I.S. Saluja
All is not well with Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation. Yes, there is no misprint here. You are reading it right. Reports are trickling in that there is a vertical split in the Board of Members on the issue of the election of Dr. Prem Goel as President. It is being alleged by some that Dr. Goel was not eligible to seek election and, yet, he was allowed to contest.
Dr. Goel’s supporters deny the allegation. The tussle is continuing to the point of loss of a fine institution, given to a noble charitable cause of helping cancer patients in India. Let me give The Indian Panorama readers vital information about the origin and work of Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation. Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation, a dream of late Nargis Dutt and her husband Sunil Dutt, has served cancer patients in India for 33 years now. It was founded in 1981 in the city of the world-New York.
It has been a long but satisfying journey for the organization that has believed with Albert Schweitzer, a German theologian, philosopher, and physician that “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.” During the period between 1982 and 2013, the NDMF completed 57 projects valued at more than 5 million dollars, sponsored Indian doctors for specialized training in treatment of cancer in prestigious Medical Institutes in the US and recognized excellence of scores of achievers and contributors.
The introduction to the Foundation, as carried out, in a Foundation brochure reads: “Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation was established in 1981 in memory of Nargis Dutt, a famous Bollywood movie star of India. She gave numerous memorable performances in movies including Mother India, which was nominated for an Oscar in 1957. She was a very caring human being whose dream was to see that the best available medical care can also be provided to under privileged and needy people in India. “While undergoing specialized medical treatment in New York for cancer, Mrs. Dutt articulated her dream and repeatedly expressed her regret that the medical care that she was able to receive was unavailable in her Motherland. Her deep concern for the sick and disabled led her to set definite goals towards making improved medical services available to the poorest in India.
She already had considerable work to her credit in rehabilitation, and education of handicapped children in India. Unfortunately, she did not live long enough to see the evolution of her dream. After her demise, her husband Sunil Dutt established the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation and through various projects worked to keep Nargis Dutt’s dream alive.” And, after Sunil Dutt’s demise on 25 May, 2005, his illustrious daughter Priya Dutt took upon herself the responsibility of guiding the destiny of an organization that has become synonymous with the late Dutts and cancer. During the period between 1982 and 2013, the NDMF has completed 57 projects valued at more than 5 million dollars, sponsored Indian doctors for specialized training in treatment of cancer in prestigious Medical Institutes in the US and recognized excellence of scores of achievers and contributors.
It will be of interest to our readers to know as to how the idea of forming NDMF came up. In 1981 Nargis Dutt who was suffering from pancreatic cancer was treated at Sloane Kettering Institute in New York. In spite of best efforts of doctors and the loving care of her husband, Sunil Dutt, cancer ultimately snuffed life out of the legendary cine artist. According to the information given by one of the nine founding members, Mr. Inder Bindra, Sunil Dutt had come to New York in April/May, 1981 to settle the bill for Nargis Dutt’s treatment at Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center.
They were together in the Bahamas when the idea of forming Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation came to their mind. It was later that he, along with 8 other persons with philanthropic disposition (some of whom have since withdrawn or have migrated to the other world) held a meeting with Sunil Dutt and discussed the issue of forming the organization. Sunil Dutt felt mightily pleased and said he was obliged for the offer to form Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Foundation. Thus, the embryonic idea took a shape in 1981. And soon, the first formal meeting took place in the month of May, 1981 itself.
The NDMF was registered as 501-C 3 Not-for Profit corporation on 25th February, 1982. Ranjit Ghura and Russel Rosen in Wall Street who was the attorney helped in the formation of the corporation. There were nine incorporating members- Nicole Beattie, Inderjit S. Bindra, Edward Beattie, M. D., Shashi Patel, M. D., Suresh Patel, Jas Ghura, Amar Jit Singh, M. D., Bhupendra R. Patel, M. D., and Manu Savani. Readers would have understood by now what a great difference the community can make by coming together and working together for a cause. Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation has been doing a great service in the cause of fighting the dreaded disease of cancer.
Over the last thirty plus years, the Foundation attracted the generosity of a number of good Samaritans and funded a number of projects to provide treatment to cancer patients in India. The Foundation has become a household name in the Indian American community of New York. It is viewed as an example of what good to community the good people can do together. One would wish the fine memorial to late Nargis Dutt would not be allowed to crumble in a fratricidal conflict for posts and positions. At this point, I would urge the community to come forward and save the institution which is part of our life and example of the good deeds that the community has done together.
Please call members of NDMF board to tell them the institution belongs to the community and the community will not permit them to decimate it. I appeal to the readers of The Indian Panorama, who, I know, have great concern for community interests, to not rest until the feuding board members either find an amicable solution to run the institution or make way for others to take charge of it. Appeal to their good sense. Shame them, if necessary. It is a test of the strength of the community. Don’t fail, please.
Let me give our readers a list of Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation board members.
Read as name: email: phone no.
1. Andy Mansukhani: lalita007@aol.com : 1 917 865 7470
2. Ashi Chhabra: ashiji16@gmail.com: 1 718 479 5983
3. Peter Bheddah: bheddah@aol.com : 1 516 765 6622
4. Dr. Jagdish K. Gupta: jagdishkgupta@gmail.com : 1 917 961 2886
5. Gurdip Singh Narula : snarula43@msn.com : 1 516 455 3253
6. Inder Bindra: bindra@optonline.com: 1 516353 9353
7. Rahul Dev Singh: rahulsinghny@gmail.com: 1 347 681 5881
8. Mrs. Shammi Singh: shamminy@gmail.com: 1 917 862 1313
9. Sher Singh Madra: shermadra@outlook.com: 1 917 653 7007
10. hudh Singh Jasuja: shudh@aol.com : 1 516 852 2000
11. Zinda Singh: tactrading@yahoo.com: 1 917 833 9867
12. Hussain Baqueri: hussain@sirspeedyplainview.com: 1 201 294 2985
Month: September 2014
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Community must save Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation from decay
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NINA DAVULURI, Indian-origin news anchor and Miss America, to host Narendra Modi reception in NY
NEW YORK (TIP): Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri and a popular Indian-origin news anchor has been selected to host a high-profile public reception organized by the Indian American community in the US in honor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York on September 28. She will have the company of another master of ceremonies in Hari Sreenivasan, 40, who is a PBS News Hour Weekend Anchor.
Davuluri, 25, very well know to New York Indian American community is the first Indian-American to be crowned Miss America 2014. Nearly 20,000 Indian Americans are expected to be present at the prestigious Madison Square Garden on September 28 for Modi’s public reception, which is said to be the largest of its kind for any head of the State in the US. “Citizens of the world’s greatest democracy are eager to hear from the leader of the world’s largest democracy,” said Anand Shah, spokesperson of Indian American Community Foundation (IACF) which was formed recently to bring together organizations across the Indian-American Diaspora.
The foundation has the support of more than 400 Indian American organizations from across the country. Shah said there is a great enthusiasm among Indian Americans for the public reception of Modi, who was voted to power with an overwhelming majority this year – the first in three decades. “Tickets to the event are free. The program has been generously sponsored by thousands of individuals who are excited to participate in an unprecedented show of support to promote a stronger friendship between the US and India,” Shah said in a IACF statement, which has received thousands of more applications from Indian Americans than the number of seats available at the Madison Square Garden.
A lottery would finally decide who would actually have a seat inside the Madison Square Garden to listen live to Modi. In addition to the thousands of general public, and community leaders, a large number of elected officials are also expected to attend Modi’s public reception. -
Star Studded line up for Maharashtra Tourism Diwali at Times Square 2014
NEW YORK (TIP): “After the appearance of Bollywood big wigs like Ranbir Kapoor and his parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh at last year’s event, this year promises to be bigger and better”, said Neeta Bhasin, President and CEO of Event Guru and ASB Communications, organizers and manager of the mega event.
A press release issued by the organizers says, “We have been waiting to find out who will the grace the stage this year and finally the news is out – Aditya Roy Kapur of Aashiqi 2 fame and Parineeti Chopra of Ishaqzade will rock the stage with their mind blowing performances to the hit numbers from their new movie Dawaat-EIshq. Yet again this landmark Diwali event in the heart of Times Square, NY will see a fantastic show lighting up the venue with melodious singers like Shaan and Shalmali, Bollywood’s finest playback singers. There is something lined up for the younger generation in the audience as well – Culture Shock, DJ Baba Kahn, Mickey Singh and Arjun will dazzle Times Square with their charged performances that will keep you on your feet.
If that isn’t enough, Aditya and Pankhuri of Pyar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyara Pyara (A popular soap on Star Plus) will also be present to meet their fans and perform for them. Choreography for the evening will be done by none other than Marzi and his team of talented performers from Shiamak Davar’s dance school. Festivities will begin at noon and will include a wide variety of Indian food, dance classes, Indian arts and crafts, a fashion show, kid’s rides and much more.
In the evening a free, live concert will be held from 5.30pm to 9pm and one will be treated to the performances by all the stars mentioned above. “Air India is the sponsor of the autograph / photograph booth once again and excited to be back. “After the tremendous success of last year’s event, Air India is proud to once again be the Presenting Sponsor of Event Guru’s Diwali in Time Square”, said John Massey, Marketing Manager, “we look forward to people coming in large numbers to celebrate the Indian New Year festivities, and to stop by Air India’s Autograph booth to interact and take photos with the celebrities.” “Event Guru and ASB Communications are organizing and managing this event, Neeta Bhasin, the President and CEO of Event Guru and ASB Communications, said “We are so excited to have all these stars perform for our audience at Times Square! They are great entertainers and add a lot of prestige and excitement to our event!” Event Guru is an event management and PR agency servicing clients around the world.
We specialize in delivering unique and modern experiences through various types of concerts, banquets, press conferences, and much more. Using our experience and relationship in the market, we are able to provide our clients with superior service at an affordable price. ASB Communications is a full-service international multicultural advertising and marketing organization.
ASB provides integrated marketing solutions to companies looking to target the ethnic market, including the Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Eastern European and African markets in USA, UK and Canada. Since its inception in 1997, ASB has nurtured deep roots in the ethnic communities in North America. The company has taken part in over 3,000 events on behalf of its clients. For more Information about Diwali at Times Square please contact us at info@diwalitimessquare.com or visit us on -
Sapient Party’s Kick off Press Conference & Rally held in NY
Steve Cohn for Governor; Bobby K. Kalotee for Lt. Governor announced
NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): The newly formed Sapient Party held its first press conference and rally in New York City September 8th, 2014. The rally was sponsored and supported by many celebrity athletes and Jack Brewer Foundation. The rally was in support of the statewide candidates for the newly formed Sapient Party. Candidates for the Governor Steve Cohn and for Lt. Governor Bobby K. Kalotee for the State of New York arrived together at the venue, to meet and greet enthusiastic cheering supporters. Once they made their way through the crowd on the boat they were welcomed by volunteers, friends and family.
With many celebrities in attendance, the kickoff event was launched by the host Jack Brewer, who is a former NFL player for Giants, Viking and Eagles. Some of the stars who were present on the occasion included NY JETS Jeff Cumberland and Jeremy Kerley, NY Knicks Tim Hardaway Jr., Denver Broncos Darrell Reid and Philadelphia 76ers John Askew. Jack Brewer introduced his friend for the last 10 years and now candidate for Lt. Governor Bobby K Kalotee, saying, “I am here to support Bobby and Steve because they care for all the people irrespective of who they are or where they came from”. Jack added, “I have worked with Bobby on many charitable missions such as taking doctors to Central America, Haiti or Malawi to treat the underserved population.
We had also provided relief in times of disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and floods in El Salvador and Guatemala”. Bobby thanked Jack for his kind introduction and friendship. He also thanked other celebrities, supporters and volunteers who worked very hard for bringing the Sapient Party to this success of being on the Ballot. Bobby said, “This is history in the making”. Bobby then introduced his friend for over 20 years and now running mate for New York state; Gubernatorial candidate Steve Cohn. The two discussed the platform of the party and how they can better serve the state of New York.
They spoke about Sapient Party’s principles and stressed the importance of the true belief in America and Americans first. Steve said that the platform of the “Sapient Party will ensure a better today than yesterday, and we will make tomorrow the best”. He wants New Yorkers to be able to get better jobs and realize the American dream. This is only possible, if all the New Yorkers who care for better New York and better America come out and vote on November 4th on Row H. Bobby added that the Sapient party will be the voice of the people because we are inclusive of all, not exclusive of any.
He also mentioned when a voter chooses a public servant he or she should not become a public boss, because of the trust New Yorkers bestowed in him. The reality is many of our public servants become public bosses. They forget they made a promise to serve as public servants. Bobby and Steve gave out a message of working together for a better tomorrow for New York and New Yorkers. “Let us all work together so that we can make a difference for a better tomorrow for the state of New York.”The Party of Wisdom” places people first.”
For further information, www.sapientparty.com; www.facebook.com/sapientparty Twitter@sapientparty; 516-586-8024 -
NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF COMMITTEE ON COURTS AND LEGAL SERVICES
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The New York City Council announced, September 11, formation of the Committee on Courts and Legal Services. Chaired by Council Member Rory Lancman, the Committee on Courts and Legal Services will allow the City Council greater oversight of the New York City’s legal system in its mission to provide due justice and fair representation for all New Yorkers.
“Every New Yorker is entitled to equal justice under the law, and the Committee on Courts and Legal Services and the City Council will work with community partners and city agencies to identify ways to meet that fundamental goal,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Under the leadership of Chair Rory Lancman, the Committee will examine the demand for legal services and the resources and support needed for the courts to serve our city with integrity.
Now more than ever, this is an important step forward and I look forward to commencing hearings in the weeks ahead.” “A sound justice system — fair and efficient courts, access to quality legal representation – – is essential to progressive government, and I’m grateful for the Speaker’s confidence in my ability to help move these issues forward,” said Council Member Rory Lancman. “We applaud the New York City Council for its insight in creating the new Committee on Courts and Legal Services which will focus on access to justice issues, expansion of much needed legal services, and the need to provide additional services to communities of color,” said Seymour W. James, Jr., Attorney-in-Chief of The Legal Aid Society.
“The Committee should review the availability of legal services and make recommendations for much needed increases in funding for legal services. We at The Legal Aid Society look forward to working with this new Committee in the future.” “Civil legal services are essential in the fight against poverty and for equal justice for all New Yorkers,” said Raun Rasmussen, Executive Director of Legal Services NYC. “Unfortunately, fewer than one in five lowincome New Yorkers who need legal help can get it due to insufficient funding. We are thrilled that the City Council is taking this important step toward expanding access to justice for all New Yorkers.”
“Every year the New York Legal Assistance Group turns away tens of thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers seeking our services, who are forced to navigate the civil justice system without benefit of counsel,” said Yisroel Schulman, President and Attorney-in-Charge of the New York Legal Assistance Group. “We support the City Council’s efforts to increase access to justice for those least able to fight back – seniors, immigrants, ailing veterans, children, families facing foreclosure, renters facing eviction, low-income consumers, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations.” “Civil society depends on well-functioning and properly maintained courts, and on access to quality legal representation for all parties,” said Joseph Carola III, Esq., President of the Queens County Bar Association.
“That’s why the Queens County Bar Association commits so much time and resources to advocating for our justice system and supporting the professional development of our members. I commend Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for establishing this important committee and Council Member Rory Lancman for his willingness to undertake this important responsibility.” “As a chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, the New York Women’s Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York support access to justice for all.
Access to justice addresses the core of WBASNY’s mission purpose: the advancement of the law to assist women and all in society,” said Yacine Barry-Wun, Esq., President of the NYWBA. “Every day, thousands of New Yorkers — many of them self-represented or without adequate legal representation — rely on our courts to render impartial justice on matters large and small,” said Mitchell B. Nisonoff, Co-Chair, Civil Court Practice Section, New York County Lawyers’ Association. “The City Council has an important role to play in ensuring that our justice system is fair and efficient. I strongly commend this increased focus on our courts and the provision of legal services.” -
INDIA: THE ODD BRIC OUT
India must strike a balance between its new emerging partners and beneficial Western ties
India would be foolish to join an anti-Western bloc as India’s rise is inherently tied to the West. Given the popular view that the BRICS are opposed to the West, India finds itself in the unique position of being a part of the BRICS collective as well as having overtly friendly relations with the U.S., a relationship that is likely to further improve in the future as Modi visits the U.S. and ties strengthen.
By Stephen Junor The BRICS nations have rapidly evolved from a group of emerging economies into political contenders in a new world, driven by the search for an alternative to Western hegemony. Recent Western failures have also helped to launch the BRICS concept as an alternative, and have possibly pushed the countries closer together than they may have initially intended.
There are also differences (the China-India border disputes for example) that would have seriously tested the relationship between other countries, but for now they are responsible for the multi-polar world that appears to be emerging. The Western approach toward BRICS has generally been one of skepticism, but when it comes to India there is a conspicuously different portrayal in the media compared to the rest of the countries. Although the recent U.S.-Africa summit suggests friendly relations, South Africa has always seen itself as a member of the global South and champions countries that don’t acquiesce to U.S. dominance. The conflict between the U.S. (somewhat supported by much of Europe) and Russia is well-known, and the media consistently highlights the conflict and difference between the U.S. and China.
American interference in Latin America has made relations between Brazil and the U.S. touchy, and the rhetoric from Brazil in the wake of NSA spying last year was scathing. Despite relations taking a hit last year when Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York, U.S. and Western media have generally been friendly toward India, exemplified by President Barack Obama’s invitation to newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the U.S., despite Modi previously being blocked from the U.S. over his failure to stop sectarian violence as Gujarat’s chief minister in 2002, when more than 1,000 people were killed. It is likely that the U.S. views India as a potential foothold in Asia.
India is often heralded in the Western media as the world’s largest democracy, in an attempt to provide common ground and a nod of disapproval to the likes of China and Russia. In contrast to the other BRICS members, Indian elites aspire to the wealth and influence of the U.S., and it is only natural that this aspiration would manifest itself in the politics of the country. Modi is a proponent of free market capitalism and this bodes well for relations with the U.S., which will see him as an accessible figure.
There are further important differences between India and the rest of the BRICS nations.World Bank data shows that India’s GDP per capita severely lags behind the rest at around $1,500, four times less than China and South Africa, seven times less than Brazil and almost 10 times less than Russia. India hasn’t replicated the rapid growth of the other BRICS countries since the turn of the millennium, and this is also reflected in a slower reduction in the poverty gap. Just under 25 percent of the population still live on less than $2 a day, compared to 10 percent or less for the other countries. Such a severe development problem will hinder Indian growth in the near future and will see it fall further behind.
Modi will be expected to implement reforms that improve growth and lift hundreds of millions out of crippling poverty. Growth alone will not solve the poverty problem in India however. When it comes to literacy rates in adults, the 2011 Indian census recorded a figure of 74 percent while the rest of the BRICS nations record over 90 percent. Literacy among women is even lower at 64 percent. Infrastructure in India is also sub-standard. An overburdened transport systems and insufficient electricity grids that are overly reliant on coal contribute to the poverty problem while hindering growth. Rapid urbanization is also putting pressure on these systems, making the problem more acute.
India also has a digital problem as only 15 percent of the population uses the internet, compared to upwards of 40 percent for the other BRICS. Connectivity is important, particularly for those often marginalized in society, as evidence points towards benefits for education and health. India has a distinctive set of problems that the other BRICS countries have largely moved beyond. Given the political and economic clout of the BRICS collective, India could soon find itself left behind within the group. Indeed the statistics above and the obvious clout of China and Russia suggest that India may lack influence within the group already, despite efforts to spread power within the recently announced New Development Bank.
This is where the U.S. could become more influential with India. In a recent interview with The Diplomat, Sadanand Dhume, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and Wall Street Journal columnist, said that India would be foolish to join an anti-Western bloc as India’s rise is inherently tied to the West. Given the popular view that the BRICS are opposed to the West, India finds itself in the unique position of being a part of the BRICS collective as well as having overtly friendly relations with the U.S., a relationship that is likely to further improve in the future as Modi visits the U.S. and ties strengthen.
India will need to manage its relationships carefully, as it will not want to find itself isolated from either the U.S. or the BRICS. It is also important that India doesn’t become geopolitically caught between the two sides: Any point of tension between the West and an individual BRICS country could reflect on the rest of the group. Indeed if India wants to achieve strong growth and solve its development crisis, then it will need to harness relationships with both sides. The next few years will be crucial for Indian development, and as the international political situation slowly evolves, it will be interesting to see how India locates itself in relation to the West and the other BRICS countries.
(Stephen Junor writes on the rise of BRICS and geopolitics) (Source: The Diplomat) -
Nations of the world need to find peace in war torn Iraq and Syria
America has been compelled to get involved in another conflict, much against the will of its people and President Obama himself who had once disapproved of U.S. involvement in Iraq, and later spoken strongly in favor of withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in a phased manner by the end of 2014. Obama appeared to give an impression that he will not commit USA to another conflict. However, circumstances in the Middle East have forced the hand of the unwilling-to-go -to -war Obama in to accepting the fait accompli.
So, the scene is laid out. America will not commit troops but will provide wherewithal to “destroy” the ISIS- the Islamic, Jihadi monster. The air strikes will not remain confined to areas in Iraq where ISIS has captured a vast swath and has fortified its positions; Syria will also receive the beating. It doesn’t need much imagination to conclude that the conflict will be a bloody one in which not only ISIS elements will lose lives, thousands of innocent civilians will also die.
Nobody can predict how long the conflict will continue but one thing is certain the agony of the people in the two countries is likely to be a prolonged one. Another aspect of the conflict, besides loss of life and misery of the people in Iraq and Syria, is how it will affect and define relationship between the populations in the zone of conflict. Iraq is divided amongst Sunnis, Shias and the Kurds. Today, in view of threat from ISIS, there is a semblance of unity that is evident from formation of a government there.
But how real the unity is and how long will they remain united, given the history of their conflicts, is anybody’s guess. Syria has been going through a domestic turmoil for years now. The internal conflict was accentuated by outside forces. Even today, left to the Syrians themselves, they may be able to find a peaceful settlement. But then, the policemen of the world may not approve of it.
The result is there for all to see. Hundreds keep dying and destruction of property makes cities desolate. Where are we heading for? It certainly is not the road to peace. Nations of the world must sit up and find a lasting solution, a peaceful solution, not a bloody prolonged conflict which takes away innocent lives and turns green pastures in to deserts. -
PRIME MINISTER MODI’S SPEECH AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK
“I have written this article imaging and imagining what PM Modi may say or could say at the MSG address to NRI’s on September 28th,” says the author.
When we were students in India, we were occasionally asked to write an essay on “What would I tell the people if I was the Prime Minster of the country”. This was as much an exercise in essay writing as it was letting us young people wonder what indeed would we do and say if we were to be the PM of a country as large and diverse as India! Today I am tempted to write once again with the impending visit of India’s new Prime Minister to address the NRI’s and other dignitaries at the world famous arena, Madison Square Garden, in New York city, where NRIs from all over the US will have the opportunity to listen and hear what Mr. Modi has to say to all of us.
To begin with , I will resist the temptation to give an election speech and focus on establishing India’s leadership role in the new world , the opportunity India’s new economy will offer to the world and the importance of the NRI community not only in the US but all over the world. In the process, I will ensure that I tell the truth the way it is because this is the moment to face reality and the truth as no one can hide from it anymore. So here I go with an outline of Mr. Modi’s address at MSG on 28th Sep, 2014: My dear NRI brothers and sisters of America.
I am truly honored and humbled that you have accorded me this wonderful opportunity to directly talk to you and see you in person. This is the world’s most famous arena where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier showed their amazing talents. This is the home ground of New York basketball and ice hockey teams, the Knicks and the Rangers. This is the place where so many brilliant musicians and show masters have given their outstanding performances. By honoring me here, you have given the Pradhan Sevak from India his moment of glory. Please do not judge my performance against the brilliance of those who have performed here in the past, after all I am only a “chaiwala” having a new “chai per charcha” with you today.
Thank you for coming in such large numbers and giving me the honor of addressing you in this arena and allowing me to set a record with your massive team work. I sincerely thank the organizers and every single person, volunteers and guests today. Please accept my sincere gratitude. Thank you again. It is said we are living in interesting times! Actually, for India it is perhaps the most crucial of all times because we have to collectively respond to the challenges we are facing as a country both from within and outside.We need to revive the economy to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of millions of young people that somehow got affected adversely in the past ten years.
I cannot roll back those years but I have promised to establish a performance based culture in India which will lead to good governance and economic growth for all its people. That is the mandate our party has received from the people of India and I am holding myself, my government and my party responsible and accountable for. No excuses, no alibis and no nonsense. Yes, we will make mistakes and sometimes circumstances will overwhelm us, but we will recover, correct our path and march forward again. In that effort and journey we will need your support, understanding and patience.
Let me begin by saying that in the first 100 days, we have taken some very bold steps to inspire confidence in the people of India – that we can do and achieve more than we have become accustomed to accepting and living with. I have already promised the Japanese Government that we will offer the red carpet and not the red tape for the investments coming from that country. Let me assure you, we will do the same for American investors and businesses who are keen to invest in India.
To that end we have begun the work of establishing practices that will enable us roll out the red carpet to you. The India you will see, now onwards, will not be the India you have known in the past. The people of India are up to that challenge and ready to embrace the change that the mool mantra of “Growth and governance” will do for them. This is also the moment to eliminate the evil of corruption that puts us in really bad light in the world business community. I want to promise that India will move up in two specific rankings, the corruption index and doing business index.We are better than where we are today and to that end I will personally do my best to make us feel proud of who we are and what we are capable of being and doing.
India will be the new engine of economic growth for the world we live in and our goal is to make sure that happens in all seriousness. Secondly, I am here for the UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders. It is a great experience to meet, greet and share friendship with so many leaders of the world at this annual event in New York. As we all know the world is going through very difficult and dangerous times with some groups of people hell bent on destabilizing the much needed peace that is essential for men, women and children of the world. The death of so many innocent people including the helpless children cannot be an acceptable way of life anywhere in the world. To abuse religion in that way is abusing the Will of God himself.
Leaders of every single country in the world must stand united in fighting the evil of murder and forcible conversions of helpless or face death scenarios causing untold sufferings to the helpless and innocent lives. The coalition of the willing needs to be established and there is no way any country can justify partnering with the perpetrators of terrorism for reasons of political expediency. It is this very fact that destabilizes the trust factor in the world leadership and bilateral relationships.
I do believe India has earned the right to become a permanent member of the Security Council but we are not going to bend our principles to get a seat on the Council . I believe India will continue to make its impact on the world economy , politics and social lives and the world will learn the power and virtue of diversity that India is home to.While the United States is the most authentic melting pot, India has always believed in the philosophy and practice of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam”- the world is home for all! Our country is home to every single religion who practice their faith without fear. Yes there may be incidents that affect people adversely but those are isolated in practice.
Thirdly, America is not a great country because it is a beautiful country – it is a great country because it has given outstanding leadership to the world, created opportunities for its people and strongly believes in “Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” as the main source of life and living. It would be unfair to single out a few leaders but who can forget the inspiring words of President Kennedy , who said ” Ask not what the country can do for you but what you can do for your country” . And on another occasion when he said, “we are not going to the moon because it is easy to do so. We are going to the moon because it is difficult to do so”.
Leaders such as JFK inspired the people to rise above their normal being who began to see things differently. It is this spirit of enterprise, self-pride and adventure that I want to take back from here and I invite you to bring these values to India with you whenever you happened to visit India. I have accepted the challenge to rebuild India and reposition India on the world map not because it is easy to do so but because it is difficult and I seek your support , cooperation and patience in making it happen.
I am proud of you NRIs as you stand united as Indians under the banner of NRI. Whatever language you may speak, you are NRIs first! You are, from my point of view, the New Responsible Indians and every Indian in India must become the new NRI – the New Responsible Indian! You have prospered here because you got an opportunity to be what and who you are , working hard , retaining family values and culture , taking care of children , contributing to the communities you live in and being good citizens of America! We are proud of you as you are the true representatives and ambassadors of your original homeland. Come join me and those back home to create a new India.
Finally, there are great expectations from the strategic relationship and partnership between the US and India. I am here to offer the United States my country’s commitment to fight against the evil of terrorism. I am here to offer unprecedented economic cooperation. I am here to do what it takes to help India and Indians achieve economic freedom and prosperity.
I am here to bring prosperity to Americans living here. I promise that the US and President Obama will receive my full cooperation in the fight against terrorism and boosting economic relationships between our two great countries upholding our essential beliefs, values and causes we believe in. I am sure you will support all of us in this task and endeavor. Jai Hind!
(The author is a prolific writer. He can be
reached at vibhutijha@aol.com) -
Congresswoman Meng lauded for her advocacy on behalf of Indian-American community
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Indian Consulate in New York hosted a reception with U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and the Indian-American Community, September3 night. The event, held in conjunction with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), featured a meet and greet with Meng as well as a speech by the Congresswoman that highlighted the importance of U.S.-India relations and her advocacy on behalf of the Indian-American community.
Consul General presents, on behalf of GOPIO, a plaque to Congresswoman. Ashhok Ramsaran of GOPIO is on extreme right
The event also included speeches about Meng’s work on India by Consul General in New York Dnyaneshwar Mulay, and several Indian- American leaders which included Ravi and Ranju Batra, Ashook Ramsaran, Sudha Acharya, Naidoo Veerapan and Mridul Pathak, among others. In addition, the Global Organization of Persons of Indian Origin (GOPIO) honored Meng by awarding her with a special plaque and several other tokens of appreciation. “I thank Consul General Mulay and members of the Indian-American community for their kind words, and all their support and friendship,” said Meng.
At the reception to Congresswoman Grace Meng at the Indian Consulate in New York, September 3, 2014. (From L to R) Naidoo Veerapen (GOPIO), Sudha Acharya (GOPIO), Grace Meng, Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay, Ashook Ramsaran (GOPIO) and Mridul Pathak (GOPIO)
“I look forward to continuing to work with them to further strengthen U.S.-India relations and improve the lives of all Indian-Americans.” The reception was organized by AJC as part of its effort to build stronger ties between the Jewish Indian-American communities. Meng, who was sworn into Congress in January 2013, is serving her first term in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the New York City borough of Queens.
She serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans. She also plans on meeting with India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to New York, and is set to attend his address at Madison Square Garden on September 28th. -
Yahoo compelled to release data
WASHINGTON (TIP): The Washington Post carried a story by Craig Timberg in its September 11 edition which disclosed the U.S. government threatened to fine Yahoo $250,000 a day in 2008 if it failed to comply with a broad demand to hand over user data that the company believed was unconstitutional, according to court documents unsealed Thursday, September 11, that illuminate how federal officials forced American tech companies to participate in the NSA’s controversial PRISM program.
The documents, roughly 1,500 pages worth, outline a secret and ultimately unsuccessful legal battle by Yahoo to resist the government’s demands. The company’s loss required Yahoo to become one of the first companies to begin providing information to PRISM, a program that gave the National Security Agency extensive access to records of online communications by users of Yahoo and other U.S.-based technology firms.
“The released documents underscore how we had to fight every step of the way to challenge the U.S. Government’s surveillance efforts,” said company General Counsel Ron Bell in a Tumblr post published Thursday afternoon. The program, which was discontinued in 2011, was first revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden last year, prompting intense backlash and a wrenching national debate over allegations of overreach in government surveillance.
Federal Judge William C. Bryson, presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, ordered the documents from the legal battle unsealed on Thursday as part of a broad effort by the court system to declassify the arguments that formed the legal foundation for PRISM. The original order to Yahoo came in 2007 and set off alarms at the company because of the sweep of its requests and its side-stepping of the traditional requirement that each target be subject to court review before surveillance could begin.
The order, Yahoo officials said, required only that the target be outside of the United States at the time, even if the person was a U.S. citizen. The company challenged the order on constitutional grounds but lost repeatedly, both at the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and an appeals court, the Foreign Intelligence Court of Review. The government requested and obtained permission to share the ruling with other companies as it gradually pressured most of the major players in the American tech industry – including Google, Apple and Facebook – to comply with the data demands.
The requests concerned not the content of emails but what it called “metadata,” which detailed who users exchange e-mails with and when. It is not known if e-mail collection continues in some other form. The ACLU, which had supported Yahoo’s legal fight in 2008, applauded Thursday’s move to release the documents but said it was long overdue. “The public can’t understand what a law means if it doesn’t know how the courts are interpreting that law,” said Patrick Toomey, a staff attorney with the ACLU’s national Security Project. -
MENG BILL TO QUASH WIDESPREAD TELEPHONE SCAM DEFRAUDING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS PASSED BY HOUSE
Congresswoman’s legislation aims to stop scammers and unscrupulous telemarketers from ripping people off through caller ID scheme known as spoofing
WASHINGTON (TIP): A Bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) to quash a widespread telephone scheme that has targeted and defrauded millions of Americans – including the South Asian community – passed the full House of Representatives September 10 night.
The measure now heads to the Senate. The Anti-Spoofing Act (H.R. 3670) aims to combat “spoofing,” a practice in which bogus names and phone numbers are displayed on recipients’ caller IDs in order to trick them into answering the phone or replying to text messages.
The practice is widely used by con artists and unscrupulous telemarketers who use technology to disguise their numbers and identities to make their calls appear legitimate. Devious telemarketers employ the practice to dishonestly sell their merchandise, and fraudsters use it to obtain personal or financial information by misrepresenting themselves as, among other things, government agencies, hospitals, banks, pharmacies and credit card companies.
“Attention scammers and deceitful telemarketers: We are one step closer to stopping you from using caller ID spoofing to rip-off unwitting, vulnerable consumers such as the elderly, immigrants and veterans,” said Meng. “I thank my colleagues in the House for joining me in trying to end this shameful and malicious practice, and I now call on the Senate to quickly follow suit.” This past tax season, con artists used caller ID spoofing to dupe tens of thousands of Americans – including South Asian Americans – into thinking that they were being contacted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The phone scammers posed as IRS officials demanding immediate payment for unpaid taxes, and threatened to arrest the victims if they did not immediately pay with a debit card or wire transfer. Often times, the fraudsters disguised their numbers to make it appear that the calls were actually originating from IRS. The scheme forced the IRS to warn the public, and similar scam alerts were issued by other affected government agencies such as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In addition, scammers have impersonated law enforcement by using the phone numbers of police departments – including the NYPD – to swindle consumers. In 2009 Congress passed, and President Obama signed into law the Truth in Caller ID Act, which prohibits caller ID spoofing when it is used to defraud or harm Americans. But spoofing technology has evolved since the law was enacted, and criminals have found ways to circumvent it.
Meng’s legislation seeks to tighten and strengthen the Truth in Caller ID Act by:
1. Broadening the law to prohibit spoofing by foreigners. Presently, many U.S.-based companies spoof calls to U.S. residents but originate them from outside the United States.
2. Broadening the law to include new internet-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services that enable callers to make outgoing-only calls from computers and tablets to mobile and landline phones, a technology that was undeveloped in 2009 when the Truth In Caller ID Act was adopted and a practice that has contributed significantly to the spoofing problem.
3. Broadening the law to include text messaging, a technology that has become much more prevalent since 2009 and a spoofing method that fraudsters use with increasing regularity. Meng introduced the Anti-Spoofing Act this past December with Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ), and she testified about the measure in July before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
The Congresswoman’s legislation is supported by AARP (due to spoofing’s impact on seniors), consumer advocacy organizations, law enforcement agencies and the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs and the New York Mayor’s office of Immigrant Affairs. -
Seventh Independence Day Mushaira and Kavi Sammelan held in Washington
HERNDON, VA (TIP): “The beauty of Ghalib’s poetry is that your appreciation of his poetry grows more as you listen to it”, said Mr. N. K. Mishra, Minister, Cultural Affairs, Embassy of India. Mishra was addressing the gathering assembled at the 7th Annual Independence Day Mushaira-Kavi Sammelan and release of a recently published book,
The Treasure: A Modern Rendition of Ghalib’s Love Poetry by Surinder Deol. He said that his study of Ghalib was limited, but he remembers Ghalib’s one sheyr distinctly: Ghalib ne yeh kah kar tor di tasbih / Gin kar kyon naam loon us ka jo bey-hisab deta hai. He thanked organizers for arranging an event which brought poets and audience of both Urdu and Hindi languages under one roof. The function was organized by the Aligarh Alumni Association (AAA), Washington, DC and the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), Washington-Metro at the Auditorium of Fairfax County Library in Herndon, Virginia on August 30, 2014.
N. K. Mishra with poets. (L to R): Dr. A. Abdullah, Ms. Kirana Nath, Mr. A. Rahman Siddiqui, N. K. Mishra, Mr. Baqar Zaidi, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Ms. Vandana Singh, Dr. Renuka Misra, Dr. Vishakha Thaker, and Mr. Aziz Qureshi.
“This book is a welcome addition to the slim corpus of Ghalib in English translation, not only because it has a sure method, but also because it does not sacrifice the essential Ghalib”, said Professor Satyapal Anand presiding the book release ceremony.
Dr. Anand appreciated the hard work and dedication of Deol. “Surinder Deol’s rendition of Ghalib’s poetry into English is a reflection of his indepth understanding and sincere love for Ghalib’s multifaceted poetic compositions”, said Dr. A. Abdullah commenting on the book. Author Surinder Deol described how and why he got interested in bringing Ghalib’s work to English readers. He explained why Ghalib became so popular though there had been so many other great poets in the Subcontinent.
A section of audience
One of the reason was that you can find expression of innovative thoughts full of metaphors and similes, and also a wide range of topics and subjects in his poetry, Deol added. He wanted Ghalib’s work be recognized universally. Greeting the author, poets, dignitaries, and audience, Coordinator of the program and president of GOPIO-Washington, Metro, Dr. Zafar Iqbal said that the goal of this program was to provide a forum where people could get together transcending political, religious, regional, and geographical boundaries promoting Ganga-Jamuni culture of the Subcontinent. He mentioned that in the recent years, a number of authors and poets were recognized through this program. Some of them are: Professor Satyapal Anand, Dr. A. Abdullah, Dr. K. Mohan, Raj Kumar Raaz, Anadi Naik, Mrs. Rashmi Sanan, and Mrs. Daler Deol Aashna. “Success of events led to the organization of first bi-lingual (Urdu- Hindi) poetry recitation program at the Embassy of India in 2012 with our help”, he added.
He thanked N. K. Mishra, Minister for Cultural Affairs, Embassy of India for supporting these programs. Welcoming the audience on behalf of AAA, association’s president, Dr. Fazal Khan mentioned that the association has been engaged in organizing literary and cultural events, as well as collaborating with other community associations for the last 40 years. This year, the association has planned special events to celebrate 40 years of its service to the community.
Dr. A. Abdullah, the most adored conductor of poetry recitation sessions, mentioned in his introductory remark that the increasing number of participants and audience in these programs is a testimony to the desire of people to share the common heritage. “Hindi and Urdu are twin sisters, who have different attire and are marching forward side by side in India and all over the world,” said Dr. Abdullah.
The mushaira session was presided by Abdurrahman Siddiqui and participating poets included A. Abdullah, Aziz Qureshi, Baqar Zaidi, Daler Deol Aashna, Gulshan Madhur, Kiran Nath, Mohammad Hussain Imam, Rakesh Khandelwal, Razi Raziuddin, Satyapal Anand, Vandana Singh, and Vishakha Thaker. On behalf of AAA, Washington DC and GOPIO-Washington Metro, Dr. Renuka Misra thanked poets, distinguished guest and audience for their time and participation. -
CASE WORKER: DAD OVERWHELMED BEFORE 5 KIDS KILLED
COLUMBIA, South Carolina: A man accused of killing his five children was an exconvict whose homes were visited by social workers a dozen times in the last three years. The children seemed happy and welladjusted despite occasional spankings, and the family took a summer trip to Disney World and the beach, according to documents released by the Department of Social Services on Thursday. Authorities never found anything serious enough to take the children away, but the documents show Jones as a single father and computer engineer struggling to raise his children in South Carolina.
In the social worker’s last visit – two weeks before the children’s disappearance – a social worker summed up Jones’ life: “Dad appears to be overwhelmed as he is unable to maintain the home, but the children appear to be clean, groomed and appropriately dressed,” wrote the case worker, who name was blacked out, on an Aug. 13 report. On August 28, Jones picked up his children, ages 8, 7, 6, 2 and 1, from school and day care. Acting Lexington County Sheriff Lewis McCarty said the three boys and two girls were likely killed soon after that, with Jones loading their bodies in trash bags in his Cadillac Escalade, driving around the Southeast for days with the decomposing bodies.
An intoxicated and agitated Jones was arrested in Mississippi on Saturday, and authorities said he had a form of synthetic marijuana on him. Officers found children’s clothes, blood and maggots in his SUV. Three days later, he led police to the bodies on a remote hillside in Alabama. Authorities said they still don’t know his motive, how the children were killed and why they were buried there. Jones was returned to South Carolina on Sept 11 to face murder charges. -
Jan Dhan Yojana opens a new door for RuPay gateway
MUMBAI (TIP): As Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), the financial inclusion scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi late last month notches up impressive numbers and expects to meet its 7.5 crore accounts target well within 100 days, payment gateway RuPay is experiencing a boost in fortunes.
Payment gateways are platforms that help banks facilitate electronic money transfers. India is only the fourth country in the world after the US, Japan and China to have its own national payment gateway, in RuPay. With the PMJDY getting nearly 2.5 crore new bank accounts within seven days of launch, each account holder gets a RuPay debit card along with his/her account.
As a result, RuPay is notching up numbers. According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which developed the platform, the RuPay card has a current base of 2.5 crore users and is seeing about seven lakh inter-bank transactions a day. With the financial inclusion scheme coming into play, the total number of RuPay card holders is likely to surge.
NPCI will declare official numbers at the end of this quarter. AP Hota, Managing Director and CEO of National Payments Corporation of India Ltd (NPCI), said that the target for the year-end was six crore cards. By March 2015, RuPay may be able to add an additional 10 crore accounts. If the Center’s financial inclusion scheme lives up to its hype, the sheer number of RuPay cards in the country will create a critical mass that will help create a huge network of retailers who accept RuPay cards.
According to Reserve Bank of India statistics, the total number of credit cards in India is currently at around 1.9 crore while the number of debit cards issued is at 40 crore. Currently, global organizations such as Visa and MasterCard dominate this space. But Hota says competing with MasterCard and Visa is not a priority. “The perceived competition with MasterCard and Visa is not relevant at this stage. They are global companies with trillion-dollar revenues and deep pockets.
We are a small company with INR 100- crore capital,” he said. The main challenges for RuPay are to get acceptance among the high-income bracket and to increase the number of transactions among those in the lower income bracket. Partner banks have an incentive to push RuPay to customers as transaction costs through this gateway are expected to be at least 40 per cent lower than through Visa and MasterCard. -
India Home to World’s Second-Longest-Running Nuclear Reactor
Unit 5 of RAPS becomes world’s 2nd longest running reactor
RAWATBHATA , RAJASTHAN (TIP): India’s nuclear power program today, September 6, reached a new milestone after Unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station become the second longest running reactor in the world by being in operation for 765 days continuously. The Unit 5 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), a 220 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), in Rawatbhata has been in uninterrupted operation since August 2, 2012 and it has been operating at full power with a capacity factor of 105 per cent.
The plant, commissioned in February 2010, has been running at the capacity of 98.5 per cent and until now generated 8,663 million units of electricity. Speaking on the occasion, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Secretary Ratan Kumar Sinha, said the development was bigger than the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Station (KKNPP) unit 1 reaching its criticality as the success was an outcome of India’s indigenously developed PHWR technology and it has sent an important message of “India’s superiority”.
“This is not only an emotional moment, but a moment of pride. There are only 10 reactors in the world that have crossed 500 days of uninterrupted operation.We can now tell the world that we are second in the world… and now numbers speak about this,” Sinha said. The DAE Secretary said in 1970 they would often make 3-4 trips in a month to RAPS because of the grid failure.
“People would then ridicule whether the power station actually works. At that time units 1 and 2 of RAPS were very new. India then developed the technology and mastered it,” he said. The Unit 5 of RAPS would be shut for maintenance, a mandatory procedure which is to be followed. Unit 7 of Canada’s Pickering nuclear plant holds the world record of running the largest operating plant that ran continuously for 894 days. -
Manmohan Singh knew of 2G scam as it unfolded: Former CAG Vinod Rai
NEW DELHI (TIP): Dr Manmohan Singh’s legacy came under yet another round of intense attack with former CAG Vinod Rai alleging that the former prime minister was aware of major scandals as they unfolded, refuting claims Singh was not fully aware of the machinations that resulted in humungous loss to the public exchequer and mauled the Congress party’s electoral fortunes.
The former CAG’s revelations challenge the defence of Singh that the 2G scam was perpetuated by A Raja using the political necessity of Congress to humour DMK, thus fastening the mega swindle to the reformist PM. Rai, whose book “Not Just An Accountant” is set for release in the next few days, claimed that Dr Singh was alerted by his senior cabinet minister Kamal Nath about the brewing 2G scam. Adding credibility to Rai’s claim, Kamal Nath admitted that he had cautioned Dr Singh against 2G allocations. “I wrote to the Prime Minister that I am hearing all sorts of things are going on in 2G allocation.
The PM chose to do nothing,” Nath told Times Now. The former commerce minister said he feels that had Dr Singh intervened “things would have been different for the Congress”. However, there was no point flogging a dead horse, said Nath even as he emphasized that “A Raja was prosecuted for what he did”, and that Rai should not resort to sensationalism to boost the sales of his book.
The former CAG also claimed that he was under pressure to drop the name of the former civil aviation minister from the federal auditor’s report on the controversial purchase of aircraft for public carriers. He said the then minister, Praful Patel, had “nudged” the public carriers to go in for the large-scale purchase. “All hell broke loose when the draft report reached the ministry and bureaucrats of all hues tried to prompt the CAG to drop the word “nudge”.
Patel denied the charge saying that he never met Rai. Rai’s is only the latest book from those who have had a ringside view of Dr Singh’s prime ministership, and who later chose to record the unpleasant realities of the PMO under him and the UPA government. Dr Singh’s former media advisor Sanjaya Baru, former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh and former coal secretary PC Parakh have all recorded the makings of many scandals that have marked the UPA decade, portraying the former PM as the leader who was not in control or unwilling to intervene. Rai said he was approached by three Congress MPs – former Law minister Ashwani Kumar who had to resign for allegedly pressuring the CBI to dilute PMO’s role in the Coalgate scam, Sanjay Nirupam and Sandeep Dikshit – to drop the name of the Prime Minister from the CAG report on 2G spectrum allocation.
“I mentioned in the book that after the PAC meeting on the 2G, Congress MPs did tell me that keep the PM out of this,” Rai said. Reacting to Rai’s claim, Sanjay Nirupam said the former CAG was lying. “I have never spoken to him,” Nirupam said. Rai said the irregularities in allocation of 2G licences date back to the tenure of Raja’s predecessor and his DMK colleague Dayanidhi Maran in the telecom ministry. “And we had evidence of the licence being given out at particular prices not only from Raja’s time but before also from the previous minister who was also from the DMK.
We found that there was a track record that the previous minister had started in a particular way and Raja followed that way. But Raja kept informing the PM what he was planning to do,” he said. Rai said then PM Manmohan Singh’s own cabinet colleagues were advising him against the licence allocation in arbitrary manner. “Like his own cabinet colleagues were saying that lets discuss this in a GoM. The finance ministry was also saying that lets bring it to a group of ministers.
The law ministry had also advised him to do that. But somehow it did not take place,” he said. The former CAG said former PM had enough time to stop the allocations. “It could have been stopped because between this letter of 26th December and 10th of January when the LOIs were actually issued, there was a fortnight’s time,” he said. “The buck stops at the PM’s desk in any parliamentary democracy. He is the CEO of the country. He can stop, or he can initiate, both. I have written in the book that he probably chose not to stop,” Rai said. -
Talks with Pak only if it responds properly: Rajnath
NEW DELHI (TIP): Days after minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj indicated that doors were not closed for India-Pak talks, home minister Rajnath Singh on September 11 said talks between India and Pakistan could be resumed if the neighbouring country “responds properly”. “If Pakistan responds properly, talks can be held,” he told media on his visit to the India-Pak border in Gujarat. Singh was asked whether there was any possibility of resuming the stalled dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad. Singh said India wants to improve its relations with Pakistan. “Neighbour is a neighbour.
Friend can be changed but neighbour cannot be changed. We also want that our relations with our neighbour improves,” he said. Meanwhile, Singh inaugurated the integration of Border Security Force (BSF) with Gujarat government’s Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo informatics (BISAG) project on Saptember 11 at BSF Camp, Bhuj. The home minister was briefed about the details and utility of BISAG and need for dedicated, encrypted channel for Para Military Forces. Singh addressed BSF Jawans live through BISAG and interacted with them. Few of the jawans telephonically made requests regarding increase of Air Courier services in North East region and Jammu and Kashmir and regarding time bound promotions. One of the jawans also asked for giving one-rank-onepension to BSF also. The Union home minister assured them that he would look into the matter. -
Kejriwal submits ‘sting’ CD to President, police
NEW DELHI (TIP): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on September 11 approached President Pranab Mukherjee and Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi and submitted a CD of the recorded footage which purportedly shows BJP leader Sher Singh Dagar trying to bribe an AAP MLA. “AAP submitted to the President a copy of the video CD and the transcript of the sting operation, which caught the Delhi BJP vice-president offering Rs. 4 crore bribe to AAP MLA Dinesh Mohania,” said an AAP press release.
The CD and transcript was delivered at Rashtrapati Bhawan along with party convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s letter, in which the President has been apprised of the alleged attempts going on to form a government in Delhi through all possible and “illegal” means. “Kejriwal has appealed to the President to order immediate dissolution of the Delhi assembly to prevent subversion of the Constitution by the BJP,” the release says. Kejriwal also met Bassi with his party colleague Manish Sisodia, and requested the police to act against Dagar. “We have submitted the copy of the CD of the sting operation along with a formal complaint and have handed it over to the police commissioner. We have requested him to lodge an FIR and arrest Dagar and question him,” Kejriwal told reporters. BJP’s Dagar has been vehemently denying the allegations made by AAP. -
NO ACCESS TO FOOD, MEDICINE
SRINAGAR (TIP): The flood-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir continue to suffer its devastating impact with people unable to access food, medicines and cash to buy essentials. “All the ATMs are defunct and banks are closed. People have no money. Those who have some cash left cannot buy anything as shops in Srinagar are under water,” said a resident. Worse, there is severe fuel shortage and no assured supply.
Travel has become a luxury as every drop of fuel needs to be saved. People have to travel to Ganderbal, the only district that has not been affected by the unprecedented floods. “Even if I am willing to shell out money, not a single kg of rice, dal or wheat is available. Even essential medicines are out of stock,” said Zahoor, who had travelled 30 km to get medication for his diabetic mother. Whatever stocks were available were over in no time. Medical store keepers said they were not getting fresh supplies. There is no movement of foodgrain and medicines, they said.
No dialysis machine is working in Srinagar as most hospitals are under water. The only hospital – Sher-i- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) – is functioning but the staff is stressed out with a steady stream of patients,” said Zahoor. Eyewitnesses said there were 400 women on Saturday in the only maternity hospital – Lal Ded Hospital – in the city . “Now, it is fully under water.
We do not know what happened to the new-borns and others in the hospital.” The University of Kashmir campus and several school premises in Jammu and Kashmir have turned into relief camps. The Deccan Herald correspondent, found at least 3,000 people in the university camp. A community kitchen there managed to serve dal and rice. University Deputy Registrar Shaukat Shafi told Deccan Herald they were rationing food.
They are utilising purifiers in the laboratories to supply drinking water. Besides food in stock, local people have been donating foodgrain to the relief kitchen. “In Kashmir Valley, people store food, mainly rice, wheat and dal, in preparation for the winter. They have been donating these,” he said. -
Govt steps up relief work to end J&K flood crisis
NEW DELHI (TIP): A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting on Kashmir floods, the ministries on September 11 seemed to be in a hurry to ferry essential supplies and stepped up the relief and rescue operation in the flood ravaged state.
The Prime Minister’s Office staff has voluntarily contributed their one day’s salary to the PM National Relief Fund so that it could be utilised for helping the affected people. In a statement released to the media, the PMO said the staff, including officers, took the step as a gesture to express their solidarity with the flood-affected people.
Modi had convened a high-level meeting and directed officials to chip in and escalate relief operations, with the focus being to provide essential food and other items while the armed forces continued to evacuate marooned persons from the state. The PMO is monitoring the flood situation and relief operation on a continuos basis and is providing assistance to the Omar Abdullah government to meet the challenges thrown by the crisis. Following up on the PM’s direction, Drinking Water and Sanitation minister Nitin Gadkari held a meeting of his officials on Thursday and decided to airlift drinking water supplies on a war footing.
Two lakh litres of water bottles were airlifted for the people caught in one of the worst humanitarian crisis, said an official statement issued by the ministry. The ministry has also dispatched water purification plants of 4 lakh litres per day capacity to help augment the drinking water supply in the Kashmir valley as a part of the central relief measures.
The petroleum ministry, too, is rushing LPG cylinders and other fuels to the marooned Valley though it is finding hard given the fact that some of the oil installations are drowned in water and the road connectively has also been hit. “Some of the oil installations are under water. Road movement is hampered due to floods. But we are trying to reach fuel to the people of Kashmir through alternative routes,” Pradhan said at an Indian Oil Corp (IOC) function in the national capital.
The ministry has arranged 350 trucks packed with petrol, diesel, cooking gas and kerosene which are queued up on roads waiting for unhindered passage to Kashmir. Even the Railways have decided to ferry free relief material to Srinagar. The prompt action of PM had come in for a rare praise from the Congress as their senior leaders Digvijay Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad had lauded Modi for his ‘quick response” in dealing with massive flood crisis in the state. -
JAPANESE NEWSPAPER APOLOGIZES FOR FALSE FUKUSHIMA REPORT
TOKYO (TIP): The publisher of Japan’s leading newspaper apologized to readers on Sep 11 for several serious errors in its reporting, retracting an article that claimed workers abandoned their posts during the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Asahi’s publisher Tadakazu Kimura, speaking at a hastily arranged news conference, made the apology after a confidential government document cited in the daily’s report was finally released to the public with no mention of a mutiny by plant workers. “I offer profound apologies to our readers and people at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO),” the 60-year-old publisher said. He said he would decide whether or not to resign after enacting “revival through sweeping reform.” The article published on May 20 said 90 per cent of workers at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant had left the complex, disobeying the plant chief’s order to stay put in the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.
TEPCO operates the plant, located 220 kilometres (138 miles) northeast of Tokyo. A massive earthquake and tsunami crippled its cooling systems and sent reactors into meltdown in March 2011. The daily said about 650 employees, or 90 per cent of the plant’s workforce, retreated to another seaside TEPCO nuclear plant 12 kilometres away when the nuclear crisis worsened a few days after the accident.
The official document released on Thursday recounted the testimony of plant chief Masao Yoshida to a government investigative panel, with no trace of staff “disobeying Yoshida’s order” as Asahi had claimed. Yoshida died of cancer in July last year. Other dailies which also had access to the then confidential statement had already cast doubt on the article.
In the same news conference, Kimura also admitted a highly contentious report published 32 years ago on the topic of Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women was also false. That report cited a Japanese writer who claimed to have witnessed the kidnapping of women on the South Korean island of Jeju for the purposes of sex slavery, which has since been discredited by independent research by rival newspapers and academics. Asahi admitted in early August that its 1982 article on the comfort women and follow-up reports were based on a “false” statement by the witness, but Kimura’s apology was the publication’s first in relation to it.
“I apologize to readers for publishing the erroneous articles and being too late in making the correction,” he said. The admission of the mistake has boosted the country’s conservative forces, which have insisted there was no “sex slavery” at the frontline brothels and that many of the comfort women were highly paid prostitutes. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a radio talk show on Thursday the report had “agonized many people and impaired Japan’s reputation in the international community”. With few official records available, researchers have estimated up to 200,000 women, many from Korea but also from China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan, served Japanese soldiers in “comfort stations”. -
Chile president urges justice on coup anniversary
SANTIAGO (TIP): Chile’s president marked the 41st anniversary on Sep 11 of the coup that brought Augusto Pinochet to power by urging those with details about crimes committed during the dictatorship to come forward. The September 11, 1973 coup led to the overthrow of socialist president Salvador Allende. But the date remains divisive 24 years after the return of democracy in the South American country, where the late Pinochet still has fervent supporters despite his regime’s “dirty war” against leftist opponents, when 3,200 people were killed and 38,000 tortured.
“Enough of the painful waiting and unjustified silences,” President Michelle Bachelet said at an emotional ceremony in the La Moneda Palace. “It is essential that those who have relevant information surrender it, whether they’re military or civilian.” About 60 former military members are currently serving prison sentences for violating human rights during the 1973-1990 regime.
Bachelet experienced the horrors of the dictatorship firsthand. During that dark period, she was tortured, fled the country. She returned years later to work as a pediatrician, eventually entering politics. Her father, meanwhile, died after being tortured for remaining loyal to Allende. During the commemoration, Bachelet also referenced Monday’s subway bombing in the capital Santiago, which wounded 14 people and was condemned as a “terrorist act” by the government.
“If there is a lesson to be learned by all, after the military coup of 1973, is that in Chile there is no room for violence,” Bachelet said. “We condemn violence in all its forms,” she said, adding that Chile’s citizens have the right to live in “peace and tranquility.” On Sep 10, two homemade bombs exploded at a shopping center in the resort city of Vina del Mar, adding to a growing climate of fear in the country. -
CIA triples estimate of Islamic State strength
WASHINGTON (TIP): Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria now have about 20,000 to 31,500 fighters on the ground, the Central Intelligence Agency said on Sep 11, much higher than a previous estimate of 10,000. Among those in Syria are 15,000 foreign fighters including 2,000 Westerners, some of whom have joined IS, a US intelligence official told AFP.
The figures were revealed one day after President Barack Obama vowed to expand an offensive against IS extremists, a plan which foresees new air strikes against IS in Syria, expanded attacks in Iraq and new support for Iraqi government forces. “CIA assesses the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS) can muster between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters across Iraq and Syria, based on a new review of all-source intelligence reports from May to August,” CIA spokesman Ryan Trapani said in a statement. “This new total reflects an increase in members because of stronger recruitment since June following battlefield successes and the declaration of a caliphate, greater battlefield activity, and additional intelligence,” he said.
Senior US officials have voiced concern at the presence of foreign fighters among the Sunni extremists who hold Western passports, potentially enabling them to return from the battlefield prepared to carry out terror attacks in Europe or the United States. IS militants have seized large swathes of territory in Iraq in recent months, displaying brutal tactics and releasing videos of the grisly executions of two American reporters. The White House has insisted that President Barack Obama is authorized to strike IS in Iraq and Syria under a law passed by Congress after the September 11 attacks in 2001. -
6 MONTHS AFTER MH370 WENT MISSING, KIN PRAY FOR FLYERS
BEIJING (TIP): Grieving family members of passengers aboard MH370 held an emotional gathering in Beijing on Sept 10, six months after the plane disappeared, demanding answers and accusing Chinese authorities of turning against them. Chinese passengers account for about two-thirds of the 239 people aboard the Boeing 777, which vanished on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to China’s capital, with dozens of their relatives reportedly beaten and arrested in recent months.
About 30 family members convened on Beijing’s Lama Temple, a popular Tibetan Buddhist site, to vent their frustration and pray for the missing on a day that marks both the six-month anniversary of the flight’s disappearance as well as China’s traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for families to reunite. “In China, today is Family Reunion Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival,” said a 55-year-old woman Zhang, and whose daughter was aboard the flight. Australia has been spearheading the hunt for the plane, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. But the massive air, sea and underwater search has till now failed to find any wreckage. -
SCOTLAND READY TO MAKE HISTORY: INDEPENDENCE LEADER
EDINBURGH (TIP): Scotland’s proindependence leader Alex Salmond said the “eyes of the world” were on a momentous referendum next week as officials reported record numbers registering to vote on breaking away from the United Kingdom. Salmond said the September 18 vote would be “a process of national empowerment”, as new figures came out showing a record 4.3 million people had registered to vote — higher than for any previous elections in Scotland. “Scotland is on the cusp of making history.
The eyes of the world are upon Scotland,” Salmond, Scottish First Minister and the head of Scotland’s current devolved government, said in an Edinburgh speech. “On September 18, we the people hold our destiny in our own hands.” British media said new figures meant 97 percent of the electorate had now registered to vote, including many 16- and 17-year-olds who are allowed to take part under referendum rules.
Polls show Scottish voters are almost evenly divided between the “Yes” and the “No” sides although one survey so far has put the pro-independence camp just ahead of the unionists. The most recent, published on Wednesday by Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper, showed 53 percent against independence and 47 percent in favour, without counting undecided.
The vote would bring to an abrupt end a 307-year-old union between England and Scotland and create the newest state in Europe since the disintegration of Yugoslavia. – ‘Huge pressure on Madrid’ – 100 journalists from around the world were present at Thursday’s press conference, with many asking about what Scotland’s relation to their country would be. Many nations with separatist movements are following the campaign closely, including Spain where the government has ruled out a referendum for Catalan independence or devolution. On Thursday hundreds of thousands of Catalan nationalist demonstrators, some waving the blue and white Scottish flag, filled the streets of Barcelona in a mass rally to demand a vote like Scotland’s. “People in Catalonia don’t necessarily want independence but they want to have the right to vote.
And they see that here it’s possible,” said Carles Costa from TV3 public television in Catalonia, who was at Salmond’s press conference. “A ‘Yes’ vote would put a huge pressure on Madrid. Scotland is not a remote country somewhere in the world. It’s just next door,” he said. “Even with a ‘No’, people in Catalonia will say, ‘Why is this not possible in Spain?’” But Shuhei Nakayama from Japanese broadcaster NHK said most people in Japan had “a confused idea of the situation”.
“Most don’t know Scotland is already a region with many powers. Some think it’s a country already as they have a football team,” he said. “It’s very interesting to see a nation that might break away without any violence,” he said. The campaign — and the promise of greater devolution if the “No” camp wins the vote — has also bolstered demands from local authorities for greater powers within England and Wales. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is on Friday expected to launch a report calling for a major programme of devolution within England after the next general election in May 2015. – ‘Responsible and prudent’ – International Monetary Fund on Thursday warned that a vote for independence would raise “complicated issues” and could upset financial markets.
“While this uncertainty could lead to negative market reactions in the short term, the longer term will depend on the decisions being made during the transition,” IMF spokesman Bill Murray said. The Royal Bank of Scotland has said it would relocate its registered offices in case of a “Yes” vote, saying this was the “responsible and prudent thing to do,” but underlining it would not mean moving jobs south. RBS was bailed out by the British government following the 2008 financial crisis and its announcement came after London-based Lloyds Banking Group also said it had plans on possibly switching key operations from Scotland to England.
Edinburgh-based RBS is 81-percent owned by the British state, which also retains a 25-percent stake in bailed-out Lloyds. Big business leaders have mostly lined up against independence, although the chief executive of Scotland’s largest fund manager, Aberdeen Asset Management, has said that an independent Scotland would be “a big success
