The Indian Panorama

Month: November 2016

  • UP polls: Truce in SP as Mulayam takes back Ram Gopal

    UP polls: Truce in SP as Mulayam takes back Ram Gopal

    LUCKNOW (TIP): Over three weeks after expelling him from the SP on charges of anti-party activities, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Nov 17 revoked the expulsion of his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav and also reinstated him to all posts that he used to hold.

    am Gopal (70), who was shown the door last month in the midst of a raging feud in the Yadav clan, will continue as leader of SP in the Rajya Sabha, Mulayam said in a release in Lucknow. He added that Ram Gopal will also stay on as the SP national general secretary, spokesperson and a member of the SP central parliamentary board.

    State SP chief Shivpal Yadav, who had announced Ramgopal’s expulsion on October 23, said he would abide by all directives of Netaji (Mulayam).

    Speaking to mediapersons, Ram Gopal, who is a cousin of Mulayam and Shivpal, said he was happy with the decision and called it his “comeback” in the party.

    “Mulayam cannot take any decision against me from the core of his heart…that is why he revoked the decision. I was technically not expelled from the parliamentary party. I was member of Samajwadi Party,” he said.

    “It’s my comeback in the party. This is Netaji’s (Mulayam’s) ‘kripa’, he was never against me. I will work as per the directions of the party. I have always worked as a disciplined worker… I have always been part of the Samajwadi Party. I will always be in the Samajwadi Party. Now that I am officially back, I thank Netaji,” said the Rajya Sabha MP.

    The development comes a day after Ram Gopal’s fiery speech in Rajya Sabha, where he represented SP in the debate on the government’s sudden ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and its impact on people. Ram Gopal was sacked on October 23, hours after Shivpal and three other ministers considered close to him were sacked from the state cabinet by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Shivpal had announced the expulsion a few hours after Ram Gopal issued a letter to SP workers alleging that a group within the party wanted Akhilesh to face defeat in Assembly elections next year. Within hours of Ram Gopal’s letter, Akhilesh had sacked Shivpal along with his close aides— Om Prakash Singh, Narad Rai and Syeda Shadab Fatima — from his cabinet. Shivpal had then alleged that Ram Gopal was “hand-in-gloves with the BJP and has already met a senior BJP leader thrice because his son and MP Akshay Yadav, daughter-in-law and he himself are involved in a scam with former chief engineer of NOIDA, Yadav Singh, who had been arrested”. “To save himself from CBI, he is doing conspiracy on the directives of BJP. He is running a campaign to weaken Netaji and Samajwadi Party. The chief minister is not understanding these conspiracies. He should understand who is his blood relatives and who is his well-wisher,” Shivpal had said, adding that Ram Gopal had always insulted SP leaders and workers.

    After his expulsion, Ram Gopal, in a statement, had denied the charges. He had said that “Mulayam was surrounded by demonic powers and would realise the reality when he gets free from such powers”. He had added that whether he remains in the SP or not, he was with Akhilesh in the ‘dharmayudhha’ and will remain with him till he becomes chief minister for the second time.

    Ram Gopal had stated that he was not disappointed with his expulsion but was pained at the “cheap” allegations leveled against him. “Meeting leaders of other parties is not a crime… I had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi too with Mulayam to invite him for a family function in Saifai,” he had added.

    A few days ago in Lucknow, Mulayam had said that he gives no importance to Ram Gopal’s words. In an emotional outburst at a press conference in his native place in Etawah on Monday, Ram Gopal had virtually broken down, saying injustice had been meted out to him as he trashed the corruption charges levelled against him. He had demanded that SP should withdraw the expulsion of various leaders who were shown the door in the past two months in an “unconstitutional manner”. Alleged that Assembly tickets were being distributed by ignoring Akhilesh, Ram Gopal had then demanded that Mulayam should declare Akhilesh as the party’s CM face in the 2017 polls.

  • Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra files criminal defamation case against Kejriwal

    Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra files criminal defamation case against Kejriwal

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra approached a city court on Thursday seeking prosecution of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly defaming him by levelling false allegations in the wake of demonitisation of higher currency notes.

    In his plea, Chandra, chairman of the Essel group, has alleged that Kejriwal, while addressing a press conference on November 11 had made “false, fabricated and defamatory allegations” against him.

    The complaint, which is likely to come up for hearing on Friday, sought chief minister’s prosecution under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.

    The complaint, filed through advocate Vijay Aggarwal, claimed that Kejriwal “defamed the complainant (Chandra) by making inherently defamatory statements and caused serious harm to his reputation by imputing behaviour incompatible with proper conduct and suggestions of involvement in illegal activity.”

    “On November 11, Kejriwal, while addressing a press conference in front of the national television, made false, fabricated and defamatory allegations against complainant,” it said.

  • Jaya breathing without respiratory support: AIADMK

    Jaya breathing without respiratory support: AIADMK

    CHENNAI (TIP): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s lung infection has been cured and she is breathing without respiratory support and may be discharged from hospital any day, her party AIADMK said.

    “Amma’s (Jayalalithaa) health has improved excellently. She is (continuing) undergoing physiotherapy and she may be discharged any day,” AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyyan said.

    Her lung infection and respiratory problem was totally cured and she “is breathing on her own” without respiratory support, he told reporters here.

    Other health parameters of Jayalalithaa, who has been undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospital since September 22, including heart (functioning) are “excellent”, he said. “She is having food by herself, she is sitting, she is able to talk freely… she is cheerful,” Ponnaiyyan said. He said she thanked the Almighty for her recovery and the people for their prayers. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital after she complained of fever and dehydration.

    Later, the hospital had said she was being treated for infection with respiratory support.

    On November 13, the 68-year old leader said she has taken “rebirth” and that she was waiting to resume her duties after complete recovery.

    Source: PTI

  • CBI gets 34 requests to probe Indians who are wanted abroad

    CBI gets 34 requests to probe Indians who are wanted abroad

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Armed with new powers, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has received at least 34 requests from various countries to probe Indians who have taken refuge in India after committing crime abroad and cannot be extradited because of limitations of bilateral treaties.

    Centre has recently made CBI the nodal agency to probe and prosecute Indians here who have come back from abroad after committing crime but cannot be extradited because of limitations in mutual treaties.

    They could also not be tried in India as the crime has been committed outside the jurisdiction of Indian agencies, CBI sources said.

    India has extradition treaties with 39 countries of which 21 bar extradition of their own nationals to the countries where the crime has been committed.

    “We do not extradite Indian nationals to countries like Bulgaria, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Portugal, Vietnam, etc for being tried there because of extradition conditions with these countries,” an official said, adding that arrangement is mutual.

    The sources said the only condition for such prosecution is that the offence for which they have been charged with should be cognisable offence in India too.

    “The Central government has empowered and extended the jurisdiction of members of Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI) under Section 5 of the DSPE Act to investigate and prosecute the offences as described under Section four of IPC i.e the offences committed outside territorial jurisdiction of India referred by the Central government from time to time,” an official told PTI.

  • Old and new faces, turncoats figure in SAD’s first list of 69

    Old and new faces, turncoats figure in SAD’s first list of 69

    Greenhorns, turncoats, industrialists and party’s old war horses are all there in the first list of 69 candidates released by the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal on Wednesday for the Assembly elections due early next year. As per seat-sharing arrangement with ally BJP, SAD will contest 94 out of the total of 117 seats. While BJP and Congress are yet to announce their lists, AAP has announced its candidates for 79 seats.

    The first SAD list has focussed on seats reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates where either new faces have been given party tickets or sitting legislators have been shifted to other constituencies.

    Punjab’s Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa would contest from Lehra instead of Sunam, the constituency he currently represents. All other ministers who figure on SAD’s list on Wednesday will contest from their current constituencies. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who represents Lambi constituency, and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who represents Jalalabad constituency, do not figure in the first list.

    Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal has been dropped from Payal (SC) constituency, from where Isher Singh Meharban has been fielded by SAD. However, in a balancing act to placate Atwal, the party has given ticket to his son and former MLA Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal for Raikot (SC) constituency. Isher Singh Meharban had contested as Congress candidate from Jagraon, also an SC constituency, in the 2012 Assembly polls and lost by merely 206 votes to SAD’s S R Kler.

    SAD has decided to field S R Kler from Nihalsinghwala (SC) constituency, currently represented by Akali MLA Rajvinder Kaur. Kaur had defeated Congress’s Ajeet Singh Shant in the 2012 Assembly polls by a margin of 591 votes. In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Shant joined SAD in August 2013. Akali Dal will field Shant from Mehal Kalan, the SC reserved seat Akali Dal had lost to Congress in 2012 polls where Harchand Kaur, contesting on Congress ticket, defeated SAD nominee Gobind Singh by a margin of over 7,000 votes.

    With Kler being shifted to Nihalsinghwala, SAD has given ticket to Amarjit Kaur Sahoke for Jagraon. Currently Moga Zila Parishad Chairman, she is contesting Assembly polls for the first time.

    In Phillaur (SC) constituency, SAD has decided to drop sitting MLA Avinash Chander, instead fielding Baldev Singh Khaira, a former BSP heavyweight from Phillaur who joined SAD in July this year. Seth Satpal Mal, a prominent activist of Dera Sachkhand Ballan who had quit Congress as party’s state general secretary in October to join SAD, would be the ruling party’s candidate from another SC reserved constituency of Kartarpur. Mal replaces sitting Akali legislator Sarwan Singh Phillaur. Chander and Phillaur were questioned by Enforcement Directorate in multi-crore Jagdish Bhola drug racket case.

    To consolidate its position on yet another SC constituency that SAD lost badly in 2012 polls, the party has chosen Kabir Das as its candidate from Nabha. Das, formerly with Congress leader and key activist of Dera Sachkhand Ballan, joined SAD only last month. In 2012, SAD nominee Balwant Singh Shahpur had lost to Congress’s Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in Nabha by a margin of over 22,000 votes.

    Replacing its sitting MLA From Balluana (SC) constituency, Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, SAD will field Parkash Singh Bhatti, the current constituency in-charge of Jaito (SC) constituency who had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 Assembly polls from Balluana.

    Meanwhile, SAD has dropped liquor baron and sitting Faridkot MLA Deep Malhotra, replacing him with youth leader and Students Organisation of India coordinator Parambans Singh Bunty Romana, one of the 17 new faces who would contest polls on SAD tickets for the first time.

    Bunty is contesting Assembly polls for the first time. So does Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra who has been given ticket from Sanour in Patiala district. Harinderpal is the son of sitting Lok Sabha MP and senior Akali leader Prem Singh Chandumajra.

    Another new face of Akali Dal is Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, who has been fielded from Amloh.

    Dilraj Singh Bhunder, son of Rajya Sabha MP and senior Akali leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder, has also got party ticket from Sardulgarh.

    Punjab Police’s Deputy Inspector General Ranbir Singh Khatra’s son Satbir Singh Khatra would also contest on a SAD ticket for the first time. He has been chosen as the party candidate for Patiala Rural. Khatra was appointed as Patiala Rural constituency in-charge of Sanour by SAD, replacing late Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s daughter Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, in June this year. Contesting as an Independent in 2012 polls, Khatra had finished third in Patiala Rural segment.

    Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, who is a transporter, will contest on SAD ticket from Gidderbaha.

    Another new face who would be contesting Assembly polls for the first time is Gurmeet Singh Kular. A big industrialist in Ludhiana, Kular will be party’s bet from Atamnagar constituency. Another noted industrialist from Doaba, Jarnail Singh Wahid, has been given party ticket for Nawanshahr.

    The cabinet ministers who figure in Wednesday’s list of SAD include Bikram Singh Majithia (Majitha), Gulzar Singh Ranike (Attari), Sikander Singh Maluka (Rampura Phul), Janmeja Singh Sekhon (Maur), Sohan Singh Thandal (Chabbewal), Ajit Singh Kohar (Shahkot), Tota Singh (Dharamkot), Daljit Singh Cheema (Ropar) and Adaish Partap Singh Kairon (Patti).

    Source: The Indian Express

  • PUNJAB EX-MINISTER PHILLAUR QUITS SAD, LIKELY TO JOIN CONG

    PUNJAB EX-MINISTER PHILLAUR QUITS SAD, LIKELY TO JOIN CONG

    JALANDHAR (TIP): In a jolt to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), six-time MLA and former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur has resigned from the party and also as legislator after he was denied ticket from his Kartarpur constituency in the first list of party candidates released on November 16.

    Sources in the Congress said  Phillaur is likely to join the party on Friday in the presence of its state chief Captain Amarinder Singh in Chandigarh. He has been in touch with the Congress for the past few days.

    Phillaur, who had to resign as tourism and jails minister in April 2014 after his son Damanvir Singh’s name cropped up in the Bhola drug case, has been sidelined in SAD for the past two years.

    He was also summoned and quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the drug case twice because of his alleged “business association” with Goraya-based businessman Chunni Lal Gaba, whose properties worth more than `100 crore were attached by the ED in the drug case. The former minister saiud he submitted his resignation as SAD member to party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and as MLA to assembly speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal on Thursday morning through his “representative”, but did not disclose his future course of action. “I will give all details, especially why I left the SAD, in a press conference in the coming days,” he said.

    Phillaur, who became MLA for the first time in 1977 when he was just 26, was considered among the tallest leaders of the SAD in Doaba region and a staunch loyalist of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

    He represented Phillaur constituency of Jalandhar district five times before he was shifted in 2012 to Kartarpur where he managed to win by a narrow margin of around 800 votes.

    Source: HT

  • Tohra’s daughter Kuldeep on AAP’s 5th list of 12 candidates

    Tohra’s daughter Kuldeep on AAP’s 5th list of 12 candidates

    CHANDIGARH (TIP): Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday declared its fifth list of 12 candidates for the upcoming Punjab assembly polls. Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, daughter of former Akali stalwart late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, secured ticket from Sanour.

    Here is the complete list of candidates:

    1 Raj Kumar Mahajan from Pathankot
    2 Balwinder Singh Sahota from Amritsar (West)
    3 Dr Sanjeev Sharma from Jalandhar (Central)
    4 Narender Sandha from Ferozepur
    5 Malkit Thind from Guru Har Sahai
    6 Giriraj Rajora from Balluana
    7 Kawanlpreet Singh Kaki from Qadian
    8 Harbhajan Singh from Jandiala
    9 Bhupender Singh Bittu from Khadoor Sahib 10 Capt Bikramjeet Singh from Khem Karan
    11. Kuldeep Kaur Tohra from Sanour
    12. GS Kang from Bhagha Purana

  • Now, Punjab wants royalties for its river waters

    Now, Punjab wants royalties for its river waters

    CHANDIGARH (TIP): The Punjab Assembly on November 16 passed a resolution seeking royalties for river water supplied to its non-riparian neighbours Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. It urged the government of Parkash Singh Badal to seek the help of the Union government in extracting the dues.

    The demand for royalties for river waters adds another dimension to the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute between Punjab and several of its neighbours. The state has already adopted a hostile stance towards this week’s Supreme Court advice to the President that Punjab had indeed been acting unconstitutionally in scrapping all its previous pledges under the SYL project.

    The Assembly’s stance that royalties would have to be paid for the Sutlej river waters it supplied to its neighbours since 1966 is likely to raise the stakes much higher.

    Moving the resolution in the special session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Mohan Mittal said seeking royalties for river waters was not anything new. Punjab has in the past demanded and received them. The erstwhile riyasats of Bikaner, Patiala, Nabha and Jind paid such royalties till 1945-46 for using Sutlej waters. A law mandating such riparian royalties was in place during the British Raj since 1873.

    The resolution, passed unanimously, asked the Badal government to seek New Delhi’s help to recover water dues from Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi since November 11, 1966.

    Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal moved another resolution directing the state government not to do three things: (a) handing over any land to any agency for construction of the SYL canal; (b) allowing any agency to do any work on the project; (c) cooperating with any agency for the construction of the canal.

    Speaking during the special session, Badal repeated the same oaths he has been uttering since the Supreme Court verdict, “I would rather shed every drop of my blood than allow even a single drop of water to flow out of my state.”

    The resolution reads, “Whereas Punjab has legislative and executive right over the whole land falling under its boundaries as per the entry number 14 and 18 of the state list of the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India.” The house also took notice of the fact that Punjab needs 56 million acre feet (MAF) of water for agriculture, out of which river waters account for only 27 per cent. The Central Ground Water Commission has already declared 105 of the 138 blocks in Punjab as over-exploited.

    Cong to Prez: SYL canal issue may trigger violence

    CHANDIGARH (TIP): A Punjab Congress delegation, led by state party chief Captain Amarinder Singh, urged President Pranab Mukherjee to direct the central government to consider the ground realities and the availability of water in the state before taking any action on the advice of the Supreme Court on the (SYL canal issue. All Punjab Congress MLAs, along with several central party leaders, called on Mukherjee on Thursday evening, to seek his urgent intervention in the matter. The party leaders warned of the possible outbreak of violence in the state, where the situation was “extremely fluid and tense” following the SC verdict. Later speaking to mediapersons, Amarinder accused the Parkash Singh Badal government in Punjab of further “inflaming passions” and aggravating the situation with its irresponsible actions, including the passage of the two “illogical” resolutions in the state assembly.

  • Govt justifies ban on Islamic Research Foundation

    Govt justifies ban on Islamic Research Foundation

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The government on Thursday notified the ban on Salafist preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO+ , Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), citing Naik’s “objectionable and subversive” speeches extolling terrorists like Osama bin Laden, justifying suicide bombings and proclaiming that every Muslim should be a terrorist.

    “The IRF and its members, particularly, the founder and President of the said association, Dr Zakir Naik+ , have been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill-will between different religious communities and groups,” said the gazette notification issued by the home ministry declaring IRF as an “unlawful association” under Section 3(1) of the UAPA.

    Stating that the activities of IRF and Naik were “highly inflammatory in nature” and that “if urgent steps are not taken there is every possibility of many youth being motivated and radicalised to commit terrorist acts leading to promoting enmity between different religious groups,” the notification said the Centre was of the firm opinion that it was necessary to declare IRF as an unlawful association with immediate effect.

  • INDIA SHOOTS OFF NOTE TO PAKISTAN OVER CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

    INDIA SHOOTS OFF NOTE TO PAKISTAN OVER CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Ahead of a possible bilateral engagement next month in Amritsar, the standoff between India and Pakistan continued with India issuing a demarche on continued ceasefire violations along LoC by the neighbouring country.

    This is the third such note issued this month by the government, which said Pakistani forces had committed as many as 12 such violations between November 9 and 15.

    The demarche was delivered to a senior diplomat of the Pakistan high commission on Wednesday. The diplomatic and military standoff continues even as India and Pakistan are presented with the possibility of a high-level engagement early December on the sidelines of the Afghanistan-related Heart of Asia conference. While Sartaj Aziz, the adviser to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, had confirmed his participation for the event in an interview on Tuesday, India said it is yet to officially hear from Islamabad in this regard.

    MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India has told Pakistan that despite calls for restraint, Pakistani forces have committed 12 ceasefire violations between November 9 and 15, employing artillery and 120mm heavy mortars against Indian posts.

    “These violent acts constitute a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement of 2003. The government has also protested the deliberate targeting by the Pakistan army of 14 villages along the Line of Control (LoC) during the period November 9 to 15, which has resulted in four fatal and 25 non-fatal casualties besides causing extensive damage to public and private property and the displacement of civilian population,” he said. Source: TOI

  • Donald Trump’s top aide Steve Bannon suggests there are too many Asian bosses in Silicon Valley

    Donald Trump’s top aide Steve Bannon suggests there are too many Asian bosses in Silicon Valley

    WASHINGTON (TIP): A comment by Donald Trump’s top aide that seemed resentful of the number of Asian bosses in Silicon Valley has created a new controversy in the US. And the Indian tech space has some advice to offer. “As they say in America, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’” Saurabh Srivastava, co-founder of the India Angels Network, a large investor in start-ups. “A third Silicon Valley start-ups are cofounded by someone of Indian origin… it is not surprising that many of the leading American Companies that operate and compete globally have CEOs who are immigrants but the best in class in the world.”

    Steve Bannon, who has been appointed Chief Strategist by US President-Elect Donald Trump, seemed critical months ago of the prominence of Asians in Silicon Valley. The interview with Mr. Bannon has resurfaced in the US media this week.

    Mr. Bannon, 62, interviewed Mr. Trump last year on radio.

    Mr. Trump noted that students attending top universities in the US were heading home after their education.

    “We’ve gotta be able to keep great people in the country. We’ve gotta create, you know, job creators,” Mr. Trump said in the interview. He added that “we have to keep our talented people in this country.”

    Mr. Bannon responded that “when two-thirds or three-quarters of the CEOs in Silicon Valley are from South Asia or from Asia, I think…”, and then went on to say, “a country is more than an economy. We’re a civic society.”

    “He seemed to hint at the idea of a white nationalist identity with the phrase ‘civic society’,” said the US tech site The Verge.

    A study in May last year showed that white men were 149 percent more likely to be CEOs than Asian men, and that the impact of race is 3.7 times more significant than gender as a negative factor in companies. According to the survey, one-third employees in Silicon Valley are Asian; Asians are under one-fifth of management; and only 14 percent are CEOs.

    Despite this, some Indians have risen to positions of great importance in the Valley. According to some estimates, Indians make up 15 percent of all Silicon Valley CEOs, and two of these are leading two of the biggest, most influential, and richest companies in the world today – Microsoft, and Google. In 2014, Microsoft appointed Hyderabad-born Satya Nadella as CEO, after he’d been at the company for 22 years.

    Last year, when Google reorganized as Alphabet, Sundar Pichai was named CEO of the new Google entity. Pichai, who hails from Tamil Nadu, has been at Google since 2004, and before becoming the CEO, he was SVP of Google Android, Chrome and Apps.

  • Pakistani MPs fear China-Pakistan Economic Corridor could benefit India

    Pakistani MPs fear China-Pakistan Economic Corridor could benefit India

    ISLAMABAD (TIP): A group of Pakistani lawmakers has expressed concern that Beijing could eventually use the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor+ (CPEC) to boost its trade with India. The 2442km corridor stretches from the Chinese border to Pakistan’s Gwadar port+ on the Arabian Sea.

    According to a report in Dawn, some members of Pakistan National Assembly , during a meeting of the senate standing committee on planning and development on Wednesday , said that China was investing in the CPEC project to explore new vistas of trade with different countries from India to Central Asian states as well as Europe.

    Committee chairman Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said, “With improved rail and road links with India… China would expand its trade not only with Central Asian states and European countries but also with India to economically strengthen its eight underdeveloped provinces.”

    “Irrespective of sour India-Pakistan, China will definitely use CPEC to expand its trade with India because one who invests always watches one’s interests first.” Mashhadi also suggested that China’s trade relations with India were far bigger than Pakistan, as China had inked $100 billion trade agreements with India last year.

    Meanwhile, The Economist said that Balochistan was one of Pakistan’s troubled regions and, therefore, a “surprising location for (CPEC) what officials hope will become one of the world’s great trade routes”. (PTI)

  • Indian-American student wins under-12 World Cadets Chess Championship

    Indian-American student wins under-12 World Cadets Chess Championship

    MIAMI, FLORIDA (TIP): Nikhil Kumar, anIndian-American student from Miami has won the World Cadets Chess Championship, under-12 division by defeating World No. 1 Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India.

    The tournament held from October 18-31 in Batumi, Republic of Georgia saw the eight-grader at Ransom Everglades middle school finish first in a field of 137 students from 36 countries. After a victory over teammate Andrew Hong, Kumar had 9/10 and was 1.5 ahead of the field. Nikhil’scrucial win over tournament favorite Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa set him up for the early victory.

    “I really wasn’t expecting that from myself, but like when I won it was a good feeling,” he said afterward. “I was proud of myself, and happy to be representing the country, like in such a good way,” he added. He draped an American flag over his shoulders as he accepted the first-place medal and trophy.

  • Indian-origin trader convicted of criminally deceiving US futures markets

    Indian-origin trader convicted of criminally deceiving US futures markets

    CHICAGO (TIP): Navinder Singh Sarao, an Indian-origin trader on November 9 became the second person convicted of criminally deceiving US futures markets after he pleaded guilty to federal charges that he contributed to the Wall Street’s 2010 “Flash Crash”.

    Sarao, 37, was arrested by British authorities on April 21 in London and extradited to the US on November 7 at the request of the US Department of Justice. He traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange from his parents’ home near London’s Heathrow Airport. He pleaded guilty to the count of wire fraud and one count of spoofing before US District Judge Virginia Kendall of the Northern District of Illinois.

    “Navinder Sarao abused sophisticated technology to make a quick profit, and jeopardize the integrity of US financial market,” the US Assistant Attorney General Leslie R Caldwell said. “By flooding the marketplace with bogus orders, his scheme victimized countless individuals”.

    He also added that the charges against Sarao include his role in the May 6, 2010 ‘Flash Crash’ when the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 600 points in five minutes.

  • Democrats win seven; Republicans five Congressional seats in New Jersey: Indian American Jacob defeated

    Democrats win seven; Republicans five Congressional seats in New Jersey: Indian American Jacob defeated

    TRENTON, NJ (TIP): The Democratic Party won seven seats while Republicans got five in U.S. House of Representatives elections in New Jerseythat took place on November 8, 2016. Before the election the Democratic Party and the Republican Party each held six of the 12 congressional seats from New Jersey.

    Peter Jacob, Indian origin Democrat candidate from Seventh District, who was endorsed by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, lost the race to Republican candidate Leonard Lance. Another Democrat candidate David Cole, who was endorsed by President Barack Obama, was also defeated.

    Voters elected 12 candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state’s 12 congressional districts. With no U.S. Senate seat up for election (Robert Menendez next runs in 2018 and Cory Booker in 2020), most attentionwas focused on the North Jersey congressional race where Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer ousted seven-term incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Garrett, the only federal lawmaker in the state to lose a bid for re-election.

    Here are the results:

    First District: Rep. Donald Norcross (D) defeated Bob Patterson (R) in his bid for a second term.

    Second District: Rep. Frank

     

    LoBiondo (R) beat David Cole.

    Third District: First-term Rep. Tom MacArthur (R) won over Frederick John LaVergne (D).

    Fourth District: Rep. Chris Smith (R), the longest serving member of the New Jersey delegation, beat Lorna Phillipson (D).

    Fifth District: Democratic challenger Josh Gottheimer ousted seven-term incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Garrett

    Sixth District: Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D) defeated Brent Sonnek-Schmelz (R).

    Seventh District: Rep. Leonard Lance (R) outpolled Peter Jacob

    Eighth District: Rep. Albio Sires (D) beat Agha Khan (R).

    Ninth District: Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D) won his race against Hector Castillo (R).

    Tenth District: Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D) was the winner over David Pinckney (R), who didn’t report any fundraising.

    Seventh District: Rep. Leonard Lance (R) outpolled Peter Jacob

    Eleventh District: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R) beat Joseph Wenzel (D).

    Twelfth District: Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) defeated Steven Uccio (R).

  • PBD 2017 will effectively address the issues of Indian Diaspora: MEA Secretary Mulay

    PBD 2017 will effectively address the issues of Indian Diaspora: MEA Secretary Mulay

    NEW YORK (TIP): In an exclusive interview to The Indian Panorama, November 14, Mr. Dnyaneshwar M Mulay,Secretary (CPV & OIA), Indian External Affairs Ministry said, “PBD 2017 will be unique and unprecedented in terms of content and expected outcome”.

    Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) in Bengaluru, which is scheduled to take place on January 7, 8 and 9, 2017 is likely to be attended by close to 3000 Non-Residential Indians and delegates from across the world, Mr. Mulay said. Mr. Mulay highlighted how Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been working ceaselessly in the last 10 months to bring significant changes so that NRIs can connect with India in a better way. The Govt is keen to address the issues of concern to the Indian Diaspora and seek their insights and suggestions. Those suggestions will be given great importance to transform them into proper actions. To a question about a perceptible loss of interest among NRIs in the PBD during the last couple of years, Mr. Mulay lamented that PBD had failed to attract NRIs during the last couple of years as it could not effectively address their concerns. But, over the last couple of months a vigorous exercise to focus on the issues impacting the Diaspora has been undertaken and the coming PBD 2017 being held in Bengaluru on January 7,8 and 9 will surely be different. He said there was enormous response to the forthcoming PBD. He extended an invitation to Indian Diaspora to visit India which was fast transforming and attend the PBD as well.

    Mr. Mulay who was transiting through New York on his way to Canada spent a couple of hours meeting with members of Indian American community in Long Island and shared his views with   a gathering of about 50 persons who had come from all over the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

  • Indian American Community Leader Dilip Chauhan honored with Congressional Award

    Indian American Community Leader Dilip Chauhan honored with Congressional Award

    NEW YORK (TIP): Congresswoman Grace Meng, acknowledged Dilip Chauhan as an “outstanding community leader within the State of New York”.

    Meng said, “His Presentation, Gateway to South Asian American Community of New York has educated many elected officials about the community including Members of Congress, State Senators, Assembly Members, Public Advocate and other legislators from New York State in last ten years. I am honored to recognize our beloved community leader, Dilip Chauhan. I thank him for his invaluable years of diligent and noble services to residents of New York and fellow Americans”.

    On Sunday, November 12th, the US Congress dedicated November 12th as the “Dilip Chauhan Day” from the 6th Congressional District in New York.

    The decision was announced by Congresswoman Grace Meng from Sixth District. Ms Meng is the first Asian woman to become a congresswoman in New York.

    On the same day, the Long Island Gujarati Cultural Society (LIGCS) invited and honored Mr. Dilip Chauhan as a “Guest of Honor” at their Annual Gala to celebrate Diwali at Gujarati Samaj in New York.

    Mr. Chauhan graced the occasion with his presence and was honored by the society. The event was attended by about six hundred people from LIGCS.

     

  • Nehru’s legacy celebrated on his 127th birth anniversary in New York

    Nehru’s legacy celebrated on his 127th birth anniversary in New York

    NEW YORK (TIP): On November 14, 2016, both the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA and the Nehru Foundation-USA jointly celebrated the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India since its Independence, at the Sohna Punjab Restaurant in New York. As his birthday coincided with the birthday of Shri Guru Nanak Dev ji, Mr. Harbachan Singh, Secretary General of INOC, USA, felicitated all the Sikhs throughout the world on this joyous and auspicious day and narrated that when Guru Nanak Dev ji was 12 years old he was given 20 rupees by his father to conduct business. Guru ji went to the market, saw some saints and poor people who had not eaten for some time and spent all his 20 rupees and bought food and fed them. Upon his return home, he recounted what he did to his anxious father and left him spellbound.

    Mrs. Uma Sengupta recounted her association with Nehru and how she found him to be a very kind person
    Mrs. Uma Sengupta recounted her association with Nehru and how she found him to be a very kind person

    The birthday celebration of Pandit Nehru ji went into full gear filled with speeches glorifying the work and contribution of Pandit Nehru. Mr. George Abraham, Chairman of the INOC paid tribute by describing him as the ‘architect of modern India’ especially pointing out his many contributions in the field of Education such as the founding of the IITs and Indian Institute of Science among other things.

    President Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, dwelt on some of his outstanding achievements that included creating a solid constitutional framework for the nation. Prof. Bipin Sangankar, President of the Nehru Foundation-USA, recalled his personal interaction with Nehru ji and admired his many accomplishments that put India on a solid footing.

    The keynote speaker Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja described of his amazement at the size of the crowd when he attended Nehru’s funeral and said it was a testimony to his devotion to the people of India. After analyzing Nehru’s thoughts and vision for the country, he concluded that Nehru ji was ahead of his time and stood tall amongst the greatest statesmen of the world. He added that Nehru ji laid the foundation for the nation which is always the hardest part of any nation building.

    Mrs. Uma Sengupta recounted her association with him and how she found him to be a very kind person and stated that he loved children very much which earned him the title “Chacha Nehru”.

    INOC and Nehru Foundation members who attended the event
    INOC and Nehru Foundation members who attended the event

    For a tribute befitting the great scholar, a session was opened to all members of the audience and an animated discussion ensued on the life and teachings of Nehru. Mr. Oommen Koshy was requested to moderate the open discussion session in which many participated and gave their respective viewpoints and told of their favorite stories by which they remembered him and his skillful character.

    Several leaders, like T. J. Gill, DevinderVora, Satish Sharma, Jasvir Singh Nawanshahar, John Joseph, Amir Rashid, Gautam Sanghvi and Vipul Sanghvi, Shangara Rana, adv. Sarabjit Singh, Prasad Kam, each described how they perceived Nehru and his greatness which was instrumental in building great Institutions for the great Republic of India providing stability to its democratic system of government. In concluding the discussions, Mr. Harbachan Singh also drew attention to his writings especially to his book “Discovery of India” and applauded his longest term in office as Prime Minister of India for 17 years.”

    To top up the celebration festivities, Ms. Smita Guha and her daughter, Ananandita, both of whom are famous professional singers and dancers, led the whole group to a singing session of many favorite songs of Nehru ji such as “Sarejahan se acha, Hindustan Hamara.” The audience joined in the singing of the songs that brought a sense of nostalgia and pride.

    Ms. Malini Shah expressed the vote of thanks.

  • The 21st Annual Diwali Food Drive for the Interfaith Nutrition Network organized

    The 21st Annual Diwali Food Drive for the Interfaith Nutrition Network organized

    LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): The India Association of Long Island’s 21st Annual Diwali Food Drive for the Interfaith Nutrition Network was held on November 12 at the Mary Brennan Soup Kitchen.

    Attending the reception were past presidents of IALI. President of IALI Mrs. Beena Kothari & Executive Committee and many IALI members were present. Town of Hempstead Senior Council woman Dorothy Goosby & Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmed graced the occasion with their presence.

    Aruna Saxena, Food Drive Chairwoman said,”This year we are donating 45 boxes of canned food and 21 thousand dollars. Also, Mr. Peter Bheddah a major supporter of the IALI Food Drive and Founder was able to get 2 truckloads of food to the INN through Diku Modi of Maya Foods.

    Dr. Kishore Kuncham was honored for his services as Past Chairman of the Food Drive.

    Aruna Saxena thanked the community and volunteers.

    Diwali Food Drive donors included many generous community members, Hicksville merchants, religious temple goers.

    IALI sponsored a meal around Diwali on October 5. A vegetarian meal was served by 10 ladies from IALI at Mary Brennan Soup Kitchen for approximately 250 men women & children.

    Physicians from the community also donated more than $4000 worth of medicines and supplies, for the non- profit organization, Rotacare,which provides medical care to people in need.

    Aruna Saxena, Food Drive Chair said, “IALI youth also  collected $500, which are provided for children in Foster Care in Nassau County. The money goes to Social Services of Nassau County.

    More than 60 people were present at the Giving   Ceremony at the Mary Brennan Soup Kitchen.

  • MISS NJ USA 2017 WINNER: CHHAVI VERG

    MISS NJ USA 2017 WINNER: CHHAVI VERG

    EDISON, NJ (TIP): 19-year old Indian American, Chhavi Verg, became Miss New Jersey USA 2017on Oct 16th 2016. Chhavi was one of the youngest among more than 80 contestants competing for this title. She will now be representing the state of New Jersey at the Miss USA pageant in 2017.

    Chhavi is in her second year at Rutgers University. She is currently studying business. At her university, Chhavi is a marketing assistant director in the Rutgers University Programming Association (RUPA) and is involved in Women’s BUILD, a group that helps prepare women leaders in business.

    Outside of school, Chhavi enjoys dancing and is a big proponent of health and wellbeing. She is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and completed her Arangetram in 2013. Chhavi believes that one of the most important things in life is good health and became a personal trainer to help others become healthier not just physically, but also mentally. She created her own website (https://chhavivfitness.com) to reach a wider audience and continue spreading the love of fitness to others.

    Chhavi is multi-lingual and can speak English, Hindi, Spanish and Mandarin.

    She is from Edison NJ, her father Ravi Verg and mother MeeraVerg both are in business. She has a brother Parth, who is in High School.

    Her quotes of life are “Success is a team effort” and “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground”

    miss-nj-usa-2017-chhavi-verg-1

  • Nassau County 2017 Health Insurance Premiums Increasing 7.3%, says Comptroller Maragos

    Nassau County 2017 Health Insurance Premiums Increasing 7.3%, says Comptroller Maragos

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): George Maragos, Comptroller of Nassau County said, November 17 that Health insurance rates paid by Nassau County for its employees and retirees enrolled in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) will increase by a weighted average of 7.3% in 2017.

    The average increase of 7.3% is mainly due to increases in the individual rate of 11.2% and family rate of 12.2% for active employees, offset by a reduction in rates for retired employees enrolled in Medicare.

    These rates exceed the 10-year average rate increases of 5.3% and 6.0% for individual and family coverage respectively.

    In total, the County budgeted $283 million in 2016 for employee and retiree Health Insurance coverage. In 2017, the Comptroller’s Office projects that under the proposed rate increases, the Health Insurance spending will increase to about $303 million.

    “Health Care for Nassau County employees and retirees represents approximately 16.3% of the total 2016 budgeted salaries and wages for all active employees,” said Maragos.

    “The rate increases continue to outpace inflation and wage increases. Alternatives should be considered in controlling this expense without compromising the quality of care.”

  • Mayor Bill de Blasio announces winners of 34th Annual Awards for Excellence in Design

    Mayor Bill de Blasio announces winners of 34th Annual Awards for Excellence in Design

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Public Design Commission President Signe Nielsen and Executive Director of the Commission Justin Moore announced, November 16 the winners of the Annual Awards for Excellence in Design. Every year, the City’s Design Commission selects and honors public projects across the five boroughs that exemplify how innovative and thoughtful design can provide New Yorkers with the best possible public spaces and services and engender a sense of civic pride.

    This year’s honorees span diverse fields and range from small-scale to large, including the opening of Dock 72 in Brooklyn to the citywide, technological milestone LinkNYC. Additionally, projects such as the Snug Harbor Cultural Center Music Hall Addition and The High Line Park Passage and Spur will allow for more cultural exchange and recreational opportunities for residents. This year’s honorees help prepare New York City to thrive in the 21st century, from technological connectivity to business development to expanded areas for exercise and improved health.

    “The winners of this year’s Excellence in Design Awards highlight NYC’s dedication to providing a wide range of design and public spaces that speak to the modern day New Yorker and meet the needs of a large, active and diverse city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Today, we are here to honor and to celebrate the work of these innovators, who have invested in creating inclusive public projects across the five boroughs.”

    “These thoughtful and innovative designs support the de Blasio Administration’s commitment to providing quality, equitable, and resilient public spaces to all New Yorkers. By utilizing good design principles, these projects will provide the public with increased access to the waterfront, open spaces and parks; improved places for play and community gatherings; and inspiring artworks,” said Public Design Commission President Signe Nielsen.

    “Part of what makes our city great is the quality of our public realm and the creativity and ingenuity found in our design community and city agencies. These award-winning projects range from new technologies to improved neighborhood parks and public artwork. They show that design excellence is an important part of New York’s leadership in promoting innovation, sustainability, and equity in cities,” said Public Design Commission Executive Director Justin Moore.

    The Public Design Commission: The Public Design Commission reviews permanent works of architecture, landscape architecture, and art proposed on or over City-owned property. The Commission comprises 11 members, including an architect, landscape architect, painter, sculptor, and three lay members, as well as representatives of the Brooklyn Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library, and the Mayor.

    Members of the Commission serve pro bono and meet once per month. Projects are submitted by City agencies and include the construction, renovation, or restoration of buildings and other structures; the creation or rehabilitation of parks, playgrounds, and plazas; installation of lighting and other streetscape elements; signage; and the installation and conservation of artwork and memorials. The Commission has been honoring these projects annually since 1983.

  • Three muggers attack man in wheelchair in Brooklyn

    Three muggers attack man in wheelchair in Brooklyn

    BROOKLYN, NY (TIP): Three masked muggers attacked a man in a wheelchair in front of his Brooklyn home, throwing him to the ground, punching and pistol-whipping him, then running off with his money, police sources said.

    The 42-year-old victim was cut and bruised on his head in the Wednesday afternoon incident on Cozine Ave. in East New York.

    He didn’t get a good look at the suspects, who stole $400 and his cellphone.

    Two of the suspects were armed, sources said.

    The attack follows the September mugging of a 93-year-old Harlem woman that drew outrage. The crook in that case eventually turned himself in.

  • Indian American attorney receives US Justice Dept.’s highest honor

    Indian American attorney receives US Justice Dept.’s highest honor

    WASHINGTON (TIP): Assistant U.S. Attorney Aloke S. Chakravarty from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Massachusetts received US Justice Dept.’s highest honor as one of the members of a team that worked on Dzhokhar Tsarnaev case. US Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service, the department’s highest award for employee performance, was presented on November 10 at the 64th Annual Attorney General’s Awards Ceremony.

    Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch recognized 376 Justice Department employees for their distinguished public service at the Ceremony. Forty-seven other individuals outside of the department were also honored for their work. This annual ceremony recognizes individuals for their outstanding service and dedication to carrying out the missions of the Department of Justice.

    “The Attorney General’s Awards provide us with a rare opportunity to honor the efforts of outstanding department employees and our invaluable partners across the federal government and at the state and local levels,” said Attorney General Lynch. “Their work has made our nation – and our world – stronger, safer and more just, and I am proud of and inspired by each and every one of them.”

    The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is the department’s highest award for employee performance. This year’s award was presented to the team responsible for the investigation and prosecution of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

    On April 15, 2013, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev detonated two powerful improvised explosive devices near the Boston Marathon finish line, killing three, maiming 17 and injuring hundreds more in the largest mass-casualty terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001. Following a manhunt during which the brothers killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a shoot-out with police and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was arrested.

    Members of the FBI’s Boston Field Office oversaw a worldwide investigation that involved more than 6,000 items of physical and digital evidence, over 100,000 photographs and videos and more than 1,000 witness interviews. Tsarnaev was charged in a 30-count indictment with numerous crimes of terrorism and other violent offenses. Over the course of a 10-week trial, the prosecution team introduced over 1,000 exhibits and called more than 100 witnesses to the stand, including 14 victims who lost limbs in the bombings; family members of the murdered; other survivors and eye witnesses; fingerprint, DNA, bomb, ballistics and terrorism experts; and law enforcement officers. The prosecutors also cross-examined nearly 50 defense witnesses during the penalty-phase defense case. A jury found Tsarnaev guilty on all 30 counts in the indictment. He was sentenced to death on six counts and to life in prison on 11 other counts, and was ordered to pay $101 million in restitution to the victims.

     

  • Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk receives global award in USA

    Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk receives global award in USA

    LOS ANGELES (TIP): Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer from Ladakh, India, who was the inspiration behind Aamir Khan’s “Phunsukh Wangdu” character in the blockbuster film 3 Idiots, was one of the recipients of the 2016 Rolex Awards for Enterprise for his remedy to combat severe seasonal water scarcity in the western Himalayas by building artificial glaciers – “ice stupas” shaped like Buddhist monuments – to store water to irrigate and reforest desert land.

    To mark the 40th anniversary of the program this year, Rolex decided to present Awards to five Laureates and five Young Laureates. The 10 winners received their Awards at a ceremony on 15 November 2016 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Each winner received a Rolex chronometer and funding for their project (Laureates receive 100,000 Swiss francs, and Young Laureates, between 18-30 years old, 50,000 Swiss francs). They will benefit from a worldwide publicity campaign.

    Sonam Wangchuk is helping farmers in Ladakh to overcome water shortages by building artificial glaciers. In spring, farmers who live at 3,500 m in the trans-Himalayan mountains of Ladakh, in India, face acute water shortages. Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk’s ingenious solution is to freeze glacial melt water into towering conical mounds resembling Tibetan religious stupas. These ice stupas behave like mini-glaciers, slowly releasing irrigation water for the growing season.

    Wangchuk’s design builds on the experimental work of fellow Ladakhi engineer Chewang Norphel, who created flat artificial glaciers. Wangchuk realized, however, that a workable structure must have a minimal surface area to provide protection from the sun, especially at lower altitudes. Thanks to this design, ice stupas melt at a slower rate than flat ice. The 2015 prototype, the result of a crowdfunding campaign that paid for a 2.3 km pipeline to direct glacial streams down to the village desert, lasted until early July, supplying 1.5 million liters of meltwater to 5,000 saplings planted by locals. With his Rolex Award funds he intends to create up to 20 ice stupas, each 30 meters high, and initiate a substantial tree-planting program on the desert near their school once the new water supply system is established.

    Wangchuk believes that education and care for the environment go hand in hand. In addition to his work with young people at SECMOL, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, through its Alternative School he has started work on establishing an alternative university in the same area. His objective is to engage young people from the Himalayas and beyond in eco-solutions for mountain areas.