The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2016

  • Indian-American Receives University of Houston’s Highest Teaching Award

    Indian-American Receives University of Houston’s Highest Teaching Award

    HOUSTON (TIP): An Indian-American biotechnologist has received University of Houston’s highest teaching award for her sustained and significant contributions to education.

    Rupa Iyer, an Indian-American Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Houston’s College of Technology, has been presented the “Distinguished Leadership in Teaching Excellence Award”.

    It is the highest award given in teaching and the only one given in this category by the varsity.

    “My journey from being an international graduate teaching assistant to having the privilege and honor to lead the biotech program at UH has been extremely humbling and rewarding,” Ms Iyer said.

    “My students continue to inspire me and motivate me to seek new ideas and strategies to develop and foster their academic success,” Ms Iyer told PTI.

    The award is given to a previous recipient of the varsity’s ‘Teaching Excellence Award’, presented to a person who has ten or more years of teaching experience and has made sustained and significant contributions to education.

    As the founding director of the biotechnology program in the College of Technology since its inception, Ms Iyer is well regarded for her strong commitment towards impacting students who benefit from her efforts to incorporate hands-on experience with problem-based learning and lectures.

    The students receive lecture format training on diverse biotechnology systems and develop presentation skills, enabling them to thrive in the workplace.

    Ms Iyer has been part of the college since 2005 as a credentialed associate professor was named Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in 2014.

    Her research is in the area of environmental biotechnology with applications in bioremediation. She has received awards and grants for her outstanding contributions.

    Ms Iyer was recommended for the Fulbright Specialist Roster in 2015 after receiving the endorsement from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars.

  • 5 Pakistan Navy men get death sentence over terrorism charges

    5 Pakistan Navy men get death sentence over terrorism charges

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): At least five navy officers were given death sentence by a Pakistan Navy court for planning to hijack a warship and attack one of the US Navy’s refuel ships in 2014.

    Sub-lieutenant Hammad Ahmed and four other officials were convicted of the naval dockyard attack that took place on September 6, 2014, Dawn online quoted retired Major Saeed Ahmed, father of Ahmed, as saying.

    They were charged with having links with the Islamic State group, mutiny, hatching a conspiracy and carrying weapons to the Karachi dockyard, Saeed said.

    Saeed claimed that the naval authorities did not provide his son the right to a fair trial.

    “I wrote a letter to the judge advocate general (JAG) of the navy on August 15, 2015, asking him to provide the opportunity of a defence counsel to my son,” Saeed said.

    “The navy JAG on September 21 replied that the option of defence counsel would be available at the time of trial.”

    Saeed was waiting for the commencement of the trial but was recently informed that his son was shifted to the Karachi Central Prison.

    He came to know about the capital punishment when he met his son and the other four officials, Irfanullah, Muhammad Hammad, Arsalan Nazeer and Hashim Naseer, in the prison.

    There was no official word by the Pakistan Navy, he said.

  • Paying the ultimate price on Mount Everest

    Paying the ultimate price on Mount Everest

    KATHMANDU/NEW DELHI (TIP): On his way down from the top of Mount Everest, Indian mountaineer Nava Kumar Phukon saw the woman sway from side to side – a classic sign of severe mountain sickness – as snow and fog reduced visibility to less than 10 feet (3 metres).

    Phukon’s sherpa guide later told him the woman was 34-year-old Australian Maria Strydom, who died last Saturday on the high slopes of Everest after making a failed push for the summit.

    “The sherpa who was trying to help her told me: ‘She is going to die’,” Phukon said after returning to Kathmandu from his own exhausting but successful summit bid.

    “I did not have any extra oxygen, clothes or food, not even water to offer to her,” Phukon said. “I was so weak myself.”

    Reuters could not independently confirm that it was the same woman, although both the sherpa guides worked for the same agency Seven Summit Treks and knew each other.

    Three deaths in as many days on the world’s tallest mountain have renewed safety concerns after eager climbers flocked to the 8,850-metre (29,035-foot) summit for the first time since last year when an avalanche triggered by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck Base Camp, and all expeditions ground to a halt.

    A Dutch national, also with Seven Summit Treks, died last Friday in the notorious ‘death zone’ where the air is so thin that only the fittest can survive without bottled oxygen, while an Indian perished on Sunday due to exhaustion. Two other Indian climbers have been missing since Saturday, and are feared dead.

    Officials from Seven Summit Treks said 13 sherpas bringing Strydom’s body down the mountain had encountered heavy snowfall at about 7,700 metres on Tuesday. When the weather improves they will resume the rescue, and her body will be flown to Kathmandu later this week, before the spring climbing season shuts with the onset of the monsoon.

    Deaths are not uncommon on Everest and the number of fatalities this year is close to average. But experts say the lure of reaching the highest point on Earth is increasingly attracting less experienced climbers served by agencies hungry for business.

    “Climbers are careless and confused about their strength and preparedness,” said 30-year old Indian Ratnesh Pandey after summiting Everest on Saturday, without naming anyone.

    He said temperatures plummeted to minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit) near the top, while fierce winds closed many of the “weather windows” in the upper reaches, making this year’s journey particularly tough.

    Scaling Everest is far from the world’s most treacherous climb from a technical perspective. Mountaineering expert Alan Arnette estimates deaths at about 3 per cent of attempts, against one in four on Annapurna, a Nepalese massif with its main peak surpassing 8,000 metres.

  • Alam: ISIS “falsely claiming” Bangladesh attacks

    Alam: ISIS “falsely claiming” Bangladesh attacks

    DHAKA (TIP): Islamic State Is trying to ride a wave of religious radicalisation by falsely claiming a spate of killings in Bangladesh , a government minister said, adding there was enough evidence implicating domestic militant groups.

    Analysts say that as Islamic State loses territory in Iraq and Syria and its finances get drained, it may be trying to build affiliates in countries such as Libya, Egypt and Bangladesh for jihadists to launch attacks locally and cheaply. But Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh’s state minister for foreign affairs, told Reuters in an interview that no local or foreign agency had found any presence of Islamic State in the country.

    “Those claims (of killings) are definitely false,” Alam said on Tuesday. “But what we’ve agreed with our partnering countries is that we’ll not argue over it – that sends a wrong message.” His comments came just days after a EU delegation said there was an unprecedented threat to human rights and freedom of expression in Bangladesh and urged Dhaka to tackle the challenge to protect its international reputation. Since February last year, the Muslim-majority South Asian nation of 160 million has seen the killing of at least 26 people, including five secular bloggers, a publisher and two gay right campaigners. In September last year, according to U.S.-based monitoring service SITE.

  • Taliban bomber hits court minibus in Kabul, 10 killed

    Taliban bomber hits court minibus in Kabul, 10 killed

    KABUL (TIP): A suicide bomber targeted a vehicle carrying court employees in Kabul during morning rush hour on May 26, killing 10 people, an Afghan official said. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his explosives vest as he walked by the vehicle in the western part of the city, said Najib Danish, the Interior Ministry’s deputy spokesman.

    The casualties include both court workers and civilians and the explosion also wounded four people, Danish said.

    The vehicle belonged to the judiciary department in neighboring Maidan Wardak province and was taking the workers there when it came under attack, he added.

    Within an hour of the assault, the Taliban, who often target government employees in their war against the state, claimed responsibility for the bombing. The claim came from Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, in an email sent to the media.

    The attack came as the Taliban named a new leader following Mullah Akhtar Mansour’s death in a US drone strike on May 20.

  • Nepal to honour 9 hero Sherpas on International Everest Day

    Nepal to honour 9 hero Sherpas on International Everest Day

    KATHMANDU (TIP): Nine Sherpa ‘icefall doctors’, who risked their lives to fix ropes on the Mount Everest after last year’s devastating earthquakes, will be honoured by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on May 29 which is being celebrated as the 9th International Everest Day .

    The Sherpas will be given a cash award of Rs 50,000 each along with certificates of appreciation by the Prime Minister, said Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).

    “Had they not fixed the ropes before this climbing season, scaling the Everest after last year’s devastating earthquake would not have been possible,” he said. “They staked their lives to fix the ropes working hard day and night,” he added.

    ‘Icefall doctors’ build bridges using aluminum ladders to cross deep crevasses and set ropes for mountaineers to clip their harnesses into over dangerous sections.

    The nine Sherpas were the first persons to climb the world’s highest peak on May 11, after a gap of two years.

    “It was a very difficult task as the ropes had to be fixed from the base camp to the 8,848-metre summit risking their lives,” he said.

    There were altogether 150 people involved in fixing the routes from the base camp at an altitude of 5,970 metres to the peak situated at 8,848 metres. However, only nine of them had reached above 8,000-metre altitude.

    “The diameter of the rope is nine mm and it is very weighty to carry above 8,000 metre, which was a very arduous task,” he said.

    Expeditions were halted since 2014, when 16 Sherpa guides were killed in an avalanche near the base camp of the Everest.

    In 2015, 18 climbers died while attempting to scale the Everest as they were swept away by a powerful avalanche triggered by the great earthquake. The route between Everest’s base camp, across the notorious Khumbu icefall, to the peak was also damaged.

    The Khumbu region situated just above the base camp is a steep section of a glacier shaped like a frozen waterfall and is one of the most dangerous portions of a route, which is followed by a majority of mountaineers, to ascend the Everest peak.

  • 14 Indians Charged with US Immigration Fraud

    14 Indians Charged with US Immigration Fraud

    DALLAS (TIP): Fourteen people of Indian descent are among 19 charged with involvement in visa fraud through fake “green card” marriages or by falsely making claims of being crime victims, according to officials.

    Federal prosecutor Gregory K Davis said on Thursday, May 26, that the accused from eight states, “who sought to undermine the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” have been charged in the federal court in Jackson, Mississippi.

    The charges resulted from joint investigations by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    “The defendants allegedly circumvented the laws and submitted fraudulent documents that are critical to obtaining immigration status,” said Davis, the federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Mississippi.

    The prosecutor’s office said that a lawyer, Simpson Lloyd Goodman, submitted fake documents for some of the Indians charged with him to get “U-Visas,” which are issued to crime victims who help investigations or prosecutions. Some of the false documents were crime reports allegedly prepared by Jackson police officer Ivory Lee Harris, who has also been charged.

    Of the 11 charged in the fake crime victim visa case, nine had Indian names and could include those with US citizenship.

    Eleven people were charged with offences relating to sham “green card” marriages with US citizens. Of them, seven had Indian names.

    “These marriages were not entered into because of mutual love and affection between the parties, but solely to create a legal status that would provide a basis for immigration status for the alien partner and usually for some economic benefit to the United States citizen,” the prosecutor’s office said.

    Lawyer Goodman, Sachin Girishkumar Patel, 33, of Mississippi, and Tarunkumar Purushottambhai Patel, 49, of Missouri, face charges involving phony marriages as well as fake crime victim visa applications. Five Indians and three others face charges relating only to sham marriages.

  • Trump Supporter Calls Sikh Councilmember ‘Terrorist’

    Trump Supporter Calls Sikh Councilmember ‘Terrorist’

    NEW YORK (TIP): A Sikh-American councilman was called a “terrorist” on Twitter by a Donald Trump supporter but the Indian-origin politician hit back at the troll, saying “you clearly don’t know what it means to be an American”.

    Ravinder Bhalla, city council member at large and council president of Hoboken, New Jersey, posted a message on Twitter about the Hoboken City Council approving a waterfront multi-use pathway.

    After Mr. Bhalla sent out the tweet, Robert Dubenezic — an open supporter of Republican presidential nominee Trump — expressed shock that Mr. Bhalla was a councilman.

    “How the hell did Hoboken allow the guys to be councilman? Shouldn’t even be allowed in the US #terrorist,” Mr. Dubenezic tweeted on Thursday.

    Mr. Bhalla, was quick to answer, exclaiming, “Sir, I am born and raised in America. You clearly don’t know what it means to be an American…#ignorant.”

    Mr. Dubenezic’s Twitter page contains several posts expressing his support for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Trump. “With a lot of the rhetoric we’re hearing from people like Donald Trump about Muslim Americans and people who are perceived to be from a Muslim background, I think the spread of Islamophobia from our national leaders sends the wrong message,” Mr. Bhalla told NBC News.

    “I hope this episode shows people that words can be hurtful and that discriminating based on how someone looks shouldn’t just be ignored. People should be educated on different faiths and backgrounds so that diversity is celebrated,” Mr. Bhalla said.

    “America is, after all, a nation of immigrants. And if we work together instead of against each other, we’ll accomplish so much more,” he said.

    Many voiced their support of Mr. Bhalla, including elected officials US Representative Bonnie Watson-Coleman and Hoboken mayor Dawn Zimmer, members of the Sikh-American community, and his constituents.

    “At the end of the day, I don’t hold any malice toward this person. I forgive him for what he said and hope he will educate himself about how his comments can be hurtful and divisive,” Mr. Bhalla said.

    Mr. Bhalla is also an attorney and a founding member of the national Sikh Bar Association.

    He earned national recognition for leading a successful challenge to the New York Police Department for restricting the religious practice of a Sikh officer, and he successfully challenged the search policy of the Federal Bureau of Prisons after he was asked to remove his turban in order to see a client.

  • Volume 10 Issue 20 | New York

    Volume 10 Issue 20 | New York

    10 years
    Celebrating 10 Years of The Indian Panorama

    The Indian Panorama Print Edition

    Reimagined for the Web 

    Volume 10 Issue 20 ~ New York ~ May 27


     

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    This incredible offer is available for 2016 at an introductory price of $5 per month (including shipping & handling – US Only). To know more email subscriptions@theindianpanorama.news

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  • US asks Pakistan to cooperate with India on 26/11 probe

    US asks Pakistan to cooperate with India on 26/11 probe

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The US has asked Pakistan to co-operate with India in the 26/11 investigations and have appealed them to check all terror groups operating in their soil.

    “We continue to urge the Pakistani government to cooperate with the Indian authorities to fully investigate these attacks,” state department deputy spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday.

    theindianpanorama.news/potpourri/business/us-asks-pakistan-cooperate-india-2611-probe/

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    “It (Mumbai terrorist attack) was a terrible tragedy. We want to see justice done and we continue to urge Pakistani cooperation,” he said.

    The US, he said, is having an ongoing conversation with the Pakistani authorities that they need to address all groups operating on their soil and their territory including the Taliban groups.

    “We’ve urged them to do so in the past. We continue to urge them to do so and have worked with them on addressing the very real threat on their own soil,” Toner said. (PTI)

  • PA and PTA Elections are underway

    PA and PTA Elections are underway

    Parents are our partners in lifting up each school community and ensuring students receive a high quality education. A parent’s involvement can come in many different ways – through participation on a committee, leading school tours, volunteering to support an after school program or helping to recruit fellow parents to best support their students. This spring, schools across the City are preparing for Parent Association (PA) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) elections and I urge families to consider running for a seat for the PA or PTA elections.

    At weekly CEC meetings, town halls, school visits or even the grocery store, I talk to parents and grandparents and we always agree: we want the best education for each child and all children in the community. While we’ve seen a tremendous spike in parent involvement-in the first four months this year, 38% more families attended parent-teacher conferences than in the year prior, school based workshops increased by 60% and parent attendance at workshops went up 59% compared to last year-we want even more families involved. Public school parents are an integral piece of the puzzle and family input, advocacy and support will help students succeed. Here are the facts: every parent or guardian of a student is automatically a member of their school’s PA or PTA. Each year, parents vote to select their Executive Board: President, Recording Secretary and Treasurer. Schools have until the last day of classes to hold elections but are strongly encouraged to do so before June 15. Election results are announced immediately after and members take office on July 1st.

    When I was in school, my mother who knew very little English, was reticent to come to school and seek guidance from teachers. Parents: regardless of the language you speak at home, you play a central role in your child’s education. Every parent has something to contribute to their school community. As a principal I depended on my PTA for multiple things. We met monthly to develop school initiatives, create partnerships with community organizations, receive input on how to strengthen teacher and parent relationships, and organize activities.

    Under the leadership of Yolanda Torres, the Division of Family and Community Engagement offers a series of leadership trainings for parents to become leaders in their communities. Since Yolanda has been leading this critical work, we’ve seen expansions in ESL workshops for families and parent leadership seminars and launched our first Grandparents advisory group. We’ve even expanded cooking classes and Zumba classes, since we heard from families that this is what you wanted. Yolanda shares my vision and is determined to reach every parent in every neighborhood of our great city.

    Having a strong parental presence in schools helps to create welcoming school environments and is an integral part of supporting students on their academic journey. This support and partnership between families and school staff will lead to improved student outcomes. Every school community deserves dedicated parents like you to advocate for the needs of students – this is your chance to make a difference and impact your child’s education and hundreds more. Ask your parent coordinator, or member of your Association’s current Executive Board or nominating committee today for information on how to get involved and visit http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/FACE/ParentLeader/SchoolLeadership.htm

  • English proficiency is key to immigrant success

    English proficiency is key to immigrant success

    In New York, providing support for our immigrant communities is personal. Four out of 10 City residents are immigrants and collectively contributed close to $260 billion to the Big Apple’s economy in 2015. What is more, a majority of immigrant New Yorkers belongs to mixed-status families composed of U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents and undocumented residents. They are integral to our broader society, a fact too often overlooked by many.

    So it is unfortunate to see that the Mayor’s Executive Budget fails to provide adequate support for the growing needs of our immigrant communities. To ensure we open the doors to opportunity, my colleagues and I are strongly urging the Administration to invest $16 million for English literacy, adult education and GED preparation, as outlined in our Response to the Preliminary Budget.

    Between 2000 and 2011, neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of immigrants had stronger business growth than the rest of the City. Immigrants have helped revitalize neighborhoods such as Coney Island, Corona, Elmhurst, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Washington Heights and many others.

    Building capacity for immigrant New Yorkers is critical, and to do so, they need to have access to adult literacy programs. Gaining proficiency in English is essential to securing job opportunities and to participation in the civic, social and economic life of this City.

    Nearly 25 percent of immigrant residents speak little or no English, yet at any given time, over 14,000 individuals are on waitlists for English literacy and education programs. Low adult literacy has an outsized impact on parents, their children and their communities. Limited English proficiency traps immigrants into low-paying jobs and puts a strain on their ability to support their families and move ahead economically. Their children reach school with an English-language deficit. Currently, of the 140,000 English Language Learnersin our public schools, the majority are U.S. citizens born to immigrant parents. Poor English-language proficiency also affects parents’ ability to get involved with and advocate for their children’s education.

    Although English-language proficiency is not a requirement to apply for DACA and Expanded DACA, there is an educational requirement that can be met if you are enrolled in an Adult Literacy Program that meets certain criteria. This can be significant to the estimated 16,000 to 24,000 undocumented residents in New York City, who may be eligible for these deportation relief programs.

    There are 1.8 million immigrant New Yorkers who require the tools necessary to ensure they can thrive and, like previous generations, contribute to keep New York the great immigrant city that it is today, and will continue to be tomorrow. Their success, our success, rests on their ability to take full advantage of being New Yorkers. There is no other option.

  • Modi’s Kashmir score card: Do walk the talk

    Modi’s Kashmir score card: Do walk the talk

    Kashmir is a difficult and challenging terrain for any Prime Minister of the country. It builds personalities who seize opportunities and introduce appealing concepts of their respective brand of politics in a bold fashion- as did former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who used the soil of Kashmir to extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan. It also is a graveyard of many a reputation -Manmohan Singh who started his innings with a commitment to build a “naya” or New Kashmir but ended with no grand results to show at the end of his decade-long tenure as Prime Minister.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had more than one opportunity to transform the political, psychological and economic landscape of all the three regions of the state, particularly the Valley, in the past two years. His biggest strength is the massive electoral mandate and the personality cult. Despite a mood of trepidation in this only Muslim majority state of the country there was also a hope that hemight chart a new course to givea real-time meaning to the three mantras of his illustrious predecessor Vajpayee who had envisioned a solution through insaniyat (humanity), jambhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat (a concept denoting the Valley’s composite culture) way back in 2000.

    Modi reiterated his commitment to follow Vajpayee’s path in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to reach out to the people of Kashmir, but the Valleyis waiting for these pronouncements to be translated into action on the ground. The wait is getting longer as there are no visible steps being taken by New Delhi to know what is wrong and how it can be rectified.

    Manmohan Singh pragmatically acknowledged the “internal and external dimensions” of the issue. His attempt was reflected in the five working groups that he had constituted to determine the extent of the problem at various fronts and to find out ways and means to address those. Simultaneously, he had opened channels of communication with Pakistan. As summed up by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in 2006, “There was a golden opportunity to resolve the K issue…” The internal situation in Pakistan in 2007, following the dismissal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhary followed by 26/11 halted the process.

    Prime Minister Modi’s opening was stunningly remarkable. The South-Asian neighborhood appeared on his foreign policy horizon. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was among the leaders who attended Modi’s swearing-in ceremony. That was a grand gesture and there was a rethink in some quarters in Jammu and Kashmir about the image and attitude of Modi toward Pakistan and what all he wanted to achieve by this approach. A hope had sprung up for them.

    A conspicuous part of Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Delhi was that Hurriyat leaders from Kashmir were neither invited, nor did they insist on talks with the visiting Pakistan Prime Minister. Back home, Nawaz Sharif had to face a lot of flak for this miss. But some Hurriyat leaders sensed a chance of success of a process between two countries and were willing to wait for their turn to express their viewpoint. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq feltthat if the two countries could make progress on their own, the Kashmir issue could be resolved with the involvement of leaders of Kashmir at some stage. He has been consistent in his belief that the process would lead to results and expectation of instant results could damage the process. Kashmir is a decades-old issue and it cannot be resolved overnight.

    Notwithstanding the Prime Minister’s endorsement of the PDP-BJP government in the state, the PDP-BJP government is stuck in its own contradictions. Its attempts to regain lost paradise are hobbled by the situation, skepticism and lack of adequate support on the ground. The PDP is unsure which side to tilt and the state’s BJP leadership is clueless about Kashmir because they have never stepped out of their cocoons in Jammu. And, the result is that the common Kashmiri feels distanced and hemmed in by the one-sided narrative in which either the idea of composite culture or the idea of India is missing.

    When Modi took over, there existed a breathing space for the idea of India in the Valley and forces of peace were visible. Radicalism had started appearing on the scene, but there were strong voices upholding the traditional values of Kashmir. The way he started visiting Jammu and Kashmir and unfolded the economic initiatives in the Railways, power and connectivity sectors, generated the hope of progress on the political front as well.

    But doubts surfaced after the Foreign-Secretary level talk were called off, following a meeting of the Hurriyat leaders with Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in August, 2014. The fierce exchange of fire on borders, coupled with the rhetoric of the Assembly election campaign, despite the fact that there was no mention about the abrogation of Article 370 in the BJP’s vision document, suspicion gained ground. The moment the BJP as a political party embarked on 44-plus mission Kashmir, the Muslims felt as if a tempest was about to hit their boat of identity. The BJP was more keen on securing a political victory than showcasing itself as Vajpayee’s party, announcements to that effect notwithstanding.

    In between, the Prime Minister had sounded a right note during the September 2014 floods, whenhe declared that the treasury of the Centre was open to provide relief to the marooned people in Jammu and Kashmir. But when things started moving at a snail’s pace in response to the state government’s plea for early release of the sum of money for the relief and rehabilitation, all those who stoked doubts had a field day. The announcement of Rs 80,000 crore in November 2015 could not succeed in damage control.

    Today, thealienation in Kashmir is “more than 100 per cent,” quipped a young journalist in his twenties. This statement or perception is enough to disturb the sleep. Hordes of villagers throngingto disrupt the Army’s operations against militants and thousands attending the funeral of militants is a picture to which one cannot shut one’s eyes. Two years have not made a difference the way people of Jammu and Kashmir were expecting. May be something really good happens in the third year.

    Author can be reached at ajoshi57@gmail.com
  • Modi keeps hope alive

    Modi keeps hope alive

    In the advertisement campaign unleashed on completing two years in office Prime Minister Modi claims: “My country is changing, moving forward”. Half the population of the country does not share his optimism, going by a survey by the Centre for Media Studies. While 49 per cent of those surveyed saw “no change” in their lives, 15 per cent complained of deterioration. Change is yet to happen in rural India. Bharat does not know how to cope with a drought. Business sentiment is lower than it was in 2014. Still, Modi enjoys a high approval rating (74 per cent). Credit for this goes to his successful strategy for marketing. With a clear majority and no coalition partners pulling in different directions, the Modi government could still have done a lot better.

    The BJP government enters the third year on a feel-good note. A good monsoon forecast has lifted the national mood. Drought and its mishandling would soon be forgotten as a bad memory. The Assam success has wiped out bad memories of Delhi and Bihar. Assam happened because after Modi-Shah arrogance took a hit, the duo recognized the worth of regional leaders. The Congress meltdown has enabled the BJP to stake claim to being a national party. That also brings on the national party a duty to conduct itself responsibly, rein in the fringe elements and avoid stoking communal fires in the run-up to the UP elections.

    The Western media has called Modi “a superb salesman”. He has dusted UPA initiatives and repackaged them brilliantly -something the UPA could never do. His own ideas have elicited a mixed response. “Swachh Bharat”, Digital India, smart cities and bullet trains are still at the slogan level but can be put on the ground. The Jan Dhan Yojana has delivered and Aadhaar will put subsidies in right pockets and plug leakages in the PDS and MGNAREGA. Toilets are coming up in schools. The thrust on low-cost housing will create not just shelter for the homeless but also jobs for the needy apart from lifting the fortunes of steel, plastic and cement industries. “Make in India” is still a work in progress.

    Despite opposition resistance the government has got a few things moving: a real estate regulator is in place, the Mauritious treaty will check tax evasion and a bankruptcy code has replaced the archaic solvency laws, making it easier for firms to close down. Modi has asserted that the GST will roll out on April 01, 2017. After a directionless first budget, Jaitley changed tracks and presented a pro-farmer, pro-rural India budget. He boasts of three things: sticking to the fiscal deficit, having an expenditure reforms commission and a monetary agreement with the RBI on inflation. Raghunath Rajan has uncovered bad bank loans which the government and banks had happily swept under the carpet. Banks need more money to lend and debt-ridden corporates have no extra capital to invest, which means growth and job creation will be largely driven by government spending with savings from oil.

    Modi has proved to be the most peripatetic PM. The chutzpah and verve that marked his touchdowns in Western capitals made him the best recognized Indian Prime Minister. While the fruits of the serenading in the West are yet to accrue, there are doubts whether Modi has been adroit in balancing this relationship with the other two powers, China and Russia. In the neighborhood he had a mixed record. He was unable to tame Pakistan, has antagonized Nepal and allowed the Maldives to drift. But Modi turned around ties with Sri Lanka, maintained harmony with Bangladesh and made Seychelles a part of India’s security periphery.

    Modi’s style of functioning has its admirers as well as critics. Arun Shourie says “President Modi runs a one-man show”. He has centralized decision-making and marginalized ministers. Decisions are taken in a hurry, leaving loose ends untied sometimes. Modi has abolished the Planning Commission without thinking through what NITI Aayog is to do. Abandoning his own slogan of “minimum government”, Modi has packed his large ministry with lightweights, barring a handful like Arun Jaitley, Suresh Prabhu, Piyush Goel and Dharmendra Pradhan.

    Greed for more power and political expediency earned Modi judicial rebuffs. The embarrassment over the NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission) as well as President’s rule in Uttarakhand was avoidable. The saffron agenda too had its consequences. With help from the Home Minister, the HRD Minister created trouble where none existed: Hyderabad Central University, JNU and the NIT, Srinagar. Taking u-turns is a defining feature of the government. There were flip-flops on issues like tax on EPF withdrawals, land acquisition, MGNREGA, capital infusion for banks, foreign travel details in income tax return forms, licensing for GM seed technology and ban on porn sites. Things are seen as happening, even if they sometimes go wrong. More than rhetoric, Modi needs to show results on the ground. He needs to work and behave more like a Prime Minister than a perpetual political campaigner.

  • NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman acts tough against Wage Theft in Fast Food Industry

    NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman acts tough against Wage Theft in Fast Food Industry

    NEW YORK (TIP): NY State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has acted tough against employers in the fast food industry who have been indulging in wage theft. In a communication to The Indian Panorama, Mr. Schneiderman has disclosed that he has launched a campaign to stamp out wage theft. He said:

    “Major news: this week, as part of my campaign to stamp out wage theft throughout the fast food industry, my office brought a first of its kind lawsuit against Domino’s Pizza, seeking to hold the company responsible for the widespread and systemic wage theft that we allege occurs across its franchise restaurants.

    “As the Daily News, NY Times, and NY Post reported, our lawsuit is the culmination of a four-year investigation that uncovered clear evidence that Domino’s executives not only knew about the extent of the alleged wage theft at their restaurants, but also forced franchises to use payroll software that systematically underpaid low-wage workers. That is unacceptable-and under my watch, we will end it.

    “Since I’ve taken office, we’ve uncovered rampant wage theft at Domino’s restaurants across New York State. We’ve busted 12 franchise owners operating 61 restaurants in 14 different counties, each time uncovering a pattern of illegal conduct aimed at denying hard working New Yorkers their full wages. Through our efforts, we’ve already recovered more than $26 million for nearly 20,000 worker’s industry wide who were cheated out of their wages. “The wage theft epidemic needs to stop. And, with your support, we are making major progress towards that goal each and every day.”

  • The Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebrations organized in New Britain

    The Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebrations organized in New Britain

    NEW BRITAIN, CT (TIP): The State of CT Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division (CSSD) Multicultural Affairs Unit hosted the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration (AAPIHMC) to raise awareness and to celebrate the contributions made by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the United States.

    The event was held at the Central Connecticut State University Institute of Technology & Business Development building located at 185 Main Street New Britain, CT 06051.

    CSSD oversees pretrial services, family services, divorce and domestic violence, probation supervision of adults and juveniles as well as juvenile residential centers including Juvenile Detention. CSSD also administers a network of statewide contracted community providers that deliver treatment and other support services.

    The mission of CSSD is to provide effective support services within the Judicial Branch by working collaboratively with system stakeholders to promote compliance with court orders and instill positive change in individuals, families, and communities.

    CSSD is able to accomplish this mission by employing risk and conflict reduction strategies within each of its service areas.

    A panel from three religion Sikhism, Hinduism and Islam was invited to share knowledge and experience about their faith.

    Keynote Speaker Dr. Bill Howe addressed the audience about the Asian American culture and his experience as an educator and consultant in multicultural education.

    Dr. William (Bill) A. Howe provides training and consultation in multicultural education, culturally responsive education, diversity awareness and gender equity (Title IX). He is the former program manager for culturally responsive education, multicultural education, bullying & harassment, gender equity and civil rights at the Connecticut State Department of Education. He is a regular presenter at state and national conferences, has appeared on both radio and television on diversity issues. Over the years, he has trained over 15,000 educators.

    On this event Swaranjit Singh Khalsa from Sikh Sewak Society International USA who has recentlybeen appointed as Member in City Planning Commission for city of Norwich, said that Sikhs have been targeted for hate crime due to their articles of faith like Dastaar and beard.

    He explained the articles of Sikh faith and also spoke about the history of Sikh Religion. He said Guru Nanak who was a social reformer and a champion of Civil rights in the 15th century, five hundred years before America spoke about these liberties, founded the Sikh religion which is the youngest and the fifth largest religion of the world with  a worldwide following of 25 million.

  • Mangano and Singas announce Stop DWI Initiative for Memorial Day Weekend

    Mangano and Singas announce Stop DWI Initiative for Memorial Day Weekend

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Beware Bacchus lovers! No driving while intoxicated this Memorial Day weekend, at least and, never ever.

    Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, District Attorney Madeline Singas and Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter announced, May 26, that additional police officers have been assigned to extensive STOP-DWI enforcement initiative for the Memorial Day weekend. The County Executive, District Attorney and Police Commissioner were joined by Chief of Patrol Frank Kirby; Deputy Chief Sean McCarthy; Executive ADA Maureen McCormick; Rich Mallow from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); Cathy Dubas, whose sister Karen was the victim of Drunk Driving; Marge Lee of DEDICATEDD; Larry Blessinger, owner of All Island Transportation; Greg May, Nassau County Taxi and Limousine Commissioner; Chris Mistron, Nassau STOP DWI Coordinator; and members of the Nassau County Police Highway Patrol Bureau.

    “Drunk drivers jeopardize the lives and safety of innocent people every time they get behind the wheel,” said County Executive Mangano. “Our Nassau County Police Officers will be targeting drunk drivers – not just this Memorial Day weekend but all year round – looking to prevent senseless alcohol-related accidents and locking up those who break the law. There will be additional police patrols throughout Nassau County looking for drunk and impaired drivers. Think before you drink. Don’t drink and drive.”

    “Memorial Day weekend is the start of the 100 deadliest days on the road, when drunk and drugged driving skyrockets around the country,” said District Attorney Singas. “Our message today is clear: If you drink and drive in Nassau County, we will arrest you and prosecute you. If you plan on drinking this weekend, please have a designated driver or call a car service. As a prosecutor for more than 25 years, I have seen the devastation that drunk and drugged driving can cause to families. I meet with them regularly and it is heart-breaking. Make the right choice and don’t drink and drive.”

    Funding for the Memorial Day Patrol is provided by a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee through the New York STOP DWI Foundation and the Nassau County STOP DWI Office. The funds will enable the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) and police departments throughout the county to implement an effective DWI saturation enforcement strategy that has proven very successful in years past. The NCPD’s Highway Patrol Bureau will coordinate and plan this initiative that will target certain areas throughout the county. There were 45 DWI arrests in Nassau County over last year’s Memorial Day Weekend, and in 2015 there were 2,510 DWI arrests countywide and 29 DWI fatalities.

    Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter stated, “The Nassau County Police Department has a zero tolerance policy for those who drive under the influence putting those on the road at risk. This campaign is intended to identify and apprehend alcohol impaired drivers. Our aim will be to make the roadways safe for all drivers and our targets will be those who disregard the law.”

    County Executive Mangano and Police Commissioner Krumpter remind everyone:

    If you plan to drink, choose a designated driver before going out.

    Take mass transit, a cab, or ask a sober friend to drive you home

    Spend the night where the activity is being held.

    Always buckle up – it’s your best defense against a drunk driver.

  • Indian Consulate Outreach Program in Hartford, Connecticut on June 3rd, 2016

    Indian Consulate Outreach Program in Hartford, Connecticut on June 3rd, 2016

    NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): With an aim to strengthen ties with the local Indian community in Connecticut, a high level delegation led by Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das would be visiting Hartford, Connecticut (CT) on June 3rd, 2016 for an Outreach Program.

    The delegation will comprise of representatives from nationalized Indian banks, Air India, IndiaTourism Office, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), United States India Business Council (USIBC), Make my Trip and Cox and Kings Global Services (CKGS).

    During the visit, the delegation would be meeting the Honorable Governor of Connecticut Mr. Dannel Malloy, the Honorable Mayor of Hartford, Mr. Luke Bronin, local chambers of commerce, business communities and the Indian-American communities.

    The delegation will address the Indian Community at a reception in the evening, starting at 7pm, at the Comfort Inn & Suites. The Consulate and the accompanying delegation members from the chambers of commerce, banks and tourism office will address any queries related to steps taken to improve consular services, passport, visa and banking services, business environment and economic reforms. This platform will provide a great opportunity for the community to interact with the Consulate and its partner stakeholders.

    Venue: Comfort Inn & Suites, 900 East Main Street, Meriden, CT 06450

  • Indian American NJ based author releases book in Chennai

    Indian American NJ based author releases book in Chennai

    CHENNAI (TIP): Uma Swaminathan, a New Jersey-based community activist and a fighter against injustice in NJ school system last week released her book “Healing with Herbs – Ancient Ayurvedic Wisdom for Health and Longevity” at a gala book signing event in Odyssey Book Store in Chennai.

    Last year, Ms. Swaminathan authored a unique 250- page book “Herbal Transformations- Ancient wisdom revealed for health and longevity”. The American edition of this book is being marketed by Amazon.com.

    Jaico Publications in India has now brought out the Indian edition of the book entitled “Healing with Herbs- Ancient Ayurvedic Wisdom for Health and Longevity”.

    The book is considered a treasure in view of the world-wide interest in its contents which include subjects like yoga, organic food, health concerns, cultural moorings and the universal yearning for youthfulness and longevity, according to the author.

    It is written in a simple, personalized, chatty, and highly readable style which would appeal to all age groups, from the very young right up to the aged and it contains many lively colorful photographs taken by the author herself.

    Ms. Uma Swaminathan
    Ms. Uma Swaminathan

    It speaks of yoga practices that can increase memory power, of tropical fruits that can even cure cancer, of increased sensitivity and intuition through proper diet and cleansing, how to lose weight and bring out one’s natural aura, the sacred geometry of the traditional Kolam art and even cooking recipe.

    Ms. Swaminathan was referred to as Rosa Parks of Indian Community by Indian media in the US for putting a brave fight against her suspension on fabricated grounds under racial bias. After three years, she was reinstated by the Courts and the Board squandered taxpayers’ hard earned money to justify their illegal actions to destroy a competent school teacher because of her ethnic Indian background.

    Mr. T.S.Krishnamurthy, former Chief Election Commissioner of India; V. Selvaraj, former Chairman of Madras Port Trust; Prabhala Subash, a famous DJ and CEO of Masala FM radio, Mr. Chari, a retired IAS officer and others felicitated her.

    Ms. Swaminathan is a US Citizen of Indian-origin and she owns an ancestral apartment in Chennai, where she stays while in India. She has specialized in cultural anthropology while studying at the Rutgers’ University in NJ. Her initial schooling was in Chennai and in Patna, Bihar. In her youth in India, she learned to fly monoplanes and got her private pilot’s license.

    She studied classical Indian dance and is a prolific painter. Shea had also spent a few years in Tokyo, Japan, where she was honored by Princess Hitachi, Prime Minister, Kaifu’s wife, for bridging understanding and cultural awareness between India and Japan. She was made the Chief Marshal of the International Parade in Tokyo. She has been in leadership roles in the US and is past President of the Association of Indians in America. She is also a practicing Reiki Master.

  • Indian American Authors voice opposition to Donald Trump

    Indian American Authors voice opposition to Donald Trump

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Two Indian American authors are among hundreds of writers who have voiced their opposition to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, slamming him for “encouraging aggression” among his followers, intimidating dissenters and denigrating women and minorities.

    Samina Ali from California and Mira Jacob of New York joined hundreds of writers from across the U.S. in adding their names to an online public petition against Trump, 69, whom they referred to as a dictator who “appeals to the most violent elements in society.”

    Ali is an award-winning author, activist and cultural commentator, according to her profile on her website. Her debut novel ‘Madras on Rainy Days’ won France’s prestigious Prix Premier Roman Etranger award and was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award in Fiction.

    Jacob, who currently teaches fiction at New York University, is the author of the critically acclaimed novel ‘The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing’ which was shortlisted for India’s Tata First Literature Award.

    Mira Jacob
    Mira Jacob

    Among the big names signing the petition are Stephen King, David Eggers, Amy Tan, Junot Diaz and Cheryl Strayed. In the “open letter to the American people” on the literary website Lithub, the writers voiced their opposition to Trump, saying that mere wealth or celebrity status does not qualify “anyone to speak for the United States, to lead its military, to maintain its alliances, or to represent its people” and, as writers, they are aware of the many ways that “language can be abused in the name of power.” “Unequivocally” opposing Trump’s candidacy for president of the U.S., the writers said the rise of a political candidate who “deliberately appeals to the basest and most violent elements in society, who encourages aggression among his followers, shouts down opponents, intimidates dissenters, and denigrates women and minorities, demands, from each of us, an immediate and forceful response.”

    They said American history, despite periods of nativism and bigotry, has brought people of different backgrounds together and not pitted them against one another.

    “The history of dictatorship is the history of manipulation and division, demagoguery and lies,” the writers said.

  • Indian-American Rishi Nair wins National Geographic Bee contest

    Indian-American Rishi Nair wins National Geographic Bee contest

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian-American students have swept the prestigious national bee competitions, securing the first three positions for this year’s National Geographic Bee championship finals.

    Rishi Nair, 12, a sixth grader from Florida took top honors at the 28th annual National Geographic Bee held at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington.

    As National Geographic Bee champion, Rishi received a USD 50,000 college scholarship and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. This is the fifth consecutive year that an Indian-American has won the prestigious national tournament.

    Eighth-grader Saketh Jonnalagadda, 14, from Massachusetts was the runner up and recipient of the USD 25,000 college scholarship. Third place and a USD 10,000 college scholarship was grabbed by Kapil Nathan, a 12-year-old sixth-grader from Alabama.

    The final question, which clinched the win for Rishi, was: “A new marine sanctuary will protect sharks and other wildlife around Isla Wolf in which archipelago in the Pacific Ocean?”. The answer was: “Galapagos Islands”.

    Rishi is the second Florida student to win the National Geographic Bee. In 2010, eighth-grader Aadith Moorthy of Palm Harbor was the national champion.

    In fact, it was a nail-biting, seven-question final round between Rishi and Saketh. Seven of the 10 finalists were Indian-Americans.

    The seven other finalists, who each won USD 500, were Grace Rembert of Montana, Rishi Kumar of Maryland, Pranay Varada of Texas, Lucas Eggers of Minnesota, Samanyu Dixit of North Carolina, Thomas Wright of Wisconsin and Ashwin Sivakumar of Oregon.

    Indian-American students have consistently performed exceptionally well at various bee competitions over the years. The spelling bee competition has produced Indian-American champions for eight consecutive years, and 13 of the past 17, a run that began in 1999.

  • Indian-American is the Highest Paid CEO in the World

    Indian-American is the Highest Paid CEO in the World

    NEW YORK (TIP): SoftBank Group Corp. President Nikesh Arora was paid 8.04 billion yen ($73 million) for the company’s latest fiscal year, putting him among the top paid executives in the world for the second year in a row.

    The pay package for Arora, who joined SoftBank from Google Inc. in 2014, is in the same range as those for Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and Walt Disney’s Bob Iger, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Masayoshi Son, SoftBank’s founder and CEO, received compensation totaling 130 million yen ($1.2 million).

    Arora was paid 16.6 billion yen in the previous fiscal year, when he started working at SoftBank, setting a record for compensation in Japan. SoftBank said at the time that the pay package included a signing bonus. Arora held unvested Google stock options and other securities worth more than $76 million at the end of 2013, according to the last proxy statement before his departure.

    “This seems like a lot of money by Japanese standards, but there are plenty of executives overseas who get paid at the same level,” said Tomoaki Kawasaki, an analyst at Iwai Cosmo Securities Co. “Arora already has been building a track record at SoftBank with some overseas acquisitions. Having him at the company also helps attract high-grade overseas talent.”

    According to Bloomberg’s executive-pay analysis, Patrick Soon-Shiong is currently the highest-paid CEO, with compensation valued at $329.7 million at NantKwest Inc., a cancer-research company. Among non-CEOs in the U.S., only Blackstone Group President Hamilton Evans James had a bigger pay package than Arora. By comparison, Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs’s CEO, was paid $33.1 million.

    Arora’s compensation includes 1.56 billion yen paid by other SoftBank units, according to a proxy issued by the mobile and Internet company on Thursday. SoftBank’s Ken Miyauchi, who runs the domestic business, was awarded 317 million yen. Son has said that Arora is the most likely candidate to succeed him. Arora, who is responsible for global operations, plans to invest about $3 billion each year as SoftBank seeks to invest in startups that can become the next Alibaba Group Holding, the Chinese e-commerce company that pulled off the world’s largest initial public offering in 2014.

    Arora has led SoftBank’s investments in India’s e-commerce provider Snapdeal.com, ride-hailing service Ola Cabs, real-estate website Housing.com and hotel-booking app Oyo Rooms. In October, SoftBank led a $1 billion fundraising round for U.S.-based online lender Social Finance Inc.

    “The specific level of remuneration is not a concern as long as Arora delivers value,” said Cedric Araud, a fund manager at Capitalatwork Foyer Group in Luxembourg, which holds SoftBank shares.

    He said he was encouraged by the prospect of SoftBank selling its stake in the Finnish game maker Supercell. The sale could value the whole of Supercell at more than $5 billion, a person familiar with the matter said this month. “This would bring in a nice profit and shows that Arora can improve SoftBank’s capital allocation,” said Araud.

    Arora has also made an enormous personal bet on the future of SoftBank. Last August, he said he would buy 60 billion yen of the company’s shares, worth $483 million at the time. That was the largest insider purchase by an executive in Japan for at least 12 years.

    SoftBank’s stock is down about 20 percent since Arora joined the company. The shares fell 3.7 percent to 5,975 yen in Tokyo trading.

    Arora is being targeted by a group of investors who are calling on SoftBank’s board to investigate and possibly dismiss him, for a range of issues including alleged conflicts of interest. The group also cited Arora’s compensation as an area of concern, according to a letter to the board dated Jan. 20.

    Son said in response to the allegations that he has “complete trust in Nikesh and one thousand percent confidence in him.”

  • Former Nassau County Director Mohinder Taneja’s daughter weds

    Former Nassau County Director Mohinder Taneja’s daughter weds

    Pavneet, the beautiful daughter of a former Nassau County Director Mohinder Taneja and his wife Dimpy Taneja was married to handsome Sahil, son of Parvesh and Homa Mehra. The marriage ceremony on May 21 was performed according to Sikh traditions in Gurdwara Glen Cove. A large number of relations, friends and politicians attended the wedding ceremony.

    Two of the more notable politicians, who also spoke on the occasion, included Tom Suozzi, former Nassau County Executive and Jon Kaiman, former Town of North Hempstead Supervisor, both contenders for the retiring Rep. Steve Israel’s Third District seat. Incidentally, Mohinder Taneja has worked with both of them. They spoke highly of Taneja and his family who they said, is well known to them. They extended their good wishes to the newlyweds and their families.

     

  • Bronx Borough President joins in Groundbreaking for the mixed-income Tremont Renaissance housing complex

    Bronx Borough President joins in Groundbreaking for the mixed-income Tremont Renaissance housing complex

    On Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined community leaders at the groundbreaking for the new mixed-income Tremont Renaissance housing complex in the East Tremont section of The Bronx. Located between Webster Avenue and Park Avenues, centrally based in a major shopping district and within short distance to various transit hubs, the building will house 256 residential units and approximately 40,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. The project is expected to create approximately 300 construction jobs and 175 permanent jobs.

    “Mixed-income housing is something we take very seriously and Tremont Renaissance is a continuation of all the hard work we have put in over the years,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We have invested$500,000 in capital funds to support this project, as we take the needed efforts to make sure everyone has an opportunity at affordable housing, regardless of tax bracket. We will continue to work on developments such as Tremont Renaissance to make sure families across The Bronx have an affordable home, and helping our great borough continue its transformation.”

     

  • Bronx Borough President Diaz Celebrates Guyanese Independence

    Bronx Borough President Diaz Celebrates Guyanese Independence

    On Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., in partnership with The Guyana Independence Committee, hosted the Inaugural Bronx Guyanese Day Celebration in honor of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

    “This is an exciting time to recognize the people of Guyana during the 50th Anniversary of their independence as well acknowledging the growing Guyanese population,” said Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “With over 300,000 foreign-born Guyanese in the United States, over 140,000 residing in New York City and more than14,000 calling The Bronx home, it is a proud moment to host the Inaugural Bronx Guyanese Day Celebration.”

    Present on the occasion of Guyanese Independence celebrations (L to R): Salvina Vanessa Baijnauth, Ridgewood Savings Bank; Indroutie Lutchman, Cohn and Wolfe Public Relations; Brooklyn Council Member Robert Corgney Jr.; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.; Inspector Steven Griffith, NYPD, Community Outreach Division; Council Members Andy King and Vanessa Gibson.
    Present on the occasion of Guyanese Independence celebrations (L to R): Salvina Vanessa Baijnauth, Ridgewood Savings Bank; Indroutie Lutchman, Cohn and Wolfe Public Relations; Brooklyn Council Member Robert Corgney Jr.; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.; Inspector Steven Griffith, NYPD, Community Outreach Division; Council Members Andy King and Vanessa Gibson.