A 44-year-old Indian-American equity fund manager has been charged with wire fraud in the US for embezzling more than $54 million from the private firm for which he worked.
Iftikar Ali Ahmed, aka Ifty, was indicted on Wednesday by a district court in Boston on four counts of wire fraud and three counts of making false statements on income tax returns.
Mr Ahmed is currently a fugitive from justice. He was charged in a separate scheme in April 2015, and fled the county while on pre-trial release, the Justice Department said.
The indictment alleges that between 2004 and April 2015, Mr Ahmed embezzled more than $54 million from the private equity firm for which he worked as a general partner and fund manager.
Mr Ahmed embezzled the money through an elaborate scheme to defraud in which he submitted false invoices, substantially overstated the prices of international business deals he orchestrated on behalf of his employer and by setting up fraudulent bank accounts in the name of the firm for which he worked and the companies in which his employer invested, prosecutors alleged.
The indictment further alleges that Ahmed used the proceeds of his fraud to purchase a $9.6 million residence in Greenwich, Connecticut and a luxury condominium in New York for approximately $8.6 million.
On one occasion in November 2014, it is alleged that Mr Ahmed recommended to his firm that it invest $20 million in an international company and justified the price by submitting fraudulent financial documents.
At the same time, Mr Ahmed informed the international company that his employer had agreed to purchase shares for $2 million, the Justice department said.
The indictment alleges that Mr Ahmed then directed the private equity firm to wire $2 million to another company and the remaining $18 million to an account that Mr Ahmed falsely claimed was the company’s account, but actually belonged to him.
The indictment further alleges that on January 12, 2015, Mr Ahmed transferred the $18 million in fraud proceeds to his spouse and a portion of these funds was used to purchase a luxury condominium in New York City.
Indian-Americans in the US are looking forward to listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to a joint session of the US Congress with American lawmakers flooding with requests from the community members for tickets to the visitor’s gallery on June 8.
A large number of Indian-Americans are disappointed by not being able to get tickets of the visitor’s gallery for the event.
Indian-Americans from across the US are flying to Washington DC to listen PM Modi in person.
“It’s a dream come true,” Chicago-based Bharat Barai said.
“I am sure after listening to him, people of this country and Congressmen would realise the importance Modi attaches to the India-US relationship,” he said.
“This is a speech, which I would like to watch in person. I do not want to miss it,” said MR Rangaswami, a Silicon Valley-based successful investor and entrepreneur, who is flying from California to attend Modi’s event at the Capitol Hill.
Mr Rangaswami, the founder of Indiaspora, is among the lucky few who have managed to get a ticket to the visitors’ gallery of the House Chambers, which has limited number of seats.
Congressional sources told Press Trust of India that lawmakers are having a tough time in declining requests for a ticket to the joint address by Modi.
In fact, most of the Congressmen have been allocated one ticket each.
Given the great demand for tickets, Congressional sources said at one point of time, there was consideration for erecting a huge tent for Indian-Americans to watch the speech live. But the idea was shelved because of Congress’ protocol.
The speech would be telecast nationwide live on C-Span, a cable and satellite television network.
“The invitation (to the Prime Minister) itself shows the status of the relationship and how far we have come,” Swadesh Chatterjee, an eminent Indian-American, said.
Mr Chatterjee, who played a key role in reviving the India-US relationship after the Pokhran nuclear tests, vividly remembers how he and many other Indian-Americans had to lobby for months in the Congress to invite the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to address a joint session of the Congress on September 14, 2000.
“And this time, we had no role to play. Congressmen themselves wrote to the Speaker (of the House of Representatives) to invite Modi to address the joint session of the Congress. And it took no time for Speaker (Paul) Ryan to invite India’s Prime Minister,” said Mr Chatterjee.
Two Indian-American brothers have been sentenced to over seven years in prison for committing fraud in H1B visa programme, popular among IT and software professionals, to create a low-cost workforce in the US.
Atul Nanda, 46, and his brother, Jiten “Jay” Nanda, 45, were each sentenced by Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn, the Chief U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, to 7 years and two months in federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney John Parker. The brothers were recently convicted by a jury following a trial.
U.S. authorities had filed an indictment in 2013 alleging that the firm created by the brothers, Dibon Solutions, sponsored H-1B workers for jobs that didn’t necessarily exist. The visa holders were only paid if the company was able to place them.
Dibon was headquartered in Carrollton, Texas.
Each was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud, one count of conspiracy to harbour illegal aliens and four counts of wire fraud. The brothers, who have been out on bond, were remanded to the custody of the US Marshals Service.
“The H-1B visa program is a powerful and positive tool for businesses and foreign workers alike when properly used. When employers abuse the program, the foreign workers become a captive stable of cheap labour, victimised to the company’s financial benefit,” said US Attorney John Parker.
Owners of Dibon Solutions, an IT consulting company located in Texas, Nanda brothers recruited foreign workers with expertise who wanted to work in the US. They sponsored the workers’ H-1B visa with the stated purpose of working at Dibon headquarters in Carrolton, Texas but did not have an actual position at the time they were recruited and knew the workers would ultimately provide consulting services to third-party companies located throughout the US.
Contrary to representations made by the conspirators to the workers (and the government), Jay and Atul directed that the workers only be paid for time spent working at a third- party company and only if the third-party company actually first paid Dibon for the workers’ services.
They falsely represented that the workers had full-time positions and were paid an annual salary, as required by regulation to secure the visas. This scheme provided the conspirators with a labour pool of inexpensive, skilled foreign workers who could be used on an “as needed” basis.
The scheme was profitable as it required minimal overhead and Dibon could charge significant hourly rates for a computer consultant’s services, the Department of Justice said.
Thus, the Nandas earned a substantial profit margin when a consultant was assigned to a project and incurred few costs when a worker was without billable work.
This scheme is known as “benching”. Dibon actively recruited H-1B workers for the “bench”, the Department said. They made the H-1B visa candidates to pay the processing fees that according to the law should be paid by the company.
Three others Siva Sugavanam, 37, Vivek Sharma, 48, and Rohit Mehra, 39, who each pleaded guilty before trial to one count of aiding and abetting visa fraud, were each sentenced earlier this month by Judge Lynn to two years’ probation.
Sugavanam was the lead recruiter for Dibon, Sharma acted as Dibon’s office manager and Mehra recruited employees for the bench and transported benched employees to and from Dibon Headquarters. All three had knowledge of and/or involvement in the filing of false documents with the Department of Labour and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in securing recruits’ employment with Dibon.
An international hunt has been launched for an Indian-origin man found guilty of repeatedly raping a six-year-old child in the UK.
Paedophile Vijesh Kooriyil fled to India earlier this week, just a day before his trial was due to commence in Oxford.
Vijesh Kooriyil, aged 29, raped a six-year-old boy up to three times a week after he trapped him in his bedroom, a court heard.
He was found guilty of the assaults in 2010 and 2011 after the trial went ahead in absentia, as the business manager boarded a plane to Delhi on Monday night and was unanimously convicted of two rapes and sentenced to an extended prison term of 18 years at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, ‘Daily Mirror’ reported.
Kooriyil, who hails from Kerala, had been charged with repeatedly raping the boy after trapping him in his bedroom in Oxford in 2010 and 2011.
He had been permitted to keep his passport under his bail conditions, which were unconditional because he had no previous cautions or convictions.
“Vijesh Kooriyil deployed the all too familiar ways of gaining a child’s trust. He would often call the boy to come and play with him. Some of those games were innocent enough, but others took place in the defendant’s bedroom,” Judge Peter Ross said during sentencing.
“It was there, having secured the door with string and a nail, that the defendant began to rape a six-year-old, then-seven-year-old boy,” he added.
Now a global manhunt is under way for the child rapist from Eastbourne in East Sussex county of England to be brought back to the UK.
Kooriyil had come to UK from India as a student and was living in Oxford when he carried out the abuse.
Prosecutor David Smith told the court the crimes only came to light after the boy started learning about sex at school and realised what had happened to him.
“He started to feel ashamed about what had happened to him, it made him feel angry and confused. He is very suspicious, not with children, but with adults. He cannot understand why he did such a thing to him,” he said.
Kooriyil was summoned by post to attend Oxford Crown Court for trial and attended on November 13 last year to deny both charges.
But he failed to turn up on Tuesday, having ‘misled his solicitors’ and fled the country, before the judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Allister Tavner said the police were working with other authorities to bring Kooriyil back to the UK to face justice.
“Kooriyil has been found guilty and sentenced for some extremely serious offences, we are working very closely with the CPS and other authorities in order to locate him,” he said.
“This is in the very early stages but every power available will be used to return him to the UK to serve his sentence,” he added.
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers and paid homage to Indian-American astronaut (late) Kalpana Chawla at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington.
“Honouring sacrifice, saluting valour. Formal engagements begin with a solemn ceremony,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
“In homage to heroism and indomitable courage,” Mr Swarup said in another tweet.
He also had a brief interaction with Kalpana Chawla’s husband and family members, senior officials from NASA, Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and her father at Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial.
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter accompanied the Prime Minister. Indian Ambassador to the United States Arun K Singh, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal were also present on the occasion.
“All of us are very honored that he took time to come and acknowledge the shuttle catastrophe and the deep cooperation that we have with India in space,” Ms Williams told news agency PTI after her brief interaction with Prime Minister Modi.
“Personally it is commemorating my friend (Kalpana Chawala),” Ms Williams said.
PM Modi spoke with Sunita’s father in Gujarati and invited them to visit India. “With health permitting, I definitely look forward to visiting India,” her father said.
Kalpana Chawla’s husband Jean-Pierre Harrison presented a set of books on the late astronaut, including a biography written by him, to the Prime Minister.
The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified.
NEW DELHI: Qatar has reassured India that labour reforms will improve the conditions of more than half a million Indian migrants, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns of abuses during a weekend visit to the Gulf state.
Qatar vows to mitigate migrant workers’ woes
Qatar is home to 630,000 Indian nationals, the single largest group of migrants in the country of 2 million. Many work in low paid construction jobs, building stadiums and other infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. Rights groups accuse Qatar of abusive labour laws and forcing migrants to work under poor safety conditions. Unions and labour protests are banned, and authorities penalise dissent with jail or deportation.
A joint government statement said PM Modi met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on Sunday and discussed the plight of Indian migrants.
“The Qatari side briefed the Indian side on the reform in labour laws which would protect the interest of skilled and unskilled labour in Qatar,” said the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office.
During a two-day visit to the Gulf nation, PM Modi addressed a gathering of Indian labourers in Doha, assuring them he would present their concerns to Qatari authorities.
“I am aware of the issues you are facing. I will talk about it when I meet the authorities,” Prime Minister Modi told them on Saturday. “If you have some issues on changing some laws and regulations, I can assure you that I will work with you all to bring about these changes.”
PM Modi’s comments come amid growing scrutiny of Qatar over the plight of migrants from countries such as Nepal, India and Bangladesh employed to build infrastructure as Qatar gears up to host the world’s largest sporting event.
Amnesty International in March said migrants faced abuses that in some cases amounted to forced labour. Workers reported squalid living conditions, having their salaries withheld for months and their passports confiscated by employers.
Qatar’s kafala sponsorship system – under which migrant workers cannot change jobs or leave the country without their employer’s permission – is at the heart of threats to make people work, Amnesty said.
The International Labour Organization said Qatar is making progress towards ending forced labour and improving migrant worker conditions, but added the real test will be whether it enforces new legislation from December.
The new Qatari law abolishes the kafala sponsorship system and removes all curbs on worker movements. Migrants will no longer be forced to continue a job if there is abuse or exploitation, but domestic workers are excluded from this law.
Qatar is an important partner for India, with bilateral trade in 2014/15 exceeding $15 billion, according to the Indian government. It is also one of India’s key sources of crude oil.
As Prime Minister Modi arrives on his fourth visit to the U.S. in the last two years, U.S. lawmakers have sharply criticized India’s human rights record. In a speech in New Delhi, U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), the ranking minority-party member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on India to “do better” to address issues of violence against women, government corruption, extra-judicial killings, human trafficking and outdated anti-conversion laws that are still in use. “A country must respond to these challenges,” he said.
History teaches us that ultra-nationalism is a sentiment of superiority and aggression towards others or other countries. It is intrinsically connected to war and imperialism. Therefore, India as a pluralistic nation will be treading on dangerous waters with the ongoing nationalist campaign, and the Prime Minister has a great responsibility to set the right tone for the country.
Modi faced similar criticisms and faced protest demonstrations from one group or another every time he has touched down on the American soil. However, these strident criticisms from prominent lawmakers on the eve of Modi’s address to a joint session of Congress reveals a deep-seated reservation by many in Washington of a leader who once was denied entry into the country based on his human rights record.
At a Congressional hearing held a week ago in Washington, Bob Corker (Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee R-Tenn.) and Timothy M. Kaine (D-VA) questioned State Department officials on India’s human rights issues, including its crackdown on nongovernmental organizations receiving foreign funding such as Greenpeace and Ford Foundation, rising intolerance and India’s recent decision to deny visas to the members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom who were planning to travel to India.
Undoubtedly, the Indian American Community as a whole would like to see the bi-lateral relations between the U.S. and India strengthened and the progress achieved in the last decade or so to be consolidated between these two democracies. However, a strategic alliance is a partnership that would require trust and confidence in each other for a long term value creating relationship. There is no doubt that both of these nations need each other in the new world order, and the question is whether these two countries are at a point where they are ready to move forward with such a commitment.
Therefore, it is pertinent to analyze the visit of the Prime Minister from that vantage point. If the objective of the collaborative relationship is to achieve success for both nations, how can one advance that notion while justifying the denial of visas to a U.S. government body that monitors the core tenets of both of these democracies: freedom and justice? The appropriate action ought to be in assisting each other to achieve these goals and together building a stronger relationship.
For those who are advocating more reliable protection of religious freedom got a boost recently when Congress upgraded the ‘Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act’ giving Administration and the State Department new political tools in monitoring and creating watch lists. The legislation has also upgraded the office to Ambassador-at-large, who will be directly reporting to the Secretary of State. It includes a provision as well directing the President to focus sanctions on individuals who carry out or order religious restrictions. The impact of these rules will eventually be felt across the board while nations draft agreements ranging from Trade to environment and Defense purchases.
President Obama’s speech in New Delhi, to great discomfiture of Modi, was a parting shot directed at his government to modify its behavior as regards respecting the pluralistic legacy of the modern India. He listed the relevant articles in the Indian Constitution to make his case. Despite the public posture, one could detect a chasm between these two leaders who seem to think and view things from different perspectives.
I have been told that at a recent dinner party in Washington, a former official was standing in line to greet President Obama. While shaking hands, the official congratulated the President for the bold statement he made in New Delhi. Obama first smiled and let go his hands and ready to greet the next guest, but on second thought, leaned forward, tapped his shoulder and said ‘I meant every word of it.’ That says a volume of the thinking in Washington, especially with this White House.
However, U.S. is dealing with a different India today that has gained stature as a growing economic power and a global player that has to be respected and may even be courted. For the U.S, the changing dynamics in Asia necessitates new alliances and reliable partnerships. A rising China has created new challenges for the U.S. in that part of the world and past agreements like the Indo-US civil nuclear deal point to a strategy of exploring ways to sustain their global engagement capability. Also, a 4 million strong Indian immigrant community in U.S. has become vocal supporters of close collaboration between these two countries, often lobbying with their Senators and Congressmen.
Despite all these natural advantages, India seemed to have put in a lot of effort in convincing the U.S. authorities for this ‘state visit’ and the upcoming appearance before the joint session of Congress. There are unconfirmed reports of a quid-pro-quo as regards major defense purchases preceded by a veiled warning of India taking its defense purchases elsewhere if the same level of respect is not accorded to Modi as it was with Dr. Manmohan Singh, his predecessor. It is widely known that the sound of money garners a lot of mileage in Washington just as in any other capital around the world. Apparently, Modi is getting his requital by gaining an opportunity to bloviate before those who once denied him a simple entry visa to the country.
However, if India has to gain genuine respect and be able to operate from a position of strength and moral clarity, it has to start dealing with some of the issues the lawmakers have raised. Last two years have witnessed growing intolerance in the country with attacks on places of worship of minorities, the murder of secular advocates and harassment of liberal thinkers. People are afraid that even their dietary habits like eating beef could cost them their lives. The HRD ministry has been converted to become a vehicle to promote the ‘Hindutva’ ideology across campuses by shutting down Dalit student organizations and applying sedition charges on students for mere sloganeering.
BJP and its followers seemed to believe that they have a monopoly in defining what constitutes nationalism, and it has become a cause of confusion and conflict in many university campuses. History teaches us that ultra-nationalism is a sentiment of superiority and aggression towards others or other countries. It is intrinsically connected to war and imperialism. Therefore, India as a pluralistic nation will be treading on dangerous waters with the ongoing nationalist campaign, and the Prime Minister has a great responsibility to set the right tone for the country.
Indian Diaspora in U.S. is much more a diverse community representing different regions, languages, cultures and faiths than what it is given credit for. According to latest statistics, 51% of the Diaspora consists of Hindus and the rest includes Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and other faiths. Indian Diaspora is primarily taking the shape of Hindu Diaspora due to the cultural identity, and most of the Indians including those who belong to other religions accept it as a practical matter. However, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS branches outside of India) is becoming increasingly assertive in demanding unflinching patriotism and preservation of Hindu culture and continuing with their efforts to present a monolithic view of the Indian Diaspora to the American public. It is alleged that many of the Diaspora organizations are raising money under the cover of ‘charity’ and ‘development’ to support RSS and its affiliates to wage violence against religious minorities in India.
There is little doubt that the RSS cadre is playing a prominent role in many of Modi’s visits around the globe, particularly wherever there is a significant Indian community. It is only laudable that the Diaspora is enthusiastic and heartwarming towards any visit of a Prime Minister from their motherland. However, when that community is used as political pawns by turning them into a weapon against those who want to express their grievances; it not only defeats the purpose and good will but rather pits one group against the other and imports the same level of polarization and divisions to the country of their adoption. The recent attempt by Sangh organizations to reserve all 25 grounds on the Capitol Hill on the day of Modi’s visit to address the joint session of Congress is a case in point. That ‘clever’ and calculated maneuver made it almost impossible for any other group to gather near the venue and air their dissenting point of view that is protected under the U.S. Constitution. It is quite obvious to any independent observer that the objective of such action is to stifle criticism and banish any dissent which is contrary to the spirit of democracy, and it is quite appalling to see it happening right here in U.S.
It is time for the Prime Minister to be more assertive in addressing these concerns at home and abroad and speak out forcefully when human rights violations occur in India. Unless he can align the actions of the radical elements of his party in line with his lofty pronouncements abroad, the human rights issue will continue to cast a shadow on his trips abroad, especially to U.S. Alfred Whitney Griswold who once said the following: “Books won’t stay banned. They won’t burn. Ideas won’t go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor, and the inquisitor have always lost. The only weapon against bad ideas is better ideas”. Let freedom reign!
(The author is a former Chief Technology Officer of the United Nations and Chairman of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA)
Dream to Open Hotels in Nashville, Dallas, Palm Springs, Times Square, Long Island City and Doha, Qatar
NEW YORK, NY (TIP) : Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group LLC signed, May 3, its first hotel in the Middle East with Qatar-based Al Alfia Holding to develop a Dream Hotel in Doha, the state capital.
Sant Singh Chatwal with Sheikh Sultan Bin Jassim Bin Mohamed Al-Thani with whom he signed $300 million Dream -Doha deal in New York, May 3.
To cap off a red letter day, Dream Hotel Group took the opportunity to announce $1.5 billion in new hotel development, including Doha and five other locations, all with independent hotel development partners. Future U.S. locations include Nashville, Dallas, Palm Springs, and two additional New York properties in Times Square and Long Island City.
“We are thrilled that the Dream brand of hospitality, marked by vibrant nightlife and dining opportunities, has resonated so widely,” said Dream Hotel Group CEO Jay Stein. “These six new developments double the footprint of our founding brand and give our loyal guests many more options to explore the other side of themselves.”
The new locations mark a thrilling new chapter for Dream Hotels, the group’s founding luxury lifestyle brand–positioning them as international hospitality innovators. The Dream Hotels brand is on track to have five hotels operating in renowned U.S. cities by early 2019, with an additional opening in Doha, Qatar, Dream Hotels’ first foray into the Middle East.
Sant Singh Chatwal and Sheikh Sultan Bin Jassim Bin Mohamed Al-Thani with Dream Hotel team pose for a photograph, after the signing of deal, in New York. Seen from left to right: Jay Stein, Sheikh Sultan Bin Jassim Bin Mohamed Al-Thani, Sant Singh Chatwal, Johnny De Gouveia
“We’ll be announcing additional properties in the coming months, continuing to solidify our burgeoning portfolio,” added Stein. “The expansion stands as testimony to the passion that the Dream team shows me every day in bringing rich experiences to our guests.”
“We always believed in the Dream brand, but it’s exciting to see so many of our development partners believing in the same dream and turning it into a reality,” noted David Kuperberg, Chief Development Officer, Dream Hotel Group.
The news follows that of the highly anticipated David Rockwell-designed Dream Hollywood slated to open this fall in the heart of Hollywood on the corner of Selma Avenue and N. Cahuenga Boulevard at 6417 Selma Ave.
Dream Hollywood will be a driving force in the ongoing revitalization of Hollywood. The hotel features 179 guest rooms and suites, five dining and nightlife venues in or adjacent to the property, and a spacious 11,000-square-foot rooftop. Developed by FC Development in partnership with Dream Hotel Group, the property is expected to open in September 2016.
Dream Nashville will be located in the heart of the city’s historic downtown–featuring 169 rooms. Designed by Meyer Davis, the property is expected to open in mid-2018, developed by locally owned 4PANT, LLC, which is led by Royal Investments and City Development in partnership with Dream Hotel Group.
Opening in the second half of 2018, Dream Dallas will be a 260-room Dream Hotel Group development.
Slated to open in 2018, Dream Palm Springs will have 175 rooms and will be developed by Praetor Investments/Selene Developments in collaboration with Dream Hotel Group.
The first of two planned New York openings for the group, Dream Times Square will open in the second half of 2018. Designed by Meyer Davis, the 239-room property located in New York’s iconic entertainment destination will be developed by SoHo Properties in partnership with Dream Hotel Group.
Dream Long Island City will see the lifestyle hotel group’s foray into the city’s underutilized Queens Borough, a gallant follow-up to the celebrated Dream Hotels properties in Midtown and Downtown. The 254-key property is expected to open in 2019, developed by Barone Management in Partnership with Dream Hotel Group. Times Square and Long Island City will double the Dream Hotels footprint in New York, totaling four properties in the city.
Dream Doha, which is 300 million dollars project a development with Al Alfia Holding with design by Meyer Davis, will open in late 2019. The ambitious 325-room property, featuring nine dining and nightlife venues, is the first Middle Eastern development for the brand and a pivotal step in the expansion strategy. Joining Dream Phuket Hotel & Spa and Dream Bangkok in Thailand, Dream Doha marks the third international property for the group.
Born in 2004, Dream Hotels are rooted in the insatiable human need to explore the other side of oneself, and the provision of a playground to do just that. With strong foundations in delivering the maximum and highest level experience to guests, each property has upscale amenities, obsessive-meets-compulsive service, built-in nightlife that seems to come naturally, and rare raw energy drawn from some of the most stimulating cities in the world. A far cry from just another bed to lay your head on for a night or two, Dream Hotels offer an introduction to another you. The creation of a new persona for all who experience their properties, Dream Hotels’ visitors push the boundaries of their expectations for hotel stays. For more information or to book your stay, please visit www.dreamhotels.com.
About Dream Hotel Group
Dream Hotel Group is a hotel brand and management company with a rich, 30-year history of managing properties in some of the world’s most highly competitive hotel environments. Home to its Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels brands, Dream Hotel Group encompasses three business lines: Proprietary Brands, Hotel Management and Dining, and Nightlife. The Company is committed to the philosophy that forward-thinking design, service and guest experiences should be available across market segments. Dream Hotel Group is dedicated to offering travelers an authentic connection to their chosen destination through a truly original approach.
After thoughtful evaluation, and to leverage its world-renowned Dream Hotels brand, the Company decided to sunset both the Hampshire Hotels Management and Debut Hotel Group names. The change to Dream Hotel Group will capitalize on the Company’s most recognized assets to help raise awareness among guests, hotel owners and hotel developers.
Indian Americans for Congressman Jim Himes headed by community veteran activist Dr. Thomas Abraham raised funds for sitting 4th term Congressman Jim Himes (Democrat) at a fundraiser in Stamford on May 20th.
Rep Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District covering the rich Fairfield County which includes Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Trumbull, Stratford and part of New Haven County.
A member of Indian Caucus, Congressman Himes is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and serves as the ranking member of the NSA and Cybersecurity Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as is Vice-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition.
On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted the sixth annual Bronx Borough President & Allies LGBTQ Pride Awards Ceremony at Billy’s Sports Bar.
The event was co-hosted by Council Members Ritchie Torres and James Vacca. At the event, Borough President Diaz presented Christine Quinn, the former City Council Speaker and the President and CEO of Women in Need, with the 2016 John Wade Award, recognizing her dedication to public service.
The World Punjabi Organization (WPO) organized a colorful Vaisakhi celebration on May 15th at Antun’s by Minar at Hicksville.
The New York Chapter president Surender Dhall, the First Lady Mrs. Dhall and the organizing committee ensured a memorable evening for a gathering of 300 who all had a great evening of entertainment in the true Vaisakhi spirit
Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, Consul General of India in New York was the chief guest while Deputy Consul General Manoj Mohapatra was a guest of honor.
Some Nassau County officials and politicians, including Nasreen G. Ahmed, Hempstead Town Clerk., graced the occasion.
The WPO recognized and honored some on the occasion.
Mr. Sunny Chhabra presenting a memento to Consul General Mrs. Riva Ganguly Das. Also seen are Mr.&Mrs. Surender Dhall and Col.Bhupinder SinghMs. Nasreen G Ahmed presenting citationto Mr. Surender Dhall
On the occasion of the second anniversary of Telangana’s formation, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao unfurled the second tallest National Flag at Sanjeevaiah Park on Thursday, June 2.
CHENNAI (TIP): Rotary International will confer its highest award of Life Time Achievement to Dr Prakash M Swamy, a senior Indian-American journalist and former United Nations Correspondent at a gala investiture to be held in Chennai on June 11.
The award will be presented by Dr A Surya Prakash, Chairman of Prasar Bharti in New Delhi. He will also bestow the Young Journalist Award to 20-year-old J. Vedhavalli Jagadeeshan, News Anchor, Puthiya Thalaimurai TV Channel in Chennai.
Dr. Swamy served as a member of the historic Madison Square Garden Committee to welcome Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to New York and worked hard to make the event a global success. He was the United Nations Correspondent in New York for over a decade and former Judge of Emmy Awards panel in New York. He is also the current President of America Tamil Sangam. He has been a journalist for the past 35 plus years.
The previous recipients of the Life Time Achievement Award of the Rotary Club of Madras North include Yashwant Sinha, Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader; Sakthi Kanta Das IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of India; Prof. P. Vanangamudi, Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University and TM Veeraraghavan Senior Correspondent of CNN IBN in New Delhi among others.
Ravi Sundaram President of the Club said Rotary Club of Madras North was chartered in 1969 and is one of the oldest clubs in Chennai. The Club donated land to the Government of Tamil Nadu to establish a school in Napalayam near Chennai. Over the last 35 years, the Club has contributed to the infrastructure of the school and has established the school as a premier institution in the area, he said.
HEMPSTEAD, NY (TIP): A Sikh man from Queens claims he was the victim of religious discrimination after Nassau court officials banned him from a Hempstead courtroom Tuesday, May 31, when he refused to remove his turban -which he said they dubbed a “doo rag.”
An attorney for Satnam Singh, 22, of Bellerose Terrace, filed a complaint Wednesday, June 1, saying his client, a member of the Sikh religion, “is extremely upset over the total lack of respect and lack of religious tolerance” shown by a judge and a court officer.
Defense attorney William Shanahan said District Court Judge David McAndrews told him Tuesday that Singh “was not allowed in the courtroom” as he was attired, and that he wouldn’t immediately cancel an arrest warrant he’d issued after Singh was late for the morning court session.
“I again explained to him that it was not a doo rag, but rather a religious piece of clothing,” Shanahan wrote of McAndrews in a letter to Supervising District Court Judge Norman St. George. “… I asked to go on the record, but was told … he would have to come back the next day to vacate the warrant.”
Court spokesman Daniel Bagnuola confirmed Wednesday that St. George was looking into the discrimination complaint.
Bagnuola said Singh came into McAndrews’ courtroom Tuesday wearing “what was perceived and described by court officials as not being recognized as a religious article of clothing.”
He added: “The Nassau courts are extremely sensitive to the religious and cultural rights and freedoms of all who use our courts, and strive to uphold and protect equality and transparency.”
On Wednesday, Singh, who’s facing misdemeanor drug charges, wore a bulkier style of turban back to court – one he said takes 20 to 30 minutes to wrap his long hair in, compared with the sleeker wrap he’d worn Tuesday that he can quickly tie up.
Court officials didn’t object to his attire, and McAndrews canceled the warrant.
But Singh told Newsday he felt “violated” when a female court officer ordered him to take off his “doo rag” Tuesday after he sat down and removed the baseball cap he’d worn over his lighter-style turban.
Singh said he told the officer repeatedly that the wrap was a turban, but she forcefully told him: “No, you either have to take it off or you have to step out.” He refused, and left.
Shanahan said he took Singh’s case after he heard his story in the courthouse Tuesday, and called it a “textbook violation of religious rights.”
Singh, who works in construction, said he’d previously worn the lighter turban to the same Hempstead court, along with criminal courts in New York City with no problems.
“I live in New York City where’s it’s like mostly … a mixed crowd … I never really experienced this before,” Singh said. “It just makes me feel like I don’t belong here or something like that.”
In 1993, a Nassau judge had ordered McAndrews, then a local prosecutor, to remove Lenten ashes from his forehead -saying they could prejudice a jury.
The Republican judge, whose elected term ends this year, also agreed to take a green Saint Patrick’s Day carnation out of his lapel that same year after a defense lawyer made the same kind of complaint.(Source: Newsday)
India today got the backing of Switzerland in its bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group ahead of the elite group’s crucial meeting even as the two countries resolved to strengthen cooperation in combating tax evasion and black money.
Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann announced his country’s support to India’s membership in the 48-member grouping after holding comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Agreeing to expand cooperation in tackling the problem of Indians stashing blackmoney in Swiss banks was one of the key focus areas of the talks between the two leaders besides
stepping up ties in areas of trade, investment and vocational training.
Common commitments, values, people-to-people & economic ties will take India-Switzerland relations to new heights.https://t.co/wSX8RUcQ26
“We have promised India support in its efforts to become a member of NSG,” Schneider Ammann said at a joint media interaction.
India has been pushing for membership of the bloc for last few years and had formally moved its application on May 12. The grouping will take up India’s application in its plenary meetings on June 9 in Vienna and June 24 in Seoul.
“I am thankful to the President for Switzerland’s understanding and support for India’s membership of the NSG,” Modi said.
The NSG looks after critical issues relating to the nuclear sector and its membership will help India expand its atomic energy sector.
Modi also said combating the menace of black money and tax evasion was “shared priority” for both the countries.
“We discussed the need for an early and expeditious exchange of information to bring to justice the tax offenders. An early start to negotiations on the agreement on the automatic exchange of information would be important in this respect,” Modi said.
On his part, the Swiss President said both the countries are making considerable progress in fighting tax fraud and evasion.
So, in case you don’t like a product, you just have 10 days to return the products bought from the website to get the refund.
Flipkart, Amazon are engaged in a fierce war for dominance of India’s booming online retail market
According to a report in Economic Times, India’s leading online store has also told sellers on the platform that they will have to pay higher commissions from June 20.
The 10-day return policy will be applicable to all the selling products, including books, mobile phones and electronics. While the 30-day window will be available for footwear, watches, clothing, jewellery, fashion accessories and large appliances.
“The revised structure across shipping, commission and returns will enable sellers to have predictability and better manage their online business,” ET quoted a Flipkart spokesperson as saying.
These changes are expected to come into effect from July 2016.
The alleged mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed has threatened India of dire consequences if it shows aggression against Pakistan.
He warned that Pakistan would not mind to use nuclear bombs if India attacks.
If any drone or any aggression takes place against Pakistan from Indian bases, we have enough drones for whole India. #دفاع_پاکستان_کانفرنس
— Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (@HafizSaeedLive) June 5, 2016
Hafiz Saeed took to Twitter and posted: “If any drone or any aggression takes place against Pakistan from Indian bases, we have enough drones for whole India.”
Earlier this year, reportedly the JuD chief had launched a mass recruitment drive of terrorists to execute its anti-India plans. Also, reports state that Saeed had visited various launching pads near the Indo-Pakistan border from where terrorists are being infiltrated to India.
Recenlty, India India erected latest Laser walls at the International Border for full-proof security. Saeed stayed near border for two days and he had made provocative speeches in around 10 villages.
Abhishek Chaubey’s “ #UdtaPunjab ” deals with drug problem in Punjab but according to filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, the issue is not just limited to the state and he feels the film’s title should be changed to “Udta India”.
“For what it actually represents Udta Punjab Is diminutive… A more truthful and righteous title would be Udta India or Udta World,” the “Veerappan” director tweeted.
DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD FOR ABHISHEK CHOUBEY’S UDTA PUNJAB. THE TRAILER WITH ITS EXTENSIVE VISUALS OF SHAHID KAPOOR INDULGING IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND COLOURFUL LANGUAGE WHICH HAD GONE VIRAL ON THE INTERNET , HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY TONED-DOWN FOR ITS THEATRICAL VIEWING.
For what it actually represents Udta Punjab Is diminutive.. A more truthful and righteous title would be Udta India or Udta World
The makers of the Shahid Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer have been at the loggerheads with the censor board since the film’s trailer was released in April.
There were reports that the censor board did not clear the film due to expletives and drug use but the makers have clarified that it is still under process for certification.
Also starring Alia Bhatt and Diljit Dosanjh, “Udta Punjab” is expected to release on June 17.
The Twitter and Pinterest accounts of the co-founder and CEO of social media giant Facebook Mark Zuckerberg were compromised over the weekend, a media report said.
LinkedIn password dump likely to blame
The group responsible, OurMine Team, also claimed to have gained access to his zuck Instagram account, though we were not able to independently verify this (Update: See below, his Instagram was not accessed). OurMine’s Twitter account now stands suspended.
So Twitter suspended our old Twitter. We are trying to get it back if not this account will be the official,” OurMine Team tweeted from its new account.
Millions of LinkedIn user account details were leaked online last month and the company reacted by invalidating the credentials and contacting affected members to reset their passwords, the report said.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Nearly a month after being named the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, Donald Trump has finally earned the vote of House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Far from a wholehearted embrace of his party’s 2016 standard-bearer’s policies and temperament, Ryan’s announcement on Thursday mainly emphasized that Trump would be a better ally to advance Ryan’s policy goals than likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
The announcement, published in a column in his home town newspaper the GazetteXtra, failed to include the word “endorsement,” instead indicating only that the Wisconsin lawmaker will cast his vote for Trump at the ballot box. Ryan wrote that he came to his decision after several conversations with Trump.
“I feel confident he would help us turn the ideas … into laws to help improve people’s lives,” he wrote.
NBC News had proclaimed Trump the presumptive nominee 29 days ago on May 4, after Trump’s final GOP rivals exited the race. But Ryan withheld his support at the time, instead publicizing his concerns with the likely nominee.
Ryan suggested then that it was up to Trump to unify the party after a primary that resulted in a nominee that many establishment Republicans did not prefer.
“I think the bulk of the burden on unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee,” Ryan said last month. “I’m not there right now. And I hope to though, and I want to. But I think what is required is that we unify this party.”
In the column published Thursday, Ryan did not sugarcoat his continuing disagreements with Trump.
“It’s no secret that he and I have our differences. I won’t pretend otherwise. And when I feel the need to, I’ll continue to speak my mind,” Ryan wrote. “To enact (Republican) ideas, we need a Republican president willing to sign them into law. That’s why, when he sealed the nomination, I could not offer my support for Donald Trump before discussing policies and basic principles.”
While it’s hardly a glowing recommendation, Ryan’s willingness to support Trump presents yet another obstacle to the “Stop Trump” movement as establishment Republicans are slowly lining up behind their nominee, albeit reluctantly.
Related: Donald Trump and Paul Ryan Could Not Be Further Apart
A primary reason for that unification is Republicans’ common enemy in Hillary Clinton, a fact not lost on Ryan in his announcement Thursday.
“One person who we know won’t support it is Hillary Clinton. A Clinton White House would mean four more years of liberal cronyism and a government more out for itself than the people it serves. Quite simply, she represents all that our agenda aims to fix,” Ryan wrote.
Ryan was slow to the Trump train after expressing concerns over some of Trump’s comments and positions. The two met twice in May, after Trump was deemed the presumptive nominee, but an endorsement wasn’t immediate after the meetings.
Trump said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on May 8 that he was “blindsided” by Ryan’s lack of an endorsement.
“But (I) have a nice relationship with him. And then all of a sudden, he gets on and he does this number. So I’m not exactly sure what he has in mind. But that’s okay,” Trump added.
In Ryan’s column Thursday, he said Trump can “help us” move forward on their policy domestic and foreign policy priories.
“As I said from the start, my goal has been to unite the party so we can win in the fall. And if we’re going to unite, it has to be over ideas,” Ryan said, seeming to get behind him for the sake of the party and not his satisfaction with the person.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi going to the United States again – for the fourth time in two years starting June 6 – that too at the last lap of the Obama Presidency and in the thick of the American presidential election, is a question that has swirled around political and diplomatic corridors for some weeks now. The answers, according to a range of sources, is as follows:
It was President Obama who invited Modi to visit. The invitation was weighed carefully before accepting it with a view to strengthening the relationship, because it was felt that despite all the convergence in recent years, New Delhi and Washington ”still need to get into the habit of working together.”
Besides, it was reasoned, if the Prime Minister did not take the opportunity to visit now, it could be another 18-24 months before such a visit could take place given that a new US President will be in place eight months from now, and it could be at least another year before she or he put together a team and settled in. Did it make sense to allow a long, fallow period of no high-level exchange at a time the ties had gathered so much momentum, was the question that the PMO chose to answer in the negative by accepting the invitation.
“The invitation and the visit is part of consolidating and celebrating the relationship,” India’s ambassador to the US Arun Kumar Singh, told correspondents on Wednesday during a preview of the 50-hour visit, extending across three days in Washington DC, the centerpiece of which is a bilateral meeting with President Obama on June 7 morning, followed by a lunch.
Although described an official working trip, the visit will have at least one characteristic of a ”State” visit, which was what was initially discussed before it was scaled down. Prime Minister Modi will stay at Blair House, across from the White House, which is usually where ”state” guests are hosted.
The scuttlebutt surrounding the scuppering of the “state” visit: Save it for the next administration.
Although officials dismiss talk of engaging with a “lame duck presidency,” maintaining that the US executive is fully empowered till the day the US President demits office on January 20, 2017, it is quite obvious from his schedule that the Prime Minister’s program involves heavy engagements with lawmakers. During a four-hour swirl of Capitol Hill on June 8, Modi will have four events on the Hill, including a joint address to Senators and Congressmen, and “unprecedented” luncheon hosted by the Speaker of the House.
He will also attend a “rare” reception hosted in his honor by the Senate and House foreign relations committees and the India Caucuses in the House and the Senate, some of whose members have lit into New Delhi for various perceived infractions, from human rights and civil liberties violation to lack of transparency and clarity in trade issues.
In fact, around the time Prime Minister Modi and President Obama finish their exchanges in the White House, the US Commission for Human Rights will begin its hearing on “Advancement of Human Rights in India.”
The Indian side appears to have taken the criticism in its stride, preferring to see and present the larger picture of a healthy US-India relations up front than be distracted by what they it sees as agenda-driven needling.
”Of course we have problems in India. No society is perfect. We are always ready to discuss the issues,” one Indian official said pointedly, referring to recent spate of criticism from Ben Cardin, a Democratic Senator from Maryland, who some Indian activists see as the ”Dan Burton from the left.” But those exchanges have to be on the basis of equality and recognition of India’s democratic strengths that allows India’s own civil society to expose such inequalities and injustices, not preachy and judgmental pronouncement from Washington.
Dan Burton was a US lawmaker from Indiana who routinely castigated India for years over human rights transgressions, mainly fueled by Khalistani and Kashmiri separatists.
Ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit and surrounding it, the two sides will sign a raft of agreements, including on facilitating fast track visits through a global entry program, exchange of terrorist database information, and return of stolen antiques.
NEW DELHI (TIP): India’s biggest diplomatic battle since the nuclear deal has begun in earnest — New Delhi has quietly submitted its formal application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group ( NSG ) ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US starting June 4.
India’s application will be assessed in the NSG Meeting which will take place in Vienna on 8-9 June. For India, membership in the NSG is important for two immediate reasons. India must be part of the group to meet its climate change agenda of targeting 40 percent non-fossil fuels in the country’s “energy mix”. Besides, India’s membership in the NSG will automatically mean that business opportunities for India will be more or less stable, regardless of change in governments, according to an Economic Timesreport.
The application was pushed through on May 12, almost a week before Pakistan sent its case. And the first big test will be on June 9-10 at a closed-door NSG meet in Vienna.
Senior diplomats, who didn’t want to be identified, told ET that the PM himself has been burning the telephone lines, reaching out to heads of government across the 48-member body to pitch for India’s case.
The submission of the application, which comes after nearly seven years of talks with NSG and its various forums, has set Modi regime up for a big fight with China, an NSG member that is batting for Pakistan.
The process began in last week of April when India transmitted what is called the ‘adherence to NSG’ document to International Atomic Energy Agency. This lists all the laws and rules that have been changed or inserted to streamline India’s regime in line with NSG guidelines. India submitted its application on May 12.
As part of an overall strategy, President Pranab Mukherjee undertook a visit to China on May 24 to sound out Beijing. There was no clear response, but China agreed to get officials on both sides talking to each other. China was a hold-out even when NSG gave a one-time waiver to the Indo-US nuclear deal, but gave in after then US president George W Bush called up his then Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to persuade Beijing.
Now, big diplomatic push will come from the PM when he goes to the US on June 4. New Delhi is counting on Washington to send out a strong and clear message that will set the tone for the crucial NSG technical meet on June 9-10, where India’s application will be assessed. The action will then shift to the June 24 NSG plenary in Seoul, where the case is likely to be put up on the agenda.
Hectic diplomatic activity has started. The message has been two-fold: First, if India needs to meet its climate change commitments of aiming for 40% non-fossil fuels in the country’s energy mix, it needs to be formally a part of the nuclear trading club. Second, India’s NSG membership will automatically ensure the business environment is kept more predictable and stable regardless of change in governments.
NEW DELHI (TIP): After a lull of several months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be off to another whirlwind diplomatic tour starting next week. His first stop will be Afghanistan on June 4 to inaugurate the Salma Dam which has been built with Indian assistance.
By end of the day Modi will be in Doha to return a visit by the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who visited India on March 2015. Qatar is India’s largest source for natural gas and Modi is keen to encourage more investments from there.
PM Modi in his two years in office has already visited 29 nations. He now has the distinction among all Prime Ministers of India to have visited the highest number of nations in first two years in office
India and Qatar are expected to hold some intensive discussions on the security situation too. The Afghan Taliban was allowed to open an office in Doha, which is something India has frowned upon in the past.
Announcing the visit, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Qatar is an important trading partner for us in the Gulf region with bilateral trade in 2014-15 exceeding $15 billion. It is our largest supplier of LNG requirements, accounting for 65% of our total imports in 2015-16. It was also one of our key sources of crude oil. Over 6,30,000 Indian nationals form the largest expatriate community in Qatar.”
Modi will then stopover in Switzerland on June 6 to hold talks with Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann on technology and investments. Interestingly, he will be visiting Switzerland days after the country inaugurates the world’s longest tunnel, an engineering feat of sorts.
On June 7-8, Modi will be in US, his fourth visit to the country. “The main objective of the forthcoming visit would be to consolidate the progress made in diverse areas such as economy, energy, environment, defense and security, and to intensify cooperation for the future,” Swarup said.
Modi will also address a joint session of the US Congress, a rare honor. “He will be the first foreign leader to be given this honor in 2016. The USCongress has been a source of strength for India-US strategic partnership and the India Congressional Caucus is the largest such group in the US Congress. During the visit, PM will interact with CEOs of major US companies.”
Modi will then pay an important visit to Mexico, which has seen a big increase in economic ties with India. It’s not yet clear whether PM will stop over at any other country on way back. Generally, Air India One, the PM’s plane stops over in Germany for refueling, but Modi could utilize this stop for another short bilateral. Last year, PM stopped over in Ireland for such a visit.
NEW DELHI (TIP) : Congress circles are again abuzz with the possibility of Rahul Gandhi @OfficeOfRG taking over as the party president. If the change comes through in the coming days, as is being talked about but with little indication of the timings from the party, the 45-year-old will be elevated to the top rank at a challenging time.
The Congress has suffered a series of poll setbacks that began with the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which saw the party tally touch an all-time low of 44.
Here are the five big challenges that await Gandhi in the hot seat.
1. Back to winning ways:The Congress, which has ruled the Centre and also dominated the states for the larger part of its history, seems to be a declining force as the BJP expands its footprint. Though the party tasted success in Bihar as part of an alliance last year, its electoral base is fast depleting. If Gandhi takes charge in coming weeks, he will have limited time to prepare for the crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab due early next year.
2. Party revamp:Arguably the biggest job — reshaping the party machinery to meet the aspirations of a young nation. He will have to tread carefully. His choices are limited and he will have to make the best use of them. A wholesale change or marginalisation of old guard may prove counter-productive.
3. Rahul, the vote catcher:The Amethi MP was seen as the architect of the 2014 poll campaign, the outcome though was far from encouraging. But, it was Gandhi who in 2009 Lok Sabha elections won the party record number of seats in Uttar Pradesh, pushing the Congress tally to 206 seats that earned the UPA a second term.
4. Strong state leaders: In party meetings, Gandhi often speaks about grooming strong leaders in states. He realises that without popular leaders like late YS Rajasekhara Reddy in Andhra Pradesh or Ibobi Singh in Manipur, the Congress has little chance of regaining lost ground. It is easier said than done. Historically, the party leadership has not encouraged strong leaders in states.
MATHURA (TIP): At least 21 people, including an SP and an SHO, have been killed in the massive clash between police and encroachers that broke out here on Thursday even as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has ordered an inquiry.
19 people have been killed apart from SP City Mukul Dwivedi and SHO, Farah, Santosh Yadav, Pradeep Bhatnagar, commissioner, Agra division, said on Friday.
A magisterial probe has also been ordered, he said.
The violence had erupted when police were trying to evict illegal occupants, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, from Jawahar Bagh on Thursday on the directions of the Allahabad high court.
In Lucknow, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered a probe by the divisional commissioner of Mathura, an official spokesperson said. The Uttar Pradesh government has reportedly announced an ex-gratia of Rs 20 lakh each for the families of the martyred policemen.
The situation in Mathura remains tense and DGP Javed Ahmed and principal secretary (home) Debashish Panda have rushed here.
Rajnath reviews situation The Union home minister said he has reviewed the situation in Mathura.
“I have spoken to the chief minister of Uttar Pardesh and reviewed the situation in Mathura. I have assured him of all possible help from the Centre.
“I am anguished over the loss of lives in the incident in Mathura. May God give strength to the bereaved families,” Rajnath Singh said.
According to reports, the encroachers were from a semi-religious sect, who described themselves as “Satyagrahis”.
The agitators had occupied the park in the Jawahar Bagh area for over two years. The 260-acre park is valued in crores of rupees.
The encroachers, who have been on a protest for two years, demand “cancellation of the elections” of the President and Prime Minister of India.
They also want that diesel be sold at 60 litres a rupee and petrol at 40 litres a rupee. The existing currency, they also say, should be replaced.
According to police, members of this outfit and another smaller organisation, Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena, had been staging demonstrations at Jawahar Bagh over the last two-and-a-half years. Among the other demands posted on their Facebook page are: “We demand all records relating to the ‘Ruler of the Nation’, law and order, and also the document of citizenship (which shows how we are citizens of the nation) to be made public.”
Signup to our Newsletter!
Don’t miss out on all the happenings around the world
