleep is to a key aspect of health - glucose metabolism," Rutters added. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. -PTI

Health dept suspends two doctors NEW DELHI: Delhi government's Health department has suspended two doctors and two others in connection with alleged irregularities in disbursing salaries of security and sanitation workers at Satyawadi Raja Harish Chandra Hospital. Dr Rishi Anand, Dr Rupender Kumar, Virender Kumar, statistical assistant and Rajesh Kumar, Administrative Officer have been placed under suspension, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. The action was taken after Jain during a visit to the hospital received complaints from several sanitation workers and security guards about they not receiving their entire salary amount over several months. It was also alleged by some of the workers that even after having full attendance, their records were tampered to show them absent on some days. In a separate incident, services of two

junior resident doctors of Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital was terminated in connection with a woman patient being transfused wrong group of blood. "This woman had come in a serious condition with a low Hemoglobin concentration of 2.5. She was transfused wrong blood group which could have been fatal. We launched an inquiry and terminated service of two junior resident doctors. "The woman at present is stable," he said. The Health Minister further informed that government has decided to install 10 CT Scan machines and five MRI machines in its 10 hospitals on Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) model. He said that these machines will soon be installed at ten big government hospitals and government will soon float tenders in this regard. -PTI

Heart disease mortality no longer declining MIAMI, UNITED STATES: Heart disease remains the top killer in the United States as a long-term trend of declining mortality has leveled out in recent years, possibly due to rising obesity and diabetes, researchers said. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Cardiology, showed that the US national heart-and stroke-related mortality rate declined at an average of 3.8 percent per year between 2000 and 2011. The decline has slowed to less than one per cent a year since 2011, however. Although the study did not investigate reasons for the slowdown, experts said causes may include increases in obesity and diabetes. "Despite significant improvements in heart health over the past century, the increase in these chronic health conditions in epidemic proportions may be driving the recent slowdown," said senior author Jamal Rana, a Kaiser Permanente cardiologist. Heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1921. The mortality rate has declined in recent decades due to advances in medical treatment and prevention, the increased use of statins and aspirin, fewer people smoking and more getting adequate exercise and controlling their blood pressure, the study said. Researchers had expected cancer to

overcome heart disease as the top US killer sometime around 2013, but the latest research shows that has not happened, and may not happen anytime soon. "From 2000 to 2011, cancer was on track to bypass heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States," Rana said. "Based on the current findings, this may not happen." "Given this startling trend, the cardiovascular health care community needs to reaffirm its commitment to developing innova-

"From 2000 to 2011, cancer was on track to bypass heart disease as the leading cause of death in the United States" tive ways to improve heart disease prevention at the population level," he added. The rate of decline would have to reach an annual two percent in order to achieve the American Heart Association's strategic goal of reducing deaths from both cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent between 2010 and 2020, said lead author Stephen Sidney, director of research clinics at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. -AFP

Tech News Tata Steel in JV talks with German firm MUMBAI: Tata Steel has said it has initiated talks with German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp AG for a possible joint venture for its European businesses, including UK operations. The company, part of USD 100 billion Tata Group, also said it is separately starting the processes for sale of its South Yorkshirebased Specialty Steels business and Hartlepool pipe mills (other than the 20-inch Tube Mill) (both in UK). The announcement has come after the company screened around 200 potential financial and industrial investors for sale of its loss-making UK operations. "The Board of Tata Steel has decided to also look at alternative and more sustainable portfolio solutions for the European businesses. "Consequently, Tata Steel has now entered into discussions with strategic players in the steel industry, including ThyssenKrupp AG. Discussions have been initiated to explore the feasibility of strategic collaborations through a potential joint venture (JV)," the firm said in a statement.-PTI

Panama Papers: I-T dept to widen probe NEW DELHI: Faced with resistance in disclosures by those named in the Panama Papers, the Income Tax department has made foreign references to about a dozen countries in order to obtain actionable evidence against such Indian entities. Officials said a special wing under the Central Board of Direct Taxes has made multiple requests to their counterparts in foreign nations as part of the I-T department's tax evasion probe against those named in these leaks. They said that the taxman, in numerous cases in this list, was faced with non-cooperation and non-acceptance of their accounts as revealed in the Panama papers and hence the department had to approach the foreign jurisdictions including Switzerland, British Virgin Island and the UK among others. "The I-T department has approached close to a dozen overseas jurisdictions in order to obtain actionable evidence and legal material to act against those who has been reported to have stashed black money abroad as per the Panama Papers disclosures.-PTI

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Free Wi-Fi hotspots launched in Gurgaon GURGAON: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has launched public Wi-Fi hotspots to provide internet connectivity to users in the city. People visiting MG Road, Sadar Bazaar, Sector 29 market and Sarhaul Village can enjoy free Wi-Fi sessions on their devices. Users will be able to enjoy a free daily quota limit of 30 minutes per day per device, Airtel said in a statement. Airtel had won the mandate for the Wi-Fi launch from Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon last year making it the most preferred partner to enable residents in the Millennium City to enjoy a world-class internet experience.-PTI

US introduces bill to bar Indian firms hiring on H-1B visas WASHINGTON: A legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by a bipartisan group of US lawmakers which if passed by the Congress would prevent Indian companies from hiring IT professionals on H-1B and L1 visas. The 'H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2016' introduced by New Jersey's Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell and Republican Dana Rohrabacher from California would prohibit firms from hiring H-1B employees if they employ more than 50 people and over 50 per cent of their staff are H-1B and L-1 visa holders. Since the revenue model of a majority of big Indian IT companies is heavily dependent on H1B and L1 visas, such a bill is likely to have a major impact on their businesses. Notably, the sponsors of the bill come from the two US states having the maximum concentration of Indian-Americans. But before the bill is signed into

law by President Barack Obama, it must pass the Senate where it is yet to be tabled. "America is producing many skilled, high-tech professionals with advanced degrees and no jobs. By 'in-sourcing' and exploit-

"Without the critical reforms our bill proposes, American workers will continue to be unfairly displaced and visa workers will continue to be mistreated - both of which are unacceptable," he said. Noting that foreign

ing foreign workers, some businesses are abusing the visa programs and undercutting our workforce to reap the rewards," Pascrell said.

outsourcing companies are the top users of the H-1B and L-1 visa programs, a statement issued by the Congressman's office said over the years a number of con-

cerns have been raised about how certain companies have been using these visa programs, including a 2011 report from the Government Accountability Office calling for reform. Pascrell and Rohrabacher had introduced a similar version of this bill in 2010, which could not gain enough support in the Congress. The lawmakers said the bill would close loopholes in the H1B and L-1 visa programs, reduce fraud and abuse, provide protections for American workers and visa holders, require more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers, and increase penalties on those who violate the law. It would provide more authority to the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor to investigate fraud and abuse. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers have endorsed the bill.-PTI

Indian rapper targets Dow for damages NEW DELHI: A South Indian rapper is targeting Dow Chemical with rhymes demanding the U.S. company pay more in victims' compensation and environmental damages stemming from a horrific

Sofia Ashraf

chemical gas leak that killed thousands of people and sickened countless others.

Sofia Ashraf debuted ``Dow vs. Bhopal: a Toxic Rap Battle'' last month, calling the story of what happened in the central Indian city of Bhopal ``a critical message to get out there.'' The 1984 tragedy, considered the world's worst industrial accident, was caused by 40 tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaking from a pesticide plant run by Union Carbide Corporation - later purchased by Dow Chemical. The leak killed more than 15,000 and sickened at least a half-million more. Activists say thousands of children have since been born with brain damage, missing palates and twisted limbs. Union Carbide paid $470 million in a 1989 deal reached with the Indian government, which Dow has said takes care of its liability. But activists say the sum was far too low and ignored the need to clean up the environment. ``Speak to young people, and they know about Hiroshima and

Nagasaki, they know about the Holocaust,'' the 29-year-old songstress said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. ``But very few of them will know about the Bhopal gas leak tragedy.'' Her video, she hopes, will change that, with its provocative clips of dancers wearing gas

``This ain't road kill, death's still taking its toll,'' she raps over a driving base beat. ``There's water, water everywhere / corroding our copperware / It's so polluted, quit deluding.'' This isn't the first time the Chennai-based artist has used rhymes to call on multinationals

Union Carbide paid $470 million in a 1989 deal reached with the Indian government, which Dow has said takes care of its liability. But activists say the sum was far too low and ignored the need to clean up the environment. masks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi orating, President Barack Obama donning sunglasses and presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump doused in water interspersed with images of hospital rooms and Ashraf herself rapping angrily at the camera.

to act. Her 2015 rap video ``Kodaikanal Won't'' took aim at Unilever, calling on the company to help former workers at a thermometer plant in the Tamil Nadu hill resort of Kodaikanal. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 38

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Air India to lower last minute fares NEW DELHI: Aiming to attract more fliers and achieve higher seat occupancy in its flights on trunk routes, Air India has decided to lower its last minute ticket fares to the level of 2-tier AC of Rajdhani trains. As part of the pricing strategy, Air India will drop fares on four key routes --DelhiMumbai, D e l h i -

Chennai, Delhi-Kolkata and DelhiBengaluru - four hours before the departure of flights to these destinations. Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani said the move is aimed at providing relief to the passengers from last minute sky-rocketing fares and also to fill the vacant seats. A Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani AC II-Tier ticket costs Rs 2,870, while Delhi-Chennai Rs 3,905. The fare

Uttarakhand tops in ease of doing business DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has topped the ease of doing business ranking in the country, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has said, asserting that it was a result of the steps taken by his government to facilitate investment in the state. "We stood at the 23rd position in the Ease of Doing Business Rankings only 10 months back but today we have climbed to the top of the list. It proves that the state offers the best atmosphere for investments in the country at present," Rawat told reporters here. "The day we were ranked 23rd in the ranking, we began our efforts to introduce a single-window system for industries and linking different departments with it to attract investors and in just 10 months we have managed to emerge at the top," he said. The ranking has been made by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. These are not final rankings, which will be released in August by the DIPP after thorough analysis and verification of the evidence uploaded by each state. Departments like urban development, revenue, labor and law have also been asked to simplify their procedures so that the process of land acquisition is easier for investors and labor problems are also overcome, Rawat said. Claiming that the state has a "better" human resource at its disposal and adequate availability of electricity, he said, the state government

was trying to make the most of the situation to attract new industries. Uttarakhand climbed to the top of the list beating several industrial states which get the bulk of investments normally.-PTI

of second AC Rajdhani ticket for Delhi-Kolkata is Rs 2,890 and Rs 4,095 for Delhi-Bengaluru Rajdhani. Air India has an average load factor of 74 per cent across its domestic network while the seat occupancy on these trunk routes stands at around 80 per cent, he said. "Our objective is to fill these remaining seats as well. This can be achieved with such affordable fares. In addition, this would also help us increase our passengers' revenue," Lohani added. Air India's decision to lower fares is likely to give jitters to the private carriers who are accused of jacking up fares to 2-3 times of the normal fares for the last-minute bookings. Last month, Air India had floated a limited period scheme to fly unconfirmed passengers of Rajdhani trains at the fares matching with the AC first class ticket prices. Under the 'Super Saver' scheme, which started from June 26 and ends on September 30, passengers of Rajdhani Express trains who have wait-listed ticket could book four hours prior to the flight departure at a fare which matches with the ticket price of Ist AC Rajdhani trains.-PTI

Govt's tax kitty swells to Rs 3.24 lakh cr NEW DELHI: Reflecting an upPersonal income tax collection turn in economic activity, grew 29.8 per cent while corporate government's revenue collection taxes registered an increase of 13.5 showed an impressive growth in per cent, an official statement said. April-June quarter with total tax From current year, individuals mop-up rising to Rs 3.24 lakh are also supposed to pay four incrore. stallments of advance tax at the Indirect tax collections rose by rate of 15 per cent, 30 per cent, 30 30.8 per cent during the first three per cent and 25 per cent in the months of the current fiscal to months of June, September, Deabout Rs 2 lakh crore, mainly on cember and March. account of 50 per cent jump in exEarlier there were only three incise revenues. stallments of advance tax to be In case of direct taxes, kitty rose paid by individuals in the months 24.79 per cent to Rs 1.24 lakh crore of September, December and in April-June driven mainly by March. higher collection in personal income tax due to early advance tax mop- Personal income tax colup. lection grew 29.8 per cent The indirect tax collection and direct tax while corporate taxes regcollections up to June istered an increase of 13.5 indicates 25.7 per cent and 14.63 per cent of the per cent, an official stateannual budget target. ment said. The government hopes to collect Rs 8.47 lakh crore from direct taxes and Rs 7.79 lakh crore from As regards indirect taxes, excise indirect taxes, which includes cus- collection in the first quarter of curtoms, excise and service tax, in rent fiscal grew 50.1 per cent to Rs 2016-17 fiscal. 91,225 crore. Service tax revenue Revenue Secretary Hasmukh increased by 20.8 per cent to Rs Adhia said: "The main reason for 53,757 crore. this increase (in direct taxes) is the Customs revenue collection change in the requirement for ad- during April-June 2016 registered vance tax payment in respect of 15.5 per cent growth at Rs 54,808 individuals, made in last budget." crore.-PTI

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'Sizable dip in Indian black Jaitley questions high interest on savings money abroad' AHMEDABAD: Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said the Narendra Modi government's "activism" against black money in the last two years has resulted into a "sizable dip" in illegal assets stashed abroad by Indians. He also said the action being initiated by G-20 countries coupled with "technological intervention" will make it difficult to keep black money both at home and outside the country. "Today there is a panic among people who hold illegal assets outside the country. If you take from 1947 to 2014, the cumulative effect of all steps taken would not be even minuscule percentage of what the government has done in the last two years," Jaitley said. He was speaking at a program here to sensitize people on government's Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) whereby tax evaders are given opportunity to disclose their unaccounted income and pay 45 per cent of it, which is applicable till September 30. "Recent reports have indicated that there is a sizable dip in Indian holdings outside the country," the minister said. "If you consider the kind of activism in the last two years, the first decision that PM Narendra Modi took was to accept the direction of the Supreme Court and constitute SIT with two retired SC judges," he said. Jaitley added that government's

collective efforts, including making available a compliance window for black money and taking action based on the HSBC, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and Panama Papers disclosures, have helped in bringing back the illegal wealth stashed

will be prosecuted. Now, Panama papers are being revealed, on the basis of which those who have kept illegal assets can be prosecuted as per new law," he said. In May this year, nearly 2,000 individuals, entities and addresses with links to India figured in the

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

abroad, "with many (people) even facing trial". "We first took steps to provide chance to those who keep country's assets abroad to bring it back home and pay for the same. Information about HSBC accounts has been assessed and people are prosecuted....Around Rs 8,000 crore has been detected. "Next, ICIJ made big disclosure in which Indians were found putting abroad Rs 5,000 crore. Many

latest edition of 'Panama Papers' giving information on offshore holding of companies in tax havens. Jaitley said the technological progress in coming times will make it difficult to generate and spend domestic black money. "Once GST (Goods and Services Tax) is implemented, all transactions will be cross-verified, whether they are goods, or services," he said.-PTI

'Economy healthier than last year of UPA' JAIPUR: NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya has said the Indian government has put the economy on the path of reform to achieve a high growth trajectory though there are significant lags between policy decisions and outcomes which need to be addressed. He said challenges such as restoration of the health of banks and accelerated growth in the manufacturing sector as envisaged by the Centre's Make in India program to achieve job growth continue to remain. However, he said the direction of progress is right. Delivering a lecture on 'The Economy at Two Years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi' at University of Rajasthan, Panagariya

defended the creation of NITI Aayog in place of Planning Commission and said the role of planning too is poised for a change. NITI Aayog is now working on

Arvind Panagariya

a 15-year vision plan complemented by a seven-year strategy and a three-year short-run macro framework plan, he said.

Panagariya said the UPA I government had expanded social schemes but not taken necessary measures to sustain the high growth over a longer period of time. He claimed that the "policy paralysis" during the United Progressive Alliance II rule had hurt the economy badly and as a result, it descended into what appeared to be a crisis during the last two years of its rule. "Today, the economy is far healthier compared to the last year of UPA II in all macroeconomic parameters," he said, adding that the current government ended the paralysis by clearing numerous projects. Vice Chancellor of the university JP Singhal was present on the occasion among others.-PTI

NEW DELHI: With private in- activity has to be investment, it vestment yet to pick up, Finance has to be resource-raising, it has Minister Arun Jaitley has won- to be important companies in the dered whether it is desirable to private sector and sometimes PPP, continue offering high interest which will ensure this deficit is rates on savings that translate into met," he said. higher cost of lending and slugThe finance minister felt that in gishness in the economy. this context, BSE is an important India, he said, has "peculiar" institution. characteristics of having "quite "Last few years have seen Inhigh" percentage of domestic sav- dia grow well, essentially grow ings. well on the strength of enhanced "Now, whether domestic sav- public investment (and) FDI. The ings are only to be used by such best of private sector in that deinstruments which give you a velopment process is yet to be higher return and create an inter- seen," he said. est regime which is extremely costly and makes the economy sluggish, or higher re- "And since rain gods apturns are to be got from pear kinder this year, there such instruments as funds, bonds, shares would be signs of in(that finance projects creased rural demand itself and economic activand all these in turn would ity)," he asked. Speaking at a func- lead to opportunity for the tion here to unveil a commemorative postage private sectorâ&#x20AC;? stamp to mark 140 years of BSE, he said the essence of all economic activity is inStating that absence of devestment which is going to come mand has been cited for lack of from where resources are available. private investment, he hoped ur"A lot of them have also an ele- ban demand will improve. ment of secured investment in "And since rain gods appear them which can give people a very kinder this year, there would be respectable return itself. That's the signs of increased rural demand basis on which pension funds the itself and all these in turn would world over have been functioning lead to opportunity for the private and I think these are areas of ad- sector itself," he said. vances as we grow over the next This will lead to a lot more acseveral years and decades. More tivity at institutions like BSE, he and more opportunities are going said, adding that the best of the to come to us," he said. two stock exchanges -- BSE and According to Jaitley, Indian NSE -- is yet to come by. economy will need a lot of invest"It is not to undermine what ment for a reasonably long period they have already done in the past, to bridge the infrastructure and in- it's to prepare them for greater chaldustrialization deficit that has ex- lenges in future. I'm sure BSE isted for decades. would get itself ready for their "And the starting point of all act," Jaitley added.-PTI

Indian rapper targets Dow for damages Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 36

Unilever's Indian subsidiary closed the plant 15 years ago after mercury contamination was discovered there. Earlier this year, the company reached a settlement agreement with the 591 former workers it had employed. Exact terms were not released but the company disputes claims that workers' health was affected by exposure to mer-

cury. Ashraf has gone after Dow Chemicals before for the Bhopal disaster. Her 2008 song called ``Don't Work For Dow'' urged engineering students to ignore company recruiters on college campuses. The latest song takes the Indian complaint abroad - urging the U.S. government to force Dow to offer more in compensation and clean up-AP

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G20 agree to improve trade governance BEIJING: The world's top 20 economies have agreed to improve international trade governance in view of the global slowdown due to increasing anti-trade measures that have become more universal since 2009. G20 nations, which account for 85 per cent of the world trade, would remain committed to an open global economy, and will further work towards trade liberalization and facilitation, said a statement released following the twoday G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in Shanghai. The World Trade Organization (WTO) statistics showed that global trade growth has slowed significantly since 2008, from an average of over 7 per cent per annum between 1990 and 2008, to less than 3 per cent between 2009 and 2015. Last year marked the fourth consecutive year with global trade growth below 3 per cent. The meeting endorsed the G20 Strategy for Global Trade Growth, in which the economies will lead

Trade ministers and delegates attend the opening session of the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in Shanghai, July 9

by example to lower trade costs, harness trade and investment policy coherence, boost trade in services, enhance trade finance, promote e-commerce development and address trade and de-

velopment, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The WTO unveiled a new trade-related index called the World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI) ahead of the meeting,

which is designed to provide real time information on trends in global trade. The current reading suggested that trade growth will remain weak into the third quarter

India, UK plan trade pact post Brexit NEW DELHI: India and the UK are exploring the possibility of a free trade agreement following Britain's decision to exit from the European Union, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here. "Naturally," she said when

framework...whether it is a preferential or a free trade agreement that will be a mutually discussed matter," Sitharaman said. India is already negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU, and after the Brexit, it will have to rework its

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

asked whether India and the UK are evaluating possibility of a preferential or a free trade agreement with the UK. She was speaking to reporters after her meeting with UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skill Sajid Javid here. "Once the process of informal discussions starts then we get into discussions in detail. They will all fall into a formal

strategy of negotiations. Sitharaman said that with the UK moving out of the EU, the FTA talks with the European Union are going to be a fresh exercise. "With the EU of course, it shall continue but recalibrated now that UK is out of EU. So we shall be doing both," she said. After the meeting, visiting minister Javid said his discussion with Sitharaman "was very positive and

constructive". "India and UK already have a very strong trade and investment relations and we are looking at how we can go further and look forward to working with her," he told reporters. When asked whether any discussions happened about Tata Steel, Sitharaman said, "No. I have not discussed about Tata Steel at all with the UK minister". She said they discussed about trade and investment related issues. "My talks with him and his visit have been informal but proactively engaging on trade related matters post Brexit and on that, I got the impression that the UK minister is very keen that we start the informal process and we are quite happy to engage with the UK post Brexit," she said. She said the UK is one of the big components in the EU and through this, India has trade relations with the EU. "Trade with UK is substantial. Indian investments in UK are one of the biggest. A lot of jobs created in the UK are by Indian investors," the Indian minister said. "Similarly on services, we have great potential...We see immense potential in talking about goods and services trade. I have agreed to have our chief negotiator and invited his chief negotiator to speak to each other, so that we informally know from where we are going to start," she added.

Besides this, both the countries are also encouraging business to business contacts. Sitharaman said industry bodies CII and Ficci and the UK CEOs Forum are all active and they will now be encouraged to have further interactions with one another and give their views. The bilateral trade between India and the UK stood at USD 14 billion in 2015-16 as against USD 14.33 billion in 2014-15. India has received USD 23.10 billion FDI from Britain during April 2000 and March 2016.-PTI

of 2016. Also, G20 economies vowed to support low-income countries (LICs) to participate more in global value chains (GVCs) to drive global trade growth, it said. The G20 economies recognized that GVCs, encompassing regional value chains (RVCs), are important feature of the global economy, and are important drivers of world trade. The economies would support policies to allow firms of all sizes, including small-and-mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), in countries with different developing levels to participate in and fully utilize GVCs, the statement said. G20 members would continue to enhance capacity building to promote inclusive and coordinated GVCs and seek to develop and implement initiatives to assist developing countries, particularly LICs and SMEs in the areas that matter most to GVCs, it said. Such initiatives might include appropriate infrastructure, technology support, access to credit, supply chain connectivity, agriculture, innovation and e-commerce, skills training and responsible business conduct, it said. Meanwhile, G20 members with capacity to do so would continue to help developing countries 'and SMEs' ability to adopt and comply with relevant national and international standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures. G20 members would also facilitate developing countries and SMEs access to information on trade and investment opportunities, and provide further information to help them participate in GVCs and move up the value chain, it said. -PTI

40 India Post

angtok is a beautiful hill town and the capital of north-eastern state of Sikkim. This is one place which many tour ists like to combine along with a visit to Darjeeling. In fact the combined trip of Darjeeling-Gangtok is a common recipe when people think about visiting this part of the country. This is mainly because of the proximity of the two places as well as easy access. And while in Gangtok, tourists visit several other places including the wonderland of Yumthang valley in north Sikkim, and Tsomgo Lake, Nathula Pass in East Sikkim,

www.indiapost.com Pelling in west Sikkim etc. Gangtok is located at an altitude of 5,410 ft in East-Sikkim. Distance from the nearest major railway station is 126kms, from Bagdogra airport 124kms, from Siliguri 114kms and from Darjeeling 98kms. Private

July 15, 2016 and shared taxi services are available in plenty between Gangtok and these places. There is also bus service from Siliguri SNT bus stand and helicopter service from Bagdogra airport to Gangtok. The name Gangtok means the 'Top of the

Ridge'. Between 1894 to 1975 it was part of the Namgyal kingdom and a center of Royal administration. After that it became a state of India. Over the years Gangtok has experienced booming economy and advancement of lifestyle. However it has remained as a peaceful place with a mix of different cultures & ethnicity. The residents mainly comprise Nepalese, Lepchas and Bhutias. The Lepchas are the original residents of the place, the rest are immigrants. Gangtok spreads over a forested mountain that faces the Kanchenjunga snow peaks. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 42

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Rohit Sharma enjoyed honeymoon in Monaco

ndia's top batsman Rohit Sharma, on a late honeymoon with his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, was living

rant in Monte Carlo, for lunch. Talking about his wonderful experience, Rohit said, "Arriving by helicopter was a great start to our journey to Monaco. It is a truly luxury & style retreat, if you want to experience the high life and complete privacy as well safety. The Fairmont Hotel where we stayed lies in the heart of the

Enjoying the Mediterranean view

it up in Monaco, exploring heritage spots, partying at the Principality's luxury nightspots and enjoying sumptuous delicacies. For instance the couple stopped by at the Maya Bay, a popular Oriental restau-

Enjoying their lunch at Horizon Deck

golden square and the famous hairpin bend of Monaco F1 circuit. The destination is a perfect blend of classic heritage and the modernity. We enjoyed the spa pampering at the Odeon Sisley Spa. We had a delectable fine-dining experience at the famous Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris, which was the highlight of our visit to Monaco and also must mention a great lunch experience at the chic Maya Bay." He added, "We feel Monaco is very romantic with the sights of mountains and Mediterranean Sea, which made it a perfect choice for our honeymoon, and we hope to be back soon." Some of the other places the in-love couple visited are the Prince's Palace, Monte Carlo Casino, designed by Charles Garnier and the Old Town in the more traditional part of Monte Carlo that features numerous classy bars and restaurants. The cricketer and his wife visited the Larvotto Beach, Monaco's most popular-and only-beach, popular with beachcombers for its pebbly sandy along the Mediterranean Sea. Another highlight for the lovely couple was a visit to the Champions Promenade,

on the seafront of the Principality, which is dedicated to the greatest players in the history of football and to their footprints. The cricketer also posted picture of the foot-

Rohit Sharma and his wife, Ritika Sajdeh posing for a selfie at Larvotto Beach

print of his favorite football player, Zinedine Zidane on Facebook.

Rohit Sharma posing outside Faimont Monte Carlo

Border tourism a big draw at Suchetgarh SUCHETGARH BORDER, Jammu: The rattle of guns was replaced by the excited noises of people clicking selfies and dancing to the beats of drums at the Border Out Post (BoP) here as the J&K government launched its border tourism initiative.

"Tourists and pilgrims are ambassadors for our state and the government wants to send a message of peaceful atmosphere and cultural harmony across the country through them," she said, adding that such visits would become a routine exercise in the coming days. Rakesh Kumar Verma, an Amarnath pilgrim from Varanasi, said, "We are happy to be here. We keep reading in media that it is the most active battleground between Indo-Pak troops as they keep firing and shelling these border areas reCM Mehbooba Mufti at Suchetgarh Jammu sulting in death and Ahead of their departure to Amarnath destruction. There is no fear today." cave shrine to pay obeisance at ice-lingam Like him, Suresh Kumar from Tamil Nadu, of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayan who has visited Wagah border a few years shrine, a group of nearly 100 pilgrims from back, feels that most of the people wish to various states of the country made a bee- visit the borderline in Jammu and Kashmir line at Octroi Border Out Post (BoP) along and today "I feel my desire has been fulIB with Pakistan which has a three-tier bor- filled". der fencing. "We appeal to the government to make Minister of State for Culture & Tourism, this Octroi BoP in Jammu as a place of tourPriya Sethi led the group which traveled in a ism similar to Wagah border. It has huge special tourism bus to Suchetgarh border belt potential. This IB should become a line of in R S Pura tehsil of Jammu district. peace and bonhomie," Kumar said. "This is an effort by the government to Anuradha Kumari, who has come for pilpromote border tourism in the state. After grimage with her family from Maharashtra, this, the next step of the government would was excited at the opportunity to be so near be to promote cross-border tourism," the the Indo-Pak border. Cont’d on page 43 Minister told reporters.

Cont’d on page 43

42 India Post

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Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 40

There are many vantage points in and around Gangtok from where you get magnificent views of Kanchenjunga and other Himalayan snow peaks. In fact every spur extending from this hill town is a setting for a great sight. The heart or the main hub of Gangtok is M.G. Marg (i.e. Mahatma Gandhi Road), which has been converted into something like a long stretch of open promenade and mall area. It's a pedestrian only zone and vehicles are not allowed. This litter and smoke free zone has many glittering shops, restaurants & bars lined up on both sides. There are benches laid out along the middle and both sides of the road where you can relax and see the pedestrians passing by or tourists shopping around. When the natural light fades, the beautiful Victorian lamps on the street are lit up. It's a great place to hang around for a while and experience the bustling carnival like

atmosphere. Over the years while mushrooming of concrete buildings in the main Gangtok town has taken toll on trees and greenery that it was once known for, still there are still enough in the place to make a great vacation for all. A big advantage of Gangtok today is that you get all modern amenities along with nice mountain charm. It perfectly suits those coming

from cities and looking for great weather, sightseeing, good food, comfortable stays with modern facilities, and nice shopping opportunities. And all these are available here at various price categories which can suit both budget and luxury travelers. Gangtok has several taxi and bus stands, and each earmarked for specific purpose. While coming from Siliguri/NJP or Bagdogra by bus or taxi, you will be dropped at the Deorali taxi stand located 2kms below the Gangtok town center. From here you will need to take a local Sikkim taxi to your hotel. If you plan to visit South or West Sikkim from Gangtok, you can take a reserved or shared taxi from the stand near M G Marg. For North Sikkim, you can take a taxi from the stand near Vajra Cinema Hall. The Sikkim Government Bus Terminal is located about 5 minutes walk from M G Marg. Tourist Attractions You can easily be absorbed and filled for days in Gangtok with its

many attractions and entertainment activities. There are great view points, monasteries and gompas with awesome architecture, museums, gardens, waterfalls, lakes & pools, art & craft, rides, adventure activities like paragliding ... the list goes on. Local sightseeing There are numerous tour operators (along M G Marg, Tibet Road

and several other places) who offer local sightseeing tours of Gangtok and surrounding areas. However for local sightseeing, taxis

scapes, waterfalls etc. There are also several nearby places offering wonderful drive through scenic landscapes and taking you to

ists come to dine as there are so many choices from pure vegetarian restaurants serving north & south Indian dishes to those serving non-veg food of Indian, western, Chinese, continental & other cuisine. Nightlife You will be surprised that Gangtok has so many popular pubs and bars. The first land based live casino was opened in Gangtok. Plenty of options for night outs.

are the best and most economical. Depending on what you like to see, there are 3, 7 and 10-point tours for half day and some for full day. Lachung, Yumthang & Zero Point From Gangtok, you can make an excellent trip to north Sikkim with an overnight stay (1night-2 days) which includes the mountain village Lachung offering lovely views of mountains, the spectacular valley of flowers featuring varieties of rhododendrons in different colors known as Yumthang, and the snow covered Zero Point where the civilian road ends. A day trip to Tsomgo (Changu) Lake is optionally followed by Baba Mandir and Nathula Pass Visit the lovely glacial lake (Tsomgo) located at an altitude of 12,310ft. The lake surrounded by mountains freezes during the winter. You can continue along the route and visit Baba Mandir (a temple full of stories) and the famous Nathula Pass located at 14,140ft (once forming the trade route with Tibet) and co-located with the Chinese border. Pelling Pelling, a small hill town in western Sikkim offers spectacular views of the snow peaks of Kanchenjunga apart from many other attractions including old monasteries, lovely lakes and land-

great attractions such as the second highest suspension bridge in Asia, Indo-Nepal border village, first capital of Sikkim and lot more. Namchi Namchi is an excellent place for cultural and religious tourism located in South Sikkim. The place has been developed keeping in mind the devotees and those who are religious minded. But other than unparalleled experience of temples, monasteries and places of worships, Namchi also offers wonderful views of snow peaks, landscapes, gardens and nurseries. Namchi is about 78kms from Gangtok taking about 3.5 hours by road. Zuluk and the historic Silk route You can reach Zuluk, a small mountain hamlet in east Sikkim in about 4 hours from Gangtok. It falls on the historic Silk route that was once used for trading fur and wool with Tibet. You get breathtaking views of Kanchenjunga, high altitude lakes, valleys and passes, and of course get to stay in comfortable homestays offered by villagers. Where to dine Most good eateries, restaurants and cafes are located on MG Road or nearby. This is where most tour-

Shopping You can pick up many different locally made souvenirs, gifts, clothes, utility items, art and handicraft products, some which are rarely found elsewhere. Best Time to Visit Like all other places in the north Bengal and north east India, Gangtok too faces the extremes of winter and monsoon. However, summer (April - May) and autumn (October - November) are quite

pleasant and best for the views with clear sky. How to reach Gangtok is only four hours drive from Darjeeling, 4.5 hours from both NJP (the nearest major railway station) and Bagdogra (the nearest airport). You can get private taxis from all these places, shared Jeeps from NJP, Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong etc, and buses from Siliguri.

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UK report calls for simpler visas for Indians LONDON: India should be included in Britain's cheaper two-year visitor visa scheme to attract more Indians to the UK that will strengthen the already close bilateral ties, a new report said here. 'A Passage from India Improving UK Visitor Visas for Indian Nationals' has been prepared by the UK's Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with leading aviation tourism and industry groups as well as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and was released in the British Parliament complex. "We hope that the government will consider the very clear benefits of our recommendation, enhancing the already close affinity between two great Commonwealth nations," said Tim Hewish, director of policy and research at the Royal Commonwealth Society and author of the report. His report flags up the UK's falling market share of global Indian tourists, which has halved over the last decade at an estimated cost to the UK economy of around 500 mil-

lion pounds per year and over 8,000 jobs. France has now over-taken the UK as India's most visited European nation, attracting 500,000 visitors from the subcontinent last year. In October 2015, British Prime Minister David Cameron had announced a pilot scheme for a two-year UK-China visitor visa costing 87 pounds. The report recommends that Indian nationals must have the same opportunity. "To optimize exchanges of people, business and ideas, it is important that both the UK and Indian governments discuss this promising proposal openly and collaboratively consider delivering it. The strength of the UK-India relationship today must also reflect in a stronger visa regime," said CII director-general Chandrajit Banerjee. At present Indian visitors continue to pay a hefty 330 pounds for a two-year visa, or 87 pounds for six-months. "Extending the visa pilot to include In-

Border tourism a big draw at Suchetgarh Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 41

with Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) from Amarnath base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu, the Minister of State for Culture & Tourism said. The border tour buses take the pilgrims to Suchetgarh border and its adjoining places while the city tour buses take them to Ranbireshwar Temple, Raghunath Temple, Peer-Kho, Bawe Wali Mata, Fish Aquarium, Amar Mahal Palace, Mubarak Mandi and Balidaan Stambh. The Minister said the government would restore old colonial Octroi BoP building to a gallantry gallery, besides constructing a multi-purpose hall, children's park and border meeting post at Suchetgarh border under Himalayan circuit of Swadesh Bharat Scheme of Central government.

"Fear has taken a backseat as I visited this border...saw border pillars, was told about the history... I am very excited and will go home with selfies. Government should encourage this border tourism effort and making all logistic facilities," she said. Shelja and her family from Uttarakhand, who were visiting the International Border in RS Pura, were busy clicking selfies along the border fence. "We saw bunkers and flags of India and Pakistan. We felt very good and hope that tourists from Pakistan also come to see the border areas," said an excited Shelja. "I feel that places along the borderline be it pilgrim centers, wetlands and border contact points at BoPs should be developed and this IB should be converted into an attraction of Indo-Pak friendship instead of firing and shelling," she said. "Every day 200 to 300 people including tourists visit Octerio BoP as border tourism initiative. On Sundays, the footfall of tourists goes up to 100. It is open for tourists from 8 am to 6 pm daily," a BSF officer manning BoP MoS Priya Sethi led a group which travelled in a special tourism bus to Suchetgarh border belt in R S Octerio said. Pura tehsil of J&K. Indo-Pak border has seen major ceasefire violations as Pakistani troops reThe other places of historical and culsorted to heavy firing and shelling during tural importance including Jio Pota Ghat, past few years triggering fear among resi- Baba Chamliyal and Gharana Wetland would dent many of whom have frequently been be included in tour circuits for promoting forced to flee. tourism in the state, she said. Jammu and Kashmir launched border "Adequate arrangements for security of tourism at low key in a bid to attract tourists tourists and pilgrims have been put in place and pilgrims with a twin-aim to boost the by deploying police personnel and traffic economy of the border dwellers and also police officers in the bus, besides providing increase the footfall along the Indo-Pak them with clean drinking water, information border (a mission taken up by Chief Minis- pamphlets and a guide for providing them ter Mehbooba Mufti). information about the places of historical and The tour buses are being operated by cultural importance in the city," Director Tourthe Department of Tourism in collaboration ism Jammu, Sushma Choudhan said.-PTI

dia is not just about governments, but also about people-to-people and economic-cultural exchange. Greater interaction through visitor visits will encourage familiarity," the report said.

According to UK's annual International Passenger Survey (IPS), the number of Indian visitors to the UK increased significantly from around 150,000 in 1995 to just over 350,000 in 2006.-PTI

Guides at forest parks brace for monsoon break KANHA: Nearly 150 forest guides from Kanha and Bandhavgarh national parks in Madhya Pradesh are fearing the financial strain they would face during the upcoming monsoon break of these reserves from July 1 when they desperately look for alternate means of livelihood. "We have a monthly salary of Rs 7,500 and during the three month break we have to live on what we earned through the year," says Rajesh Dwivedi, a senior guide at Bandhavgarh National Park. "I have an experience of over 12 years in the park but my condition remains the same. All the guides dread this three-month break when the parks shut," says Dwivedi. He says that tourism is their main source of livelihood and when the parks shut down during monsoon it just increases their financial difficulties. "Whatever we save through the year gets spent during these three months, we are left with nothing to plan future of our children," he says. Ramesh Dhuve, another guide at Bandhavgarh National Park, also solely depends upon saving from rest of the year for surviving during the break. "We know the jungle and we love our job as guide but the money we get from here is not enough," says Dhuve, who now he plans to start working for resorts that have come up in the area and leave his job as a guide. One of the other alternate means the guides look for is temporary migration to nearby cities like Bhopal and Jabalpur but they face difficulty in finding job for a period of three months. "We can't migrate to work in cities for these three months as no one hires us for such a short period of time," says Rishi Solanki, a guide at Kanha National Park. The authorities, however, say that as they are registered and not regular employees, it isn't their responsibility to take care of them during the three months the parks are closed. "As they are not our regular employees it isn't our responsibility to give them salary for the months when the park is shut," says J S Chauhan, Field Director, Kanha National Park. But the guides insist that the authorities should look from their point of view and understand how difficult it gets for them to survive during the monsoon break.

"We work very hard through the year, help officials in taking care of wild animals, informing them of any suspicious activities. We are paid to do that but it is because of our sincerity and hard work that poaching in the jungle has nearly vanished and tiger population is rapidly increasing," says Santosh Yadav, another guide at Kanha National Park. "We want authorities to acknowledge our role and think about our condition also during the monsoon break," he adds. Few guides have an alternative source of income in the form of farming but the land is not very fertile and by end of the day these guides are also not able to meet their needs, says Ajay Kumar, a guide at the Bandhavgarh National Park. One such guide is Mahesh Singh who turns to farming for these three months but

with reduced fertility and low produce, the income from the land is not enough. "The money we earn through farming can act as a pocket money but can't be a substitute to our jobs at the jungle," says Singh. Even for Singh, who is a senior guide at Bandhavgarh, it is that time of the year when he desperately looks for alternate means of livelihood. Singh who is the only earning member in a family of six is one of many guards who survive on their saving through the year and the extra money he earns through farming during these three months. He is among the fortunate ones to have extra pocket money but most of the guides solely depend upon their savings from their jobs as guides during the break. Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves are two of the most popular national parks in the country. These reserves have an annual tourist intake of over 1,50,000. The guides form the lifeline of the park. They are well acquainted with the forest hence are able to guide the tourists, said a naturist with the Kanha National Park. -PTI

In Brief Woman sentenced in immigration scheme WORCESTER, MASS.: A Rhode Island woman is headed to prison after pleading guilty in a scheme in which she defrauded immigrants out of more than $700,000 by falsely promising to provide documents that would allow them to legally live in the United States. Federal prosecutors say 53year-old Patria Zuniga, of Woonsocket, was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison in Worcester, Massachusetts. She pleaded guilty earlier this year to eight counts of wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz's office says Zuniga preyed on immigrants - including some from the Worcester area - without lawful status or temporary legal status in the country for three years beginning in 2009. Zuniga said she could help them obtain permanent resident immigration status, and threatened them with deportation if they didn't pay-AP

Â&#x201E;

Farm shooting man deported 6 times

PORTLAND, Ore.: A Mexican national charged with aggravated murder in the shooting deaths of three people at a rural Oregon blueberry farm had been deported six times, most recently in 2013, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bonifacio Oseguera-Gonzalez, 29, has no significant prior criminal convictions, but ICE asked Oregon authorities to turn him over to them if he's released from custody in the current case, the agency said in a statement to The Associated Press. Oseguera-Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to three counts of aggravated murder and one count of attempted murder in Marion County Superior Court. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted about the case, saying the suspect ``should have never been here.'' Two men who lived at the blueberry farm in the Willamette Valley town of Woodburn, in northwest Oregon, died at the scene of shooting. The third victim, the girlfriend of another resident who was not home at the time, was pronounced dead at a hospital. A third man was seriously wounded but survived and is able to speak with investigators. The Oregon State Police arrested Oseguera-Gonzalez a few hours later on Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge, about 100 miles northeast of Woodburn. -AP

Immigration 44 India Post

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US places hurdles for asylum seekers Details on page 46

July 15, 2016

Obama Legacy: Immigration stands as most glaring failure WASHINGTON: Hours after the Supreme Court sent his immigration policy into legal limbo, President Barack Obama huddled around a long conference table in the Roosevelt Room with disappointed activists. The president looked out at familiar faces, some teary. It had been a long and tough fight, Obama said, and he had taken some beatings - even from supporters who ``whupped on me good.'' He believed his policies would prevail, according to participants in the meeting, but said it was now up to voters and the next president to take up the baton. And with that, Obama delivered his version of a concession speech on a fight that has frustrated him like few others, roiled the campaign to replace him and is certain to test his successor. When Obama leaves office in January, immigration overhaul will stand as the most glaring failure in his 7 1/2-year effort to enact a vision of social change. Despite two campaigns full of promises and multiple strategies, Obama imposed only incremental, largely temporary changes on the immigration system. He leaves behind an outdated and over-

whelmed system, with some 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally. Behind that failure, Obama's legacy will be judged by a some-

children. Advocates and allies will credit him with embracing a newly aggressive assertion of executive power that, despite the court deadlock and political op-

President Barack Obama speaks in the White House briefing room on the Supreme Court decision on immigration.

times contradictory mix of policies - some aimed at bringing immigrants ``out of the shadows,'' others at removing them from the U.S. He will be remembered for protecting 730,000 young people, a generation of so-called Dreamers, who were brought to the U.S. as

position, remains a legal pathway for the next president. And he will go down as a leader who consistently defended the importance of immigrants in American life, as anti-immigrant sentiment swelled up in parts of the U.S. and abroad. ``Immigration is not something to fear,'' Obama said last week.

``We don't have to wall ourselves off from those who may not look like us right now or pray like we do, or have a different last name.'' ``What makes us Americans,'' he proclaimed, ``is our shared commitment to an ideal that all of us are created equal, all of us have a chance to make of our lives what we will.'' But Obama also will be remembered as a president who prioritized other issues, missing perhaps the best chance to pass sweeping legislation and only reluctantly adjusting his strategy in the face of firm opposition. And his administration aggressively enforced current laws, deporting more than 2.4 million people. The total is nearly as many as his two predecessors combined. ``His strategy early on was to prove his enforcement bona fides,'' said Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, an immigration advocacy group, who once labeled Obama the ``deporter-in-chief.'' ``He was facing an unprecedented, highly personalized opposition from Congress,'' she said. Cont'd on Page 46

US places hurdles for asylum seekers SEATTLE: Lawyers representing four asylum seekers have filed a federal lawsuit claiming the U.S. government places hurdles in front of people who try to file asylum applications. The Department of Homeland Security fails to notify asylum seekers about a one-year deadline to apply, and then bureaucratic obstacles, court backlogs and disputes between agencies often makes it impossible for people to meet that deadline, according to the complaint in U.S. District Court in Seattle. The plaintiffs fled persecution in their countries and sought asylum, but their efforts were ``thwarted by a government process that is anything but fair; in-

deed, it conflicts with fundamental notions of due process: notice and the opportunity to be heard,'' the complaint said. The lawsuit asks the court to

Project. ``The government must make the rules clear, ensuring that those who qualify for asylum have a genuine opportunity to apply.''

But no one told him about the one-year deadline and now immigration officials have rejected his attempts to file his application, the complaint said. order Homeland Security to come up with a plan to fix the problems. It also seeks class-action status. ``Our Constitution and immigration laws require a fair process,'' said Matt Adams, Legal Director for Northwest Immigrant Rights

A spokesman with the Department of Justice did not immediately return a message seeking comment. One of the plaintiffs, Elmer Geovanni Rodriguez Escobar sought asylum from Honduras.

He entered the U.S. in July 2014 after he was threatened by gang members who murdered his nephew, shot at his home, and tried to kidnap his daughter from school. He established a credible fear of persecution during his interview with the federal agency and was released from custody. But no one told him about the one-year deadline and now immigration officials have rejected his attempts to file his application, the complaint said. The same thing happened with plaintiff Concely del Carmen Mendez Rojas, a 30-year-old asylum seeker from the Dominican Republic, the complaint said. Cont'd on Page 46

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Court frees immigrant kids, not parents SAN FRANCISCO: A federal appeals court has ruled that Homeland Security officials must quickly release immigrant children - but not their parents - from family detention centers after being picked up crossing the border without documentation. The San Francisco-based 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said that lengthy detentions of migrant children violated a 19-year-old legal settlement ordering their quick release after processing. Government lawyers had argued that the settlement covered only immigrant children who crossed the border unaccompanied by adult relatives. But the three-judge panel ruled that immigration officials aren't required to release the parents detained along with the children, reversing U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee's ruling last year. Advocates seeking stricter immigration controls said they hoped the ruling would discourage adults crossing the border illegally from exploiting children as a way to stay out of custody in

the United States. Mark Krikorian, Center for Immigration Studies executive director and an advocate for stricter border controls, said allowing the parents to be released may have encouraged illegal immigration of adults traveling with children. ``It makes using children way less attractive,'' he said of the most recent ruling. The Department of Homeland reported that more than 23,000 families have been apprehended in the first five months of the year compared to about 13,400 in 2015 and around 30,600 in 2014. Most are from Honduras, El Salvador or Guatemala. Melissa Crow, legal director of the American Immigration Council, said she was ``somewhat disappointed'' with the ruling because the goal of the litigation was to shield the children from unfair and inhumane treatment. Separating children and parents still treats the children unfairly. ``The court misses the point,'' Crow said.

Since Gee's ruling, immigration officials have released hundreds of families and have been holding newly arriving families for only short durations. Following that earlier ruling, the number of immigrant families has again been on the rise. At issue are two detention

have petitioned for asylum after fleeing gang and domestic violence back home. A Homeland Security official told a group of immigration advocates in September 2014 that the jails were opened in part because roughly 70 percent of immigrant families released after

Career law enforcement officials within DHS have long recommended detaining parents if their children must be released to ensure that the adults can be quickly deported, according to a U.S. official centers in Texas that were built after a flood of immigrants in summer 2014 overwhelmed border authorities. The government poured millions of dollars into the two large detention centers after tens of thousands of immigrant families, mostly mothers with children from Central America, crossed the Rio Grande into the U.S. that year. Many

being caught at the border didn't report to immigration authorities as ordered. Critics of the jails complained that they were not suited for children and later went to federal court to argue that the government was violating a decades old agreement about how immigrant children would be treated. If the government decides to

start detaining parents after releasing their children, the children would be treated as unaccompanied minors. That means they would be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services and placed either with relatives or possibly a foster family in the United States while they wait for DHS or a judge to decide if they will be allowed to stay in the United States. Career law enforcement officials within DHS have long recommended detaining parents if their children must be released to ensure that the adults can be quickly deported, according to a U.S. official briefed on those recommendations. The official said that detaining parents would also likely serve as deterrent to other people considering crossing the border illegally with their children. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to disclose internal government discussions.-AP

Senate blocks 2 bills on immigration WASHINGTON: The Senate, in an election-year standoff over immigration, has blocked two measures stemming from last year's deadly San Francisco shooting involving an immigrant living in the U.S. illegally. Absent sweeping changes to the nation's immigration system, the first measure would have barred federal funds from sanctuary cities, jurisdictions that resist turning over immigrants to federal authorities. The second measure would have increased the maximum sentence for illegal re-entry into the country, with up

to a 10-year penalty for an individual denied admission or deported at least three times. Congressional Republicans

The man charged in her death, Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, was in the country illegally despite a long criminal record and

``Sanctuary cities are Orwellian in their logic - they give extra protection to dangerous criminals, just because they happen to be in the country illegally,'' the senator said after the vote. have pressed for restrictions since the July 2015 shooting of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco.

multiple deportations. He had been released by San Francisco authorities despite a request from

Tanzanian held with narcotics worth Rs 10 lakh NEW DELHI: A Tanzanian national was held at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here for allegedly trying to smuggle out narcotics worth Rs 10 lakh in international market. Officials said the incident was reported at about 1:00 pm when CISF personnel detected the suspicious movements of the person identified as K Risasi Ahmad who arrived at the airport to take a flight to Dar es Salaam. He was asked to go for a detailed checking by the sleuths.

They said Ahmad, in the meantime, allegedly dumped his bag containing the narcotic between two pillars at the airport terminal and after he got a green signal at the detailed frisking, he proceeded for immigration. Subsequently, the same Central Industrial Security Force jawan who had picked Ahmad saw the dumped bag and after CCTV checks, sleuths apprehended him from the immigration queue. Ahmad, a Tanzanian national

on business visa to India, had put on a pullover to "avoid detection", they said. "He was intercepted and was asked to open the locked bag which he had dumped sensing strong security checks. The 10 kg drug, identified as pseudoephedrine by antinarcotics sleuths, was seized from the bag," they said. Ahmad was later arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau and it is estimated the drug was worth Rs 10 lakh, they added.-PTI

federal immigration authorities to keep him detained. Each Senate measure faced a 60-vote threshold. The first measure fell short, 53-44. The second measure failed on a 55-42 vote. The Obama administration strongly opposed both bills, arguing that neither offered ``comprehensive reforms needed to fix the nation's broken immigration laws.'' The Senate passed a major immigration overhaul in 2013, but the legislation died in the House as conservatives strongly opposed any path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living here illegally. The bill also would have boosted border security and increased visas for legal immigrants.

The sanctuary city bill was sponsored by Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, who is locked in a tough re-election race in Pennsylvania. ``Sanctuary cities are Orwellian in their logic - they give extra protection to dangerous criminals, just because they happen to be in the country illegally,'' the senator said after the vote. The second measure was sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, RTexas, who waged an unsuccessful bid for president this year. ``We are failing to adequately deter deported illegal aliens from illegally re-entering the country, especially those with violent criminal records,'' Cruz said. -AP

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Obama Legacy: Immigration stands as most glaring failure Cont'd from Page 44

``We fault him, I believe correctly, for failing to recognize soon enough this intransigence by Congress and failing to use his authority sooner.'' Tallying two columns If evaluating Obama's record is a matter of tallying two columns in one, the number of people he protected from removal; in the other, the number deported - the Supreme Court went a long way toward tipping the ledger toward the latter. With its 4-4 tie, it thwarted Obama's last chance to shield up to 4 million people from deportation. The decision left in place an injunction freezing his 2014 executive action, which expanded his protection of Dreamers and temporarily protected some parents of people with legal status. The deadlock, resulting from a Republican blockade against Obama's Supreme Court nominee, left the constitutionality of the action unsettled. But it had a significant impact on Obama's legacy. ``If the Supreme Court had ruled in his favor, he'd probably be remembered as the person who helped to protect half of the undocumented population in the country, which probably would have been a turning point toward reform sooner rather than later,''

said Frank Sharry, founder of the immigration reform group America's Voice. Instead, he said Obama will be most remembered for his administration's ``record number of deportations.'' The White House rejects a bythe-numbers analysis. Work to modernize the border and bring new order to a chaotic deportation system isn't necessarily conveyed in the calculation, officials argue. The administration overhauled the role of local law enforcement. In 2014, the president declared the administration's limited resources would be focused on removing threats to national security and public safety and recent arrivals. Deportation has decreased since. Last year, the administration deported the fewest people since 2006. ``Devising that approach and implementing it has fundamentally changed the way laws are enforced and has had a real impact on communities,'' said Cecilia Munoz, the president's chief adviser on immigration. ``That's a very, very big change. That's a large piece of the legacy.'' It is a piece of the legacy that remains controversial. Prioritizing recent arrivals inevitably means targeting some of the women and children who have been fleeing violence in Central America. A series of Christmastime raids last year revived complaints about the

policy from Democrats and immigrant advocates. The White House has shown no sign of backing down. Different course? Could Obama have charted a different course on immigration? Entering office during an economic crisis, Obama focused on stimulating growth and reforming the financial sector. Then there was his massive health care legis-

Allies cast Obama's about-face as a gamechanger. Future presidents almost certainly will try to flex similar authority to work around gridlock on Capitol Hill. Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has promised to go further than Obama. lation. Along the way, he broke a campaign promise to back overhaul legislation on immigration in his first year. It was 2011 before Obama endorsed a set of reform principles. By then, Democrats had lost control of the House and the best window for passing a bill had closed. With Latinos, a key political constituency, restless ahead of his re-election bid, Obama announced his first executive action to shield Dreamers in June 2012. He made a new law a top priority of his second term. Although the Senate passed legislation, the GOP-led

Danish police seize valuables from migrants COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Valuables have been seized from migrants for the first time since a controversial law went into force five months ago, Danish police said. National police spokesman Per Fiig says the two men and three women carried dollars and euros worth a total of about 129,600 kroner ($19,300). They were arrested at Copenhagen's airport for using forged passports. Fiig said the group, aged 2635, immediately sought asylum. ``Danish police are every day attentive to asylum-seekers and foreigners staying illegally who could have valuables that could help to finance the costs of their stay,'' Fiig said. ``Now police have found valuables that can be seized. Police seized 79,600 kroner ($11,860) as each person was allowed to keep 10,000 kroner ($1,490), Fiig said. Under the law, refugees and

other migrants must hand over valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner. It was intended to help cover migrants' housing and food costs while their cases are being

National police spokesman Per Fiig says the two men and three women carried dollars and euros worth a total of about 129,600 kroner ($19,300). processed, but also an attempt to reduce Denmark's appeal to migrants. Critics say the legislation that was presented by Denmark's center-right government and backed

House refused to vote on it. ``Republicans never gave him credit for the actions that were taken both in terms of security on the border and deportations that did occur,'' said Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican from Arizona who backed the Senate bill but opposed Obama's executive actions. ``It was a more robust program than Republicans ever gave him credit for. But no good deed goes unpunished in this political environment.

by a majority in Parliament is degrading and inhumane. ``In my opinion it is reasonable that you pay if you can take care of yourself when you seek asylum here,'' Denmark's immigration minister Inger Stoejberg said. She noted that Danes also have to sell valuables worth more than 10,000 kroner before they can receive any welfare benefits. The nation has also extended the period that family members must wait before joining a refugee in Denmark from one year to three. Some German states also take assets from refugees, in line with laws regulating Germans receiving social assistance, and Switzerland requires asylum-seekers to hand over cash of more than 1,000 francs ($996) for similar reasons. Denmark, a nation of 5.6 million people wedged between Germany and Sweden, received about 20,000 asylum-seekers last year, a small number compared with its neighbors.-AP

The narrative was kind of set and it was furthered by the actions that he took.'' After claiming he did not have the authority, Obama bowed to intense pressure from advocates and announced a second executive action in November 2014. He'd waited until after midterm elections, concerned he would damage prospects for senators in tough races. Democrats lost the Senate anyway and the move revived Republican charges of unconstitutional overreach. More than two dozen states eventually signed on to a court challenge that

froze the program. Still, allies cast Obama's aboutface as a game-changer. Future presidents almost certainly will try to flex similar authority to work around gridlock on Capitol Hill. Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has promised to go further than Obama. ``He has rewritten the playbook and added several pages to it on what the executive can and should do. There's a lot of room there,'' said Angela Kelley, an immigration expert at the Center for America Progress. ``Is that necessarily the best way? No. But it is legal, and it is smart and strategic.'' Whether the courts agree will help shape Obama's legacy. Resolution isn't likely until after he leaves office. Clinton would likely pick up where Obama left off in pushing to address the status of the millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. If Republican Donald Trump prevails, Obama's effort could end up as another painful, close-butnot-quite moment. Trump has proposed building a wall along the border with Mexico and barring Muslims from the U.S. ``The finish line has been in sight for a very, very long time,'' said Munoz, a veteran of legislative battles over immigration. ``It is only a matter of political will.'' AP

US places hurdles for asylum seekers Cont'd from Page 44

Lidia Margarita Lopez Orellana arrived from Guatemala at the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry with her two children in February,

The government has failed to implement a system that guarantees asylum seekers the chance to comply with immigration laws, and this failed system is violating their rights 2014. She told officials that she was afraid to return to Guatemala and she was released into the U.S. to await a removal hearing. But no one told her about the one-year

deadline for applying for asylum, the complaint said. Other asylum seekers across the country have faced dire consequences because they were not adequately informed about the process, the compliant said. And those who knew about the deadline were often trapped in a system that is choked with inefficiencies and backlogs, it said. The government has failed to implement a system that guarantees asylum seekers the chance to comply with immigration laws, and this failed system is violating their rights, the complaint said. ``The United States must continue to be a place of refuge for those fleeing harm in their home countries,'' said Hilary Han, a lawyer who represents the plaintiffs. ``The government has failed to honor our obligation to genuine asylum seekers by making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them to file their asylum applications in a timely manner.'' -AP

Datebook

July 15, 2016

NEW JERSEY Upcoming

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Sat, Jul 16

• Suhana Safar- A Musical Journey

• Sensational Heartthrobs

Venue: St. Demetrius Ukrainian Ctr, 591 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008 Time : 5:00 pm

Sat, Jul 23 • KSHAAM-E-GHAZAL Venue: Empire Meadowlands Secacus, 2 Harmon Plaza, Secaucus, NJ 07094 Contact: 732-900-4200

Sun, Aug 7 • IFMP Annual Summer Picnic Venue: Mercer County Park East, 1346 Edinburg Rd, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550 Time: 11:00 pm

Venue: Sun National Bank Center, 81 Hamilton Ave. at Rt. 129, Trenton, NJ 08611 Time : 08:00 pm

Sat, Jul 16

Fri, Jul 15 • Qawali Night With Tabriaz Aziz Mian Qawal Venue: Paradise Ballrooms, 4100 Peralta Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94536 Time: 7:00 am

• Not Fair - Special Indian Standup Comedy Night

Sat, July 16

Venue: Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019 Time : 6:30 pm Contact: 646-543-8127

Venue: Nara Ultra Lounge, 8055 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92111 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 510-870-4693

Sun, Aug 7 • IFMP Annual Summer Picnic Venue: Mercer County Park East, 1346 Edinburg Rd, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550 Time : 11:00 am

• Bollywood Fever San Diego

India Post 47

CHICAGO

Upcoming Fri, July 15 • Qawali Night With Tabriaz Aziz Mian Qawal Venue: Paradise Ballrooms, 4100 Peralta Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94536 Time: 07:00 pm

Sun, Jul 17 • Sunidhi Chauhan and Ayushmann Khurrana Live In Bay Area Venue: City National Civic, 135 W San

Fri, Jul 29

Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113

• Whats Done is Done

Time: 06:30 pm

Venue: Valencia High School Auditorium, 512 Bradford Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870 Time: 07:30 pm

Sat, Jul 30 • Natyanjali School of Dance Presents Sri Ram Venue: Clarke Theater, 1100 North Grand Avenue, Walnut, CA 91789 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 626-322-7092

Fri, Aug 12 • Roaring with DJ - Akbar Sami from Bollywood in Hollywood!! Venue: Project Club LA, 6356 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Time: 10:00 pm

Sat, Aug 20 • Dream Team Star Show - The BIGGEST STAR Venue: The Forum, 3900 West Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood, CA 90305 Time: 07:30 pm

ATLANTA Upcoming Sat, July 23 • Bollywood Monster Family Day and Finale Venue: Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive, MISSISSAUGA, ON L5B 2G6 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 9054560422

Sat, Jul 23 • Desi Dance Convention (DDCON) Venue: Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center, 800 Spring Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30308 Time: 8:00 am

Mon, July 25 • World renowed spiritual leader visit to Houston Venue: Stafford Civic Center, 1415 Constitution Ave, Stafford, TX 77477 Time: 6:30 pm

ILLINOIS Upcoming 1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Swami Ishatmananda • Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662

• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822

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July 15, 2016

Philosophy

July 15, 2016

India Post 49

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ur Lord saith that the Kingdom of God is near us. Yea, the Kingdom of God is within us as St Paul saith "our salvation is nearer than when we believed." Now we should know in what manner the Kingdom of God is near us. Therefore let us pay diligent attention to the meaning of the words. If I were a king, and did not know it, I should not really be a king. But, if I were fully convinced that I was a king, and all mankind coincided in my belief, and I knew that they shared my conviction, I should indeed be a king, and all the wealth of the king would be mine. But, if one of these three conditions were lacking, I should not really be a king. In similar fashion our salvation depends upon our knowing and recognizing the Chief Good which is God Himself. I have a capacity in my soul for taking in God entirely. I am as sure as I live that nothing is so near to me as God. God is nearer to me than I am to myself; my existence depends on the nearness and presence of God. He is also near things of wood and stone, but they know it not. If a piece of wood became as aware of the nearness of God as an archangel is, the piece of wood would DR PETER FENNER

hen faced with a situation or problem, one possible action-or nonaction-is not to interfere with whatever is happening. We don't become involved. We allow things to be as they are and keep seeing what happens. How is noninterference useful? When we resist what is happening, we suffer. Instead, when we give up the struggle against what is happening, we're immediately free and complete. We've liberated ourselves from the prison of our own ideals. We've just stopped interfering with our experience. We're doing nothing-simply letting our experience be, exactly as it is. Noninterference is a defining theme of nondual approaches like Dzogchen and Taoism. Dzogchen offers the way of letting things be as they are, since this is how they are anyway. It's sort of crazy to want things to be different. It's easy to assume that when something is wrong, we need to "do" something about it: we may need to do some clearing, or deep processing, and simply talk things through with someone! Nondual inquiry doesn't assume that we are complete or incomplete. It's a respectful offering, when you think about it, to allow people to be exactly as they are without imposing

be as happy as an archangel. For this reason man is happier than the inanimate wood, because he knows and understands how God is near him. His happiness increases and diminishes in proportion to the increase and diminution in his knowledge of this. His happiness does not arise from this that God is near him, and in him, and that He possesses God; but from this, that he knows the nearness of God, and loves Him, and is aware that "the King-

ation, but they are not God's Kingdom. In whichever soul God's Kingdom appeareth, and which knoweth God's Kingdom, that soul needeth no human preaching or instruction; it is taught from within and assured of eternal life. Whoever knows and recognizes how near God's Kingdom is to him may say with Jacob, "God is in this place, and I knew it not." God is equally near in all creatures. The wise man saith, "God

Him together is best of all. To have a restful or peaceful life in God is good; to bear a life of pain in patience is better; but to have peace in the midst of pain is the best of all. A man may go into the field and say his prayer and be aware of God, or, he may be in Church and be aware of God; but, if he is more aware of Him because he is in a quiet place, that is his own deficiency and not due to God, Who is alike present in all things and

To fear and love God is best of all If I were a king, and did not know it, I should not really be a king. But, if I were fully convinced

This is the real secret of life - to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play. -Alan Watts

that I was a king, and all mankind coincided in my belief, and I knew that they shared my conMeister Eckhart

viction, I should indeed be a king

dom of God is near." So, when I think on God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God Himself with all His riches. God's Kingdom is no small thing: we may survey in imagination all the worlds of God's cre-

hath spread out His net over all creatures, so that whosoever wishes to discover Him may find and recognize Him in each one." Another saith, "He knows God rightly who recognizes Him alike in all things." To serve God with fear is good; to serve Him out of love is better; but to fear and love

places, and is willing to give Himself everywhere so far as lies in Him. He knows God rightly who knows Him everywhere. May God help us all to follow Him. Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) was a German theologian, philosopher and mystic

deficiency on them. Longchenpa, the great Dzogchen yogi says: "Don't condition your mind by [trying] to suppress your experience, apply an antidote, or mechanically transform it, but let your mind fall naturally into whatever [condition you find it]. This is the incontrovertible essence of what is ultimately meaningful." When we allow space around people's emotions and problems, just by letting things be or "doing nothing," we allow people to ex-

than watching like a hawk, we're naturally and serenely alert to the question, "Is there anything that seems to be missing?" When "nothing is missing," noninterference is often our natural response. Perhaps surprisingly, when "something is missing," noninterference is also a valid response. There are times when we can become aware that "something is missing"-someone seems incomplete-because we sense an expectation that we should be interven-

a concept, we make people aware that it is always a valid option for them to just allow things to be as they are. A time when it might seem useful to do this could be when someone raises a problem and we decide to "do something"-offer guidance. Here, we can also remind people that the practice of noninterference is allinclusive; that is, it includes all situations, thoughts, emotions, and it includes all states of consciousness.

I'm here to tell you that the path to peace is right there, when you want to get away. -Pema Chรถdrรถn

When you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it. -Eckhart Tolle

If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. That is very serious! -Thich Nhat Hanh

When we resist what is happening, we suffer

Practice is this life, and realization is this life, and this life is revealed right here and now. -Maezumi Roshi

"Don't condition your mind by [trying] to suppress your experience, apply an antidote, or mechanically transform it, but let your mind fall naturally into whatever [condition you find it].

If you want to change the world, start with the next person who comes to you in need. -B. D. Schiers

perience confusion or ambiguity. By allowing this ambiguity, we open up the opportunity for people to let their beliefs and emotions dissolve spontaneously. As facilitators of nondual work, one of our primary roles within the setting is to attune to whether or not people are complete. Rather

ing or providing an explanation. At times, our response will be to "do something." One of the many ways we can address the problem is to offer noninterference as a concept or theory and explain how people can use it to release their resistance to how things are. By offering noninterference as

Dr Peter Fenner

Excerpted from the book 'Natural Awakening - An Advanced Guide for Sharing Nondual Awareness.' Dr. Peter Fenners, a leader in the Western adaptation of Buddhist wisdom, has held teaching positions at universities in Australia and USA.

My experience is that the teachers we need most are the people we're living with right now. -Byron Katie

Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

Stephen Hillen, co-founder of Hike Doggie, hikes with Henry, a black lab, at Chautauqua Park. Hike Doggie, the new Golden-based dog hiking service, has expanded to Boulder.

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July 15, 2016

Kath Allen, co-founder of Hike Doggie, gives water to Henry and LuLu during a hike at Chautauqua Park

Co-founder Kath Allen feeds a treat to LuLu, a terrier mix, during a hike at Chautauqua Park

BOULDER, Colo.: Dog owners in just about any city in America can hire someone to walk their dogs. But only in a few special places can you hire someone to hike your dog. Fortunately, Boulder is one of those. Our notoriously canine-crazy city has a lot of people who ``love their dogs like their own kids and want to give them an awesome day

when they can,'' said Kath Allen, co-founder of Golden's Hike Doggie, which recently expanded service into Boulder. For Fido and Fluffy, an awesome day with one of the handful of local hiking companies goes something like this: They're picked up in a specially outfitted van, nestled safely in their own comfy, secure cage. A licensed and insured dog hiker drives to a dog-friendly trail, ideally one with lots of shade and

access to water. They hike for a few miles, sometimes in packs; sometimes solo. Some, like Hike Doggie, are onleash; others take advantage of Boulder County's off-leash open space program. But they all return half a day later to their parent's office or home, tired and happy. All at a cost of $30 to $65, depending on the company and the length of the excursion. One of the earliest to get into

the dog hiking game was Lyndsey Ballard, who founded Boulder Doggie Adventures in 2011, reported the Daily Camera (http:// bit.ly/29d13pF). Ballard, a systems engineer for Lockheed Martin and Boeing, started searching for a company to take her bulldog, Brittany, out on the trails while she was stuck behind her desk.

``There wasn't anything like that then,'' Ballard said. ``You could go on Craigslist but as far as a bonded, branded, insured professional who puts employees through canine CPR and first aid there was nothing. ``So I built it.'' Cont'd on Page 53

Co-founders Stephen Hillen and Kath Allen walk with Henry and LuLu during a hike at Chautauqua Park

July 15, 2016

India Post 51 www.indiapost.com

Jacqueline in girl power video India Post News Service

ying in with the 20th anni versary since the release of Spice Girls' Wannabe video, Project Everyone (founded by filmmaker, campaigner, SDG Advocate Richard Curtis) with their partners Getty Images and SAWA (the global cinema advertising association), have released a remake of the video called #WhatIReallyReallyWant The film is directed by the supremely talented director MJ Delaney features artists from India (including Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez!), Nigeria (Seyi Shay), South Africa (Gigi Lamayne, Moneoa), UK (music group M.O), USA (Larsen Thompson) and Canada (Taylor Hatala). Jacqueline Fernandez opens the

film - she is one of the Spice Girls for the India section! The film reflects the voices of girls and women all over the world

lives. These include issues like quality education, an end to violence, an end to child marriage and equal pay for equal work. People

telling world leaders what Goals they 'really really want' to be achieved to help improve their

will share a picture of #WhatIReallyReallyWant for girls and women and the visual re-

sponse from around the world will then be presented to world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September. Jacqueline Fernandez says: 'Gender discrimination has to stop and the global community has to start putting girls first. We need to create a community where girls feel strong, safe and supported and have equal access to education, technology, health and sanitationâ&#x20AC;Ś.The world needs a dose of girl power and that's why I'm supporting the Global Goals campaign for girls and women.' Victoria Beckham says: 'I think this film is a wonderful idea. How fabulous it is that after 20 years, the legacy of the Spice Girls' - 'Girl Power' - is being used to encourage and empower a whole new generation.'

Project Everyone was devised by filmmaker and campaigner, Richard Curtis and founded by two women, Gail Gallie and Kate Garvey, to popularize the new Global Goals for Sustainable Development that were launched and agreed by 193 world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September 2015. These Global Goals are a mighty plan to end poverty, fix climate change and address inequalities over the next 15 years, but they will only succeed if they address the needs of the most marginalized first, particularly girls and women. This year, Project Everyone has convened the first Global Goals campaign for girls and women to fight for Goals which are famous, financed and focused on girls and women.

Shahrukh spills secret of happy marriage

his year Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan will com plete 25 years of blissful marriage and the couple has set a wonderful example of perfect couple to the world. They remained stuck to one another in rough phase of life and gathered happiness together. In the world of showbiz where relationship only takes a fraction of second to make and break, Shahrukh and Gauri have set an example for others.

Spilling the beans of a successful married life, Shahrukh says that his three children are the main mantra of their happy and blissful married life. "Gauri and my relationship has been geared entirely towards raising our children. That's what eventually happens. Parents become parents at one point and that changes it all. We have a badass 18-year-old, a dainty 16-year-old and then there's the 3-year-old little gangster. Our conversations,

our life together is through the prism of our children. They've been our focal point and have literally kept our world intact," Shah Rukh told a leading daily. The actor also mentioned that being a wife of an actor is not easy. He stated, "I'll tell you something - it's a little difficult to be a movie star's spouse. Our lives don't belong to our partners. They belong to the world. We're called public figures because we no longer have a private life the way

it's meant to. To be able to take that for so many years and be able to carve an identity and space for yourself is extremely difficult".

very large heart. To be a partner to a movie star means that you don't own them. And to continue to be like that without feeling belittled,

"And Gauri has been great in making a space for herself in which she is not identified as Shah Rukh Khan's wife. By not doubting, talking, or doing anything, she's made her own identity and that takes a

smaller or unimportant takes a lot," Shah Rukh added. Currently, King Kahn is working on Gauri Shinde's next project 'Dear Zindagi' opposite Alia Bhatt.

Freida Pinto youngest Indian in Academy

reida Pinto who is quite well recognized in the international movie circuit, is the youngest Indian to become the member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is the world's prominent movie-related organization. It also conducts the Oscars. Apart from Freida, several international stars have also been appointed member. Reportedly, this honor is to acknowledge the actress's work globally and also for the social work that Freida is involved in for the empowerment and education of the girl child. The actress who is obviously happy with this honor is apparently looking forward to the duties and responsibilities that come along with being a member of this organization.

This honor is to acknowledge the actress's work globally and also for the social work that Freida is involved in

52 India Post

July 15, 2016 www.indiapost.com

'Being sexy is not mere looks'

ohn Abraham, who was once voted as the 'Sexiest Actor in India', says that being sexy is not just about appearance but also about the way a person leads his life. "I think sexy is not just about your being as in the way you look, sexy is also about the

way you live your life...You do something good in life, that makes you look sexier," John says in an interview. The 'Dostana' star says that it feels "nice to be appreciated and it's nice to be voted as the sexiest actor". In the upcoming action film 'Dishoom', directed by Rohit Dhawan, John will be seen essaying a police officer named Kabir. He says that the alphabet 'D' and the name Kabir have both "worked" for him. "The alphabet 'D' definitely has been coincidental in my life with 'Dhoom', 'Dostana' and 'Dishoom'... In these three films, my name is Kabir and I think somewhere down the line, there has been a Kabir attached to

something that has worked for me... So I rate 'D' and Kabir highly," John said. John, who is also a film producer, believes a movie is "successful only if it is good and it's not successful if it doesn't connect with the audience." Having mostly featured in action films like 'Dhoom', 'Kaal', 'Force', 'Race 2', 'Shootout at Wadala' and 'Rocky Handsome', one wonders why John picks movies in the genre. Talking about it, he said: "Action is my favorite genre and I really enjoy it. Though I love comedy as well... So for me, an ideal genre would be action-comedy film." "I think 'Dishoom' has got the action in it with me (my character), it's got the comedy in it with Varun (Varun Dhawan's character) and me... I think it's a very special film on that front," he added. 'Dishoom' is slated to release on July 29.

'Bollywood dance a copy of Hollywood'

horeographer Terence Lewis feels Bollywood dance-based films lack originality and look like mere copies of their Hollywood counterparts. Terence says it is okay to look at the West for inspiration when it comes to technicalities, but aping their dance forms is not done. "Bollywood dance films

Kangana muse for Malhotra's bridal collection

enowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra has roped in actress Kangana Ranaut as the muse for his latest bridal collection. The ace designer who is a favorite with several Bollywood actresses, usually refrains from using a celebrity to front his campaigns, but for this season he has taken a different route. He has also switched to darker tones and edgier look for his latest collection. Speaking about why he picked Kangana for his campaign, Manish said, "For me Kangana is talented, beautiful, hardworking, confident, speaks her mind and has achieved so much and for me that is my bride." Manish took to his Instagram and shared pictures of the 'Queen' actress showcasing his creations. He described the look as 'modernday Maharani' and hashtagged the pictures #Vintagelook #Gorgeous #kangana #beautiful #timeless #style #EmbrodieryArt #Badlawork #handcrafted #lehanga #oldworldcharm #antique #jewels, in the caption. Kangana looks stylish and royal in Manish Malhotra outfits. The actress was stunning in blacks and deep reds, set against a gold, black and baroque backdrop of antiquities. Kangana is seen "depicting a

modern-day Maharani. The visual showcases the opulence that has always been synonymous with the label. In one image, Kangana is seen pairing a sherwani with vintage checks trousers to create a distinct look bridging the traditional with the contemporary. The second visual sees Kangana looking resplendent in a flowy, burgundy handcrafted lehenga," according to a statement. "With the new collection we revived a lot of old craft. The embroidery has taken us a lot of time to do. It's all the old work embroidery but the silhouettes are more modern and global," Manish said about his new collection. Manish also shared a picture of him posing with his muse.

Kangana's sister Rangoli too shared some behind-the-scenes pictures from the shoot. The designer will showcase the collection at the India Couture

Terence Lewis

look completely borrowed from Hollywood. Even the terminology 'Bollywood' sounds like a copy. We can look at the West for their brilliant technology in films, their production values, but why copy the dancing style?" Terence says. The 41-year-old choreographer hails the 1986 film 'Naache Mayuri' as a movie, which showed Indian dancing style while telling a great story. "Sometimes their (Hollywood's) script is bad but production value is great. In our case, both is bad. There is no originality in our dance films, there is no story of India and our dance

forms... Whatever I have seen, they have been typically copied from Hollywood." He is currently seen as a judge on the Indian version of American dance reality series 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Terence, who has choreographed for films like 'Lagaan' and 'Jhankaar Beats', says Bollywood films should incorporate various dance forms shown on reality shows. "Yes absolutely. But the thing is, the artists will need time to learn various dance forms while these kids have been doing it for years. Bollywood is very 'jugaadu' (in choreography), it runs on star power and nobody is evaluating you." "But in TV, you have to be correct, you are being judged and you can't fool. So that major difference is there." The choreographer is happy with the way the TV show has turned out and for that he credits the lack of "melodrama", which reality shows often succumb to. "Our main focus is only on dance and not drama. Sure there are jokes and fun but we don't focus on melodrama, or sell a poor guy's story. There is no space for emotional 'atyachaar' here and hence it is working. Dance is the only DNA of the show." According to Terence, today, contestants are exposed to various dance forms and that has improved their dancing style. "The quality of dancing has gone up tremendously. Now, nobody is just dependent on their 'guru', people are updated about various dance forms, they have exposure to the world and they have set a higher benchmark for themselves," he added. The show also features actress Madhuri Dixit and Bosco Martis as judges.

Amitabh's voice for Steven Spielberg film

Week 2016 beginning from July 20 to 24 at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi.

fter the last power-packed Os car nominated movie, Bridge of Spies, the visionary and celebrated filmmaker Steven Spielberg is back with fantasy adventure film The BFG. Well, the rumors indeed have been true. Big B has come on board to voice the good giant aka The BFG (The Big Friendly Giant) itself for the Hindi dubbed version, which is played by prominent actor Mark Rylance in the original version. He also admits that he'd love his grand-daughter Aaradhya

to see the film even though, growing up, he never befriended any mythical monsters. Gulshan Grover and Parineeti Chopra have already been roped in to dub for the same. While Gulshan lends his voice to the Bad giant- The Fleshlumpeater, Parineeti voices for the female protagonist of the film Sophie, played by a 12 year-old Ruby Barnhill. Reliance entertainment has a Pan India release for this friendly giant movie in 4 languages - English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

July 15, 2016

India Post 53 www.indiapost.com

Workout buffs hit up national landmarks

hen college rowing buddies Bojan Mandaric and Brogan Graham vowed to stay in shape post-graduation, they didn't want to shovel out hundreds to join a gym or even drop $20 for a yoga class. So they returned to one of their most grueling college workouts: the stairs at Harvard Stadium. Five years later, there are nearly 800 others running those steps with them at 6:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Their routine, known as the November Project, now has thousands of participants and free workout clubs in 20 cities, capitalizing on what's become a popular fitness trend, with other groups and individuals also gathering in iconic spots to get their sweat on. Sites include national monuments, historic landmarks and other public spaces around the country, ranging from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, to New York City's Gracie Mansion, the historic home where the mayor lives. The mountains of stairs and wide stone platforms at these sites are ideal for box jumps, step routines and tricep dips. Often the workouts must be held at dawn before the tourist crowds arrive with selfie sticks. But the scenic views these landmarks offer cannot be rivaled by looking out the window of a non-descript gym. ``It creates a sentimental way to connect with your city,'' said

Mandaric. ``There's a romantic component to it, you're working out, endorphins are flowing, you're meeting cool new people.'' In Pennsylvania, the hot spot is the Philadelphia Museum of Art's front steps - best known for the famous scene from the movie ``Rocky'' where Sylvester Stallone's character culminates

Some parks have imposed restrictions on fitness groups, requiring classes to be free or banning classes above a certain size. National Park Service officials say parks can play an important role in contributing to a healthy America and encourage their use for exercise, but many memorials and monuments have areas where

Members of the running group "November Project" run up and down the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington.

his morning jog and jumps triumphantly. CoreFitness' Lauren Krinis' 6 a.m. class draws about 45 people. ``It really is fun to watch people who think, `I could never run up and down the stairs,' who then go run it four or five times and do a full boot camp class or yoga session. It's probably one of the most motivating places you can work out,'' Krinis said.

jogging and group workouts are not allowed, in order to ``maintain a reflective and contemplative atmosphere.'' Still, the National Mall, home to the Lincoln Memorial, hosts International Yoga Day and the Marine Corps Marathon, and November Project groups work out at the Lincoln Memorial steps early Wednesday mornings. At the iconic Red Rocks

Hightech to make open schools smarter NEW DELHI: A startup company by two IIT grads which is engaged in imparting education using the open school platform is infusing Artificial Intelligence technology now to make its platform smarter. Last year, Ritesh Singh and Akshat Goel launched Eckovation - a unique open-school communication and social learning platform that allows teachers, parents and students to interact freely and effectively on mobile phones. The firm has taken initiatives across three major areas - forging new partnerships, extending the depth and reach of open school and continued technological innovation. "Most exciting for us, we continue to make our platform smarter by infusion of Artificial Intelligence technology," says

Singh, adding "we are continuously expanding the use of AI as it holds a lot of promise for the future of education technology". "We have collaborated with Ola cabs to extend the benefits of the open school platform to the drivers' families. We have also partnered with Collins India publishing house. They are using the platform for engaging teachers in their network. Most of these teachers have also enrolled themselves with the open school to

impart quality education," he told PTI. "Second, we are spreading open school, through a new campaign called 'I Teach India' (#ITeachIndia). It is designed to accelerate digital literacy at all levels by reaching out to the population in India and invite teachers' participation across regions to join the platform. "Third, we continue to iterate rapidly with our new technology and add new features, which can help teachers and students. This year, to prepare students for the admissions season, we have added features and plugins to help students make informed decisions... We have added new analytics tools, which empower the teachers with insights to help the students," he says. -PTI

Amphitheatre near Denver, Joe Hendricks' free workout on Saturday mornings had been drawing a few hundred people. But two years ago, he said, the city ordered groups with more than 20 people to limit sessions to Sunday only. Now, roughly 200 join him for a Sunday workout that includes everything from backward crawls up the bleachers to ``piggy back'' exercises where you carry your partner. Hendricks, 53, leads the workouts alongside several other fitness groups and soloists at the sandstone monoliths where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. ``It's a workout mecca really for Denver. It's just so energizing to have so many people around you and real motivating. People are high-fiving each other. Most people there are working out much harder than they would on their own,'' he said. Kim Wagler leads free boot camp classes and a walking club at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio, which has 108 steps. ``A lot of people are terrified to join a gym because they're afraid of feeling uncomfortable and that's a nice place where there's a wide vari-

ety of people there,'' Wagler said. ``You're not just going to show up and everyone is super fit and super lean.'' But some visitors have complained about runners and walkers at the monument. ``We do not want the grounds to be an outdoor gym. It is disrespectful to the president,'' McKinley site director Joyce Yut said in an email. On a recent Wednesday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, one of the nation's most popular tourist destinations, 39-year-old Mary Kusler was pushing her way through a vicious circuit of 17 times up the steps. ``It reminds you of the beauty of D.C., of the calmness before the craziness of the everyday life here in D.C.,'' said Kusler, who's been working out at the memorial for two years. ``The people are what you come back for. The stairs and the getting fit in the process is an added bonus.'' It's a sentiment that is echoed by other workout groups. Hendricks met his wife of five years at his Red Rocks boot camp. ``It's become almost like a social group,'' he said. ``This summer alone there are nine weddings happening of people that have met at my group.'' -AP

Hire doggie hikes Cont'd from Page 50

Now a full-time manager with 14 employees, over 100 clients and a new physical office in east Boulder, Ballard has never looked back at the corporate world she left. She's not the only one. Allen, too, left a cushy corporate job to stomp around in the woods with four-legged friends. According to Kimberly Burgan, head of the Dog Walking Academy at Dog Tec, more and more professionals are seeking a second career as canine trail pros. `Òur biggest audience these days is the career changer: attorneys, CPAs, the stay-at-home mom whose kids are now in school,'' Burgan said. Dog Tec is a consulting service for would-be pet entrepreneurs. With 22 locations in the U.S., it offers training and accreditation for everything from groomers to trainers. ``Dog walking as an industry is going through what dog training went through 25 years ago, when people started seeing it as, Òh, you're not just playing with dogs,''' Burgan explained. A life spent in dog services `ìs a true, viable career.''

Boulder's Sean Phillips has spent most of his career around canines. After dabbling in craft brewing, he started a dog grooming business in 1999, then a boarding business five years later that he and his wife, Jane, ran for 12 years. During a summer camping trip in 2014, the thought of becoming a professional dog hiker ``hit me out of the blue,'' Phillips said. ``Apparently it hit other people out of the blue, too.'' Timberline Canine has been up and running since the beginning of 2015, and Phillips has finally found his niche in the 6- to 8-mile hikes he takes his clients on. ``We're built to walk and run and move, so I'm finding my body is enjoying this a lot more than the grooming,'' he said. His furry clients are sharing in the benefits of a brisk mountain hike. ``They need exercise the same way people do,'' he said. ``Just taking the dog around the block a couple times - they're not out listening to the birds chirp and sniffing wildflowers and peeing on the side of the trail. ``That's what dogs love to do.''AP

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Radicalism in Bangladesh security threat for India

n 1 July, suspected Islamic State (IS) militants mounted an attack in Holey Artisan cafĂŠ in Gulshan, Dhaka. There are indications of Jamaat-e-Islami groups being involved in the alleged terror attack. The Bangladeshi security forces intervened and after a serious fight, 13 civilians were rescued. However, by that time, 9 Italians, 7 Japanese, 1 American and 1 Indian were brutally killed. Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) along with police commandos fought against the terrorists in what has been named Operation Thunderbolt. What is important at this stage is the way ahead for India. The IS is expected to create a launching pad in Bangladesh for terror attacks in India and Myanmar. They already have bases in Pakistan and Afghanistan. India being susceptible to such attacks on both its

smuggler, he had managed to smuggle guns and bullets for terrorists in the country. In April 2013, India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet after investigating the cattle smuggling case of a cadre of Hizbul Mujahideen (HuM). These individuals were also smuggling fake currency into India across the India-Bangladesh border. Third, Bangladeshi legislation is also a concern. Cattle smuggling is a crime in India but not in Bangladesh. If a smuggler from India illegally takes cattle into Bangladesh, he/she will be given the status of a cattle-trader. He/ she would just have to pay 500 Bangladeshi taka as customs charges for the trading of cattle across borders. Significantly in India, cow slaughter is banned in large parts of the country. Cattle is primarily used for cultivation. In

Cattle smuggling is a crime in India but not in Bangladesh. If a smuggler from India illegally takes cattle into Bangladesh, he/she will be given the status of a cattle-trader. He/she would just have to pay 500 Bangladeshi taka as customs charges for the trading of cattle across borders eastern and western flanks is an alarming scenario that merits discussion. Current Scenario For India, there is a huge course of action that needs execution. India shares a border with Bangladesh that stretches across 4,098 kilometers, passing through agricultural lands, forests, hilly areas and undulating surfaces, and it is facing a huge number of problems due to cross-border smuggling. First, cattle smuggling has been a contentious issue over the years. In 2010, 32 Bangladeshis were killed when they were prevented by the Border Security Force (BSF) officials from smuggling cattle across the border. 2012 onwards, after India met Bangladeshi officials to discuss the issue, the BSF has started using non-lethal weapons like pump-action guns. Second, in the guise of cattle smuggling, huge groups of Bangladeshis also smuggle fake currency. A member of Harkat-ulJihad al-Islami (HuJI) who was arrested in Uttar Pradesh in 2008 said that disguised as a cattle-

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SOUVIK CHATTERJI

Bangladesh, there is huge demand of cows for different purposes; for example, the leather and bone of slaughtered cattle are used in the leather and ceramics industry. Recommendations There are steps that can be taken at the India-Bangladesh border. First, watercraft, speed-boats and floating border outposts (BOP) should be deployed along the riverine segments of the IndiaBangladesh border. The water wing of the BSF can oversee the performances of these BOPs. Second, there should be surveillance across the JalangiGanges riverfront in the Murshidabad area of West Bengal and the adjoining area of Bangladesh. There are 17 illegal entry points here, called ghats. Like liquor vends, these ghats are auctioned and the ghatmaliks (owners of the ghats) set their own rates of commission for permitting illegal activity. Suprava Panchashila Mahila Udyog Samiti (SPMUS) did a study of 300 children involved in smuggling at six spots of the bor-

der, which included Jalangi, Sheikhpara, Sagarpara, Bhagwangola, Lalgola and Shamsherganj, in 2007. The study showed that children of 8 to 14 years frequently take cattle, rice and phensedyl (a cough syrup banned in India) across the border. This study also confirmed that young girls were involved in smuggling initially but later transitioned to the sex trade. Third, more observation posts should be deployed in the Petrapole Benapole Border. Integrated Check Posts (ICP) were inaugurated at the end of 2013. It is necessary that these check posts be equipped to act as dedicated cargo terminals and passenger terminals. Modern ICPs across states have weigh bridges, security and scanning equipment, currency exchange booths, internet facility, cargo processing buildings, cargo inspection sheds, warehouses and cold storage, health and quarantine facilities, clearing agents, banks, scanners, close circuit television, public address systems, isolation bay, parking, cafeteria, hotels and other public utilities. The ICPs that are going to be installed at the Petrapole Benapole border should have all these facilities. Additionally, surveillance equipment should be modernized. The BSF should work in close coordination with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to prevent inter-state smuggling. Another task that requires urgent attention is the fencing of un-fenced patches of land in the border areas. Nadia and Murshidabad are border districts of West Bengal. Lack of land for cultivation and extreme poverty sometimes drive the bulk of the population here towards smuggling activities. Whenever the rural population faces issues relating to land acquisition for a government project, their requirements should be studied. If the socio-economic causes of the problem are looked at closely, the task of the border officials and the Home Ministry of India can be addressed more comprehensively. Finally, madrassas in West Bengal, which get grants from the state government, should be monitored. If there is information on any of the madrassas acting as grooming grounds for IS terrorists, they should be banned. The writer is Assistant Professor, National Law University, Jodhpur

Douse the fire I

n a recent by-election, Mehbooba Mufti, the chief minister of Kashmir, won a resounding victory by a large margin even though the separatists had called for a poll boycott and the voter turnout was comparatively small. Her victory margin was bigger than that of her father, the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was the chief minister of the state till he passed away early this year. Her victory showed that the people endorsed her cooperative venture with the BJP for the development of the State. But people of the state also turned out in great numbers at the funeral of young Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. The violence and attacks on security forces camps and police stations during the funeral led to the deaths of nearly 30 civilians and the protests seem to be continuing with the separatist leaders fanning the fires. What is one to make of this situation? Is it now beyond the mend? The killing of this youth icon has infuriated a large section of Kashmiris. Wani was not a Pakistani intruder but a local youth. It was through the internet that he was inspiring the youth of Kashmir to militancy. Could the security forces have made efforts to capture him alive instead of eliminating him? The BJP government at the center has adopted a hardened muscular approach towards Kashmir dealing with it as a law and order problem. No talks have been initiated with the separatists or any other stakeholders. In fact the separatists attempt to meet the Pakistani High Commissioner in Delhi led to the breaking down of talks with Pakistan. Pakistan is now fully exploiting this situation in Kashmir with its beleaguered Prime minister issuing statements empathizing with the militants which sound quite in tune with those of terrorism inspirer Hafiz Saeed. Abandoning the political approach towards Kashmir has paid dearly. The BKJP government at the center believes in deploying the armed might of the Indian state to eliminate militancy and focus on development and good governance to win the hearts and minds of Kashmiris. This has proved counter productive. The ruling PDP and the opposition parties complain that that the center has been lethargic even in facilitating the implementation of the doable political promises in the coalition's common program. Whoever may want whatever, it will be possible to manage the situation if the Center keeps talking to the stakeholders, all of them, including the separatists to determine how the political aspirations of the people in J&K can be met without compromising India's security interests. The possibility of talking with Pakistan has also to be explored although the window for that initiative has narrowed of late with the beleaguered Nawaz Sharif forced to make common cause with the populist sections in view of diminishing of his stature due to the Panama papers leak. Another factor is that Bilawal Bhutto, the son of former PM Benazir Bhutto, has been lambasting the PM for his alleged "friendship" with Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister. This is designed to enrage the public against him. Finding himself cornered, Sharif is trying to behave hawkish towards India. This would make it more difficult to resume talks with India. The Center has also failed to make use of the disaffected leaders of Pakistani occupied Kashmir and those of Gilgit and Balitisatan which Pakistan has forcibly occupied and is engaged in suppressing their aspirations. Geneva based exiled Pak Occupied Kashmir leader Nasir Aziz Khan has suggested that Pakistan is exploiting the religious sentiment of Kashmiri youth and Burhan Wani was part of that proxy war. Burhan was issuing statements that he is going to attack law enforcement agencies - army and police - in Kashmir. As of now the Center and the State government must devise ways to control the situation. It is good that Home Minister Rajnath Singh has reached out to Opposition parties and sought their suggestions on addressing the problem.

July 15, 2016

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