The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e
Vol.11 No. 14 August 4-10, 2018 80 Cents
US decides to elevate
India to Tier‑1 status
US has upgraded India's status as a trading partner equal to
that accorded to its NATO‐level allies. The deferred US‐India
2+2 meeting will now take place in New Delhi in September.
New Delhi: India welcomed the US' deci‑
sion to upgrade trade ties with it, saying
it is a logical culmination to India's desig‑
nation as a Major Defense Partner of the
US.
"We welcome the announcement made
by US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur
Ross in the Indo‑Pacific Business Forum
on July 30, 2018, about the US govern‑
ment's decision to move India into Tier‑1
of the Department of Commerce's
Strategic Trade Authorization license
exception," the External Affairs Ministry
said in a statement.
"It is a logical culmination to India's
designation as a Major Defense Partner
of the US and a reaffirmation of India's
impeccable record as a responsible mem‑
ber of the concerned multilateral export
control regimes," it stated.
"This step will further facilitate India‑
US trade and technology collaboration in
defense and high technology areas. We
look forward to the US side operational‑
ization the decision at an early date."
Facebook nixes 32 accounts
for interfering in US midterms
Los Angeles: Facebook announced on
Tuesday that it eliminated 32 accounts for
what the company described as "coordinated
inauthentic behavior" ahead of the mid‑term
US congressional elections in November.
"This kind of behavior is not allowed on
Facebook because we don't want people or
organizations creating networks of accounts
to mislead others about who they are, or what
they're doing," Facebook said in a statement,
Efe reported.
T he social network founded by Mark
Zuckerberg found itself at the center of con‑
troversy during the 2016 presidential elec‑
tion for the use of its platform to disseminate
TOURISM 18 IMRAN KHAN 19
i n j o u r n a l i s m
New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info
PTI claims it has
numbers to form
govt in Pakistan
Modi talks peace with Imran Khan, who in turn mulls inviting
Indian PM to his oath-taking as prime minister Aug 11.
Islamabad/Delhi:
T he Pakistan
Tehree k‑i‑Insaf
(PTI), headed by
cricket star‑turned‑
polit ician Imran
US Secretary of Commerce Khan has claimed
Wilbur Ross that it has the sup‑
port of a sufficient
India is the only South Asian nation to
number of lawmak‑
be put on this list.
ers to form govern‑
Meanwhile, the twice‑deferred two‑
ments in both the
plus‑two dialogue between the foreign
Centre and Punjab.
and defense ministers of India and the US
As per figures
is now expected to take place in early
from the Election
September with the venue perhaps being The cricket star‑turned‑politician had called on Prime Minister
Commission of Narendra Modi in Delhi in December 2015. (Photo: Agencies)
shifted to New Delhi, with both sides
Pakistan, the PTI
seeking closure on a foundational com‑
has emerged as the largest political party in tions were held. The party, however, is short
munications, compatibility and security
the country, w inning 115 of the 270 of the 137 needed for a simple majority.
agreement (COMCASA) at the meeting.
National Assembly seats on which the elec‑ Party spokesperson Continued on page 4
US warns IMF against
bailing out Pakistan
Washington: US Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo has warned that the US would be
closely watching whether the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) bails out Pakistan ̶ a
key player in China's One Belt One Road
(OBOR) project, and right now in need of a
bailout.
"Make no mistake, we will be watching
what the IMF does," Pompeo stated in an
interview to CNBC after saying that he would
Illustration courtesy: The Verge welcome mutually beneficial engagement
hoaxes and fake news. "We're still in the very between the US and Pakistan. "There's no Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
early stages of our investigation and don't rationale for IMF tax dollars ̶ and associat‑ questioned why American dollars ‑‑ that
have all the facts ‑ including who may be ed with that, American dollars that are part are part of the IMF funding ̶should bail
behind this," Continued on page 4 of the IMF funding Continued on page 4 out Chinese bondholders or China itself.
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TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 4-10, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
New York: “India is at a crucial
crossroads and unless NRIs come
forward in preserving truth, trust,
inclusion, and non‑violence, Indiaʼs
democracy could be in jeopardy,”
Said Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the
Overseas Congress Department of
AICC.
He was speaking at the National
Conference of the Indian Overseas
Congress (IOC) held here. “A climate
of fear is gripping the nation and
lies are constantly propagated for
political ends,” Pitroda added citing
the case against National Herald
newspaper. “Congress believes in
the bottom‑up development, not
top‑down approach followed by the
current government that benefits a
few”.
Pointing to the upcoming parlia‑
mentary elections in 2019, he
urged the IOC delegates to work
together in unity so that Congress
party can restore the democratic
values that have been the hallmark
of the nation for the last 7 decades.
Dr. Surinder Malhotra, a member
of the governing board of IOC,
appealed to the gathering for an
end to groupism and division and to
move forward.
George Abraham, the Vice‑Chair
of the IOC, detailed various threats
Radio hosts suspended for
calling AG Grewal ‘turban man’
Trenton, NJ: The hosts of a popu‑
lar New Jersey radio show were
suspended for 10 days last
Thursday for calling the nation's
first Sikh attorney general "turban
man" ‑ the latest slur against a
career prosecutor who
says he faces countless
"small indignities and
humiliations" no matter
how far he rises or how
important his position.
WKXW‑FM hosts
Dennis Malloy and Judi
Franco issued a written
apology to Attorney New Jersey
General Gurbir Grewal Attorney General
and the Sikh and East Gurbir Grewal
Asian communities,
writing they were "deeply sorry"
for the pain they caused. The sta‑
tion also apologized and suspend‑
ed the pair without pay until
Aug. 6.
This is not the first indignity Iʼve rise above this. Now letʼs get back
faced and it probably wonʼt be the to business.
last. Sometimes, I endure it alone.
Yesterday, all of New Jersey heard
it. Itʼs time to end small‑minded
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
ʻIndia is at a crucial crossroadsʼ
Madhu Yaskhi speaking with Sam Pitroda, Mohinder Gilzian, Shudh Prakash Singh,
Himanshu Vyas, George Abraham and Dr Surinder Malhotra on the dais.
to democracy in India and asked the
meeting to be pro‑active in dealing
with critical issues. “Constitution is
out there to protect us; however, if
we donʼt protect the constitution, it
will not protect us either,” he added.
Mohinder Singh, Gilzian,
President of the INOC, USA, related
the Congress partyʼs enormous con‑
tributions in making India a pros‑
pering economy and detailed plans
to grow the Overseas Congress in
the USA. He has also promised to
intolerance. Itʼs an issue I
addressed at @APAICS conference
this May.
̶ Gurbir S. Grewal
(@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018
Grewal thanked other officials
from the state for hav‑
ing "my back ‑ and the
backs of all New
Jerseyans," and posted a
clip of a speech he gave
earlier in the year in
which he specifically
addressed the need to
end "small‑minded
intolerance."
Thank you to
@GovMurphy,
@NJSenatePres,
@CoryBooker, @RaviBhalla & so
many others for your support last
night. Youʼve got my back – and
the backs of all New Jerseyans.
Others have faced far worse. We
pic.twitter.com/f2TqL4vzB5
̶ Gurbir S. Grewal
(@GurbirGrewalNJ) July 26, 2018
conduct charitable programs on
behalf of the organization and to
send volunteers to the upcoming
elections in India. In addition, he
expressed optimism that a
ʻCongress Bhavanʼ can be built as
headquarters for the IOC in the not
so distant future.
Himanshu Vyas, Secretary to the
Overseas Congress Department of
AICC, spoke about building strong
Overseas Congress chapters around
the globe and asked the partici‑
New law to tackle problems in
NRI marriages: Sushma
New Delhi: External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday
said that her ministry is framing a
new law to
tackle the
problems in
NRI mar‑
riages and
providing for
deterrent
measures like
confiscating
property of
NRIs who
have abandoned their wives.
At a seminar on "NRI marriages
and trafficking of women and chil‑
dren", she said that a new bill is
likely to be taken up in the next
session of Parliament.
"We are also developing a sepa‑
rate website where summons and
warrants against NRI men who
have abandoned their wives and
have illegally married abroad will
be uploaded. Those responding to
it will be declared a proclaimed
offender and his properties would
August 4-10, 2018
pants to communicate with him for
any extra help from his Delhi office.
Madhu Yaskhi, former Member of
Parliament and AICC Secretary,
mentioned the corruption at the
highest levels in the current govern‑
ment in India, citing the Rafael Jet
purchasing case. He urged NRIs to
get involved and bring about a
change that is essential for the sur‑
vival of Indiaʼs democracy.
Shudh Prakash Singh, President
of INOC (I), introduced several
be seized," she added.
Sushma Swaraj said that under
the new law the passport of the
person will be canceled and the
property will also be confiscated.
"And if he doesn't return, his
property could be sold to give
financial aid to his aggrieved wife.
We will have to make some
amendments to the Code of
Criminal Procedure. We are
already in talks with Law and
Home ministry and all efforts are
being made to ensure that a law is
in place by the end of this year,"
she said.
In last three years, the MEA has
received 3,328 complaints from
Indian women who have been
deserted by their NRI husbands.
"We are acting tough on such
cases. For a start, the passports of
eight NRI men accused of aban‑
doning their wives have been can‑
celed.
The accused whose passports
were revoked have surrendered,"
Sushma Swaraj added.
3
Pitroda appeals to NRIs for help
members of his team to the audi‑
ence. Ms. Tavishi Alagh, the Media
Coordinator for Overseas Congress
Department of AICC, screened sev‑
eral videos at the conference show‑
ing the history of the Congress
Party and fortitude of the past lead‑
ers of the freedom struggle along
with Rahul Gandhiʼs vision for a
more inclusive India.
Delegates from various States
including New York, New Jersey,
Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut,
Illinois, California, Indiana, Texas,
Minnesota, Washington, Florida,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,
Michigan and Ontario (Canada)
were present at the meeting.
A copy of the constitution was
presented to the meeting by
Harbachan Singh who is the main
architect behind that effort. The
document was referred to Sanjay
Dubey Esq, to resolve various legal
questions concerning that within
the next two weeks.
Amendment to CrPC
proposed: Maneka Gandhi
Union Women and Child
Development Minister Maneka
Gandhi on Friday said that amend‑
ment to Code of Criminal
Procedure has been proposed for
better tackling of issues related to
NRI men abandoning wives in
India and absconding.
"Amendment to CrPC has also
been proposed, wherein if an
erring spouse does not appear
after the summons has been
uploaded, he will be declared a
proclaimed offender," she tweeted
after she attended a seminar on
"NRI marriages and trafficking of
women and children".
"The problem of women being
abandoned in NRI marriages is a
grave issue. For the first time, gov‑
ernment of India is providing coor‑
dinated support to women facing
problems in their marriage to
NRIs," she wrote.
 4 August 4-10, 2018 TURN PAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Court blocks release of
3D‑printed gun software
Washington: A US federal judge in
Seattle has blocked the release of
software that allows consumers to
3D‑print firearms.
The order came just hours before
their scheduled online distribution by
a Texas group that had reached an
agreement with the Donald Trump
administration to do so, Efe news
reported. Gun access advocacy group
Defense Distributed was due to put
downloadable gun blueprints online
on Wednesday.
The settlement with the Trump
administration was reached in June
that would have allowed it to legally
publish the instructions even via
online posts. However, eight states
Letter to the Editor
I Sindhi spiritual leader Dada Vaswani
mourn the demise of spiritual
leader Dada JP Vaswani, an
ambassador of peace and good‑
and the District of Columbia sued the
will. Vaswani, head of the Sadhu
government on Monday to block the
Vaswani Mission, died in Pune
settlement, arguing that untraceable
recently of old age‑related ail‑
guns were a safety risk, the BBC
ments. He was 99. I have had the
reported. In a sudden tweet on
privilege of meeting Dada
Tuesday, even Trump said: "I am look‑
Vaswani. He epitomized the values
ing into 3D plastic guns being sold to
of universal brotherhood, peace
the public. Already spoke to NRA,
and compassion and through his
doesn't seem to make much sense!"
discourses, writings and public
He was referring to the National Rifle
service, he encouraged millions of
Association, the powerful US pro‑gun
people in India and abroad to lead
organization and lobbying group.
a meaningful life.
Almost simultaneously, came US
Through the Sadhu Vaswani
District Judge Robert Lasnik's tempo‑
Mission, he brought happiness
rary restraining order halting the
and hope in the lives of the poor
release hours before the August 1
and the underprivileged. Dada
deadline, saying the blueprints could
Vaswani also championed the
fall into the wrong hands.
Tolani family condoles the death of
visiting Pune, I had the good for‑
tune of personally meeting Dada
many times. I used to go to the
Mira girls school and Dada had
blessed me. He used to tell my
Uncle and Aunt, "One day Sunil
will be in the top global Sindhi
houses in prestige and reputation?
cause of compassion and love for
His blessings and prophecy came
animals. In his demise, India has
true. My wife, Neelam Tolani, feels
lost an ambassador of world peace
that Dada Vaswani will always be
and goodwill, his discourses on
with us through his messages and
brotherhood and peace inspired
thoughts. “Dada dedicated his life
many. The works done by him
to the betterment of humanity,
through the Vaswani Mission are
promoting simple living, high
of great importance and the books
thinking and girls education,” she
written by him will inspire the
says. ‑Sunil Tolani
young generation for years to
Prince Organization CEO
come. Growing up in Mumbai and

PTI claims it has numbers
to form govt in Pakistan
Continued from page 1
Fawad Chaudhry told the media
on Monday that the party had
secured the backing of 168 out of
the nearly 328‑330 lawmakers
returned to the National Assembly
in the July 25 election. The num‑
bers are to be secured with the help
of Independents (7 seats), MQM‑
Pakistan (6 seats), PML‑Q (4), the
Balochistan Awami Party (2) and
the Grand Democratic Alliance (2).
The PML‑Q has declared its sup‑
port after settling on a "formula"
with PTI, under which it will be
given ministries at the centre and
Punjab. Talks with MQM‑Pakistan
are still ongoing, Chaudhry said.
The PTI has also claimed it has
the numbers to form the Punjab
government, and that the chief min‑
ister will be from the PTI.
The breakdown of the party's lead
in Punjab is not clear as yet, but the
party claims the support of 180
lawmakers, including reserved
seats. PTI Chairman Imran Khan,
65, has said that he will take oath
as Prime Minister on August 11. He
is considering inviting leaders of
SAARC countries, including Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to his oath
taking ceremony, a party of ficial
said. Modi called Monday to con‑
gratulate Imran Khan, the prime
minister‑in‑waiting, on his partyʼs
victory, and called for peace and
development in the South Asian
neighborhood.
A read‑out of the call from PTI
claimed that Indian PM suggested
evolution of a “joint strategy” for
progress in their bilateral affairs.
Earlier last week, Imran Khan said
that his government would seek
good relations with India and would
like leaders of the two countries to
sit across the table and resolve all
disputes, including the "core issue"
of Kashmir. He added trade
between India and Pakistan can be
instrumental in eradicating poverty
in the subcontinent which should
be the focus of the two countries.
Meanwhile, former Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif 's Pakistan
Muslim League‑Nawaz and Bilawal
Bhutto‑led Pakistan Peoples Party
agreed on the formulation of a
"coordinated joint strategy" in an
attempt to give a tough time to PTI
in Parliament.
US warns IMF against
bailing out Pakistan
Continued from page 1
to bail out Chinese bondholders or
China itself," he added, signifying
that Pakistan's new government,
which is severe ly in need of a
bailout, might run into further
financial troubles after taking oath.
All indicators suggest the Imran
Khan led PTI government ̶ which
is likely to take oath in mid‑August
̶ will immediate ly have to
approach the IMF for what would
be the country's 13th bailout from
the fund.
“Exports are down, debt is up, the
macro indicators are pretty poor,”
says Sehar Tariq with the US
Institute of Peace.
According to the Financial Times,
senior Pakistani finance of ficials
are drawing up options for Imran
Khan to seek an IMF bailout of up
to $12 billion. In a Reuters report
on Tuesday, however, an IMF
spokesperson said : “We have so far
not received a request for a fund
arrangement from Pakistan and we
have not had discussions with the
authorities about any possible
intentions.” The other option may
be further borrowing from China.
Through OBOR's flagship project
China Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC), Pakistan has taken numer‑
ous loans from its trading partner
China, which economists have
warned the country will face diffi‑
culty in paying back.
According to a report in Dawn on
Monday, China has agreed to pour
in some extra foreign exchange on
top of the CPEC funding and the
rupee rise since the July 25 polls is
being linked to this. The size of offi‑
cial inflows is $2 billion. Of this,
$1bn has already come into our
accounts, top bankers said while
confirming media reports.
Facebook nixes 32
accounts for interfering
in US midterms
Continued from page 1
Facebook acknowledged, while
adding that "whoever set up these
accounts went to much greater
lengths to obscure their true identi‑
ties than the Russian‑based Internet
Research Agency (IRA) has in the
past." IRA is accused by Facebook
and the US Department of Justice of
having played a key role in the cam‑
paign of hoaxes and fake news on
controversial and divisive issues
designed to try to influence the
2016 election in which Donald
Trump won the White House.
In the current probe, the tech
giant eliminated eight Facebook
pages and 17 profiles, as well as
seven Instagram accounts.
"In total, more than 290,000
accounts followed at least one of
these pages, the earliest of which
was created in March 2017," said
Facebook.
Among the deleted pages was one
called "Resisters," which had creat‑
ed a Facebook Event ‑ "No Unite the
Right 2‑DC" ‑ a counterdemonstra‑
tion to Unite the Right 2‑DC, which
had been called by the ultraright
for Aug. 12 in Washington.

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TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Interfaith paper and
charity launched
At the release of ʻOne World Under Godʼ interfaith journal by Town of Oyster Bay
Supervisor Joseph Saladino: (from left) Parveen Chopra, editor of the paper,
Hon. Saladino, publisher Darshan Singh Bagga, Rizwan Qureshi and Dr Sudhir Parikh.
Hicksville, NY: An interfaith journal titled
ʻOne World Under Godʼ was launched here
July 22 at an event where speakers from six
major world religions gave presentations on
how their faiths endorse and reinforce the
Founding Principles of America as enshrined
in the Declaration of Independence: “ …that
all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The biweekly is the first such journal from
the South Asian community. It is published by
Global Interfaith Foundation, helmed by
Darshan Singh Bagga, a Long Island investor‑
builder. The journal release at Bagga Plaza II,
which too was formally opened that after‑
noon, was attended by over 125 guests and
graced by dignitaries including Town of
Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino (chief
guest), Hicksville legislator Rose Walker,
Parikh Worldwide Media Chairman Dr Sudhir
Parikh, FIA (NY‑NJ‑CT ) President Srujal
Parikh, President of AIA‑NY Gobind Munjal,
and Bobby Kumar Kalotee, Chairman of
Nassau Countyʼs Human Rights Commission.
ʻOne World Under Godʼ, edited by Parveen
IAPC to host 5th media
conference in Atlanta in Oct
New York: The Indo American Press Club
(IAPC) is hosting its 5th International Media
Conference October 5‑8 at Marriott Atlanta
Airport with prominent journalists, media pro‑
fessionals and lawmakers from India, the US,
Canada and Europe.
Formed in 2013, IAPC now has 12
chapters as it strives to provide a com‑
mon platform for media professionals,
fostering closer bonds with its counter‑
parts in India and other countries, for the
betterment of society at large and to improve
the status of media professionals at large. To
efficiently run IMC 2018, various committees
have been formed under the eminent leader‑
ship of IAPC Chairman Dr. Babu Stephen
(Washington DC) and the founding Chairman
Ginsmon Zacharia (New York), it was
announced at a teleconference on July 27, says
Mathew Joys, board member based in Ohio.
During the conference co‑hosted by the
TRISTATE COMMUNITY August 4-10, 2018 5
Chopra (who is also the Managing Editor of
The South Asian Times), aims to dispel igno‑
rance and create awareness in the public
about faiths of others to promote social har‑
mony and world peace. Among those who
spoke at the event included Prof IJ Singh
(Professor Emeritus NYU) and Prof Balwinder
S. Bhogal of Hofstra on Sikhism, Dr Yousuf
Syed (Trustee of the Selden Mosque) on
Islam, Ravi Vaidyanaat (Executive Director,
Ganesh temple) on Hinduism, Shailendra
Palvia (Professor at LIU Post) on Jainism and
Rabbi Yitschak Hassine on Judaism. They all
gave inspiring messages that we are all the
children of God, all equal before him, and we
should work towards inter‑religious under‑
standing and harmony.
At the event, Mr Bagga also gave scholar‑
ships of $2000 each to seven graduating stu‑
dents of Hicksville High School who are pur‑
suing higher studies. Mr Bagga, known as a
70$ to 70 million success story who stamps
his buildings with his name a al Trump, has
launched the journal and the foundation as a
first step to give back to society.
The launch issue of the paper is
available at darshanbaggacharity.com
Atlanta chapter, over 200 senior print, TV and
web professionals will deliberate on challenges
and opportunities facing print and online
media. Competitions on photography, writing,
painting and videography are part of the event.
IAPC will honor media professionals and
community leaders for their exemplary
achievements and service to the media
industry and society at the Awards and
Gala Dinner on October 7, where inter‑
nationally acclaimed Sathkarma Award,
Sathbhavana Award and Community Awards
will be presented.
Since its inception, IAPC has successfully
organized media conferences every year in
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and
Philadelphia. At the chapter level, various sem‑
inars and debates of socio‑economic impor‑
tance were conducted with the participation of
leading media professionals and government
agencies.
 6 August 4-10, 2018 TRISTATE COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info

North Brunswick Township India Day
celebrations on Aug 11
N T
orth Brunswick Township India Day
Committee (a service project of non‑profit
organization Agraj Seva Kendra) in collab‑
oration with North Brunswick Board of Education
will be organizing Annual India Day for the North
Brunswick Township on Saturday August 11,
2018 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the North Brunswick
High School Auditorium. As part of this annual
event the Celebration Organization Committee
organized academic competition events like Essay
writing, Public Speaking and creative 2D and 3D
art competition on July 26th at Commons of North
Brunswick High School. Youth from all age groups
starting from K to 12th grades will be competing
under their category. This year the theme is to
IACFNJ to celebrate Indiaʼs 72nd
IN BRIEF
First International Gujarati Film
Festival in Edison from Aug 3‑5
build peace and harmony in community, nation he first Vadilal International
and the world by understanding appreciating vari‑ Gujarati Film Festival (IGFF) will Feature films in the
ous religions. This community event is supported be held in Edison, New Jersey competition list
and sponsored by North Brunswick Board of from August 3‑5. IGFF aims at to pro‑ 1. Bhawar
Education, Agaraj Seva Kendra and 4H – Indian mote Gujarati culture & cinema on a
2. Chal Man Jitva Jaiye
Langoor Club. wider scale. The film festival serves the
3. Gujju Bhai Most Wanted
All the talented and winning students will be community of Gujarati cinema by put‑
awarded at the finale. The event will be attended ting forth the immense talent and help 4. Hera Feri Fera Feri
by important dignitaries of the North Brunswick attribute splendor to the populace 5. Karsandas
Township and other invited guests. This will also which has long been under‑appreciat‑ 6. Love Ni Bhavai
include patriotic songs, Bollywood and Classical ed. Through a series of awards, the 7. Oxygen
dances, skits on theme and other performances festival also provides filmmakers with 8. Pappa Tamne Nahi Samjay
from youths and adults. The event is open to the an opportunity to indulge with a pro‑
9. Ratanpur
public. Additional information can be found at fessional network and help grow their
http://www.nbtindiaday.org. knowledge of the international cine‑ 10. Reva
matic trends. The initiative of the film 11. Super Star
festival is made by Kaushal Acharya ‑ 12. Sharato Lagu
Rostrum Media and 1947 Production
and Entertainment Inc.
13. Chitkar

Independence Day on August 19 The festival director Umesh Shukla Jury members of IGFF consist of

I
ndo‑American Cultural Foundation of Central
Jersey (IACFNJ), a non‑profit organization in
central Jersey will celebrate Indiaʼs 72nd
Independence Day on August 19 from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. at Shree Swaminarayan Temple (old YMCA),
329 Culver Road, South Brunswick.
Approximately 300 to 400 people are expected to
attend this fun‑filled patriotic event which is free
and open to all. Entertainment and cultural activi‑
ties, dance performances, traditional Indian
dances, patriotic dances, childrenʼs activities, DJ,
live music/singing and authentic Indian food sam‑
pling will be open to all at an outdoor location of
the temple grounds. The program will include
singing of the American and Indian Anthems fol‑
lowed by the local and state public officials and
dignitaries address to the attendees and patriotic
dances by the young and talented kids from the
local dance groups.
For more information visit www.IACFNJ.org
is an acclaimed director, writer & actor
of several Gujarati plays & Bollywood
films. He made his directorial debut
with UTV Motion Pictures and direct‑
ed films like Oh My God, All is Well &
102 Not out starring legendary actors
Amitabh Bachchan & Rishi Kapoor. His
blockbuster film Oh My God adopted
from his own Guajarati play Kanji v/s
Kanji was later remade in to Telugu &
Kannada languages as well.
renowned and much‑loved celebrities
from both Gujarati & Hindi entertain‑
ment industry. It includes the very ver‑
satile actress Aruna Irani, columnist,
author and orator Jay Vasavada, LA
based filmmaker Anurag Mehta,
whose feature ʻAmerican Chaiʼ starring
Paresh Rawal won audience award at
Slamdance Film Festival; and Gujarati
playwright, novelist and storywriter
Madhu Rye.

Curran announces new on‑demand NICE bus services

Freeport, NY: Nassau County
Executive Laura Curran joined
Legislator Debra Mulé, Legislator
Steve Rhoads, Nassau Inter‑County
Express (NICE) Chief Executive
Officer Michael Setzer, Chief
Administrative Officer Jack
Khzouz, MTA Long Island Rail
Road Government and Community
Affairs Officer Vanessa Pino
Lockel, Freeport Mayor Robert
Kennedy, transit advocates, Nassau
County Bus Transit Committee
Members and NICE bus riders to
announce NICEʼs continuing
efforts to adopt transit solutions
that marry technology with best
practices, is this week testing new
service innovations designed to
create a more flexible, responsive
and cost‑efficient bus transit sys‑
tem in Nassau County.
The first is an innovative new on‑
demand, shared ride, door‑to‑door
service using smaller vehicles. The
The officials at the announcement event
“Uber‑like” NICE Link does away
with fixed routes, schedules, pre‑
set bus stops, and big buses and
instead offers address‑to‑address
service, smaller vehicles, and a
reservation and payment feature
on NICEʼs existing GoMobile tran‑
sit app for smartphones. NICE is
one of a few public transit systems
to offer this type of on‑demand
service. NICE is also testing “sched‑
ule‑less” service on its n/40‑41 bus
route designed to improve reliabil‑
ity and regularity. With a new “fre‑
quency based” approach, buses
arrive every 10 minutes during
peak time versus on a fixed sched‑
ule. “Transit is an engine for eco‑
nomic development and communi‑
ties that invest in their transit sys‑
tems are building a foundation for
growth,” said Nassau County
Executive Laura Curran. In fact,
the American Public
Transportation Association has
determined that for every dollar
spent to provide public transit, the
city, county or region served gets
back $4 in tangible economic ben‑
efits, including increased sales,
employment and taxes.
“NICE is essential to the regionʼs
economic vitality, and with further
innovation and investment, the
benefit to the greater community,
as well as riders, can be signifi‑
cantly increased,” she said. Curran
added that NICE, the countyʼs pub‑
lic bus transit system, is integral to
the everyday lives of tens of thou‑
sands of residents and that
increasing connectivity to the
broader regional transit network is
especially important to build
stronger, more vibrant communi‑
ties.
The countyʼs investments in
NICE technology and focus on sys‑
tem planning have driven innova‑
tion that is improving service in
response to customer needs, said
NICE Chief Executive Officer
Michael Setzer. “Communities
across the U.S. are increasingly
reinventing and expanding their
investment in public transporta‑
tion with further innovation and
investment,” said Setzer.
The NICE Link platform is inte‑
grated into the current NICE bus
transit app, GoMobile, allowing rid‑
ers to book and pay for Link trips
and get ride information. Each
ride costs $4.50, more than a bus,
but less than a taxi. At the outset,
NICE Link will run weekdays dur‑
ing peak service hours in a zone
bordered by Hempstead Turnpike,
Merrick Road, the Meadowbrook
Parkway and the Wantagh
Parkway. Link will also serve the
Freeport LIRR station.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY August 4-10, 2018 7

4 Indian‑origin people in Fortune's 2 Indian techies in US

'Most Influential In Business' list create India's first
New York: Four persons of Indian‑ of the world's fastest‑growing busi‑ chocolate giant Hershey).
origin, including three women, have nesses.
been named by Fortune among 40 This list includes Senior Vice
Sud, 34 joined video‑sharing web‑
site Vimeo as head of marketing in
SmartGaon: Modi
of the most influential and inspiring President of Product at real‑time 2014 and was last year named CEO, New Delhi: Indians abroad are still the village Taudhakpur in Rae
young people in business under the currency exchange and remittance charged with focusing Vimeo as a emotionally attached to their Bareilly, the village chief, District
age of 40. network Ripple, 39‑year old cloud‑based platform for video cre‑ ancestral village, Prime Minister Magistrate, CDO and every one
Instagram Co founder and CEO Asheesh Birla, digital currency wal‑ ation, distribution, and monetiza‑ Narendra Modi said on Sunday cit‑ joined in to create awareness
Kevin Systrom and Facebook let and platform Coinbase's Chief tion, targeting individuals and ing the example of two Indian IT amongst the masses."
founder Mark small‑ to medium‑size busi‑ professionals in the US who have Taudhakpur has become the
Zuckerberg, both 34, are nesses. Bhatt, 33 cofounded developed the 'SmartGaon' mobile India's first SmartGaon village. It
tied for first place on the financial services company app that connects the village has CCTV cameras, public address
Fortune '40 Under 40' Robinhood with Vlad Tenev internally and with the wider systems, street lights, regular
list. in 2013 as an "egalitarian world. health check‑up events, almost
Chief Finance Officer of challenge to oldguard broker‑ In his Mann Ki Baat radio uninterrupted power supply and
the US' largest automak‑ age houses. Five years later, it address, Modi made a reference to also a Wifi zone.
er, General Motors has shot to a valuation of Yogesh Sahu and Rajnish Bajpai, All initiatives undertaken in the
Dhivya Suryadevara $5.6 billion." This year the the developers of SmartGaon, village are updated, recorded,
comes in at the 4th spot, company added Bitcoin and which also serves as a one‑stop tracked and monitored on the app.
followed by Vimeo CEO Dhivya Suryadevara, Anjali Sood, Anu Duggal other cryptocurrencies to the information centre and a market‑ The app has other key features
Anjali Sud (14), and Baiju Bhatt (Image courtesy: abplive.in) trading mix and now hope to place for farmers. such as a villagers' directory, news
Cofounder and Co‑CEO of build Robinhood into a full‑ "It so happened that once I was and events calendar, health and
Robinhood Baiju Bhatt (24) and technology officer Balaji Srinivasan, blown digital bank, Fortune said. interacting with Indian youth in information center. Besides, the
Female Founders Fund founding Director of MIT Digital Currency Duggal, 39, launched Female San Jose town of America hailed app's Gram mart feature has cre‑
partner Anu Duggal (32). Initiative Neha Narula and Founders Fund in 2014 as a seed‑ as a technology hub and I ated a popular marketplace for
For the first time ever, Fortune Coinbase's Vice President of opera‑ stage venture fund to invest in appealed to those young people to farm produce.
also assembled a "supplementary tions Tina Bhatnagar. female‑led technology companies. think over how could they use "This app is actually bringing in
honor roll" of the most impressive, Fortune said Suryadevara, 39 She had initially raised five million their talent for India's benefit," he a digital revolution in the village,"
young superstars who are trans‑ made history when it was dollars and by May of this year, she said. Modi said.
forming business at the leading announced she would become GM's closed $27 million for her second "The SmartGaon app is not only The US‑based Sahu and Bajpai
edge of finance and technology. first female CFO later this year, early‑stage fund, with a roster of connecting the villagers with the are currently involved in carrying
The 'Ledger 40 Under 40' supple‑ making the auto giant one of only limited partners including philan‑ whole world but now they can forward the project to six more
mentary honor roll list shines a two Fortune 500 companies led by thropist Melinda Gates, Fortune obtain any information on their villages in Chhattisgarh, Uttar
light on the pioneers building some a female CEO and CFO (the other is said. (PTI) own mobile phones. Residents of Pradesh and Maharashtra. (IANS)

Nadella led Microsoft invests

$500,000 in STEM learning
for Seattle students of color
New York: On July 26th Microsoft CEO Satya STEMbyTAF is designed to help replicate
Nadella announced the company is investing their successful strategies at other area
$500,000 in two partnerships that will schools. The partnerships build on
expand computer science and STEM Microsoftʼs long‑term commitment
learning opportunities for students and responsibility to help ensure
of color. every young person has access to
Microsoft is partnering with computer science education, from
Black Girls Code to help them all gender, racial, ethnic, geo‑
establish a Seattle based chapter. graphic and income backgrounds.
Kimberly Bryant founded the non‑ “While we are proud of our long‑
profit seven years ago to introduce term investments in our Technology
programming and technology to Education and Literacy in
young and pre‑teen girls Schools (TEALS) pro‑
of color through clubs gram and in
led by women engi‑ Code.org, along with
neers of color. It many other vital
has grown 13 partners, we know
cities across the there is still
US and Seattle Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella more we have to
will be its 14th. (Image courtesy: theverge.com) do to bridge the
The company is gaps in equity in
also deepening its longtime partnership with the field of technology,” Microsoft said in an
Technology Access Foundation (TAF) with an article shared on LinkedIn.
investment in STEMbyTAF. The foundation Nadella has said in the past, Microsoft can
was founded in 1997 by former Microsoft only be successful if it has people of all back‑
leader, Trish Millines Dziko, initially as an grounds building our technology and that it
out‑of‑school program offering technology cannot build product and services for every‑
skills training, internships and college prep one unless everyone is represented in its
to students of color in Seattle. Since then, engineering ranks.
TAF has opened its own school and become (Excerpts from an article shared on
a sought‑after expert on how to create learn‑ LinkedIn by Mary Snapp, Corporate Vice
ing environments that eliminate race‑based President and Lead for Microsoft
disparity in academic achievement. Philanthropies)
 8 August 4-10, 2018
Crypto‑currency is "junk":
Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga
New Delhi: Describing crypto‑cur‑
rency as "junk" Mastercard
President and CEO Ajay Banga has
said an "anonymized" currency that
can fluctuate "wildly" does not
deserve to be considered as a medi‑
um of exchange.
T he India‑born head of the
American multinational financial
services corporation voiced concern
that 95 per cent of all illegal transac‑
tions on the dark web, including
child prostitution, drugs, credit card
and social security fraud, are paid
for using crypto‑currency.
A crypto‑currency is a digital cur‑
rency in which encryption tech‑
niques are used to regulate the gen‑
eration of units of currency and veri‑
fy the transfer of funds, operating
independently of a central bank.
"I think crypto‑currency is
junk....The idea of an anonymized
currency produced by people who
have to mine it, the value of which
can fluctuate wildly ‑ that to me is
not the way that any medium of
exchange deserves to be considered
as a medium of exchange," Banga
said in New York.
He was responding to questions
Award recipients with award committee chair and members.
Uniqueness of Kutchi culture, heritage
celebrated at 9th KOJAIN Sammelan in SFO
San Mateo: Over 550 Kutchi origin
people convened the 9th KOJAIN
Sammelan at the San Mateo Marriott
San Francisco Airport Hotel July 13 ‑
15. Attendees came from all over
North America and India. It was an
atmosphere of mini Kutch in
Marriott Hotel during the three day
event.
KOJAIN is a non profit organiza‑
tion established in 1996 and incor‑
porated in the State of Maryland. Its
mission includes operating and
promoting cultural, charitable, edu‑
cational, and humanitarian activities
in North America and elsewhere. Its
strength lies in serving 6000+ indi‑
viduals residing in North America.
One of the objectives of the organiza‑
tion is to maintain, educate, enhance,
advance and preserve the
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Ajay Banga speaking at the 'New India Lecture' organized
earlier this week at the Indian Consulate
about crypto‑currency during the
'New India Lecture' organized earlier
this week at the Indian Consulate
under the aegis of Consul General
Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty.
The lecture series is organized by
the Consulate in partnership with
the US‑India Strategic Partnership
Forum (USISPF).
Banga said crypto‑currency is not
a good medium of exchange as it
does not have predictability and
transparency. "Why is that the medi‑
um of exchange that is being pre‑
ferred," he said. Banga also referred
heritage of Kachchh through art,
language and culture. Kachchh is a
region located in the Northwestern
part of Gujarat state in India.
The three long‑day event, organ‑
ized by Kutchis of San Francisco Bay
Area called KutchValley Group of
KOJAIN, also celebrated Kutchi New
Year ‑ Ashadhi Beej, second moon‑
light day of Hindu Calendar month
Ashadh
on July 14. Wherever feasible,
high tech and paperless communica‑
tions took place. The Sammelan
attendees experienced first time
Sammelan App, available to every‑
one to view venue, sessions, etc.
T he all ‑ encompassing event
offered an array of exciting activities
including Welcome Saamaiyu, Kuchi
culture demonstration, Garba raas at
to the indictment of 12 Russian
intelligence officers in the hacking
of the Democratic National
Committee and for interring in the
US elections, saying that the FBI had
disclosed that the Russian agents
handled the most delicate transac‑
tions using cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
Banga said cryptocurrency was used
in such dealings because it is "anony‑
mous." "Why civil society would like
to put a snake in its backyard and
think that somehow the snake will
only bite my neighbor, I don't get it,"
he said. (PTI)
San Mateo Mayor Rick Bonilla and his wife Susan
enjoying the cultural program on July 14
night, opening session keynote
speaker from India, informative and
educational sessions, cultural pro‑
gram, exhibition, music and dance.
The 2018 Sammelan theme was
'Kutch Jo Dhabkaar – Valley Jo
Rankaar (Heartbeat of Kutch ‑
Echoing in Silicon Valley).
KutchValley host committee and vol‑
unteers accepted the challenge to
make a history of organizing
KOJAIN Sammelan on the West
Coast for the first time and celebrat‑
ing Kutchi New Year coinciding with
KOJAIN Sammelan.
The Sammelan, which had every‑
thing for all ages kicked off on July
14 – Kutchi New Year with a lamp
lighting ceremony by the San Mateo
City Mayor Rich Bonilla and his wife
Susan, invited keynote speaker from
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Indian‑origin World
Bank economist
drowns at Bali beach
Jakarta: A young Indian‑origin
senior economist working with
the World Bank drowned after
strong currents pulled her away
while she was swimming in a
restricted area at a beach in Bali,
the Indonesian media reported.
The beach lifeguard tried to
save the 37‑year‑old Aakansha
Pande, who resided in Singapore,
and took her to Siloam Hospital
where she was pronounced dead
on arrival, T he Jakarta Post
reported.
Pande, a US citizen, was Senior
Health Economist at the World
Bank where she focused on coun‑
tries in the Middle East and
North Africa (MENA).
She died after being swept
away by strong waves while
swimming in the evening at the
beach in front of Double Six
Hote l in Seminyak, Bali, the
report said.
Quoting lifeguard of ficials, it
said before the incident, Pande
had been warned twice by the
Participants presenting the colorful culture of
Kutch on stage with energetic dance
India Dr. Ela Dedhia, and other dis‑
tinguished guests.
Mayor of San Mateo welcomed
attendees to the City of San Mateo
and honored KOJAIN with a procla‑
mation from the San Mateo City
Council and presented to the
Sammelan Host Committee.
After sumptuous lunch, several
programs were running concurrent‑
ly in separate rooms of the venue for
different age groups. Adult sessions
included heart healthy, college semi‑
nar, franchise and tax laws, franchise
basics, food journeys, entrepreneur‑
ship and i‑can parents workshop.
Various other sessions for younger
generation age groups included
Rubikʼs Cube, calligraphy, what is
your identity̧ internet security,
panel with college students, Kutch
Aakansha Pande, a US citizen
was Senior Health Economist at
the World Bank where she
focused on countries in the
Middle East and North Africa.
beach lifeguard as she was swim‑
ming in an area where swimming
was banned due to strong cur‑
rents.
"We have put (no swimming
signs) in the area. But she kept
swimming," the official was quot‑
ed as saying.
Earlier, the Meteorolog y,
Climatolog y and Geophysics
Agency (BMKG) had warned that
high waves would hit Bali.
Kraft, aboriginal art, shark tank and
day care arrangements were made
for children under 4 years of age.
The evening was packed with a
range of programs celebrating the
Kuchi culture , heritage, music and
musical housie. The event provided a
platform to interact with each other.
All the guests had a chance to mix
and mingle. A separate singles inter‑
action mixer was organized for age
group 25 – 40.
July 15 started with Yoga and
Bombay Jam followed by delicious
South Indian breakfast.
Smart Village in Kutch project ses‑
sion was narrated by Ashok Shah,
speaker from India. It was followed
by KOJAIN Membership meeting and
Sammelan Closing Session recogniz‑
ing all KutchValley volunteers.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY August 4-10, 2018 9

Shiva Ayyadurai, running for US This Indian-American

Senate, punched by rival's supporter graduated as a biomedical
New York: An Indian‑American
senatorial candidate has been
assaulted allegedly by a racist man
engineer. He's only 15
who punched him in the face leav‑
ing him severely bleeding at a
town hall in Massachusetts,
according to media reports.
Shiva Ayyadurai, 54, who is run‑
ning Independent against powerful
incumbent Elizabeth Warren from
the Democratic party was attacked
last wee k by her supporter,
Boston.com reported.
Ayyadurai, an eminent scientist
and an outspoken crit ic, was
punched by a man, wearing a t‑
shirt which said "liberal" and a
Warren for Senate sticker.
He approached Ayyadurai with
an umbrella while he bullhorned a
queue of Warren supporters out‑
side a town hall in Great
Barrington, where the Democratic
Senator was scheduled to appear,
the report said.
"I was just punched in face by a
racist @SenWarren supporter,"
Ayyadurai tweeted.
"This is how these white privi‑
leged white supremacists react.
What you just witnessed is how
you white supremacists react
when you don't want to hear the
truth from a dark‑skinned Indian
guy. The same guy you claim you
Shiva Ayyadurai, an eminent scientist and an outspoken critic, was
punched by a man, wearing a t‑shirt which said "liberal" and a Warren
for Senate sticker. (Image courtesy: washingtontimes.com)
want to help. You guys are racists,"
Ayyadurai said.
He received a bloo dy lip,
swelling and abrasions, the report
said.
The encounter played out as a
crowd of Warren supporters wait‑
ed to enter a center, the Great
Barrington police said in a state‑
ment. Paul Solovay left the line,
crossed Castle Street, and
approached Ayyadurai.
"Solovay allegedly engaged in a
verbal confrontation that became
physical when he pushed the bull‑
horn towards the speaker, striking
his mouth," police said. "Of ficers
acted quickly to subdue Solovay
and place him into custody."
"We don't produce enough engi‑
neers. We don't produce enough
do ctors. But we do pro duce a
bunch of scumbag lawyer lobbyists
like Elizabeth Warren," Ayyadurai
says in the video before it cuts to
Solovay shouting at him from
across the street.
When the two come face to face,
Ayyadurai repeatedly calls Solovay
a racist through the megaphone
before the 74‑year‑old pushes it
into his face, the video shows.
Solovay, who was charged with
assault and battery and disorderly
conduct, pleaded not guilty in
Southern Berkshire District Court.
He was re leased on personal
recognizance. (PTI)
Washington, DC: A
15‑year‑old Indian‑
American child prodi‑
gy has reached a
milestone in his aca‑
demic journey and is
all set to start his doc‑
torate after complet‑
ing his graduation in
biomedical engineer‑
ing, according to a
media report. Tanishq
Abraham, graduated
from the University of
California, Davis with 15‑year‑old Tanishq Abraham, graduated from
the highest honors of the University of California, Davis with the
summa cum laude. highest honors of summa cum laude.
(Image courtesy: theaggie.org)
"Of course I feel
very happy, very excited, and I'm medical school. Tanishq has big
very proud of my accomplish‑ dreams of finding solutions to
ments," Tanishq was quoted as problems, the report said. "Yeah,
saying by FOX40. of course, what everybody likes to
"He's got a lot of passion and we say and what I am also interested
have to keep up with him, pretty in is, of course, cancer and devel‑
much," said his parents, Taji and oping new treatments for cancer,
Bijou Abraham, hailing from more effective treatments for can‑
Kerala. Tanishq has also designed cer," he said. Tanishq has already
a device that could measure the been accepted into the University
heart rate of burn patients with‑ of California, Davis graduate pro‑
out touching them. As for the gram where he plans to get his
future, it's back into the lab at MD in the next four to five
Davis for a Ph.D. and eventually years. (PTI)

DIASPORA

Indian kidnapped in
Malaysia rescued,
3 Pak men arrested:
Sushma Swaraj
New Delhi: An Indian abducted in
Malaysia has been rescued by the police
there and three Pakistani nationals have
been arrested in connection with the case,
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
said. The Indian national, identified as
Sanjeev from Madhya Pradesh, was res‑
cued by the Royal Malaysian Police.
"Abducted Sanjeev has been rescued.
The Royal Malaysian Police has arrested
three Pakistani abductors in the case.
Indian ambassador Mridul (Kumar) and
his team deserve praise," the minister
tweeted. The Indian High Commission in
Malaysia, in a tweet, said, "Abducted boy
Sanjeev got released from the abductors
by the Royal Malaysian Police from Johor
state on 28 July. Indian High Commission
was in constant touch with police during
the operation. Heartiest congratulations
to the police authorities for speedy
action." Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also expressed his
happiness over the rescue of Sanjeev and
thanked the Ministry of External Affairs,
Indian High Commission in Malaysia and
the Royal Malaysian Police for their
speedy action. "Under the leadership of
@SushmaSwaraj, safety & security of
Indians living abroad is the topmost prior‑
ity of our govt," he said on Twitter.
UK rules out separate law for caste
discrimination among Indians
London: The UK government on
July 24th concluded that caste
discrimination among the Indian
community does not require sepa‑
rate legislation and said it can be
covered as part of emerging case
law in the country.
The 'Caste in Great Britain and
Equality Law ‑ A Public
Consultation' had been launched
in March last year to gather the
public's views on how best to
ensure that there is "appropriate
legal protection" against caste dis‑
crimination in Britain.
"Having given careful and
detailed consideration to the find‑
ings of the consultation, the gov‑
ernment believes that the best
way to provide the necessary pro‑
tection against unlawful discrimi‑
nation because of caste is by rely‑
ing on emerging case law as
deve loped by courts and tri‑
bunals," the UK government's
Equalities Of fice said in its con‑
clusion released.
"We were not persuaded by the
argument that introducing explic‑
it legislation into domestic law
was the most appropriate and
proportionate way to provide the
necessary legal protection against
discrimination because of caste,"
it adds.
The issue has deeply divided the
Indian community in the UK, with
Dalit rights groups campaigning
for years for distinct legal protec‑
tion against caste discrimination
and other groups claiming that
any move to legislate the issue
would entrench divisions that are
not relevant to the British Indian
community. "The government has
sent a depressing message to the
Dalits that their cause is not
important as they continue to face
discrimination with impunity,"
said Sat Pal Muman, Chair of
Castewatch UK, a group cam‑
paigning in favour of anti‑caste
legislation over the years.
He said the government had
"sold out" to the opposing side,
claiming that it was a "political
decision in the interest of votes".
"This clearly means the victims
will not have any legal protection
and have to go through expensive
long‑drawn legal battles to get
justice," he added.
T he groups that had cam‑
paigned against separate caste‑
based legislation welcomed the
government's conclusion as a
boost to "community cohesion".
Anil Bhanot, chair of the Ethnic
Minority Foundation and
Founding Member of Hindu
Council UK, said, "We have
worked hard to promote commu‑
nity cohesion for the last 20 years
to unite all Hindu and Sikh com‑
munities, whatever caste, as one
British Indian integrated commu‑
nity into the country's evolving
and dynamic culture.
"Such a legislation would have
further divided our communities
when our youth here have grown
up not even aware of such caste
identities. We do not condone any
type of discrimination and there
already are laws to protect people
being discriminated under ethnici‑
ty of the Race Re lations Act
1976."
T he UK government defines
"caste" as a hereditary, endoga‑
mous (marrying within the group)
community associated with a tra‑
ditional occupation and ranked
accordingly on a perceived scale
of ritual purity.
Following a long‑drawn cam‑
paign by UK‑based Dalit groups,
the House of Lords had voted in
March 2013 in favour of outlaw‑
ing caste discrimination by includ‑
ing it as a category in anti‑racism
laws. The government responded
with the public consultation
process, which has now concluded
after analysing over 16,000
responses. The consultation's con‑
clusion describes the issue as an
"exceptionally controversial one",
adding that not creating a sepa‑
rate legal category was "the more
proportionate approach given the
extremely low numbers of cases
involved and the clearly contro‑
versial nature of introducing
'caste', as a self‑standing element,
into British domestic law."
T he government noted that
should there be any question that
the established case law is under
challenge, it would consider inter‑
vention in order to support the
existing legal interpretation of the
interaction between caste and eth‑
nic origins. (PTI)
 10 August 4-10, 2018 US AFFAIRS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Rudy Giuliani: Michael Cohen TRUMP OPEN TO

warned to keep mouth shut MEETING PUTIN
New York: Donald Trumpʼs legal team

has warned his former fixer Michael
Cohen to stop speaking out and vio‑
lating lawyer client confidentiality,
the presidentʼs attorney Rudy Giuliani
told ABC News Saturday. The warning
comes just six days after the team
waived lawyer client privilege con‑
cerning a recorded conversation
between Cohen and his former boss
about a former Playboy model.
“We have complained” to Cohenʼs
lawyers that “heʼs violated the attor‑
ney‑client privilege, publicly and pri‑
vately,” Giuliani told the network.
Giuliani said Cohen is in “grave dan‑
ger of being disbarred.”
But Cohenʼs attorney Lanny Davis
told Huffpost in a statement that
Giuliani “seems to be confused.”
He “expressly waived attorney‑
client privilege last week and repeat‑
edly and inaccurately ̶ as proven by
the tape ̶ talked and talked about
the recording, forfeiting all confiden‑
tiality,” Davis added.
The secretly recorded conversation,
obtained by CNN, appears to involve
a discussion between Cohen and
Trump about buying the rights to a
story by former Playboy model Karen
McDougal, who has claimed she had
an affair with Trump. Giuliani has
insisted that the tape clears the presi‑
dent of any wrongdoing.
After the tape was released, sources
told CNN that Cohen claimed Trump
knew in advance about the Trump
Tower meeting during his campaign
Giuliani had earlier described Cohen as honest when Trump and
his former lawyer had joint defense agreement.
involving Donald Trump Jr. and a
Kremlin‑linked attorney who was to
provide damaging information on
Hillary Clinton. If thatʼs the case, it
could have serious repercussions in
special counsel Robert Muellerʼs
probe into possible collusion between
the Trump campaign and Russiaʼs
interference in the election. Trump
has denied knowing about the meet‑
ing ahead of time.
It may be this information that the
legal team warned Cohen about,
though Giuliani wasnʼt clear in his
ABC interview.
Giuliani also told ABC Saturday that
Trumpʼs team has hired multiple
experts to analyze the recordings of
conversations between Cohen and
Trump. Giuliani has insisted that
Trump told Cohen on the released
tape “donʼt pay with cash.” An expert
used by CNN determined that Trump
said: “Iʼll pay with cash.” Cohen also
talks about apparently setting up
some kind of shell operation to hide
the payment.
In any case, both men appear to be
agreeing to pay to suppress the story
that was reportedly purchased for
$150,000 by the National Enquirer
̶ but never published.
Giuliani said heʼs aware of the sub‑
ject matter of 13 Cohen tapes that
have been seized by the government,
but that only one affects the presi‑
dent. “Thereʼs nothing on it that
would concern us,” he said. The
Washington Post reported that the
FBI seized more than 100 recordings
of Cohen conversations with a num‑
ber of people.
Giuliani also noted, in case anyone
suspected otherwise, that the joint
defense agreement between Trump
and Cohen is over.
IN MOSCOW
Washington: President
Trump is open to accepting
an invitation from Russia's
Vladimir Putin to visit
Moscow, the White House
said on Friday.
"President Trump looks for‑
ward to having President
Putin to Washington after the
first of the year, and he is
open to visiting Moscow upon
receiving a formal invitation,"
Efe quoted spokesperson
Sarah Sanders as saying in a
statement.
The Russian President said
on Friday that he had extend‑
ed an invitation to Trump to
meet with him in Moscow,
and that he is equally dis‑
posed to travel to
Washington, but "only if the
appropriate conditions are
created there".
"We are ready for such
meetings, we are ready to
invite President Trump to
Moscow. He has an invitation
already and I told him about
it," Putin said in
Johannesburg, where he
attended the summit of the
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India,
China, South Africa) group.
Just a few days after the
first bilateral summit between
Putin and Trump, held July
16 in Helsinki, the White
House revealed the US
President's decision to have a
second meeting with his
Russian counterpart in
Washington before the end of
the year.
But after the deluge of
bipartisan criticism, Trump
announced through his
National Security Adviser
John Bolton that he will not
see Putin at least until early
2019. "The President believes
that the next bilateral meeting
with President Putin should
take place after the Russia
witch hunt is over, so we've
agreed that it will be after the
first of the year," Bolton said
on Wednesday in a statement.

Trump denies advance knowledge New York nixes nod of Charter-Time

of son's meeting with Russians Warner merger, boots Spectrum
Washington: President Donald Trump on
Friday denied that he knew in advance
about the meeting his son had with a
Russian lawyer ahead of the 2016 US presi‑
dential election.
The President reacted via Twitter to a
CNN report that Trump's one‑time personal
attorney, Michael Cohen, claimed the real
estate mogul approved Donald Trump Jr.'s
plan to meet with the attorney, who ostensi‑
bly had damaging information about
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary
Clinton.
"I did NOT know of the meeting with my
son, Don jr.," Trump said in the first of a
sequence of tweets. "Sounds to me like
someone is trying to make up stories in
order to get himself out of an unrelated jam
(Taxi cabs maybe?)."
The President was alluding to Cohen, who
faces a federal criminal investigation over
his personal business dealings involving the
taxi industry in New York, Efe reported.
Prosecutors are also looking at Cohen's
efforts to quash negative news about
Trump during the 2016 campaign, which
are of interest to Robert Mueller, the spe‑
cial counsel heading the probe into alleged
Russian meddling in the election and possi‑
ble collusion between the Kremlin and the
Trump campaign. Cohen recently turned to
The President reacted to a CNN report
that his one‑time personal attorney and
fixer, Michael Cohen claimed he
approved Don Jr.'s plan to meet with the
Russians to get Clinton dirt.
a prominent attorney and lobbyist Lanny
Davis, a long‑time associate of Bill and
Hillary Clinton, to represent him.
"(Cohen) even retained Bill and Crooked
Hillary's lawyer," Trump wrote on Twitter.
"Gee, I wonder if they helped him make the
choice!"
New York: The New York Public Service
Commission (PSC) has withdrawn its
approval of the Charter Communications
and Time Warner Cable merger. According
to a PSC release, the revocation is for a
specific cause, namely that Spectrum, the
name of the merged entity,
failed to deliver specific
benefits to New Yorkers
that were among the condi‑
tions upon which the merg‑
er was approved, the PSC
says. The commission also
filed an enforcement action
in the New York State
Supreme Court to seek $3
million in penalties for past failures and
continuing noncompliance.
The PSC listed five areas of Charterʼs
alleged misconduct:
8 Repeated missed deadlines;
8 Attempts to avoid obligations to rural
communities;
8 Unsafe practices;
8 Failure to fully commit to the merger
obligations; and
8 Purposeful obfuscation of its per‑
formance and compliance obliga‑
tions.
Concluding that Charter “was not inter‑
ested in being a good corporate citizen”
and that the Commission could no longer
allow it to operate in New York, the PSC
stated its actions address the failings and
are meant “to ensure New York has a part‑
ner interested in the public good, not just
lining its pockets.” Commission Chair John
B. Rhodes said, “Charterʼs
noncompliance and
brazenly disrespectful
behavior toward New York
State and its customers
necessitates the actions
taken today seeking court‑
ordered penalties for its
failures, and revoking the
Charter merger approval.”
Conditions of the 2016 merger included
extending service availability to 145,000
underserved homes and businesses in less
populated areas of the state within four
years and upgrading network speeds to
100Mbps by the end of 2018 and 300
Mbps by late 2019.
According to the PSC, not only has
Charter failed to meet the conditions of the
approval, the company also has claimed it
is not bound by the terms of the approval.
The Commission also said that Charter
tried to pass the blame for the failures on
to other companies, including utility pole
owners.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Trump threatens govt shutdown
over border wall, rattling GOP
Washington: President Donald Trump said on
Sunday he would allow the federal govern‑
ment to shut down if Democrats do not fund
his border wall and back immigration law
changes, betting that maintaining a hard line
will work in Republicans' favor in November
congressional elections.
However, a disruption in federal govern‑
ment operations could backfire on Trump if
voters blame Republicans, who control
Congress, for the interruption in services.
“I would be willing to 'shut down' govern‑
ment if the Democrats do not give us the
votes for Border Security, which includes the
Wall! Must get rid of Lottery, Catch & Release
etc. and finally go to system of Immigration
based on MERIT! We need great people com‑
ing into our Country!” Trump said on Twitter.
Americans are divided along party lines on
immigration, and 81 percent of Republicans
approved Trump's handling of the issue,
according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released
this month.
The Republican president has threatened a
shutdown several times since taking office in
2017 in a bid to get immigration priorities in
congressional spending bills, especially fund‑
ing for a wall along the southern U.S. border.
Trump has asked for $25 billion to build the
wall.
“I don't think it would be helpful, so letʼs
US AFFAIRS
File photo of
President Trump
touring his border
wall prototypes
try to avoid it,” Republican Senator Ron
Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland
Security Committee, said on CBS' “Face the
Nation.”
Congress must agree on a spending meas‑
ure to fund the government by a Sept. 30
deadline.
Although Republicans control both the U.S.
Senate and House of Representatives, dis‑
agreements between moderates and conser‑
vatives in the party have impeded a speedy
legislative fix.
T he Republican president has made
tougher immigration laws a centerpiece of
his administration, from the first ill‑fated
travel ban on people from predominantly
Muslim nations to the current battle raging
over the separation of illegal immigrant chil‑
dren from their parents at the U.S.‑Mexico
border.
A federal judge on Friday urged the U.S.
government to focus on finding deported
immigrant parents whose children remain in
the United States.
August 4-10, 2018 11
SFO to LA hi‑speed
rail off the ground
Fresno, Calif: Though opposed by Republicans,
including President Trump, the beleaguered
$100 billion Los Angeles‑to‑San Francisco bul‑
let train has moved off the drawing board and
onto 21 construction sites spread across five
Central California counties. Work began two
weeks ago on one of the more ambitious pieces
of the project ̶ an overpass that will carry
trains over a major highway in Fresno ̶ and
ground will be broken on three more viaducts
in the next few months. Nearly 2,000 workers
are on the job, starting as early as 5 a.m. to
avoid the 110‑degree afternoon heat.
Yet for all the cranes, crews in orange vests,
beeping trucks and fresh concrete, it remains
far from certain that this project will ever be
completed. In addition to the lack of funding, it
faces opposition from both Mr. Trump and
Kevin McCarthy, the Bakersfield Republican
who is the House majority leader.
The continued delays and rising costs have
fueled criticism that California, perhaps the
most prosperous state in the nation, is squan‑
dering money on a transportation project that
critics describe as a prime example of big gov‑
ernment waste in a state controlled by
Democrats. “This is going to be the most
expensive and slowest form of fast rail imagi‑
nable,” said Jim Patterson, a former Fresno
mayor who is now a Republican member of the
Assembly and a critic of the project.
It has been 10 years since Californians voted
to approve the $9.95 billion bond, a down pay‑
ment on a project that was estimated at that
time to cost $40 billion.
 12 August 4-10, 2018 INDIA NEWS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Karunanidhi's health continues to be same: Stalin

Chennai: T here has been no
change in the health condition of
DMK President M. Karunanidhi
from what the hospital had said on
Sunday, said his son and party
leader M.K. Stalin.
On Sunday, the hospital said
after a "transient setback" in the
clinical condition of Karunanidhi,
his vital signs are normalising
with active medical support.
The Kauvery Hospital had said
Karunanidhi is being closely moni‑
tored and treated by the panel of
expert doctors.
The 94‑year‑old Karunanidhi,
the five time Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister who has never lost an
assembly election in the 13 times
he had contested, was admitted to
the hospital on Saturday at 1.30
a.m. after his bloo d pressure
dipped.
"Karunanidhi's condition is now
stable after a minor setback in the
this. Anxiety about Karunanidhi's
health condition reached a peak
late on Sunday with all the family
members and senior party leaders
rushing to the hospital as he
developed some breathing trouble.
Later the hospital issued a state‑
ment, saying: "There was a tran‑
sient setback in the clinical condi‑
tion of Karuanidhi, DMK President
and former Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu.
"With active medical support, his
vital signs are normalising. He
continues to be closely monitored
and treated by the panel of expert
doctors."
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao greets Stalin has urged the thousands
DMK chief M. Karunanidhi in Chennai. (File Photo: IANS) of party cadres gathered outside
form of breathing problem on morning. He said the 94‑year‑old the hospital to remain calm.
Sunday night. leader who was admitted in the Police has been advising the
The doctors at Kauvery Hospital intensive care unit (ICU) has been cadres to disperse citing the hospi‑
are monitoring his condition," moving his hands and legs and tal's statement about
DMK spokesperson T.K.S. also opened his eyes. Karunanidhi's health condition.
Elangovan told IANS on Monday Hospital sources also confirmed According to Elangovan, the anx‑
iety amongst party cadres late on
Sunday peaked after sudden
deployment of police force in large
numbers and the news of Chief
Minister K. Palaniswami can‑
celling his programmes in Salem
and rushing back to Chennai.
Palaniswami and his deputy
O.Panneerselvam on Monday met
Karunanidhi at hospital. Speaking
to reporters Palaniswami said:
"Karunanidhi's condition is stable."
Palaniswami and Panneerselvam
met the ailing leader in the ICU
along w ith Stalin and
Karunanid hi's daug hter
Kanomozhi.
On July 26, Kauvery Hospital
said Karunanidhi was being treat‑
ed for fever due to urinary tract
infection with intravenous antibi‑
otics and fluids at his home here.
However, after his blood pres‑
sure dipped, he was admitted to
Kauvery Hospital.

Rafale deal: Draft NRC can't lead to any

Taxpayers will
pay Rs 1 lakh
crore, says Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
New Delhi: Congress President Rahul
Gandhi claimed that the due to the Rafale
fighter jet deal, Indian taxpayers will have
to pay the "Prime Minister's friend's joint
venture Rs 1 lakh crore over five decades to
maintain the aircraft.
Taking a dig, he said that De fence
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will as usual
hold a press conference to deny this charge.
"Over the next 50 years, Indian taxpayers
will pay Mr 56's (Modi) friend's JV, (Rs)
100,000 crore to maintain 36 #RafaleScam
jets, India is buying," Gandhi tweeted.
"Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) will
address a press conference to deny this, as
usual. But the truth is in the presentation
I'm attaching," he said, tagging along a
Re liance Infrastructure Investors
Presentation.
It said that "Reliance Defence Limited has
secured the of fset contract from Dassault
Aviation for Rs 30,000 crore and a conse‑
quent ʻLifecycle opportunity' is estimated at
Rs 1 lakh crore over 50 years." T he
Congress on Friday accused Sitharaman of
"lying" on Reliance Defence Limited's offset
contract", and said it didn't have experience
in manufacturing fighter jets.
action by any authority: SC
New Delhi: In an obvious move to douse the
uproar following the publication of the draft
NRC, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the
list cannot be the basis for any coercive
action by any authority.
"What has been published is a complete
draft NRC. It can't be the basis for any action
by any authority," said a bench of Justice
Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohinton Fali
Nariman as Attorney General K.K. Venugopal
pointed to the serious human problem.
Referring to the statement by West Bengal
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the fears
of influx to adjoining States, the Attorney
General said claims and objection by all those
left out in the draft NRC have to be consid‑
ered and would involve a proper hearing with
the local registrar issuing notice and calling
SRIKRISHNA PANEL SUGGESTS
AMENDMENTS IN AADHAAR ACT
New Delhi: The Justice B.N. Srikrishna
Committee on data protection in India has
suggested amendments to various laws
including the Aadhaar Act to provide for
imposition of penalties on data fiduciaries
and compensations to data principals for
violations of the data protection law.
The 213‑page report, prepared by a 10‑
member committee set up last year under
the chairmanship of the retired Supreme
Court judge, was submitted to Law and
Electronics Minister Ravishankar Prasad
who said that the government will go
through the draft bill and take stakeholder
comments before taking Cabinet approval
for finalizing the legislation.
Justice Srikrishna said data privacy is a
burning issue and there are three parts to
the triangle. "The citizen's rights have to be
protected, the responsibilities of the
for documents as provided under the statute.
Saying that the claims and objections will
have to be considered carefully, the Attorney
General told the court that "full opportunity
must be given to all".
As Venugopal said there may be a need for
biometric proof, the court refused to get into
it. "Mr. AG, at the moment we don't express
any opinion. Our silence should not be con‑
strued as agreement or consent," Justice
Gogoi said.
T he court was also informed by the
Attorney General that the Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) giving the modalities for
dealing with the claims and procedures will
be prepared by the concerned ministry by
August 15.
Fixing August 16 as next date of hearing,
states have to be defined but the data pro‑
tection can't be at the cost of trade and
industry."
The report assumes significance in the
context of controversies over alleged leak‑
age of biometric details of Aadhaar card
holders and the ongoing Supreme Court
hearing in the case related to data protec‑
tion.
The report has proposed penalties for
violations, criminal proceedings, setting up
of a data authority, provision of withdrawal
of consent and concept of consent fatigue.
In its recommendationsm, the committee
has said the data protection law will set up
a Data Protection Authority (DPA), an inde‑
pendent regulatory body responsible for
the enforcement and implementation of the
law. Broadly, it will perform the functions
of monitoring and enforcement, legal
the bench observed that the SOP must be fair.
At the outset of the hearing, the State Co‑
ordinator of the National Register of Citizens
(NRC), Prateek Hajela, informed the court
about the compliance of the court's order
with the publication of draft NRC on July 30.
On a question by Justice Gogoi about how
much time it will take to publish the final
NRC, saying "we have read somewhere that it
will be published by December 31", Hajela
said: "We have not fixed any date."
The draft NRC would be open for inspection
till August 7, he said. Thereafter, from August
8, training of officials to deal with the claims
and objection would commence.
The filing of the claims and the objections
would commence from August 30 and will
last till September 28.
affairs, policy and standard setting,
research and awareness and enquiry, griev‑
ance handling and adjudication.
The draft law has suggested that penal‑
ties may be imposed on data fiduciaries
and compensations may be awarded for
violations of data protection law.
"The penalties imposed would be an
amount up to the fixed upper limit or a per‑
centage of the total worldwide turnover of
the proceeding financial year, whichever is
higher. Offences created under the law
should be limited to any intentional or
reckless behaviour, or to damage caused
with knowledge to the data principals in
question."
The law will have jurisdiction over the
processing of personal data if such data
has been used, shared, disclosed, collected
or otherwise processed in India.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Modi calls for South Asia
peace in chat with Imran
New Delhi: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi spoke to former
Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan,
whose Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf
(PTI) party has emerged as the
largest party in the country's gen‑
eral elections last week, and called
for peace and development in the
South Asian neighborhood.
"Prime Minister spoke to Imran
Khan, Chairperson of Pakistan
Tehreek‑e‑Insaf party and congrat‑
ulated him for his party emerging
as the largest political party in the
National Assembly of Pakistan in
the recently conducted general
elections," the External Af fairs
Ministry said in a statement.
"Prime Minister expressed hope
that democracy will take deeper
roots in Pakistan," the statement
said, adding Modi "also reiterated
his vision of peace and develop‑
ment in the entire neighborhood".
Imran Khan has said that he will
take oath as Prime Minister on
August 11, the media reported.
Although the PTI has emerged as
the single largest party in the
National Assembly in the July 25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
polls, it is short of numbers to
form its government independent‑
ly.
To meet the required number of
votes, the PTI leadership has
reportedly approached the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement‑
Pakistan, the Grand Democratic
Alliance, PML‑Quaid and the
Balochistan Awami Party, as well
as Independents.
Khan said on Thursday that his
government would seek good rela‑
tions with India and would like
leaders of the two countries to sit
INDIA August 4-10, 2018 13
India welcomes
US decision to
across the table and resolve all dis‑ upgrade trade ties
putes, including the "core issue" of
New Delhi: India welcomed the
Kashmir.
US' decision to upgrade trade
He said there has been a blame
ties with it, saying it is a logical
game between India and Pakistan
culmination to India's designa‑
with New Delhi holding Islamabad
t ion as a Major De fense
responsible for all its problems.
Partner of the US.
And Pakistan is blaming India for
"We welcome the announce‑
what is happening in Balochistan,
ment made by US Secretary of
he said.
Commerce Wilbur Ross in the
"We are (back to) square one. We
Indo‑Pacific Business Forum on
are ready to improve relationship
July 30, 2018, about the US
with India. Now it is a one way
government's decision to move
blame on Pakistan." He said trade
India into Tier‑1 of the
between India and Pakistan can be
Department of Commerce's
instrumental in eradicating pover‑
Strategic Trade Authorization
ty in the subcont inent which
license exception," the External
should be the focus of the two
Affairs Ministry said in a state‑
countries.
ment.
T he 19th South Asian
"It is a logical culmination to
Asso ciat ion for Reg ional US Secretary of Commerce
India's designation as a Major
Cooperat ion (Saarc) Summit, Wilbur Ross.
Defense Partner of the US and
scheduled to be held in Islamabad
a reaf firmat ion of India's nolog y collaborat ion in
in November 2016, was canceled
impeccable record as a respon‑ defense and high technology
after India, Afghanistan, Bhutan
sible member of the concerned areas. We look forward to the
and Bangladesh decided to skip
multilateral export control US side operationalization the
the summit blaming Pakistan for
regimes," it stated. decision at an early date."
not cooperating in combating
"This step will further facili‑ India is the only South Asian
cross‑border terrorism in South
tate India‑US trade and tech‑ nation to be put on this list.
Asia.
 14 August 4-10, 2018 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Afghanistan, not India,

to be Imran’s priority until 2019
By Saeed Naqvi Afghanistan. The blowback from the Afghan admission. Asked why he had not
war singed Pakistan. The Lal Masjid fiasco ordered air attacks against the

E
ven before elections in Pakistan had
taken place, the media which articu‑
lates the Western establishment
point of view, like the Economist, had
already declared it a "flawed election"; it
even screamed "foul play" which the "khaki
umpire" (read the Army) had rigged.
If you will stand for a mixed metaphor, the
"khaki umpire" is, these days, playing the
monkey between two cats ‑ the US and
China. With Donald Trump and his Deep
State apparently engaged in a savage fight
to the finish, the balance of advantage must
be seen to be with China. But the Chinese
themselves are keeping their fingers on the
China‑Pakistan economic corridor.
The new Prime Minister Imran Khan will
be pragmatic. He will not seek to impose a
moral code on his armed forces. But he will
draw some very firm red lines and these red
lines will stretch from Pakhtunkhwa right
through Afghanistan, the arena of his politi‑
cal baptism and purgatory. That is where he
cannot be seen to be striking deals. His polit‑
ical turf will turn to ash if he does.
He should not be seen in the traditional
Pathan‑Punjabi balance. The brunt of the
blowback from the Afghan war was borne
by the Pathan region, true, but it was a
national catastrophe. Let me explain.
Washington twisted Pervez Musharraf's
arm to turn upon those Mujahideen in
Afghanistan whom Riyadh, Washington and
Islamabad had reared to fight the Soviets in
in Islamabad aggravated an uncontrollable
situation.
The reverberations from that blowback
have not ended yet. Remember, the public
outcry was against Musharraf fighting
"America's war" against terrorism. It became
all the more shrill when the two brothers
controlling Lal Masjid, Ghazi Rashid and
Maulana Aziz, led the chorus.
Let me fast forward to the latest American
debacle in Syria and its possible impact on
the Af‑Pak region. When almost all the mer‑
cenary Islamists had been caught with their
trousers down, the existential question
arose: what to do with trained terrorists?
When animal lovers in Britain forced an
end to the traditional foxhunt, the impulse
reached India's southern hill station of
Ootacamund also. The same question arose:
what to do with hundreds of pedigree
hounds? Good sense dawned and the
canines were kept in a deluxe kennel, then
distributed among dog lovers.
But what do the trainers do with terrorists,
trained and tested in action, who have not
only tasted blood but have begun to love it?
Trained terrorists can only have one use: as
assets against any Muslim society the "train‑
er" wishes to destabilize ‑ Afghanistan,
Xinxiang, the Caucasus and so on.
I can quote at least two recent US
Presidents to prove my point. In an inter‑
view to Thomas Friedman in August 2014,
President Barack Obama made a startling
Islamic State, when it first
reared its head, Obama
said: "that would have
taken the pressure off
Nouri al Maliki", Iraq's
stubbornly anti‑
American, Shia Prime
Minister. In other
words, the IS advance
from Mosul to Baghdad
was facilitated to oust
Nouri al Maliki, an out‑
come the US was excit‑
edly waiting for. Maliki
had to be punished for
the affront of not sign‑
ing the "Status of
Forces agreement" with
the US. Eventually
New Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be pragmatic. He
Maliki was shown the
will not seek to impose a moral code on his armed forces.
door.
After having been briefed by the intelli‑ been marking time with the good Taliban,
gence agencies, candidate Donald Trump bad Taliban mantra because they clearly do
told Jake Tapper of the CNN: "Where do you not have a policy. The moment is laden with
think have billions of dollars worth of arms ‑ irony for President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul.
and cash ‑ gone in the course of our involve‑ The emergence of a Pathan in Islamabad
ment in Syria? To the extremists, of course, I should have provided him with comfort.
believe so." He has not budged from this Instead he is having kittens: the Pathan on
position. What should worry Imran Khan is the other side has an agenda which is totally
the next stage: the transfer of trained terror‑ at cross purposes with Ghani's. Imran's
ists from Syria to Northern Afghanistan. agenda would boost his popularity in the
Islamabad, Beijing, Moscow are all per‑ country where Ghani, alas, has none. The
suaded that Taliban will have to be part of moral is simple: no sidekick to a foreign
the solution in Afghanistan. Americans have power has ever been respected at home.

Itʼs time India got real about its ties with Russia
By Dhruva Jaishankar China in condemning Indiaʼs Russiaʼs post‑2014 relationship
nuclear tests. with China and its exploratory ties

I
ndiaʼs relations with the Soviet
Union were slow to take off
after independence. Anxiety
about Soviet support for domestic
communist revolutionaries led to
an Indian wariness that only began
to subside in the mid‑1950s.
Joseph Stalinʼs death in 1953
paved the way for Moscow to pro‑
vide economic and technical assis‑
tance to non‑communist countries
such as India.
Only then did India begin to align
with Soviet positions on interna‑
tional diplomatic matters, such as
the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Indo‑Soviet defence ties acceler‑
ated after the United States sus‑
pended military assistance to both
India and Pakistan during the
1965 war.
Relations assumed a clearer
direction with the 1971 Indo‑
Soviet Treaty of Friendship and
Cooperation (modelled on a similar
arrangement between the USSR
and Egypt), which was prompted
by the US‑China rapprochement
and their support for Pakistan.
Today, the relationship has
become one‑dimensional, centred
on arms sales by Russia to India.
Between 2000 and 2014, 73% of
Indiaʼs imported military equip‑
ment came from Russia.
Meanwhile, overall India‑Russia
trade has been slight, rising from
$6 billion in 2014 to $10.7 billion
this year.
Under these circumstances, what
explains Indiaʼs high‑profile and
sustained engagement with Russia
this year? One, India still needs
Russia for military spare parts just
as Moscow needs New Delhi for
revenue. Two, there are certain
technologies that Russia is willing
to provide ̶ such as nuclear‑pow‑
PM Narendra Modi with Russia President Vladimir Putin at the BRICS ered submarines ̶ that the likes of
Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: IANS/MEA) the United States never will.
As a consequence, Indiaʼs defence engineering had gone in sizeable Three, as in years past, Russia
ties with the USSR deepened and numbers to the Soviet republics. wields a powerful veto at the UN
cooperation eventually extended to Still, ties remained business‑like: Security Council, and multilateral
the war in Afghanistan. The rela‑ India regularly rebuffed Soviet cooperation extends to BRICS and
tionship also broadened: by the attempts at closer military con‑ the Shanghai Cooperation
early 1990s, the Soviet Union was tacts. Organisation.
Indiaʼs largest trade partner and Later, in the 1990s, Russia initial‑ Four, there are deep and abiding
Indian students of medicine and ly joined the United States and concerns in New Delhi about
with Pakistan. For all these rea‑
sons, engaging with Russia at the
highest levels is absolutely neces‑
sary.
But India‑Russia ties would also
benefit from a dose of realism, a
Bulgakovian realisation that no
oneʼs fate is of any interest to you
except your own.
There is little indication that
Putin views India in sentimental
terms, unlike an earlier generation
of Russian officials exemplified by
former Prime Minister Yevgeny
Primakov or the late Russian envoy
Alexander Kadakin.
Indiaʼs high‑profile and sustained
outreach to Moscow in 2018 is not
a reversion to an imagined past. It
is a hard‑nosed attempt at manag‑
ing a transactional relationship
over the medium‑term future to
secure vital Indian security inter‑
ests and preserve a favourable bal‑
ance of power.
(Dhruva Jaishankar is fellow,
Foreign Policy, Brookings India,
New Delhi. The opinion appeared
in The Hindustan Times.)
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Bengaluru: Over 1,000 “war rock‑
ets” of the 18th century ruler of
the erstwhile Mysore state, Tipu
Sultan, were found in an aban‑
doned open well at Bidanooru
Fort in Karnatakaʼs Shivamogga
district, said an official on
Saturday.
“Excavation of the open well in
the fort at Nagara near
Shivamogga led to unearthing of
over 1,000 corroded rockets that
were stored during Tipuʼs time
for use in wars,” state
Archaeology Department
Assistant Director R. Shejeshwara
Nayaka told IANS from the
site, 385km northwest of
here.
A chance discovery
of 160 unused rusted
rockets in the
vicinity in 2002
and their iden‑
tification after
five years of
research in
2007 into the
Tipu era made
the depart‑
ment explore
if more such ammunition was
lying buried in the fort.
“Digging of the dry well where
its mud was smelling like gun
powder led to the discovery of the
rockets and shells in a pile, each
filled with potassium nitrate,
charcoal, and magnesium powder
New book traces the historic
hippie trail of 1960s
New Delhi: The journey of thou‑
sands of European and
American young hippies to
"point east" ‑‑ India, Nepal and
other South Asian countries ‑‑ in
the 1960s and 1970s is now
documented as a combined his‑
tory in "The Hippie Trail: A
History".
Tracing a geographic trail from
the West, the book establishes
the hippie as a pivot, and builds a
socio‑political and personal con‑
text around their new‑found
inspiration to travel.
The book is authored by histori‑
ans Sharif Gemie and Brian
Ireland, and it focuses on the
detailed past of the overland
journey undertaken by people of
the hippie culture, through the
historian's eye.
It records the "joys and pains
experienced" by young hippies
en route to the East.
The account is structured
around questions like: "Were the
travelers simply motivated by a
search for drugs, or was there
something deeper that they were
looking for?" Chapters like "The
hippie as a tourist" and the "The
hippie as a pilgrim" seek to posi‑
tion the hippie on the spiritual
tourism map.
FEATURES
1,000 war rockets of Tipu
found in Karnataka fort
used to fire or lob them using an
artillery,” Nayaka noted. A 15‑
member team of archaeologists,
excavators and labor‑
ers took three days
from Wednesday to
unearth the rock‑
ets along with
gun powder and
cast in rustic iron.
“The war rockets
are in different sizes,
measuring 12‑14
inches. They were
found buried in a
secure place in the
well‑shaped place
beneath the surface,”
Nayaka pointed
out.
“The iron‑cased rockets clearly
show Tipuʼs technology was used
in making them. Some of them
could even belong to Keladi
Dynasty and the Wodeyar rulers with the department, the Malnad
of the Mysore kingdom after region, including the fort area in
Tipuʼs reign,” added Nayaka. Shivamogga was part of Tipuʼs
According to historical records Mysore kingdom from 1750‑99
festival in 1969 that att
The Woodstock music
in New York, was the ep
the Catskill Mountains
pie haunt, and aging
Goa was a popular hip
conti nu e to live there.
August 4-10, 2018 15
A pioneer in using rocket artillery, Tipu Sultan used to deploy the rockets to deter the
advancing British forces from advancing into his territory.
and the rockets were used in the fourth Anglo‑Mysore war in 1799
wars Tipu fought against the East at Srirangapatna near Mysore
India Company of the British after successive victories in bat‑
empire. Tipu was killed in the tles against the British rulers.
Magsaysay award for Indian
doctor, education reformist
Manila: A Mumbai‑based
doctor, who set up a
rehabilitation founda‑
tion to rescue mentally‑
ill persons living on the
streets, along with a
widely known Ladakhi
engineer and education
reformist, are among
the six personalities Sonam Wangchuk, who inspired Aamir
named for this year's Khanʼs ʻ3 Idiotsʼ and Bharat Vatwani,
Ramon Magsaysay who rescues mentally ill persons.
Award.
Bharat Vatwani, who has been and culture creatively for econom‑
recognized for "his tremendous ic progress, thus setting an exam‑
courage and healing compassion ple for minority peoples in the
in embracing India's mentally‑ world". After earning his engineer‑
racted over 400,000 in
afflicted destitute", established ing degree, Wangchuk founded
itome of the hippie era
. Shraddha Rehabilitation Students' Education and Cultural
Foundation in 1988, aimed at res‑ Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL)
cuing mentally‑ill persons living and started coaching Ladakhi stu‑
on the streets; providing free shel‑ dents, 95 % of whom used to fail
ter, food, and psychiatric treat‑ the government exams. In 1994,
ment; and reuniting them with with Wangchuk in the lead,
their families. "Operation New Hope" (ONH) was
Sonam Wangchuk, who inspired launched. To date ONH has
actor Aamir Khan's character in "3 trained 700 teachers, 1,000 VEC
Idiots", has been recognized for leaders, and dramatically
"his uniquely systematic, collabo‑ increased the success rate of stu‑
rative and community‑driven dents in matriculation exams from
reform of learning systems in 5% in 1996 to 75 % by 2015.
remote northern India, thus The Ramon Magsaysay Award,
improving the life opportunities of Asia's premier prize, honors great‑
Ladakhi youth, and his construc‑ ness of spirit and transformative
hippies
tive engagement of all sectors in leadership in selfless service to
local society to harness science the peoples of Asia. ‑‑IANS
 16 August 4-10, 2018 ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Priyanka, Nick engaged, Hindi film 'Soni' to compete at

reports US media Venice International Film Fest
A H
ctress
indi film "Soni"
Priyanka
will make its
Chopra, 36,
world premiere
and pop singer Nick
at the 75th Venice
Jonas, 25, are
International Film
engaged after two
Festival, where it will
months of dating,
vie in the Orizzonti
the US media has
Competition category.
reported amidst
It is the only Indian
news that the for‑
feature to be officially
mer Miss World has
selected at the festival,
opted out of
which will be held from
Bollywood film
August 29 to
"Bharat" for a "very
September 8.
special" reason.
The other Indian film
"Bharat" director
to be played at the
Ali Abbas Zafar A still from the movie.
Venice film extravagan‑
announced on
za is "Tumbbad", which will open the gala's 'Work‑In‑Progress' Project and Prasad DI
Twitter that
Critics' Week, and will be screened out of Award for the Best Film In 'Film Bazaar
Priyanka is no
competition. Recommends' section at NFDC Film Bazaar
longer going to be a Actress Priyanka Chopra and singer Nick Jonas have "Soni" will be part of Orizzonti, an inter‑ 2017.
part of the Salman been making several appearances together. national competition dedicated to films that The film, featuring newcomers Geetika
Khan‑starrer movie,
Priyanka was seen celebrating July 4 ‑‑ represent the latest aesthetic and expres‑ Vidya Ohlyan and Saloni Batra in lead roles,
and that the decision came in "the Nick of
the American Independence Day ‑‑ with sive trends in foreign cinema. is produced by Kimsi Singh and Kartikeya
time", making a clear pun on her relation‑
Nick's family, and Nick visited India last Directed by Ivan Ayr, who marks his Narayan Singh, whose previous credits
ship with Jonas.
month with the "Quantico" actress to meet debut feature film with the project, "Soni" include the 2015 Cannes Un Certain
"Yes, Priyanka Chopra is no more part of
her friends and family. The couple had also had won the Facebook Award for Best Regard Selection "Chauthi Koot".
'Bharat' and the reason is very very special,
she told us in the Nick of time about her been sporting similar gold rings.
decision and we are very happy for her...
Team 'Bharat' wishes Priyanka Chopra
loads of love and happiness for life," Zafar
Priyanka introduces
Nick to royal couple
ʻSaheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3':
tweeted. While neither Priyanka nor Jonas
have made an official announcement, US
As buzz has been created about Priyanka
Chopra and Nick Jonas' engagement, it is
Convoluted and trite
media widely reported about their engage‑
also reportedly said that the couple had
ment. People.com quoted a source as say‑
visited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at
ing the couple got engaged on Priyanka's
their house last week, where the actress
36th birthday on July 18 when the two
introduced her boyfriend to her friend
were in London.
"They are so happy," the source told peo‑ Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
ple.com. "His friends and family have never The "Quantico" star and the "Chains"
seen him like this, and they're all really singer, enjoyed some time at the royal cou‑
excited for him. He's definitely very serious ple's house, the same week Jonas proposed
about her," the source added. to Priyanka, reports usmagazine.com.
Priyanka and Jonas have been making Priyanka and Meghan share a good bond
several appearances together, often walk‑ for a quite long time, and have seen spend‑
ing hand in hand. ing quality time together many times

There's never been an impossible

mission for Tom Cruise: Anil Kapoor
A ctor Anil Kapoor has congratulat‑
ed Tom Cruise on the success of Sanjay Dutt as the hot‑headed gangster essays his role with panache.

T
his latest film "Mission Impossible‑
Fallout" and said that there has never he third edition of Director Tigmanshu drama and the narrative is expectedly pre‑
been an impossible mission for the Dhulia's “Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3”, dictable. Also, packed with punch, the dia‑
Hollywood star. once again revolves around its central logues are the highlight of the film.
Anil, who has starred alongside Cruise characters, Saheb's first wife, Madhavi Devi The first half appears confusing with a myr‑
in the 2011 "Mission Impossible" fran‑ (Mahie Gill) and Saheb aka Aditya Pratap iad characters being introduced without care‑
chise ‑‑ Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill) plotting and planning fully dwelling upon their motive.
"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol", to oust and eliminate each other in their Mahie Gill as the power hungry and schem‑
tweeted: "Inspiring us with his power and quest for power and supremacy. Clearly there ing wife, constantly lusting after male atten‑
stunts in every film and always bringing is no love lost between them. tion, fits into her character with ease and is
his A game! There's never been an impos‑ Yuvraj Uday Singh (Sanjay Dutt), from convincing.
sible mission for this guy! another royal family, is a notorious gangster Sanjay Dutt as the hot‑headed, but
and a Russian Roulette expert, who sensitive gangster essays his role with
REVIEW
Congratulations, Tom Cruise on the
tremendous success of 'Mission is shunted away to London after he panache. He is endearing. Chitrangada
Impossible‑Fallout'!" commits a murder. Upon his return, Singh as Suhani, a nautch girl and the
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, in he too finds himself in the midst of a family Gangster's love interest, is wasted as is Soha
"Mission Impossible‑Fallout" Cruise will which is playing games with him in a bid to Ali Khan as Ranjana, Saheb's second wife, who
be back as IMF agent Ethan Hunt. This have him removed from the scene. is perpetually sloshed. Overall, ʻSaheb Biwi
time, he is trying to avert danger which is While the plot shrouded with ambiguity is Aur Gangster 3' keeps you engrossed in parts
threatening a large population of three long‑winding and trite, it is the performances as in some places the film drags and makes
Actor Anil Kapoor had starred in the 2011
countries. that keep the film afloat. There is not enough for tedious viewing.
"Mission Impossible" franchise.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Kangana Ranaut not We don't get to hear music
averse to joining politics like 'Abhimaan' had: Big B
F
irebrand actress Kangana
Ranaut, who will soon be
seen in “Manikarnika”, is not
averse to becoming a politician,
according to a media report.
Recently seen taking the ramp at
the launch of Platinum Vogue in
Mumbai, she said she would do any‑
thing for India if it comes to it.
“Whenever there is any danger on
our country, we have our soldiers
who are ready to sacrifice their lives
even without batting an eyelid. If my
country ever needs me, then I will be
willing to lay my life for my country,
leave alone joining politics,” a
Hindustan Times report said quoting
the actress.
Kangana also praised Prime
Minister Narendra Modi at an event in
Delhi, calling him the ʻrightful leader
of the democracy.ʼ She was attending
the screening of short film Chalo Jeete
Hain, which is reportedly inspired by
the early life of Modi.
The actress said the Prime Minister
needs another win in 2019 to make
the country better. “Five years are very
less to take the nation out of a pit. Our
Actress Kangana Rana
country is in a pit, we need to pull it
out.”
Why Ranveer Singh loves
'masala entertainers'
H
e has played myriad roles ever
since his Bollywood debut in 2010
with "Band Baaja Baaraat". Actor
Ranveer Singh, currently busy with Rohit
Shetty's "Simmba", credits his career in the
Hindi film industry to his love for masala
entertainers.
Masala entertainers, are in fact, his
"favorite" genre.
"Mainstream Hindi films, masala enter‑
tainers are the reason I ever wanted to
become an actor. When I was a kid, I used
to only watch these kind of films. It has
been my education, it has been a part of
my upbringing.
"So, it is a huge deal for me that I am
finally doing something that is a true blue
masala entertainer," Ranveer said in an e‑
mail interaction from Mumbai.
In "Simmba", Ranveer will be seen play‑
ing a flamboyant policeman Sangram
Bhalerao. He feels he has earned this
opportunity.
"Having put in the work over few years,
I'm getting to be a leading man in Rohit
sir's film. I regard him to be the finest pro‑
ponent in the masala genre.
"He is the undisputed best in the busi‑
ness of masala entertainers. It could not
be sweeter, it could not be better," said
the actor.
For the "Padmaavat" star, the entire
"Simmba" team is like a close‑knit fam‑
ily.
"The 'Simmba' journey so far has really
been an enriching experience for me."
This will be the first time Ranveer will be
trying his hands at mass comedy.
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD August 4-10, 2018 17
M
egastar Amitabh Bachchan remi‑
nisced the music and production
of his and wife Jaya's evergreen
film "Abhimaan", which has clocked 45
years since its release.
"July 27 is 45 years of our film
Abhimaan'... Our, because Jaya and I
though not still married, jointly produced
it. But by the time of the last shot of the
film, we were married and somehow gave
over the joint production to our respective
secretaries," Amitabh wrote on his blog.
The Hrishikesh Mukherjee directorial
narrates a story about Subir, a popular
singer, who encourages his wife Uma to
take up a career in singing too. However,
there's trouble in their paradise when
Uma's popularity surpasses his own.
"Abhimaan" is still remembered for
melodious songs like "Ab to hai tumse",
"Tere mere milan ki yeh raina", "Teri
bindiya re", "Piya bina piya bina" and "Meet Big B is currently shooting
na mila re mann ka".
for "Brahmastra" in Bulgaria.
"We do not get to hear such music as in posed the evergreen tracks for the film.
the film, now... Each strain was an act of "... and when he sang Sun mere bandhu re'
sheer musical genius by the legendary S.D. used as a background score during the most
Burman," Big B said. sensitive portion of the film by Hrishida, the
He recounted rare occasions that Jaya and hair stood on end."
ut at the launch of Big B is currently in Sofia, Bulgaria, shoot‑
he had to be present with Burman during a
mbai.
Platinum Vogue in Mu few sessions of the sittings when he com‑ ing for "Brahmastra".
ʻDon't understand the term
quintessential heroʼ
Actor
Ranveer
Singh will
play a
flamboyant
policeman in Actor
his next film. Rajkummar
Raoʼs next
film is set to
release on
Aug 31.
A
ctor Rajkummar Rao, who is gearing characteristics of that character. What is
up for the release of his forthcoming hero? We are not heroes... heroes are peo‑
film "Stree", says that he doesn't ple who are fighting for us on borders. We
understand the term quintessential hero in are just doing our job that's it," he added.
Hindi films. Rajkummar was interacting Rajkummar is known as the face of real
with media at the trailer launch of "Stree", Hindi cinema after his critically acclaimed
which will release on August 31. performances in "Citylights", "Shahid" and
Asked whether he ultimately feels like a "Newton".
hero of Hindi films as he has featured in a Asked whether he feels definition of a
number of successful films and won presti‑ Hindi film hero has changed in the last few
gious awards, Rajkummar said,"I don't know years, he said, "I totally agree with that
how a hero feels honestly. I feel like an because with the kind of pace cinema is
actor and I wanted to be an actor. I always changing, I feel the definition of so called
wanted to feel like an actor and I don't hero is also changing.
understand the term quintessential hero of "Therefore, we all see that actor like
Hindi films." Aamir Khan sir plays character of 50 year
"There are people who approach me for a old father in 'Dangal'. There is an action
film telling me that it's a typical hero film genre where you have to do stunts and
but I always tell them that rather telling me show your body, then you might call it as
it's a hero film, tell me about name and 'hero' film."
 18 August 4-10, 2018
Too much of a good
thing is bad for
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is a hill state attracting tourist for its natural beauty. It is also a pilgrimage site
known for Char Dham including Kedarnath. (Photo courtesy Mongabay.)
Dehradun: Once a haven for pilgrims, the
quiet town of Kedarnath in the north Indian
state of Uttarakhand is now abuzz with the
sound of helicopters. Hundreds of tourists
are ferried on these helicopters all through
the day. On some occasions, as many as 300
sorties are made in one single day.
Uttarakhand, popular for its Hindu pil‑
grimage sites, attracts spiritual seekers
from around the world. Known as Devbhoo‑
mi (land of Gods), the state, while recovering
from the 2013 floods, is now also reeling
under the pressure from unregulated
tourism and the infrastructure to support it.
In 2018, an unprecedented 30 million
tourist arrivals are expected in the state,
many of them domestic tourists to the im‑
portant Hindu pilgrimage circuit of Char
Dham in Uttarakhand.
The largely unregulated influx of tourists
into the highly disaster‑prone state seems to
be taking a toll on the fragile ecosystem.
Several reports on the 2013 floods
stressed the need for regulating tourists
coming to Uttarakhand to avoid repeated
disasters. But the idea to regulate the high
number of tourists and adopt sustainable
tourism practices still remains on paper.
The analysis of tourists coming to the hill
state also reveals that among the foreign
tourists, nearly 58 percent of the visits were
for holiday/sightseeing, 21.9 percent for
health/yoga and about 19.4 percent for pil‑
grimage/religious functions.
But among domestic tourists, the main
purpose remains pilgrimage as Uttarakhand
is home to several pilgrimage sites like Char
Dham ‑ Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and
Badrinath ‑ and Hemkund Sahib. Char Dham
yatra starts in April of each year and ends in
November when the temples close for the
winter.
The Uttarakhand government also attach‑
es huge importance to the tourism sector as
it considers it to be one of the major drivers
of economic growth and livelihood for its
people. Earlier this year, the government
had even given 'industry' status to the
tourism sector, enabling the sector to avail
concessions and benefits usually extended
to micro, small and medium enterprises.
But environmentalists argue that "greed"
TOURISM
has suppressed the "common sense" of the
authorities in case of the tourism sector in
Uttarakhand. "Char Dham was considered to
be a quiet place where pilgrims used to en‑
joy the peaceful atmosphere, respect sancti‑
ty of environment, maintain silence to medi‑
tate but that is no more the case. The gov‑
ernment has turned into a highly commer‑
cial tourist spot which is unsustainable, loud
London to become worldʼs
most walkable city
L
ondoners were urged to reach for
their walking shoes as the govern‑
ment launched its first action plan to
get more people moving around the city on
foot. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said
he wants to make the British capital the
worldʼs most walkable city as part of a
wider strategy for 80% of all trips to be
made on foot, bicycle or public transport
by 2041.
His office is behind the plan, which seeks
to boost health and reduce air pollution in
the city of 8.8 million people by making
streets more pedestrian friendly. “Getting
more Londoners to walk regularly is essen‑
tial for the health and future prosperity of
our city,” said Londonʼs first Walking and
Cycling Commissioner Will Norman in a
statement.
People who walk or cycle to work have a
significantly lower risk of death due to
heart disease or stroke, compared to those
who commute by car, show studies.
According to WHO, more than 92% of the
worldʼs population live in places where air
pollution levels exceed its safe limits. Near‑
ly 9,500 residents of London die prema‑
turely every year as a result of long‑term
exposure to air pollution, a 2015 study by
researchers at Kingʼs College London
showed. “To reduce this, we need to tackle
its biggest source ̶ motor traffic,” said
and has no regard to environment whatso‑
ever. This is no more a pilgrimage and the
only focus is on increasing tourists and thus
revenue. It is a ruthless exploitation of this
area," said Hemant Dhyani, an Uttarakhand
based environmentalist.
Last year, a "Strategy Paper on Science &
Technology intervention for post‑disaster
reconstruction efforts in Uttarakhand" by
ts to mak
Lond on Sa diq Khan wan
Mayor of ider strategy
as part of a w
blic transport
walkable city bicy e or pu
cl
Joe Irvin, chief executive of Living
Streets, a British charity that champions
walking as a form of transport. “By making
it easier and more attractive to walk, more
people will be encouraged to make healthi‑
er travel choices.” The drive to get more
Londoners walking is backed by Public
Health England (PHE), a government body
that recommends at least 10 minutes of
brisk walking daily to improve health. It is
part of a broader “Healthy Streets” initia‑
tive in which Khan has pledged to invest
about 2.2 billion pounds ($2.9 billion). Re
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
The rapid and largely
unregulated influx of
tourists – mainly
pilgrims -- into the highly
disaster-prone state
seems to be taking a toll
on its fragile ecosystem.
the Planning Commission noted that the
June 2013 disaster was aggravated due to
the unplanned development in the region.
It also calls for a series of regulations on
the construction activities and tourism.
"Before the 2013 tragedy, the average
number of pilgrims using helicopter serv‑
ices everyday was around 200‑250. But
since 2015, the number of people using
helicopter services has increased and on
average 1,000 people are using helicop‑
ters everyday," said Devendra Semwal,
who has been working with Heritage Avia‑
tion at Kedarnath for the past nine years.
As tourists continue to throng Uttarak‑
hand and the infrastructure development
continues at a rapid rate, the toll on the
natural landscape goes unchecked. Apart
from causing environmental issues, this
eventually could affect the overall experi‑
ence of a pilgrim or a tourist. Under human
pressure, the land of Gods may never be the
same again.
(In arrangement with Mongabay.com, a
source for environmental news reporting
and analysis)
orldʼs most
e British capital the w ,
e th made on foot
for 80 % of all trips to be
by 2041.
search by the Greater London Authori‑
ty has shown that if every Londoner walked
or cycled for 20 minutes a day, it would
save Britainʼs public health service about
1.7 billion pounds in treatment costs over
the next 25 years. This includes thousands
fewer people being treated for hip frac‑
tures, dementia and depression according
to the research.
The Walking Action Plan comes as Lon‑
donʼs population is expected to rise to 10.8
million people by 2041, creating five mil‑
lion additional journeys every day, accord‑
ing to the mayorʼs office.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
How Imran built up
his political innings
Pakistanʼs putative PM Imran Khan upholds
liberalism as well as Islamic values.
Islamabad: With the promise of a
"New Pakistan", former interna‑
tional cricket star Imran Ahmad
Khan Niazi is set to become
Imranʼs agenda for
a new Pakistan
Islamabad: Set to capture power
after being in politics for 22 years,
PM‑in‑waiting Imran Khan said he
would not indulge in political vic‑
timization but would implement
the law against those who go
against the law of the land. The
firebrand politician said he would
root out corruption which was the
bane of the country and he would
himself be accountable first.
"The National Accountability
Bureau will be strengthened and
the law will be same for every‑
one,” Khan told the media after his
Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI)
inched closer to victory.
He said the Pakistan economy
was the most challenged and dys‑
functional with high fiscal and
trade deficits and the value of
rupee plunging deep.
Pakistan Tehreek‑i‑Insaf supporters celebrate Imran Khanʼs victory.
Pakistan's 19th Prime Minister
after battling political fight for
last 22 years.
The once world renowned
On his priorities as the head of
the new government, Khan said
governance system had collapsed
in Pakistan and he would like to
set it right first with all policies
for poor and the common man
and not for elites.
"All our policies will be for
workers, farmers. We are not able
to give proper healthcare and
Pakistan has the highest maternal
mortality rate."
Earlier, addressing a large pub‑
lic gathering at Minar‑e‑Pakistan,
Khan had lamented that today's
Pakistan was neither the vision of
Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Quaid‑e‑
Azam) nor Allama Iqbal. The
Quaid, he said, had dreamt of a
country where all citizens, includ‑
ing all minorities, had equal
rights.
SUBCONTINENT
cricket allrounder from Lahore
held off a challenge from
Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz,
who had hoped to return to
power despite many court ver‑
dicts against its top leaders,
including former three‑time
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and
the Pakistan People's Party
(PPP).
The 65‑year‑old has promised
to transform the country's econo‑
my, end corruption in state‑
owned enterprises.
Khan launched his Pakistan
Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) in 1996.
But it was only in 2017‑18 that
he and his party emerged as seri‑
ous player on the Pakistani polit‑
ical scene.
In the last couple of years,
Khan has sought to ride a wave
of disillusionment at Pakistan's
old political order, particularly
among the urban middle class
and young voters, who are tired
of living in a country with an
economy and currency on the
Want friendly ties, talks
with India: Imran Khan
Islamabad: Cricketer‑turned‑politi‑
cian Imran Khan, who is set to be
the new Pakistan Prime Minister
said his government would seek
good relations with India and
would like leaders of the two coun‑
tries to sit across the table and
resolve all disputes, including the
"core issue" of Kashmir.
"If Indian leadership is ready, we
are ready to improve relationship.
If you take one step, we are ready
to take two. Now it is one sided
blame on Pakistan. We have to
resolve the main issue through dia‑
logue. This is important for the
sub‑continent," Khan told the
media here as results indicated that
his Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI)
was close to majority in the 272‑
member National Assembly.
At the same time, he blew hot
over the Kashmir issue, alleging
that there were human rights viola‑
tions by security forces.
"Kashmiri people have suffered
in the last 30 years," said Khan,
known for his hardline towards
India and is widely believed to be
having the backing of the Pakistan
Army.
He said there has been a blame
game between India and Pakistan
with New Delhi holding Islamabad
responsible for all its problems.
And Pakistan is blaming India for
August 4-10, 2018
slide, and water and power sup‑
ply in constant crisis.
The main target of his anti‑cor‑
ruption campaign has been his
arch‑rival Nawaz Sharif.
The Panama Papers leak in
2015 provided Imran Khan with
his big chance, and he seized it.
His campaign against the Sharifs
saw him threaten to blockade the
capital with his supporters.
Sharif was ousted as Prime
Minister in 2017 and is now
behind bars, sentenced to 10
years in prison by an anti‑corrup‑
tion court. With his main rival
down but not out, Imran Khan
redoubled his efforts to woo
politicians with dependable vote
banks to his camp. Critics say
many of the electables were
coerced into defecting, charges
the military and PTI deny.
Khan rejects persistent claims
that the powerful military has
manipulated the poll in support
of his campaign. He told the BBC
in May: "The current military
chief, Gen Bajwa, is probably the
most pro‑democratic man we
have ever seen."
Khan had an illustrious career
in international cricket, spanning
two decades during the 1970s
and 80s. He was the most suc‑
cessful Pakistani cricket captain,
leading his team to their only
World Cup triumph in 1992 at
Politician Imran is known for his hardline attitude towards India.
Hope Imran govt helps build
terror-free South Asia: India
New Delhi: India hoped that the
new Pakistan government will
work to build a better South Asia
that is “free of terror and vio‑
lence”. The Ministry of External
Affairs issued a statement to say,
“We hope that new Pakistan govt
will work constructively to build
a safe, stable and secure South
what is happening in Balochistan,
he said. "We are (back to) square
one. We are ready to improve rela‑
tionship with India. Now it is a one
way blame on Pakistan."
Khan lamented that the Indian
19
the Melbourne Cricket Ground in
Austrilia.
He also developed a reputation
as something of a playboy on the
London nightclub circuit, though
he denies that he ever drank
alcohol or engaged in any activi‑
ties that may be considered inap‑
propriate for a conservative
Pakistani Muslim.
As a politician, Imran Khan's
views have often shifted or been
somewhat vague. Many accuse
him of taking U‑turns on issues.
He upholds liberalism but at
the same time appeals to Islamic
values and anti‑West sentiment,
especially when it comes to per‑
ceived interference in Pakistan's
internal affairs. Imran Khan has
remained in the spotlight
because of his status as a nation‑
al cricketer and in 1995, at the
age of 43, he married the 21‑
year‑old British socialite, Jemima
Goldsmith, the daughter of one of
the richest men in the world.
The marriage produced two
boys but was dissolved in 2004.
A second marriage in 2015, to
journalist Reham Khan, lasted
less than a year.
The former BBC weather pre‑
senter alleges she was bullied by
his supporters and has written a
tell‑all memoir.
Khan wed again in 2018 in a
low‑profile ceremony in Lahore.
Asia free of terror and violence.”
In its first reaction to Imran
Khanʼs coming to power, the
Narendra Modi government
responded positively to his mes‑
sage and said that India desires
“a prosperous and progressive
Pakistan” at peace with its neigh‑
bors.
media had projected him as a
Bollywood villain. "I am a Pakistani
who is most popular in India
because I played there. I am a
Pakistani who wants friendly rela‑
tionship with India."
 20 August 4-10, 2018
Pak opposition rejects results, demands re‑election
Islamabad: A multi‑party confer‑
ence (MPC) and Pakistan Peoples
Party rejected the just‑concluded
Pakistan e lect ion results,
demanding a transparent and
free and fair re‑election.
A mult i‑party conference
(MPC), called to devise a joint
strategy over alleged rigging in
the 2018 general elections of
Pakistan, demanded a "transpar‑
ent" re‑election and said the polls
were "rigged massively" and the
results were manipulated.
Attended by leaders of various
parties, the MPC was chaired by
PML‑N President Shahbaz Sharif
and Muttahida Majlis‑i‑Amal
(MMA) President Maulana Fazlur
Rehman. It was he ld at the
Islamabad residence of MMA
leader Mian Aslam, Dawn report‑
ed.
"The APC (all parties confer‑
ence) has completely rejected the
July 25 elections with consen‑
sus," announced Rehman while
addressing the media after the
conference concluded.
"We do not consider this elec‑
tion to be the mandate of the
US diplomats met Taliban Several CPEC projects in doldrums
commanders in Qatar due to financial crisis: Report
The Taliban have long demanded direct talks with Washington.
Washington: Senior US diplomats
were reported to have held face‑
to‑face talks with Taliban com‑
manders in Qatar without involv‑
ing Afghan officials ‑‑ a departure
from a Trump administration poli‑
cy. The New York Times citing
unnamed Taliban officials said the
talks took place in Doha, where
the Taliban has a political office
to restart the stalled peace
process.
"They involved several members
of the Taliban political commis‑
sion and Alice Wells, the State
Department's senior South Asia
diplomat, as well as other uniden‑
tified American diplomats," said
The New York Times.
A State Department spokesper‑
son, however, did not respond to
questions about whether the talks
took place. But the department
did not deny that its diplomats
Election officials count votes in Islamabad.
public." The Pakistan Peoples
Party (PPP) had earlier decided
not to attend the conference, with
a spokesperson saying its leader‑
ship will devise its own strategy
regarding alleged poll irregulari‑
ties.
The chairperson Bilawal Bhutto
Zardari rejected the e lection
process and claimed the General
Election 2018 was not free and
fair, Geo News reported.
had taken part in such talks ‑‑ a
significant shift in American strat‑
egy towards the Taliban in
Afghanistan.
"Any negotiations over the polit‑
ical future of Afghanistan will be
between the Taliban and Afghan
government," the Times quoted
the spokeswoman, Stephanie R
Newman, as saying.
The unnamed Taliban officials
emphasized that direct talks with
US officials, in person and without
the presence of Afghan officials or
ministers, were a demand of the
leadership of the insurgent group.
Similar efforts to hold peace
talks between the Americans and
the Taliban in Doha in 2015 fal‑
tered after the Afghan govern‑
ment denounced the process.
In Kabul, the Afghanistan
President's office, ARG welcomed
any support for peace efforts.
SUBCONTINENT
Bilawal, while addressing a
press conference, demanded the
resignation of the chief election
commissioner over failure to con‑
duct transparent polls.
He said the Elect ion
Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is
responsible for carry ing out
transparent polls and that the
electoral body failed in its task.
"We don't accept the results of
the elections," he said.
Islamabad: A number of road
projects related to the $52 bil‑
lion China‑Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC) are said to be in
the doldrums as Pakistan's
Nat ional Hig hway Authority
(NHA) faces a financial crisis, the
media reported.
Dawn online cited sources as
saying that contractors stopped
work on several CPEC projects
after their cheques worth over Rs
5 billion bounced a couple of
days ago.
The af fected projects include
Hakla‑Dera Ismail Khan, Western
Route of CPEC and all sections of
the Karachi‑Lahore Motorway.
A file photo of CPEC Summit in Pakistan.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Mandate has been snatched
from us: Sharif from jail
Lahore: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the
mandate has been snatched from the people of the country. The
Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz supremo made the remarks dur‑
ing a meeting with party leaders at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
During the meeting, the three‑time Prime Minister also rejected
the results of the general election 2018, in which Pakistan
Tehreek‑e‑Insaf has taken a lead. Nawaz Sharif reiterated that he
firmly adheres to his "respect for vote" stance, adding that he is
standing for the restoration of civil supremacy.
In attendance at the MPC were Aurangzeb, Chaudhry Tanveer
Jamaat‑i‑Islami (JI) chief Senator and Khurram Dastagir and Pak
Sirajul Haq, Sind h Governor Sarzameen Party (PSP) leaders
Mohammad Zubair, Gilg it‑ Mustafa Kamal, Raza Haroon and
Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Waseem Ahmed also participat‑
Rehman, Azad Jammu and ed.
Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Interestingly, Muttahida Qaumi
Farooq Haider, Awami National Movement (MQM‑P) leader
Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, Farooq Sattar also showed up to
Qaumi Watan Party chairman the conference, despite reports
Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, that his party has agreed to join
National Party's Senator Mir the Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf
Hasil Bizenjo and several MMA (PTI)‑led government in the cen‑
leaders. tre after a contact between PTI
PML‑N leaders Shahid Khaqan leader Jehang ir Tareen and
Abbasi, Ayaz Sadiq, Marriyum Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
According to the report, not been taken up with the govern‑
only the CPEC projects but local ment and would be resolved
industries related to construction soon. Asked about suspension of
and a large workforce of engi‑ work by the contractors, he said
neers and labourers were also hit that the progress on the projects
by the situation. "had not been affected" and most
W hen contacted, NHA of the projects in question would
spokesman Kashif Zaman said be completed by December.
the authority issued cheques of The CPEC will connect China's
Rs 5 billion on June 29 to the Xinjiang region with Pakistan's
firms against the sanction by the Gwadar port giving it access to
government. He said cheques the Arabian Sea.
worth Rs 1.5 billion were cleared While India opposes CPEC's
on the same day and "the route as it cuts through the dis‑
remaining cheques that were puted part of Kashmir held by
deposited the next day could not Islamabad, experts feel Pakistan
be cleared". is already facing a massive debt
Zaman said the matter had burden because of the project.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INTERNATIONAL August 4-10, 2018 21

Putin willing to visit Allow observers to witness

Washington
Moscow: Russian President
Vladimir Putin said that he had
invited his US counterpart Donald
Trump to visit Moscow, and was
ready himself to go to Washington
for a new round of talks, the media
reported.
"I fully understand that President
Trump has a desire to hold further
meetings. And I am ready for this.
But necessary conditions for work
should be created... We are ready to
invite him to Moscow... I am also
ready to go to Washington ‑ if there
are appropriate conditions for
work," Putin told a press conference
after a summit of leaders of BRICS
group ‑‑ Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa in Johannesburg.
The Russian leader said that he
might also meet Trump at other
international fora, including the
G20, Sputnik news agency reported.
Putin said that the fight against ter‑
rorism, coordination of trade and
economic policies remained the
main areas of BRICS work. At the
same time, he noted that there were
no plans to increase the number of
BRICS member‑states yet, the
agency reported. Earlier reports
said that the White House pushed
to next year Trump's planned meet‑
ing with Putin, amid intensifying
criticism of the US President's con‑
flicting statements on Russian inter‑
ference in US elections.
missile base dismantling,
US tells N.Korea
Washington: The US has
asked the North Korean
regime to allow
observers to witness the
dismantling of the
Sohae missile testing
base, US Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo has
said.
When reporters in
Palo Alto, California,
asked Pompeo what fur‑
ther steps were needed
by North Korea, the sec‑
retary of state said:
"They need to com‑
pletely, fully denu‑ US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
clearize. That's the
steps that Kim Jong‑un (North of the military base, Pompeo said
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Korean leader) committed to." that North Korea's actions are
Satellite photos published on "consistent" with the "commit‑
US prepares new sanctions against Russia the specialized website 38 North
show that Pyongyang has begun
ment" Kim made to President
Donald Trump during their his‑
Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that he is
dismantling the Sohae base, toric June 12 summit in
committed to working with the Congress on a new Russia sanctions where the regime of Kim Jong‑un Singapore.
bill, after he issued a "Crimea Declaration" that rejected Russia's con‑
builds engines for intercontinen‑ Skepticism over North Korea's
trol of Crimea. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations tal ballistic missiles that suppos‑ willingness to denuclearize has
Committee, Pompeo said that he will support the bill to hold Russia
edly have the range to hit US ter‑ grown since US media reported
accountable for its behaviours around the globe. ritory, Efe news reported. in late June ‑‑ citing national
He confirmed the necessity to raise the cost of Moscow's alleged
The process of dismantling the intelligence sources ‑ that
malpractice "if we can find the right places and the right leverage base has been proceeding with‑ Pyongyang has continued to
point", Xinhua news agency reported. Saying that sanctions focusing
out the presence of international enrich uranium after the summit
more on Russian individuals and oligarchs are necessary, Pompeo observers, according to various and that it was trying to hide a
noted "that the things that impact the Russian economy are the things
media reports. large part of its arsenal and other
that I hear the Russians are most concerned about." When asked about the images military assets from the US.

Palestinian teenager jailed for Zimbabwe votes for first time

slapping Israeli soldiers released
Jerusalem: Palestinian teenager Ahed
Tamimi, convicted for assaulting Israeli
soldiers, was released after serving an
eight‑month jail term, prison of ficials
said.
Palestinian activists had described
Ahed, 17, as a "symbol of resistance
against Israeli occupation".
T he teenager and her mother were
arrested together in December 2017 with
another relative ‑‑ 20‑year‑old Nour
Tamimi ‑‑ after they were filmed slapping
and kicking Israel Defence Forces (IDF)
A man holds a
flag of Palestine
at a protest
rally (file).
soldiers in their village of Nabi Saleh in
the West Bank.
Ahed was sentenced in March to eight
months in prison after a plea bargain,
under which she pleaded guilty to one
account of assault, one account of incite‑
ment, and two accounts ‑‑ unrelated to the
December incident ‑‑ of obstructing sol‑
diers. She also agreed to pay fine.
T he Tamimi family and Palestinian
activists are preparing a hero's welcome
for Ahed and her mother in Nabi Saleh,
Arab News reported.
without Mugabe on ballot
Harare: Zimbabweans began voting in the
African nation's first presidential poll since
former head of state, Robert Mugabe,
resigned last November.
Voting for the presidential, legislative
and municipal elections began at 7 a.m.
and soon queues had formed in front of
many polling stations in the capital here
and other parts of the country, Efe news
agency reported.
The main contenders in the presidential
poll are incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa
of the ruling Zimbabwe African National
Union ‑ Patriotic Front, and opposition
Emmerson Mnangagwa is one of the main
leader Nelson Chamisa, who leads the
presidential contenders.
opposition coalition Movement for
Democratic Change ‑ Tsvangirai. ers' roll, the BBC reported. It has been 16
Mugabe who first came to power after years since EU and US observers were
independence in 1980 and is the country's allowed to monitor the elections.
founding President said he would not vote The observers have expressed concern
for his successor. Mugabe was ousted in a over the security of ballot papers and
coup in 2017 after almost four decades in voter intimidation mainly in the rural
power. areas.
If the winner does not secure more than The election follows decades of repres‑
50 per cent of the votes, a second round of sive rule which has brought severe eco‑
the elections will be held on September 8. nomic challenges to Zimbabwe including
Hundreds of international observers issues of investment, education, healthcare
have been deployed to ensure the vote and jobs.
goes smoothly, but the opposition has The unemployment rate is estimated to
repeatedly alleged irregularities in the vot‑ be as high as 90 per cent, the BBC said.
 22 August 4-10, 2018 BUSINESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Modi says not afraid of being seen with industrialists

Lucknow/New Delhi: Hitting back

India asks Antigua

for the first time at critics who
questioned his perceived friendly
relations with corporates, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi said that
unlike "some people" he was "not
afraid of " publicly standing beside
industrialists and business mag‑
nates because his intentions were
"noble".
In response, the Cong ress
responded to his remarks saying
he should not lend his legitimacy
and respectability to "crony capi‑
talists" while Delhi Chief Minister
and Aam Adami Party leader
Arvind Ke jriwal called it "an
unsuccessful try" as people were
now raising questions.
In his address at a government‑
industry interface in Lucknow as
he inaugurated several develop‑
ment projects for Uttar Pradesh,
Modi said industrialists too con‑
tribute to nation building and it
was not right to label them all as
thieves but those who do wrong
"will have to leave the country" or
live in jail.
"We are not the people who will
be afraid of standing beside indus‑
trialists. You would be knowing
some people (who are such) that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the inauguration of
various development projects, in Lucknow. (Photo: IANS)
you would not find a single photo
of them with an industrialist/busi‑
nessman. But there is not a single
businessman in this country who
would not have gone to these peo‑
ple's places and bowed to them in
reverence," he said.
"If your intentions are noble,
you won't be tainted no matter
with whom you are standing,"
Modi said, adding that Mahatma
Gandhi never had any qualms
about living in the Birla house‑
hold.
The opposition has been target‑
ing Modi over his picture at Davos
economic forum in January this
year with fugitive diamondaire
Nirav Modi who is at the centre of
mult i‑thousand crore Punjab
National Bank (PNB) scam besides
the Prime Minister's perceived
to detain Choksi
New Delhi: India has asked Antigua and Barbuda to detain Mehul
Choksi, an accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case,
and to prevent him from leaving the country.
Informed sources here said that the External Affairs Ministry had
asked the Antigua and Barbuda government to confirm Choksi's
presence in their territory.
"Our High Commissioner is meeting the relevant authorities in
the Antigua and Barbuda government today (Monday)," a source
said. "We continue to liaise with government agencies here and the
government of Antigua and Barbuda."
Choksi, wanted in the Rs 13,500‑crore PNB case along with
nephew and diamond trader Nirav Modi, has admitted to taking
Antigua citizenship last year.
closeness with another fugitive, ing the of fset contract in the
Mehul Choksi, whom he once pub‑ Rafale jet deal with France to "one
licly addressed as "Mehul bhai". of his corporate friends" at the
The opposition has also been expense of state‑owned Hindustan
critical of Modi government's Aeronautics Ltd.
inaction while persons like Vijay "Mahatma Gandhi never hesitat‑
Mallya, Nirav Modi, Choksi, Jatin ed standing beside (Ghanshyam
Mehta and Lalit Modi easily flew Das) Birlaji because his intentions
out of the country after being were right. But those who do
accused of committ ing huge things behind the curtain and
financial frauds. wish not to be seen publicly (with
The Congress has of late also corporates), they are afraid," Modi
targeting Modi for allegedly giv‑ said.

HDFC Bank launches $2.26 billion No assessment on impact of

share sales in US, India
New Delhi: HDFC Bank has launched sep‑
arate share sales in the United States and
its home Indian market in a bid to raise
as much as $2.26 billion.
According to media reports, HDFC
which is listed in New York is of fering up
to 19 million American Depositary
Shares, representing 57 million equity
shares. The second‑biggest Indian lender
by assets has set a floor price of $31.75
for both of the share sales. With its focus
on retail clients and a lower bad‑loan
ratio, HDFC Bank is an investor favorite
at a time when India's banking sector has
been plagued by a record $150 billion in
non‑performing loans. HDFC Bank, which
has the lowest bad‑loan ratio among
leading Indian lenders, announced plans
in December to raise a total 240 billion
rupees ($3.5 billion) to fund growth. GST
rate cut to weigh on India's fiscal consoli‑
dation ef forts: Moody's
Walmart‑Flipkart deal: Minister
New Delhi: The government has not made any
assessment of the direct impact on small
traders of the US retail giant Walmart's stake
purchase in Flipkart, Parliament was
informed on Monday. In its biggest takeover
till date, Walmart Inc recently announced
their acquisition of 77 per cent stake in
Bengaluru‑based e‑commerce major Flipkart
in a deal valued at $20.8 billion.
Minister of State for Commerce C.R.

GST rate cut to weigh on India's Chaudhary told the Lok Sabha, in a written
reply, that foreign direct investment (FDI) in
fiscal consolidation efforts: Moody's retail has been allowed in a calibrated man‑
ner after intensive consultations with stake‑
Mumbai: Global ratings agency Moody's said that the recent cut in goods and services holders including concerned ministries, state
tax (GST) rates on consumer goods will weigh on the Central government's revenue governments, industry chambers, associa‑
collections and fiscal consolidation ef forts. "We estimate revenue loss from the most tions and other organizations.
recent tax cuts to be about 0.04 per cent‑0.08 per cent of GDP annually," Moody's "Suggestions and views received from vari‑
Investor Service said in a research note. ous stakeholders and public on various
"Although the proportion of revenue loss is small, the vacillation in tax rates creates aspects of FDI regime are examined before
uncertainty around government revenue and comes amid persistent upside risks to its taking appropriate action," he said. The
expenditures." According to the note, the Central government had budgeted gross tax Minister also said that there is no proposal to
revenue growth of 16.7 per cent for fiscal 2019, which ends March 2020, and GST set up a special group to keep tabs on any
collections "will be an important driver of future government revenue because of a violation of the government's foreign invest‑
wider tax base and tax buoyancy". ment policy by online retail platforms such as
Walmart India President and CEO Krish
Iyer at the inauguration of a store in
Lucknow this month. (Photo: IANS)
Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra. "However, any
violation of FDI policy regulations is covered
by the penal provision of the FEMA (Foreign
Exchange Management Act), 1999," he said.
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT)
has been opposing the Walmart‑Flipkart deal,
describing it as a clear attempt by American
multinational to control and dominate retail
trade in India in the long run through e‑com‑
merce.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPORTS August 4-10, 2018 23

Women's Hockey WC: Beware of journalists predicting

India’s test victory in England!
India hold US, qualify By Shivaji Sengupta

India needed at least a draw against the US to keep their chances alive.
London: India qualified for the playoffs of
the quarter‑finals in the Women's Hockey
World Cup as they held higher‑ranked
United States 1‑1 in their third and final
Pool B match at the Lee Valley Hockey and
Tennis Center.
The Indian team displayed great charac‑
ter and a solid defensive structure through‑
out the match to earn the draw as captain
Rani Rampal (31st minute) canceled out
Margaux Paolino's 11th‑minute goal.
With the first‑placed team in the pool,
Ireland advancing directly to the quarter‑
finals, england and India are certain to fin‑
ish second and third ‑‑ thereby both secur‑
ing a spot in the playoffs. Though the US
have two points ‑‑ same as India and
England ‑‑ the former is behind on goal dif‑
ference. Ireland take on England later in
the day.
India needed at least a draw against the
US to keep their chances alive for the last
eight stage after playing a draw against
England before losing to Ireland.
India started the match against the US on
the front foot as they showed some quick
passing, but had a scare in the fourth
minute when their captain Rani was forced
off with a twisted ankle.
The World No. 10 team won their first
penalty corner of the match in the seventh
minute, but Gurjit Kaur's flick was saved by
US goalkeeper Jackie Briggs.
India dominated possession and pressed
the Americans but the 11th minute saw the
US take the lead as Indian goalkeeper
Savita was called into action when Erin
Matson's shot was saved by the shotstop‑
per. However the rebound was put into the
back of the net through Savita's legs by
Margaux Paolino.
After the break, Rani continued to make
incursions into the box. In the first minute
of the third quarter, she flicked the ball
onto Michelle Vittese's foot inside the strik‑
ing circle. Rani slammed home from the
result ing penalty corner to bring
India level.
B
y the time you read this,
India and England will
have started their first
Test Match in Birmingham. This
much‑anticipated series holds
considerable significance for
Indian cricket lovers: for exam‑
ple, in the eighty‑six years India
have played Test cricket in
England, they have won a Test
series just three times; and a
total of only five Test victories.
Donʼt even ask how many times
they have lost!
Thus, when the present series
had been scheduled, right after
they had lost disappointingly twice in
England, in 2011 (white‑washed 4‑0) and
by 3‑1 in 2014, Indian supporters have
been full of hope. You may ask why sup‑
porters like me never give up on India,
why after losing as many as 43 Tests to
them, do we still think India can win this
time. Is this time any dif ferent from
before?
No. T he team that has trave led to
England is pretty much the same as the
one which went there in 2014 – minus,
M.S.Dhoni, probably their best wicket
keeper ever. Jaspreet Singh Bhumra, the
pace bowler is new, but he is injured. K.L.
Rahul, an accomplished opening batsman
is new to England. But for these dif fer‑
ences, itʼs the same team, with Virat Kohli
replacing Dhoni as captain.
I will argue that although the team is
more or less the same as before, the pace
bowlers, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav
and Mohammad Shami, are all vastly
improved. Ishant has had the added
advantage playing well all summer for
Sussex. India w ill no doubt miss
Bhubaneshwar Kumar and Bhumra dur‑
ing the first half of the tour.
On the other side, Stuart Broad and
James Anderson may not be able to domi‑
Indian skipper Virat Kohli
nate the Indians like in the past, simply
because they are well past their best.
England in 2014 had Ian Bell and an in‑
form Alastair Cook. The Indians, too, have
an off‑form Pujara this year who has just
not been able to get going in England
despite playing for Yorkshire the whole
season. Thus, on paper, the two sides look
evenly balanced which, hopefully, will
augur for a well‑contested series.
However, those who subscribe to this
theory that playing so late in the English
season might assist India rather than
England, let me remind my readers that
in 2014, they played all their Tests in July
and August and lost both played in
August, heavily, by innings defeat. True,
last time the skies were overcast helping
English swing bowling, especially Man of
the Series, James Anderson.
This year itʼs hot, an Indian Summer. I
will remind my Indian friends though that
the weather is unpredictable in England,
seven weeks is a long time season‑wise!
Their batsmen had better be prepared for
the swing in English bowling! Or else it
would be like Macbethʼs lament: “And be
these witches (read journalists) no more
believed/that whisper words of promise
to our ear/and break it to our hope!

Tough battles await Indians at Badminton Worlds

Nanjing (China): Women's singles
stars P.V. Sind hu and Saina
Nehwal and men's singles player
Kidambi Srikanth w ill carry
India's hopes when they compete
at the BWF World Badminton
Championships.
India's shuttlers will have to
endure tough battles as the coun‑
try hopes to end its drought of
boasting a world title holder.
Saina and Sindhu have recently
come close to end the drought,
winning the silver medals in
2015 and 2017.
Saina also has a bronze medal
in 2015, while Sindhu pocketed
bronze medals in 2013 and
2014.
Sindhu, 23, has had a mixed
year. She wasn't able to build on
her results from 2017 which
gave her three titles on BWF's
Women's singles stars P.V. Sindhu
professional tour. She fe ll in season and, with a bit of luck,
three finals ‑‑ at the India Open, could well cross the final barrier
the Commonwealth Games and in Nanjing.
the Thailand Open. The Indian third seed will open
Still, she has been combative all her campaign against Fitriani
Fitriani or Linda Zetchiri. If the
Indian wins the match, South
Korean ninth Sung ji Hyun will be
a stiff challenge for Sindhu while
reigning world champion Nozomi
Okuhara is a possible opponent
in the quarter‑finals for the
Hyderabadi.
Sindhu's senior, Saina, 28, will
play Turkish Aliye Demirbag in
her first round. After this round,
the Indian 10th seed is expected
to fight big names like Ratchanok
Inthanon of T hailand and
Olympic champion Carolina
Marin in the next two rounds.
In the men's singles category,
fifth seeded Kidambi Srikanth,
due to the w ithdrawal of
Malaysian veteran Lee Chong
Wei, should fancy a position in
the semi‑finals. Srikanth will
open ag ainst Ire land's Nhat
Nguyen and is like ly to meet
Indonesia's Jonatan Christie,
13th seed, in the third round.
In the men's doubles, the senior
pair of Manu Attri and B Sumeeth
Reddy w ill open ag ainst
Bulg arian combo of Danie l
Nikolov and Ivan Rusev, while
fast‑rising Satw iksairaj
Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
face Olympic bronze medallists
Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge
of England.
The women's doubles pair of
Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki
Reddy will meet Chinese Taipei's
Chiang Kai Hsin and Hung Shih
Han in their first round. If
Ashwini‑Sikki cross the first hur‑
dle, they will have to deal with
Japanese second seeds Y.
Fukushima and S. Hirota in the
second round.
 24 August 4-10, 2018 EDUCATION TheSouthAsianTimes.info

How to use demonstrated interest to your benefit

By Kristen Moon

I
f youʼve read about
The first thing that
tactics for improving you can do to stand
your odds at college out from the
admissions, you may typical flurry of
have heard the phrase admissions is to
“demonstrated interest.”
What “demonstrated
apply early. In
interest” means is your addition to the
level of engagement and normal window of
Kristen Moon is an
sincerity when research‑ time for admis- independent college
ing and interacting with a sions, there’s also
school you may apply to. counselor and
A schoolʼs representatives
an early-application founder of
specifically watch for this, period. Part of this MoonPrep.com. Moon
as they are trying to window includes Prep provides one‑on‑
one coaching services
gauge a prospectʼs likeli‑ Early Decision and catered to university
hood of actually enrolling Early Action.
if accepted. There are admissions.
several ways to capitalize
on demonstrated interest, and multiple
opportunities.
The first thing that you can do to stand
out from the typical flurry of admissions
is to apply early. In addition to the normal
window of time for admissions, thereʼs
also an early‑application period. Part of
this window includes Early Decision and
Early Action. When one applies for Early
Decision, this automatically means that
you will accept and enroll should admis‑
sion be offered to you. This is very telling,
as you are essentially assuring a particu‑
lar school that they are your first choice.
Early Action is non‑binding, meaning you
are not committed to a particular college
by applying early.
Another way to demonstrate your inter‑
est is to tour the university; this may
sound obvious, but itʼs not always practi‑
cal when a school is across the country, or
perhaps across the globe. Visiting a cam‑
pus and picturing yourself there is an
investment of time on your part, which
brings me to the next point.
When an appealing school is not within
easy traveling distance and you can only
devote yourself to visiting your top insti‑
tutions, something you can do is attend a
local college fair or information session.
Most schools, if not all, hold various
events throughout the country and the
school year.
Seeking out a particular school at a fair
shows the representatives that you have
planned to speak to them.
One other thing you can do to make
yourself visible and memorable to a
school representative or admissions offi‑
cer is to engage with them in conversa‑
tion. While they are certainly able to
answer your generic questions about their
course offerings, their campus, their local
community, etc., they will gladly answer
your more personalized questions regard‑
ing how a particular program may be a
good fit for you, or any other questions
you may have regarding their school and
how you would do well there.
Each of these tactics will help you stand
out to the representatives and admissions
officers. Your biggest advantage is to be
memorable.
Consider that officers read application
essays for between 8‑10 hours per day
during application season; set yourself
apart from the paper.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
'I will either come back raising Indian
flag in victory or return wrapped in it'
By G.L. Batra
A
t 1 p.m. on July 5, 1999,
our troops captured Point
4875. But the enemy con‑
tinued to fire from a position
north of the point. It became evi‑
dent that this post had to be con‑
quered. A strong contingent of
enemy troops could be seen on a
long and narrow ledge running
north of Point 4875. To secure
our position, it was necessary to
clear the ledge.
The battle continued the entire
day. On 6 July 1999, it was
reported that our troops could
not sustain firefighting of such
intensity without reinforcements.
The reinforcements were imme‑
diately brought up. A fresh wave
of enthusiasm coursed through
the exhausted troops at the top.
Through interception of the
radio frequencies, the enemy got
wind of Vikram's presence. Once
again they threatened him on his
radio, "Sher Shah, upar toh aa
gaye ho, lekin wapis nahi jane
denge; Inshallah, upar hi bhej
denge" (Sher Shah, you have
come this far, but you will not go
back alive. Inshallah, we'll kill
you). An undaunted Vikram
replied, "Upar toh tumhe aur
tumhare sathion ko jana hoga"
(It is you and your companions
who will be killed).
On 6‑7 July, Vikram volun‑
teered to head a party and reach
this ledge even though he was
unwell. Due to high fever and
fatigue, his eyes were red as he
sat wrapped in a blanket.
Looking at Vikram's condition,
his commanding officer hesitat‑
ed to send him to the battlefront,
but Vikram insisted. Motivated
by Vikram's offer, many soldiers
volunteered to accompany him.
Vikram and the soldiers began
their arduous trek. From eyewit‑
nesses, I heard later that, while
still at the task, somewhere
along the climb, suddenly
Vikram's face changed. The signs
of fatigue and fever vanished. He
became a man fired by a mission.
The chilling winds of Mushkoh
Valley penetrated the bones of
our soldiers. It was pitch‑dark.
The climb was almost vertical. To
make matters worse, it began to
snow. Vikram continued to move
like a snow leopard. He coaxed
and encouraged his exhausted
troops to press on. Then he
heard the rat‑a‑tat of a machine
gun, which had pinned down his
troops. Vikram swiftly moved
towards the firing gun by hiding
behind a rock and then ran to
BOOK August 4-10, 2018 25
and our vehicles could move
A revised edition of "A Soldier's freely on the Srinagar‑Leh
Highway.
Diary: Kargil, The Inside Story" by The day his body was brought
home, it was excruciating. With
Harinder Baweja (Roli Books) was tears coursing down her cheeks,
my wife said, "No parent can see
published to mark the Kargil Diwas the dead body of their young
(July 27). Here is an excerpt from son. Our son had captured three
peaks, he had taken the nation
the Foreword by the father of Capt. by storm, but suddenly he was
no more. Yet, when God gives
Vikram Batra, recipient of the you a mortal blow, he gives you
Param Vir Chakra, India's highest the strength to cope with the
grief.
gallantry award. Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed
four sons for the country. Maybe
there was some reason that God
the shelter of the next, till he gave me twins ‑‑ one had been
reached close to the gun, lobbed marked for the country and one
a hand grenade, and destroyed it. for me."
He then asked his troops to fol‑ When one of Vikram's friends
low him. They advanced to the Kargil War hero
had told him to be careful since
next position since the enemy Capt. Vikram
war had begun, he had replied,
guns had to be silenced before Batraʼs bravery
"Don't worry. I will either come
and sacrifice
daylight. back after raising the Indian flag
contributed to
Vikram moved ahead, firing in victory or return wrapped in
the Indian
constantly with his AK‑47. it." Vikram fulfilled both his
conquest of
Fearlessly, he closed in on the Point 4875, assertions. He raised India's vic‑
enemy. It was a fight at such securing the torious tricolor at the height of
close quarters that he could no connectivity 17,000 feet when he captured
longer use his rifle. He pulled out to Ladakh. Point 5140. Later, when he fell
his bayonet and charged at the fighting for the country at Point
enemy. He grappled with a 4875, his body was brought
Pakistani soldier, floored him back home wrapped in our
with a punch on the nose, and national flag. Such was the brav‑
plunged his bayonet into him. ery and patriotism of our son
save the young Lt Naveen body's mind: To avenge Capt
Another intruder attacked him Vikram.
Anaberu. As Vikram was drag‑ Batra's death." Those who sur‑
from behind. Vikram threw him Point 4875 has been renamed
ging Naveen towards cover, the vived later reported that Vikram
off his back and pierced him "Captain Batra Top", and the
gravely wounded officer pleaded died with the words "Jai Mata Ki"
with his bayonet. A machine gun transit camp in Drass where
with Vikram to let him continue on his lips.
was firing from the ledge. Vikram weary soldiers break their jour‑
the fight. Just then a bullet Unnerved by the fury of the
jumped inside the ledge, where
pierced through Vikram's chest. attack, the Pakistanis fell back. ney has come to be known as
two soldiers were feeding the
Vikram was martyred, but he The Indian soldiers gained the Capt Batra Transit Camp. Capt
gun and another was firing it. A
managed to save the life of Lt upper hand. Captain Batra's sac‑ Anuj Nayyar was awarded the
junior officer of the Pakistani
Naveen. rifice paved the way for the suc‑ Maha Vir Chakra, the second‑
Army was supervising them.
Enraged by Vikram's death, the cess of our troops and the con‑ highest military decoration, for
Vikram leaped inside and single‑
soldiers of the 13 JAK Rifles pur‑ solidation of the Indian hold on bravery. For his sustained dis‑
handedly killed all five of them.
sued the enemy. A soldier from Point 4875... play of conspicuous leadership of
However, he was outnumbered
the battalion told Gaurav Sawant, By the morning of 8 July 1999, the highest order in the face of
and was shot at close range.
a TV correspondent: "Nobody India had won Point 4875 but adversity, Vikram was posthu‑
Vikram, with another young
was bothered about the bullets lost Capt Vikram Batra. With the mously awarded India's highest
officer, Anuj Nayyar, fought off
flying in any direction. There conquest of Point 4875, the con‑ military decoration, the Param
the enemy's counter‑attack fero‑
was only one thing on every‑ nectivity to Ladakh was secured Vir Chakra.
ciously. They cleared all the
enemy bunkers, encouraged
their men to go forward, engaged
in hand‑to‑hand combat, and
forced the Pakistanis to retreat.
On 7 July, the mission was
almost over, when Vikram ran
out of his bunker to rescue
another officer, Lt Naveen
Anaberu, whose legs had been
severely injured in an explosion.
The subedar of his battalion
begged him not to leave and
offered to go instead. But Vikram
famously told him, "Tu baal‑
bachchedar hai, hat ja peeche"
(You have a wife and children,
step aside). He lunged forward to
26 August 4-10, 2018 HERITAGE TheSouthAsianTimes.info

The Magic of Vedic Mathematics Part 25

Rediscovered half a century ago by the Puri Shankaracharya Bharati Krishna Tirtha, Vedic Mathematics is a lightning fast mental math
system. We continue to serialize from ‘The Curious Hats of Magical Maths’ book that makes learning the system easy.

Extracted from ʻThe

Curious Hats of
Magical Maths ‑
Vedic Mathematics
for Schools Book 1ʼ
by James Glover,
with permission
from Motilal
Banarsidass (MLBD).
Founded in 1903,
they specialize in
Indology books. For
more
information, Mr R.P.
Jain, email:
mlbd@mlbd. com.
US distributor:
southasiabooks@g
mail.com
Answers

To be continued in
the following issues
of The South
Asian Times.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Working with Section 245(i) of the LIFE Act
By Michael Phulwani, Esq.
& Dev B. Viswanath, Esq.
S TALK
ection 245(i) of the
Legal Immigration
Family Equity Act (LIFE
Act) allows certain individuals,
who have an immigrant visa
immediately available but
entered the U.S. without inspec‑
tion or had overstayed their
immigrant status and/or possi‑
bly worked without authoriza‑
tion and therefore are not eligi‑
ble to apply for adjustment of
status in the U.S., to apply if
they pay a $1,000 penalty and
meet certain requirements,
which may include physical
presence. Individuals who may
be covered under Section
245(i) of the LIFE Act are:
4 Individuals who entered
the U.S. illegally;
4 Individuals who have
worked in the U.S. illegal‑
ly;
4 Individuals who did not
continuously maintain
lawful status;
4 Individuals who came into
the U.S. under the Visa
Waiver Pilot Program;
4 Individuals who came into
the U.S. as foreign crew‑
men; and
4 Individuals who entered
as foreign travelers in
transit without a visa.
The requirements in order to
be eligible for Section 245(i)
adjustment of status under the
LIFE Act are:
4 An individual must be the
beneficiary of a Form I‑
130 of Form I‑140 immi‑
grant visa petition filed on
or before April 30, 2001;
or
4 An individual must be the
beneficiary of a Form I‑
360 filed on or before
April 30, 2001; or
4 An individual must be the
beneficiary of a Form I‑
526 which must have
been filed with the legacy
INS on or before April 30,
DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS
IMMIGRATION
2001; or
4 An individual must be the
beneficiary of an applica‑
tion for labor certification
filed with the Department
of Labor (DOL) on or
before April 30, 2001; and
4 An individual must have
been physically present in
the U.S. on December 21,
2000, if the qualifying
visa petition or labor certi‑
fication application was
filed after January 1,
1998.
All of the above visa petitions
and applications must be prop‑
erly filed and approvable on the
date of filing irrespective of the
whether the petition was later
withdrawn, cancelled, or
rescinded. This form of benefit
is only available to individuals
who are adjusting status, not
for consular processing cases,
and applicants needed to have
been, for the most part continu‑
ously in the United States with‑
out interruption. Derivative
family may also be beneficiar‑
ies of 245(i) independent of the
original primary beneficiary.
August 4-10, 2018 27
To obtain a green card under cation for labor certification
Section 245(i), an individual does not mean an individual is
will need to file Form I‑485, free from removal proceedings.
Application to Register Applying for adjustment of sta‑
Permanent Residence or Adjust tus under Section 245(i) does
Status, and Form I‑485 not automatically protect an
Supplement A. individual from removal based
Section 254(i) does not for‑ on an applicable ground of
give other visaviolationssuch as inadmissibility by Immigration
fraud and/or misrepresentation and Customs Enforcement
or criminal convictions. (ICE). When an application for
Unlawful presence will contin‑ adjustment of status is filed
ue to accrue until an applica‑ (Form I‑485), the individual
tion for adjustment of status is becomes eligible for work
filed. Section 254(i) does not authorization and may work if
protect an individual from they apply for and obtain an
deportation and having a Employment Authorization
grandfathered petition or appli‑ Document.
Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal
Attorney of The Banad Law Offices PC in the
United States, and Banad Immigration in
India for which Attorney Michael Phulwani is
also affiliated as Of Counsel. With Offices in
Manhattan, Queens, Bangalore, and Mumbai,
the firm is able to assist clients with all facets
of the immigration process, including
Employment Visas, Consular Visa Assistance,
Student Visas, Removal & Deportation, US
Citizenship and Green Card Applications
based on Family or Employment. Dev B.
Viswanath can be reached at
Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999.
 28 August 4-10, 2018 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Side by Nury Vittachi

To be reincarnated in
China, you have to
fill in a form
A
woman said recently that
her dead husband had
returned to their home
reincarnated as a young cow. It
behaves just like him, said Khim
Hang, 74, from the Kratie province
of Cambodia, without going into
detail.
Sounds legit. Since cows divide
their time between eating, pooping
and sleeping, you can totally see
they can remind people of married
men.
"T he young cow was born in
March and has attracted a strong
following on social media," Reuters
reported. How depressing it is to
read that even farm animals have
better web skills than this colum‑
nist and his peers.
Reincarnation was on my mind
after several recent references to it
in the media. For example, one
news story was headlined: "Pig in
Australia steals 18 beers, gets
drunk and fights cow." Reader
Mark Agee wrote: "I never believed
in reincarnation before but... Dad?"
Then a reader sent me a photo of
a sign affixed to the tiger sanctu‑
ary in a zoo somewhere in India:
"Only those who strongly believe
in rebirth should risk going near."
On the Western side of the plan‑
et, newspapers reported the sad
news that the delightful Carey
Williams, author of books on rein‑
carnation, "passed away" in the
first week of March. Surely "took a
break" would make more sense?
Indeed, I've heard it said that
tombstones of people who believe
in reincarnation should not say
"RIP" (Rest In Peace) but "BRB" (Be
Right Back).
One of my male friends says that
the existence of feminism is proof
of rebirth: "Feminists are when
guys get reincarnated as women." I
don't know about his next life but I
suspect his current one may be
rather on the short side.
Now here's the curious thing.
Birth rates in the West and the Far
East have plummeted while they
are rising in South Asia and Africa.
So if a Westerner, say Donald
Trump, gets reincarnated, there's a
75 per cent chance he'll be Asian
or African. Hope he's cool with
that. The food in Mumbai's better
than Western "food", anyway.
In China, the law says that tulkus
(Buddhist teachers who have lived
at least one past life) must have
filled in a Reincarnat ion
Applicat ion Form and had it
approved in their previous life. I
am not making this up. Look up
China's State Religious Af fairs
Bureau Order No.5 if you don't
believe me.
This writer struggles to believe
in reincarnation, but has lots of
friends who do.
"Dying people see a light at the
end of the tunnel ‑‑ that's you
being born into your next life,"
explained the friend mentioned
above.
I told him that was even more
depressing! After years of toil on
earth, surely you deserve at least a
couple of weeks' holiday some‑
where (say the heavenly version of
an Ibiza nightclub) before rebirth?
Life is exhausting.
Unless of course you're a pet
cow, and only having to divide
your time between sleeping, poop‑
ing and eat ing. Maybe Khim
Hang's husband has got the right
idea.
If one gets to choose, I would be
reborn as a potato. My wife could
put me on the sofa, and voila:
Everything back to just how it was.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

BEST
RATE
FOR
INDIA
AND
PAKISTAN

New York Head Quarter

422‑S Broadway
HICKSVILLE
NY 11801 By Mahendra Shah
516‑827‑1010 Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and
humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the
immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons.
Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY August 4-10, 2018 29

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

AUGUST 4‑10, 2018

ARIES: You are likely to enjoy a respite
of sorts from someone or from work.
Your submission on the work front is
likely to pass muster. Monetary front promis‑
es to grow strong by some extra earning. Your
plans for a fun trip will elicit a positive
response from others, so expect to enjoy your
heart out! Shifting into a better accommoda‑
tion is indicated for some. Quality time is like‑
ly to be spent in the company of lover.
TAURUS: You may have to be up and
about early this week to get things
done. A blame game involving you may
ensue at work regarding non‑completion of a
task, but you will be able to steer clear of all
complications.
Donʼt flaunt your savings to others as some‑
one can surely ask for a loan. Moderate exer‑
cises are likely to suit you better for coming
back in shape, so donʼt go in for strenuous
ones. Be extra careful on the road.
GEMINI: Your well‑wishers may pro‑
vide you the support, when you most
need it. Romantic thoughts inundate
your mind this week, so can meeting lover be
far? Not at all. Have a time of your life togeth‑
er! Family will be supportive of your ideas
regarding career.
Call for a job interview for a lucrative appoint‑
ment may be received by some. Financially,
you may find yourself strong and willing to
spend. Take full precautions on the health
front.
CANCER: You will manage to per‑
suade someone influential to do your
bidding, but it wonʼt be unconditional.
Someoneʼs guidance on the academic front
will not be enough, so put in your own efforts.
Meeting an old pal is certain to take you down
the memory lane. Financial situation will
improve, but may take some time. Earning a
driving licence or some other minor accom‑
plishment is likely.
LEO: Much travel is indicated for those
on the marketing side. Those seeking
job will need to enhance their market
value to succeed. It will be important to
understand a task correctly initially than to
revert back time and again. Students pursuing
medicine or engineering can find the going a
bit rough. A rethink on investment becomes
necessary for some. You will have to be at
your persuasive best to recover a loaned
amount. T hose overworked may crave a
break.
VIRGO: You will find things developing
in a very positive way on the social
front. Professionally, you are likely to
have an immensely satisfying time. Money
will no more be a problem as some kind of
inheritance comes to you. Much fun awaits
you on the family front and enjoying your
time with friends and family is a foregone
conclusion. Something special is likely to hap‑
pen on the romantic front. Overseas journey
may materialise for some.
LIBRA: Playing the waiting game may
get on your nerves, but expect a posi‑
tive ending. You may find it difficult to
make up your mind even on the trivial mat‑
ters, so follow others at work this week. You
may not appreciate someone browbeating you
on the professional front, so tell it to him or
her. Someone on the family front has great
expectations from you, so donʼt let him or her
down. A disputed property can take a legal
turn. Spouse appears extra lovey‑dovey this
week, so just play along.
SCORPIO: There may be a celebration
this week at home or outside, but on a
quieter note. An excellent opportunity
to join a prestigious organisation is likely to
come your way. A family friend will help you
out of a tight corner and help you get a good
professional break. Family elders will be
proud of your achievement on the social front.
Some of you can get serious about a romantic
affair and start thinking of the next step.
SAGITTARIUS: Patience pays in full
measure and gets you what you had
been seeking for long! Praise is in
store for something you have achieved on the
professional front. Academically, you will
manage to remain one up on your competi‑
tors. Expect immediate returns from the
investments made by you. Joining a gym or
starting a workout regimen is indicated and
will help you get back in shape. You may go in
for something big for the household.
CAPRICORN: You may feel a bit impa‑
tient about an issue on the career
front. Love life will not give you any
reason to complain as you draw closer and
find an emotional connect with the one you
love. Some of you are likely to take the initia‑
tive to introduce something new on the work
front. Your social life remains most entertain‑
ing in the company of friends. Financially, you
remain strong with enhanced earnings.
AQUARIUS: Some more effort is need‑
ed to cover the gap on the academic
front. You may find yourself a bit sen‑
sitive this week. Someoneʼs of f the cuf f
remark may hurt you deeply. A pleasant sur‑
prise can be sprung by spouse or someone
close. Chances of receiving an outstanding
payment look bright. Donʼt keep your subordi‑
nates in the dark about a proposed project as
they will require preparation time. You may
get hard pressed for time for completing some
pending work.
PISCES: You may have to be prompt in
seizing an initiative on the career front
to succeed. This week enables you to
overcome all hurdles on the professional as
well as personal fronts. You will feel much
more financially secure than before.
Conscious efforts on the health front are like‑
ly to keep some in perfect shape. Those trying
their hand at arts may discover their true call‑
ing! A party or a function this weekend prom‑
ises loads of fun.

4th August, 2018
Traits in you: Your dominating
planet Uranus blesses you with emo‑
tions, imaginative power and creativi‑
ty. As you love social life, you will be
very much interested in making new
friends and getting associated with
different kinds of people. Though you
are very supportive and honest, you
are not able to win hearts in your sur‑
roundings because of your stubborn‑
ness.
Health this year: You should con‑
centrate on taking a good care of
your health to avoid future health
issues. You should spend some more
time in sports and outdoor activities
to remain fit and fine.
Finance this year: You might get
financial benefits from your paternal
properties.
Career this year: You may not get
satisfaction from your job though you
will be getting ample opportunities
for new jobs throughout this year.
You will be influenced by a person
from an opposite gender and this
may bring a huge change in your
career.
Romance this year: You may get
engaged if you are in love.
5th August, 2018
Traits in you: Being ruled by
Mercury, you are a very daring, hon‑
est, dynamic, humorous and deter‑
mined person. As you are efficient in
management, you can easily get
every work easily done that has been
assigned to you. You should work on
the negative aspects of your charac‑
teristics to be in the good books of
others.
Health this year: To lead a social
life, you may need to work hard and it
may become hectic for you and cause
some minor health issues. You may
start playing outdoor games or visit‑
ing clubs on a regular basis to stay fit.
You should get your medical checkup
done regularly.
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
Finance this year: You will be in
gain throughout the year though you
will be having minor spat with your
colleagues and partners. You have to
handle your property and invest‑
ments with utmost care as they tend
to be in very critical condition this
year.
Career this year: You are capable of
taking high pressure jobs in which
huge responsibilities are involved.
You are very good in decision making
and you make strong and quick deci‑
sions. Your confidence will reach new
heights this year thanks to the proj‑
ects and your partners. You should
take expert advice from experience
people to reach new heights in your
career.
Romance this year: You will be
deeply involved with your romantic
interest this year and may think to
convert your relationship to mar‑
riage.
6th August, 2018
Traits in you: Your ruling planet
blesses you with generosity, practica‑
bility, energy, creativity and determi‑
nation. You believe in living life each
and every second by enjoying all the
pleasure life has to offer. Among your
positive characters, you will have
something negatives, which will make
you criticized by others. You should
not show your stubbornness to peo‑
ple around you.
Health this year: Your health will be
absolutely fine this year. You may
feel very tired if you do some physical
work. So you need to go for regular
jogging to enhance your stamina.
Finance this year: You should treat
your business, property matters, and
financial issues on a priority basis.
You need to be serious for your goals.
That would result in your growth and
prosperity. You may get very good
chances for an overseas trip for busi‑
ness purpose or holiday during the
last half of the year.
Career this year: You need to take
important decisions for your career
as this year will prove to be crucial
for your career.
Romance this year: You will share a
very good relationship with your
spouse this year.
7th August, 2018
Traits in you: As you are guided by
Neptune, you will be responsible, lov‑
ing, caring, creative, charming and a
jolly person. You will become popular
among your friends and colleagues
due to the special talents you possess.
You can groom your personality if
you do not act jealous, stubborn and
hypocrite.
Health this year: You will be enjoy‑
ing a sound health this year provided
you go for proper medication. You
need to get your medical checkup
done on time.
Finance this year: Despite of
increase in financial status, you will
be running short of funds because of
your high standard of living.
Career this year: Your current
employment would make you feel the
stability in your life this year as you
will be satisfied with it.
Romance this year: You will find
your spouse to be helpful throughout
the year in critical times. However,
you need to take extra care of your
partner to maintain a healthy roman‑
tic relationship. Some of you may tie
knots this year. You may find you
new romantic interests to carry on
your relationship.
8th August, 2018
Traits in you: Your ruling planet
Saturn blesses you with energy, ambi‑
tion, intelligence, determination. You
are gentle and confident. You have a
positive approach toward life and it
makes you a winner in every respect.
People will respect you and appreci‑
ate you for your daring character.
You should work on your nature of
being jealous and stubborn.
Health this year: You may suf fer
from health related issues this year
though it may not create severe
grievances.
Finance this year: You may travel
foreign countries for business pur‑
pose later this year and this will earn
you a lot of money. You may get
ample opportunity to enhance your
business.
Career this year: You will enjoy luck
this year as far as your career is con‑
cerned due to the movement of all
planets is positive for you. You will be
in a very good relationship with your
employer. This year you will be able
to increase your salary and lead a
comfortable and luxurious life.
Romance this year: Your romantic
re lationships will go strong and
chances of marriage will increase.
9th August, 2018
Traits in you: Your ruling planet
Mars makes you smart, intelligent,
stylish, enthusiastic and reliable.
Being an emotional individual, you
want to carry on each and every rela‑
tionship you create once. You are
very affectionate towards the people
you love and you do not hesitate
showing your care and concern to
those you love. However, you are very
short tempered and you need to con‑
trol it for betterment of your person‑
ality.
Health this year: Your health may
deteriorate badly this year. You need
to take precautions to restore your
health.
Finance this year: You should keep
your budget in mind as you may end
up spending more than your budget.
Career this year: You may go ahead
making many important decisions
regarding to your career. Your deci‑
sions will be proved successful as you
will be benefited later. You will gain
popularity because of your charismat‑
ic nature and friendly behavior. This
will also help you win many favors.
Romance this year: You will enjoy
mental peace at home as you will get
enough love and care from your part‑
ner. You will enjoy a very good rela‑
tionship with your spouse with lots of
love, care, and support.
10th August, 2018
Traits in you: Being dominated by
planet Sun, you have the qualities
such as intelligence, creativity, and
reliability. You are highly focused and
courageous. Your courage helps you
gain a lot and at times it also makes
you lose a lot of money. Your decisive
nature helps you take quick deci‑
sions, which fall correct often.
However, your negative traits such as
impoliteness and rudeness may cre‑
ate problems for you. So you need to
work on those to be better as a
human being.
Health this year: If you take an
overall estimation, you will find this
year to be very fruitful for you.
However, you may get stressed with
minor stress and tensions.
Finance this year: Though you will
earn a lot this year, it would not be
enough to meet your monetary
expectations. You may gain through
blind investments.
Career this year: You will be in
profit due to your creativity this year.
You will be able to obtain success
with the help of your new and inno‑
vative ideas. You should try and
enhance your knowledge on various
domains as it would help you in
future.
Romance this year: Your romantic
life may touch new heights this year
as you may get married during the
last few months of the year.
30 August 4-10, 2018
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
I
f we were to look down upon
this physical world from a
high vantage point, we would
find the light of billions of souls
shimmering throug hout the
world.
Like a foaming sea, they move
about from one life to another,
from one form of living thing to
another. All the souls, when seen
in their true perspective, are the
same. They are all a part of God's
consciousness; they are all Light,
and they all have an innate bliss.
But if we look at the condition
of our world, we are appalled
and shocked by the suffering and
pain each form of life is undergo‑
ing. We find strife and dissension
throughout the world. We find
countries at war. Many nations
are embroiled in internal
conflicts.
We see re ligious groups at
o dds w ith each other.
Community strife is widespread.
Even within families we find dis‑
cord and disharmony. We find
human beings killing various
forms of life, including other
human beings.
We wonder how there can be
so much pain and turmoil caused
by people who have within them
the same divinity of God. This
seeming "fragmentation" of God
into so many souls was meant to
bring an increase in the Lord's
happiness.
Just as a couple bear children
to increase their mutual love and
joy, so did God bring about the
creation of so many souls, so
many children. Yet the result is
far from what was intended. We
who are moving packets of bliss
and all‑consciousness are aware
of great pain and torment.
If we could return to our true
state and realize we are soul, we
would find lasting peace and
ecstasy.
If we could tap deeply within
ourselves, penetrating beyond
the outer form of this physical
body and mind, we would find a
wellspring of eternal peace and
happiness. We would discover
the secret of unity underlying
this Universe.
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Peace, harmony and human unity
Honoring saints and
founders of all religions
through meditation
T he various religious and spir‑
itual traditions have more
commonalities than dif ferences.
The common core of each is the
same. They believe in a higher
power, although called by differ‑
ent names, which created all of
us. They also believe that we
have a spiritual core within us
created by the higher Power.
They also speak of tapping into
this spiritual side of ourselves
through prayer, meditation, or
inversion to uncover our Source.
While language, terminology,
and customs differ, at the heart
of all are practices that connect
our true essence, the soul, with
the higher Power.
Saints, Masters, spiritual teach‑
ers, and enlightened beings, such
as Budd ha, Jesus Christ,
Mahavira, Moses, Krishna, Rama,
Guru Nanak, Kabir, Maulana
Rumi, St.Teresa of Avila, Mira
Bai, Hazur Baba and many others
came to help connect people of
their times with the divine within
them.
To understand the role of
saints and Masters, there is a
story about a lion cub that
became lost from its mother. A
mother sheep found the lion cub
frig htened and alone in the
wilderness. Out of compassion,
the sheep took the cub and
raised her as her very own. The
cub g rew up w ith the other
sheep and beg an act ing like
them. Crying, “Baaah, baaah,” it
even began to believe it was also
a sheep.
One day, a lion came by and
thought it strange to hear this
young lion baaahing like a sheep.
The lion asked, “Why are you
making sounds like you are a
sheep?” T he young lion said,
“Because I am a sheep.”
The lion said, “Come with me.”
It brought the young lion to a
pool of water. “Look down into
the still pool,” said the lion.
W hen the young lion looked
down, it jumped back startled to
see a lionʼs face staring back at
it.”
“See! You are a lion,” the older
lion told him. “That is who you
really are.”
We are in the same predica‑
ment as the lion. We think we are
the body and the mind. We do
not realize that we are soul. We
are not sheep; we are lions̶true
sons and daughters of the Divine.
The stillness of meditation is the
reflecting pool in which we can
see who we really are. When our
body and mind are still, we can
see our own true self as soul.
Meditat ion is a pract ical
method in which we can discover
our true self as soul and achieve
spiritual consciousness by
reuniting our soul with the high‑
er Power. It is a way to discover
our true purpose in life and to
reach the goal of enlightenment
in this lifetime. In this way, we
can uncover who we really are
and can truly say that we know
ourselves.
Enlightened living
T here is a quotation by the
great Greek philosopher,
Socrates. He said, “Our prayers
should be for blessings in gener‑
al, for God knows best what is
good for us.” This quote coin‑
cides with the prayer to God to
give us whatever is good for us.
Time and again, whenever we
demand something from God
Various religious and spiritu-
al traditions have more com-
monalities than differences.
The common core of each is
the same. They believe in a
higher power, although
called by different names,
which created all of us. They
also believe that we have a
spiritual core within us creat-
ed by the higher Power. They
also speak of tapping into this
spiritual side of ourselves
through prayer, meditation,
or inversion to
uncover our Source.
that is continually denied to us, it
is usually because we are asking
for something that is not good
for us ultimately.
T here have been many
instances in which people prayed
to God for something, and God
did not grant their wish. Later
they came to learn that receiving
the wish would not have been a
good thing after all. Will a moth‑
er allow the child to have poi‑
son? The child may cry for it and
throw a tantrum, but if it is poi‑
son, the mother will not grant it.
Instead the mother will give the
child what is best for him or her.
The child may not realize it at
the time, but as the child grows
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
and learns, the child is grateful
for all the things the mother
denied him or her that were ulti‑
mately not good.
Many people are anxious about
making choices. The way to be
sure we make the right choices
about what to pray for is to pray
that God gives us what is best for
us. Go d makes no mistake.
Rather than pray for something
that may or may not be the best
for us, let us pray for Godʼs will
for us.
If we relax and rest in Godʼs
will, we will find that everything
works out for the best in the long
run. Meditation is a process of
relaxing in Godʼs will. Meditation
(Image : stockphotos.ro)
provides a time when we can let
go of all clutching and praying
for this thing and that. It is a
time in which we sit in a state of
stillness and surrender to Godʼs
will. It is a chance to let go of all
our wants and desires. We mere‑
ly sit in a receptive mood and ask
God to grant what is best for us.
We will find that God will give us
much more than we had expect‑
ed.That is the secret to enlight‑
ened living.
Through meditation, we will
find the treasure of spiritual
pearls to enlightened living that
will bring us peace, happiness,
and bliss. God wants us to live in
eternal peace and bliss in the
spiritual realm.
The essence of religion
S aints from every religion
teach the same truth. They
help us find the common ele‑
ments in each. They have love
and respect for other great saints
and the world's religions. They
recognize that they are teaching
the same Truth. Although outer
languages, cultures, customs, and
the way of dressing and greeting
may differ from country to coun‑
try, the essence of religions is the
same: there is one God, we are
children of one Creator, and our
purpose is to know ourselves,
know God, and love all.
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji
Maharaj is an internationally
recognized spiritual leader
and Master of Jyoti
Meditation who affirms the
transcendent oneness at the
heart of all religions and
mystic traditions, emphasiz-
ing ethical living and medita-
tion as building blocks for
achieving inner and outer
peace. www.sos.org.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 4-10, 2018
TheSouthAsianTimes.info August 4-10, 2018