The Indian Panorama

Month: January 2013

  • Indian NRIs’ Properties Back Home Becoming Targets Of Greedy Relatives And Dubious Developers

    Indian NRIs’ Properties Back Home Becoming Targets Of Greedy Relatives And Dubious Developers

    DUBAI (TIP): Greedy relatives and shady agents are unlawfully grabbing the properties of Indian expatriates living in Dubai. Caught in this miserable scenario, many Indian expatriates in Dubai are seemingly fighting the unending legal battles back home. According to Gulf News, and it is not easy to pay hassle-free frequent visits to India, and go through the notoriously lengthy legal process in the country. Some cannot even put on combat gear as the enemy, in many cases, is there own parents or siblings. According to lawyers, the misuse of power of attorney is rampant across India.

    Invariably, NRI owners top the list of victims. Chokshy, a seasoned lawyer with over 30 years of experience in Gujarat civil courts, said he has seen many NRIs go through bitter experiences where their parents or siblings have grabbed their property. According to the report, the illegal grabbing, occupation or confiscation of properties have long been a pressing issue for Indians residing out of the country, so much so that a US-based Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has demanded the establishment of fast-track courts for speedy disposal of their property disputes.

    The organization said that many USbased NRIs owning houses and land in Kolkata, New Delhi, Punjab and Kerala have been struggling for years to reclaim properties usurped by friends, families or caretakers. The increasing number of illegal and forceful land grabbing cases was also a topic of concern at the recently concluded 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conducted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs between January 7 and 9 in Kochi, Kerala. According to lawyers in India and the UAE, expatriates are particularly vulnerable to fraudulent elements back home because of time constraints and lack of legal support in fighting their cases.

    NRIs are at a great disadvantage as they reside far away from their home country and civil cases in India can take 15-20 years or even more due to an overloaded judicial system. So alarming is the situation that an army of ‘property managers’ have mushroomed in big cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Chennai and Kochi to manage the assets of NRIs, the report added.

  • Indian-Origin Lottery Winner’s Body To Be Exhumed: US Court

    Indian-Origin Lottery Winner’s Body To Be Exhumed: US Court

    NEW YORK (TIP): A US court has given the go-ahead for exhumation of the body of an Indian-origin businessman in Chicago, who died of cyanide poisoning under mysterious circumstances days after he won a US dollar million lottery. Judge Susan Coleman of the Probate Division of the Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois approved the Cook County medical examiner’s request to exhume the body of Urooj Khan, 46, who died last July a day after he collected a cheque of $425,000 as his prize money. It was not immediately known how quickly the body would be exhumed, but Coleman’s order called for it “as soon as possible” since Khan’s body was not embalmed before burial. The process of exhumation and autopsy is expected to take place as soon as next week.

    Initially no foul play was suspected in Khan’s death and the medical examiner’s office had initially ruled that Khan had died of natural causes. However at the request of Khan’s relative, the cause of his death was re-examined and new screening results from fluid samples showed that a lethal amount of cyanide was present in Khan’s system. In allowing Khan’s body to be exhumed from a cemetery in Chicago, Coleman said there is “reasonable and sufficient” reason for the Cook County medical examiner to get more forensic samples from Khan’s body.

    The Chicago Tribune reported that no one had objected to exhuming Khan’s body. According to court papers, chief medical examiner Stephen Cina said it was important to exhume Khan’s body “as expeditiously as possible” since Khan’s body was not embalmed. The medical examiner’s office said in court papers it was necessary to do a full autopsy to “further confirm the results of the blood analysis as well as to rule out any other natural causes that might have contributed to or caused Khan’s death.”

  • Obama’s Half-Brother Eyes Kenya Political Role

    Obama’s Half-Brother Eyes Kenya Political Role

    KOGELO (TIP): President Barack Obama’s Kenyan half-brother has launched his own political career by announcing his intention to run for a Kenyan county gubernatorial seat in the upcoming March 4 elections. Malik Obama, 54, who shares a father with the US president, said in an interview late on Wednesday that the achievements of his brother have “inspired and challenged” him to get into active politics in his homeland. “When I look at the success that my brother has had in the US, I feel I would have let down my people if I do not follow in his footsteps and end their suffering through dedicated, honest and focused leadership,” Malik said in his ancestral home of Kogelo in western Kenya. The trained economist said he is the right candidate to deal with the “endless cycle of poverty and unemployment that bedevils my people”.

    “I can confidently say that of all the people who are vying for the position, I am the best placed candidate … by virtue of my second name alone, I have the connections to bring development to Siaya,” he said, referring to his home county 100 km from the lakeside city of Kisumu. Although he says he is charting his own path, Malik Obama is using his now famous second name to try and get an edge over his competitors, who include the younger brother of Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. In a country polarized by dominant political parties, Malik Obama is running as an independent. He said his links to Washington will help him clinch the seat. “Why would my people settle for a local connection when they have a direct line to the White House,” he said as he weaved his way through a group of supporters, the slogan “Obama here, Obama there” looming on posters.

  • SC restrains trial court from deciding on SIT report on Modi’s role

    SC restrains trial court from deciding on SIT report on Modi’s role

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court on January 17 restrained a special trial court in Ahmedabad from taking its final decision on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report for closing the case against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others in connection with a 2002 riots incident in which former Congress MP Eshan Jafri was burnt alive by a mob at the Gulberg Housing Society. A three-member Bench headed Justice DK Jain passed the order on a plea by Zakia Jafri, widow of the slain Congress leader, despite objections raised by the Gujarat government. The other members of the Bench were Justices P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam. Zakia has approached the SC seeking copies of the three SIT reports submitted in May and November 2011 and January 2012. The case would be taken up for hearing again on February 7. The SIT, headed by former CBI Director RK Raghavan, had interrogated Modi in the light of an apex court order asking the SIT to conduct a fresh investigation into the February 28, 2002 violence in the Gulberg Society, Ahmedabad.

  • Shed Flab Tone Up In Just 2 Weeks

    Shed Flab Tone Up In Just 2 Weeks

    Do you have an occasion you want to look hot for — a friend’s wedding or a hot date? We ask fitness experts for an exercise and diet plan to help you shed flab and tone up in just two weeks. Losing that extra flab around your waist and toning your body can feel like a challenge, especially when you have no time on your hands to prep yourself up before an occasion. If you’ve been thinking of starving yourself to flaunt that sexy saree, you’re heading the wrong way. We ease out the challenge for you. Follow this two-week exercise and diet routine to make heads turn!

    Kickboxing
    Kickboxing is an excellent way to lose weight from your thighs and butt. Keeping your fists tight, reaching shoulder height at the extension. Keep wrists in line with the rest of your arm. Rotate hips and pivot to protect your knees. Keep your eyes straight and kick. Repeat 20 times.

    Push-ups
    Raise up onto your toes, so you can balance well on your hands and toes. Keep your body in a straight line from head to toe without sagging in the middle or arching your back. Your feet can be close together or a bit wider, depending on what is most comfortable for you.

    “Before you begin any movement, contract your abs and tighten your core by pulling your belly button in. Keep a tight core. Inhale as you slowly bend your elbows and lower yourself until your elbows are at a 90 degree angle. Exhale as you begin pushing back up to the start position,” says fitness expert, Neville Wadia.

    Running
    Running is a great way to not only lose weight, but also tone yourself. The most important piece of equipment you need for running is shoes. Make sure to invest in a good pair of shoes that not only provide comfort but also proper grip while running. Start with a 10 minute brisk walk and alternate 30 seconds of running with one minute of walking. Increase the amount of time you run and decrease the amount of time you spend walking. This will help you to start running for 20 to 30 minutes in another three-four days.

    Squat jump
    “Stand with feet shoulder width apart — arms at side. Start by doing a regular squat and then jump when you rise up reaching for the ceiling. When you land, lower your body back into the squat position. Repeat 10 times,” says Shetty. Says Shah, “During the second week of your exercise routine, make sure to include more of weight training, combined well with cardio training twice a week. This will keep the weight you’ve shed in check and also help you tone faster.”

    Forward plank
    “The forward plank is a full-body exercise for your arms, butt and legs. Start on your knees and place your hands on the floor in front of you. Your arms should be straight and not locked out. Tighten your stomach muscles as you lean forward until your shoulders are directly over your wrists,” says Wadia. Stay in this position by extending your feet straight back with your toes curled and your weight on your feet. Keep your legs and butt muscles tight as you keep your body in a straight line. Make sure to not let your lower back sag and keep your belly button pulled towards your spine throughout the exercise. Repeat 10 times.

    Dynamic lunges
    Stand with both feet together. Take a long step forward with your right leg. Bending the back leg, move your back knee towards the floor — your front knee should not go further forward than your toes. Says Shetty, “Your back knee should go down to an inch off the floor but remember not to touch the ground. In one controlled movement, return your front foot back to the starting position with the other foot.” Repeat 15 times.

    Mountain climbers
    Place your hands on the floor — slightly wider than shoulder width. On your forefeet, position one leg forward bent under your body and extend the other leg back. While holding your upper body in place, alternate your leg positions by pushing your hips up while immediately extending your back leg forward and pulling your rear leg forward under your body, landing on both your forefeet simultaneously.

    Leg raises
    Lie on your back. Keep your lower body back in contact with the floor — keeping your feet and legs together and
    straight. Place both your hands to the sides or under your lower back for support. Lift your legs upward, until they are straight above your hips. Lower down to starting position slowly but do not touch the ground.
    REPEAT 10 TIMES.
    YOUR DIET RULES
    RULE NO 1:
    Be tough. Stay away from nasty fat, excessive salt and simple sugars. This will help you lose weight faster.

    RULE NO 2:
    Have a basic breakfast of complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats to kickstart your metabolism for the day and provide fuel and muscle sustaining nutrients. Says nutritionist Mansi Belani, “Breakfast should be an easy-to prepare meal from a quality protein shake to a bowl of oatmeal, scoop of cottage cheese and fruits.”

    Rule No 3:
    Says Shetty, “Do not let snacks be a substitute for a complete meal. Good snacks are fruits and vegetables, protein energy bars, yoghurt, cottage cheese and light protein drinks.”

    RULE NO 4:
    Excessive sugar plays havoc with our insulin metabolism and this leads to fatigue and fat storage and tends to slacken your exercise routine. RULE NO 5: Eat a small and light snack at least an hour before you start exercising. Says nutritionist, Smruti Gokhale “With protein and complex carbohydrates in your system, you’ll train harder, longer and with more enthusiasm.” Also make sure that you do not eat anything for an hour after your exercise.

    RULE NO 6:
    “An hour after your exercise, have a light meal of protein and plenty of carbs to keep you energised. This meal is necessary to provide the muscle- building materials to repair depleted tissue and begin the process of building new muscles,” says Shetty.

    RULE NO 7:
    Drink lot

  • Delhi Gang-Rape Murder Case Moved To Fast Track Court

    Delhi Gang-Rape Murder Case Moved To Fast Track Court

    DELHI (TIP): The case against five men charged with the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi has been moved to a fast-track court for trial, lawyers for the defendants said Friday, January 18 The case is scheduled to begin Monday, January 21, they said. A sixth suspect will be tried in a youth court if it is confirmed he is a minor.

    In the December 16 incident, passengers and the driver of a bus allegedly attacked the woman and her male companion, raped the woman, robbed them and dumped them by the side of the road. The badly beaten woman was flown to Singapore for treatment after the attack.

    But she did not survive. She died about two weeks later while undergoing treatment. The five men are charged with murder, rape and kidnapping and face death penalty if convicted. A juvenile court is determining the age of a sixth suspect, who has said he is 17, too young to be tried as an adult.

    In view of the public outrage, government of India has pledged to strengthen laws against sexual assaults. The number of reported rapes in India — a country where a cultural stigma keeps many victims from reporting the crime — has increased from 2,487 in 1971 to 24,206 in 2011, according to official figures.

  • Former VJ Sophiya Haque Passes Away In London

    Former VJ Sophiya Haque Passes Away In London

    MUMBAI (TIP): Popular former video jockey (VJ) and actress Sophiya Haque is no more, according to her friends and industry sources. She died in London due to an illness. She passed away in a hospital in London, tweeted former VJ Nikhil Chinappa. She was said to be in her 30s. witter was abuzz with messages on the death of Sophiya, who played the lead role in the 2000 film “Snip!” and was seen in a bit role in Salman Khan’s 2009 blockbuster “Wanted”.

    Sophiya had also been part of international TV series like “House of Anubis”, “Coronation Street” and “Fur TV”. Ex-VJ Sophie Choudry tweeted: “When I moved here, you moved to my city. We barely met but I had great respect for you and your work. RIP Sophiya Haque – artist, iconic VJ, dancer, trendsetter.” “So completely heartbreaking,” wrote Maria Goretti, another popular former VJ who made it big in the 1990s. Composer Vishal Dadlani describes the late actress as a “beautiful spirit”, and posted: “Life is short, so fickle. People, hold your loved ones close, tell them you love them every day.” Actress-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt also mourned Sophiya’s death.

  • SGPC To Participate In The Kumbh Mela

    SGPC To Participate In The Kumbh Mela

    CHANDIGARH (TIP): Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee – the mini parliament of Sikhs – has decided to participate in the Kumbh Mela for the first time, inviting criticism from various quarters, according to a report published in January 13 edition of Times of India. While the decision has apparently been taken at the behest of the top bosses of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), which heads a coalition government in Punjab with the BJP, the SGPC is projecting it as an opportunity to make the Hindus from far-off places aware of Sikhism and the sacrifices made by the Sikh Gurus and the community. The committee has started shortlisting Sikh literature in Hindi that will be available at the mela.

    The decision had been taken at a meeting of the executive committee of SGPC a few days ago. Sources said there was some opposition to the proposal to participate in the Kumbh Mela, the largest gathering of Hindus, when SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar tabled it in the executive meeting. Many members pointed out that the mela had no significance in Sikhism and participation in the religious gathering would send out a wrong signal, especially about the independent identity of the Sikhs.

    Finally, it was decided to put up a stall of literature published by SGPC at the mela. When asked about the reason for the move, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said it provided a large target audience for making people aware about Sikhism. He said SGPC would also hold a photo and literature exhibition and organize a langar. SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh has been sent to Allahabad to coordinate with the authorities. Makkar said he has issued directives to SGPC staff for short-listing the books that give an insight into Sikh history and to make these available in Hindi in good numbers. Slamming the SGPC’s decision, All India Sikh Students Federation president Karnail Singh Peermohammad said this has been done at the behest of RSS and is against the ideals propounded by the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak, and other gurus. “We respect everyone’s beliefs, but participating in the mela does not have any religious importance in Sikhism,” he added.

  • Govt Surprises With Step Forward On Freeing Diesel Prices

    Govt Surprises With Step Forward On Freeing Diesel Prices

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The government gave fuel retailers some leeway on January 17 to raise prices of heavily subsidized diesel, distancing itself from an unpopular policy ahead of elections while trying to revive an economy growing at its slowest pace in a decade. Fuel subsidies are a drain on India’s finances and the government is struggling to bring the deficit within a target of 5.3 per cent of gross domestic product for the financial year ending March. India is the world’s fourth biggest oil importer. The government emphasized that any price rises would be small, raising questions over how much freedom the staterun oil firms will really have. Petrol largely remained under government control after a similar policy was introduced in 2010.

    Oil minister Veerappa Moily said the new system gave oil companies some liberty to set prices, but cautioned that diesel subsidies could not be suddenly ended. “We cannot abruptly put an end to the subsidy or the under-recovery. Looking into all the economic aspects, we have taken the decision to give oil companies the liberty to make small corrections,” he said. Share prices rose sharply in India’s main oil marketing companies, which suffer losses selling fuel below cost. The rupee hit a one-month high, while yields on Indian bonds dropped in a sign the market expects the new policy will result in lower subsidies in the medium-term. The government also loosened a cap introduced in September on the number of subsidized cooking gas cylinders permitted to each household after widespread criticism the quota was unfair on the poor. The cap will now be nine cylinders per year, up from six. That is expected to add 93 billion rupees ($1.70 billion) to the annual subsidy bill, an oil ministry source said.

    Balancing act “This is a brilliant balancing act between politics and economics. This is one step backwards and one step forward,” said NR Bhanumurthy, professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. “While the decision on the LPG cylinder will pacify their political constituency, the decision on diesel sends out a message to the (central bank) that the government is serious about tackling subsidies and controlling the fiscal deficit.” The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has long called on the government to reduce its fiscal deficit, which drives government borrowing and keeps upward pressure on interest rates. The central bank meets on January 29 to set monetary policy and has signaled that it is likely to cut interest rates.

    Ratings agencies had threatened to strip India of its investment-grade credit rating if the government did not take steps to curb the widening fiscal deficit. Finance minister P Chidambaram has vowed that the deficit will not exceed 5.3 per cent of GDP this financial year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, which must hold general elections by early next year, is trying to revive Asia’s third largest economy, which is set to grow at 5.7-5.9 per cent this fiscal year, its weakest rate since 2002/03. Singh was the architect of a wave of economic reforms in the 1990s credited with ushering in two decades of fast growth. In a new push since September to liberalize India’s economy, he opened sectors, including retail and aviation, to more overseas investment and cut subsidies on fuel and rail fares.

    EMPHASIS ON “SMALL” India imports 80 per cent of the crude oil it refines into diesel, about 3.7 million barrels per day, and benchmark Brent crude prices were at their highest annual average on record last year at around $111 a barrel, significantly raising its energy bill. Diesel accounts for about 40 per cent of India’s fuel consumption, and the stateowned fuel retailers lose 9.6 rupees (18 US cents) for every litre of diesel sold. Chidambaram said he did not know when, or by how much, diesel prices will be increased but said consumers should not fear big jumps. “I emphasize the word ‘small’. Small corrections from time to time. That I believe the petroleum ministry has allowed the oil companies,” he told reporters.

    Diesel demand has been very resistant to price hikes. A 5 rupee per liter price hike in September was followed by month-onmonth rises in diesel sales. The government liberalized petrol prices in June 2010, but has often prevented costs from being raised to reflect rising oil prices on global markets. Fuel subsidies comprised more than 5 per cent of the government’s budget spending in previous 2011/12 budget. Asked if raising diesel prices would affect this year’s subsidy bill, Chidambaram said the effect was so far unclear. “I am proceeding on the basis that the subsidy bill remains the same. When they will make the small corrections, how much, I cannot say,” he told reporters.

  • Sunny Leone All Set To Do An Action Film

    Sunny Leone All Set To Do An Action Film

    Devang Dholakia will be directing Sunny Leone for his next action film. The erstwhile adult star, who has been seen in films which have used her sex quotient to sell their wares, will be seen in an action mode. The movie’s makers are keen to show a different dimension of the actress as they feel she has the potential to deliver. “Sunny threw a punch in the air when she heard the script. She also tried an aerial kick in glee. She was very excited about the prospect of doing an action film,” Dholakia recalls the actress’ reaction.

    The director, who has made films like Tere Liye among others, says that his venture with Sunny is not like Charlie’s Angels, but is in a genre that is dark and grim as well. Titled Tina and Lolo, the movie is a story of friendship and bonding, with a good dose of action. While she was unavailable for comment, sources close to the actress confirmed that she will be a part of this film. It is learnt that Balaji Motion Pictures has instructed her not to talk about any other project till their film is released.

  • Kerala Fishermen’s Killing: Special Court To Try Italian Naval Guards, SC Says

    Kerala Fishermen’s Killing: Special Court To Try Italian Naval Guards, SC Says

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court has said that the Kerala government or police have no jurisdiction to deal with the case arising from shooting of two Indian fishermen by Italian naval guards. The apex court said on Friday that the shooting of two Indian fishermen by Italian naval guards is a federal crime and hence only the central government can have jurisdiction to deal with the case. The SC also directed the Centre to constitute a special court in consultation with the Chief Justice of India for the trial of the two marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen.

  • Katrina Kaif Bollywood’s Reigning Box Office Queen

    Katrina Kaif Bollywood’s Reigning Box Office Queen

    While there’s no doubting Katrina Kaif being a consistent lucky mascot at the box office, she has also gone on to be the front runner on the popularity charts, beating her contemporaries for 2 consecutive years. Katrina Kaif emerged in the Numero Uno position on esteemed trade magazine Box Office India’s annual report card – that conducted a detailed study on the collections and territory-wise performance of Bollywood’s leading actors.

    Taking an in depth look at various trade centers across the country, Katrina had the highest success ratio in centers like Mumbai, Delhi, UP East Punjab, CP, CI, Rajasthan, Nizam Circuit, Mysore, TNK, West Bengal, Assam and Orissa making her Box Office India’s Best Opening Actress. Confirming the news says editor and trade analyst Vajir Singh , ” Katrina Kaif has unanimously emerged the most successful actress with the figures to prove her standing…

    Her films Ek Tha Tiger and Jab Tak Hain Jaan took a stupendous opening at the box office and reestablished her as Bollywood’s leading lady. ” Not too long ago, Katrina Kaif was also voted the most powerful celebrity endorser ,in a celebrity-brand association recall study conducted by Ormax Media and also ranked the Most Favorite Film Star – Female in the Small Wonders report.

    If that wasn’t all, Katrina had also topped the findings conducted by Airtel Mobitude 2012-continuing to maintain the leading position in the category of images downloaded for the 4th consecutive year. With a success ratio that very few actresses in the industry enjoy with blockbusters like Partner, Welcome, Singh is Kingg, New York, Rajneeti, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Ek Tha Tiger and the recent Jab Tak Hai Jaan , Katrina Kaif will next be seen in Yash Raj’s Dhoom 3 and Fox Star Studios’ Bollywood remake of the 2010 James Mangold action-comedy – Knight and Day.

  • Congress Brainstorming Session Begins In Jaipur

    Congress Brainstorming Session Begins In Jaipur

    JAIPUR (TIP): The Congress appears to have drawn lessons from the Left parties to revive the party organisation at the grassroots level. As its top leaders converge in Jaipur for the two-day Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) beginning on Friday, the party leaders are all set to recommend changes at the organisational level. The party intends to set up a National Training Centre for its workers. The party sub-committee on organisation has recommended that workers need to be trained properly. It also proposes that Pradesh Congress Committee and District Congress Committee presidents should not contest elections and instead focus solely on organisational work. Sources also confirmed that the party brass feels state and district congress chiefs should be accommodated in high-powered committees so that they do not feel left out from the power structure.

    Another recommendation of the sub-group is that the party must increase its mass contact programmes at block levels so that more and more people join the Congress. It adds that these mass contact programmes should also focus on urban areas apart from the rural centres where the party is strong. In another first, the sub-committee has suggested that disciplinary mechanism must be strengthened and quick action should be taken when leaders and workers indulge in anti-party activities. This proposal has Rahul Gandhi’s stamp who has been advocating the need for a robust mechanism to reward and punish leaders and workers so that discipline can be maintained in the party. The sub-group has also proposed that the party’s campaign committees should be given more time to function, both at central and the state levels, so that elections campaigns can be organised properly.

    It also says that candidates must be chosen in advance and opinions of the workers must be factored in during candidate selection. It also proposes that this process must start at least six months in advance and special attention must be given to ST and SC candidates. The party sub-committee on women has decided to propose gender audit so that the people and the government can come to know as to how ‘gender budget’ is being spent. It will also propose key changes in personal laws with an aim to empower women. A source confirmed that the group will urge the government to make another effort to push the women’s quota Bill in Parliament, apart from ensuring proper implementation of the 30 per cent reservation of seats for women in the party organisation.

  • Bitten By Study Bug, Man Obtains 31 Degrees In Jail

    Bitten By Study Bug, Man Obtains 31 Degrees In Jail

    AHMEDABAD (TIP): For Bhanu Patel, 57, the transformation in prison did not mean keeping his head low and cursing self for the situation he found himself in. Instead, Patel, a doctor by profession, obtained 31 educational qualifications and is all set to enter record books for the ‘Most educational qualifications during imprisonment’. Patel has got certificates from Unique World Records and Asia Book of Records, while Limca Book of Records has confirmed his entry for its 2013 edition. Patel, convicted in 2004 for violation of the then Foreign Exchange Regulation Act ( FERA), was in prison from January 2005 to December 2011.

    “Due to my qualifications, I was given duty at jail dispensary and then at the library at Sabarmati jail. Prison officials soon introduced me to open universities. Due to my proficiency in English, I was given the responsibility to correspond with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU),” says Patel. Since then, there was no looking back. Over next six years, Patel completed courses such as MSc, MCom and BCom apart from several PG diplomas. Looking at his qualifications, BAOU made him a consultant soon after his release. In 2012 assembly elections, Patel perhaps became the first election observer who had served a jail term. Patel is coordinator for BAOU courses taught at 26 centres in state jails and will soon join the teaching staff of the university after clearing the NET.

  • Moview Review-Gangoobai

    Moview Review-Gangoobai

    Cast: Sarita Joshi, Purab Kohli, Mita Vasisht, Raj Zutshi, Nidhi Sunil, Ankita Shrivastava
    Direction: Priya Krishnaswamy
    Genre: Drama Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes

    STORY:
    Gangoobai, a Maid-in-Matheran, has lived a life with simple aspirations, until one day she finds a new purpose of buying a designer sari. She follows her dream to the big city of Mumbai.

    REVIEW:
    Aga Bai! This Gangoobai (Sarita Joshi) is like none other. Picture this. She makes it to the elite guest list at fashion shows (in her bright colored nauvari and tattoo between her brows), she’s styled by Mumbai’s hot-shot design house, and she spiritedly lives up to the city’s bustling night-life. But long before everything turned so ‘hip and happening’, her life was like was any other ordinary tale.

    Gangoo lived in the picturesque hill-station, Matheran, on the outskirts of Mumbai. Widowed early and childless, her life basically comprised of domestic chores in a few houses, her oldie friend Malan, and most importantly, her pet-plants that she nurtured with aai-like affection. In a flash, her life changed forever.

    Gangoo set sight on her memsaab’s daughter’s exquisite gara sari (traditional Parsi sari embroidered with flowers and birds) and at that moment, she made the most ambitious decision of her life – one way or another, she would own a sari like that. Even if her dream cost her an exorbitant amount of Rs. 50,000! Deva re deva! Thereafter, the movie traces Gangoo’s pursuits as she sets off for aamchi Mumbai where she meets with her ‘dream-weavers’ – Daksha ( Mita Vasisht), Waman (Purab Kohli), top model Monisha (Nidhi Sunil)and style-guru Rohan ( Raj Zutshi). In Mumbai, while she fulfils her only dream, she finds simple solutions for all her new big city friends with big problems. With pure goodness, and some preaching and puranpoli, Gangoo wins over the people of this mahanagari. In this tailor-made role, Sarita Joshi shows all the warmth, compassion and disposition that Gangoobai’s character demands.

    The simplicity with which she essays this, along with her altering expressions of wonder and awe, says a lot more than dialogues (in a mix of Marathi and Hindi) and proves her extreme calibre. Priya Krishnaswamy tells a story of simple women with a not-so-simple dream. While her lead actor holds fort, the rest of the cast come up with average performances, leaving bai without much support. The film is 9-yards too long, diluting the essence. Gangoobai doesn’t sweep your heart away, but leaves you with some sweet, feel-good moments.

  • 2 Women From Kerala Fall In Boiling Water In Ajmer Dargah

    2 Women From Kerala Fall In Boiling Water In Ajmer Dargah

    AJMER (TIP): A girl and her mother, both belonging to Kerala, were on January 17 critically injured when they fell into boiling water in a cauldron, known as ‘deg’, in Ajmer dargah in Ajmer, police said. “Sarina (23) and her mother Sulfat (58) fell into the ‘deg’ which is around 7-8 ft deep. Preparations for cooking rice was going on and water was boiling when the incident occurred,” police officer Bhawani Singh said. “Both received critical burn injuries and were rushed to JLN government hospital where their condition is stated to be serious,” he said. He said it was not immediately clear whether they fell accidentally or jumped into it. A big and a small ‘deg’ are installed in the Dargah for cooking of ‘Niaz’ (vegetarian food prepared with rice, ghee, sugar, nuts, saffron) by pilgrims and the women fell into the small ‘deg’ which has a cooking capacity of 2,400 kg.

  • Union Cabinet Recommends President’s Rule In Jharkhand

    Union Cabinet Recommends President’s Rule In Jharkhand

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The government on January 17 decided to recommend to President Pranab Mukherjee to impose central rule in Jharkhand, where chief minister Arjun Munda has resigned after his government was reduced to a minority. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discussed the report of Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed who has favoured imposition of President’s rule while keeping the 82- member state Assembly in suspended animation. The Cabinet decided to accept the governor’s recommendation and refer the matter to the President for necessary action, a minister, who attended the meeting, said.

    The governor’s recommendation was made in his second report to the Centre on the political situation in the wake of Munda’s resignation. The chief minister had sought dissolution of the Assembly after ally Jharkhand Mukti Morcha withdrew support to his government. Jharkhand, which was created in 2000, has been placed under President’s rule twice. The present political instability erupted on January 8 when BJP’s ruling coalition partner JMM, in a letter to the governor, formally withdrew its support to the 28-monthold government pushing it into a minority. In the Assembly, BJP and JMM have 18 members each. The Munda government had the support of six members of All Jharkhand Students’ Union, two of JD (U), two independents and one nominated member who has voting right in a trial of strength. Opposition Congress has a total of 13 members, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha(P)11 and RJD 5 in the assembly. CPI-ML(L), Marxist Coordination Party, Jharkhand Party (Ekka), Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch and Jai Bharat Samta Party have one member each besides.

  • SC: All And Sundry Don’t Deserve Police Protection

    SC: All And Sundry Don’t Deserve Police Protection

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Questioning the need for providing police protection to all and sundry and allowing red beacon lights on their vehicles, the Supreme Court on January 17 directed all the states to furnish details about the total number of persons enjoying such facilities and the expenditure being incurred by the government for the purpose. A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and HL Gokhale made it clear that only those holding important constitutional posts or were facing threat to their lives should be given such privileges. In Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, even sarpanches were getting security and had tinted glasses in their vehicles and the police could not dare to remove the black films, the Bench noted. In several states, even MPs, MLAs and municipal commissioners were being allowed to use beacon lights in their vehicles, while this facility should be restricted to ambulances and the vehicles of the police and some defence personnel.

  • Moss Poses as Amazonian goddess in photoshoot

    Moss Poses as Amazonian goddess in photoshoot

    For her latest campaign Kate Moss looks almost unrecognizable, as the supermodel sizzles as an Amazonian goddess for Versace’s new spring/summer 2013 campaign.

    The 38-year-old cuts a statuesque figure as she stands in a sheer lace skirt and matching top with two men at her feet, the Daily Mail reported. Her skin appears tanned but incandescent, giving her an invisible quality as she poses tall against the dark and brooding background. Moss’ frame looks strong too, her stomach muscles appear toned and her feet are calves are encased with gladiatorstyle heels.

    In another shot from the campaign, Moss is dressed in an aqua-blue gown with cut out panels and gold detailing. She looks fierce as she gazes past the camera, with one foot propped up and a man handing off her.

    Not only does she look unlike herself but Moss seems to ooze vitality in the shots and looks much younger than her years. Shot by fashion photographers Mert Alad and Marcus Piggott, who have worked with most of the top designers including Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Yves St Laurent and Givenchy, the striking pictures show off the colorful fluid dresses of Donatella’s Spring Summer collection.

  • 3 Held For Trespass At ISRO Unit

    3 Held For Trespass At ISRO Unit

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A man employed at an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) unit in Tamil Nadu was caught with his father-in-law when he was showing off the area to him. A supervisor of labourers at the unit was also apprehended on grounds of neglecting his duty. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended C Krishna Kumar, a welding contractor working at a section in the unit, with his father-in-law Jaya Singh who illegally entered a restricted area by pretending to be a labourer. “Kumar wanted to show off the area to his father-in-law. Diraviyam, the supervisor responsible for making the list of labourers, was also apprehended for allegedly neglecting his duties,” said a senior CISF officer. The CISF later informed the police about the matter. The three men were arrested on charges of trespass, forgery and violation of the Official Secrets Act.

  • Telangana Heat Rises As Centre’s Deadline Draws Near

    Telangana Heat Rises As Centre’s Deadline Draws Near

    HYDERABAD (TIP): A bitter regional showdown appears on cards in Andhra Pradesh as the January 28 deadline set by the UPA government for announcing a decision on the raging Telangana statehood issue is fast approaching. Providing a glimpse of the political turbulence ahead, the ruling Congress leaders from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions, who are opposed to the bifurcation of the state, met here today and adopted a unanimous resolution calling for maintaining the status quo. The meeting, attended by 62 leaders including 15 Ministers, 35 MLAs, eight MLCs and two MPs, warned of “serious political consequences” if the state was divided.

    “Nothing short of maintaining the united Andhra Pradesh is acceptable to us,” the resolution said. The gathering of integrationists came in the backdrop of a buzz in political circles that the Centre has made up its mind to carve out a separate Telangana state to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the backward region. The three-hour long meeting also decided a send a delegation to Delhi on January 21 to meet the central party leaders and impress upon them the need to keep the state united.

    “It is good for the party and the people if the state remains united. We are confident of convincing the Centre against bifurcation and will convey the feelings of the people to the party leadership,” Primary Education Minister S Shailajanath said after the meeting. The resolution cited a statement made by former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi in the Lok Sabha on November 27, 1972 in which she said, “I stand firmly for the integrated state of Andhra Pradesh after the consideration of the pros and cons of the two agitations (Jai Telangana and Jai Andhra)”. “The meeting endorsed her statement and wanted the present leadership to remain committed to this stand,” Shailajanath said. On their part, the Telangana protagonists took out a rally and tried to disrupt the meeting of the integrationists.

    The members of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC), a conglomeration of various political and social groups fighting for the statehood cause, staged a silent march. The police arrested several pro-Telangana students here when tried to disrupt the meeting of Seemandhra (a reference to Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) leaders at the Ministers’ Quarters in Banjara Hills. Raising slogans of ‘Jai Telangana’, the students said they would not allow any meeting aimed at stalling the formation of Telangana state. After chairing an all-party meeting on Telangana in Delhi on December 28, the Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had announced that the Centre would announce its decision within a month.

    The Congress leadership is expected to take a final call on the vexatious issue during its “Chintan Shivir” in Jaipur. The ruling party is caught in a Catch-22 situation on the long-pending demand for creation of Telangana state, comprising ten districts, with Hyderabad as the capital. While leaders from Telangana region, cutting across party lines, have been rooting for a separate state, their counterparts in the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions are equally vociferous in their opposition to the bifurcation. There were indications earlier that the UPA leadership was considering a proposal to constitute an autonomous Telangana Regional Council, on the lines of Darjeeling Hill Council, to put an end to the political uncertainty in the state, a formulation that is unacceptable to the Telangana protagonists.

  • Parliamentary Panel Submits Report On Food Bill

    Parliamentary Panel Submits Report On Food Bill

    NEW DELHI (TIP): After several delays and hiccups, a parliamentary standing committee on January 17 submitted its report on the UPA government’s ambitious Food Security Bill. It has suggested that the legislation should ensure supply of 5 kg wheat and rice to all beneficiaries at a uniform price of Rs 3 and Rs 2 per kg, respectively. The panel, headed by Congress Lok Sabha member Vilas Muttemwar, has done away with the proposal that the price and quantity of the food grains sold to the poor and the general public be priced separately. The Food Bill, which has been under scrutiny by the standing committee for nearly a year, that proposed that BPL families be given 7 kg wheat and rice at Rs 3 and Rs 2, respectively, while non- BPL families were to get 3 kg food grains at the price fixed by the government, which is about Rs 7 per kg for wheat and Rs 10 per kg for rice.

    However, the standing committee has suggested that all beneficiaries be provided 5 kgs of wheat and rice at a uniform rate of Rs 3 and 2 per kg. “There should be no general and priority household categories, only inclusion and exclusion,” Muttemwar said. The panel felt there should be a single category of beneficiaries with uniform entitlement. The recommendations were submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today. The government would now study the suggestions and finalise the legislation so that it could be passed in the Budget session of Parliament in February. The Food Security Bill was promised by the Congress in its 2009 election manifesto and is said to be party president Sonia Gandhi’s pet project and billed as UPAII’s flagship programme.

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones Eyeing Bollywood Stint

    Catherine Zeta-Jones Eyeing Bollywood Stint

    Catherine Zeta-Jones has revealed that she wants to be a Bollywood dancer.

    The 43-year-old actress thinks that with her experience of musicals, she fits into Indian movies perfectly, the Daily Star reported.

    The Oscar winning actress, who is planning a trip to India with husband Michael Douglas, also said that she would jump
    at the chance if an opportunity comes along.

  • Obama Tells Cameron US Backs ‘Strong’ Britain In EU

    Obama Tells Cameron US Backs ‘Strong’ Britain In EU

    WASHINGTON (TIP): President Barack Obama told David Cameron Thursday the United States backed a “strong” Britain in a strong European Union as his friend gears up for a fateful speech on his country’s EU future. Obama and Cameron spoke by telephone and primarily discussed the bloody hostage crisis in Algeria in which both Americans and Britons were caught up, the White House said in a statement. But Obama also took the opportunity to say that Washington values its closest ally’s position within Europe, amid growing debate on the other side of the Atlantic on Britain’s future relationship with its continental partners.

    “The president underscored our close alliance with the United Kingdom and said that the United States values a strong UK in a strong European Union, which makes critical contributions to peace, prosperity, and security in Europe and around the world,” the statement said. Prime Minister Cameron was forced to delay a speech on Britain’s future position within the European bloc Friday in the Netherlands, following the eruption of the hostage crisis in Algeria. He had been due to set out plans to renegotiate Britain’s EU membership and to repatriate certain powers from Brussels, and then to allow voters to decide on the new terms of the compact in a referendum after elections in 2015.

    Cameron is under fierce pressure from the euroskeptic right wing of his Conservative party to take a stand on Europe and from increasing public hostility towards closer political and financial integration on the continent. But his deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat coalition partner Nick Clegg has warned against suggesting Britain was heading for the “exit door” of the EU. European powers have also warned against a British exit from the European Union, and some US commentators have suggested that a Britain outside the EU could render Washington’s “special relationship” with London less valuable.

  • Dr. Prasad Bags Gia International Excellence Award

    Dr. Prasad Bags Gia International Excellence Award

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Dr C. Prasad, an eminent psychiatrist of Washington DC was conferred with the prestigious International Excellence Award 2013 by Global Indian Association (GIA) on the sidelines of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Kochi, Kerala for his contribution to the field of medicine by Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology and Communications Ponnala Lakshmaiah at a grand function held at Hotel Crowne Plaza in Kochi last week. Global Indian Association (GIA) headquartered in New Delhi has been serving the Non- Resident Indians such as launching a campaign to legalize Postal Voting System for them around the world under the supervision of Indian Embassies / Consulates.

    Lakshmaiah in his address praised the services of Dr Prasad and said he was proud that the recipient of the award also hails from Andhra Pradesh. The Minister said Andhra Pradesh has been a forerunner in attracting NRI investments. One out of every three software professionals globally is from India and that one out of every three such Indians is from Andhra Pradesh. In fact, IT can be coined as Indian Talent. Andhra Pradesh continues to be a favorite destination for industrial investment from all over the world. Industrial investment in the state is consistently growing and the investments received during 2010-11 stands at Rs 29,995 crores recording a growth of 67 percent over 2009-10, he said.

    K. Babu, Kerala Minister for Fisheries said GIA has been working to extend legal and possible intervention besides bring up the matter to the Indian authorities and pressurize the Indian authorities leading to the release of hapless Indians languishing in jails in Gulf countries. Rajeev Joseph, founder-president of the Association said GIA will act as a pressure group to speed up the welfare activities for NRIs initiated by Government of India through Indian Embassies and Consulates in all countries. GIA will also open institutions of higher learning to help children of NRIs returning home with the help of GIA volunteers as stake holders. Indians around the world to be a part of a network extending help to Indians in distress at various countries GIA work for unity and amalgamation of Indian Associations around the globe to serve the Indian Diaspora in a multi-pronged way.

    Dr. Prasad did his MD and PhD and working as attending psychiatrist at Crossroads Professional Counseling Centers in Annandale, VA. Dr. Prasad was made Distinguished Fellow 0f the American Psychiatric Association (DFAPA) and also American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2011, American Board of Addiction Medicine, American Board of Physician Specialists, American Board of Psychiatric Medicine, American Board of Pain Management, and National Association of Certified Hypnotherapists. In 2007, the Global Organization for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) presented him with an award him for outstanding professional presentation on mental health issues facing India and unswerving and undaunted support for the vision and mission of GOPIO. In 2010, he received Maryland India Business Round Table award for excellence in Psychiatry and also Maryland Governor’s Citation 2011 in recognition of leadership in promoting business, trade and job growth in Maryland.

    Dr. Prasad contributed to a training DVD as an Examining Physician of a Patient Interview for the mock exam Vol. 3. This 75 minute DVD was prepared by American Physician Institute for Advanced Professional Studies (Beat the Boards!) which was distributed to over 3000 candidates taking Psychiatry Part II board exam in the United States. He was also given National leadership Award by National Republican Congressional Committee in recognition of outstanding service and commitment to Republican ideals and in particular for assistance and guidance administered to the Republican Leadership in the area of Health Care Reform. He is the member of American Psychiatric Association, Washington Psychiatric Society, American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI); Virginia Association of Physicians of Indian Origin; American Association of Addiction Medicine, American Association of Pain Management and International Society of Addiction Medicine.