The Indian Panorama

Year: 2013

  • WEBSITE RELEASES PHOTOS OF MODI WITH WOMAN

    WEBSITE RELEASES PHOTOS OF MODI WITH WOMAN

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Gulail, the investigative website which released tapes of purported conversations between Narendra Modi’s aide Amit Shah and suspended Gujarat police officer G L Singhal to allege that the state government had subjected a young woman to illegal surveillance, on Thursday released photographs to seek to establish that the woman had known the Gujarat CM at least since 2005. Gulail uploaded a dozen pictures of Modi’s presence at the first edition of ‘Kutch Sharad Utsav’ in October 2005.

    In one of the pictures, Modi is engaged in animated conversation with IAS officer Pradeep Sharma and the woman with her face partially masked. As per the recordings of the purported conversations between Shah and Singhal, the state police mounted an aggressive surveillance on the woman, introduced by the website as Madhuri (not her real name), in 2009 at the instance of “sahib”. She was tracked in gyms, at the airport, in aircraft and even in hospital where her mother was admitted.

    “These pictures raise a serious question mark about the credibility of the explanation put forth both by Madhuri’s father Premlal Soni and the BJP that only Premlal was known to Modi and it was he who had requested the CM to ‘take care’ of his daughter in 2009 when the illegal snooping operation was mounted. The pictures show that Modi knew Madhuri for at least five years before his state machinery mounted an illegal round the clock vigil on the young woman in August 2009.

    It also confirms that part of the affidavit filed by Sharma in the Supreme Court in which he had alleged that Madhuri had visited Modi when he came to inaugurate the ‘Sharad Utsav’ in October 2005. Sharma served as the collector of Kutch district between 2003 and 2005,” the website said in a statement. The website has refrained from attesting to the veracity of the conversations. Sharma had in May 2011 told the Supreme Court in an affidavit he had introduced Madhuri to Modi when he visited Kutch to inaugurate the hill garden project. Later, Modi and Madhuri started exchanging emails and text messages, Sharma said in his filing.

    Sharma has alleged that one of the key reasons why he fell out of favour with Modi, and was later subjected to harassment, was because he was aware of Modi’s proximity to the woman. Sharma moved the Supreme Court last week demanding a CBI inquiry into the illegal surveillance. Sharma has in his application claimed that he was victimised because of his “knowledge of the intimacy shared by Shri Narendra Modi with a young lady architect, aged 27 years, from Bangalore, but originally from Bhuj in Gujarat, who was introduced to Shri Modi by the applicant himself in the year 2004”. “The said tapes/transcripts reveal a strong bias and prejudice of the state of Gujarat against the applicant herein and the state’s intent to somehow implicate the applicant herein in criminal offences,” the application has said.

  • AIR INDIA DREAMLINERS TO BE GROUNDED FOR REPAIRS

    AIR INDIA DREAMLINERS TO BE GROUNDED FOR REPAIRS

    NEW DELHI (TIP): US aircraft major Boeing will begin repair work on its snag-prone Dreamliners from Sunday. It will carry out both software upgrades and some hardware replacements in Air India’s B-787s. All airlines globally using the Dreamliner have been facing issues with this brand new plane. “We have 10 Dreamliners. About seven to eight of them will need different amount of work as the newer ones that have joined the fleet recently have those upgrades.We will be grounding our Dreamliners one by one to carry out repairs.

    This grounding for repair by Boeing is coinciding with our schedule grounding for normal checks,” said a senior AI official. AI is looking forward to the repairs as software errors have meant that the cockpit gets too many warning signals on this plane. For safety reasons, these warnings cannot be ignored. Almost every time, we have found these warning to be erroneous but this has meant delaying flights and causing passengers’ inconvenience. People rightly expect a flight on a brand new plane to be on time. That unfortunately has so far not been happening with the Dreamliner,” said the official.

    There have been instances when aircraft about to take off had to be stopped due to some warning. Coupled with pilot shortage, snags in the Dreamliners have affected AI’s on time performance badly. Ironically, it was banking on the newest aircraft to improve its punctuality. A few months back, the wiring of electric ovens in AI’s Dreamliners was changed following overheating in them. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked AI to prepare a standard operating procedure to ensure that its Dreamliners stay away from cumulonimbus clouds by at least 50 nautical miles of 80-90 km.

    This order came after the US aviation regulator and Boeing warned airlines that some General Electric engines used on the B- 787 and B-747-8 are seeing ice crystal formation while flying through certain clouds and thunderstorms. This is leading to loss of thrust as the passage of the gush of air in the engines is impeded by crystals at the engine’s rear. Japan Airlines has already withdrawn the B-787 from certain sectors like Tokyo-Delhi due to this reason as it says these routes did not allow aircraft the space to fly away 80-90 km from cumulonimbus clouds. An AI official said: “We have issued a company advisory and are analyzing the impact of the latest issue (with the Dreamliner).We are working on DGCA and US regulator’s airworthiness directive.”

  • Pak returns Sarabjit’s belongings, family says items incomplete

    Pak returns Sarabjit’s belongings, family says items incomplete

    ATTARI (TIP): Teary-eyed family members of late Sarabjit Singh received his belongings from Pakistan at the Attari border on November 28. While receiving the belongings, which were handed over to Indian authorities in three cardboard cartons, they said some items of Sarabjit, including his diary, were not returned by Pakistan. An emotional Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit, vowed not to rest until she got her brother’s diary back from Pakistan. “During my visits to Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, where Sarabjit was lodged, he had told me about his daily diary in which he had written about his and other Indian prisoners’ ill-treatment by the prison staff. He had also written that he was humiliated over small issues by Pakistani jail officials.

    That diary would have exposed Pakistan before the international community,” she said about the relevance of the diary of her brother. Dalbir also alleged that Pakistan leaders had betrayed her on the issue of release of her brother and once again they had done the same thing by not handing over Sarabjit’s diary. “Nawaz Sharif apnay aap ko Sharif kehta hai, par woh sharif nahi hai aur Pakistan pak nahi napak hai (Nawaz Sharif claims to be innocent but he is not and Pakistan is not pious but sinful),” she said.

    She also blamed Pakistan for sending only handful of belongings of her brother and not all the items he used in Lahore jail, including a Gutka (Sikh religious book). Earlier, Narain Singh, attache (consular), Indian high commission, Islamabad handed over 36 items of Sarabjit, including a copy of Quran, to Amritsar deputy commissioner (DC) Ravi Bhagat in presence of executive magistrate P S Goraya and deputy inspector general (border range) Lok Nath Angra. The items were then handed over to Sukhpreet Kaur, wife of Sarabjit, in presence of his sister Dalbir and daughters Poonam and Swapandeep Kaur, all of whom were wearing white clothes.

  • IF MARRIED MAN WALKS OUT OF RELATION, LIVE-IN PARTNER NOT ENTITLED TO RELIEF: SC

    IF MARRIED MAN WALKS OUT OF RELATION, LIVE-IN PARTNER NOT ENTITLED TO RELIEF: SC

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Check the man’s marital status before going in for a live-in partnership was the loud signal from the Supreme Court which ruled that Domestic Violence Act could not be invoked by a woman in a live-in relationship with a married man, especially if she knew his marital status.

    A relationship between a woman and a married man could not be termed a ‘relationship in the nature of marriage’, the basic requirement for an aggrieved woman in a live-in relationship to take recourse to DV Act for action against her ‘erring’ partner, the court said. After giving this interpretation to live-in relationship between a married man and an unmarried woman, a bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Pinaki Chandra Ghose said if the married man walked out of such a relationship, the woman was not entitled to seek maintenance under DV Act from him.

    On the contrary, it warned, the deserted woman ran a risk of being sued for damages by the man’s wife and children for alienating them from the love and care of their husband/father. But the bench was aware of the social reality of married men walking out of live-in relationships. Finding that in such situations, poor and illiterate women suffered the most, the apex court appealed to Parliament to take remedial measures through appropriate legislation. One Indra Sarma had a live-in relationship with V K V Sarma, already married with two children.

    The man moved in with her, started a business enterprise with her and after several years, went back to his family. After the live-in relationship ended, Indra moved a Bangalore court demanding from him a house, a monthly maintenance of Rs 25,000, reimbursement of her medical bills and Rs 3.50 lakh in damages. The trial court found that the two lived together for 18 years. Finding the woman aggrieved, the magistrate directed the man to pay Rs 18,000 per month towards her maintenance under DV Act. The sessions court upheld the trial court decision.

    But the Karnataka High Court set aside the trial court order saying the live-in relationship did not fall within the ambit of “relationship in the nature of marriage”, a cardinal principle for one to invoke DV Act. Upholding the HC order, Justices Radhakrishnan and Ghose said, “We are of the view that the appellant (Indra Sarma) having been fully aware of the fact that respondent (V K V Sarma) was a married person, could not have entered into a live-in relationship in the nature of marriage.

    “Appellant’s and respondent’s relationship is, therefore, not a ‘relationship in the nature of marriage’ because it has no inherent or essential characteristic of a marriage, but a relationship other than ‘in the nature of marriage’ and the appellant’s status is lower than the status of a wife and that relationship would not fall within the definition of ‘domestic relationship’ under Section 2(f) of the DV Act. Consequently, any act, omission or commission or conduct of the respondent in connection with that type of relationship, would not amount to ‘domestic violence’ under Section 3 of the DV Act.”

    But the bench noticed the deficiency in law to address such relationships in which women, especially poor and illiterate, suffer the most when their partners -already married men – just walk out. The court said it was for Parliament to take remedial legislative steps to plug this loophole in law. The bench said, “We have, on facts, found that the appellant’s status was that of a mistress, who is in distress, a survivor of a livein relationship which is of serious concern, especially when such persons are poor and illiterate, in the event of which vulnerability is more pronounced, which is a social reality. Children born out of such relationship also suffer most which calls for bringing in remedial measures by Parliament through proper legislation.”

    Despite the concern, the bench decided to go by the law and said, “If any direction is given to the respondent to pay maintenance or monetary consideration to the appellant, that would be at the cost of the legally wedded wife and children of the respondent, especially when they had opposed that relationship and have a cause of action against the appellant (the woman) for alienating the companionship and affection of the husband/parent which an intentional tort.”

  • TEHELKA: CCTV FOOTAGE SHOWS VICTIM RUNNING OUT OF LIFT

    TEHELKA: CCTV FOOTAGE SHOWS VICTIM RUNNING OUT OF LIFT

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Spelling more trouble for Tehelka former editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, who is accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague, the Goa police said that CCTV footage sourced from the hotel validated the statement narrated by the victim. The police said: ‘It is clear in the CCTV footage, dated November 7, outside the lift in Block 7 of the hotel that something went wrong in the lift.’ The footage initially shows Tejpal along with the journalist accompanying actor Robert De Nero to his room. The officer said that around 9:00 pm Tejpal was seen entering the lift with his hand around the journalist’s shoulder.

    He also said that one and a half hour later, Tejpal was seen pulling the victim inside the lift and the woman was seen coming out of the elevator adjusting her clothes and running down the steps with Tejpal following her. Meanwhile, Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury resigned early Thursday. Her statement on the news magazine’s website said, “I do not want questions raised about my integrity to tarnish the image of Tehelka.” Chaudhary’s resignation came 10 days after a woman journalist with the news magazine first wrote to her and accused founder-editor Tarun Tejpal of sexual assault, and amid allegations that she had failed to support the woman journalist.

    Full text of Shoma Chaudhury’s Resignation Letter

    From: Shoma Chaudhury Sent: Thursday, November 28, 2013 05:52 AM To: Editors; Bureau; Neena Tejpal; Prawal Srivastava; Webeditors; Sanjay Dubey Subject: Resignation from Tehelka Dear All, This has been a damaging time for all associated with Tehelka. Since the devastating allegation was first brought to my notice on 18th November, I have taken a series of actions in response to this complaint. To my mind, I acted on instant outrage and solidarity for our colleague as a woman and co-worker.

    After the first steps to immediately address her expressed needs, the process of setting up the anti-sexual harassment committee was begun. There were only two days to act on the complaint before the story broke in the press. Post this, things have been misconstrued and have snowballed exponentially in the media, based on halffacts and selective leaks. In the next stage, once the committee was formed, the law would have taken its course according to the findings and recommendations. Over the past week, I have been accused of an attempt to “cover-up” and for not standing by my feminist positions. While I accept that I could have done many things differently and in a more measured way, I reject the allegations of a cover-up because in no way could the first actions that were taken be deemed suppression of any kind.

    As for my feminist positions, I believe I acted in consonance with them by giving my colleague’s account precedence over everything else. However, despite this, as a result of what’s transpired over the past few days my integrity has repeatedly been questioned by people from our fraternity and, in fact, by the public at large. I would like to take cognizance of this. I have worked hard for Tehelka for many years and what we have stood for is very dear to me and I hold it in high esteem. I do not want questions raised about my integrity to tarnish the image of Tehelka, which it has done in the past week. Therefore, I resign as Managing Editor with immediate effect. There are many readers and colleagues who have believed in me and expressed their faith through this very difficult time.

    I am deeply grateful to them. I will come in to office to close the issue and do the necessary handovers. I cannot express how painful this is for me. It has never been a part of me to give up midway through a challenge. I would have liked to continue at Tehelka to see us through this dark time, but I am no longer sure whether my presence is harming or helping Tehelka. I deeply regret any inadequacies or lack of clarity I may have displayed in my leadership. Shoma 28 November 2013.

  • BJP’S VIJAY JOLLY BOOKED FOR VANDALISING SHOMA CHAUDHURY’S HOUSE

    BJP’S VIJAY JOLLY BOOKED FOR VANDALISING SHOMA CHAUDHURY’S HOUSE

    NEW DELHI (TIP): BJP leader Vijay Jolly was Thursday asked by Delhi Police to appear at a police station on November 29 morning to record his statement after he defaced the name plate and poured black paint in front of the residence of Tehelka’s former managing editor Shoma Chaudhury. Hours after booking Jolly under various section of the Indian Penal Code, police Thursday sent him a letter to appear at Saket police station in south Delhi Friday around 10 a.m. to record his statement under section 160 of CrPC.

    A case under the IPC and the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act was registered at the police station Thursday evening. Officials said policemen have been deployed outside Chaudhury’s house and one has been deputed for her security. An internal inquiry has also been marked against an inspector who was found standing outside Chaudhury’s house when the protest took place. Earlier in the day, around 50 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members led by Jolly reached Chaudhury’s house in Saket and raised slogans against her. Jolly painted the name plate black and also wrote a word with black paint.

    He also poured black paint outside Chaudhary’s house. Police deployed outside the house managed to disperse them. Jolly said Chaudhury was suppressing facts and evidence against the magazine’s editor-inchief Tarun Tejpal, accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague.

  • HAB BANK Reaches out to Community in Queens

    HAB BANK Reaches out to Community in Queens

    NEW YORK (TIP): “We are a bank that understands the needs of the South Asian community.We speak your language and can communicate better.We are your bank. Come to us. We are ready to help.” These were some of the pronouncements of Mr. Saleem Iqbal, President and CEO of HAB BANK, in his address to the Punjabi community at Royal India Palace banquet in the City of Richmond Hill, Queens, November 13, 2013. Mr. Iqbal was accompanied by the top brass of the bank that included Navneet S. Chugh, Director, Rizwan Qureshi, SEVP & Chief Compliance Officer, Zilay Wahidy, SVP & Chief Marketing Executive, Teddy Persaud, Business Development Officer, Ismail Ahmed, Branch Manager at Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill and Kamal S. Puri, Branch Manager at Jackson Heights branch of the bank. Mr. Navneet S. Chugh, a Director of the bank, who had come from California, made an impressive case for compliance with rules and laws for a smooth sail in this country. He exhorted nearly 50 community leaders present to play by the rule.

    And the first rule, he said, they need to follow is to pay taxes. However, he also added in the same breath that there always is a way out to help those who do not have a perfect credit score. But it is a limited scope that cannot be relied on. It is always better to go in for a sound financial dealing and have a clean financial record. There is no dearth of loans and advances to those who pay their taxes and bills and have a good credit score. Members of the community poured out their difficulties and problems, most of which related to non availability f loans from banks because of low credit scores. Some even claimed that they had property but not the cash they needed to bolster their businesses because of low credit scores.


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    Mr. Navneet S. Chugh, a Director of the bank, established immediate rapport with the gathering and exhorted them to pay taxes and maintain a good credit score to raise loans from banks to bolster their businesses

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    The outreach program was coordinated by Prof. Indrajit S Saluja, Editor, The Indian Panorama who conducted the proceedings and thanked all for their presence, on behalf of HAB Bank, and a senior community leader Master Mohinder Singh, Founder President of Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana and a former President of the largest Sikh shrine on the East Coast, Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, New York.

  • Unite4:Good and USIN Celebrations Tie Up for a new global movement for good

    Unite4:Good and USIN Celebrations Tie Up for a new global movement for good

    NEW YORK (TIP): In an unprecedented and powerful demonstration of their commitment to humanitarian values such as kindness, empathy and respect, individuals from the South Asian American community, leaders from local non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations serving that community, and elected and other public and community officials joined forces this Sunday, November 17th to celebrate, embrace, support and further the goals of unite4:good (www.unite4good.org) in collaboartion with USIN Celebrations (www.usincelebrations.org) Designed to create a worldwide environment of positivity, inspire giving, promote charitable engagement, compassion and empathy while fostering a stronger sense of community, unite4:good is a revolutionary new global movement for humanity.

    The movement unites people, companies, media organizations, and non-profits committed to acts of kindness, utilizing new technologies, curricula, education, awareness events and empowering grants. Through the campaign, both global and local non-profits will be supported by increased activism, awareness and contributions,which will affect and benefit humanity on an international scale. The program on Sunday was sponsored by USIN Celebrations, a community organization co-founded by New York City District leaders Uma Sengupta and Roger Sen Gupta. It provides educational services, supports the arts, and creates awareness for and about the South Asian American and surrounding communities.

    Those who attended the program included, amongst others, Congresswoman Grace Meng, NY Assemblymen Bill Scarborough, NYC Comptroller John Liu Amir Dossal, Chairman of the Global Partnership Forum, Akbar Poonawalla, Chairman of the Aga Khan Foundation for Northeast USA, Neal Modi, President of American Indian Association, Jake Gaiilin, Founder of Stars for Cars,Robert & Helene Browning , Former Founder of World Music Institute, Nicole Loffredo Founder of Back on feet, Gary Loffredo, Amber Creighton, Sofia Faleroni, Argia Coppola,Kuamr Kalantri, Samir Chaterjee, Rimli Roy of Surati, unite4:good founder and global philanthropist Anthony Melikhov as well as over 50 leaders of non-profit organizations. “We are honored to partner with USIN Celebrations to further the unite4:good mission in the South Asian American community,” said Melikhov. “Together,we will collaborate to create impactful programs that support this community and its residents.

    The core principle of the unite4:good movement is based upon inspiring and empowering people to help others, so we can facilitate an overall shift towards kindness and empathy on a global scale.Working with this community is an important step towards creating a positive footprint around the world.” “The goal of our partnership with unite4:good is to bring transformative realization to the deserved people for unity, security, love, peace, positivity, innovation, self-recognition and self-respect in order to make a better place for all of humanity,” added Mrs.Uma Sengupta.

    Mr. Dossal, chairman for Global Partnerships Forum, echoed these sentiments and praised Mr. Melikhov for his vision in creating unite4:good, noting, “Anthony Melikhov is a great humanitarian and it would be an honor to help further the great work his movement is doing and maybe share some ideas on smart philanthropy,which can bring real sustainability.” Added Mr.Roger Sen Gupta, “unite4:good has truly created a new paradigm in social responsibility and positivity that can, at its core, fundamentally change and improve the community structure in the United States and beyond.”

  • Spiritual Master Sant Rajinder Singh honored by Indian American Medical Association of Illinois

    Spiritual Master Sant Rajinder Singh honored by Indian American Medical Association of Illinois

    NEWYORK (TIP): His Holiness Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj was the honored guest and speaker at the Indian American Medical Association of Illinois’ (IAMA) 33rd Annual Meeting and Banquet on Friday, November 16, 2013 at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Congressman George Foster commended the Association for their commitment to the community and the quality of health care services they are providing.

    The internationally recognized spiritual Master of meditation on the inner Light and Sound was introduced with a tribute to his many achievements as president of the Human Unity Conference, head of Science of Spirituality, and best-selling author of books translated into over fifty languages including Meditation as Medication for the Soul, Inner and Outer Peace through Meditation, Empowering Your Soul through Meditation, and Spark of the Divine.

    Not only has H. H. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj presented the benefits of meditation to medical practitioners worldwide-including the National Institute of Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and universities such as Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, IIT Madras (Chennai), IIT Delhi, and IIT Mumbai-but many doctors have also learned the meditation technique from him and use it regularly with their patients as an invaluable healing modality. In his address, H. H. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj recognized the mission of the IAMA comprised of Illinois physicians of Indian origin “committed to professional excellence in quality patient care, education, and community healthcare.”

    He congratulated the doctors who work tirelessly to assist their communities toward achieving impeccable health. He noted that it is a universal truth that the health of our body and mind depend unequivocally on our spiritual health. He spoke on the importance of meditation, citing national journals that have published research into the physical, mental, and emotional advantages of meditation. These benefits, the spiritual Master explained, are merely byproducts of the meditation practice.

    The true purpose of meditation is to experience the reality of our true selves, who we really are at the level of our soul. H. H. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj then spoke about research into near-death experiences by medical doctors Raymond Moody and Melvin Morris who investigated this phenomenon and concluded that spirit or soul exists beyond the human body, mind, and emotions. The spiritual Master stated that vistas of inner light, beauty, and music, as well as the Power that brought all creation together, exist within each and every one of us.We do not have to undergo physical trauma he said, but through meditation, we can experience this reality ourselves.

    He then explained the simple process of Jyoti meditation-meditation on the inner Light-and put the audience of hundreds of doctors and medical practitioners into meditation. Following this uplifting discourse, His Holiness Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj was presented with an honorary plaque by the IAMA. For more information about His Holiness Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj and the Science of Spirituality, visit www.sos.org.

  • UN TRUST FUND TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ANNOUNCES OVER USD 8 MILLION IN GRANTS IN 18 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES

    UN TRUST FUND TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ANNOUNCES OVER USD 8 MILLION IN GRANTS IN 18 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES

    NEW YORK (TIP): The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund) announced, November 22, USD 8 million in grants to 17 initiatives in 18 countries and territories. First-time grant recipients include organizations from Antigua and Barbuda, Mauritania, Myanmar and Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244). These new grants are expected to reach 2.3 million beneficiaries between 2014 and 2017.

    “Violence against women and girls can be systematically addressed, and, with persistence, eliminated. The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women is dedicated to doing just this,” said Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women. “Working with partners across the world, the Fund supports concrete action toward a world free of violence. The support of governments, corporations, foundations and individuals is crucial in achieving this goal.” Violence against women and girls continues to be one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world, affecting as many as one in three women and girls during their lifetime.

    It severely impacts survivors and comes at tremendous emotional and economic costs for families and societies. “The sheer scale of prevailing violence against women and girls is an abomination as well as an obstacle to inclusive development,” said Ms. Lilianne Ploumen, Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, one of the UNTF’s multi-year donors. “There is urgent need for action to live up to the commitments made in Resolutions and at the Commission of the Status of Women. The Netherlands will continue to support the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and encourages others to do so as well.”

    The grants announced today will support initiatives that respond to three priority areas of the UN Trust Fund: prevention, expanded access to services, and strengthened implementation of national laws, policies and action plans on violence against women and girls. Additionally, this year, funds will be used to address violence against adolescent and young girls, including through engaging school girls in Bangladesh and Viet Nam and developing the capacities of young girl leaders in the Ukraine.

    Other new UN Trust Fund grantees spearheading pioneering approaches include:

    o In South Africa, Grassroot Soccer will upscale and expand its innovative SKILLS Plus sports-based intervention to foster girls’ empowerment, expand girls’ awareness of sexual and reproductive rights and increase girls’ access to medical, legal and psychosocial services;

    o Medical Services in the Pacific will operate mobile clinics in seven rural market locations across Fiji, providing 18,000 women with improved access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, sexual assault counseling and referral services.

    o The Danish Refugee Council will empower displaced women through the provision of legal aid to survivors of violence by creating mobile legal clinics to serve communities hosting high concentrations of returnees and internally displaced persons in Afghanistan and refugee and asylumseekers in Tajikistan.

    The new grants are made possible with generous support from the Governments of Australia, Austria, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands and South Africa. The Fund is also grateful for the vital support of its partners in the private and non-profit sectors: the Saban Foundation; the United Nations Federal Credit Union, UN Women National Committees (Austria, Iceland, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom) and Zonta International.

    Administered by UN Women on behalf of the UN System, the UN Trust Fund has supported 368 initiatives in 132 countries and territories, delivering a total of USD 95 million since its establishment by the General Assembly in 1996. On 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Fund will also launch its next grant cycle with a global call for proposals to support country-level programs to end violence against women and girls in 2014. UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

    A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. For more information, visit www.unwomen.org. UN Women, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017, New York. Tel: +1 646 781-4400. Fax: +1 646 781-4496.

  • Modi’s Model of Development: MYTHS AND REALITIES

    Modi’s Model of Development: MYTHS AND REALITIES

    The author finds much untruth in the claims that Modi has provided the best model of development in the State of Gujarat and that Gujarat has made rapid strides in every field. Quoting extensively from various authentic sources which he has laboriously indexed, he accuses Modi and his supporters of creating a myth that fails to stand the scrutiny of reality.

    As I write this, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is creating news everywhere through his speeches and propaganda, as the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate. It has not only created quite an excitement in the Indian electoral scene that is getting ready for the 2014 general election, but also with a core NRI segment around the globe and the USA in particular. Modi is running for the most important office in India with some heavy baggage accumulated over the years as the Chief Executive of Gujarat through his divisive rule and autocratic ways.

    Modi is largely disliked by the Muslim minority in Gujarat, who accuse him of culpability in the communal violence that has killed over a 1000 people and destroyed crores of rupees worth of properties. When Reuters asked him earlier this year if he regretted the killings in 2002, he said, if “someone else is driving a car and we’re sitting behind, even then if a puppy comes under the wheel, will it be painful or not? Of course it is.” He has never ever expressed regret for the gory mayhem of Muslims; much less apologize for the incident.

    This cavalier attitude by a man who is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the State is deeply troubling to peace loving people everywhere in India. It has been a matter of concern to the civilized world, led by USA that has repeatedly refused Visa to Modi taking cognizance of his human rights violations. Supporters of Modi in the Diaspora are quick to forgive him on many of his transgressions on the reasoning that what he has done for Gujarat in terms of development somehow qualifies him to be the Prime Minister. They seem to believe that he could uplift the middle class, and root out corruption especially in the public arena. However, the question that needs to be answered is whether the rest of India needs a Gujarat Model of development to bring peace and prosperity to its own citizens.

    However, the truth is Gujarat does not figure even among the 10 most developed states. Among the country’s 28 states, Gujarat has been ranked 12th – surpassed even by the hill state Uttarakhand (sixth) – according to the underdevelopment index formulated by a panel under Raghuram Rajan, current Governor of Reserve Bank. The new index is based on averages of ten sub-components – monthly per-capita income, consumption expenditure, education, health, household amenities, poverty rate, female literacy, share of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in the total population, urbanization rate, financial inclusion, and connectivity. Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu led the list of the top 10 among the most developed states according to this report.

    Let us look at some of the Statistics here.
    In 10 years 60,000 small-scale industries have been closed down .
    Gujarat ranks 5TH in F.D.I.

    The state’s total debt was less than Rs 10,000 crore when the BJP first came to power in Gujarat in 1995. Gujarat’s actual debt has mounted from Rs 45,301 crore in 2001-02 when Modi took over to Rs 1,38,978 crore on December 30, 2012.

    The debt would mount to Rs 2,07,695 crore as per the state government’s budget estimates by 2015-16 .

    Gujarat is at 8th position in agricultural growth. Gujarat never achieved 10% growth in Agriculture sector.

    As per Government of Gujarat’s own statistics from year 2005-2006 to 2010-2011, growth in GSDP in Agriculture and Allied sector is 3.44% only: not double digit or 10% .

    Close to half of the state’s children under the age of 5 (44.6 %) are known to be suffering from malnutrition.

    70 per cent are said to be anemic while 40 per cent are underweight . Health expenditure in Gujarat has fallen from 4.25% in 1990-95 to 0.77% in 2005-2010. Gujarat occupied the second position from the bottom in terms of allocation of health in state budget .

    According to report on Global Hunger (2009), among the major 17 states in India, Gujarat ranks 13th with a Hunger Index of 23.3. The state has been declared as an “alarming state” along with MP, Jharkhand and Bihar . Gujarat has 32% poverty in 2001 and it reached 39.5% in 2011. 40 out of 100 people are poor. Statistics of the NSSO show that the percentage of reduction of poverty between 2004 and 2010 was the lowest in Gujarat, at 8.6 per cent . Data shows that 67 per cent of rural households in the State ranks 10th in the use of latrines .

    If one independently looks at various human development indices whether it is literacy, education, quality healthcare, consumption, expenditures, infant mortality, gender ratio, minimum wage, underage employment of children, sanitary facilities in public schools, etc., Gujarat has quite a distance to go to catch up with other states. According to Economist and Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen,”If you look at HDI data from Gujarat, you will see a large difference between the levels of development of tribals and non-tribals, and between those of urban and rural people.

    When the statelevel average is worked out, the overall score (of Gujarat) would fall short of those of several other states…The growth rate of the state is good. It has attracted industrial investment and registered agricultural growth. But in HDI like infant mortality, it is on par with Bihar”. It then begs the question: why is this myth about the Gujarat model of development is being trumpeted around? In the past several years, it appears that the Modi PR machine has done an effective job passing misinformation for the consumption of the masses.

    A large segment of the NRI population also bought into the idea that Modi could cure India’s ills by applying the Gujarat formula. When it comes to corruption, Modi is generally considered corruption free. However there is an additional myth that he is so tough on corruption that Gujarat faces less of it than other states. This is not an honest assessment. It is mainly the perception of Modi’s admirers outside Gujarat that he has created a corruption-free state. The truth is that the problems most Indians are troubled by are also faced by Gujaratis.

    One only needs to look at the real estate transactions with regard to taxes or underground smuggling and distribution of alcohol to see the glimpse of what is taking place under the radar. People in Gujarat continue to report cases of corruption to the Commission that is empowered to look into it. It has been reported that in 2010, the Commission received 7339 complaints regarding corruption which was considerably higher than 2009’s 7093 complaints.

    Commission observed that out of 7339 complaints, 352 were of serious nature and investigations had been ordered. A certain segment of the Diaspora is indeed passionate about defending Modi and supporting him for higher office. However, let that be based on rational arguments with supporting facts, not based on myths and hearsay that may not bode well for us or India in the long run.

  • Of Sants and Babas

    Of Sants and Babas

    It must be the darkest Kaliyug that our Sants and Babas have turned in to common criminals. They are in the news most of the time for all the bad reasons. As a child, I remember Sant Nihchal Singh Ji of Jagadhari visiting my maternal grandfather in Giridih, Bihar. I was naughty, very naughty. My mother took me to Sant Ji and requested him to bless me to be not so naughty. Sant Ji recommended to my mother a verse from Gurbani that she should recite while waking me up in the morning. My mother very religiously recited the verse while waking me up.

    I did not understand what the verse meant. But I liked to hear the cadence of the sweet voice of my mother and her meditating posture. As soon as she had finished, I would give her a pinch and rush out for the day of loafing. Her recitals of verse probably did not change me much. But she certainly had its calming effect. She stopped complaining about my being naughty. But I am glad she did not have to face an Asa Ram or a Narayan Sain. Both have proved how innocent faith of devotes can be abused. There have been Sadhus, Sants, and Babas all the time. In fact, Bharat is a land of Sadhus and Babas.

    And they always had a potent voice in the community. Going back in to ancient times in India, we find stories of how even the powerful kings preferred no to antagonize a Sadhu. A Durvasa certainly was feared more than a Rakshasa. But they were good intentioned people, not the kind that we have today. That is why I said at the outset it must be the darkest Kaliyug that we have such Babas. To add to the list of these illustrious Babas, we now have Baba Ramdev. I admire the man for his sheer enthusiasm in demanding the most stringent punishment for the corrupt.

    I have met him a couple of times in New York and spoken with him. I have always found him spitting venom against Congress Party in general, and against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in particular. Let me share with you, my dear readers, I have often wondered how this man, with little education, rose from a common villager in Haryana to become the master of a vast business empire worth Rs. 1100 crore.

    This comment will become long if I started on how he amassed this wealth. So, I will leave it for some other time. The story of Babas and Sants will always be there. Nothing special about it. It is what we make out of those stories that counts.

  • The Geopolitics of Nuclear Proliferation

    The Geopolitics of Nuclear Proliferation

    AS I SEE IT

    It is not easy for Iran and the US to end mutual hostility

    The author sees no end to three decades of mutual hostility and suspicion between Iran and the US.

    Just after the foreign ministers of the self-styled “international community” (comprising the EU members and the US) together with their Russian and Chinese counterparts met the Iranian Foreign Minister in Geneva, the Foreign Ministers of India, China and Russia issued a statement which recognized “the right of Iran to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including for uranium enrichment, under strict IAEA safeguards and consistent with its international obligations”.

    This was an important declaration as the Republican right wing in the US, egged on by a predictable alliance of Israel and Saudi Arabia, would like to scuttle any possibility of an agreement that ends sanctions against Iran in return for Iran accepting safeguards mandated by the IAEA on all its nuclear facilities. Israel wants a termination of uranium enrichment and plutonium production in Iran, together with an end to Iran’s implacable hostility to its very existence. American policies on clandestine nuclear enrichment have been remarkably inconsistent. The country responsible for triggering the proliferation of centrifugebased uranium enrichment technology was the Netherlands.

    It was the Dutch who carelessly granted A.Q. Khan access to sensitive design documents on centrifuge enrichment technology when he worked at the Holland-based Physical Dynamic Research Laboratory, a sub-contractor of the “Ultra Centrifuge Nederland”. Former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers has revealed that after Khan’s activities came to light, he was prepared to arrest Khan in Holland, but was prevented from doing so in 1975 and 1986 by the CIA. It is well known that the Reagan Administration had tacitly assured Pakistan that it would look the other way at Pakistani efforts to build the bomb.

    If President Reagan looked the other way at Pakistani proliferation, President Clinton winked at Chinese proliferation involving the transfer of more modern centrifuges, nuclear weapon designs and ring magnets apart from unsafeguarded plutonium facilities to Pakistan. The A.Q. Khan-Iranian nexus goes back to the days of Gen Zia-ul-Haq when the Iranians received the knowhow for uranium enrichment from Khan. Iran is now known to possess an estimated 19,000 centrifuges, predominantly at its enrichment facilities in Natanz.

    It has an old plutonium reactor used for medical isotopes which, it says, is to be replaced by a larger reactor together with reprocessing facilities being built at Arak. Given the clandestine nature of its nuclear program, its activist role in the Islamic world and its virulent anti-Semitism, Iran’s nuclear program has invited international attention. This has resulted in seven UN Security Council Resolutions since 2006, which called on Iran to halt enrichment and even led to the freezing of assets of persons linked to its nuclear and missile programs.

    There have also been cyber attacks (Stuxnet) by the Americans and the killing of some of Iran’s key scientists, believed by the Iranians to have been engineered by the Israelis. While Iran’s nuclear program enjoys widespread domestic support,what have really hurt the Iranians are the crippling economic sanctions by the US and its European allies. These sanctions have led to the shrinking of its oil exports and spiraling of inflation. They have been crucial factors compelling Iran to seek a negotiated end to sanctions, without giving up its inherent right to enrich uranium that it enjoys under the NPT.

    Crucially, the US can now afford to review its policies in the Middle East. Its dependence on oil imports from the Persian Gulf has ended, its oil production will exceed that of Saudi Arabia in the next five years and it is set to become a significant exporter of natural gas. The emergence of Saudi backing for al Qaeda-linked Salafi extremists in Iraq and Syria is not exactly comforting as the Americans prepare to pull out of Afghanistan. While the Obama Administration may make soothing noises to placate the ruffled feathers in Riyadh and Jerusalem, rapprochement with Iran does widen its options in the Muslim world at a time when Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Sharif proclaims that Shia-Sunni tensions are “the most serious threat not only to the region but to the world at large”.

    But it would be unrealistic to expect that negotiations between the P 5 and Germany on the one hand and the Iranians on the other will produce any immediate end to the Iranian nuclear impasse. The Israelis and the Saudis, who wield immense clout in the Republican right wing, the US Congress and in many European capitals will spare no effort to secure support for conditions that the Iranians would not agree to. Iran already has one nuclear power plant built by the Russians at Bushehr, with another 360 MW plant under construction at Darkhovin. It currently has stockpiles of uranium enriched to either 3.5%, which can be used in power reactors, or to 20%, which can be relatively easily further enriched and made weapons grade.

    The Iranians are reported to have agreed that the highly enriched uranium will be converted into fuel rods or plates. Iran has an old plutonium reactor for medical isotopes, which it requires to shut down. It is constructing a larger plutonium research reactor at the city of Arak. The Iranians claim that the reactor at Arak is set to replace the existing plutonium reactor, which is being shut down. This is not an explanation that skeptics readily buy. In the negotiations at Geneva, France reportedly took a hard-line position, demanding that the construction of the Arak plutonium reactor should stop and that there should be no reference to Iran’s “right” to enrich uranium.

    This is not surprising. France has recently concluded a $1.8 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia and is the recipient of large Saudi investments in its sagging agricultural sector. The Iranians are hard bargainers and will not unilaterally give any concessions unless these are matched by a corresponding and simultaneous lifting of economic sanctions. Having already concluded an agreement with the IAEA, granting the IAEA access to its uranium mine and heavy water plant, Iran is unlikely to agree to yield to demands to stop the construction of its new plutonium reactor.

    More importantly, given the continuing gridlock in Washington between the Obama Administration and the Republican-dominated Senate, the Obama Administration will not find it easy to secure Congressional approval for easing sanctions against Iran, especially in the face of Israeli and Saudi opposition. It is not going to be easy for Iran and the US to end over three decades of mutual hostility and suspicion.

  • New York Life Makes Significant Gains

    New York Life Makes Significant Gains

    Life Insurance Sales in Third Quarter up by 10%; Sales of Annuities and Mutual Funds also very Strong; Second Consecutive Year of 8% Rise in Dividend Payout; 2014 Payout Climbs $109 Million

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York Life, America’s largest mutual life insurer, announced November 21 very strong third quarter gains in sales of life insurance, annuities and mutual funds, as well as a solid increase in agent new hires in the first nine months of 2013. New York Life agents recorded a 10 percent increase in sales of recurring premium whole life insurance and an 11 percent increase in total annuity sales compared with the first nine months of 2012.

    The company also announced that for the second consecutive year its dividend payout to participating policyholders will climb by eight percent, an increase of $109 million over the prior year, for a total payout of $1.43 billion in 2014. Even in the face of unprecedented low interest rates, the company had strong operating performance and was able to enhance both its surplus and dividends through the strong performance of its investment subsidiary, New York Life Investments, and from the recent divestiture of several international operations.

    The company also has had better than expected persistency as policyholders maintain their policies in force despite the challenging economy, which speaks to the consumer appeal of New York Life’s strong ratings for financial strength. Next year is the 160th consecutive year New York Life has paid a cash dividend, a validation of mutual strength and a reflection of the company’s singular focus on creating value for its customers. New York Life has paid a dividend every year since 1854.

    The company’s insurance sales continued to build on the strong pace set in previous quarters this year, with individual recurring premium life insurance sales through agents up 12 percent through the third quarter compared with the same period in 2012. The solid sales growth of recurring life insurance products came from the company’s suite of permanent products – whole life, universal life and variable universal life.* The company is also seeing exceptional growth in various cultural markets, with 46 percent of the company’s new life insurance policies produced by agents serving the African- American, Chinese, Hispanic, Korean, South Asian, and Vietnamese markets in the United States.

    “Our sales growth proves that people continue to believe in life insurance. When our agents meet face-to-face with people, they are finding more receptivity to how life insurance can help customers with important financial needs. This is why our sales continue to rise each year, despite a tough economy – and why our country needs career agents more than ever,” said Mark Pfaff, executive vice president in charge of Agency. “Even further, Americans increasingly understand the value that a permanent product like whole life provides.

    The company’s mutual structure and ability to offer dividends on this participating product is important to insurance consumers and that is why 2014 marks the 160th anniversary of offering consecutive cash dividends, a remarkable achievement, especially at a time when so many financial institutions are having difficulty.” New York Life’s sales of guaranteed income annuity products**, which include single premium immediate annuities and the company’s deferred income annuity, Guaranteed Future Income Annuity, increased 17 percent through the third quarter compared with the same period in 2012. Total annuity sales through all channels have increased 36 percent compared with the nine months of 2012.

    In addition, sales through New York Life Direct increased by five percent over the same period last year. New York Life Direct includes the AARP Operation, which is the exclusive provider of life insurance and lifetime income annuities to AARP’s 37 million members. New York Life has been offering life insurance to AARP members since 1994 and lifetime income annuities to AARP members since 2006. Sales of New York Life’s MainStay family of mutual funds increased by 78 percent to a record $22.47 billion through the third quarter, compared with the same period a year ago. Consistent investment performance across the fund family is helping to drive these exceptionally strong mutual fund sales, particularly in funds seeking capital appreciation, which remain in high demand from customers.

    New York Life’s operations in Mexico, Seguros Monterrey New York Life, had a strong first nine months with 10 percent sales growth compared with the same period last year. New York Life has hired 2,246 new agents through the third quarter. New York Life is on pace to make this year the seventh consecutive year the company has hired more than 3,200 agents. Over that period the company’s agent force has grown 16 percent. New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States*** and one of the largest life insurers in the world.

    New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies: A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody’s Investors Service (Aaa), Standard & Poor’s (AA+).**** Headquartered in New York City, New York Life’s family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York Life Investments***** provides institutional asset management and retirement plan services. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual funds.

    Please visit New York Life’s website at www.newyorklife.com for more information. *Universal life products are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. Variable products are offered through properly licensed Registered Representatives of NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), a Licensed Insurance Agency and a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. Whole life products are issued by New York Life Insurance Company; dividends are not guaranteed.

    **Annuities are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. ***Based on revenue as reported by “Fortune 500 ranked within Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual),” Fortune magazine, May 20, 2013. See http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortun e/fortune500/2013/faq/?iid=F500_sp_met hod for methodology. ****Individual independent rating agency commentary as of 8/1/13. *****New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management LLC.

    The MainStay Funds® are managed by New York Life Investment Management LLC and distributed through NYLIFE Distributors LLC, 169 Lackawanna Avenue, Parsippany, NJ 07054, a whollyowned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company. NYLIFE Distributors LLC is a Member FINRA/SIPC.

  • Renee Lobo honored with Community Board Service award

    Renee Lobo honored with Community Board Service award

    NEW YORK (TIP): Noted Broadcaster and community activist Renee Mehrra Lobo was honored by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall with Community Board Service Award in recognition of her 10 years of outstanding service to the community in Queens. Renee has been on Community Board 6 in Queens since 2003 and serves on Land Use & Zoning, Consumer Planning, Public Relations, Education and Youth Committees.

    She was the first South Asian Woman to be appointed by Mayor Bloomberg as Commissioner for NYC Commission on Human Rights in 2009 and continues to serve on the Commission. Helen Marshall Queens Borough President said of Lobo, “Renee Lobo is a dedicated individual committed to her community. Her service on her community Board for the past decade is indicative of that commitment.

    She has served on a number of committees, including land use, zoning and education.” “I would like to commend Renee Lobo and all of our veteran community board members for their outstanding service and their commitment to our wonderful borough,” said Queens Borough President Helen Marshall. “Our borough’s 14 community boards are the eyes and ears of our diverse neighborhoods here in Queens. I am proud to say that our community boards are considered the best in the city and their opinions are respected not only at Borough Hall, but at City Hall, too.”

  • Bill de Blasio’s Tax the Rich Plan Rating High:Poll

    Bill de Blasio’s Tax the Rich Plan Rating High:Poll

    NEW YORK (TIP): New York state voters from every region and from all income levels support allowing Mayorelect Bill de Blasio to raise taxes on those earning $500,000 or more to pay for expanded education programs, according to a new poll by Quinnipiac University, a news report says. Mr. de Blasio’s tax hike receives broad support from New Yorkers statewide, 63% to 32%. Even New Yorkers who earn more than $100,000 a year say they back the idea, 59% to 37%. Voters in every region support the idea, 68% to 30% in New York City, 55% to 42% in the suburbs and 64% to 29% upstate. Republicans were the only group to oppose the plan, 58% to 39%. “New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s campaign issue, raising taxes on the well-to-do in the city to pay for improvements in education, wins solid approval in every corner of the state, except among Republicans. And Republican State Senators still have a lot to say about what happens in Albany,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

    After a spate of corruption arrests, the state Legislature continues its unpopular streak among New York voters, 34% to 53%. But voters still approve of their individual Assembly and state Senate members, 48% and 56% respectively. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver scores low approval ratings (26% to 44%), while voters say they don’t know enough about either Senate co-leaders Dean Skelos (50%) and Jeff Klein (56%) to have an opinion. Creating jobs and reducing taxes are the top two priorities identified by voters for the Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo next year. Only 18% say funding public schools should be the top priority. “How much voter anger do legislators face if the de Blasio tax hike never sees the light of day?” Mr. Carroll said. New Yorkers are still split on hyrdrofracking, with 44% in favor of the controversial drilling method and 46% opposed. Thirty-nine percent say they feel Mr. Cuomo is “dragging his feet” on the issue. Voters say they believe corruption is a “very serious” problem in New York (41%) but oppose one of the more popular solutions to that problem, public financing of elections (52%). A majority (51%) think Mr. Cuomo has the primary responsibility for cleaning up state government-but only 2% think he’s done an “excellent” job so far (most say he’s been “good” on cleaning up corruption). On the Moreland Commission, 55% of voters say they didn’t know enough about the governor’s anti-corruption panel to have an opinion.

  • Cuomo predicts state budget surplus

    Cuomo predicts state budget surplus

    ALBANY, NY (TIP): “There will be, what is in essence, a surplus for next year, if we hold the line on spending, which we have thus far,” Mr. Cuomo said in a radio interview. “If we continue our spending discipline, we project that we’ll have revenue that we can use for a tax cut.” But the governor said he is not interested in cutting personal income taxes, despite a recent report that a taxreform commission created by Mr. Cuomo and co-chaired by former Gov. George Pataki was preparing to recommend that. “We just did the [personal income tax] last year,” Mr. Cuomo said on the Capitol Pressroom, referring to the overhaul of the state’s tax code in December 2011 that defused the raucous debate over the reauthorization of the so-called “millionaires tax” and at the same time added revenue to balance the budget.

    “I have no interest in reopening the personal income tax discussion since we just redid it,” he reiterated. “I do want to focus on the property tax.” Mr. Pataki’s commission is expected to release its report in early December, including a recommendation to cut taxes on high-income earners, which peak at 8.82%, one of the highest rates in the nation. In January, the governor will release his budget priorities for the upcoming legislative session and is expected to sketch out his own taxcutting proposals. New Yorkers, especially suburbanites and upstate residents, pay among the highest property taxes in the country. Mr. Cuomo persuaded lawmakers in 2011 to cap the annual increase in property tax rates at 2%, subject to overrides by voters in the school districts and counties that impose those taxes.

    Mr. Cuomo foresees taxes as the main issue for next year’s legislative session. Adding another layer of intrigue: Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio said Monday he plans to “mount a strong, consistent fight” for a New York City-specific, fiveyear income-tax increase on those who earn $500,000 or more annually to pay for universal prekindergarten and afterschool programs. Asked how he will square that effort with Mr. Cuomo’s desire to reduce taxes, Mr. de Blasio alluded to the governor’s apparent desire to help average New Yorkers, not wealthy ones. “There is a clear dialogue going on in terms of reducing state taxes, and I think that is the governor’s prerogative,” Mr. de Blasio said Monday, November 25, at Columbia University. “That’s a different area of endeavor than what I’m talking about.”

  • 2 killed, 1 wounded amid shootings in Brooklyn, Bronx

    2 killed, 1 wounded amid shootings in Brooklyn, Bronx

    Brooklyn shootings claimed the lives of a 26-year-old man in Bedford- Stuyvesant and a 66-year-old man in the Walt Whitman Houses. In the Bronx, a 26-year-old man was critically injured.

    NEW YORK (TIP): Two men were killed and a third wounded in separate shooting incidents in Brooklyn and the Bronx early Friday, November 21, cops said. The violence kicked off minutes after midnight when Renard Griffin, 26, was shot in the head on the sidewalk of Kosciuszko St. near Throop Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant, cops said. Sources said the killing appeared to be drug-related. Griffin, a known Bloods gang member who lived a few blocks away, had several prior arrests on charges including assault and attempted murder, sources said. His killer was on the loose Friday. Nearly three hours later, a 66-year-old man took three bullets to the upper body on North Oxford Walk in the Walt Whitman Houses. The man was in critical condition at Kings County Hospital but was expected to survive. The motive was unclear, and no one was immediately arrested, authorities said. In the Bronx, a 26-year-old man was shot several times by an unknown gunman in a house on E. 229th St. near Lowerre Place shortly before 5 a.m. The critically injured man, whose name was not immediately released, went to Montefiore Hospital by private means but died moments after arriving.

  • NYPD cop robbed, forced into backseat of own car in Canarsie, Brooklyn: Police

    NYPD cop robbed, forced into backseat of own car in Canarsie, Brooklyn: Police

    NEW YORK (TIP): A gun-toting trio forced an NYPD cop into the backseat of her car Thursday in Brooklyn and made off with her NYPD shield when she managed to escape, law enforcement sources said. The cop, who wasn’t armed, identified herself as a police officer, but the thieves didn’t care, sources said. The 36 year old officer, who was off duty, says armed suspects grabbed her after she started her car on E. 99th St. near Foster Ave. Thursday, November 21 morning and forced her into the backseat before she managed to slip out and past a third thief. The three allegedly stole her purse, which contained her NYPD shield and ID. After a few terrifying moments, the officer managed to slip out of the car and run past a third suspect, leaving her handbag containing her NYPD shield and ID behind, officials said. The suspects grabbed the purse, abandoned her car and fled in a yellow taxi reported stolen the night before, police sources said. Cops found the cab parked on the sidewalk at Newport St. and Van Sinderen Ave. in East New York a few hours later. The thieves remained at large, officials said.

  • Consul General honors recipients of the Asian American Business Award

    Consul General honors recipients of the Asian American Business Award

    NEW YORK (TIP): Consul General of India, Mr. Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay hosted a dinner reception, earlier this month, to honor the recipients of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award, an annual event established in 2001 by the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC), to acknowledge the achievements of Asian American corporate executives and entrepreneurs across a wide spectrum of industries and their contributions to the U.S. economy. The event was attended by 25 awardees. Deputy Consul General, Dr. Devyani Khobragade in her opening remarks welcomed the awardees and commended the AABDC in institutionalizing this prestigious award. Consul General, Mr. Dnyaneshwar Mulay thanked Mr. John Wang, President, Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) for this encouraging initiative.

    She spoke about the investment opportunities available in India in various sectors and urged the awardees to enhance their economic and cultural engagements with India. India in turn would strive hard in creating conditions, partnerships and institutions that will enable her to connect with its Diaspora comprehensively. Mr. John Wang, President, AABDC appreciated the Consul General for hosting the event and gave a brief insight of the activities of AABDC following which, the awardees introduced themselves to the gathering and shared their personal thoughts, experiences and advances in their respective fields of endeavor. A few of them expressed their desire to work with the Consulate in their respective areas of expertise and use their skill sets for bringing about constructive linkages with their motherland, be it by supporting entrepreneurs in India, or other unique path breaking organizations such as Sankara Nethralaya, or by supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). An interest was also shown by some of the awardees in contributing towards raising the profile of Indian Art and Contemporary India as a whole, so as to promote a better appreciation of Indian thought, culture, civilization and contemporary issues in the main stream media in the United States.

  • Aarushi murder case: Talwars get life term

    Aarushi murder case: Talwars get life term

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Keeping in mind the social order, the special CBI court on November 26 sentenced Rajesh and Nupur Talwar to life imprisonment for killing their 14-yearold daughter Aarushi and their servant Hemraj. In his 210-page-verdict, special judge Shayam Lal said, “Imposition of sentence without considering its effect on the social order will be a futile exercise. If adequate sentence is not awarded court will be failing in its duty.” “Protection of society and stamping out criminal proclivity must be the object of law which must be achieved by imposing appropriate sentence. Therefore, laws as a corner stone of the edifice of ‘order’ should meet the challenges confronting the society.” “Keeping in view the entire facts and circumstances, I am of the view that both the accused are not menace to the orderly society.

    This is not a fit case for inflicting death penalty under section 302 (murder) read with section 34 IPC (common intention to commit the crime) and, therefore, it appears just and proper to sentence the accused to rigorous imprisonment for life,” the judge said. Aarushi and their domestic help Hemraj on the intervening night of May 15-16, 2008. “It is a matter of common knowledge that many a murders have been committed without any known or prominent motive. Mere fact that prosecution has failed to translate that mental disposition of the accused into evidence does not mean that no such mental condition existed in the mind of the assailant.” “A criminal court could be convinced of the guilt only beyond the range of a reasonable doubt. Of course, the expression ‘reasonable doubt’ is incapable of definition. Modern thinking is in favour of the view that proof beyond a reasonable doubt is the same as proof which affords moral certainty to the judge.”

    CBI prosecutor RK Saini said he was satisfied with the order on sentencing. “It is only in exceptional cases that the court awards the death penalty,” Saini said. Tanveer Ahmed Mir, defence counsel for the Talwars while opposing the CBI’s plea had argued that the crime did not fall under the rarest of rare cases. “The court’s order on life sentence is based on its affirmative finding that murders were committed as a result of ‘sudden and grave provocation’ and therefore does not fall in the rarest of rare cases,” Mir said. Talwars have been sentenced for life imprisonment and a fine of Rs10,000 each for murder, five years and a fine of Rs5,000 each for destruction of evidence and one year and Rs2,000 to Rajesh for misleading the investigation by filing wrong FIR. “It is serious miscarriage of justice. Definitely it will be examined. We will be appealing in Allahabad High Court.

    The verdict is unsustainable in the court. There has been a witch-hunt,” Talwars’ counsel Rebecca John said. “It is the most shocking abuse of power (by the CBI). The kind of witch-hunt (they have done), I have never seen it. It is shocking and a sad day for India…. The court in its detailed judgment relied on key 26 points and held that the case in hand is not based on percipient evidence and rather hinges on circumstantial evidence. Raising doubt over the behavior of the dentist couple after seeing the body of their daughter, the court said, “From the evidence it is also established that both the accused changed their vestures. It is against the order of human nature that on seeing their dearest daughter lying in a pool of blood the accused being the natural father and mother will not hug her. In the process of hugging, their clothes will be deeply stained with the blood but not found so.”

  • Tejpal’s fate hangs in balance

    Tejpal’s fate hangs in balance

    NEW DELHI (TIP): A few hours after Tehelka magazine’s founder-editor Tarun Tejpal’s residence was raided in Delhi, his lawyers moved the district sessions court in Panaji for anticipatory bail on November 29 morning. The sessions court gave interim protection from arrest till 2.30pm on November 29 on personal bond of Rs 20,000. Tejpal had withdrawn on November 28 the anticipatory bail which he had filed in Delhi high court. Raunaq Rao, counsel for Tejpal, has said that they have moved anticipatory bail before the sessions court in Panaji. “The police want to apprehend Tejpal despite our wish to cooperate in the matter. There is no need to take Tejpal in custody. What is the use of putting him in the cell?” Rao said. Early on Friday morning, Goa Police raided Tehelka magazine’s founder-editor Tarun Tejpal’s house in New Delhi in a bid to arrest him but returned empty handed after finding that he was not there.

    Armed with a non-bailable warrant, the team reached the residence of Tejpal, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman colleague, in Jungpura area of South Delhi a little after 6am and spent over 90 minutes. One of the officials later said they did not find Tejpal in the house. Crime branch personnel from Delhi Police also accompanied the Goa Police team. Tejpal’s wife Geetan Batra refused to divulge to the police any detail of his whereabouts, police said. The police action came after they rejected Tejpal’s request for time till Saturday to to appear before them for the investigation into his involvement in the case of sexual assault that had allegedly taken place at a hotel in Goa earlier this month.

    After the rejection of his request, Tejpal’s lawyer said he would appear before the police on Friday in Panaji and extend “complete and full cooperation” in the investigation. Goa police, however, on Thursday moved a court and secured a non-bailable warrant against 50-year-old Tejpal. On Wednesday, Goa Police had directed Tejpal to appear before it by 3pm. The direction had come after the victim, who has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by him in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa, recorded her statement under Section 164 of CrPC before a magistrate in Panaji. The controversy also saw resignation of Shoma Chaudhury as managing editor of Tehelka, who is being accused of attempting to cover up the matter. Chaudhury sent her resignation on Thursday as there was speculation that she may also be named in the FIR for certain alleged acts of commission and omission after the scandal became public.

  • 7 dead, 45 injured in earthquake near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant

    7 dead, 45 injured in earthquake near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant

    TEHRAN (TIP): A powerful earthquake has hit Iran, killing seven and injuring a further 45, IRNA state news agency reported. The disaster’s epicenter was in an area 62km north east of Bushehr, according to the USGS, where Iran has its only nuclear power plant. The head of Iran’s Crisis Management organization, Hassan Qadami, confirmed the initial 30 casualties to IRNA. However, Bushehr’s Governor, Fereydoon Hasanvand, updated the figure to 45 on November 28 night. He added that ‘total calm’ had settled in the area. Fars news agency placed the death toll higher, at eight, adding that helicopters would be posted to the area on Friday to assess the extent of the damage. “There were some houses and electricity poles damaged.

    Rescue teams have been dispatched,” local governor Alireza Khorani told Fars before full news of the wounded emerged. Tremors were registered at a depth of 16.4 kilometers and some 14 kilometers from the nearest city of Borazjan in Bushehr Province. While USGS measured the quake at 5.6, the local Seismological Center of Tehran University’s Geophysics Institute has said that the earthquake measured 5.7 on the Richter scale. Social media pages in Saudi Arabia have said that tremors from the quake were felt in the kingdom’s eastern province, across the Gulf from Iran, Reuters reported. No damage to the nuclear plant in nearby Bushehr has been reported. Bushehr, Iran’s only power-producing nuclear reactor, suffered damage caused by earthquakes which struck Iran in April and May.

    Cracks of several meters long reportedly appeared in at least one section of the structure, according to diplomats from countries monitoring Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has not denied or confirmed this information. Following the quakes, one of which was 7.7, and the other measured 6.2 on the Richter scale, Iran gave assurances that the plant was technically sound and was built to withstand quakes up to magnitude 8. The Bushehr nuclear power plant – the first civilian nuclear plant in the Middle East – was launched in 2011 under a contract for finishing the plant that Iran and the Russian Ministry for Atomic Energy signed in 1995. Bushehr has no link to nuclear weapons production and cannot be used to develop such technology.

  • Trivedis Pack New York Love to London

    Trivedis Pack New York Love to London

    NEW YORK (TIP): Bank of Baroda Chief Executive for US Operations, Mr. Dhimant Trivedi has been posted to London office as Chief of European Operations and leaves on November 30. He has been succeeded by Ashok Kumar Garg. Bank of Baroda, November 26, organized a get together to bid farewell to Mr. Dhimant Trivedi and the new incumbent Mr. Ashok Kumar Garg. The get together was attended by a large number that included Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Consul General of India in New York, representatives of State Bank of India, Bank of India, Air India, clients of Bank of Baroda, many friends of the Trivedis, and, of course, the staff of Bank of Baroda. Company Executives come and go. There are usual receptions to welcome and bid farewell. But there are some who are not the treated to the “usual” reception alone.


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    Consul General Mulay joined Trivedis and their friends at a farewell dinner hosted by Prof. Indrajit S Saluja at the Mint in Manhattan. Seen in the picture (sitting, L to R): Ranju Batra, Priyanka Pattanaik, Sulochana Pattanaik, Yamini Trivedi, Swati Vaishnav (Standing L to R): Pramoda K. Pattanaik, Indrajit Saluja, Sudhir Vaishnav, Dhimant Trivedi, Sanal Kumar, Ambassador Mulay, Master Mohinder Singh, Ravi Batra, Atul Kumria, Jagdish Sewhaney, Rajeev Bhambri, Trilok Malik and Herman Singh.

    They are special and get the special treatment. Dhimant Pradyuman Trivedi, Chief Executive of Bank of Baroda for US Operations and his lovely wife Yamini, over a period of close to three years in New York, had endeared themselves to so many. They were admired, loved and sought after for the finest qualities of head and heart they have been endowed with. Mr. Trivedi, who has been known to be a hard taskmaster, was also loved by the staff of the bank for his simple way of life and his passion for taking bank to higher heights in USA. Bank of Baroda, during his tenure from September 24, 2010 when he took over from another wonderful person, Mr. K.D. Lamba, who incidentally was posted to London as Chief of European Operations, the post that Mr. Trivedi has now been posted to, made a remarkable progress. The overall business growth has been substantial, with internet banking facility introduced only recently. His efforts to have the Bank’s own residential property yielded results and his successor now has the privilege of staying in his own spacious apartment in New York City.

    The social life of Mr. Trivedi and Yamini Trivedi who, is a wonderful person with literary and artistic tastes, has rather been hectic. The fun loving and sociable couple has been part of the various social and cultural circles in New York. So, when the news of the transfer of Mr. Trivedi to London reached his friends, there was a clamor to have the family over farewell dinner. I have been to some of them. I managed to avoid some simply because it was proving to be a surfeit for me. I was lucky to have managed to get Trivedis’ assent to one that I hosted which was well attended. Mr. Dnyaneshwar Mulay, India’s Consul General and some of the close friends of Trivedis attended. Ravi and Ranju Batra hosted one. Yet another was hosted jointly by Kirti and Versha Bhatia and Nitin and Sangeeta Parikh at Bhatias’ home in Long Island which was marked by fun and dancing. There were a couple of others also who hosted farewell dinner for the family. The bank staff, of course, hosted one. It surely is an expression of love for a wonderful family which will be sorely missed. Also missed will be their lovely and talented daughter, Chandni, who as President of CORD, New York, a charitable organization, has been deeply involved in the rural education projects of the organization. The Indian Panorama wishes the Trivedis all health, happiness and luck in their new city of residence.

  • NCW NOTICE TO GUJARAT FOR SNOOPING AS CONG, BJP SPAR

    NCW NOTICE TO GUJARAT FOR SNOOPING AS CONG, BJP SPAR

    AHMEDABAD (TIP): The Congress on November 20 said Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had awarded government contracts without bidding to the woman who was later allegedly put under police surveillance at his behest. Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil told a press briefing that Modi must come clean on what “benefits have been given to the woman’s company and her family” and if he fails to do so the Congress will reveal the “evidence to expose the government’s dirty deeds”.

    “The chief minister, who talks about everything, makes comments about somebody’s wife, makes derogatory remarks about national leaders’ illness, must come clean on this,” Gohil said. “How many works in Gandhinagar grid solar project and other government projects have been given to the woman and her family?” he asked. The Gujarat Congress leader’s remarks came hours after the BJP warned the Congress it “will have nowhere to hide if the skeletons in its cupboards are brought in the open”. BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters in New Delhi the Congress should let the matter rest following the letter written by the woman’s father to the National Commission for Women, which states the Modi government had made security arrangements for his daughter with the family’s consent.

    “If personal attacks begin, Congress has many skeletons in its cupboards and it will have nowhere to hide,” Javadekar said, accusing Congress of attacking the privacy of a family to target Modi. Union minister Manish Tewari countered the BJP’s onslaught saying the main concern for Indian voters was whether they should be voting for a person who backs unauthorised state surveillance on “mothers, sisters and daughters”. “There is a difference between surveillance and security. They are trying to fool people about it,” he said. Two news portals recently claimed Modi aide Amit Shah had asked a senior IPS officer to put the woman under surveillance in 2009. Tewari told reporters in Goa his party will not demand Modi’s resignation as “we should ask resignation from that person who has got some morality, shame and etiquette”.

    “If he had to submit his resignation he would have given it after the 2002 (Godhra) massacre,” Tewari said. It appears the issue will simmer for some time, especially after home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said security agencies were collecting information on the whole issue and a probe could be ordered if needed. The NCW meanwhile asked the Gujarat government to probe the snooping charges, while asking the woman’s father to come the forefront and clarify the matter.

    The NCW wants the Gujarat government to explain whether due process was followed before orders were given to put the woman under 24×7 state surveillance; it has requested Shinde to institute a probe into the surveillance; while it wants the woman’s father to confirm the authenticity of the letter believed to have been sent by him to the NCW on Tuesday.

    In the letter, the woman’s father says that his request to Modi to keep an eye on his daughter was done with her knowledge while requesting no further pursuance of the matter. “We have sent notice to the Gujarat home minister, chief secretary and Amit Shah who was home minister in 2009 when the snooping took place to probe under what circumstances orders were passed, if it violated constitutional rights of privacy and whether state machinery was misused for the purpose,” Nirmala Samant Prabhavalkar said.