The Indian Panorama

Month: July 2013

  • Ponzi Schemes: Govt Enacts Ordinance

    Ponzi Schemes: Govt Enacts Ordinance

    NEW DELHI (TIP): President Pranab Mukherjee promulgated an ordinance allowing the Securities & Exchange Board of India to regulate any scheme involving pooling of funds under an investment contract as soon as the corpus touches Rs 100 crore. It will now have search and seizure powers and can also seek information, including call data records, related to securities transaction being investigated by it.

    However, the search and seizure operations, meant to crack down on ponzi schemes, can only be undertaken after the Sebi chairman authorizes the action. The regulator has also been allowed to attach assets in case of non-compliance of orders. To deal with the problem of delayed justice in securities-related cases, the ordinance allows the creation of special courts to fasttrack the resolution of pending Sebi-related cases, the finance ministry said in a statement

  • Economy To Grow Lower Than 6.5% In FY14: PM

    Economy To Grow Lower Than 6.5% In FY14: PM

    NEW DELHI (TIP): India’s economy may grow slower than previously expected 6.5 percent for the year to March 2014, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said. Manmohan Singh, speaking at an ASSOCHAM event, said his government would unveil more reforms for foreign direct investment, but he gave no details.

    PM Manmohan Singh said that the UPA government is committed to bring current account deficit under control. “Most immediate cause of worry is volatility in foreign exchange market,” the PM said. Manmohan Singh said that RBI has done its bid to stabilise forex market but added that RBI steps to curb rupee fall do not mean long term interest rate hikes.

  • Why Believe In Reincarnation?

    Why Believe In Reincarnation?

    Once I have begun to base my sense of ‘who I am’ on perceiving myself as a soul rather than on perceiving only my temporary costume, the body, I deeply realize that, as a being of spiritual energy giving life to the body, I am immortal. I begin to understand that I change bodily costumes just as a snake sheds its skin, but I – the eternal soul – can never die.

    Death and Rebirth
    At the moment of physical death, the soul withdraws its energy from the organs of the body and vacates its seat in the middle of the forehead. It takes with it the impressions accumulated in that life and enters into the body of an unborn baby, while that new body is still being formed in its mother’s womb. This normally happens between the fourth and fifth month of pregnancy. A human soul only enters a human body.

    The type of body the soul enters and the conditions of birth are determined by the past actions of the soul in its previous life or lives, and the cumulative account of give and take that it has built up with other souls. Without proper understanding of this process, the leaving of one body and the taking of another is often an experience of great fear and anguish; but the details of the old life are soon obliterated by new experiences so that the soul is not overwhelmed and confused by past memories.

    What You Take With You
    By the time the baby’s body and brain are developed, the soul has all but forgotten the past and become accustomed to its new conditions and to the parents of its new body. However, although the soul cannot usually remember details of its past life or lives, it carries with it—in the form of attitudes, tendencies and personality—the cumulative effect of all that it has experienced and learned.

    All that is genetically brought to the new life is the physical make-up of the body, the racial type, the colour of eyes, shape of nose and so on. And although the environment in which a child is raised – as well as the personalities of those around the child – definitely exert an influence on the child’s development, its tendencies and reactions to people and events are not biologically generated but are inherent in the soul from previous existences. Those predominant impressions recorded in the past life soon begin to manifest themselves and are expressed in the new surroundings.

    Relationship in Other Lifetimes
    Human life is based on inter–relationships between souls, which in turn are based on the different impressions present in each. These impressions determine the course of life, the nature of the soul’s activities and its physical placement in a particular environment. Thus there is typically a link or an ‘account’ between two souls who have formed a relationship in one lifetime; that link will bring them together again in other lifetimes.

    This explains why many people have the sense of having met or known a person before, even though they are apparently meeting for the first time. Or they experience meeting someone with the feeling of either attraction or repulsion even though they don’t know them well enough in the current life to have developed those feelings. What is taking place is that the soul is recognizing the other soul – even though they have different bodies – from the last time they met.

  • A SPIRITUAL LIFESTYLE

    A SPIRITUAL LIFESTYLE

    The journey awakens within, when the songs of remembrance begin, the child of the Father is lost in the Ocean of Love. Holding the hand of the Guide, through the path of confusion inside, tears become pearls in the silence and passing of time. The song of remembrance is sung in unlimited rhyme, the song of remembrance is sung in unlimited rhyme, Dance away, to the beautiful music you wanted to play, dance away, in your heart, in your heart. What is a Spiritual Lifestyle?
    Regular daily meditation is the way to build and strengthen your spiritual awareness, experience the natural positive qualities of the soul and achieve freedom from fear. This process is greatly enhanced when your outer lifestyle complements and assists in your spiritual growth. Regular observance of four spiritual pillars, a vegetarian diet, and a balanced routine that incorporates physical and mental relaxation are the elements that comprise a spiritual lifestyle.

    Four Spiritual Pillars
    A spiritually fulfilling life is based on a foundation of four pillars:
    • daily practice of meditation/yoga
    • regular spiritual study
    • spiritual relationships and fulfilling responsibilities
    • the service of humanity

    Daily Meditation Practice
    Daily meditation/yoga provides the means to explore, discover and reconnect with one’s self and with God.

    Regular Spiritual Study
    Regular, daily spiritual study provides the right quality food for mind and intellect, the two key faculties of the soul.

    Spiritual Relationships & Responsibilities
    Through the experience of soulconsciousness others are recognized as spiritual beings and a feeling of brotherhood grows. By transcending the divisions of colour, sex and religion, relationships become more smooth and rewarding. The exchange of respect and spiritual love becomes the basis of interaction. The decision to deal with others’ good qualities means there is no longer the give and take of sorrow, rather an emphasis on acceptance and tolerance. Spirituality is not an escape from life’s responsibilities. You have a responsibility to your immediate relationships—family, colleagues and friends—and it is in those relationships that your ability to apply what you are learning spiritually will also be tested and strengthened.

    Spiritual Service
    Finding an appropriate way to use your growing spiritual power and understanding for the benefit of others in the wider community is also a method of sustaining your personal growth. Spiritual service occurs on many levels, including spreading peaceful vibrations into the atmosphere and helping others develop awareness of their own spiritual qualities through good wishes and pure feelings.

    Vegetarian Diet
    In respecting and caring for our bodies, diet needs deep consideration. A vegetarian diet is especially beneficial in developing the clarity, concentration and subtle focus which spiritual development requires. With an understanding of the power and quality of thoughts and vibrations, we also give attention to the quality of our consciousness as we prepare and eat our food.

    Physical & Mental Relaxation
    Providing rest and relaxation for the body is as important as it is for the mind. The body will not relax if the mind is not relaxed; however even when the body is injured or ill, it is still possible for the mind to relax. Meditation is an important selfhealing component when one is recovering from physical illness. The timing and extent of physical relaxation activities depends on your personal metabolism as well as your professional and family responsibilities.

    However it has long been recognised that the most effective time in the daily cycle for meditation and spiritual development is in the early morning, before the routine activities of the day begin. Taking time each morning to meditate, study and understand spiritual principles and values provides both mental and spiritual nourishment for the day to come.

  • SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB

    CONTD FROM Vol 7 ISSUE 29 || 7 || Without the Shabad, the world does not hear, and does not see; deaf and blind, it wanders around.Without the Naam, it obtains only misery; the Naam is received only by His Will. || 8 || Those persons who link their consciousness with the Word of His Bani, are immaculately pure, and approved by the Lord. O Nanak, they never forget the Naam, and in the Court of the Lord, they are known as true.

    || 9 || 13 || 35 || AASAA, THIRD MEHL: Through the Word of the Shabad, the devotees are known; their words are true. They eradicate ego from within themselves; they surrender to the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and meet with the True One. || 1 || Through the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, His humble servants obtain honor. How blessed is their coming into the world! Everyone adores them.

    || 1 || Pause || Ego, self-centeredness, excessive anger and pride are the lot of mankind. If one dies in the Word of the Shabad, then he is rid of this, and his light is merged into the Light of the Lord God. || 2 || Meeting with the Perfect True Guru, my life has been blessed. I have obtained the nine treasures of the Naam, and my storehouse is inexhaustible, filled to overflowing. || 3 || Those who love the Naam come as dealers in the merchandise of the Naam. Those who become Gurmukh obtain this wealth; deep within, they contemplate the Shabad.

    || 4 || The egotistical, selfwilled manmukhs do not appreciate the value of devotional worship. The Primal Lord Himself has beguiled them; they lose their lives in the gamble. || 5 || Without loving affection, devotional worship is not possible, and the body cannot be at peace. The wealth of love is obtained from the Guru; through devotion, the mind becomes steady. || 6 || He alone performs devotional worship, whom the Lord so blesses; he contemplates the Word of the Guru’s Shabad.

    The One Name abides in his heart, and he conquers his ego and duality. || 7 || The One Name is the social status and honor of the devotees; the Lord Himself adorns them. They remain forever in the Protection of His Sanctuary. As it pleases His Will, He arranges their affairs. || 8 || The worship of the Lord is unique – it is known only by reflecting upon the Guru. O Nanak, one whose mind is filled with the Naam, through the Lord’s Fear and devotion, is embellished with the Naam.

    || 9 || 14 || 36 || AASAA, THIRD MEHL: He wanders around, engrossed in other pleasures, but without the Naam, he suffers in pain. He does not meet the True Guru, the Primal Being, who imparts true understanding. || 1 || O my insane mind, drink in the sublime essence of the Lord, and savor its taste. Attached to other pleasures, you wander around, and your life wastes away uselessly.

    || 1 || Pause || In this age, the Gurmukhs are pure; they remain absorbed in the love of the True Name.Without the destiny of good karma, nothing can be obtained; what can we say or do? || 2 || He understands his own self, and dies in the Word of the Shabad; he banishes corruption from his mind. He hurries to the Guru’s Sanctuary, and is forgiven by the Forgiving Lord. || 3 || Without the Name, peace is not obtained, and pain does not depart from within. This world is engrossed in attachment to Maya; it has gone astray in duality and doubt.

    || 4 || The forsaken soul-brides do not know the value of their Husband Lord; how can they decorate themselves? Night and day, they continually burn, and they do not enjoy the Bed of their Husband Lord. || 5 || The happy soul-brides obtain the Mansion of His Presence, eradicating their selfconceit from within. They decorate themselves with the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, and their Husband Lord unites them with Himself.

    || 6 || He has forgotten death, in the darkness of attachment to Maya. The self-willed manmukhs die again and again, and are reborn; they die again, and are miserable at the Gate of Death. || 7 || They alone are united, whom the Lord unites with Himself; they contemplate the Word of the Guru’s Shabad. O Nanak, they are absorbed in the Naam; their faces are radiant, in that True Court.

    || 8 || 22 || 15 || 37 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL, ASHTAPADEES, SECOND HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: When the five virtues were reconciled, and the five passions were estranged, I enshrined the five within myself, and cast out the other five. || 1 || In this way, the village of my body became inhabited, O my Siblings of Destiny. Vice departed, and the Guru’s spiritual wisdom was implanted within me. || 1 || Pause || The fence of true Dharmic religion has been built around it.

    The spiritual wisdom and reflective meditation of the Guru has become its strong gate. || 2 || So plant the seed of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, O friends, O Siblings of Destiny. Deal only in the constant service of the Guru. || 3 || With intuitive peace and happiness, all the shops are filled. The Banker and the dealers dwell in the same place. || 4 || There is no tax on nonbelievers, nor any fines or taxes at death. The True Guru has set the Seal of the Primal Lord upon these goods. || 5 || So load the merchandise of the Naam, and set sail with your cargo. Earn your profit, as Gurmukh, and you shall return to your own home.

    || 6 || The True Guru is the Banker, and His Sikhs are the traders. Their merchandise is the Naam, and meditation on the True Lord is their account. || 7 || One who serves the True Guru dwells in this house. O Nanak, the Divine City is eternal. || 8 || 1 || AASAAVAREE, FIFTH MEHL, THIRD HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: My mind is in love with the Lord. In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, I meditate on the Lord, Har, Har; my lifestyle is pure and true.

    || 1 || Pause || I have such a great thirst for the Blessed Vision of His Darshan; I think of him in so many ways. So be Merciful, O Supreme Lord; shower Your Mercy upon me, O Lord, Destroyer of pride. || 1 || My stranger soul has come to join the Saadh Sangat. That commodity, which I longed for, I have found in the Love of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. || 2 || There are so many pleasures and delights of Maya, but they pass away in an instant. Your devotees are imbued with Your Name; they enjoy peace everywhere.

    || 3 || The entire world is seen to be passing away; only the Lord’s Name is lasting and stable. So make friends with the Holy Saints, so that you may obtain a lasting place of rest. || 4 || Friends, acquaintances, children and relatives – none of these shall be your companion. The Lord’s Name alone shall go with you; God is the Master of the meek. || 5 || The Lord’s Lotus Feet are the Boat; attached to Them, you shall cross over the world-ocean. Meeting with the Perfect True Guru, I embrace True Love for God.

    || 6 || The prayer of Your Holy Saints is, “May I never forget You, for even one breath or morsel of food.” Whatever is pleasing to Your Will is good; by Your Sweet Will, my affairs are adjusted. || 7 || I have met my Beloved, the Ocean of Peace, and Supreme Bliss has welled up within me. Says Nanak, all my pains have been eradicated, meeting with God, the Lord of Supreme Bliss.

    || 8 || 1 || 2 || AASAA, FIFTH MEHL, BIRHARRAY ~ SONGS OF SEPARATION, TO BE SUNG IN THE TUNE OF THE CHHANTS. FOURTH HOUSE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: Remember the Supreme Lord God, O Beloved, and make yourself a sacrifice to the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. || 1 || Remembering Him, sorrows are forgotten, O Beloved; how can one forsake Him? || 2 || I would sell this body to the Saint, O Beloved, if he would lead me to my Dear Lord. || 3 || The pleasures and adornments of corruption are insipid and useless; I have forsaken and abandoned them, O my Mother.

    || 4 || Lust, anger and greed left me, O Beloved, when I fell at the Feet of the True Guru. || 5 || Those humble beings who are imbued with the Lord, O Beloved, do not go anywhere else. || 6 || Those who have tasted the Lord’s sublime essence, O Beloved, remain satisfied and satiated. || 7 || One who grasps the Hem of the Gown of the Holy Saint, O Nanak, crosses over the terrible world-ocean. || 8 || 1 || 3 || The pains of birth and death are removed, O Beloved, when the mortal meets with the Lord, the King.

    || 1 || God is so Beautiful, so Refined, so Wise – He is my very life! Reveal to me Your Darshan! || 2 || Those beings who are separated from You, O Beloved, are born only to die; they eat the poison of corruption. || 3 || He alone meets You, whom You cause to meet, O Beloved; I fall at his feet. || 4 || That happiness which one receives by beholding Your Darshan, O Beloved, cannot be described in words.

    || 5 || True Love cannot be broken, O Beloved; throughout the ages, it remains. || 6 || Whatever pleases You is good, O Beloved; Your Will is Eternal. || 7 || Nanak, those who are imbued with the Love of the All-Pervading Lord, O Beloved, remain intoxicated with His Love, in natural ease. || 8 || 2 || You know all about my condition, O Beloved; who can I speak to about it? || 1 || You are the Giver of all beings; they eat and wear what You give them. || 2 || Pleasure and pain come by Your Will, O Beloved; they do not come from any other. || 3 || Whatever You cause me to do, that I do, O Beloved; I cannot do anything else.

    || 4 || All my days and nights are blessed, O Beloved, when I chant and meditate on the Lord’s Name. || 5 || He does the deeds, O Beloved, which are preordained, and inscribed upon his forehead. || 6 || The One is Himself prevailing everywhere, O Beloved; He is pervading in each and every heart. || 7 || Lift me up out of the deep pit of the world, O Beloved; Nanak has taken to Your Sanctuary. || 8 || 3 || 1 || 3 || ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: RAAG AASAA, FIRST MEHL, PATEE LIKHEE ~ THE POEM OF THE ALPHABET: Sassa: He who created the world, is the One Lord and Master of all.

    Those whose consciousness remains committed to His Service – blessed is their birth and their coming into the world. || 1 || O mind, why forget Him? You foolish mind! When your account is adjusted, O brother, only then shall you be judged wise. || 1 || Pause || Eeree: The Primal Lord is the Giver; He alone is True. No accounting is due from the Gurmukh who understands the Lord through these letters. || 2 || Ooraa: Sing the Praises of the One whose limit cannot be found. Those who perform service and practice truth, obtain the fruits of their rewards.

  • WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

    WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

    Have a laugh
    While all of us have work and family responsibilities, stressing out too much about them will simply cause you more grief — both mentally as well as physically. There are several ways you can unwind — watch your favourite comedy, catch up with close friends and talk about funny memories. Research says that every time you laugh out loud, increased oxygen flows to your organs, blood flow increases, and stress automatically reduces.

    Spend time with your pet
    Pets are known not only to give you unconditional love, but spending time with them is actually good for your health. Studies say that when you pet your dog/ cat even for just a few minutes, your body releases feelgood hormones like serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin, and also decreases the amount of the damaging stress hormones. This results in lower blood pressure, less anxiety and even better immunity.

    Get rid of the clutter
    Are you surrounded by too many things in a not-sovery big space? Having too much stuff can leave you feeling overwhelmed and bog you down, eventually leading to stress. Living in constantly messy surroundings brings on unwanted anxiety. Therefore, experts say you need to de-clutter to de-stress. Don’t start by wanting to clear up everything at once. That will only stress you out further. Begin with a small space and gradually move to bigger things. A space that is uncluttered can feel satisfying and soothing.

    Do the housework
    While this might seem like a mundane, everyday chore, try to do things a bit differently. Put on your favourite music or TV show in the background, make a list of all that needs to be done, and get down working. Not only will you burn calories and get your work down, you won’t be tired and stressed out at the end of it.

    Drink juices
    Researchers say that the vitamin C present in orange juice can actually help you manage stress better because it lowers levels of stress hormones like cortisol. Remember that vitamin C-rich foods such as orange juice, grapefruit juice, strawberries, or sweet red peppers boost your immune system.

    Sing out loud
    When was the last time you sang loudly to your heart’s content? Turn up the radio and start singing. No matter how bad you think you are, studies show that singing can actually make you feel happier and feel less stressed. Singing also benefits your breathing, heart and immune system.

    Go for a walk
    One of the best ways to beat stress is to exercise. It helps your body produce endorphins that make you feel good. Exercising in warm weather can boost your mood while a daily brisk walk of about 30 minutes can greatly reduce stress levels.

    Have some sex
    If you’re using stress as an excuse to abstain from sex, think again. Having sex is actually a great way to ease stress because it lowers blood pressure, boosts self-esteem as well as increases feelings of intimacy with your partner. It also helps you sleep better.

    Breathe deeply
    Invest in some lavender or rosemary scents and take a deep whiff — it will instantly put you in a more relaxed state and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. If you prefer not to use scents, practice the act of deep breathing regularly. This sends oxygen surging through your bloodstream, helping to calm down and beat stress.

  • Home Remedies To Keep You Super Fit

    Home Remedies To Keep You Super Fit

    Seafood for ageless skin
    Eating fish three times a week cuts wrinkling and sagging by 30 per cent, as seafood is rich in protein, minerals and omega-3 fats — nutrients that nourish the collagen and muscles that keep skin smooth. Salmon, for one, is also rich in astaxanthin — an antioxidant that reduces fine lines and wrinkling.

    Green tea to beat stress
    Green tea has compounds that help your brain use blood sugar for fuel and stimulate the production of energising hormones called endorphins. So the next time you’re feeling sapped of energy, docs say, sip on green tea.

    Walnuts for a strong heart
    Cardiologists recommend eating five to six walnuts daily to cut your risk of a heart attack by half and add almost three healthy years to your life. Turns out these crunchy treats are one of the richest natural sources of artery-healing monounsaturated fats.

    Turmeric for good memory
    Adding turmeric to your diet could sharpen your memory by at least 30 per cent, say experts. This happens because of turmeric’s active ingredient — curcumin — is one of the most powerful brain-nourishing antioxidants ever discovered.

    Quell stress with breathing
    Take to belly breathing to ease stress and anxiety. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose for a count of six, allowing your belly to relax and expand as you do. Hold for a count of four, then slowly exhale through your mouth for another count of seven. Repeat until you feel fine.

    Nix pains with naps
    Have frequent headaches, backaches, sore joints or other pain problems? Don’t worry, just go off to sleep. Studies suggest getting a little more snooze could cut your discomfort by half within one month. Sleep boosts your production of growth hormones, which reduce inflammation and speed healing of damaged tissues.

    Cinnamon to maintain BP
    According to researchers, adding 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to your daily diet could improve your blood sugar control by 29 per cent or more — it slows carb absorption in your small intestines.

    Veggies strengthens immunity
    Eat plenty of colourful veggies to prevent illness. Carrots, peppers, and okra are great for boosting immunity. The more colourful the better. It’s what’s in the plant’s pigment that keep the lining of your respiratory tract healthy so viruses can’t get a foothold and increase the production of disease-fighting immune cells.

    Honey to kill virus
    Unpasteurised honey is packed with natural antibiotics and healing enzymes, and eating it when you’re ill can cut three days off your sickness. It also kills the virus that causes sinus infections and other cold complications.

  • USE FRUITS FOR A FLAWLESS FACE

    USE FRUITS FOR A FLAWLESS FACE

    Fruits like mango and pomegranate can be very useful to clear scars and marks on your face and even to nourish your skin. Use them on your face once a week to get a natural glow. But it is first vital to know your beauty fruits and their properties well. Ritu Makhija, CEO of Smart Brand Products Pvt Ltd. explains what makes a fruit special for face.
    MANGO: Its rich Vitamin C pulp is an effective treatment for pimples and acne. You can also get rid of scars and blemishes with its use.
    NONI FRUIT: It helps to heal wounds on the skin. This also helps to treat acne. Pomegranate: Known for its anti-ageing benefits and antioxidant content, it is packed with Vitamins A, C and E that protect the skin from free-radicals while cleansing.
    APRICOT: It is good for mature, dry, sensitive or inflamed skin. It contains antioxidants which nourish and make skin feel fresher.

  • THINGS A GUY NOTICES ABOUT YOU FIRST

    THINGS A GUY NOTICES ABOUT YOU FIRST

    Your eyes met, he give you a quick glance and in that split second seems to have made up his mind about you and turned away. What just happened? Well it was a mental checklist and you did pass muster. Read on to find out what a guy notices about you before he decides to ask you out.

    Let down your hair
    You don’t have to have Rapunzel’s long locks, but a healthy mane definitely attracts men. They fantasise about running their fingers through those locks as they look into your eyes.

    A genuine smile
    Does your smile reach your eyes? If your answer is in the affirmative you have a reason to grin more because men are good at judging if you have a genuine smile as it says you are having fun and are relaxed.

    The pitch of your voice
    Studies show that men are drawn to voices in a slightly higher register because they are reliable signs of youth and reproductive health.

    Your hip-to-waist ratio
    If your waist is noticeably smaller than your hips, it signifies fertility something than men instinctively notice.

    Your eyes
    People focus on eyes more than they do on any other body part.

  • Food – 5 Styles To Cook The Classic Biryani

    Food – 5 Styles To Cook The Classic Biryani

    Little else can compare to the grandeur of a biryani. Beautifully aromatic and blended with spices, rice and meat has long since been the favourite of khansamas and cooks everywhere. But the classic biryani has also seen variations over time, regional as well as in cooking styles. We present a few of them…

    Raan Biryani A whole leg of slow-cooked lamb is served along with the fragrant biryani rice, in this style. The serving is large, usually enough for four people.

    Calcutta Biryani
    Bengali food has inherited a large number of influences. Says chef Ashish Shome, “A key influence to the cuisine came was due to Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Avadh. This can be seen with the liberal usage of rose or kewra. It can be well seen in the very popular Calcutta Mughlai Biryani. Years of recession, forced chefs to use eggs and potato along with meat. Later on that evolved as the special feature of this style of making biryani.”

    Chettinad Chicken Biryani
    This is a dish of the Chettinad region of Tamil nadu state in South India, known for its spiciest and one of the most aromatic cuisines. Says chef Himanshu Taneja, “The dish is hot and pungent with fresh ground masala, and topped with a boiled egg that’s usually considered essential part of a meal. Chefs use a variety of sun-dried meats and salted vegetables. The meat includes fish, prawn, lobster, crab, chicken and lamb. Most people do not eat beef andpork.”

    Dryfruit Biryani With cashewnuts, almonds and raisins, this biryani is is as rich as it is tasteful.

    Samudri Khazane ki Biryani Says chef Sudhir Pai, “This particular recipe is influenced from Bohri Biryani, which is a a little more fragrant and less spicy than the usual fare and also its more of a pulao thing than a regular biryani. The variation I have created here uses an assortment of fresh seafood instead of traditional chicken and added pomegranate seeds to the green chutney masala which gives a special tang as well as thickness to the green chutney.”

  • MOVIE REVIEW – Pacific Rim

    MOVIE REVIEW – Pacific Rim

    Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Rinko
    Kikuchi, Ron Perlman, Burn Gorman
    Direction: Guillermo del Toro
    Genre: Action
    Duration: 2 hours 11 minutes
    STORY: Intergalactic monsters called the Kaiju are unleashed from a rift in the Pacific Ocean to wipe out humanity. Only a force of equally gigantic robots created by man called the Jaegers can thwart them. REVIEW: Stripped down, this movie is essentially about giant robots and giant sea monsters bashing each other up. The Jaeger robots are so large that they require two human operators to form a ‘drift’ (or a ‘neural bridge’) with each other to act as the left-brain and right-brain hemispheres controlling the mecha-robots from within.

    The Jaegers are then airlifted out to sea for a supersized slugfest with the Kaiju. Raleigh Becket ( Charlie Hunnam) had lost his brother Yancy (Diego Klattenhoff) to the Kaiju and the neural bridge allowed Becket to feel his co-driver brother’s pain in his time of dying. Commanding officer Stacker Pentecost ( Idris Elba) later plans a last-ditch effort to knock out the Kaiju once and for all at their source point.

    Burned-out Becket is recalled into service to command his old Jaeger called Gipsy Danger with Mako Mori (Kikuchi). Mori’s own need for revenge against the Kaiju is convincing. She is perfect for her role. Other than that, Del Toro has populated their fellow Jaeger combatants with stereotypes – stoic Russians, bellicose Australians, softspoken Orientals and two mad scientists who seek a cerebral solution. The visuals are undeniably great and so are the effects. You’ll even get to see a Jaeger bludgeon a Kaiju with a cargo ship.

    But the visuals will have to be this film’s calling card because the ballast that holds it back is generic acting, monster film cliches and a sparse script. Ron Perlman, notwithstanding a tiny role, manages to shine as Hannibal Chau. The effort to inject romance between Mori and Becket is redundant. For once though, the battle for the planet is being fought someplace other than the USA. Although the story line is passable, the real stars in Pacific Rim are the Jaegers.

  • ANGELINA JOLIE GOES BRALESS IN HAWAII

    ANGELINA JOLIE GOES BRALESS IN HAWAII

    Angelina Jolie, who had implants after her double mastectomy, went braless last week as she toured Hawaii while checking sites for a new movie she is going to direct. The actress proudly wore a low-cut top just five months after having both breasts removed because of cancer fears, the Mirror reported. The 38-year-old took the brave decision to have the op after discovering she had inherited the cancer gene that killed her mum, grandmom and great-grandmom.

  • DANIA RAMIREZ ANNOUNCES SHE’S PREGNANT WITH TWINS

    DANIA RAMIREZ ANNOUNCES SHE’S PREGNANT WITH TWINS

    Actress Dania Ramirez, one of the stars of the television series “Devious Maids”, announced on the social networks that she is pregnant with twins. “I am proud 2 Announce our 2 NEW BUNDLES OF JOY! Yes, I’m having TWINS!” wrote Ramirez on her official Twitter account. The actress, who plays Rosie Falta on the Lifetime network series, posted on the Instagram social network a photograph of an ultrasound on which the shapes of two foetuses can be made out.

    The two babies will be the first children of the actress and her husband, film director Bev Land, whom she married in February. Ramirez, who starred in the film “American Reunion” (2012) and the series “Entourage” (2004-2011), joked on Twitter that the father of the twins is not the character Mr. Spence on “Devious Maids”, the man her character works for as a maid and who confessed in one episode that he is attracted to her.

    After making her announcement, the Dominican actress received many online messages of congratulations from her fans. “Thank you all so much for all of your incredible messages!!! I am beyond grateful for all of you!!!!” she said on Twitter in response.

  • MOVIE REVIEW – BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG

    MOVIE REVIEW – BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG

    Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Prakash
    Raj, Pavan Malhotra, Yograj Singh, Rebecca Breeds
    Direction: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
    Genre: Biopic
    Duration: 3 hours 8 minutes

    STORY: A film inspired by the legendary Indian athlete, Milkha Singh’s life and journey. REVIEW: He doesn’t sing for his supper. He runs. Every sinew tugging and rippling to be fed. For that one glass of milk(ha!). He had a choice to run away, or to run. He did the right thing, he ran. Oh yes, the eternal metaphor ‘the race of life’. We’re all runners. With reason enough? A finish line to shred? Milkha Singh did. He ran his first race for ek glass doodh.

    And he never stopped. Untiringly. He ran because it was his religion. ‘BMB’ traces his scarred childhood, brutalized by India’s Partition; followed by penury and petty crimes. He finds purpose in life when romance blooms with Beero (Sonam). Joining the Indian Army, where his mentor (Malhotra) inspires him to take the big ‘leap’. Thereon, Milkha just runs. Barefooted, bruised, and with the weight of a suffering soul.

    He goes on to break records, but faces heartbreaking defeat at the Rome Olympics(1960). He takes it in his stride, overcomes his catastrophic past and ultimately emerges a winner. Mehra is brilliant at his craft; he infuses realism into drama, and explores characters so deeply and sensitively through tragedy and triumph, that it sparks an emotional deluge.

    The movie transitions from flashback sepia tones to moods of present, without losing the grip of emotions, ever. Cinematography is ace (Binod Pradhan); the music (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy) heightens the drama. Prasoon’s writing is powerful, lyrics are pure poetry and emotions robustly sweep the scenes with few dialogues. While there’s a lot to marvel at, a hint of the director’s overindulgence in the art, results in a long ‘runtime’ and prolonged scenes that distract. Farhan is fantastic! He peeps through Milkha’s core to essay this role.

    With an awe-inspiring body, grit and guts, he puts blood and sweat into Milkha. He races like an athlete, breaks into bhangra like a proud sardar and shows prowess of a Punjab-da-sher. In a brief role, Sonam prettily breezes through. Pavan and Divya (Singh’s sister) are outstanding. Overall, ‘BMB’ pulsates with the storyteller’s sheer passion all the way to the finish line. While you are on-the-run, pause to watch this one.

  • Won’t Promote Film With Fake MMS, Insists Poonam

    Won’t Promote Film With Fake MMS, Insists Poonam

    For a debutante, Poonam Pandey sure is actively participating in the creation of marketing and promotional strategies for Nasha. In fact, she even turned down a suggestion to circulate a fake MMS clip to promote the film. She feels it would end up having an adverse impact on the film given that it is “an unusual film” and “does not fall into any specific genre.”

    She adds, “Though it is the story of a teenager falling for an older woman, there are a lot of finer nuances that translate on screen very beautifully. I am very confident about the concept,” she says. Her first film isn’t out yet and the debutante’s already considering new offers. “I was offered films ever since I hit headlines. But none were up to the mark. It is a little better now. The roles being offered now are interesting and give me a platform to do something different,” she says.

  • STYLE ICON SONAM KAPOOR RIPS HER GOWN

    STYLE ICON SONAM KAPOOR RIPS HER GOWN

    Bollywood’s style icon Sonam Kapoor, who is known for her impeccable dressing sense, faced a nightmarish experience when she suffered from a wardrobe malfunction just before a press conference to promote her latest film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ in Chandigarh. The actress was dressed in a gorgeous peach-coloured gown and was all set to make a statement in the conference when she realised that she had ripped her dress.

    She had to rush back to her hotel and change her dress to an elegant salwar kameez. In all this hustle-bustle of changing clothes, Sonam missed a chunk of press conference and also managed to irk few other attendees, as they had to go for two other events. However, Sonam managed to dazzle all with her grace when she reached the event. She then accompanied the team for another screening for defence forces.

    While her co-stars changed their dresses, Sonam thought it was safe to stick to her salwar kameez than change into a western gown. Insiders reveal that though Sonam had brought two suitcases full of clothes for public appearance in Chandigarh, she refused to change her clothes due to fear of a replay of the earlier incident.

  • Bihar Government Cries Conspiracy, Says Mid-Day Meal Was Poisoned

    Bihar Government Cries Conspiracy, Says Mid-Day Meal Was Poisoned

    PATNA (TIP): Under attack from the opposition over the death of 27 school children after consumption of midday meal at Saran, the Bihar government said it suspected a conspiracy behind the tragedy. “The deaths were not due to food poisoning but it’s a clear case of mixing poison in food,” state Education Minister P K Shahi told reporters here. He said doctors attending the students at Chhapra sadar hospital have reported that the children had died due to the presence of poisonous organic phosphorous in the food.

    “From where did this organic phosphorous come in the food given to students as part of the mid-day meal scheme?” Shahi asked and told the police to investigate the matter. The minister hinted at the involvement of opposition RJD in the tragedy though he did not make any direct reference. “Arjun Rai, the husband of the school headmistress, had supplied the food material for the midday meal.

    He is an active member of a party and cousin of local leader Dhruv Rai of Mashrakh, who is close to a prominent leader of a party (RJD),” he said. Rai, Shahi said, owns the grocery shop from where the materials were taken by the school headmistress Meena Devi for the midday meal scheme. Besides, the headmistress was posted at the school under pressure “from a particular party”. Block education officer Pramod Kumar, who is under suspension now, had appointed her as headmistress incharge of the school.

    The minister said, “Some people seem to be in a hurry to capture power anyhow and in persuading this ambition they are indulging in inhuman acts like the present tragedy.” The couple is absconding and an FIR has been lodged in Mashrakh police station against Meena Devi. Shahi said a student had told the media that the headmistress had forced them to finish the meal when they expressed reluctance to eat it because of its pungent taste.

    Besides, a cook had said she had complained to the headmistress about the oil given to her for cooking the meal but she told her it was fresh and asked her to use it. The minister said the government has ordered suspension of the headmistress and the block development officer has been asked to initiate the process but it is taking time as the BDO is engaged in law and order duty in view of the Saran bandh called separately by opposition RJD, BJP and LJP to protest the incident.

    Shahi, who had rushed to Chhapra yesterday on the instruction of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said the response time taken by the government to provide succour to the victims was quick. Refuting lacunae in implementation of the central government’s mid-day meal scheme, Shahi said the ruling JD(U) has always been concerned about improving the quality of food under the programme, implemented in 73,000 schools across the state.

  • SC Bans Over The Counter Sale Of Acid

    SC Bans Over The Counter Sale Of Acid

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The Supreme Court cracked down on the sale of acid, currently available over the counter, to try and put an end to the regular and horrific attacks on women across the country that lead to disfigurement and death. Among the latest of these incidents was one in Mumbai where an unknown attacker hurled acid at a 23-year-old woman as she got off a suburban train on 2 May—she died of her injuries a month later.

    The Supreme Court bench of justices R.M. Lodha and F.M.I. Kalifulla imposed strict restrictions on the sale of the chemicals on July 18, castigated state governments for not providing enough compensation to victims and stipulated the amount of money that should be given to them. Apart from this, suspects can also be arrested without a warrant and bail will be up to the court. Anyone buying acid will need to furnish government-approved identity proof and state the reason for the purchase, which has to be recorded by the seller, the court said.

    The court said compensation by state governments was “grossly inadequate” and set this at Rs.3 lakh to facilitate immediate medical attention and relief. Out of this, Rs.1 lakh will be paid to the victim within 15 days of the incident and the rest will be paid “as expeditiously as possible” and possibly within two months, it added. A petition filed by an acid attack victim in 2006 had sought the regulation of acid sales as well as adequate compensation and rehabilitation of acid attack victims.

    The easy availability of acids—they are used as household cleaning agents for instance—combined with the appalling attitude towards women in India and other parts of the subcontinent has made the corrosive agents a handy weapon for attackers, rights groups have said. States will now have to follow the rules introduced by the central government for regulating the sale of acid and only those that have even more stringent conditions will be spared the government’s regulatory framework, the court said.

    It also made acid attacks a cognizable and nonbailable offence, which means that the police can arrest suspects without a warrant and bail will be a matter of judicial discretion. The empowerment of women and bringing about a change in the mindset of a society in which women are highly unsafe are equally important, said Ranjana Kumari, director at Centre for Social Research.

  • Book Scam: Punjab Minister Indicted

    Book Scam: Punjab Minister Indicted

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A government-instituted inquiry into the allegations of financial irregularities in the purchase of school library books and science kits in Punjab has found the state government guilty of misappropriating Central funds meant for the purpose by flouting financial norms mandated under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

    The committee, while establishing financial irregularities worth Rs 41.68 lakh, found that out of this money Rs 39.33 lakh was paid to a book dealer named M/s Friends Enterprises in an unauthorised manner. The books he supplied were not age appropriate and comprised content not fit for instruction to elementary (Classes I to VIII) level students. The committee calculated a financial loss of Rs 41.68 lakh on the grounds that this amount was actually spent by schools on purchase of library books in violation of financial norms.

    Punjab Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in all released Rs 928.24 lakh to districts for the purchase of library books with a direction that books be purchased from Language Department or Punjab State University Textbook Department. However, schools bought books worth around Rs 40 lakh from Friends Enterprises, a private dealer. A sum of only Rs 2.25 lakh was spent on books from Languages Department.

    How the remaining money was spent is a matter of investigation, HRD Ministry sources said. Indicting state Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka in the book scam, the Central team which HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju constituted on June 6 said in its report to the government that procurement procedures were violated because centralised procurement was ordered by the minister against decentralised purchases which are mandated under the SSA and the RMSA.

    “The procurement of library books for primary and upper primary schoolchildren by a three-member committee constituted with the approval of state education minister is not as per the procurement procedure prescribed in the Manual on Financial Management and Financial Rules and Regulations 2004 adopted for SSA, Punjab,” states the report.

    Reaching the same conclusion on science kits bought by Punjab under the RMSA, which covers children from Classes VIII to X, the four-member Central team said, “The committee set up by the orders of Punjab Education Minister for procurement of science kits exceeded its brief. Procurement was against the Manual of Financial Management and Procurement for the RMSA.”

  • 1997 Bihar Caste Massacre Accused Held

    1997 Bihar Caste Massacre Accused Held

    PATNA (TIP): Dharma Singh, a member of outlawed outfit Ranvir Sena and prime accused in the Laxmanpur-Bathe massacre in which 58 Dalits were killed in 1997, was arrested here on July 18, the police said. He was evading arrest for nearly 16 years and was taken into custody by a police team from Arwal district, said Superintendent of Police Anand Kumar Singh.

    Laxmanpur-Bathe village situated on the banks of the Sone river in Jehanabad district was targeted by armed members of Ranvir Sena, a private militia of land owner upper caste people, who butchered 58 Dalits, including 27 women and 10 children, to death on Dec 1, 1997. According to police records, four Dalit families were completely wiped out in the bloodbath.

    Soon after the massacre, the state government then led by Rabri Devi set up the Amir Das Commission to probe the political connections of the Ranvir Sena. But the commission was wrapped up by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar soon after he came to power in 2006.

  • CBI Tapes Hint Bansal Assured Kumar Of Posting

    CBI Tapes Hint Bansal Assured Kumar Of Posting

    CHANDIGARH (TIP): Suspended member of Railway Board Mahesh Kumar, who is the main accused in ” Railgate”, claimed that former railway minister Pawan Bansal had assured him of elevation to Member (Electrical) in the Board, according to telephone conversations taped by the CBI. The conversations recorded by the CBI also bring out that that one of the accused in the case, Narayan Rao Manjunath, claimed Bansal’s son Manish and nephew Vijay Singla, were very close to the Congress’s top leadership.

    “Tension mat lo” Manjunath, a businessman who allegedly played Kumar’s conduit to Singla, is heard saying. In a separate conversation, another accused Sandeep Goyal is also purportedly talking about his clout with the PMO and the Congress brass. CBI sources, however, dismissed the contents of the intercepted conversation saying that these did not contradict their finding that Bansal was unaware of what the accused were up to.

    As for the accused claims about their proximity to the PMO and Congress leadership, a senior CBI official said that they were bragging and dropping names to impress people from whom they took bribes. Bansal spoke with Mahesh Kumar when he flew to Mumbai on April 16 to attend the 58th Central Railway week where he also honoured the Railway Board member, who was then posted as the General Manager, Western Railways.

    In a conversation on April 17 between Mahesh and Goyal, the suspended Railway Board member recounts his long meeting with Bansal in Mumbai the previous day. “Yesterday it was very good with the MR (minister railways), I mean, I showed him many such things which are nowhere in the Railways,” Mahesh tells Goyal. “In the morning we had breakfast together. And everything was very good,” he adds.

    Mahesh then suddenly breaks into joy: “You know what… Then he (Bansal) said, I am doing something, I mean, you don’t worry, it will be done but you will have to do very good work. And it will be done in a day or two. Then I didn’t talk to him much as to what is the post etc.. I just said, sir do whatever you wish to. I just need your blessings.” This is the first time when a conversation involving Bansal has been revealed.

    In a separate conversation dated April 10, when Mahesh enquires about the “movement of his promotion file”, Goyal assures him that the PMO approval will be done with haste. “Koi chakkar nahi, PMO se toh ho jayega,” Goyal says. As the conversation moves on, Goyal assures Mahesh about his elevation. “We will have a word dropped from 10 Janpath as well. There is no problem, you just leave it on me,” the chargesheet says.

    However, CBI, which has given a clean chit to Bansal and has even made him a witness in the case, said that the contents of the tapes did not controvert their finding. “Our investigations revealed that Mahesh was unhappy about being appointed as Member (Staff) of the Railway Board as he fancied the powerful position of Member (Electrical). He offered bribe to get his appointment as Member (Staff) scrapped. But Bansal went ahead to appoint him as Member (Staff).

    We have no evidence to suggest that he had initiated any move to shift Mahesh as Member (Electrical)”, said a senior CBI officer who is involved with the investigation into what is referred as “cash-for- post” scam in the railway ministry. Manjunath, the managing director of the Bengalore-based G G Tronics India Private Limited, had funded Mahesh’s ascension within the organization by arranging Rs 2 crore bribe for Singla.

  • Bhutan’s PM-In-Waiting Assures Singh Of Special Bilateral Ties

    Bhutan’s PM-In-Waiting Assures Singh Of Special Bilateral Ties

    NEW DELHI (TIP):The president of Bhutan’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Tshering Tobgay, on July 18 wrote to PM Manmohan Singh assuring him of “unwavering resolve and commitment to preserve and strengthen special ties” with India. After his party’s spectacular success in the polls last week, Tobgay is all set to take over as Bhutan’s second PM.

    “My party and I attach the greatest important to our relations with India which has been consciously nurtured and strengthened over many decades under the wise and able leadership of our successive kings,” wrote Tobgay. “I would like to further assure Your Excellency of my unwavering resolve and commitment to preserve and strengthen special ties that has always been based on mutual trust, confidence and understanding.

    In this regard, it is a great honour and pleasure for me to accept Your Excellency’s most gracious to visit your great country at the earliest opportunity,” added Tobgay. Tobgay’s letter to Singh was in response to the latter’s congratulatory message to the PDP leader on Sunday. Singh had said in his message that he had instructed Indian officials to prepare for discussions over Plan assistance to Bhutan.

    This is important for resuming India’s subsidy on the supply of LPG and kerosene to Bhutan. The subsidy had been cut by India during the parliamentary elections leading to suggestions that New Delhi was trying to influence the outcome of the polls. Tobgay said that Singh’s assurances were a great source of comfort for his nation and that India had been instrumental in ensuring the success of democracy and pace of socioeconomic development in Bhutan.

  • Bodh Gaya Footage Shows Shrine Committee In Poor Light

    Bodh Gaya Footage Shows Shrine Committee In Poor Light

    GAYA (TIP): The CCTV footage released by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on its website as part of its efforts to crack the Bodh Gaya serial-blasts case has done no favours to the reputation of the temple’s management committee. On July 16 the NIA, which is probing the July 7 blasts in Bodh Gaya, had released two sketches of a suspect along with CCTV footage showing him entering the temple premises in a Buddhist robe.

    Besides the poor quality of the recorded images, the location of the cameras, their failure to record any of the four bomb-planting operations undertaken within a radius of a few metres from the main shrine and the general upkeep of the shrine have come in for criticism. In the footage released by the NIA — for help in identifying the suspect and solving the case — a stray dog is seen hovering around the seat where the Buddha meditated to attain enlightenment.

    This, when the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) maintains an army of watch and ward staff, and monks, too, are deputed at important points to supervise the maintenance of the shrine’s sanctity. In the past the BTMC has warded off criticism regarding its failure to protect tourists and pilgrims from the dog menace, despite several instances of dog bites, on the grounds that the use of any kind of force is resented by the Buddha devotees thronging the shrine.

    But during the chief minister’s recent ‘seva yatra’, all the street dogs in the shrine’s vicinity were rounded up and handed over to the temporary care of an NGO. The dogs were released after the yatra ended. Bodh Gaya researcher Rajiv Kumar said the cash-rich committee could easily run its own care home for stray dogs — there would be no shortage of donors for such a scheme.

  • My Support Is For Narendra Modi, Not BJP: Ramdev

    My Support Is For Narendra Modi, Not BJP: Ramdev

    VARANASI (TIP): Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday said he was supporting Gujarat chief minister NarendraModi for prime minister, and not the BJP. Describing Modi as “the only politician capable of freeing the country from Congress misrule”, he alleged that the Congress had “put democratic structure and credibility of investigating agencies at stake for political gains”. “People have great expectations from Modi.

    I, too, feel only he can bring black money back and check corruption. Modi’s rising popularity has frustrated Congressmen. By misinterpreting Modi’s statements, the Congress has tried to insult Muslims for which they should seek explanation from the ruling party,” said Ramdev. “Sonia Gandhi has forced the Congress-led UPA to destroy the credibility of NIA, CBI and IB,” he added, claiming that senior officials of these agencies had told him that terrorists were moving freely in the country but they were unable to take action.

    “If yuvraj (Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi) is so much in love with the minority and dalits that he visits their houses and shares their food, why doesn’t he marry a girl from the community?” he said, adding that the Gandhi family had cheated the country for the past six decades with no faith in Gandhism. He lamented that the birth places of Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and the Kashi Vishwanath temples were considered disputed.

    “These are political issues and would not play any major role in the LS elections,” he said. Later, while addressing the convention of his Bharatiya Swabhiman Manch workers from 25 districts of east UP, Ramdev said “a parallel organization, Yuva Bharat, is being formed to ensure participation of youth in poll related exercises”.

  • Govt Will Take All Steps To Ensure Rebound Of Economy: PM

    Govt Will Take All Steps To Ensure Rebound Of Economy: PM

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Admitting the economy was going through a difficult period, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the industry that government will leave no stone unturned to ensure a rebound. Singh attributed the rupee decline to widening current account deficit (CAD) and global factors and hoped that the steps taken by the Reserve Bank to arrest fall of domestic currency would be reversed with the easing of speculative pressure.

    As regards the economy, he said though basic fundamentals are sound and stable, the growth rate in the current financial year was likely to be lower than 6.5 per cent estimated at the time of presentation of the budget in February. “We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the economy rebounds. I appeal to each one of you not to be overcome by negative sentiment,” Singh said while addressing the annual meeting of industry body Assocham.

    “Let me begin by stating upfront that we, like most other countries, are going through a difficult period… It (industry) is looking to the government to bring the economy back to a higher growth path. This is a legitimate expectation and is also upper most in our mind,” he said. The Prime Minister assured the industry the government will remain pro-active in ensuring economic rebound. “When things are going well, government should interfere as little as possible. When things go badly, as they seem to be at present, it is the responsibility of the government to become pro-active,” Singh said.