The South Asian Times

e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.9 No. 47 March 25-31, 2017 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Trump campaigns ties to UK Parliament

Russia under FBI probe attacked by
President Trump threatens to leave
Obamacare in place if repeal bill fails
Washington: FBI Director James
Comey publicly confirmed that
Islamist terrorist
his agency was investigating pos
sible collusion between Russia
and the Donald Trump campaign
and whether any crimes were
committed during the 2016 US
elections.
"They wanted to hurt our
democracy, hurt her (Democrat
Hillary Clinton), help him
(Trump). I think all three we were
confident in at least as early as
December (2016)," Comey said on
Monday in a dramatic hearing FBI Director James Comey has confirmed investigation that Kremlin
tried to hurt Hillary and help Trump in US election
before the House Intelligence
Committee, CNN reported. Democratic servers and the it rebuke to President Trump, say
The investiagtion is part of a Clinton campaign. ing that he had "no information"
wider probe into the hacking of Comey also delivered an implic Continued on page 4

TERROR IN HEART OF LONDON

IT industry need not fret over
H-1B visas: Sushma Swaraj
New Delhi: External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj on
Thursday said there was no reason
to worry about the curbs on H1B
visas or the job security of Indian
IT professionals working in the US
for the time being as the Indian
government is in talks with the US
regarding this. "Currently there
are four bills in the US Congress
about curbs on H1B visas. We are
engaged (in a dialogue) with the
US at very high level regarding
this... We are making all efforts
(through diplomatic channels) to
ensure these bills are not passed,"
Sushma said in the Rajya Sabha.
"So there is no reason to worry
about it as of now," she added.
The Minister pointed out that
even before Donald Trump became
President, there had been a "flip
flop" in the H1B visa policy by the
US.
"In 1990 when H1B visas were
first introduced, the cap was
Continued on page 4
AS MANY SUSPECTS ARRESTED.
London: Police on Thursday iden
tified Khalid Masood as the man
who carried out the Westminster
attack, as the death toll rose to
five. Masood, 52, was born as
Adrian Elms in Kent and was shot
dead by police. He had not been
the subject of any current police
investigations, BBC reported.
Three women and five men were
arrested in London and
Birmingham on suspicion of
preparation of terrorist acts fol
lowing Wednesday's attack.
PC Keith Palmer, 48, Aysha
Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran,
54, were killed on Wednesday,
while a 75yearold man died on
Thursday evening.
The Islamic State group has said
it was behind the attack.
Continued on page 4

US LAWMAKERS URGE THE NEED TO STAND UP AGAINST HATE CRIMES

Washington: Amid a series of hate crimes
against religious and ethnic minorities,
including IndianAmericans, there is need
for these communities to be united and
speak up against such an increasing rheto
ric, several Democratic lawmakers and
human rights groups said on Thursday. We
have to step up against any incident of dis
crimination against the community or any
others community or religion. This is just
the starting point, Congressman Dr Ami
Bera said during a Congressional hearing.
Bera, the past coChair of Indian Caucus in
the US House, said that it is high time the
community rose up to this challenge. It
would be incumbent upon all of us, if we see
rise of Islamophobia or attack against the
Sikh community, we have to stand up, we
have to speak up, Bera said.
Addressing the Congressional hearing
organized by South Asian Americans
Leading Together (SAALT) in association
with several other rights bodies and advoca
cy groups, Congresswoman Judy Chu said
the communities should collectively push
back against the rising tide of hate crimes.
In recent weeks, three Indian men and one
Sikh were victims Continued on page 4
Rep Ami Bera speaking at a Congressional
briefing in Washington DC on Thursday on
rising hate crimes against religious and
ethnic minorities, including Indian
Americans, in the US. (Source: PTI)

OWN YOUR FUTURE

with a degree from SUNY Old Westbury
x More than 60 undergraduate and graduate degrees
x Small classes with exceptional faculty
x A student-centered approach to learning
x Conveniently located in Nassau County
Contact us at: (516) 876-3200 or www.oldwestbury.edu

US AFFAIRS 9 RELIGION 18 SCITECH 26 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30 excellence in journalism

TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 25-31, 2017
TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY March 25-31, 2017 3

Trump nominates Indian-American to top judicial post

Washington: An IndianAmerican legal lumi
nary has been nominated by President
Donald Trump to a key judicial position.
Amul Thapar, 47, who in 2007 became the
first South Asian Article III judge when he
was appointed as a US District Judge for the
Eastern District of Kentucky, is the first
IndianAmerican to the powerful 6th Circuit
Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from
Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan.
Thapar was among the 20 judges whose
names Trump had released during his presi
dential campaign as shortlisted candidates
for his Supreme Court nominees. Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell applauded
Trump for announcing his intent to nomi
nate Thapar to serve on the Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeals. Throughout his already
impressive career of public service, Amul has
shown an incredible intellect and an unshak
able dedication to the law, McConnell said.
He has earned the respect of his col
leagues, and I know that he will bring to the
Sixth Circuit the same wisdom, fairness, and
ability that he has shown on the District
Court. President Trump made an outstand
ing choice and I look forward to the Senates
confirmation of Judge Thapar, the Senate
Majority leader said in a statement. The
South Asian Bar Association of North
America (SABA), which is normally critical of
Trump, lauded the President for his intent.
Judge Thapar is a respected and thought
ful jurist who has long served as role model
for the South Asian and greater legal com
munity, said Vichal Kumar, SABA president.
Despite being among the youngest judges in
the federal judiciary, Judge Thapar quickly
established a reputation as a top legal schol
ar among his peers.
His nomination furthers SABAs mission of
ensuring a judiciary that reflects the diversi
ty of our country and we anticipate that his
eminent qualifications will earn him a swift Amul Thapar, 47, is being nominated for the
confirmation, Kumar said. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals

56% Americans
disapprove of GOP
Farewell to DCG Mohapatra reflected
healthcare plan: Poll
New York: The majority of American voters,
his popularity in community
56%, disapprove of the Republican health care
plan to replace Obamacare, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.
Only 17% of voters approve of the plan and
26% are undecided. The question "There is a
Republican health care plan to replace
Obamacare, known as the American Health Care
Act. Do you approve or disapprove of this
Republican health care plan?" did not go into
specifics of the plan.
"Replacing Obamacare will come with a price
for elected representatives who vote to scrap it,
say many Americans, who clearly feel their
health is in peril under the Republican alterna
tive," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the
poll. Most voters, 61%, also disapprove of the
way President Donald Trump is handling health
care. The President and Republican leaders are
With musical bands, the outgoing Deputy Consul General Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra was led into the grand hall of Royal Alberts
scrambling for a deal on landmark legislation to
Palace in Fords,NJ, for a farewell reception. (Left) Dr Mohapatra addressing the audience. (Photos: Ashok Ojha)
repeal and replace Obamacare. Republicans can't By Ashok Ojha/SATimes Replying to the felicitation bestowed The outgoing officer named a number
lose more than 21 members of their party and upon him, Dr. Mohapatra said, My first of organizations that partnered with
still pass the bill, since no Democrats are expect Edison (NJ): It was one of the most spec assignment after moving to New York him in improving the image of his office.
ed to support it. One out of every seven tacular farewell parties in living memo was to oversee the arrangement for the My relationship with the FIA helped me
Americans 14% believes they will lose their ry organized for an outgoing official of visit of Prime Minister Modi at the extend quick support to people in dis
health insurance under the Republicans' replace the Government of India. Madison Square Garden in September tress, he said highlighting the impor
ment plan. Led by bagpipers musicians of an Irish 2014. tance of a cordial relationship with the
And the plan doesn't enjoy majority support band and Indian drum players, Dr. The audience at the event had over local community.
among Republicans, with only 41% backing the Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, Deputy whelmingly responded to a suggestion One of the significant activities initi
bill. Nearly half of voters, or 46%, say they will Consul General of India in New York, by PM Modi about unpopularity of the ated by the Consulate was holding open
be less likely to vote for their US senator or rep was ushered by dozens of community Indian Consulate. I told myself how houses twice a month, which proved to
resentative if he or she votes to replace leaders into Royal Alberts Palace in important it was to work hard for be a successful initiative for solving
Obamacare with the Republican health care Fords, New Jersey for the farewell improvement of the image of my office. problems faced by the members of the
plan. Nearly one in five say they will be more reception organized by a host of social Dr. Mohapatra vowed to help each and Indian community, he said.
likely to vote for their lawmaker if he or she sup and cultural organizations based in the every complainant reaching his office A number of community leaders repre
ports the replacement plan. And 29% said they Tristate area. since then. He oversaw the overhauling senting AAPI, AIA, Maheshwari Samaj
vote won't matter. The felicitation and honor on Tuesday of procedures for issuing passports and and others spoke on the occasion.
Most men, 56%, disapprove of the plan as do proved his popularity in the community, visas to qualifying applicants. He trav Among them were Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Dr.
most women, also 56%. While more than half of as he was instrumental in initiating a elled frequently around the 10 US states Sanjay Gupta, Dr. Raj Bhayani, Jitendra
white voters disapprove of the plan, even more number of programs that bridged the under the jurisdiction of the Consulate Muchchal, Srinivas Gangani, Rahul
nonwhite voters 64% disapprove. Overall, gap between the Indian Consulate and General in New York in order to develop Walia, Malini Shah and HarshVardhan
58% of independent voters disapprove of the the community since he took over his close ties with the IndianAmerican com Singh. Andy Bhatia, president, FIA, con
replacement plan. job in New York. munity. ducted the event.
 4 March 25-31, 2017 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

UK Parliament attacked by grants, Sushma said that the US authorities

Islamist terrorist
Continued from page 1
Masood drove into pedestrians on
Westminster Bridge before crashing his car
into railings and then running into the
grounds of Parliament, armed with a knife.
He stabbed PC Palmer before being shot
dead, BBC added.
The Metropolitan Police said there had
been no prior intelligence about Masood's
intention to carry out an attack.
But he was known to the police and his
previous convictions included causing griev
INOC USA officials and supporters celebrated the news of Congress partys landslide ous bodily harm, possession of offensive
victory (77/117) under Capt. Amarinder Singh in the state election in Punjab. weapons and public order offences. He was
believed to have been living in the West
have given a list of 271 persons of Indian
origin who they have identified for deporta
tion. "We have asked for more details about
these 271 persons. Once we check their
antecedents and find they are actually Indian
citizens, we'll provide them travel documents
back to India so that they are not put behind
bars by US authorities," she said.
She said India will once again raise the
issue of totalization once "the jobs of Indian
IT professionals are ensured to be secure".
US lawmakers urge the need to
stand up against hate crimes
Continued from page 1
of hate crimes across the US, she said, alleg

INOC lauds Congress win in Punjab,
peeved by Yogi Adityanath as UP CM
New York: We are indeed shocked that
Yogi Adityanath, whose virulent public pro
nouncements often borders on contempt
for the minorities in India, is anointed by
the Narendra ModiAmit Shah combine as
the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said
Harbachan Singh, the SecretaryGeneral of
Indian National Overseas Congress, USA.
George Abraham, Chairman of the INOC,
added, It is a recipe for disaster for Uttar
Pradesh; however, it is part of a carefully
calibrated plan by the BJP to further sow
the seeds of polarization and conflict to
profit from especially looking at the upcom
ing Parliamentary election. The real face of
Warm reception to Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Secretary (CPV and OIA),
visiting New York, and sendoff to Manoj Kumar Mohapotra, Deputy Indian Consul
General in New York. Seen in the picture Prem Bhandari , Ravi Batra, Ranju Batra,
Dr Raj Bhayani, DCG Manoj Mohapotra, Amb. Mulay, and Jagdish Sewhani.
Midlands. Masood is believed to have lived at
various times in Rye, Crawley in West Sussex
and Eastbourne, in East Sussex. He also
appeared to have been convicted of a knife
crime in 2003 in Eastbourne.
the RSS will be on full display soon.
In its press release, INOC quoted a New
Trump campaigns ties to Russia
York Times report that Yogi Adityanath
under FBI probe
rose to prominence as part of the campaign
Continued from page 1
to rebuild the Ram temple, and has repeat
to support claims by the President that he
edly been charged with fanning religious
was wiretapped on the orders of predecessor
tensions. INOC has urges NRIs in America
Barack Obama.
to strongly express their disapproval of the
Meanwhile, President Trump has demand
selection of a Hindutva extremist to be the
ed that House Republicans vote on Friday on
leader of the most important state in India.
a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable
Opposing Trumpism in America while
Care Act, also known as Obamacare, a media
remaining silent on the fundamentalist
report said.
ascendance in India would tantamount to
According to the Office of Management
nothing less than duplicity, their statement
and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, Trump
added.
is prepared to leave the current healthcare
system established by former US President
Barack Obama in place if his bill does not
gain enough support in Congress, Efe news
reported on Thursday.
IT industry need not fret over H1B
visas: Sushma Swaraj
Continued from page 1
65,000. In 2000 it was raised to 1,95,000
for three years. In 2004 the number of these
visas was again reversed to 65,000 by the
US. So there has been a flipflop on this poli
cy even before Donald Trump government,"
she said.
The Minister also informed the house that
the visa facility extended to the spouses of
the Indian professionals has not been with
drawn by the US so far. On illegal immi
ing that President Donald Trump continued
with his preelection rhetoric that has wors
ened the atmosphere in the country.
Congressman Raul Grijalva from Arizona
said to single out and to victimize and demo
nize people because of their religion, country
of origin and skin color is unAmerican. We
have to be honest about the situation that we
are dealing with today. We cannot allow
racial identity and religion a dividing issue in
this country. We need to stand firm. We need
to defend the nation that we are part of, he
said. IndianAmerican Congressman Raja
Krishnamoorti called for a joint effort to
fight a common threat. We need to get to
the root cause of what is going on. We may
have come on different ships in the history
of our country but we are on the same the
boat now, he said.
The most important values are treating
each other with dignity with respect regard
less of race and religion and empathetic to
increased visibility, said Congressman Ro
Khanna from California.
As per a SAALT report Power, Pain,
Potential, which documents 207 incidents of
hate violence and xenophobic political rheto
ric aimed at South Asian, Muslim, Sikh,
Hindu, Middle Eastern, and Arab communi
ties, there is a 34 per cent increase in less
than a third of the time covered in its 2014
report.
SAALT stands ready to work with
Congressional leaders to fight hate violence
and xenophobic political rhetoric impacting
our communities nationwide, said Suman
Raghunathan, executive director of SAALT.
(Source: PTI)

Jaipur (India) Bureau IANS Newswire Services

Prakash Bhandari IANS Washington Bureau
Prakash@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Arun Kumar
arun.kumar@ians,in
Chairman and Co-Founder Associate Editors: Photographs: Gunjesh Desai/
Kamlesh C. Mehta Hiral Dholakia-Dave masalajunction.com. Printing: Five Star Printing, NY
Xitij Joshi/xitijphoto.com
Co-Founder: Saroosh Gull Contributing Editors: Meenakshi Iyer, Contacts
Nilima Madan, Melvin Durai, Photo Journalist: Sandeep Girhotra Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
President: Arjit Mehta Dr Prem Kumar Sharma, Ashok Vyas, Subscribe@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Dr Akshat Jain, Ashok Ojha Cartoonist: Mahendra Shah
Chief Operating Officer: Advertisements
Ginsmon P. Zacharia West Coast Correspondent Art and Design: Dhiraj Kumar Showaan Advertise@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
P: 516 776 7061 Pooja Jain, Vladimir Tomovski P : 516.390.7847, F : 516.465.1343
ginsmon@hotmail.com Pooja@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Bhagwati Creations,
Website:
Managing Editor: Parveen Chopra New Delhi Bureau www.TheSouthAsianTimes.info
P : 516.710.0508 Meenakshi Iyer Web Editor: Bharat Bhushan Chopra
Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info Delhi@TheSouthAsianTimes.info News Service: HT Media Ltd.
Printed Every Saturday by: Forsythe Media Group, LLC, ISSN 1941-9333, 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801 P: 516.390.7847
Website: TheSouthAsianTimes.info Updated Daily
Notice: The South Asian Times is published weekly by The Forsythe Media Group, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send all address notices, subscription orders/payments and other inquiries to The South Asian
Times, 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. Copyright and all other rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be reprinted without the consent of the publisher. The
views expressed on the opinion pages and in the letters to the editor pages are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of The South Asian Times. The editor/publisher does not warrant accuracy
and cannot be held responsible for the content of the advertisements placed in the publication and/or inaccurate claims, if any, made by the advertisers. Advertisements of business or facilities included in this
publication do not imply connection or endorsement of these businesses. All rights reserved.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY March 25-31, 2017 5

Amb. Mulay exhorts community to do

more for preserving Indian culture
By Ashok Ojha/SATimes
Edison, NJ: Ambassador Dnyaneshwar
Mulay, Secretary for Overseas Citizens of
India Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
appealed Indian Americans to do more
for promoting their native languages and
culture.
Mulay, who served as the Consul
General of India in New York until his
posting in the ministry in January 2016,
was addressing a gathering of the Indian
American community in Edison, New
Jersey, at a reception. There are 30 mil
lion people of Indian origin living outside
of India, out of which more than four mil
lion are settled in USA, most of whom are
prosperous, influent ial and huge ly
empowered. However, the global imprint
of this population is very weak, he
regretted.
The event hosted by TV Asia in Edison
was attended by a wide spectrum of
prominent community leaders and pro
fessionals, including Dr. Sudhir Parikh,
Rajiv Bhambri, Dr. Navin Mehta, Ramesh
Patel, and Dr. D. Noori, who all praised
the visiting dignitary as a friend of the
community.
They also spoke highly about H.R. Shah,
Chairman of TV Asia and Padma Shri
awardee this year.
Elaborating upon the decade old contri
bution made by the Indian community in
materializing the nuclear deal between
USA and India, Mulay moved on to
express his disappointment at the status
of Indian culture and languages that was
virtually absent from the mainstream in
USA. Why are there no Broadway shows
or performances at premier theaters like
the Lincoln Cent on Indian epics such as
the Mahabharata? he asked.
Continuing his passionate speech about
the importance of preserving heritage
culture in the adopted land, Mulay said,
We pass on our bank accounts to our
children, we should also pass on our her
itage to our children before we die.
If we lose our language, we would also
lose our soul. In order to retain our iden
tity, we must empower our children to
speak, write and read our language.
He underscored a number of steps
taken by the Government of India includ
ing the India Development Fund, which
he presided as an exof ficial. The fund
was chaired by the Minister of Foreign
Af fairs who worked as a custodian of
funds deposited by NRIs for the purpose
of development projects in their location
of choice.
You can transfer a certain amount of
money for completing a project of your Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay,
choice at a location of your choice and Secretary, (CPV & OCI), was accorded a
we will guarantee to utilize your entire warm welcome in Edison, NJ, during his
contribution for the project ensuring that visit to USA. Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das,
no part of the fund is deducted for any Consul General of India in New York also
other purpose, Mulay explained. attended the event. Photo by Ashok Ojha

Consul general sees burgeoning bilateral trade Community in shock:

Special to The South Asian Times
New York: Consul General Riva
Ganguly Das has expressed the
hope that trade between India and
the United States will increase
tremendously in the next three
years as the bilateral relationship is
growing in several areas.
Trade between our countries will
rise from the current $110 billion
to $500 billion by the end of the
present decade, she said last week
in her opening remarks to a panel
discussion organized at Baruch
College, af filiated to the City
University of New York. Aside from
Das, five panelists all executives
from major firms participated in
the discussion titled India: Startup
Nation or Mature Economy?
The consul general remarked that
India has progressed on many
fronts over the years and the gov
ernment is laying stress on differ
ent sectors. We now have to get
into the manufacturing sector, she
said, referring to the Make in India
initiative of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
Das highlighted the human
resources potential of the country,
saying that by 2022 India is expect
ed to have a 1.7 billion population
with a significant proportion of the
Consul General Riva Ganguly Das at Baruch College participating in the
event India: Startup Nation or Mature Economy
youth. Krishna Memani, chief
investment officer at Oppenheimer
Funds, strong ly criticized the
November demonetization by the
Modi government. It was a flawed
policy to begin with and badly
implemented, he opined. Its politi
cal impact is enormous, but its eco
nomic ef fect is a question mark.
T he executive pointed out that
many oldage citizens like her moth
erinlaw had to stand in line at
banks for no fault of theirs. He,
however, acknowledged that there
would be great potential for growth.
Cautioning the government against
vested interests, the chief invest
ment officer said such measures as
GST (goods and services tax) would
help the economy.
Indian teen arrested a year
after he strangled mother
Washington, DC: A 17yearold have been beaten before she was
IndianAmerican boy has been strangled, the report said, citing
arrested in North Carolina in con the autopsy report.
nection with killing his mother. Uppalapati was a person of
Arnav Uppalapati was arrested interest in the case from the out
by Cary police on Friday after set, said Wake County District
more than a year for the death of Attorney Lorrin Freeman.
his 51yearold mother Nalini One te lling clue were early
Te llaprolu. Te llaprolu, who reports that indicated there were
worked at Duke Medical Center, no signs of a forced entry into the
Oppenheimer has invested $5 bil
was strangled on December 17, family's twostory, $ 450,000
lion in India and it is involved in,
2015 with a plastic bag over her home at the Upchurch Farms sub
what Memani described as, value
head. The incident has sent "shock division, Freeman said. "We're
creation.
waves" among the community. "It's shocked as a community. This was
Anupam Ghose, CEO of System
very devastating. There's never not something we expected to
Two Advisors, pointed out that the
been an incident where a son has hear. She focused all of her energy
country has a 5,000year history.
taken the life of his own biological on her kids," said Padma
Such an ancient country now has
mother. It really sends shock Tummala, a longtime friend of
more than $2 trillion modern econ
waves," Satish Garime lla, a Tellaprolu. "I still don't believe it.
omy, he added.
Morrisville town councilman of This is completely out of the blue,"
According to Nishchay Goel, man
Indian descent, was quoted as say said Vijay Javvadi, another family
aging director at Mousse Partners,
ing by the local 'T he friend. It wasn't clear how police
India is still a startup economy. It,
News&Observer'. finally broke the case or what
however, of fers a lot of growth
Uppalapati was 16 when he motive played a role. Police said in
opportunity, Goel said. Raj Tripathi,
reported coming home from a statement that Uppalapati would
national leader of India Business
school and finding his mother's be tried on a class B1 fe lony
Group at accounting & auditing
body in the garage with a plastic charge, which is punishable by a
group Grant Thornton, said language
bag over her head. Her feet were maximum sentence of life in
is an advantage with the country as
in the back seat of a car. She may prison without parole.
English is spoken everywhere.
 6 March 25-31, 2017 TRISTATE COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

IndianAmerican South Asian community leaders endorse

woman says she was democrat George Maragos
told to "get out"
Washington: A Sammamish resi
dent says she was driving in her
car in Issaquah when another driv
er got angry and started swearing
at her. When she rolled down her
window and told him to "calm
down," she said he continued
swearing at her and told her to "get
out."
Tarul Kode Tripathi is a pharma
cist, a mother of two and an Indian
American. Tripathi said she was
shocked and felt "a feeling of sad
ness we would have to encounter
that kind of hate in our neighbor
hood." She was upset by the en
counter, but wasn't sure a crime
had taken place. When she got
back to Sammamish, she saw a
couple of Sammamish police offi
cers along East Lake Sammamish
Parkway and stopped to talk to
them.
She said one of the officers, a
Caucasian woman, told her it is im
portant not to make such an inci
dent personal, that it could have
happened to anybody. Tripathi
didn't think so. She believes she
was told to "get out" because she is
not white. She was disappointed
with the officers' response and felt
Tarul Kode Tripathi
dismissed. She would like to see
more training and communication
for police officers. The Sam
mamish Police Department is
staffed with deputies from the
King County Sheriff's Office. Sgt.
Cindi West says Tripathi never told
the officers the man told her to
"get out" during the road rage inci
dent, and even if she had, Sgt. West
says that still wouldn't meet the re
quirements of malicious harass
ment or a hate crime. "Never did
she say he made comments about
her race or religion or anything
that would rise to the level of mali
cious harassment," said Sgt. West.
(News source: kiro7.com)
Mineola, NY: George Maragos,
candidate for Nassau County Ex
ecutive has received the enthusi
astic endorsement and support
from many South Asian commu
nity and business leaders for the
September Democratic primary.
George Maragos is the only
qualified candidate with proven
experience, unquestionable in
tegrity, independence, and knowl
edge of county government who
can bring about real change, low
er taxes, create good paying jobs,
and improve our public trans
portation, said Jose Jacobs, Sec
retary Indian American Chamber
of Commerce.
I am honored and humbled by
the confidence placed in me by so
George Maragos with community leaders
many local community leaders.
They understand the high cost of
corruption and the paytoplay
culture maintained by both party
bosses. They know that only a
candidate who is not beholden to
either Democratic or Republican
Party Boss can bring about
change and lower the unaf ford
able taxes, said George Maragos.
George was the first one to
speak with the Muslim communi
ty after Trumps travel ban was
enacted. I know he will stand up
to Trump and fight for us, said
Muslim American business owner
from, Syed Wasim of Valley
Stream.
Nassau countys high taxes are
hurting my family, and families
across the county who are strug
gling just to survive, said Ragini
Srivastava, resident of Manhasset
Hills. She continued George was
the only one who saw the shift in
the tax burden to the middle class
coming and warned the current
administration.
At the event over 30 small busi
ness owners, residents and com
munity leaders endorsed George
Maragos for Nassau County Exec
utive. We need a fighter to lead
Nassau County, someone like
George Maragos, who under
stands our struggle and answers
to the people, not the insiders and
special interests, said Indian
American Community Leader Jay
Singh

iCAN Awards Night rocks Chicago Raveena inaugurates PNG

Rolling Meadows, IL: iCAN Finale
Night was a dazzling affair as the
crmedelacrme of Chicagoland
added to the glamor quotient and
made it a memorable evening.
The scene at Meadows club was
nothing less than any film award
night. All the nominees and their
families were specially treated as
heroes for that evening.
The iCAN Awards Night was
launched in association with Star
Plus & Life OK, 2 of the leading
TV channels along with 40+ local
sponsors. The evening celebrated
the achievements of real commu
nity heroes with much fanfare
and spirit. The show saw some of
the most prolific personalities
from Chicagos Indian American
political, social, business and en
tertainment community walk in
along with 200 plus award nomi
nees. Amidst fabulous perform
Satnam Singh Aulakh received lifetime achievement award for
Outstanding Humanitarian Service from Bhavesh Patel.
ances, entertainment and glam
our, iCAN honored the contribu
tions of these community heroes
by giving away its 1st iCAN tro
phies to the most deserving social
workers, community leaders, and
performers across various cate
gories.
With about 700 nominations in
various categories and over
100,000 votes, the event had all
the trappings of the world famous
Academy Awards. The electrify
ing performance of 150 artists
was an icing on the cake. The
presence of the 40 generous
sponsors was a great morale
booster for all those who were as
sociated with the conceptualiza
tion and execution of the whole
event. Mrs. Neeta Bhushan, Con
sul General of India in Chicago,
who was the Chief Guest at the
event, had great appreciation for
the high profile event which, she
said, reminded her of the Oscars
Jewellers store in NJ
Iselin, NJ: PNG Jew
ellers, a 185 year old
legacy, further fortifies
its presence in the US by
launching its third store
here on 17th March.
The store was inaugu
rated by Bollywood diva
Raveena Tandon in the
presence of Mr. Saurabh
Gadgil CMD of PNG
and other dignitaries.
This 4000 sq. ft. spa
cious and elegant show
room located in the
heart of the city showcases exquisite Saurabh Gadgil stated, Our success in
pieces of Minakari, Jadau, Kundan, and US from our stores in Sunnyvale and Fre
the classic understated patent yellow mont is evident with the positive re
gold, diamond, contemporary and silver sponse we have received from our cus
jewelry for the Indian expatriate cus tomers, and we will repeat the same with
tomers. They even have products that our third store in New Jersey, which has
will cater to the international audience. a strong presence of Indian community.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY March 25-31, 2017 7

Chicago universities to sponsor entrepreneurs on H-1B visas

Washington, DC: Chicago Mayor Rahm
Emanue l has announced that ve
Chicagobased universities will launch the
Global EntrepreneurinResidence (EIR)
Program.
The universities Columbia College,
DePaul University, the Illinois Institute of
Technolog y, Loyola University and
Northwestern University will work with
the city of Chicago and sponsor between
10 to 20 visas for startup founders in
the rst year of the program, American
Bazaar online reported on Thursday.
"We want entrepreneurs to see Chicago
as a place where their ideas dreams their
companies can happen," Mayor Emanuel
said in a press conference on Wednesday.
"I believe this initiative ... is saying yes to
entrepreneurship, yes to diversity and
most importantly, yes to the future of the
city of Chicago."
The universities will sponsor entrepre
neurs based on their company's growth.
Early stage entrepreneurs w ill be
employed parttime for the university and
work separately on their companies, said
the report.
The established startups will get a
chance to make a home base at their
sponsor university and mentor its stu
dents.
T hese application would like ly be
exempt from an annual cap on H1B
visas, which restricts spots to 65,000,
with another 20,000 reserved for those
with Master's degrees or higher.
The universities will independently run
the admissions and reviews, although the
requirements and decisions would be
unique.
IndianAmerican Shradha Agarwal, the
cofounder of Chicagobased health infor
mation provider Outcome Health, also
shared her experience as an aspiring
immigrant entrepreneur during the news
conference.
"The rst year, I didn't get the visa ...
Fortunately, the second time around, I did
hit the lottery ... but it shouldn't be that
way. It shouldn't be held to such uncer
tainty," Agarwal said.
Massachusetts also launched a similar
program in 2014, rst at University of
Massachusetts' Boston and Lowell cam
puses, and more recently at Babson
College. (IANS)

IndianAmericans protest Kansas recognizes March 16 as

in front of White House
against rising hate crimes
Washington, DC: Indian
Americans, particularly Hindus
and Sikh, became victims of 'hate
crimes' in the US, the community
members said as they held an
awareness rally against hate
crimes in front of the W hite
House seeking President Donald
Trump's intervention in the mat
ter. "Hindus have been recently
af fected and victimized (in the
US) as a result of Islamophobia. It
does af fect our community as
we ll," Vind hya Adapa, 27, a
Virginiabased corporate lawyer,
told PTI outside the White House.
Adapa along with a few dozen
IndianAmericans representing
various IndianAmerican groups
from in and around the Greater
Washington Area held a peaceful
demonstration in view of the
recent surge in hate crimes
against the community.
"We are here today to raise
awareness against hate crimes
particularly against people of
Indian origin. This is not neces
sarily a protest against the Trump
Administration. We are here to
seek bipartisan support against
the hate crimes that has been
IndianAmerican Appreciation Day
Washington, DC: The state of Kansas
has recognized March 16 as 'Indian
American Appreciation Day' to honor
an Indian techie who was killed last
month in a raciallymotivated hate
crime.
Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed
when 51yearold US Navy veteran
Adam Purinton opened re at him
and his friend Alok Madasani at a
bar in Olathe on February 22 before Kansas Governor Sam Brownback said, "The unique contribution of
yelling "get out of my country." Indian community has made Kansas a better place. We are very very
happening recently ag ainst thankful to them." (Image courtesy: indiatimes.in)
Madasani and American national Ian
IndianAmericans," Adapa said,
Grillot were injured in the attack.
urging the President to acknowl
edge and condemn what is hap
Asserting that the senseless act of Indian community to honor Ian Grillot
violence "will not divided or dene"
pening. Houston: IndianAmericans will honor a 24year
the state, Kansas Governor Sam
"A lot of Sikh people and Hindu old American who was injured while trying to
Brownback said, "The unique contri
people are mistaken for being intervene during a raciallymotivated shooting in
bution of Indian community has
Muslim, for being Middle east Kansas that left an Indian techie dead and anoth
made Kansas a better place. We are
ern," she said, adding that the way er injured. Ian Grillot was injured when he tried
very very thankful to them."
to tackle that is to spread aware to intervene in the shooting by a Navy veteran
"These actions can never overshad
ness about these dif ferent com targeting Indians at a bar in Olathe, Kansas last
ow our shared values and believes,
munities. month. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed and his colleague Alok
the dignity of mankind...We will con
In a petition memorandum sub Madasani was critically injured in the shooting. Grillot will be honored
tinue to welcome and support the
mitted to President Trump, the as 'A True American Hero', at the 14th annual gala of India House
Indian community in the State of
recently established Coalition of Houston here on March 25. "Without all the prayers and positive sup
Kansas," Brownback said at an event
Indian American organizations of port from everybody, I wouldn't be doing as well as I am right now. It's
in Topeka, the State Capital.
the USA, which organized the been a blessing to be alive. I am looking forward to attend India House
Madasani and Grillot also attended
event, urged him to intervene in Gala event on March 25, in Houston, TX. You guys are wonderful and I
the event to commemorate the life of
the matter and take steps to pun thank you all for such a support," Grillot said. The annual Gala is the
Kuchibhotla.
ish the culprits under federal hate main fundraising event of the India House, with all proceeds going to
Brownback publicly apologized for
crimes law. the daytoday community programs and expansion of India House.
the loss of life and injury to
"We really want to appreciate
Madasani. "I'd like to thank Ian tion today, I am declaring Indian "Moving forward, Kansas remain
what President Trump said con
Grillot for his heroic efforts to inter American Day in the State of committed to standing with the
doning hate and violence. As a
vene, and I wish Alok and Ian both a Kansas," the Governor said. Indian community. We will always
proud Republican, a proud
speedy recovery," he said at the "This is a deplorable act that hap reject the acts of violence and harm.
American, I want to support my
event during which he issued a pened, we will not let it dene us as We reject hatred in all its forms," he
community members in raising
proclamation to recognize March 16 people," he said. "Srinivas, embodied said. Brownback said Kansas is com
awareness and bringing attention
as the 'Indian American Appreciation what it means to be a Kansan," mitted to protect all its neighbors
to the crimes or ignorance of a lot
Day'. Brownback said, adding that his is a and its guests.
of people who are attacking
"We nd peace in the Sanskrit similar story of tens of thousands of In his brief remarks, Madasani said
Indian Americans and other
mantra Satyamev Jayate or truth Indian Americans who have called the proclamation is an honor that
minorities," Ahluwalia said. (PTI)
alone triumphs. With this proclama Kansas home over the generations. Kuchibhotla would be proud of.
 8 March 25-31, 2017 NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Tulsi Gabbard elected cochair of the

Congressional India Caucus
Washington, DC: Tulsi Gabbard, the rst
Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress,
e lected as the cochair of the
Cong ressional Caucus on India and
IndianAmericans, has vowed to work for
furthering IndoUS relations.
The level of engagement seen in both
the House and Senate on issues related to
India and America's partnership and
friendship "only continues to grow,"
Gabbard said after it was formally
announced that she has been elected as
the new cochair of the House India
Caucus.
Gabbard, 35, the rst ever Hindu elect
ed to the US House of Representative in
2013 is the threeterm Demo crat ic
Congresswoman from Hawaii.
Having made a mark for herself at the
national scene both inside and outside the
Congress on key foreign policy and
national security issues, Gabbard is the
rst ever woman to be elected as cochair
of the House Congressional Caucus on
India.
Congressman George Holding from
North Carolina is the Republican cochair
to one of the largest country specic
caucus in the House of Representatives.
She succeeds her Democratic congres
sional colleague IndianAmerican Dr Ami
Bera. "Congressman Holding and I are
working together on what is the legisla
tive strategy for building an agenda for
the caucus to move forward in the 115th
Congress," Gabbard told a selected gath
ering of inuential IndianAmericans and
key lawmakers at a round table at the US
Capitol organized jointly by USIndia
Friendship Council and US India Business
Council.
Noting that there is growing momen
tum, interest and excitement around India
US relationship, Gabbard said there is
really unity in the issues of cooperation
and opportunity between the two coun
tries. "We have to capture this moment
and really take advantage of the contin
ued interest, not taking this for granted
and be vigil and in doing so," she said.
"We are off to a great start in the cur
rent administration. Some of the brightest
time for US India relationship is for now
and in the future," Holding said.

Sandeep Mathrani IndianAmerican to lead

listed fourth overpaid PWE Department in Houston
Houston: Indian "We can't sit there as

CEO in US: Report American eng ineer

Karun Sreerama has
been named to head
engineers and plan things
and then give it to them.
We need to talk to them,
Houston: An Indian chie f execut ive in the
Houston's Department of ask them what their ideas
American chief executive country. Mr Moonves
Public Works and are. I'll never start an
of a Chicagobased prop earned compensat ion
Engineering by the city's answer with, 'You don't
erty rm has been worth $56.7 million in
Mayor Sylvester Turner. understand.' We are a
ranked fourth on a list of 2016.
53yearold Sreerama, service organization," he
top 25 overpaid bosses Marc Beniof f of
a consistent local politi added.
in the US, according to a Salesforce ranks second
cal donor, would replace Sreerama said he plans
new report. Sandeep on the list with a total
retiring director Dale to meet with all Public
Mathrani, chief executive compensation of $33.4
Rudick as chie f of Works staf f about his
of General Growth million. Discovery Karun Sreerama
Houston's $2 billion and vision for the department
Properties, has been list Communication's David (image courtesy: angellist)
4,000plusemployee as part of a broader, com
ed fourth on the list of Zaslav comes in third
operation. If conrmed by council, the municationsdriven plan for his rst 100
top 25 overpaid CEOs in with a compensation of
Hyderabad native would start work on days.
America, according to Sandeep Mathrani $32.4 million.
April 3 and would also become Houston's "Karun has developed an impressive
the report from the non Not only are many of the
rst Asian department director in the 100day transition plan," Mayor Turner
prot 'As You Sow'. The nonprot organi CEOs on the list overpaid, but the report
process. said, adding that he will be able to build
zation promotes environmental and social argues that their companies underper
Sreerama is a highly respected engineer upon the excellent progress made during
corporate responsibility and takes a close formed on the S&P 500 last year, so they
with 28 years of experience managing Dale Rudick's tenure.
look at CEO pay. may also be a drag on shareholder
multimillion dollar capital projects across Sreerama holds a bachelor's degree in
Mathrani, with a total compensation of returns.
the US and abroad. He is a registered pro civil engineering from Osmania University
$39.2 million in 2016, is overpaid by $26 Mathrani joined General Growth
fessional engineer and holds a doctorate in and a master's in earthquake engineering
million, according to the report. Properties as the company was emerging
civil engineering as well as a Master's for the University of Roorkee. He received
Using a regression analysis that ties from bankruptcy in 2010 and refocused
degree in business administration. another master's degree in engineering
CEO pay to performance and other indica the mall owner to highend shopping cen
Sreerama said the organization for from Cambridge University.
tors such as the portion of pay that is ters.
decades viewed as rigid and allergic to After moving to the US, Sreerama earned
offered in options and returns on corpo His name has been mentioned several
feedback must improve its outreach and his PhD in civil engineering from the
rate capital, 'As You Sow' has determined times as a potential candidate for a posi
develop a "servant" mentality. University of MissouriRolla, followed by
which CEOs are paid above and beyond tion in the Donald Trump administration.
"We can be more inclusive of the people an MBA from the University of Texas at
their performance. The company operates approximately
who are actually going to use Public Austin.
So the gap between CEO's performance 126 retail propert ies in 40 states.
Works' products and treat them as cus Sreerama comes to the city from ESPA
to his pay is the criteria for the rankings. Headquartered in Chicago, General
tomers, treat them as the people that we Corporation where he served as president
The report cites Leslie Moonves, chief Growth Properties Inc has 1,800 employ
work for," Sreerama said. and CEO. (PTI)
executive of CBS, as the most overpaid ees. (PTI)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Washington: The FBI has infor
mation that indicates President
Donald Trump's associates may
have communicated with sus
pected Russian operatives to
influence the November presi
dential polls, a media report
said.
T he Federal Bureau of
Investigation says the Russian
operatives may have possibly
coordinated the release of infor
mation damaging to Democrat
nominee Hillary Clinton's cam
paign, US officials told CNN.
T his is partly what FBI
Director James Comey was
referring to when he made a
bombshell announcement on
Monday before Congress that
the FBI is invest ig at ing the
Trump campaign's ties to Russia,
according to one source.
The FBI is now reviewing that
information, which includes
human intelligence, travel, busi
ness and phone records and
accounts of inperson meetings,
according to those US officials.
The information is raising the
suspicions of FBI counterintelli
gence investigators that the
coordination may have taken
Trump, House
Republicans working
on health care deal
Washington: President Donald
Trump and House Republicans
are still scrambling to reach a
deal on legislation to repeal and
replace the Af fordable Care Act
(ACA) or Obamacare ahead of a
vote on T hursday, the media
reported. House Speaker Paul
Ryan he ld a long meeting on
Wednesday night with moderate
Republicans.
During the meeting, Republican
Representative Charlie Dent, the
leader of a mo derate g roup,
slammed the bill spearheaded by
Ryan and Trump.
The vote count for the bill is t
As of Wednesday night, 24 House
Republicans have flatout said
they will vote against the bill
called the American Health Care
Act, while four more have indicat
ed they were likely to oppose it.
However, the Freedom Caucus a
conservative Republican faction
is sounding more optimistic than
ever after talking with Trump and
the party leaders.
Trump was personally calling
individual members of the
Freedom Caucus on Wednesday
evening as a possible deal
emerged.
Trump is not at all involved in
the details, a presidential aide
told CNN.
"Either (he) doesn't know, does
n't care or both," an aide told
CNN. But he is very involved in
the sale now, and "appears ener
'Trump associates may have
coordinated with Russians'
FBI Director James Comey (L) and National Security Agency Director
Mike Rogers speak during the House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence hearing on Russian actions during the 2016 election cam
paign, on March 20, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
place, though officials cautioned
that the information was not
conclusive and that the investi
gized by that".
On Monday, House Republicans
unveiled a set of changes to modi
fy the bill, as a last minute effort
to win more votes for the legisla
tion.
Many of the changes would
make addit ional revisions to
Medicaid a programme that has
provided coverage to more than
10 million people in 31 states
that was pushed by conservative
members.
Another alteration would imme
diate ly prevent states from
expanding Medicaid.
Trump and Ryan must get 216
Republicans on board and can
af ford only 21 defections, if no
Democrat joins them.
Trump has been meeting with
lawmakers at the White House to
press for votes, but shied away
from a public display of confi
dence.
Asked if he plans to keep trying
on health care if the House bill
fails, the President said: "We'll see
what happens", CNN reported.
Trump has warned of big losses
at the ballot box if Republicans
fail to repeal and replace
Obamacare, and the White House
insists there is no alternative leg
islation or plan if they fail.
"There is no Plan B. There's
Plan A and Plan A," said White
House press secretary Sean
Spicer.
"We're going to get this done"
US AFFAIRS
gation is ongoing, CNN reported
on Wednesday. In his statement
on Monday Comey said the FBI
GOP lawmaker: Trumps communications
may have been monitored
Washington: The chairman of the
House intelligence committee said
Wednesday that the communica
tions of Trump transition officials
possibly including President Donald
Trump himself may have been
monitored after the election as
part of an incidental collection.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol
Hill, Rep. Devin Nunes, RCalif., said
the intercepted communications do
not appear to be related to the ongo
ing FBI investigation into Trump
associates contacts with Russia. He
said he believes the intelligence col
lections were done legally. T he
White House said Nunes would brief
Trump on the matter later
Wednesday.
It was unclear whether Trumps
own communications were specifi
cally monitored. Nunes initially said
yes when asked if Trump was
among those swept up in the intelli
gence monitoring, but then said it
was only possible that the presi speaking to or about. When this
Starbucks to add 240,000 jobs worldwide by 2021
New York: US cof feehouse chain,
Starbucks has planned to hire
240,000 more people globally by
2021, including 68,000 jobs in
America, the media reported. The
company announced its plans for a
hiring spree at its annual sharehold
ers meeting on Wednesday, CNN
reported.
It marks the final shareholder
event that Howard Schultz will
attend as CEO before being
replaced by Kevin Johnson on April
3. Schultz will remain as executive
chairman. T he announcement
March 25-31, 2017
beg an looking into possible
coordination between Trump
campaign associates and sus
pected Russian operat ives
because the bureau had gath
ered "a credible allegation of
wrongdoing or reasonable basis
to believe an American may be
acting as an agent of a foreign
power."
The White House did not com
ment and the FBI declined to
comment.
White House press secretary
Sean Spicer maintained Monday
after Comey's testimony that
there was no evidence to sug
gest any collusion took place.
"Investigating it and having
proof of it are two dif ferent
things," Spicer said.
One law enforcement of ficial
told CNN the information in
hand suggests "people connect
ed to the campaign were in con
dents communications were picked
up.
Nunes said the information on the
Trump team was collected in
November, December and January,
the period after the election in
which Trump was holding calls with
foreign leaders, interviewing
Cabinet secretaries, and was begin
ning to sketch out administration
policy. Nunes said the monitored
material was widely disseminated
in intelligence reports.
Asked whether he believed the
transition team had been spied on,
Nunes said: It all depends on ones
definition of spying.
The California congressman did
not say how the Trump teams com
munications were picked up. U.S.
intelligence agencies routinely mon
itor the communications of foreign
of ficials. That surveillance some
times includes the name of an
American that the foreigner is
comes as Starbucks is heavily
focused on growing its business
abroad. It is currently opening one
store per day in China, and the com
pany has also entered the Italian
market. The cof fee chain plans to
add 12,000 new stores worldwide
by 2021.
Johnson told CNN that the single
most important thing Starbucks
needs from President Donald
Trump is more guidance on trade
policies and there is concern
about how Trumps America First
platform and antifree trade senti
9
tact and it appeared they were
giving the thumbs up to release
information when it was ready."
But other US of ficials who
spoke to CNN say it's premature
to draw that inference from the
information gathered so far
since it's largely circumstantial.
The FBI cannot yet prove that
collusion took place, but the
information suggesting collu
sion is now a large focus of the
investigation, the officials said.
T he FBI has already been
investigating four former Trump
campaign associates Michael
Flynn, Paul Manafort, Roger
Stone and Carter Page for con
tacts with Russians known to US
intelligence.
All four have denied improper
contacts and CNN has not con
firmed any of them are the sub
jects of the information the FBI
is reviewing.
happens, intelligence analysts are
obliged to hide or minimize the
name of the American, unless know
ing the Americans name is neces
sary to understanding the foreign
intelligence described in the report.
Nunes said the names of Trump
associates were unmasked after
the incidental collection, though he
did not identify those aides. Those
aides are be lieved to include
Michael Flynn, who was fired as
W hite House national security
adviser after misleading Vice
President Mike Pence and other top
of ficials about his contacts with
Russias ambassador to the United
States. Nunes would not say how he
had received the new information.
Nunes notably did not appear along
side Rep. Adam Schif f, the intelli
gence committees top Democrat. A
Schif f spokesman said Nunes had
not informed his Democratic coun
terpart before disclosing the new
information publicly.
ments may af fect global brands.
Certainly, as an American brand,
sometimes politics in the US can
carry over, Johnson said.
Schultz, who endorsed former
presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton
during the campaign last year, said
it was too soon to tell whether
Trumps policies will hurt
Starbucks. Starbucks is also stand
ing firm behind its commitment to
hire 10,000 refugees around the
globe, a move that the company
announced the day after Trump
implemented his initial travel ban.
 10 March 25-31, 2017
By Shivaji Sengupta
T
hese days, the media is agog
w ith President Donald
Trump's mistrust of his own
government's bureaucracy, espe
cially when it has expressed diffi
cult ies in carry ing out the
Presidents Executive Orders. Nay
sayers will point out that Trump
dislikes and criticizes whenever
people or institutions oppose him.
This is true, but Trump's issues
with his bureaucracy actually rais
es some fundamental aspects of
governance itself.
I am not thinking about "Deep
State," which New York Times
explains somewhat controversial
ly as a network of civilian and
government of ficials who control
or undermine democratically elect
ed governments. What the Times
could have said is that Deep State
runs the government at the behest
of the President, but sometimes is
capable of undermining it.
These of ficials are not elected.
Those at the top have risen to posi
t ions of considerable power
through the civil ranks. Since they
are not elected, they cannot be
fired (though they can be trans
ferred). In fact, their permanence
affords them immense knowledge
T
of governmental af fairs, D.C.
EN
style. They belong to dif fer
M
ent departments such as
M
CO
the Interior (Home),
De fense, Home land
Security, and advise the
Secretaries, appointed by the
President, on creating policies.
They may also create regulations
based on the legislatures passed by
the Congress and signed into law
by the President. However, if they
happened to disagree with the
president regarding how the regu
lations should be written, or take a
strong dislike for any of the
Secretaries, they may refuse to
cooperate, invoking obscure laws
and regulations. When crossed by
the Secretary, they can simply say
stiffly I am just trying to do my
Intel chiefs reject Trumps wiretapping allegation
Washington: FBI Director James
Comey says the FBI and Justice
Department have no information to
substantiate President Donald
Trump's claims that former
President Barack Obama wire
tapped him before the election.
Appearing be fore the House
Intelligence Committee, Comey
says no individual can order sur
veillance of an American. He says
courts grant this permission after a
rigorous application process.
Comey said the Just ice
Department also asked him to
share with the committee that the
answer also applies to the Justice
Department and its various compo
nents. T he Justice Department
oversees the FBI and other law
enforcement agencies.
Mike Rogers, the director of the
Donald Trump: Bureaucracy,
politics and the Deep State
duty!
This is not peculiar to America. It
happens in Europe, Britain and
India. In Britain and India, it is
called "the Stee l Frame."
T here are famous
instances of cabinet minis
ters or even the Prime
Minister being frustrated by their
Chief Secretary (a Secretary there,
unlike in the United States, is not
appointed by the president). There
are novels and television shows
about them. (A particularly funny
one is BBC's Yes, Minister! a come
dy about a w ily and w izened
Secretary, who, by taking advan
tage of the elected Minister's igno
rance of governmental rules and
regulations, repeatedly makes a
fool of him).
So Trump's problems are not
new. Past presidents have com
plained about their bureaucrats.
However, according to much of the
American media, President Trump
has taken a decidedly negative
Despite demands to regret his tweet, President Trump is not likely to oblige.
National Security Agency, denied
that the British intelligence com
munity was ever asked to conduct
e lectronic surveillance on
President Trump at the behest of
former President Barack Obama.
Few days ago, White House Press
Secretary Sean Spicer referred to
unsubstantiated allegations made
by a Fox News analyst that GCHQ,
the British electronic intelligence
agency, had helped Obama wiretap
US AFFAIRS
Every head of state, a prime
minister or a president,
must learn to work within
the parameters of
governmental framework.
The Trump administration
through its over-reaction
to the Washington bureau-
cracy may risk making
those very problems worse
that it is trying to combat.
view about them. According to gan among these bureaucrats. The
Time magazine, it is an organized reason the public knows so little
resistance within the government, about them is because they operate
working to subvert his presidency. under the radar, quite happy to
They blame career bureaucrats, yield to the elected officials all the
many of whom they see as being publicity. David Gergen, the CNN
loyal to former President Barack commentator, weighed in on this:
Obama, for leaking damag ing This is a dark conspiratorial view
information to the news media. that is being pushed by Steve
T he fact that the term Deep Bannon, his allies at Breitbart and
State is not common in this coun some others in the conservative
try can be sensed in Times banish movement trying to delegitimize
ing it out of America altogether! the opposition to Trump pass the
Until recently, it states, Deep State blame to others.
was a term mainly used outside the However, not all commentators
United States, and generally associ on Deep State hold such a gloomy
ated with authoritarian regimes view. Mike Lofg ren, former
like Turkey and Egypt. I am afraid Republican congressional staf fer
the Time is quite wrong! In every and author of The Deep State: The
country, regardless of its ideology, Fall of the Constitution and the
there is a government run by non Rise of a Shadow Government, has
elected of ficials, working under used the term in the context of
e lected Ministers, Senators or American politics but not in the
Congress people. The way they same negative way. To him, Deep
behave is remarkably the same: State constitutes the practice of the
They make the laws; we make the members of the public and private
regulations! goes the common slo sectors who influence government
Trump. The British intelligence
agency flatly denied it happened.
The ranking Democrat on the
House intelligence committee, Rep.
Adam Schif f of California, asked pened. The Senate's top Democrat
Rogers if he thought it was "utterly says that President Trump "severe
ridiculous" that anyone in the U.S. ly damaged his credibility" with
would ask British spies to do sur Twitter postings claiming that for
veillance on a presidential candi mer Obama ordered wiretaps of
date. Rogers said it was and added him. New York Sen. Charles
that he had seen nothing at the Schumer issued the statement after
NSA that would indicate that hap FBI Director James Comey told a
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
policy, including career public ser
vants. In other words, Lofgrens
perspective is somewhat akin to
mine, as described above, except
that I wouldnt include the private
sector in it. Private sector influence
is the work of lobbyists.
What we, the public, will do well
to understand is that every head of
state, be he or she a prime minister
or a president, must learn to work
within the parameters of govern
mental framework. As the New
York Times noted, the Trump
administration through its over
react ion to the Washington
bureaucracy may risk making
those very problems worse that it
is trying to combat. To accuse them
of leaking information, publicizing
internal conflicts and politicizing
institutions such as the intelligence
agencies, might force them to
become truly secretive and coer
cive in the way they try not to.
American bureaucrats are not (yet)
like their counterparts in Egypt
and Pakistan where apparently
they literally run the country!
According to the Times, the leaks
do not amount to conspiracy.
Trumps or Mr. Bannons exag
gerated reactions may force the
potentially powerful civil servants
into a corner (they are powerful
because they are the keepers of
many sensitive state secrets) and
force them into an impossible
dilemma. Either they give in, and
become reduced to nothing by the
TrumpBannon combine; or they
hit back, trying to maintain the tra
dit ion of their centuries old
bureaucracy that have served pres
idents, more or less faithfully, since
1788.
Beware the fury of a patient man!
House panel that there was no
information that supports Trump's
allegation.
Schumer said Trump "needs to
retract his claim immediately."
He added that Trump "should
admit he was wrong, stop the out
landish tweets."
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Gorsuch finds attacks on
judges disheartening
Washington: President Donald
Trump's Supreme Court pick
Judge Neil Gorsuch has said dur
ing his Senate hearing that the
President's attacks on federal
judges are "disheartening" and
"demoralizing".
Gorsuch once made a reference
to Trump's attacks on federal
judges in a private conversation
with senators, which was later
reported in the media, but he
made his latest remarks in his
public Senate hearing on Tuesday.
"W hen anyone criticizes the
honesty or integrity or motives of
a federal judge, I find that dis
heartening and I find that demor
alizing," Gorsuch said, Efe news
reported.
W hen asked if his comment
re ferred to Trump, Gorsuch
replied, "Anyone is anyone."
Gorsuch's comments respond to
the criticism that Trump has pub
licly launched against federal
judges after their ruling against
his order which prohibits the entry
into the US of refugees and citi
zens of several Muslimmajority
countries.
During the hearing, Gorsuch also
assured "I have no difficulty ruling
against or for any party other than
President Trumps pick for Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch is undergoing
Senate hearings before confirmation vote in April. (Courtesy AP)
based on what the law and the
facts of a particular case require,"
and added that "there's no such
thing as a Republican judge or a
Democratic judge we just have
judges in this country".
Gorsuch, who currently serves
on the US Court of Appeals for the
Tenth Circuit, was nominated by
Trump to take the Supreme Court
seat left vacant by the late Justice
Antonin Scalia, who died in
February 2016.
Democratic senators have reject
ed Trump's nominee after the
Republicans also turned down
US AFFAIRS March 25-31, 2017 11
US stocks tumble
on Trump policy
uncertainty
New York: US stocks
reversed early gains to
end sharply lower on
Tuesday, amid growing
concerns over
President Donald
Trump's ability to
implement his eco
nomic policies.
T he Dow Jones
Industrial Average dropped since its ratification in 2010.
237.85 points, or 1.14 per cent, The Obama administration said
to 20,668.01. The S&P 500 lost the ACA expanded healthcare
29.45 points, or 1.24 per cent, to coverage to millions more of citi
2,344.02. T he Nasdaq zens, while some grumble that
Composite Index plunged their healthcare premiums have
Judge Merrick Garland in 2016,
107.70 points, or 1.83 per cent, surged after the ACA was put in
nominated to replace Scalia by the
to 5,793.83, Xinhua reported. place. Financials took a hit as the
thenPresident Barack Obama.
Worries about the country's US benchmark 10year note
To secure his position in the
health care reform weighed on yield continued to fall. Financial
Supreme Court, Gorsuch needs to
the market as House sector, the biggest lagg ard
w in at least 60 votes from
Republicans are expected to vote among the S&P 500's ten sec
Senators, which is an obstacle
on repealing and replacing the tors, slumped 2.87 percent
hard to overcome as there are now
Af fordable Care Acton (ACA) Tuesday. In corporate news,
only 52 Republicans in the Senate.
Thursday. Apple announced a new version
Gorsuch, therefore, needs sup
Analysts thoug ht that the of its 9.7inch iPad and special
ports from the Democrats.
enthusiasm has come off the boil editions for the iPhone 7 and
Although the process may be
as a lot of Trump policies got iPhone 7 Plus Tuesday. Shares of
delayed by the Democrats, the
mired in legislative process. the tech giant, however, reversed
Senate Republicans are likely to
The ACA has been heatedly early gains to close down 1.15
eventually reach a simple majority
debated in the United States per cent.
vote.
 12 March 25-31, 2017 INDIA TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Adityanath bans pan, gutka in UP offices, allocates portfolios

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Yogi Adityanath has
banned chewing of 'paan' (beetal
leaves), and consumption of tobacco
and its products in all state govern
ment of fices, hospitals and educa
tional institutions and directed for
ban on use of polythene.
The Chief Minister also allocated
portfolios to his ministerial col
leagues, keeping several key depart
ments like home, revenue, mining
and jails with him.
Adiyanath inspected the Shastri
Bhavan (annexe) here during his
first full working day here after tak
ing oath as the Chief Minister on
Sunday. He inspected various floors
and sections of the building to get a
firsthand account of cleanliness
and work ethos.
According to an of ficial release,
Adityanath gave a stern message
that "old work style and lax attitude
towards work" will not be tolerated
and stringent action taken against
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
those found wanting in discharge of
their duties. Adityanath asked Chief
Secretary Rahul Bhatnagar to
ensure a proper system for upkeep,
maintenance of files and records
within a week and to ensure cleanli
ness in the Shastri Bhavan premises
within the period. He hoped that
similar mechanism will be adopted
in subordinate of fices and noted
that departmental presentations
and reviews will be conducted in
the fifthfloor conference room
between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The BJP Chief Minister asked the
Chief Secretary to fix a time table
for presentations and review meet
ings and said the meeting room
should be properly maintained.
Noting that cleanliness pledges
should not remain mere formalities
and officials need to set an example
for others to emulate, Adiyanath
laid emphasis on cleanliness and
called upon of ficials to encourage
their subordinates to maintain it.
The Chief Minister said he will con
tinue to conduct inspections to
ensure his directions were complied
with.
Expressing displeasure at wires
dangling in the of fice, Adiyanath
called for immediate steps for
improvement. He said clean envi
ronment in of fices will lead to
enhanced productivity and also
stressed on the need to work with a
team spirit.
T he re lease said the Chief
Minister instructed that reverse
osmosis water system should run
properly and ordered verification of
firefighting systems installed in the
building. Expressing displeasure
over some files gathering dust in
the corridors, he stressed on the
need for their proper upkeep and
maintenance. Those present during
the inspection included Deputy
Chief Minister Keshav Prasad
Maurya and senior state officials.
During the day, Adiyanath also
allocated portfolios to 22 Cabinet
Ministers, nine Ministers of State
(Independent Charge) and 13
Ministers of State.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav
Prashad Maurya has been given the
portfolios of public works, food pro
cessing, entertainment tax and pub
lic enterprises.
Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh
Sharma has been given secondary
and higher education, science and
technology, electronics and infor
mation technology.

Resolve Ayodhya 'Amarinder emerged as a model

dispute amicably: SC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has
favored an amicable settlement to
the RamjanmabhoomiBabri Masjid
dispute in Ayodhya and offered to
act as mediator, which was wel
comed by the BJP but ruled out by
the Babri Masjid Action Committee
and others. The apex court's sugges
tion for a negotiated settlement to
the longstanding dispute on the land
title in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya
attracted mixed reactions.
"These are issues of religion and
sentiments. All of you may sit togeth
er and hold a cordial meeting," Chief
Justice J.S. Khehar, who headed the
bench hearing the matter, said.
Chief Justice Khehar said the nego
tiated settlement is the best course
for resolving the dispute and offered
himself or other members of the
bench to act as mediators.
The Bharatiya Janata Party rul
ing both at the Centre and Uttar
Pradesh heartily welcomed it but
the Babri Masjid Action Committee
and the Muslim Personal Law Board,
which are prominent parties to the
legal battle, dismissed an outof
court settlement. The court was
hearing BJP leader Subramanian
Swamy's plea for constituting a
bench to hear a batch of petitions
challenging a 2010 Allahabad High
Court order on the matter.
The 2010 order said there should
be partition of the disputed land in
Ayodhya between parties to the
dispute. The apex court's observa
tion comes after BJP leader Yogi
Adityanath a strong advocate of
building the Ram temple at the dis
puted site was sworn in as the new
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on
Sunday. The BJP, which included the
construction of the Ram temple in its
poll manifesto, won 312 seats in the
403member assembly in the
FebruaryMarch election.
The BJP said friendly negotiations
was the best way to resolve the dis
pute while Union Minister Mahesh
Sharma, another BJP leader, said the
court's advice may pave the way for
the temple's construction.
BJP MP Vinay Katiyar said the
court's suggestion, along with the
fact that the BJP had come to power
in Uttar Pradesh, will have a positive
effect in settling the dispute.
On the other hand, Babri Masjid
Action Committee convenor
Zafaryab Jilani as well as All India
Muslim Personal Law Board (AIM
PLB) member and AIMIM MP
Asaduddin Owaisi virtually ruled out
an outofcourt settlement.
"An amicable solution is impossi
ble. This has to be dealt in the court
itself. If the court passes any order to
that ef fect (amicable solution), we
will think about future course of
action," said Jilani. "We have faith if
the CJI himself mediates or nomi
nates a team of Supreme Court
judges or court itself hears the mat
ter. But we are not willing to accept
an outofcourt settlement," he
added.
"Several rounds of talks on earlier
occasion have failed to yield result.
That is why the AIMPLB had decided
that it will not go for any more talks,"
Owaisi said, adding that the "case
was about the (land) title which the
Allahabad High Court wrongly decid
ed as a partnership case". Owaisi said
he hoped the apex court will decide
other cases pending since the demo
lition of the Babri Msjid in December
6, 1992, including conspiracy
charges against prominent BJP lead
ers like L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar
Joshi and Uma Bharti.
for a dispassionate biography'
Chandigarh: Unlike a politician or a royal, both of which
he is, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh does not
hold back on sharing information about himself. This is
reflected in his justreleased authorized biography.
"Amarinder emerged as a model for a dispassionate
biography, which many political leaders would find
hard to emulate. Amarinder never ducked answering a
personal or awkward question," author Khushwant
Singh (not to be confused with the famous writer), who
has penned Amarinder's authorised biography "The
People's Maharaja" (Hay House India/Rs 699/pp 392),
told IANS in an interview here.
While the idea of the biography emerged at a time
when Amarinder Singh was down politically, after lead
ing his Congress party to its second successive defeat in
Punjab's assembly elections in 2012, the timing of its
release was extremely apt coming just 20 days ahead
of Amarinder leading the Congress' revival in Punjab by
sweeping the assembly polls and becoming Chief
Minister for the second time.
"I will not hesitate to state that he was the frankest of
all the people that I interviewed while doing the spade
work of this biography. Also, never during the writing
of the text did he request that any insertion or deletion
be done. Neither did he seek adulation," Khushwant,
who has authored four books earlier, including the
bestselling "Sikhs Unlimited" (2007); the gripping
"Turbaned Tornado The Oldest Marathon Runner
Fauja Singh" (2011) and the widelyacclaimed novel "He is quite belligerent as a person, if he is decided on
"Maharaja in Denims" (2014), pointed out.
"Usually political leaders would try to control an
authorised biography. In an authorised biography, there
is always a fear that it will be compromised. Nothing of
the sort happened here. As a subject and the author, we
both understood the sanctity of not pushing a false nar
rative," said Khushwant, who has varied interests
from horticulture and agriculture to writing a column
for a leading national daily.
Even events like Amarinder's dif ference of opinion
with Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, when he
came close, in late 2015, to quitting the party over a
year ahead of the assembly polls that he eventually won
and started the process of Congress revival in a state;
realistic acknowledgement of him and his wife Preneet
Kaur (former Union Minister of State for External
Affairs) "drifting apart after two decades" of marriage
but still standing "united in politics"; taking his detrac
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh
tors headon over the issue of his friendship with
Pakistani journalist Aroosa Alam; or his taking a stand
and quitting the Congress in 1984 over Operation
Bluestar ordered by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
to root out heavilyarmed terrorists from the Golden
Temple complex (where the holiest of Sikh shrines, the
Harmandir Sahib, is located).
"You took any question to him and he frankly replied
to it. The onus was on the biographer to ask questions
based on research. It is not a normal biography of a
political man. There is ancestry, a very actionpacked
early life, a military life, a writer's life and his social and
personal fronts," Khushwant pointed out.
Asked about Amarinder as a person, Khushwant said:
something. It's very difficult to convince him the other
way. He is a man who is very particular about his per
sonal space, about protocol and conduct in the public
space."
The book mentions that hardly has anyone around
Amarinder ever heard him use cuss words or really get
angry. Even in situations where Amarinder disagrees
with someone during a discussion, he would withdraw
instead of being impolite or rude to the other person.
With the book going into a reprint within 20 days of
its launch and Amarinder back at the helm of affairs in
Punjab, Khushwant pointed out that "the election
proves that he is really the 'People's Maharaja'. The
idea to take this project and the title of the book have
been vindicated with this election."
"If I have to add a chapter (later), I would like to see
him make a shift from 'People's Maharaja' to be the cap
tain of modern Punjab," the author said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA March 25-31, 2017 13

Maharashtra medicos agitation escalates

Mumbai: The threeday mass Casual Leave by
resident doctors in Maharashtra's govern
ment hospital escalated with 40,000 medicos
of the Indian Medical Association joining
their protest.
The state government meanwhile served an
ultimatum till 8 p.m. of Wednesday asking
doctors to resume duties failing which they
could face a sixmonth pay cut.
"We have given them the final ultimatum,"
Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan
told the media.
Individual hospitals in Mumbai and other
parts of Maharashtra also initiated their own
action of slapping showcause or suspension
notices on the agitating medicos.
According to a spokesperson for the
Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors
(MARD), suspension notices were served on
370 resident doctors in Nagpur and 114 in
Solapur. T he BrihanMumbai Municipal
Corporation served notices to around 500
doctors asking them to resume work as per
the Bombay High Court directive immediate
ly or face acton.
IMA President Ashok Tamble said that from
Wednesday, all the 40,000 member doctors
would strike work in government hospitals
Members of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) participate in a candle
march at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur. (Photo: IANS)
across the state, but only essential or emer
gency medical services shall be maintained.
Boosting the agitating doctors' cause, the
IMA extended support to the medicos'
demand for implementation of the Violence
Against Doctors Act, 2010 and adequate pro
visions for their security as per court direc
tives. Expressing support to MARD from New
De lhi, the AIIMS Resident Do ctors
Association said that instead of providing
security to the medicos, the government was
threatening to cut salaries and evict them
from hostels.
"We resident doctors of AIIMS are forced to
work with helmets in Emergency as we don't
want to lose our vision and life as well as our
hard earned degrees," the Association said in
a statement.
He said there was no discussion on com
pensation for the doctors who were beaten.
Despite a strong rap by the Bombay High
Court on Tuesday, MARD made it clear that
the agitation would continue till the govern
ment ensured security in hospitals against
violence by patients' relatives.
IMA Youth President Sagar Mundada said
its 45,000 memberdoctors in Maharashtra
and over 200,000 in India also oppose any
punitive action against the agitating resident
medicos.
Bombay High Court Chief Justice Manjula
Chellur and Justice G.S. Kulkarni made strong
observations on the doctors and asked them
to join duties, failing which the government
was free to act against them.
T he MARD agitation against frequent
attacks on resident doctors by relatives of
patients led to major disruptions in govern
ment hospitals. Hundreds of scheduled sur
geries were postponed and snaky queues of
poor pat ients were seen outside the
hospitals.
In Mumbai, the government hospitals hit
were KEM, Sion LTMG, Nair and Sir JJ Group.

Congress exleader 19 Maharashtra MLAs suspended Mumbai: In a drastic move, 19

S.M. Krishna joins BJP opposition legislators were on

Wednesday suspended
December 31 by Maharashtra
till

New Delhi: Former Speaker Haribhau Bagade for creat

Cong ress leader ing ruckus over farm loans in the
S.M. Krishna has house on Saturday.
joined the BJP, call The combined opposition cried
ing it "very impor foul over the move, terming it "an
tant stop in my unconstitutional step and a murder
onward journey". of democracy" and later met
T he former Governor C.V. Rao.
Karnataka Chie f The house, which reassembled
Minister heaped after three days, adopted a resolu
praise on Prime tion moved by Parliamentary
Among the legislators suspended for nine months include nine from
Minister Narendra Affairs Minister Girish Bapat, seek
the Congress and 10 from NCP.
Mo di, say ing "a Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief ing suspension of the Congress and opposition legislators wearing black Rao and submitted a memorandum
g reat India is Minister SM Krishna joins BJP in the presence Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) bands. They alleged that the gov demanding his directions to the
emerging under his of BJP Chief Amit Shah in New Delhi. legislators who disrupted Finance ernment took the step to avoid government to revoke the suspen
leadership". paign for the Karnataka assem Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar's defeat over a cut motion which sion. They also urged him to direct
Krishna formally became a bly elections due next year. budget speech that day. requires voting in the house. the government to issue directives
member of the Bharatiya Janata The BJP has been struggling to The resolution was adopted with Condemning the move, for announcing writing off all farm
Party in the presence of party make inroads in south both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Opposition leader Radhakrishna debts to bring relief to the farmers
President Amit Shah. He left the Karnataka, where Krishna is an Party and ally Shiv Sena members VikhePatil accused the government who were committing suicide.
Congress earlier, saying he was influential leader among the voting in favour after which the of being insensitive to the farmers' Among the legislators suspended
feeling neglected. dominant Vokkaliga community. Speaker issued the suspension plight and attempting to muzzle the for nine months include nine from
"It has been a great journey Speaking on the occasion, Shah orders. opposition by resorting to undemo the Congress and 10 from NCP who
and I have landed at very impor called Krishna "an asset for the The Speaker's suspension order cratic measures. are also barred from entering the
tant stop in my onward journey country"."He has played various was greeted with protests, a silent Later, VikhePatil led an allparty legislature precincts at Nariman
in the nation's service. I am feel important roles in his long public sitin outside the legislature by opposition delegation to Governor Point.
ing grateful on joining the BJP. life. He served in various capaci
Now, a great India is emerging ties, be it MLA, MP or Chief
under the Prime Minister's lead Minister or External Af fairs AIADMK factions get 'Electric Pole', 'Cap'
ership, ably supported by Amit Minister or Governor. His entry
Chennai: The Election Commission AIADMK faction led by the now represented by the late Jayalalithaa.
Shah," he told the media here. (into BJP) w ill increase our
on Thursday allotted the symbol jailed General Secretary V.K. AIADMK Deputy General
Re ferring to former Prime power in Karnataka," Shah said.
"Electric Pole" to the AIADMK fac Sasikala has been given the "cap" Secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran will con
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah said Krishna's decision to
tion led by former Tamil Nadu Chief symbol and would be known as test in Radhakrishnan Nagar on
Krishna said he had been "associ join the party was in tune with
Minister O. Panneerselvam and the "AIADMK Amma". behalf of the ruling party. T he
ated with the great leadership of the country's ongoing transfor
"Cap" to the ruling AIADMK group. The ruling AIADMK split into two Panneerselvam faction has fielded
the BJP" when he was the Chief mation and BJP's increasing
We have been given `Electric Pole' factions after the death of Chief E. Madhusudanan. In an interim
Minister of Karnataka from 1999 acceptance across India.
to fight the bye lection from Minister and party icon J. order on Wednesday night, the
to 2004. Three Union Ministers from
Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency. Jayalalithaa. The allotment of the Election Commission froze the 'two
Krishna was also the Indian Karnataka Ananth Kumar,
And our group will be called the symbols is important as a byelec leaves" symbol of the now divided
External Affairs Minister. Sadananda Gowda and Ramesh
'AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi Amma'," tion will be held on April 12 to the AIADMK and ruled that neither fac
The development could help Jigajinagi were among those
former MP K.C. Palaniswamy told Tamil Nadu assembly from tion will use the original party
strengthen BJP election cam present.
IANS. On the other hand, the Radhakrishnan Nagar, which was name in the byelection.
 14 March 25-31, 2017 INDIA TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Delhi election panel acting Aadhaar forced on

as subordinate: AAP people: Opposition
New Delhi: An opposition mem cannot be duplicated. "If dupli
New Delhi: The ruling AAP has
accused the Delhi State Election ber in the Lok Sabha accused the cate PAN (Permanent Account
Commission of acting as a subordi government of forcing Indians to Number) Card can be made, can't
nate of its political masters by get Aad haar Cards, w ith a duplicate Aadhaar card be
ordering removal/covering of Congress, Trinamool Congress made," Salim asked.
"Aam" word displayed in Delhi gov and Biju Janata Dal members Soon after, Mahtab said his
ernment's schemes. walking out before the Finance party was not satisfied with the
Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi conven Bill was passed. The opposition Finance Minister's reply, and the
er Dilip Pandey, in a memorandum also objected to one of the BJD staged a walkout.
to the commission, said that the amendments in the bill that Congress leader in the house,
party members were shocked over makes Aadhaar Card mandatory Mallikarjun Kharge, then urged
the directions to remove the word for filing of income tax returns, the government to announce a
from various schemes, including but it was eventually passed. loan waiver for farmers across
Mohalla Clinics and public trans As Finance Minister Arun the country.
port buses. Jaitley finished his reply to a "The Prime Minister, Finance
"What shocks us the most is the debate on the Finance Bill, Biju Minister, and Ag riculture
fact that a constitutional body is Janata Dal leader Bhartruhari Minister are all sitting here. As
AAP leader Dilip Pandey addresses a press conference in New Delhi. Mahtab said the government is you promised in Uttar Pradesh,
acting as a subordinate of its polit
ical masters and taking orders forcing Indian citizens to get waive loans of farmers across the
AAP leader said. He said the com words "Indian" and "National" from
from them," Pandey said in the Aad haar Cards by making it country," Kharge said.
mission did not even care to follow all government buildings, installa
memorandum. mandatory for filing of tax "Jaitley sahib has got so much
due procedure and issue notices to tions and billboards because they
"We urge the commission to returns. money as you yourself have
the state government and the AAP also figure in the name of Indian
immediately correct this mistake," "You are forcing the citizens," said. You have got more than Rs
and allow them a hearing. National Congress?" Pandey asked.
Pandey said. He said that Aam Mahtab said, to which Jaitley two lakh crore; why don't you
He wondered whether the State The State Election Commission
Aadmi Mohalla Clinic concept is a said: "Yes, we are." make the announcement," he
Election Commission will ask the on Tuesday directed the AAP gov
revolution in the field of public T he minster, justifying the said.
Chie f Secretary to cover ernment to remove "Aam" word
healthcare and the model was move, said people were using The treasury benches, however,
"Bharatiya" and "Janata" words, from all displays visavis its
being appreciated worldwide. more than one PAN card to evade remained quiet, and Speaker
wherever they appear on govern schemes as demanded by BJP leg
"We are pained to note that com paying taxes. Sumitra Mahajan moved ahead
ment buildings, installations and islator Vijender Gupta.
mission of ficers have trampled Communist Party of India with the process of bill passage,
billboards, as the two words figure The commission also demanded
over the Constitution by following Marxist leader Mohammad Salim which agitated the opposition
in the name of the Bhartiya Janata a "compliance report" within 48
the diktats of political leaders," the wondered if an Aadhaar Card members.
Party. "Will the commission cover hours.

Sena MP defends
colleague, Air
Key to reviving Punjab lies in
India to FIR
New Delhi: Air India said it will file an FIR
revitalizing its industrial cities
By Amit Kapoor
against Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad for
assaulting a staffer after he was forced to
he conversation around BJPs electoral

T
travel economy class though he had a busi
win in UP has completely overshadowed
ness class ticket.
the political scenario in the state of
Air India spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar
Punjab. Political commentators attribute this
told IANS: "We have formed a committee to
to Punjab's small electoral share compared to
examine the whole incident. As soon as the
UP, but there is more to it than mere arith
report comes, the management will decide
metic.
the next course of action. We are planning
Only a few decades ago, Punjab was a poster
to file an FIR today."
boy for development a state that was the
Air India has begun contacting passen
centrestage of the Green Revolution and
gers on the flight as some of them may have
whose cities were fast industrializing.
videoed the incident or clicked pictures dur
Ludhiana was a production hub for cycles;
ing the fracas between Gaikwad and the air Only a few decades ago, Punjab was a poster boy for development.
Jalandhar had a thriving sports goods indus
line officials.
try and Amritsar had its textile industry. Punjab were a driving force behind Punjab's nomic policies followed by the state leader
Meanwhile, Arvind Sawant, a Sena leader
Punjab's economic size made it hard to be erstwhile growth, it should be instructive to ship. Punjab's agricultural sector is riddled
and MP from south Mumbai, defended
sidelined. Now, the state and its cities have delve into the reasons for their decline. with controls and huge subsidies, which
Gaikwad and described the assault as a
fallen into Detroitlike insignificance. First, was the availability of cheaper imports makes the state's fiscal situation highly
"reaction to rude and insulting behaviour of
Industries have chosen to exit the state. of manufactured and intermediary goods from unmanageable. The state provides free elec
Air India officials".
Between 2007 and 2014, about 18,770 facto China. For instance, Jalandhar, which was a tricity to its farmers. To compensate for this
"Gaikwad is a professor by profession and
ries have closed down. As a result, employ global supplier of sports goods, lost its com subsidy, arcane duties and cesses are imposed
he is known for his peaceful demeanor.
ment and economic growth have fallen below petitive edge to cheaper Chinese products. on electricity provided to industries. This
Although Gaikwad was quite polite during
the national average. Moreover, the rising Similarly, the cycles industry in Ludhiana lost makes operations unreasonably expensive.
the argument, the Air India officers were
menace of drugs has added to the woes. its place to cheaper imports of cycle compo The newlyelected Congress government
rude," he said.
The strong antiincumbency shown in the nents from China. The second reason is the needs to reverse all these policy errors to
"They insulted him and used abusive lan
recent elections reflects the desire for change loss of competitive advantage to Punjab's revive Punjab's growth story.
guage. One cannot expect us to keep quiet
among the people of Punjab and, hopefully, neighboring states. Tax structures are more Since agriculture is no longer the mainstay
in such a situation. We at Shiv Sena do not
the Amarinder Singhled government will live attractive in Himachal Pradesh. of its economy, the best approach that the
tolerate injustice. We do not see anything
up to the expectation of the electorate. The state has been offering a tax holiday to incoming government can take is to revive the
wrong in Gaikwad's reaction," Sawant told
Reviving the state needs to begin at the level industries since 2003 along with other sops. state's basic units of economic power: its
IANS. The incident happened when flight
of its cities as they have the potential to Also, industrial power is much more abun cities. Reviving the industrial clusters that
AI852 from Pune landed at Delhi airport
become engines of growth and prosperity. dantly available and considerably cheaper in once thrived in the cities of Punjab is its best
around 10.30 a.m.
Since industrial clusters across the cities of Himachal Pradesh. Third is the flawed eco bet in a failing economy.
 Seasons March 25-31, 2017 15

Spring has Sprung

The season of flowers and colors symbolizes
new beginnings, new hopes and rejuvenation.
WASHINGTON DC DELHI
E ach year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift
of 3,000 cherry trees from the Mayor of Tokyo to the city of Washington,
DC. The Festival celebrating US-Japan friendship spans four weekends and wel-
P resident Pranab Mukherjee seen at the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bha-
van in New Delhi during the spring opening for public of the famous gar-
den, which boasts tulips. In Mukherjees last year in office, two rose varieties
comes more than 1.5 million people to enjoy diverse programming and the have been named after him and his late wife, Suvra Mukherjee, growing next to
trees. The Yoshino produces single white blossoms that create an effect of white Abraham Lincoln, Christian Dior and Queen Elizabeth.
clouds around the Tidal Basin and north onto the grounds of the Washing-
ton Monument. Intermingled with the Yoshino are a small number of Akebono
cherry trees, which bloom at the same time as the Yoshino and produce single,
pale-pink blossoms. The Tidal Basin is a partially man-made reservoir between
the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington, D.C. It is part of
West Potomac Park and is a focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
held each spring. Last weeks snow storm and cold weather has delayed the full
blooming of the cherry blossom, which usually happens in mid-March.

CHINA
A herdsman transfers sheep to spring pastures in Ili Kazak Autonomous Pre-
fecture, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on March
9. Local herdsmen started to move their herds from winter pastures to spring
pastures, as the weather grew warm.
KOLK ATA
G irls perform at a cultural program during Basanta Utsav (literally, spring
festival that coincides with Holi) in Kolkata on March 12.
 16 March 25-31, 2017
Machine
Mechanical sans heart A
Lead actors of the film Kiara Advani and Mustafa Burmawala.
T his is a convoluted love story. A car en-
thusiast and an all-rounder Sara Thapar
(Kiara Advani) is the most popular girl at a
school somewhere in North India.
One fine day, Sara -- on her way back from
a convent where she goes to offer charity --
is interrupted by a mysterious young man
Ransh (Mustafa). He apparently is a new
entrant to the school. And soon they realize
they share similar interests.
The writing lacks depth and novelty. The
script starts off as a romance flick. In the
first half, the narrative breaks into numerous
song sequences that make the film seem like
a musical and there is Shakespeares Romeo
and Juliet thrown in for good measure.
And then, the track quickly changes gear
to an intriguing thriller only to later disin-
tegrate into a confused cauldron of genres,
which includes a full-blown revenge drama
with clichs galore. The film is replete with
Abbas-Mustans trademarks of shock value
and mystery. But unfortunately, as they un-
ravel, one gets the feel of deja-vu. All of it
seems to be oft seen in their earlier films.
The film is a stylishly mounted and is
Aishwarya Rai
Bachchans
father no more
A ctress Aishwarya Rai Bachchans fa-
ther Krishnaraj Rai, who was under in-
tensive care at the Lilavati hospital, passed
away after a brief illness.
According to Lt Gen V Ravishankar, who
was treating him at the hospital, he had lym-
phoma. He was in hospital for over a month.
Mr Rai passed away around 4 pm in Lila-
vati hospital ICU, Ravishankar said.
A Mangalorean, Krishnaraj is survived by
his wife, son and daughter.
During his stay at the hospital, he was
visited by Aishwaryas in-laws Amitabh
Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.
BOLLYwOOD
purported to be the launch pad into the big
league for Abbass son Mustafa.
He has earlier appeared in cameos in
films like Coffee Shop (2008) and Players
(2012). But alas! Mustafas personality is de-
void of charisma and he lacks screen presence.
His performance on screen is low on en-
ergy and lacks the requisite intensity. Also,
his diction, especially in English, leaves a
lot to be desired and his two left feet are
obvious in the dance sequences.
Kiara Advani as Sara is competent and
she delivers with sincerity. Ronit Roy as
Saras father and Dalip Tahil as Kris Alter
are perfunctory in supporting roles befit-
ting their personality.
Visually, the film is glossy and the direc-
tor duo have exploited virgin foreign lo-
cales to give the film a fresh look, but pass-
ing these off as India, is one of their follies.
They resemble a music album, well-cho-
reographed and picturized, but they are
not memorable. Also, they do not add to the
progression of the tale.
Overall, the film which had the potential
to be engrossing peters off as an insipid fare.
Aishwarya with father Krishnaraj Rai.
Dont act like God, Sunil
Grover tells Kapil Sharma
ctor-comedian Kapil Sharma and
Sunil Grover from The Kapil Sharma
Show seem to have mended their strained
relationship after Kapil extended apology
and said he was sorry if he had uninten-
tionally hurt his co-star.
Kapil was accused of allegedly hurting
Sunil while drunk on a flight from Melbourne.
Kapil tweeted: Paji Sunil Grover. Sorry if
hurt you unintentionally. You know very well
how much I love you. Love and regards always.
In reply to the tweet, Sunil sent out a long
post via social media. In it, Sunil said that
even though working with Kapil has been a
learning experience, he requested that Kapil
should treat everybody with respect.
All are not as successful as you. All are
not as talented as you are. But if they all
are talented like you, who will value you? Sunil Grover (left) with actor Akshay
So have some gratitude towards their ex- Kumar on The Kapil Sharma Show.
istence. And also, if someone is correcting wrote: You won my heart. I love you more
you, dont abuse that person, Sunil said. and more. According to the buzz, Sunil
He added: Refrain from using foul lan- skipped the shooting of the shows latest
guage in front of women who have nothing episode on Monday.
to do with the stardom you carry. They are Kapil tweeted: Today packed up at 6 a.m.
just travelling with you. Thanks for making After so long and I missed so many things. Love
me realise it was your show and you have you. See you in the evening at your home.
the power to throw out anybody, anytime.
Sunil also asked Kapil to not act like
On The Kapil Sharma Show, Sunil plays
the characters Doctor Mashoor Gulati and
God.Responding to Sunils post then, Kapil Rinku Bhabhi. This is not their first spat.
Jacqueline to host Justin
Bieber during India visit
S ri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez
will be taking Grammy Award winner
and global pop sensation Justin Bieber to a
tour around Mumbai during his scheduled
trip to India in May. She plans to give him
a taste of all things desi as his tour guide.
Bieber will be performing at the D.Y. Pa-
til Stadium here on May 10 as part of his
Purpose World Tour.
Jacqueline intends to take Bieber to the
Gateway Of India, Iskon Temple, Colaba
Causeway and also on auto ride through the
streets of Bandra apart from a tour of Film City.
I am a huge fan of Bieber and I already
have quite a few things Ive thought of that
would make his visit multi-dimensional. While
hes in India Id love to take him around and
give him a taste of all things desi and be his
tour guide, Jacqueline said in a statement.
The actress also plans to curate a special
menu comprising of Maharashtrian, South
Indian and Gujarati delicacies at her newly-
launched restaurant. The A Flying Jatt ac-
tress also wants to take him to meet under-
privileged children at Dharavi slum area.
Arjun Jain, Director, White Fox India --
the sole promoters of the tour, said: We
are working towards finalising the itiner-
ary and we hope to give Bieber a multi-
dimensional perspective about India and
make it a memorable event indeed.
The 22-year-old Canadian singer-songwrit-
er is expected to perform hits like Where
are you now, Boyfriend, Love yourself,
Company, As long as you love me, What
do you mean?, Baby and Purpose.
Biebers latest jaunt is in support of his Jacqueline will give Justin a tour
fourth album Purpose. around Mumbai.

A happy marriage in
the industry would
jolt me: Karan Johar
F ilmmaker Karan Johar says he would be
shocked and surprised if he comes across
a happy marriage in the film industry.
A happy marriage in the industry would
really jolt me. Id be like, Youre a dinosaur,
get out of here, Karan said at the India To-
day conclave.
Besides being a successful director, pro-
Reese Witherspoon furious
with Nicole Kidman
A
ctress Reese Witherspoon is report-
edly furious with once best friend and
colleague Nicole Kidman.
Gossip platform New Idea has claimed
there is no love lost between the Oscar-
winning actresses after a fallout over their
new TV show Big Little Lies, reports dai-
lymail.co.uk.
The publication claims Witherspoon
is unhappy at her Australian co-star Kid-
mans failure to promote the HBO series in
the run up to its debut in February, claim-
ing Kidman used too much of her airtime
to discuss her latest Hollywood hit Lion.
Witherspoon is unhappy at Kidmans failure to promote
their TV series Big Little Lies.
BOLLYwOOD March 25-31, 2017 17
Karan was
Khushbu
expressing his
views at the
being considered for
India Today
conclave. Rajinikanths next
A ctress Khushbu Sundar might land a
pivotal role in superstar Rajinikanths
yet-untitled next outing, a source said.
Khushbhu and Rajinikanth, in their hey-
day, have starred in Tamil films such as
Mannan, Pandian and Annamalai.
Its true that Khushbhu is being consid-
ered for one of the leading roles. The mak-
ers have even initiated talks. However, she
hasnt officially signed the project yet. One
of the reasons being a Telugu project with
Pawan Kalyan and she fears the dates for the
both the projects will clash, the source said.
To be produced by Dhanush, the project
is expected to roll from May.
Tipped to be a story set against Mum-
bai backdrop, the makers are in talks with Khushbhu hasnt officially
Vidya Balan for the leading ladys role. signed the project yet.
ducer and writer, the 44-year-old is the
son of acclaimed late producer Yash Johar.
The actor also talked about his new experi-
ence as a father to twins via surrogacy earli-
I would rather be stupid than
er this month. The daughter has been named
Roohi - a rearrangement of Karans mothers pretend to be intelligent
name Hiroo and the son has been chris-
tened Yash - on Karans late fathers name. Alia Bhat t
A ctress Alia Bhatt, who has been trolled its not okay if you dont have an answer. You
a lot on social media, says she would
rather be stupid than pretend to be smart
and intelligent. I would rather be stupid
get trolled for even getting out of your bed.
The Udta Punjab actress says it would
bother her if there are no jokes at her expense.
than pretend to be intelligent. A lot of energy One day, if the jokes on me stop coming,
is consumed in pretending to the world that Ill be upset. I am either relevant and irrel-
you know it all. If you preserve this energy, evant. If I am crossing your mind at any
Reese is furious that Nicole hasnt done
you can use it to learn. True knowledge in point of the day, I am relevant. So why I
more to support Big Little Lies. All shes
acquired by being on the threshold of igno- should be upset? My father says one day,
talked about in interviews is Lion. Had Re-
rance, Alia said at the India Today Conclave. the flowers will stop coming and youll be
ese known that Nicole would put the show
She added: If I dont know about any singer upset. I say one day, the jokes will stop
so far on the backburner, she would have
of the 1970s, I think it is ok. Problem is that coming, and then Ill be upset, she said.
cast some random, said a source.
The magazine said the frosty relations
between the pair manifested themselves at
the Oscars last month. You could cut the
tension with a knife at the Oscars. When Anushka Sharma
scared SRK at his house
Nicole was telling her people to keep Re-
ese away from her - theres no love lost at
all, added the source. The show is aired in
India on Star World Premiere HD.
A nushka Sharma got her first co-star
Shah Rukh Khan to help her promote
her forthcoming production Phillauri
when she landed up at his residence Man-
nat here to scare him.
Anushka plays a friendly ghost named
Shashi in the forthcoming film, and to fit
the theme, she made a promotional video
with her Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Jab
Tak Hai Jaan co-star at his house.
I am making this video because people
nowadays have become a lot more supersti-
tious and feel that they are surrounded by
supernatural beings... There are no ghosts
actually, Shah Rukh says in the video, before
getting interrupted by Anushkas voice.
He poses as if he is scared, and then
Anushka introduces herself as Shashi, say-
ing she is a big fan of King Khan.
Shah Rukh then requests fans to watch
the film, which will release on March 24.
Directed by Anshai Lal, Phillauri also
features Diljit Dosanjh, Suraj Sharma and
Mehreen Pirzada. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh
and Anushka will return to the silver screen Anushka is busy promoting
together with Imtiaz Alis The Ring. her film Phillauri.
 Religion

Quest for
18 March 25-31, 2017

While traveling intensively through Sri We came to Nuwara-Eliya from Colombo

Lanka, I found that it is a very beautiful where we spent the night. In the process,

Ramayan
country. Its natural beauty abounds. Each
and every inch of its land is decorated by
nature with thick dark nourished trees and
bushes, exquisitely colored flowers, and
from sea level, we climbed almost 7000
feet. Next day morning, we traveled down
by about 4000 feet to Ravana Cave, the site
of Ravans Underground Palace that either

in Lanka
ripe bright-colored fruits and vegetables.
We traveled from Colombo to Kandy and
then traveled to Ashok Vatika where Ravan
held Sita captive. Beside it, there are two
deep footmarks described as Hanumans.
is buried under a 650-700-step mountain
or was carved out in the stone.
Ravanas Falls are a short drive further.
In caves behind these falls, he held Sita be-
fore transferring her to Ashok Vatika.

The writer is Professor at Stillman School of Business in New Jersey.

Sri Lanka is mulling to develop Ravans Golden

Lanka into a tourist attraction that could
become a gold mine for it attracting tourists
just from its neighbor on the north.
By Prof A.D. Amar why Sri Lanka does not build on its past of
Ravans Golden Lanka and turn it into a tour-

A fter completing my third annual trip to

Sri Lanka earlier this month in search
of Ramayan ruins, I have come to believe
that Ramayan does indeed have some rel-
evance. The epic seems to have historical
veracity. I want to share some of it through
a few pictures I took.
In 2014, during my first visit to Sri Lanka
with my students, I posed the Ramayan ques-
tion to the faculty at the University of Co-
lombo, where we were visiting. I asked them
ist attraction that could potentially become
a gold mine for it, with tourist flow just from
India. The dean of the School of Manage-
ment replied that Sri Lanka was working to
do precisely that. But first, they are not sure
of the antiquity of Ramayan - whether its pe-
riod was 7th millennia BCE or 11th millennia
BCE. The Archeological Survey of Sri Lanka
is working on the sites. Sri Lanka expects to
come up with more structured tourism pro-
Entrance to Ashok Vatika, Sri Lanka
motion plan over the next several years.

Dancing the Vedas

I n order to highlight the significance of
Vedas in our daily life, Rays of Wisdom
Society organized The Vedas: Eko Ham
Bahu Shyam dance performance in Delhi.
It showcased aspects of the Vedic culture &
lifestyle as Vedas, the scriptures of ultimate
knowledge, show the path to purge negative
past karmas and fulfill all human desires
while maintaining the harmony in society.
The word Veda is derived from Vidya mean-
ing knowledge. On the one hand, it propa-
gates spiritual life and on the other, it teach-
es the ways of to fulfill human desires while
living in this world. Todays lifestyle has cre-
ated conflict in interpersonal and social rela-
tionships. The wisdom of the Vedas can bring
back Vedic living in contemporary India.
In Odissi and Gotipua dance styles, the
performance included: Sanskar: Discipline in
Childhood; Grihasta: Importance of Women
in Vedic Life; Nitya Karma: Importance of
daily rituals; Sanyas: The Philosophy and
Goal of Human Life. Bijoylaxmi Hota con-
ceptualized, scripted and choreographed
the event. Musical composed by Padma Vib-
hushan Rajan Mishra and Shri Swaraansh
Mishra. The event was supported by Minis-
try of Culture, ITDC, The Ashok and is sched-
uled to be held on March 18, at the Ashok
Amphitheater in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

Ravan Falls in Sri Lanka (left) and

On the steps to Ravan Caves, Sri Lanka (right)

Vishnu on Sheshnag
at Colombo City
Museum
The Vedas: Eko Ham Bahu Shayam was presented in classical
dance form in Delhi on March 18 to highlight the
significance of Vedas in daily life.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info OP-ED March 25-31, 2017 19

By Amulya Ganguli

D
id the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
desist from naming its Chief
Ministerial candidate for UP before the
assembly polls because it wanted to spring a
nasty, or pleasant, surprise depending on
one's point of view on an unsuspecting pub
lic? For some, the earlier deafening silence
on a possible Chief Minister might have been
a deceitful ploy considering that as virtually
the sole ef fective campaigner, Narendra
Modi gave the impression that he remains
focused on development notwithstanding a
few sops to the Hindutva brigade as in the
'kabaristhanshamshan ghat' controversy
relating to the Samajwadi Party's alleged par
tiality towards the Muslims.
To critics such as these, the choice of Yogi
Adityanath perhaps the most trenchant of
the saf fron hardliners as UP's Chief
Minister is also a message to the BJP's core
constituency of communalminded Hindus
that for all the talk about 'sabka saath' and
'sabka vikas' or development for all, Modi's
heart remains in the right place.
The jury will be out till it becomes clear
whether the BJP is playing a double game.
However, to give it the benefit of doubt, it
has to be admitted that so far the party's
emphasis has remained on development with
even the Yogi articulating the key word,
vikas, in his first few comments after his
selection was announced while the central
observer, Venkaiah Naidu, repeated it thrice
to remove all misgivings.
There is little doubt, however, that the
choice of Yogi is one of the most audacious
of gambles by Modi, far more than the
demonetization venture. If the prime minis
ter can make a person, whose antiminority
Love jehad to sabka vikas:
Can Modi tame Yogi?
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, centre, with Deputy Chief Ministers
Keshav Prasad Maurya (left) and Dinesh Sharma in Lucknow. (Photo: IANS)
hate speeches figure prominently in Google
searches, to change his saffron stripes, it will
be an extraordinary achievement.
Perhaps Modi believes that if he himself
can change from being a textbook fascist, as
sociologist Ashis Nandy said, or a modern
day Nero, in the Supreme Court's view, or a
person who "presided" over the killing of
thousands, in Manmohan Singh's words, into
an "avatar of modernism and progress", to
quote Congress M.P. Shashi Tharoor, then so
can the Yogi.
It is also undeniable that if anyone can
bring about such a seminal transformation, it
is Modi. It's not only that there is no one else
in the BJP who is capable inducing a meta
morphosis of this magnitude, there has also
been a manifold increase in Modi's clout
after UP's overwhelming verdict in the BJP's
favour.
As the master of all he surveys at the
moment, he can take the party and the coun
try in almost any direction that he wants.
It has to be remembered that in the last
few months, Modi succeeded in clipping the
Yogi's wings in respect of the latter's ghar
wapsi and love jehad programs. One doesn't
hear any more of these provocative cam
paigns to reconvert Muslims and stop Hindu
Muslim marriages. Modi also virtually called
the gau rakshaks or the cow vigilantes anti
socials.
Considering that all these operations had
the blessings of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ostensible mentor,
Modi's boldness in reining them in is obvi
ous.
In this respect, he is way ahead of Atal
Behari Vajpayee, the tallest leader in the BJP
before him, who shied away from taking on
the RSS in a frontal confrontation.
Even so, any ef fort to bring Yogi
Adityanath in line will be Modi's biggest test.
If he succeeds, it will be like inducing Hitler
to embrace the Jews or Abu Bakr alBaghdadi
of the ISIS expressing love for infidels.
Modi, therefore, can be said to have
embarked on his most daring mission.

Portrait of a Muslim home amid rising BJP colossus

By Saeed Naqvi Jub banaa chuke to, Firaq T he leaderless Muslim, mes
Pukar uthe ki, isi ne merised by Nehruvian blandish

I
t was a spectacular celebration.
The beating of drums, sprin
kling of colors, group songs,
dancing continued well after dusk.
As I watched from my window, a
thought crossed my mind: Why had
we not been invited? Ours is the
only Muslim home in the colony,
but a pride of place has always
been accorded to us in all celebra
tions, including Holi. We have
inherited this knack of integration
from our elders. The Mahant of
Shiv Sharan Das temple in Lucknow
always made special "bhang"free
"thandai" for my father on Holi.
I called up the President of the
Residents Welfare Association
(RWA) to register my protest. He
was vacationing at Corbett Park.
T here had been deaths in the
neighborhood; RWA had therefore
not organized a Holi celebration. It
was private initiative some
friends had come together for the
festivities. We know them well, but
they probably did not include us in
their list of revelers because they
thought we may not be in the cele
bration mode or in depression at
the turn of political events. Such
Basically, the Muslim is not at fault.
The Congress is from the very beginning.
are the ogres imagination conjures
up.
Yes, one is afflicted by deep anxi
ety, but Narendra Modi's extraordi
nary victory is only a fraction of the
problem. The anxiety is accentuat
ed by the context in which politics
is unfolding. Spaces for open dis
cussion political, social, economic
and cultural are shrinking. In any
case they are all in the hands of
philistinism and propaganda. This
afflicts not all of the media, but a
large chunk of it. A creeping voice
lessness therefore is our anxiety.
I was with family in Mustafabad,
Hamein banaya tha.
(After men had completed mak
ing their God.
Look, they screamed, it is He who
made us)"
Juggle around with this couplet
and you get a fair idea of how
Muslims are themselves responsi
ble for the rise of the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP). First they help
strengthen the BJP, then they cry:
We are afraid.
Basically, the Muslim is not at
fault. The Congress is from the
very beginning. When it agreed
my village near Rae Bareli, where with Lord Louis Mountbatten and
my sister keeps a television with its Mohammad Ali Jinnah to Partition
tube burnt out no images only the country on religious lines, it
sound. It is surrealistic. We heard had diluted its own stand on the
the election results in stupefied, twonation theory Hindus and
stunned silence. My cousin Asghar Muslims constituted two separate
broke the silence. nations. Once you created Muslim
"The state of the Muslims in the Raj (Pakistan), India had glided
country is just like your television, seamlessly from British Raj to
Suraiya blind but noisy." Hindu Raj.
Suraiya asked: "How have the I have argued this case in my
Muslims fared?" book: "Being the Other: The Muslim
Asghar: "They have helped the in India". A fair bargain could have
BJP win and now they are terrified been struck with the Muslim even
at the outcome: at that stage, avoiding all the
Khuda ko aihle Jahaan hypocrisy about secularism.
ments, pitched his tent in the
Congress park as its permanent
vote bank. In the 1980s, V.N.
Gadgil, General Secretary of the
Congress, took me into confidence.
"Muslim appeasement is beginning
to rankle with the Congress' Hindu
base." This "appeasement" was
exposed by the Sachar Committee
Report in 2005. Successive
Congress governments had
brought Muslim socioeconomic
status down even below the Dalits.
Some appeasement.
After the Muslim vote defected en
masse from the Congress following
the demolition of Babri Masjid in
1992, a seering truth has settled in
the Muslim mind. The Congress had
cheated the community from day
one. So he left the Congress but
having done so, where should he
go? Rank casteist parties
Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP) opened their
doors. In a daze, the Muslim walked
in as an enabler of casteist power.
There was nothing in it for him.
And now, Congress, SP, BSP are all
fallen icons, piled up in a lifeless
heap. Where should the Muslim go?

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
 20 March 25-31, 2017 BOOKS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Yogi Adityanath's arrest changed

him, claims upcoming book
ven as most people are still trying to refrained from leading the mob and partici

E come to terms with the appointment of

Yogi Adityanath as Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister, an upcoming book on him and his
Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) claims that his
arrest in January 2007 changed him to a
large extent.
Yogi Adityanath was arrested while he
and his followers were marching towards
Gorakhpur's troubled areas on January 28,
2007 after he made an inflammatory
speech.
"Whatever be the reason, the arrest and
the state government's decision to withdraw
the security guards who had been assigned
to protect Adityanath seemed to have
unnerved him so much that his eyes welled
up and tears rolled down his face as he
explained to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath
Chatterjee about what he called the 'politi
cal conspiracy' ag ainst him," author
Dhirendra K. Jha ment ions in "Yog i
Adityanath and the Hindu Yuva Vahini".
With this episode Yogi weeping in the
Parliament image of a firebrand leader as
well as his outfit's activities in eastern UP
Dhirendra K. Jha says
pating in attacks on Muslims as he was ear
lier wont to. Later, even as the HYV revived
its organizational activities, his reactivation
in his book, "Yogi was restricted to making inflammatory
Adityanath and the speeches and part icipat ing in token
actions," says the upcoming book from
Hindu Yuva Vahini", Juggernaut.
Ever since then, according to the book,
that after his 2007 Yogi has become cautious of his actions.
"In his speeches he still followed the same
arrest, new chief min- old extremist politics. But in action, he
ister still followed the appeared to have become cautious even if
he claimed to be the same old Yogi," Jha
same old extremist adds in the book.
The book is part one of an eightpart
politics, but in action, series "Shadow Armies: Fringe
Org anizat ions and Foot Soldiers of
he appeared to have Hindutva" and w ill be available on
become cautious. Juggernaut and in bookstores in April
2017.
The author, Dhirendra K. Jha, is a sea
took a serious hit. "For some time the HYV soned political journalist and has previously
appeared to be in shambles and Adityanath coauthored "Ayodhya: The Dark Night"

Amarinder Singh threatened to quit Congress

if not made state party chief: Biography
unjabs newlyappointed son Raninder, was adamant that in Punjab for so many years as

P CAPTAIN
Chief Minister, Amarinder
Singh told Congress Vice
president Rahul Gandhi in 2015
that he was ready to quit and float
his own outfit if he was not
appointed state party chief. An
authorized biog raphy of
Amarinder Singh claims that even
though Sonia Gandhi was open to
bringing Singh back at the helm
in Punjab, Rahul Gandhi was dead
against taking away the baton
from Pratap Sing h Bajwa.
Tensions reached a high point in
October 2015 in the capital when
Rahul Gandhi asked Amarinder
Singh if he was floating his own
party to which Singh replied:
What youve heard is absolutely
correct, biographer Khushwant
Singh, not to be confused with the
late literary giant, quotes him as
saying in Captain Amarinder
Singh: The Peoples Maharaja. If
I do not fit in your scheme of
things, I will need to find an alter
native. I live in Punjab; the Akalis
have ruined Punjab and I have to
look for my own path if you dont
have a plan for me, the biography
quotes Amarinder Singh as telling
Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi, on his part, said
that if this step was taken both
the Cong ress and Amarinder
Singh would be the losers. So be
it, contended Singh. Eventually,
Amarinder Singh was appointed
as the Punjab Pradesh Congress
President on November 27, 2015.
He was sworn in as the Chief
Minister on Thursday after the
Congress romped home with 77
seats in the 117member assem
bly. Bajwa represented Gurdaspur
in the Lok Sabha from 2009 to
2014. He was earlier a member of
the Punjab assembly and was ele
vated to state party chief in March
2013.
Even after Amarinder Singhs
victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha
election from Amritsar where is
resounding ly de feated Arun
Jaitley despite the Narendra Modi
wave of that year his focus was
AMARINDER
SINGH:
The
Peoples
Maharaja
is an
unauthorized
biography
totally on regaining his lost berth
as the Punjab Congress chief,
which would eventually help to
again catapult him into the Chief
Ministers chair. But the Congress
high command turned a deaf ear
to his claims, pushing the Punjab
unit of the party towards faction
alism as Singh and Bajwa began
flaying each other in the media.
Amarinder Sing h, who had
enjoyed a very cordial relation
ship with Sonia Gandhi, suddenly
felt coldshouldered by the Gandhi
family. Rahul Gand hi, whom
Amrinder Singh would frequently
take out for outings whenever he
visited Doon School to meet his
he would not consider the case of
his fathers friend, Khushwant
Singh writes. Published in the last
week of February by Hay House
India, it is the authorised biogra
phy of the Punjab Chief Minister
and, therefore, clearly implies that
Amarinder Sing h has duly
approved all the incidents and
facts that find mention.
By the end of 2014, several
meetings between Amarinder
Singh and the Congress top brass
yielded no result.
During this period of uncertain
ty, his team also flirted the idea of
him becoming part of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and
when this too did not work, he
flexed his muscles further. Singh
then went on to question the lead
ership ability of Rahul Gandhi
time and again but the Congress
high command seemed to be
shutting its eyes, the ground reali
ty notwithstanding.
After his pride had been hurt, he
was advised by his supporters to
float his own party, but Singh held
Sonia Gandhi in high esteem.
The reverence is not just an
outcome of she being an exPrime
Ministers wife or his schoolmates
wife but more so for her ability to
lead the party. Referring to her as
Mrs Gand hi, he frequently
expresses gratitude to her for
allowing him to lead the Congress
well as for making him the Chief
Minister (in February 2002),
states the biography, based on
scores of interviews spanning
over five years.
The situation, according to the
biography, deteriorated further in
one closeddoor meeting at 10,
Janpath, in late September 2015
when the Congress Vicepresi
dent did not bestow the respect a
senior leader like Amarinder
Singh deserved. Rahul Gandhi
was reminded by Sonia Gandhi
that he was talking to his fathers
friend, after which he calmed
down. Besides tracing the career
graph of Amarinder Singh, the
book provides meaning ful
insights into crucial events that
have made an immense impact on
that state and its neighbouring
areas over the past few decades.
Often confused with late writer
Khushwant Singh, who wrote the
muchacclaimed 1956 historical
novel Train to Pakistan, biogra
pher Khushwant Sing h is the
author of three books: the best
selling Sikhs Unlimited (2007), a
travelogue featuring extraordi
nary Sikhs; the g ripping
Turbaned Tornado: The Oldest
Marathon Runner Fauja Singh
(2011); and the widelyacclaimed
nove l Maharaja in Denims
(2014), a story set in Chandigarh.
Source: IANS
TheSouthAsianTimes.info DIASPORA March 25-31, 2017 21

Hindujas are UK's wealthiest Asians in 2017

London: NRI businessmen, the
Hinduja brothers, have retained
their position as the richest Asians
in the UK in 2017 with an estimated
wealth of 19 billion pounds, an
increase of 2.5 billion pounds over
last year, according to an annual
ranking of the richest Asians in
Britain.
Steel tycoon Lakshmi N Mittal
secured the second place with a for
tune of 12.6 billion pounds up
from 6.4 billion pounds last year
in the Eastern Eye Asian Rich List,
Britain's 101 Wealthiest Asians
2017, released last night.
According to the list, the Hinduja
brothers Srichand and Gopi in
London, Prakash in Geneva and
Ashok in Mumbai have seen sharp
increases in profitability in Ashok
Leyland, InduSind bank, Gulf Oil,
energy and real estate.
pounds last year a rise of 25 per
cent.
According to the list, the recovery
in the European steel market has
enabled the Mittal family to double
its net worth during the year.
Prakash Lohia, Chairman of the
Indorama Corporation
(Petrochemicals) is the 3rd richest
in the list with a fortune worth 4
billion pounds up 1 billion pounds
over last year.
Anil Agarwal, executive chairman
of Vedanta Resources, one of the
Hinduja brothers (Image courtesy indiaempire.com) fastest growing mining and metals
group in the world, is fourth in the
This has justified the family's long Marketing Group, presented the list along with Arora brothers
adopted policy of pursuing the path first copy of the Rich List to GP Simon, Bobby and Robin who own a
of diversity, the list said. Hinduja, CoChairman of the chain of retail stores.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Hinduja Group. Leading NRI industrialist Lord
who was the Chief Guest at the 20th Britain's 101 wealthiest Asians Swraj Paul is 14th in the list with an
Annual Asian Business Awards are collectively worth 69.9 billion estimated wealth of 800 million
organized by the Asian Media & pounds, up from 55.4 billion pounds as against 300 million
pounds last year.
At the awards ceremony, Surinder
Arora, founder and Chairman of the
Arora Group, collected the presti
gious Asian Business of the Year
Award. The Arora Group is one of
UK's largest private owner operator
of hotels.
Other winners included Young
Entrepreneur of the year Aly Esmail,
CEO of SME Group, Entrepreneur of
the year Subodh Agrawal, Chairman
of Euromax Capital and the
Business Personality Award winner
Prakash Lohia, Founder and
Chairman of Indorama Group.
"London is home to one of the
largest and most diverse South
Asian communities in the world,
which contributes a huge amount to
the city's success socially, cultural
ly and economically," Khan said in
his keynote speech. (PTI)

Indianorigin woman Kerala priest stabbed Attacker of Indian priest

officer sues Scotland Yard
over sexism, racism claims
London: An Indianorigin female
officer is among three policewomen
suing Scotland Yard over racism
and sexism claims, a media report
said on Sunday.
Police constable Usha Evans,
detective constable Nighat Hubbard
the Metropolitan Police's first
Muslim policewoman to be awarded
an honor by the Queen and
Hubbard's colleague Catherine Bell
allege they had faced discrimination
from white male of ficers, T he
Sunday Times reported. A judge
ruled last week that it would be
"just and equitable" for Hubbard to
bring the legal claim after the Met
Police was trying to block her from
making the employment tribunal
claim.
In a preliminary judgment, among
the allegations made by the three
of ficers included white colleagues
being allowed to work on more
complex investigations, while the
women were held back. The allega
tions date between 2013 and 2014.
Hubbard also alleged that male
of ficers had made discriminatory
comments on her and other women
in the force.
An internal inquiry by Scotland
Yard found the men had "no case to
answer", but Hubbard described it
as a "whitewash".
One senior officer she accused of
discrimination, former detective
inspector Mick Standing, was "pro
tected" by the Met and, after her
complaint about him, was allowed
to retire and join the Independent
Police Complaints Commission
(IPCC), according to Hubbard's
claim.
Standing, who left the organiza
tion earlier this month, denies the
claims and said he had been "com
pletely exonerated" by a Met inves
tigation.
According to Hubbard's witness
statement, Be ll reported that
Standing had told another female
Asian officer, "You need to grow a
beard, shout more and be more
masculine".
Hubbard's claim makes allega
tions about another white, male
of ficer who she claims mocked
Evans' religion.
Hubbard is leading the allegations
which include that when she, Evans
and Be ll complained about the
alleged discrimination to Scotland
Yard, the anticorruption command
Directorate of Professional
Standards (DPS) investigation that
followed was a "sham and a
coverup".
by Italian in Melbourne;
out of danger
arrested, says Sushma Swaraj
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday
said that Australian Police have arrested the attacker of the Indian
priest, who was stabbed in Melbourne, and charged him with
attempt to murder.
"Our Consulate officials met Father Mathew in the hospital. The
police have arrested the attacker and charged him with attempt to
murder," Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet on Monday.
"Our Consulate is in touch with the police authorities and will
keep us informed of the progress of the case," she tweeted.
Speaking on the reason for attack, the minister said: "The attack
er had a problem with Father Mathew presiding over the church."
Thiruvananthapuram: A Government will ensure safety
Catholic priest from Kerala was
attacked by an Italian on of diaspora: Sushma
Sunday when the former was
New Delhi: External Af fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on
leading the Sunday mass in a
Wednesday that India has raised the recent incidents of violence
Melbourne church.
with Indian citizens in the U.S. at the highest level and assured that
"The priest, Tomy Mathew,
the government will ensure safety of diaspora.
was stabbed in the neck with a
The minister was making a statement in the Lok Sabha, where
kitchen knife by the Italian dur
she made an appearance for the first time since her kidney trans
ing the mass at a Catholic
plant surgery.
church in Melbourne suburbs,"
The minister assured the House that the government was giving
said Thiruvallom Bhasi, editor
highest priority to the safety of Indian diaspora.
of a Melbourne daily who is
"Safety and security of Indian diaspora abroad remains a top pri
currently visiting here.
ority for this government. We are in a continuous dialogue with
"While the ceremony was on,
the U.S. government.
the accused came forward and
Close contacts with the local Indian community groups are being
shouted that since he (Mathew)
maintained through our embassy and consulates to address any
is an Indian, he cannot conduct
emergent issues.
the mass," Bhasi added.
"We will remain vigilant to developments impacting the lives of
Bhasi said the accused was
Indians abroad and do everything possible to safeguard their
arrested by Melbourne Police.
interests and welfare," Swaraj said.
The priest is now said to be
The minister's response came a week after the Lok Sabha mem
out of danger. (IANS)
bers raised concern over hate crimes against Indians in the U.S.
 22 March 25-31, 2017 SUBCONTINENT TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Prachanda to meet Xi on China visit

Kathmandu: Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa
Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' left for China on
Thursday to attend the Boao Asia Forum in
China's Hainan province during which he
will also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping,
the Foreign Ministry announced.
Prachanda will travel to Beijing to meet Xi.
This is his first official visit to China after
becoming the Prime Minister in August last
year.
"The Prime Minister will meet the Chinese
President on March 27 (Monday) at the
Great Hall of the People where both leaders
will discuss matters of mutual interest," the
Foreign Ministry said.
The Chinese side has already communicat
ed that the meet ing between Xi and
Prachanda will a brief one no longer than
20 minutes and Xi had cut short his other
engagements to make time for it.
As Prachanda's visit to Nepal's northern
neighbour will be keenly followed and
watched in New Delhi, it is almost of ficial
that no accord or understanding will be
signed during the visit, announced
Prachanda a day ahead of his China visit.
"We are not going to sign any deal in this
visit," said Prachanda at a CPN (Maoist
Centre) Central Office meeting.
"My visit will be to lay the ground for the
visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to
Nepal and the objective of my China visit is
focused on bringing him to Nepal," he said.
Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat
also said that Nepal is not going to sign any
deal with China but will discuss some crucial
bilateral issues.
He said that discussions would take place
on matters pertaining to the Chinainitiated Prachanda will return to Nepal on March 29.
"One Belt One Road" (OBOR) plan and par
ticipation of Nepal in China's flagship for
eign policy initiative.
Likewise, issues related to NepalChina
Transit and Transportation Agreement, its
protocol and expansion of crossborder
transmission line in northern border would
be discussed.
On OBOR, the Foreign Minister said Nepal
and China have discussed in length about it
and its possible advantage to Nepal, but "we
cannot agree on free trade with China as
Nepali side is still considering its merits and
demerits", he added.
Mahat said Nepal had prepared to sign at
least five agreements with China on various
issues, but they wouldn't be signed this time
as Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and
Foreign Minister Wang Yi will not be avail
able in Beijing during Prachanda's visit.
Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa
Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.

MUSHARRAF WANTED Sikhism to be included in

'UNDERHAND' DEAL census forms: Pakistan court
Islamabad: The Peshawar High minorities, reported Geo TV. munity leader Advocate Heera

IN 2007: SHARIF Court (PHC) has directed the

provincial statistics department
to include the Sikh community in
the national census form pre
pared for the ongoing headcount.
The PHC was hearing a case
filed by the Sikh community,
which requested that the Sikh
minority should be included in
the form, similar to other sec
tions present of the religious
T he court directed that the
implementation of the ruling
should be carried out in the sec
ond phase of the population cen
sus.
On Tuesday, a Sikh community
leader filed a petition in the
Sind h Hig h Court (SHC) to
include Sikhism in the religion
column in the census form.
Talking to Geo News, Sikh com
Singh Khalsa said he filed the
case on the basis of article 251
that said:
"All citizens are equal before
the law and are entitled to equal
protection of the law."
Following this, the SHC sent
not ices to the Chie f Census
Commissioner and Provincial
Census Commissioner to submit
their response in the matter.

ExSri Lankan
minister fasts, 'Pakistan to blame
seeks release
Colombo: Sri Lanka's former
Housing Minister Wimal
for violence in
Weerawansa, currently in prison on

Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif has said
that former military ruler
Pervez Musharraf of fered him
an "underhand" deal to form a
joint government but he turned
it down.
Addressing the ruling
Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz
(PMLN) parliamentary com
mittee, Sharif said: "Musharraf
wanted a secret deal with me in
2007, but I declined."
Musharraf was the then
Pakistan President and Sharif
had just returned from exile.
T he Dawn on Wednesday
quoted Sharif as saying that he
didn't believe in making clan
destine deals with people who
had ruined people's aspira
tions.
He said his family did not
want to leave Pakistan after the
Musharrafled military coup
but was forced to go into exile
by the military dictator.
"We left the country in a mis
erable condition and were not
allowed to return for a long
time," he said.
T he Prime Minister noted
that Musharraf, a former
Pakistan Army chief, was now
facing a similar fate and had
left the country in disgrace.
"Now, Musharraf is willing to
return to the country, but he
cannot... it's divine retribution
for his actions," Sharif said.
Sharif was toppled by
Musharraf in a 1999 coup,
after which Sharif and his fami
ly went to live in Saudi Arabia.
However, Sharif 's assertions
were disputed by former
Musharraf aide and All
Pakistan Muslim League mem
ber Ahmed Raza Kasuri, the
Dawn reported.
"I have been working with
Gen. Musharraf for a long time
and I have never heard any
such thing," he said.
allegations of misusing state vehi
cles, has begun a hunger strike
demanding his release.
Weerawansa, a strong ally of for
mer President Mahinda Rajapakse,
was arrested on January 10 over
allegations of misusing state vehicles
during the former Rajapakse regime.
This caused a loss of 91 million Sri
Lankan rupees ($599,000) to the
state. A spokesperson for the former
minister said Weerawansa's arrest
was a political witchhunt and he had
started a hunger strike in prison
after his bail application was reject
ed by a high court on Tuesday.
Prison authorities confirmed
Weerawansa had refused to have his
breakfast on Wednesday and they
were monitoring the situation. This
is the second time Weerawansa has
gone on hunger strike. The former
minister launched a "fast unto death"
campaign in 2010 outside the UN
office in Colombo demanding that
former UN General Secretary Ban Ki
Moon dissolve a threemember panel
looking into human rights abuses in
the final stages of the war against
Tamil Tigers that ended in 2009.
Afghanistan'
Washington: Afg hanistan's
Foreign Minister Salahuddin
Rabbani has accused Pakistan
of supporting terrorist organi
zations and praised India for
being helpful in the develop
ment of his country.
Pakistan's reluctance to end
its support for terrorism under
pins the continuation of vio
lence in Afghanistan and the
reg ion, Rabbani said while
speaking on Afghanistan's for
eign policy priorities and impli
cations for the new US adminis
tration at a meeting organized
by the Atlantic Council think
tank in Washington.
T he Atlant ic Council is a
forum for countries to discuss
key issues such as peace, secu
rity, democracy and prosperity
around the world.
"Pakistan violates our air
space and frequently shells
eastern Afghanistan. T hese
routine violations undermine
any prospect of normal bilater
al relations, and pose a serious
threat to peace and security in
our reg ion and beyond,"
Rabbani said.
He said Afghanistan tried to
open a new chapter of relation
ship w ith Islamabad but,
"unfortunately, we did not see
pract ical steps taken by
Pakistan".
Rabbani said defeating ter
rorism in Afghanistan and the
reg ion is, fundamentally,
dependent on eliminating ter
rorist safehavens in countries
that harbour terrorists.
"They must end their spon
sorship of terrorism through
continual flow of financial,
moral and material aid."
T he minister said
Afghanistan has always chosen
cooperation over confrontation
and Islamabad should see its
neighbour as a sovereign and
independent country.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
London: British police confirmed
that deal toll in March 22 terror
attack outside the Parliament in
central London has risen to five.
Three people and a terrorist
were dead after an attacker
broug ht carnage to central
London, mowing down pedestri
ans on Westminster Bridge and
hacking at police with knives in
the grounds of the Houses of
Parliament.
Metro Police Assistant
Commissioner Mark Rowley told
reporters that about 40 people
were injured in the attack.
Rowley, also London's top anti
terror officer, said that the offi
cer who died in the attack has
been named as Keith Palmer,
who was 48 and had 15 years
service as a police officer.
He said he would not comment
on the identity of the attacker,
althoug h he suggested the
police was aware of who the
assailant was.
The attacker was shot dead
Iraqi forces evacuate
civilians from Mosul
amid heavy clashes
People evacuating eastern Mosul.
Mosul: Iraqi government forces
battling the Islamic State in
Mosul's western side evacuated
hundreds of civilians from the
city centre, as troop progress
slowed down faced with strong
resistance from the militants,
Iraqi officials said.
"Our forces evacuated hun
dreds of civilians to prevent ter
rorists from using them as
human shields, while our troops
are pushing inside the old city
centre to recapture the alNuri
Mosque," Lt Gen Raid Shakir
Jawdat, commander of the fed
eral police forces, said in a
statement, Xinhua reported.
"Dozens of federal police
snipers positioned themselves
atop building tops in the neigh
borhoods of the old city centre
around the alNuri Mosque,"
Jawdat said. The troops have
been fighting street by street
and house by house to recap
ture the historical alNuri
TERROR IN HEART OF LONDON:
5 killed in Parliament attack
after stabbing Palmer. The other
three victims were all civilians,
the police officer said.
At least 40 people were hit on
the crowded bridge when a 4x4
drove along the pavement,
kno cking down pedestrians
before crashing into a fence
below Big Ben, the local media
reported. An intruder, described
by a witness as "middleaged
and Asian", then managed to
break into the grounds of the
Parliament where he fatally
stabbed a police officer with two
knives, the Daily Mail reported.
T he policeman died at the
scene. The attacker, who was
shot by armed of ficers, died
after he was taken to hospital.
Mosque in the middle of Mosul's
old city centre, but were slowed
by heavy resistance from the IS
militants and the presence of
some 500,000 people living in
old homes with narrow alleys.
The mosque with its famous
leaning minaret, which gave the
city its nickname "alHadbaa" or
"the hunchback", has a symbolic
value as it was the place where
IS leader Abu Bakr alBaghdadi
declared the crossborder
"caliphate" in large areas in Iraq
and Syria in his sole public
appearance in July 2014.
"T he battles to liberate
Mosul's western side is pro
gressing slowly caused by fear
of harming civilian lives, in addi
tion to the presence of increas
ing number of Daesh (the IS)
snipers in Mosul's city centre,
with its narrow alleys," Defense
Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen.
Yahya Rasool told a news con
ference in eastern Mosul.
INTERNATIONAL
About 40 people were injured in the attack.
Prime Minister T heresa May
was bundled into her car by a
plainclothes police of ficer and
driven quickly from the scene as
the attack unfolded. She will
US bans electronics on flights
from 8 Muslim countries
Washington: Passengers headed
to the US from eight Muslim
majority countries and North
Africa have been barred from car
rying electronic devices larger
than a cellphone under a new
flight restriction enacted by the
Trump administration.
Officials said the directive was
an attempt to address gaps in for
eign airport security, and said it
was not based on any specific or
credible threat of an imminent
attack, the New York Times
reported.
The Department of Homeland
Security said the restricted items
included laptop computers,
tablets, cameras, travel printers
North Korea's latest missile
test 'worries' China
Beijing: China has expressed seri
ous concern and called for
restraint amid tensions in the
region following a fresh missile
test by North Korea.
T he South Korean De fence
Ministry said in a statement that
Pyongyang's latest missile report
edly explo ded after being
launched from near Kalma air
port in Wonsan city, reports Efe
news.
"Any unilateral actions for self
ish interest will only complicate
the situation and will not help
achieve their own security,"
Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
Hua declined to say if the mis
sile test was meant by the Kim
Jongun regime as a threat to the
US and China in view of their uni
March 25-31, 2017
chair a meet ing of the
Government's emergency Cobra
Committee.
Scotland Yard said the attack,
which comes a year to the day
and games bigger than a phone.
The restrictions would not apply
to aircraft crews, officials said in
a brie fing to reporters on
Monday night that outlined the
terms of the ban.
The new policy took ef fect on
Tuesday, and must be followed
within 96 hours by airlines flying
to the US from airports in Cairo
(Egypt), Dubai and Abu Dhabi
(UAE), Istanbul (Turkey), Doha
(Qatar), Amman (Jordan), Kuwait
City, Casablanca (Moro cco),
Jeddah and Riyad h (Saudi
Arabia).
Officials said the airports were
selected based on the "current
threat picture" and added that
Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Hua Chunying.
fied stance ag ainst the
Pyongyang weapons program.
Hua advocated China's proposal
to suspend the USSouth Korea
joint military manoeuvres in
exchange for North Korea halting
its nuclear and ballistic missile
tests.
23
after the terrorist atrocities in
Brussels, was being treated "as a
terrorist incident until we know
otherwise".
Witness Jayne Wilkinson said:
"We were taking photos of Big
Ben and we saw all the people
running towards us, and then
there was an Asian guy in about
his 40s carrying a knife about
seven or eight inches long.
"And then there were three
shots fired, and then we crossed
the road and looked over. The
man was on the floor with blood.
"He had a lightweight jacket
on, dark trousers and a shirt. He
was running throug h those
gates, towards Parliament, and
the police were chasing him."
the carriers that fail to follow
them risk losing their authorisa
tion to operate in the US.
The ban applies only to flights
on foreign carriers, and not
Americanoperated airlines.
Officials did not say how long the
ban would remain in place or if
other airports would be added,
said the report.
In all, officials said an estimat
ed 50 flights each day into the US
would be affected.
T he airlines af fected are
Egyptair, Emirates Airline, Etihad
Airways, Kuwait Airways, Qatar
Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal
Jordanian Airlines, Saudi Arabian
Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
Israel says 2014
assault in Gaza
'disproportionate'
Jerusalem: Israel's military Chief
of Staf f Lt Gen Gadi Eisenkot
said that Israel's offensive in the
Gaza Strip in 2014 was "dispro
portionate". "The Israel Defence
Forces employ a policy of using
aggressive and disproportionate
force to prevent situations in
which they fire rockets at us and
we return shells," Eisenkot told a
Knesset committee.
He said Israel will continue to
react "proportionally" to any
rocket fire.
"For us, there is one address in
the strip: Hamas," he said.
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist
organization that controls the
besieged enclave. On July 8,
2014, Israel launched a 51day
long military campaign in Gaza,
citing rocket fire from the strip.
 24 March 25-31, 2017
Hoping to implement GST
from July 1: Jaitley
New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley said that the government
was hoping to implement the
Goods and Services Tax (GST) by
July 1 after the enabling Bills get
Parliament's nod in the current
budget session.
"GST is the biggest reform in
India. Hope fully, GST w ill be
implemented by July 1. GST Bills
w ill hope fully be cleared in
Parliament," Jaitley said here at
the 23rd Conference of Auditors
General of Commonwealth
Nations hosted by the Comptroller
and Auditor General (CAG) of
India.
Jaitley said that India's indirect
taxation regime, which is current
ly the most complex in the world,
will transform into a simplified
one with the implementation of
GST.
"We have the most complicated
indirect tax systems. Once imple
New York: India has the fourth
largest number of billionaires
globally, with Reliance Industries
(RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani
heading the list of more than
100 high net worth individual
Indians, as per the latest listing
by American magazine Forbes.
The US, with 565, has more bil
lionaires than any other nation.
China comes next w ith 319,
while Germany is at number
three with 114.
Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates
heads the list for the fourth year
in a row with a fortune of $86
billion, up from $75 billion last
year.
Mukesh Ambani tops the list of
Indian billionaires, and is placed
33rd with a net worth of $23.2
billion.
Forbes said the RIL chairman
sparked a price war in the Indian
telecom market with the launch
of the Jio4G phone service last
September. His younger brother
Anil is ranked 745th with a net
worth of $2.7 billion.
T he US magazine said Anil
Ambani "orchestrated the merger
of his Reliance Communication's
telecom business with that of
rival Airce l, controlled by
Malaysian billionaire Ananda
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
mented, what is currently the
most complicated system in the
MUKESH AMBANI TOPS FORBES
LIST OF 101 INDIAN BILLIONAIRES
Krishnan. The combine, which
awaits regulatory approvals, will
be the country's fourthlargest
mobile phone operator".
Arce lorMittal Chairman
Lakshmi Mittal follows next at
the 56th spot with a net worth of
$16.4 billion.
About Mittal, Forbes said: "The
world's biggest steelmaker also
got a reprieve from import tariffs
on steel imposed by the US and
Europe and a onetime $832 mil
lion saving from a new labour
contract signed last year with its
US workers."
Mobile wallet Paytm founder
Vijay Shekhar Sharma is ranked
1,567 with his net worth of $1.3
billion and is "one of the biggest
beneficiaries of the government's
decision to demonetise 86 per
cent of India's rupees and move
to a cashless economy", Forbes
said.
Other Indians in the list include
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji
(72), Adani Group founder
BUSINESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Merger benefits to accrue
only from Q3 2017-18: SBI
New Delhi: Benefits from the
merger of five associate banks of
crore and figures at No. 64 in
the global ranking of banks (as
world will become the simplest in
the State Bank of India (SBI) into of December 2015; December
the world. The enabling laws are
itse lf, which w ill come into 2016 ranking is still awaited).
before the Parliament. By middle
ef fect from April 1, will accrue Postmerger, with assets of over
of the year (2017), we hope to see
only from the third quarter of Rs 40 lakh crore, it w ill be
the implementation of GST," he
201718 as the initial two quar among the top 50 banks in the
said.
ters may see some increase in world. SBI Chie f Economist
"Evasion of taxes will be difficult
costs, the country's largest Soumya Kanti Ghosh told IANS
under GST. Size of Indian econo
lender has said. that, postmerger, the bank will
my will increase," he added.
"We should start seeing the be at No. 45.
Jaitley also noted that India is
benefits of the merger after the With a 450 million customers,
an open economy with 90 per
end of the second quarter," SBI the merged entity is likely to
cent of the investment happening
Manag ing Director Dinesh have deposits worth Rs 25 lakh
through the automatic route.
Kumar Khara told IANS. crore and advances worth Rs 19
"Opposition to reforms is mini
"There will be some increase lakh crore, according to
mal. Opposition to protectionism
in costs of SBI because of the December 2016 figures.
is minimal. Reforms in the foreign
merger as we will relocate peo T he combined employee
direct investment (FDI) in India
ple. What I expect is that costs strength of SBI after the merger
have been significant and we are
may go up temporarily. But w ill be 270,000, including
among the most open economies
costs will not be the real repre 70,000 employees of the five
in the world," he said.
sentative in Q1, where it will associate banks.
The Finance Minister, however,
merely be the aggregation, or SBI will own a total 58,000
lamented that while public invest
consolidated balance sheet," he ATMs and 24,000 branches,
ment and FDI were high, private
said. SBI is India's largest bank which it intends to keep at the
sector investment still lagged
with assets of Rs 30.72 lakh same number.
behind.
Gautam Adani (250), Bajaj Group
Chairman Rahul Bajaj (544),
investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
(939), Infosys cofounder NR
Narayana Murthy (1,161), Dabur
Chairman Emeritus Vivek Chand
Burman (1,290), Infosys co
founder Nandan Nile kani
(1,290), Wockhardt chair Habil
Khorakiwala (1,567), Mahindra
group chief Anand Mahindra
(1,567) and Yes Bank head Rana
Kapoor (1,795).
Only four women billionaires
from India feature in the list, led
by Savitri Jindal at 303rd with a
net worth of $5.2 billion.
"After declining last year, the
fortune of steel and power clan,
whose matriarch Savitri Jindal
chairs the OP Jindal Group, rose
as steel prices recovered," Forbes
said.
Smita CrishnaGodrej from the
Godrej group is ranked 814th,
followed by Bio con founder
Kiran MazumdarShaw (973) and
Leena Tewari (1,030). Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPORTS March 25-31, 2017 25

Kohli has become the Trump of world sport: Oz media

New Delhi: The onfield antics from crick
eters of either side in the ongoing India
Australia series are refusing to die down,
with the Australian media comparing
home skipper Virat Kohli to US President
Donald Trump.
Kohli, who had earlier lashed out at the
Australians before falling short of calling
them 'cheats' after the second Test in
Bengaluru, was held accountable for con
tinual perpetuation of fake news by
Australian newspaper 'T he Daily
Telegraph'.
The newspaper alleged that the 28
yearold Delhi batsman launched a scan
dalous attack on his opposite number
Steve Smith and the Kangaroos where he
accused of them being systematic cheats,
but refused to apologise or provide any
concrete evidence.
"Virat Kohli has become the Donald
Trump of world sport. Just like President
Trump, Kohli decided to blame the media
as a means of trying to hide the egg
smeared right across his face," the news
paper reported.
After completion of the third Test,
which ended in a draw at Ranchi, Kohli
had on Monday accused the visitors of
trying to disrespect the Indian team
physio Patrick Farhart.
"They (fourfive of them) started taking
Patrick's name. I don't know why. He's
our physio. His job is to treat me. I don't
find the reason behind it. I could not
understand. You must ask why they have
started taking his name," Kohli said at
post match press conference.
Kohli, who hurt his shoulder while
fielding on the opening day of the third
Test, only came to bat on the third day
after missing most of the action on the
first two days.
Later, it was Australian allrounder
Glenn Maxwell, who started mocking the
India captain, when he dived to save a
boundary. Kohli gave it back with simi
lar gestures, when leftarm spinner
Ravindra Jadeja went through opener
David Warner's defence in the second
innings.
Denying his counterpart's accusations,
Smith said: "It was a bit disappointing. I
didn't actually do anything. Virat was
having a go at me saying I was disre
specting Patrick Farhart. I was probably
the exact opposite."
"I think he (Patrick) probably did a
pretty terrific job to be able to get Virat
back on the field after that shoulder
injury. He's a terrific physio and he obvi
ously does a great job for them," the 27
yearold added.
India skipper Virat Kohli.

Pujara gains No.2 slot; Jadeja pips Ashwin Third Test: Handscomb, Marsh
Dubai: Indian players continued
to rule the International Cricket
Council's (ICC) Test rankings as
Ranchi doublecenturion
Cheteshwar Pujara gained four
spots to a careerbest No.2 spot
while his teammate Ravindra
Jadeja consolidated his stay on
top of the bowler's list after push
ing fellow tweaker Ravichandran
Ashwin to the No.2 spot.
Jade ja, who g rabbed nine
Australian wickets in the drawn
third Test, gained seven points
after starting jointfirst with
Ashwin at 892 points. The left
arm spinner has become only the
third Indian player after Ashwin
and Bishan Bedi to top the bowl
ing charts on his own.
Jadeja, who grabbed five for
landmark as his tally of 899 rat
ing points puts him on the brink
of becoming only the second
India bowler after Ashwin to
touch the 900point mark.
Ashwin, who had a highest rating
of 904 points, has slipped 37
points behind Jade ja to 862
points after finishing with only
two wickets in Ranchi.
India pacer Umesh Yadav also
gained three places to find him
self at a careerhigh No.26 while
South Africa spinner Keshav
Maharaj has risen 15 places to
reach a careerbest 37th spot
after taking eight wickets against
New Zealand in Wellington while
Cheteshwar Pujara.
Mustafizur Rahman of
124 and four for 52 in Ranchi, Bangladesh jumped 20 spots to
has also closed in on a major be positioned at No.47.
carry Australia to safety
Ranchi: The middle order duo of
Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb
produced some gritty batting to
he lp Australia salvage a draw
against India in the third cricket
Test match at the Jharkhand State
Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium
here. Handscomb and Marsh forged
a brilliant 124run fifthwicket
stand as Australia ended their sec
ond innings at 204/6 and denied
the hosts any chance of gaining a 2
1 lead in the series.
The Indians had declared their
first innings at 603/9 on the fourth
day for a lead of 152 runs in
response to Australia's first innings
total of 451. Handscomb consumed
200 de liveries and remained
unbeaten on 72. Marsh produced
his own impersonation of a stone
wall at the other end, taking up 197
deliveries enroute to an extremely
patient 53 before falling to an
excellent catch by Murali Vijay off
Ravindra Jadeja's bowling around
nine overs from the close.
Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin
got rid of Glenn Maxwell a couple of
overs later, but that proved to be
the last bit of meaningful action in
the match as Matthew Wade joined
Handscomb to bat out the remain
ing overs. For India, leftarm spin
ner Jadeja was the pick of the
bowlers with figures of 4/54 while
Ashwin and pacer Ishant Sharma
clinched a wicket each.

The incredible journey of The Great Khali

F
rom living under circum
stances where getting two
meals a day seemed difficult,
a man decided to fight against his
destiny and overcome the hurdles
to win the World Wrestling
Entertainment ( WWE) champi
onship. This is the story of The
Great Khali.
"The Man Who Became Khali,"
written in seemingly simple lan
guage, is a short memoir of the
journey of Dalip Singh Rana who
later went on to become the The
Great Khali.
The 178page book is spread
over 27 short chapters, opening
with a prologue which conveys the
thought behind the book.
He writes about one incident
when people flocked around him,
making him feel like a superstar. It
was one of his friends who suggest
ed with the idea of scripting down
his emotions in the form of a biog
raphy. The next pages are set in
chronological order of the inci
dents that happened in the
wrestler's life.
The initial chapters take readers
through his struggling days where
he writes about his biggest regret
in life not completing his basic
education. Being a fifth standard
dropout, Khali had to face huge
criticism and go through humilia
tion.
"Being uneducated, I know the
pain of not receiving a good educa
tion. I had to face a lot of hardships
due to the lack of knowledge and
communication skills. I remember
feeling a sharp sting in my heart
when people mocked me because I
couldn't speak English, when I was
not able to make quick calculations
or when I wasn't able to fill the par
ticipation forms by myself," he
mentions in the book.
However, just like in Bollywood
films, here too, the protagonist
rises, defeats all odds and pro
gresses on the path of success.
Lady Luck finally bestows her
blessing upon him, and brings in
good days.
All it took was an interview to a
media house to gain some atten
tion in his locality and eventually
got him a job with the Punjab
Police. The reason? He was differ
ent'. "You are huge, very huge.
Don't you think people should
know about you?" a journalist
asked him during an interview.
This led to the publication of a fea
ture story on him and fame and
recognition followed. For a man
who had never heard of WWE end
ing up being a champion perhaps
counts for a story to be told.
"It intensified my interest in
wrestling and I found the moves
fascinating," he writes when he
The Great Khali.
first watched a match on television.
 26 March 25-31, 2017
Stephen Hawking raises concerns
over Trumps environmental policy
The worlds most famous scientist has also signed up
for space journey aboard Branson's Virgin Galactic.
eading physicist Stephen
L Hawking has slammed
President Donald Trump's
environmental policy and called for
the oust ing of Environmental
Protect ion Agency chie f Scott
Pruitt.
Hawking is a recipient of the
prestigious U.S. Franklin medal for
science and winner of the presiden
tial Medal of Freedom from Barack
Obama and spoke out his concerns
over "definite swing to a rightwing,
more authoritarian approach."
"He should replace Scott Pruitt at
the EPA," Hawking said and noted
that climate change is an unstop
pable danger.
"It affects America badly, so tack
ling it should win votes for his sec
ond term. God forbid."
Comment ing on a quest ion
whether he would visit the United
States, Hawking said he may not be
welcome under President Trump.
In the past, Hawking had called
Trump a demagogue.
"Trump was elected by people
who felt disenfranchised by the
governing elite in a revolt against
Great Barrier Reef's
survival relies on
reducing warming
ustralia's Great Barrier
A
Reef can be
saved only if
urgent steps are
taken to reduce
g lobal warming, a
new research
revealed on Thursday.
Attempting to stop
coral bleaching
throug h any other
method will not be suf
ficient, according to the
research, published in
the journal Nature.
It said bleaching events should
no longer be studied individual
ly, but as threats to the reef 's
survival, the BBC reported.
The bleaching or loss of algae
in 2016 was the worst on
record. "Climate change is the
single greatest threat to the
Great Barrier Reef," said co
author professor Morg an
Pratchett, from Queensland's
James Cook University.
"It all comes down to what the
governments in Australia and
around the world do in terms of
mitigating further rises in tem
Stephen Hawking experiencing zero gravity.
globalization," he said in Good
Morning Britain. According to
Hawking, Trump's priority seems to
be satisfying his electorate who is
neither liberal nor well informed.
Meanwhile, Hawking revealed
that he has given his nod for a
space journey on board Richard
Branson's spaceship and never
dreamed of a space journey.
"Richard Branson has offered me
a seat on Virgin Galactic, and I said
per
atures."
Pratchett said he remained
optimistic the reef could recover,
but the "window of opportunity"
to curb emissions was closing.
"It's the number one thing we
need to think about now to save
the reef," he told the BBC.
The reef a vast collection of
thousands of smaller coral reefs
stretching from the northern tip
of Queensland to the state's city
of Bundaberg was given World
Heritage status in 1981.
The UN says it is the "most bio
diverse" of all the World
Heritage sites, and of "enormous
scientific and intrinsic impor
tance".
SCI-TECH TheSouthAsianTimes.info
One billion Yahoo
accounts are
up for sale
ne billion Yahoo
O
accounts are up for
sale
$200,000 or
at
best of fer, a
media report
has said.
T he pass
words do not
work, but the
dates of birth, added.
telephone numbers The authorities
and security ques were t ig htlipped about
tions could still be their investigation of the 2013
useful to an adept cyberthief, a attack, which is the largest
New York Times report said. known breach of a private com
US Federal prosecutors pany's computer systems. The
unsealed indictments this week 2014 hacking of Yahoo's
ag ainst four Russian men, servers is the second largest.
yes immediate ly," he said.
including two hackers and two "We're not willing to com
Branson's spaceship named Virgin
intelligence of ficers, responsi ment right now if there is a
Galactic hopes to carry people into
ble for a 2014 intrusion into connection between the two
space on commercial missions.
Yahoo's systems that af fected invest ig at ions," Malcolm
Meanwhile, in a testimony, U.S.
500 million user accounts. Palmore, who oversees the
Defense Secretary James Mattis
Despite this, data on 1 billion Federal Bureau of
told a Senate panel that climate
accounts stolen in another Investigation's cybersecurity
change is a serious threat to nation
attack on the company in 2013 division in San Francisco, said
al security. This dif fers from the
appeared to remain available on Wednesday in a brief inter
stand of Trump administration that
on underground hacker forums view after the government
has been playing down the threats
on Friday, the NYT report unveiled the indictments.
of climate change.
Apple unveils
Why jokes are funny?
updated iPad with
lowest-ever price Ask quantum theory
pple Inc unveiled an
A updated version of its
hy was 6 afraid of 7? added in the paper published in
W
iPad tablet with a brighter
Because 789. Whether the journal Frontiers in Physics.
screen on Tuesday, available to
this pun makes you The results indicate that apart
order from Friday and with a
giggle or groan in pain, your from the delivery of informa
$329 start
reaction is a consequence of the tion, something else is happen
ing price
ambiguity of the joke. Thus far, ing on a cognitive level that
that is the
models have not been able to makes the joke as a whole funny
lowest ever
fully account for the complexity whereas its deconstructed com
for a full
of humor or exactly why we find ponents are not, and which
sized tablet
puns and jokes funny but makes a quantum approach
f r o m
researchers now suggest a novel appropriate to study this phe
Apple.
approach: quantum nomenon.
Apple also said its smaller
theory. For decades, researchers have
iPhone SE model will be avail
In a paper, they have outlined tried to explain the phenome
able in 32 and 128 gigabyte
a quantum inspired model of non of humor and what happens
(GB) versions, replacing the 16
humor, hoping that this new on a cognit ive leve l in the
GB and 64 GB models.
approach may succeed at a moment when we "get the joke".
The hardware updates are
more nuanced modeling of the During the buildup of the joke,
incremental improvements that
cognition of humor. we interpret the situation one
were announced w ithout a
"Funniness is not a preexist way, and once the punch line
major media event. Apple is
ing 'element of reality' that can comes, there is a shift in our
widely expected to unveil an
be measured; it emerges from understanding of the situation,
update to its flagship iPhone
an interact ion between the which gives it a new meaning
this fall that might have new
underlying nature of the joke, and creates the comical ef fect,
features such as wireless charg
the cognitive state of the listen the authors noted.
ing, 3D facial recognition and a
er, and other social and environ Although much work remains
curved display.
mental factors," explained Liane before the completion of a for
The new iPad model starts at
Gabora from University of mal quantum theory model of
32 GB of storage and replaces
British Columbia, corresponding humor, the findings provide an
the iPad Air 2. It will be slightly
author of the paper. exciting first step and opens for
less expensive than the smaller
This makes the quantum for the possibility of a more
iPad Mini 4, which starts at
malism an excellent candidate nuanced modeling of humor,
$399 for a 128 GB model.
for modeling humor, Gabora the team said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info LIFESTYLE March 25-31, 2017 27

Impulsive Facebook use may Emma

cause brain imbalance
New York: Do you have the habit of
constantly checking Facebook or
other social media sites while driv
ing, in a work meeting, or at other
times? Beware, it could lead to a defi
ciency in the balance between two
systems in the brain, researchers
warn.
The findings showed that when
there is an imbalance between two
cognitivebehavioral systems in the
human brain, there is a higher rate
of problematic use of social network
ing sites.
In the study, researchers from the
DePaul University in the US applied
the dual system perspective an
established theory in cognitive psy
chology and neuroscience which
holds that humans have two differ
ent mechanisms in their brain that
influence their decisionmaking.
While System 1 is automatic and
reactive, quickly triggered, often sub
consciously, in reaction to stimulus
such as a sight of or notifications
from social media, System 2 is a
reflective, reasoning system that
moves more slowly, regulates cogni
tions and controls behaviors, accord
ing to Hamed QahriSaremi, assistant
professor at DePaul University. The
second system can help individuals
control impulses and behaviors that
are not in their best interest, he
added.
Watson's
Beauty &
the Beast
For the study, detailed in the
Journal of Management Information dress was
Systems, the team obtained respons
es from 341 undergraduate college crafted in
students from a North American uni
versity who use Facebook.
India
The results showed that individu
New York: As Emma Watson artisan brothers Kasam and Juma
als who displayed higher levels of
brings to life the Disney classic from Bhuj to painstaking ly
problematic use of Facebook had a
Beauty And The Beast heres an embroider the fine bodice by hand
strong cognitiveemotional preoccu
interesting piece of information using an 18th century French flo
pation (system 1) and a weak cogni
about one of her costumes that ral design. The films assistant cos
tivebehavioral control (system 2),
was crafted in India. Gujarati tume designer Sinad OSullivan
creating an imbalance.
craftsmen embroidered the flow shared more details of the work
In fact, the greater the imbalance
ery bodice of an of fwhite dress that went behind it in her
between the two systems, the more
Emma Watson is seen wearing in Instagram post, revealing the Aari
likely individuals were to engage in
the film. T he films costume technique used to create this par
problematic social media use behav
designer Jacqueline Durran got ticular design.
iors, the researchers said.

IBM, MIT Pune

introduce Watson
powered robot 'Chintu'

Pune: IBM in collaboration with Maharashtra

Inst itute of Technolog y (MIT ), Pune, on
Thursday introduced 'Chintu' a cognitive
assistant powered by IBM Watson that will
assist senior citizens in conducting everyday
tasks.
The students at MIT, Pune, have been using
IBM Watson APIs powered by IBM Bluemix to
solve day to day problems, the company said in
a statement.
"What I like most about Watson is that it can
solve real world problems. These services can
be used as and when required, and are always
accessible," Krishnamohan Manmohan, a stu
dent at MIT, Pune, said on the sidelines on the
ongoing MIT Tech Fest.
"The robot has opened up a new and exciting
research avenue for our students. Robotics,
machine learning and cognitive computing are
interesting and exploring fields of research
today and our students are getting first hand
experience of working in these fields," added
Vrushali Kulkarni, Professor and Head of
Computer Engineering Department at MIT,
Pune.
Meanwhile, Mezjan Dallas, University
Relations Leader at IBM India said that it was
amazing to see what bright young students
could do with technologies like IBM Watson.
"This is a great example of cocreation. You
put great technology in the hands of bright and
enthusiastic students, you give them freedom
and a fun element and India's next generation
of engineers start to do magical things. This is
the way in which innovation will happen in the
future," Dallas added.
Drawing from Watson's domain knowledge,
Chintu assists senior citizens in completing
tasks like reading the newspaper/book, provide
mood based entertainment services for song
and dance and generate reminders on their
daily medication.
 28 March 25-31, 2017
If your Facebook friends arent
inspiring you, you need to try mine
y three children have
M grown up in the Internet
age and dont remember
what life was like be fore
Facebook, Twitter and other social
media were around. I remember it
well. I remember the days when I
didnt have to compare myself to
all the people on Facebook who
have achieved so much in their
lives.
It isnt enough that many of
these people are ultrasuccessful
in their careers, theyre also ultra
successful in other areas of their
lives, particularly in their exercise
programs. I dont know about
your Facebook friends, but some
of mine are regularly running
marathons, completing Ironman
triathlons, and swimming across
the English Channel. Meanwhile,
Im flipping through my cable TV
lineup, looking for an English
channel.
Yes, some of my Face book
friends are in superb shape. Its a
BEST
RATE
FOR
INDIA
AND
PAKISTAN
New York Head Quarter
422S Broadway
HICKSVILLE
NY 11801
5168271010
Humor with Melvin Durai
wonder that they havent yet com
peted in the Olympic Games, but
thats only because they have very
important jobs and cant take time
off to attend the Olympic trials.
Im certain that if they had a
chance to compete in the
Olympics, lots of records would be
broken, such as the record for
most Facebook posts while run
ning a marathon.
You mig ht think that my
Facebook friends are just using
social media to brag about their
exercise routines, but I dont think
so. I know these people well, and
let me tell you, if they have a con
ceited bone in their bodies, they
must be hiding it under their Nike
FlexRepel training shorts.
T he main reason they share
their sports accomplishments is
not to brag, but to inspire me and
others. In the middle of a
marathon, when they take a selfie
of themselves, they say to them
selves, If I post this on Facebook,
HUMOR
maybe it will convince Melvin to
get his butt off the couch and join
me in the next marathon. And
maybe hell be close enough to
take pictures of me from another
angle.
Whenever they post something
on Face book or other so cial
media, theyre taking a risk that
people will think theyre showing
off, that people wont realize the
motivational service theyre pro Mumbai tend to attract many
viding. Theyre also taking a risk
that researchers will conduct
studies about them and make mis
leading conclusions.
Indeed, researchers at Brunel
University in London conducted
such a study and concluded that
people who share their exercise
routines on social media tend to
be narcissists.
Narcissists are people who are
obsessed w ith themse lves.
(Donald Trump, in case youre
wondering, isnt a narcissist. Hes
the NarcissistinChief.) thing about their exercise rou
The main goal
of these people
is to brag about
how much time
they invest in
their looks,
according to
the researchers.
Status updates
such as Just
completed a 10
km run through
Laughter is the Best Medicine
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
likes, but not because people
enjoy being updated about these
accomplishments.
Although our results suggest
that narcissists bragging pays off
because they receive more likes
and comments to their status
updates, it could be that their
Facebook friends politely of fer
support while secretly disliking
such egotistical displays, said Dr.
Tara Marshal, a psychology pro
fessor at Brunel University.
When my friends post some
that was with a stray dog chasing
tines, I immediately like the post,
partly because I want to encour
age them and partly because I
want Facebook to stop showing
me the post over and over.
(Unfortunate ly when Al Gore
invented the Internet, he also cre
ated something that determines
what Facebook shows me on my
news feed, something called an
AlGoreRhythm.)
Am I annoyed by these posts?
Courtesy: cleveland.com
Well, it depends. If a friend is
updating me about the marathon
he just completed, Im neither
annoyed nor inspired. I know Ill
never run a marathon, so it does
nt bother me that one of my
friends is doing it. There is no
voice in my head saying, You
should run a marathon, too,
Melvin. You should run 26 miles
and then spend 26 months recov
ering in the hospital. (It still
amazes me that any human can
run a marathon. The most Ive
ever run is about five miles and
me.)
On the other hand, if a friend is
updating me that he just went for
a 20minute run, then Im a little
annoyed, because I know that I
could easily get myself of f the
couch, run for 20 minutes and
post about it on Facebook.
Yes, with a little more effort and
discipline, I could be the one
whom everyone be lieves is a
narcissist.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
MARCH 2531, 2017
ARIES: Learn from past mistakes and keep
longterm interest in mind at professional
front. Entertainment will be a real fun pro
vided all the members of the family join you. Do
not make rash decisions, especially when negotiat
ing major financial deals. Use your discretion
power in love this week. You need to remain calm
& tensionfree to enjoy a sound health. Some
arrangements before you go on an overseas trip
will save your time, effort and give you peace of
mind. If youre planning a property, be sure to
consider the legal aspect. High time to get ready
to face the life of adventure & risk and dont give
unnecessary importance to minor hurdles.
TAURUS: Make sure you dont hire for the
sake of hiring. Make sure you do some
thing exciting and different with people at
home. Dig deep beneath the surface to find out
more about the investment scheme that seems to
be attracting you. However consult experts before
making any commitment. Behave properly while
going out with love companion. It is time for you
to enjoy a short pleasure trip to recharge body
Minor preparations before you travel overseas
will make your trip a lot smoother. Shopping for a
commercial real estate loan can be tricky. You will
have to constantly adjust opinion in public.
GEMINI: Keep business interests supreme
while hiring professionals. Performing rit
uals/auspicious ceremonies at home prove
high beneficial. Avoid overspending in order to
impress others. If possible, spend quality time with
love partner to know & understand each other bet
ter. Knowing your calories would enable to keep
yourself fit. Traveling with kids can be a challenge,
try to reduce the stress and nerves. Your plan for a
personal loan might not work out. Make sure you
are not very busy in own af fairs otherwise
chances of people losing interest in you are high.
CANCER: Time to put thrust on looking
for selfdriven people who could take
business to newer heights. You succeed
in making new acquaintances provided you partic
ipate in social /family function. Be sure where you
put hardearned money because only wise invest
ments will fetch returns. Avoid revealing personal
& confidential secret to lover/beloved. Time to
understand body and at the same time avoid the
food that does not go well with it to keep ailments
a bay.
Excitement for a vacation is not enough, planning
is also required. Plan your budget first, and then
try for a property. You need to sincerely devote
yourself to excel in whatever you do.
LEO: This week much of professional suc
cess depends on senior colleagues cooper
ation. Gracefully accept the invitation with
family, if you are invited to somewhere you
havent been. Finances will definitely get a boost.
But at the same time there will be rise in expenses
too. Shortlived romantic opportunities could
come your way. Health will be fine despite some
mental pressures. It is advisable to be careful
regarding your safety, while traveling. Consider a
friend of yours when you plan to buy an office. It
is time for you to focus attention to achieve higher
goals.
VIRGO: Make sure you work in close coop
eration with seniors to bring desired
results at workplace. Benefit from the free
time by enjoying some lovely moments with fami
ly members. You will be presented with many new
financial schemes. However you must weigh them
considering all pros & cons before making any
commitment. Romantic partner seeks a firm com
mitment in love. Channelizing energy for self
improvement would immensely benefit you.
Vacations are meant to be fun filled and relaxing
but hectic schedules may ruin it. Being an oppor
tunity seeker is not good for you, as you want be
getting the correct value for your property. You
will have to be original in your conversation
because putting up an act would take you
nowhere.
ASTROLOGY
LIBRA: Selfconfidence & discipline will
be required to bring positive results in
competitive examinations. Encourage
children to engage themselves in household activi
ties in their spare time. Investment is recommend
ed but after a proper advice/guidance. Avoid tem
per flair up especially in romance. If possible try
to make your life a tree, giving shade to others
while personally enduring the scorching heat.
Success would bring unlimited joy. If youre plan
ning a vacation, be sure to consider your work
does not effect. Dont shift from your rental house,
its not the right time to shift on your own proper
ty. Avoid running away from a situation rather
face it to bring something good out of it.
SCORPIO: You need a careful planning and
will have to chalk out new strategies at
professional front. Engaging yourself in
praiseworthy things would add to familys reputa
tion. Investment needs to be made keeping long
term perspectives in mind. Avoid making false
promises especially in love life otherwise it would
only create problems. You need to relax and get
involved in hobbies that you enjoy doing the most.
A systematic approach to plan your journey will
benefit you in future. You might be facing problem
if you invest on long term plans. If you want to
really benefit make sure you carefully listen & fol
low friends advice.
SAGITTARIUS: To achieve a desirable out
come at work you must get the support
of team members. Have fun in the compa
ny of relatives. You seem to know exactly what
people need and want from you, but dont try to be
too lavish in your spending. If possible, give the
gift of time to beloved/lover. Chances of recover
ing from physical illness are on the card.
Vacations are at a premium, if you consider them.
You will have to go out of the way to buy your
dream house. If possible, just motivate others to
make their life worthwhile by involving them
selves in some charitable work.
CAPRICORN: You will have to take some
calculated risks to conquer challenging
situations at workplace. An auspicious
week for family functions and important cere
monies. You are likely to make good money, but
the rise in expenses could make it difficult to save.
Dont give into unnecessary demands of romantic
partner. Make the best use of your energy to enjoy
a sound health. Planning for traveling requires
advice of persons whom you travel with. First
resolve the legal issues then mortgage your prop
erty. You need to exploit your active, pioneering
and exploring nature to your benefit.
AQUARIUS: Use sharp thinking and abili
ty to formulate quick strategies to bring
positive results. A week for renewal of
bonds and family ties.Instead of wasting time, bet
ter to get involved in something to improve your
financial position.
Make sure you dont get sentimental on
lover/beloveds comments. To counterattack your
stress you will have to go in shelter of spirituality.
It is important to delve into your desires before
you plan to travel. Preparations are must before
you plan for a new house. If possible, make people
realize that the path of truly successful & signifi
cant life is through friendship and acts of generos
ity & selfsacrifice.
PISCES: Remain selfconfident & deter
mined. This is the secret mantra of suc
ceeding at work.
If possible undertake the projects that would ben
efit the whole family. The secret mantra of earning
your profits: invest wisely. You need to hold
romantic emotions and shouldnt do anything
making you repent later. Time now to realize that
drinking/taking wine is a deadly enemy of health
and retards efficiency. When preparing to travel
with a family be humble and patient. Put together
a few ideas to help you in purchasing a lodge.
Avoid picking up an argument at any cost espe
cially over petty issues.
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874
Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
25th March, 2017
Ruled by number 7 and the planet
Neptune. You are intelligent, sensitive,
adaptable, independent and kindhearted
person. You can easily charm others with
your words and actions. You enjoy a special
respect in your group, but you need to con
trol your tendency to behave spendthrift,
reckless and stubborn at times. You would
get great deal of satisfaction from the work
that you do this year. Your coworkers and
colleagues would be helpful and some of
them would become your best friends. Your
job would bring you good profits, but you
would have trouble in collecting your gains.
Romantic entanglement would be pleasant
and chances to enter into a matrimonial
alliance would be strong. Expect gifts and
goodies both in cash and kind. The months
of December, March and August will espe
cially improve prosperity.
26th March, 2017
Influenced by number 8 and the planet
Saturn. You are authoritative, practical, sys
tematic, friendly and sober person. You are
fond of adventure and you have no prob
lems in accepting challenges, but you need
to check your tendency to behave impatient,
spendthrift and jealous at times.
T his year you can expect exce llent
rewards for your work. You would celebrate
your success in a special way, and spend
more on comforts and entertainment. Your
income would rise, and you would make
some good longterm investments. You
would establish a better understanding with
your beloved, which would make every
moment that you spend together a truly
memorable one. Health of your parents
might cause concern and anxiety. Spiritual
gains for some later in the year. The months
of September, January and July will be
result oriented.
27th March, 2017
Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars.
You are energetic, dashing, courageous,
enthusiastic and remarkably brilliant. You
have high tastes and people who are intelli
gent and sophisticated appeal to you. You
are very fond of cleanliness and hygiene,
but you need to control your tendency to
behave dictatorial, aggressive and moody at
times. This year there would be a steady
rise in your career graph. Your earnings
would exceed your expectations and keep
you very satisfied. Later in the year, you are
likely to get involved in construction or ren
ovat ion for yourse lf or for others.
Matrimonial alliances for some around the
yearend. Judicial matters might not bring in
the desired results, therefore avoid getting
involved in legal complications. Children
will be supportive and bring in some happy
and goo d news later in the year. T he
months of November, March and June will
especially prove to be significant.
28th March, 2017
Governed by number 1 and the planet
Sun, you are creative, hard working, warm
hearted and sincere by nature. You are
admired by people around you for your abil
ity to take quick and courageous decisions,
but you need to check your tendency to
behave reckless, impatient and shorttem
pered at times. This year improvement in
your work atmosphere would be there, giv
ing you lot of job satisfaction. You would
March 25-31, 2017 29
interact with important people who would
also help you in your career. Your contacts
with the public will be lively and challeng
ing. Your earnings would improve but it
would be essential for you to save. Your
beloved would be in a highly romantic
mood and the two of you would have good
time together. Renovation, construction and
pilgrimage would also interest you later this
year. The months of September, December
and May would be highly eventful.
29th March, 2017
Influenced by number 2 and the Moon,
you are active, imaginative, simple, trust
worthy and impressive person. You value
relationships more than anything else in
life. You often devote more time and atten
tion in looking after the needs of others
than doing things for selfgain. You are cre
ative and honest, but you need to control
your tendency to behave moody and care
free at times. This year you need to be
more particular about your health and diet.
Long pending legal matters would be sorted
out to your satisfaction. Your rapport with
important govt. authorities in various
departments would improve and you would
be rewarded for your hard work with pro
motion or an increment. Matrimonial
alliances for some. You need to prepare
yourself for a better future by investing in
additional education and training. The
months of October, March and August will
prove to be highly eventful.
30th March, 2017
Influenced by number 3 and the planet
Jupiter. You are ambitious, dignified, philo
sophical, and religious individual. You are
selfreliant and possess enormous leader
ship qualities and you like to take your own
decisions, but you need to check your ten
dency to be jealous, over ambitious and self
centered at times. This year you would
change plans more often than usual. You
would be working closely with known peo
ple who would influence your decisions.
Both your earnings and your expenses
would be high. It is a period to spend as per
your budget. Frequent and fruitful journeys
are likely to keep you on the move. Later in
the year, influence of a spiritual person
would be a source of inspiration in your life.
Health would definitely need more atten
tion, especially for those suf fering from
asthma, bronchitis and high blood pressure.
The months of December, April and July will
prove to be significant.
31st March, 2017
Ruled by number 4 and the planet Uranus.
You are bright, energetic, active, methodical
and systematic person. You are fond of
good, respectable lifestyle and you specially
enjoy building new contacts and relation
ships, but you need to check you tendency
to behave stubborn, destructive and vindic
tive at times. This year you would be able
to make your point heard without being
pushy or forceful. Financial gains and other
rewards would be plenty but working under
extreme stress levels would show on your
health. Children would be interesting and a
major source of your happiness. For those
who have been unsuccessful in finding a life
partner till now should rejoice, as a matri
monial wedlock seems later in the year. The
months of November, February and May
will prove to be eventful.
30 March 25-31, 2017
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
I
f we find that we are not mak
ing internal progress in medi
tation, we need to look to the
failures in our ethical living that
we record on our introspection
diary. The diary is a record of
impediments to our inner
progress. Do we think we can
make inner headway to the king
dom of God, if we are thinking or
saying violent words or commit
ting acts of violence? Do we
think we can merge back in God
if we are hurting Gods crea
tures? Do we think we can merge
back in God if we are egotistical
and think we are better than all
the rest of Gods creation? The
introspection diary shows us
where we are blocking our spiri
tual progress. The goal is to weed
out those hindrances that stand
between us and God. Those hin
drances are the minds efforts to
slow down our progress. We
need to keep a vigilant watch on
the many ways in which the mind
distracts us from spiritual
progress. By doing so, we are
clearing the pathway to go deep
er into the forest.
The Masters want us to move
forward in two areas. They want
us to put more time and more
accuracy into our meditations.
They also want us to weed out
any failures in ethical virtues
that bar our way to moving for
ward spiritually. It is a twostep
process. Clear the pathway by
weeding out failures in ethical
virtues on our introspection
diary and then move forward in
our meditations.
If we find that we are commit
ting the same failures we have
been making for years, then we
are stagnating. We need to make
ef forts to take a good look at
where we are and resolve to do
better the following day. If we
hurt other peoples feelings by
our harsh words twenty times a
day, then let us reduce that num
ber to nineteen the following
day. Then, let us go further to
reduce that failure to eighteen
the next day. Then, day by day,
let us continue to decrease the
failures until we reach zero.
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Part two of the discourse 'Don't stop until the goal is reached'
The love of God will
flow eternally
Then, let us select another cate
gory and begin improving in that
quality also. Over time, we will
discover that our diary glistens
with the purity of a diamond
reflecting the light.
Let us take stock of where we
are in our meditations and our
ethical life, and resolve to not
stop, but keep moving forward.
We will find that we will gain
more and more spiritual wealth.
We will go from just collecting
mere trees, to collecting spiritual
sandalwood, spiritual silver, spir
itual gold, and ultimately the
spiritual diamond of becoming
one with God.
Hazur was a living example of
one who did not stop until he
reached his goals. I would like to
take up a poem of Sant Darshan
Singh Ji that he wrote in praise
of Hazur in the 1950s. From
these verses, we can get a
glimpse of how Sant Darshan
Singh Ji revered him and the
wondrous qualities he found in
him.
The first verse says:
You have set afloat the peren
nial fountains of eternal bliss and
everlasting ecstasy.
You have brought forth fra
grant roses where there were
prickling thorns before.
In this verse, Sant Darshan
Singh Ji Maharaj is describing
what it was like to be in the pres
ence of Hazur. Sant Darshan
Singh Ji is describing the incredi
ble ecstasy and bliss he experi
enced when in the presence of
Hazur, both outwardly and with
in during meditations. Although
we may not have met Hazur, we
can relate to what he is saying by
remembering t imes we have
been in the presence of Sant
Kirpal Singh Ji or Sant Darshan
Singh Ji.
How is it possible for people to
get so much bliss from being
around another human being?
The truth is that the bliss is not
coming from the human form of
the Master. It comes from the
God power that radiates through
that form. God is love, and our
soul is love. When we come into
the presence of a Master, that
love radiates from God through
the vehicle of the Master and is
perceived by our soul. When soul
experiences God, it is experienc
ing its own divine nature. That
force is so attractive that the soul
is enraptured and filled with love
and bliss.
Sant Darshan Sing h Ji is
describing that love as perennial
fountains of eternal bliss. The
image of a fountain is that it is
continually flowing. The water in
a fountain never runs dry. It goes
on gushing continually. So it is
with the love of God. It is always
flowing. It will flow eternally.
What a wonderful destiny for our
soul! Once we are connected to
that fountain through a living
Master, our soul can drink of that
bliss for all times to come. We
can do so by meeting the Master
outwardly and experiencing his
divine darshan. We can also do
so by meeting the Master within
through meditations. The inner
form of the Master is so radiant
and loving that we want to stay
immersed in that form for all
times to come. The bliss without
is great, but the bliss within is far
greater. We can experience those
fountains of bliss when we medi
tate and go within.
If we were to not stop but move
forward, we would ultimately
come to the radiant form of the
Master. Then, that form would
guide us into higher and higher
regions where we would experi
ence those fountains of bliss. If
we know this bliss is waiting for
us, why would we want to stop
before bathing in those fountains
of divinity?
The next line of verse says:
You have brought forth fragrant
roses where there were prickling
thorns before. Sant Darshan
Singh Ji is saying that in the
presence of Hazur, all the thorns
of life grew into fragrant roses.
W hat he is describing is the
power of a true Master. When we
come into his presence, all the
problems and pains of the world
disappear. Problems may be
there, but we do not feel them.
Instead, we experience a deli
cious nectar and wondrous fra
grance of love. The Master can
turn thorns into roses just by his
loving glances, his sweet words,
or his gentle touch. We may be in
the thick of terrible suffering, but
the Masters love is so embracing
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
that we no longer suffer. Instead,
we are lost in the ecstasy of
Gods love.
The Master removes our pain
by bathing us with so much love
and grace that we are no longer
aware of it. We become oblivious
to the slings and arrows of life.
They may still come our way, but
we are so intoxicated that we
lose awareness of even our body.
Thus, we are so filled with love
that instead of the thorny pains
and sorrows, we experience the
beauty of the rose garden.
If we knew that freedom from
pain and sorrow was awaiting us
within, why would we stop until
we reached that painfree state?
In another verse of this poem,
Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj
says:
You have taught us the lan
guage of love which is both
unspoken and unwritten.
You have solved for us the
mystery of life and death.
Sant Darshan Sing h Ji is
describing how Hazur has
enabled us to solve the greatest
mysteries of life. There is hardly
a person who has not at one time
or another pondered over the
question of life and death. Many
wonder why we are here and
where we go when we die. Hazur
enabled people to solve this mys
tery. By putting people in touch
with the Light and Sound of God
at the time of initiation, he gave
people a way to rise above body
consciousness.
By doing so, they realized they
were not the body, but the soul
that inhabits the body. T hey
could journey to wondrous spiri
tual realms within. Through med
itation, they could cross the
astral, causal, supracausal, and
pure ly spiritual realms. T his
inner journey brings confirma
tion that there is no death. Death
is just like taking of f a layer of
clothing to reveal one below it.
We realize that the body is only
an outer coat for our soul. When
we remove it, we have our astral
body, our causal body, and a thin
veil over the soul in the supra
causal region. When we reach
the purely spiritual region of
Sach Khand, then all layers are
removed and we experience our
selves as pure soul, free of all
coverings. It is at this stage that
we merge back in God.
(To be continued....)
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
is an internationally recognized
spiritual leader and Master of
Jyoti Meditation who affirms the
transcendent oneness at the heart
of all religions and mystic tradi-
tions, emphasizing ethical living
and meditation as building blocks
for achieving inner and outer
peace. www.sos.org.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 25-31, 2017