NEW YORK (TIP): At the prestigious Douglaston Manor in Little Neck Queens,at the annual Queens Civic CongressLegislative Receptionheld on Sunday December 4, studded with politicians and community leaders in the likes of US Congresswomen Grace Meng, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, NY Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, NY City Public Advocate Letitia James and scores of NY State Senators, NYS Assembly members and NYC Council members, the Governor’s representative in presenting the Governor’s award to Mr. Harbachan Singh said that his outstanding service and contribution to the society will never be forgotten by the people in Queens and paid a glowing tribute to Mr. Singh who was stepping down from his position as President of the strong Queens Civic Congress this month.
The Queens Civic Congress is a borough wide umbrella organization establishedin 1989 to represent over 100 civic and coop associations to improve the quality of life and to preserve and protect the residential areas of Queens and seek inter alia adequate, affordable and safe accessibility to essential services within and intra boroughs particularly for the residents of Queens. Mr. Singh thanked all the elected officials who either led or stood by the Congress and sat on the same side of the issues together. Recalling some examples, he enumerated on their demonstrations at the 59th St. Bridge against imposition of tolls on the East River Bridges, their holding of press briefings or demonstrations in various parts of Queens and in front of the City Hall, arguing with the Mayor’s office over issues relating to homeless shelters or the introduction of bus lanes or bicycle lanes without proper study, pointing out the negative aspects of the Mayor’s Affordable Housing project, expressing discontent of the Board of Standards and Appeals for not giving due regard to the voice or opinions of community input, crying out for need of routes or extension of lines into vast areas of Queens lacking public transport service or preparing to object to the subway fare hikes planned for early 2017 particularly in light of the observation of the State Comptroller Thomas de Napoli that fares rose six times faster than the average salaries in New York over the past decade.
Harbachan Singh (center, holding plaque in left hand) with Democratic leaders
Commenting on the current fear of hard times and uncertainty apparently looming in the political arena, Mr. Singhurgedeveryone to work even harder and closer together and be more attentive, vocal and vigilant to community needs and stand up to protect the neighborhoods, jobs, economy, environment and above all, the quality of life.He also received awardsfrom others.
NEW DELHI(TIP): “Vibrant Gujarat is connecting India to the world,” Resident Commissioner of Gujarat in New Delhi Bharat Lal said. “Our objective is to interact with government officials and the business community during this road show in Canada and USA, to attract investors, scientist, and entrepreneurs from all over the world to come to Gujarat and participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017,” he said.
“Vibrant Gujarat is the biggest platform for enabling business in India. In the post GST (Goods and Services Tax Bill) scenario, when India becomes ‘One Nation – One Market’, Gujarat holds a unique distinction with favorable geographical location, state-of-the-art infrastructure and sound policies,” he added.
“We have had various meeting with leading companies across USA and had an amazing response. People are very excited about GST. Business industry is bullish they think this is the right time to invest. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, which started in 2003 to rekindle the pace of investments in the state, has since established itself as one of the most important international business events in the country, Bharat Lal told this correspondent.
Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit is an example of the visionary approach of the Government of Gujarat towards inclusive and sustainable development by ensuring policy coherence and effective investment promotion.
Far from the regional investment fair that characterized the first Summit in 2003, the biennial Summit has today become a unique forum for exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, networking, exploring business opportunities and signing cooperation agreements and partnerships, while setting the policy agenda for meeting some of the current global challenges.
Having successfully organized seven constructive summits, Government of Gujarat, as part of its journey towards sustainable long-term growth and inclusive development is organizing the 8th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit from the 10th to 13th of January 2017 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The central focus of the Summit is Sustainable Economic and Social Development.
It will bring together heads of states and governments, ministers, leaders from the corporate world, senior policy makers, heads of international institutions and academia from around the world to further the cause of development and to promote cooperation, he said.
There will be enough opportunity to interact with key policy makers, industry leaders, global thought leaders, regulators and renowned academicians from all over the world. The participants can witness deliberations between sector experts and global luminaries in an array of knowledge seminars during the summit to comprehend evolving global sectoral trends.
The Summit provides platform for SMEs to connect globally with potential partners to explore opportunities of collaboration and partnership networking forums to foster interaction between stakeholders through B2B and B2G meetings in an exhibition spread over 1,25,000 sq.mts with exclusive demo sessions showcasing the latest trends and technology, products and services across sectors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Global Trade Show by in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister and MOS (Independent Charge), Commerce & Industries Nirmala Seetharaman. There will be a Global CEO Roundtable chaired by Modi with Select 50 top CEOs. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 is receiving tremendous response in the US, members of a high level state delegation said after meeting senior government officials and CEOs of top tech companies here.
Underlining the rapid economic development that is taking place underPrime Minister Narendra Modi Lal referred to Gujarat as being the driving engine of Indian growth.
“The state accounts for 19 per cent of industrial output, 41 per cent of cargo exports and 10 per cent of India’s manufacturing industries,” he said, adding that Gujarat ranked number one in “ease of doing business”.
The US has agreed to be a partner country in the next edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in January 2017. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal had conveyed this to Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner of Gujarat in New Delhi. Biswal recently met with a Gujarat delegation, led by Resident Commissioner Bharat Lal, who was accompanied by Indian Charge d’Affairs Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu in Washington.
The Assistant Secretary praised Resident Commissioner Lal for his efforts to make the state of Gujarat a model of innovation and sustainable economic growth and reform for India.
She also announced US’ intent to participate as a Partner Country in the 2017 Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, the government of Gujarat’s biennial investors’ summit that brings together global business leaders, investors, corporations, Kerry thought leaders, and policymakers. US Secretary of State John had attended the last Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
NEW YORK (TIP): Rediff.com has sold India Abroad, one of America’s oldest and most prestigious Indian community newspapers, to 8K Miles Media, a Silicon Valley-based Indian-owned cloud computing company following a sharp decline in the weekly’s circulation and revenue, says a Times of India report.
Rediff.com “hand over the torch to” 8K Miles Media, India Abroad said in its farewell editorial December 5. Headed by Indian-American CEO Suresh Venkatachari, 8K Miles ventured into media business last year with the objective of consolidating highly fragmented South Asian media market. It has acquired several other ethnic publications and radio stations. 8K Miles Media is hosting a holiday party at the prestigious Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in New York on December 16 to formally announce and celebrate merger of India Abroad.
Founded by legendary publisher and journalist Gopal Raju in 1970 from New York, India Abroad was purchased by India- headquartered Rediff.com in April 2001 in for a whopping $10 million. Nikhil Lakshman was the Editor-in-Chief and Aziz Haniffa was the Editor of the newspaper published in New York. The newspaper, which once had a circulation of over 60,000, has been steadily declining. In the October postal declaration, its circulation was shown as less than 18,000. Its full-time news staff based in the US was reduced to four after a series of layoffs, and its production was moved to India.
Former Editor of weekly newspaper News India Times, Sunil Adam will be editing India Abroad under 8K Miles Media management. It is a homecoming for Sunil Adam who was working at India Abroad before Rediff had bought it.
PESHAWAR (TIP): Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-661 crashed after one of its two turboprop engines failed en route to Islamabad killing everyone on board, authorities said on Dec 8, even as they began a probe into the accident and sent bodies for DNA test to identify the victims.
The flight with 47 people, including pop singer-turned-Islamic preacher Junaid Jamshed, his wife and deputy commissioner Chitral Osama Warraich, on board crashed in Saddha Batolni village near Havelian on Wednesday while en route to Islamabad from Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to flight manifest, 31 men, nine women, two infants and five crew members were on board the ATR-42 aircraft, which lost contact with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Islamabad’s Benazir International Airport.
The pilot of the ill-fated flight made his first call to the air traffic control soon after the plane took off.
He said that the plane’s left engine was not functioning and moments later followed with a panicked: “Mayday!Mayday”.
An official at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport said that minutes before the plane crashed at 4.15pm, the pilot made the emergency call requesting permission for an emergency landing. The plane vanished from the radar screen soon after and the communication system stopped.
Explaining the emergency code, a civil aviation authority official said pilots used the code word ‘Mayday’ to indicate an emergency. Emergency was declared at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport soon after receiving the phone call.
“Around 4:15pm the ATC received an emergency call from the pilot who informed them about the engine failure. A few minutes later, a mayday distress call was received from the pilot,” PIA chairman Azam Saigol told reporters.
The ATR-42 aircraft involved in the crash had undergone regular maintenance, including an ‘A-check’ certification in October, Saigol said.
“I want to make it clear that it was a perfectly sound aircraft,” Saigol said, ruling out technical or human error.
Aviation Division Secretary Irfan Elahi said that an investigation team, led by Air Commodore Munir Ahmed, has been formed to find out why the ATR-42 had crashed, Dawn reported.
“At the moment, there is no other reason for the plane crash other than the failure of the left engine,” he said, adding that the investigators will also search for the plane’s flight data recorders. Meanwhile, authorities were conducting DNA testing to identify the victims of plane crash as most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. A military official said three helicopters have been deputed to transport the bodies from Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad to Islamabad.
Dr Junaid of Ayub Medical Complex said only six bodies were recognised while others will be identified through DNA matching. Another doctor said not a single body was intact.
Two Austrians and a Chinese national were also on the ill-fated PIA flight. They were working on a hydropower project in the north of the country. Shahzada Farhat Aziz, a member of Chitral’s royal family, and his daughter, three employees of Aga Khan Foundation and an official of the Hashoo Foundation were also among the dead. (PTI)
She battled every odd in her life and won, most of the times; but she lost the battle of life, much though she fought it bravely and for, perhaps, a long period.
Jayaram Jayalalithaa, six- time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, died after protracted illness at Apollo Hospital December 5, Chennai where she was being treated. She was 68.
Draped in Tricolour, Jayalalithaa lies in state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Governor Vidyasagar Rao, pays tribute to Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall in Chennai on Tuesday, 6 December 2016 Photograph: @AIADMKOfficial/Twitter
She was buried with full state honors into the ground in a sandalwood casket next to the memorial of her mentor, MG Ramachandran at Chennai’s Marina Beach. Lakhs of people had gathered at Marina Beach to get a final glimpse of their beloved “Amma” or “mother”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Chennai’s Rajaji Hall, a large public auditorium where J Jayalalithaa’s body was placed for people to pay their respects.
Jayalalithaa first came into prominence as a leading film actor in the mid 1960s. Though she had entered the profession very reluctantly, only upon the urging of her mother to help support the family, Jayalalithaa worked prolifically. She appeared in 140 films from 1961 to 1980, primarily in the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industries. Jayalalithaa was especially praised for her versatility, having portrayed a wide variety of characters in films spanning several genres, and for her dancing skills. Among her frequent co-stars was M. G. Ramachandran, or MGR, a Tamil cultural icon who leveraged his immense popularity with the masses into a successful political career.
In 1982, when MGR was serving his second term as chief minister, Jayalalithaa joined the AIADMK, the party MGR founded. Her political rise was rapid; within a few years she was made AIADMK propaganda secretary and was elected to the Rajya Sabha. After MGR’s death in 1987, Jayalalithaa proclaimed herself his political heir and, having fought off the faction headed by Janaki Ramachandran, MGR’s wife, emerged as the sole leader of the AIADMK. Following the 1989 election, she served an often-dramatic stint as Leader of the Opposition to her bête noire Karunanidhi’s DMK government.
In the 2011 assembly election, the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and its allies routed the ruling, scandal-tainted DMK’s alliance. Sworn in as chief minister for the fourth time, her government embarked on an ambitious program of social welfare and development. However, three months into her tenure, a trial court convicted her in a disproportionate assets case in September 2014, rendering her disqualified to hold office. After eight months, which included a twenty-day stint in jail, Jayalalithaa was acquitted of all charges by the Karnataka High Court and once again sworn-in as chief minister in May 2015. In the 2016 assembly election, she became the first Tamil Nadu chief minister since MGR in the 1980s to be voted back into office. In her victory speech, she commented, “Even when 10 parties allied themselves against me, I did not have a coalition and I placed my faith in God and built an alliance with the people. It is clear that the people have faith in me and I have total faith in the people.”
Populist schemes under the popular ‘Amma’ brand became the hallmark of Jayalalithaa’s tenure as Chief Minister. From the Amma canteens to Amma gymnasiums and parks, the brand became synonymous with her name.
Such outpouring of grief in every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu
CONDOLENCES
Condolences from various leaders and celebrities poured in as soon as the news of her demise spread.
President Pranab Mukherjee – “Heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Ms. Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu #President Mukherjee”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi – Jayalalithaa ji’s connect with citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women & marginalized will always be a source of inspiration.
DMK chief M. Karunanidhi -“I offer deep condolences on the passing away of Jayalalithaa. Wishes of lakhs of her followers will make her immortal”.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley – “Saddened by the untimely passing away of J Jayalalithaa ji, an exceptional leader & Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh – “I join millions of admirers of Jayalalithaji in mourning her sad and untimely demise. She was a charismatic leader who will be remembered forever as the beloved Amma by the people of Tamil Nadu. She was an outstanding leader who was passionately devoted to the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.”
Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram – Jayalalithaa was most dominant political personality of Tamilnadu in last 25 years. Share grief of millions
Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi – V sad to hear the demise of Amma. A very popular leader. Aam admi’s leader. May her soul rest in peace.
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal “Popular, strong, bold, efficient, people friendly, charismatic leader, Amma. Always at the heart of people. Big loss. I am shocked, saddened.”
Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh – In deep anguish over the demise of Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, a long-time friend & a leader with indomitable spirit who is loved by all.
In New York, Tamil community is grief stricken. A representative organization of Tamils here-America Tamil Sangam condoled the death of Jayalalithaa. ATS said it would be difficult to see another leader like her in the decades to come.
“Struggle was her middle name and victory was her last name. Any other leader in her place would have given up and vanished from the scene but she was a born fighter. As a propaganda secretary of her party, as Member of Parliament, as Opposition Leader and as Chief Minister her path was strewn with thorns and rocks but she overcame all with her unmatched grit and determination.” said Prakash M Swamy, president of the Sangam.
John Joseph, Chairman of America Tamil Sangam said she introduced numerous public welfare programs like giving free laptop to school children and grant to perform wedding of girls and remained a charismatic leader till she breathed her last.
Koshy O Thomas, President of US Friends of AIADMK and a staunch supporter of Amma in New York, said Tamils all over the world have lost a true leader who was a mother to them. It’s a terrible and unbearable loss and it struck like a lightening making us speechless. We have become orphans and no words can console us. We will pray for soul to rest in peace.”
Jaya Sundaram, Vice President of America Tamil Sangam said she was an embodiment of modern women who rode like a colossus in the male dominated society. Her concern for poor and vision for development will long be remembered in the decades to come. She created her own branding in politics – amma restaurants, amma cement, amma salt all at subsidized price to help the poor. She was a leader of regional party with national presence.
The Indian Panorama joins billions in condoling the death of the beloved leader of India.
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Over 20 countries, including two UN Security Council permanent members- France and the UK– have supported a dedication ceremony hosted by India to commemorate the release of a Diwali postage stamp by the US.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said at the event, December 5, that the Diwali Forever Stamp is a “shining tribute to the celebration of multi-culturalism”. Noting that Diwali was commemorated for the first time this year at the United Nations, Mr Akbaruddin said the celebration of Diwali at the world body is a reaffirmation of the foundational objectives of the UN Charter and its purposes and principles, which stand as a force for universal good.
“Though celebrated by different communities for different reasons, the essence of the (Diwali) celebration is the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. Philosophically, the fight is not only external but also within oneself,” he said.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said the celebration of Diwali at the world body is a reaffirmation of the foundational objectives of the UN Charter and its purposes and principles, which stand as a force for universal good.
The event lauded the efforts of Ranju Batra, Chair of the Diwali stamp project who spearheaded efforts for years to get the commemorative stamp issued, reaching out to the Indian-American community members and influential lawmakers, garnering support for the stamp.
Ranju Batra, Chair of the Diwali stamp project who spearheaded efforts for 7 years to get the commemorative stamp issued said: “Today’s celebration is not of a religion or of a nation but it is of the spirit of harmonious inclusiveness and cultural understanding that all religions deserve.”
“The tens of thousands of paper petitions (for the Diwali stamp) were signed not only by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists but also by Christians, Jews, Muslims and every other faith and culture,” Ms Batra said, expressing gratitude for the support she got in her journey to get the stamp issued.
Capping seven-year long efforts by the Indian-American community and influential US lawmakers, the US Postal Service (USPS) had issued the commemorative Diwali stamp to mark the festival of lights.
Over 170,000 Diwali stamps have been sold, making history by becoming the number one best-selling stamp in USPS history.
“Today’s celebration is not of a religion or of a nation but it is of the spirit of harmonious inclusiveness and cultural understanding that all religions deserve,” she said.
Air India team led by its Regional Manager Vandana Sharma (4th from the right) with Diwali Stamp and Batras. Also seen are Regional Finance Manager Sangeeta Singh (5th from right), and District Manager Mohan Kothekar(extreme right). In a rare gesture of good will for the Diwali project, Air India promoted the sale of Stamp in a big way by gifting 10 return tickets to India for the raffle.
Earlier, 20 nations had come together to support a special stamp dedication ceremony co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of India and Belarus.
Eminent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra said the event has being supported and celebrated by 23 nations, of which “12 are Christian, one Jewish, six Muslim… 23 nations spread across the world are celebrating not only the Diwali stamp but celebrating hope itself”.
The 23 nations that supported the event include Armenia, Austria, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Honduras, Kuwait, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Ukraine, the UK and Vietnam.
The Diwali Forever Stamp was formally launched by the USPS on October 5 at the Indian Consulate, New York in the presence of a large number of Indian Americans, some, like Shiv Dass from New York and Sante Chary from Dallas, TX who had initiated efforts long ago to have the Diwali stamp issued. Another person who made an effort at getting the Diwali stamp issued but failed for lack of political support for the project, the Indiaspora founder MR Rangaswami flew in from California to see his one time dream being realized, albeit by someone else.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney who played a pivotal role in having the stamp issued, as also Congresswoman Grace Meng who had co-sponsored the House Resolution with Carolyn Maloney were present. Ravi and Ranju Batra praised Congresswoman profusely for her support. It was said again and again that Diwali stamp could not have been issued without the strong political support provided by lawmakers, led by Carolyn Maloney.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s absence from the UN event was rather intriguing. More intriguing was absence of any reference to her contribution in getting the Diwali Stamp issued. Reminds me of Shakespeare.
WASHINGTON (TIP): The Indian American Community of Metropolitan Washington hosted a reception on December 4, 2016 at Fair Oaks, Virginia to welcome Ambassador Navtej Sarna who took charge as Ambassador of India to the United States of America on November 5, 2016 and to bid farewell to Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, DCM who is proceeding for his next assignment as High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka soon. The event was attended by over 350 prominent members of the Indian American Community.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Navtej Sarna hailed Indian American community for its remarkable success in various areas and highlighted their contributions in strengthening Indo-US relationship.
Ambassador Navtej Sarna announced a fresh initiative to improve the Consular service being provided by the Embassy. Starting first week of January 2017, Embassy and the five consulates located in New York, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco will hold “Open House” once every fortnight wherein Senior Embassy/Consulate officials will attend to grievances of public on Passport, Visa and OCI cards in person. The date and time of each Open House session will be intimated on the website of the Embassy and the Consulates.
In his remarks, Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, DCM also highlighted the role of the Indian American community in strengthening India US relationship. He stressed on the need to involve the youth of Indian American community in activities aimed at strengthening India US ties. The Indian-American Community of Metropolitan Washington felicitated him on the occasion.
Jayalalithaa was only 16 years old when she starred opposite M.G.R in Ayirathil Oruvan. The entire cast & crew would stand up every time the veteran actor walked in, but the Church Park educated, English speaking Jayalalithaa sat there with her legs crossed, reading her book. It was this audacity that went on to define the rest of her political career. Obviously, she was a charming, multi-faceted actor who was trained in various dance forms. But not so obviously, she was well read and witty, she was intelligent and she knew it. It was not merely her affair with MGR that drew her to politics, it was her prolific ability to speak in English & Hindi with an intellect that could match an economist. When MGR died, she sat conspicuously at his head for an entire two days, relegating his wife Janaki to a sidelined spot. Janaki’s aids tried to push her away, in fact pinched her, stepped on her feet, but she refused to budge. When she got on to the carriage for the final procession, she was visibly pushed off it in front of all television cameras. This effrontery was what would help her survive all those years of politics that would follow. The entire party split into two after MGR’s death, but four years later united under her leadership to form one formidable opposition.
She won against all odds. She was a white skinned Brahmin in a party that thrived due to its Dravidian anti-class rhetoric. She was a glamorous actor who cannot be taken seriously. Above all, she was a woman trying to ascend to power in 1980s in Tamil Nadu. An unmarried, childless woman. To put it in context, she was not only walking a path of thorns, she did it in an oxygen less chamber while her arms and legs were tied. It’s a feat that she survived at all, not to mention that she thrived. In 1989, when she opposed Karunanidhi’s presentation of the budget, she was almost disrobed in the assembly. This was in addition to being the recipient of lewd comments and hair pulling. This is probably the highest documented insult that a woman has ever faced in a state Assembly. Yet she persisted. She came out of that incident more guarded than ever before. She wrapped herself in layers of clothing and stopped wearing any jewelry at all. She succeeded at ‘desexualizing’ herself and branded herself as ‘amma’ (mother), the only known way to gain respect in that highly testosterone filled environment.
Everyone knows her as the person who silences opposition and who creates sycophants who fall at her feet and worship her. This was the only possible way she could command, consolidate and hold on to the otherwise elusive power. If she was any more cordial than this, she might have as well been an airhostess.
She played popular politics. When the DMK promised laptops, she provided table fans, mixers and grinders instead all branded with her cherubic photograph on it. She accumulated disproportionate assets in 1996, and has faced her share of atonement. However, no one else, not even men, could have been a formidable opposition to the DMK that has systematized corruption and nepotism in ways that she couldn’t. Forget her followers who baselessly immolate themselves or cut off their fingers in a spree of blind devotion towards her. I have spoken to several civil servants of the state who claim they function with lesser interference under her leadership than under the other party.
And with four and a half years of her term left, there is no single leader that can fill her void. It will be several years, even decades, before another woman can even remotely achieve what she did in a state like Tamil Nadu. Now her statues will come up all over the state, and for once I’m glad. In a few generations, all that will matter is that there is a woman’s statue as well, and that statue is not a mere kannagi who was venerated because she was a perfect wife, but of a woman who was a true and powerful leader of her own merit and her own making.
Never has the US seen a transfer of power in the White House as contentious and controversial as we are now witnessing. One has also rarely seen an electorate as polarized as it was during the Trump-Clinton no- holds-barred poll campaign. Many whites in small towns and rural America are now unfit for lucrative employment in an economically globalized world. Industrial production has moved from the US to distant lands like China. Moreover, with the advent of business process outsourcing, US companies are increasingly getting planning, design and even accounting work done in India and elsewhere.
Donald Trump played on these white voter insecurities, while his rival Hillary Clinton appealed for African-American and Hispanic support, polarizing the electorate further. If Hillary focused on Trump’s sexual misconduct and his paying no income tax for decades, Trump hit back with Clinton’s improprieties in office, of violating official secrecy norms and obtaining financial support from countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar for her family NGO, the Clinton Foundation. The Russians obligingly hacked into sensitive websites, revealing embarrassing information about the inner workings of the Clinton campaign. When Trump won the election amid these raging controversies, despite Hillary Clinton getting two million more votes than him, demonstrations took place, with the media adopting blatantly partisan postures.
These manifestations of white racist violence and behavior have led to anxiety and concern in the minds of many of the four million Indians living across the US, especially in Republican Party strongholds across the south and Midwest. The Indian community predominantly backed Hillary and the Democratic Party, though two Republican Governors of southern states are of Indian origin. President Trump himself remains an enigma, personally averring that he disapproves of racial and sectarian violence. In an election meeting in New Jersey organized by a group called the Republican Hindu Coalition, Trump condemned the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai and the attack on Indian Parliament. He described the attack in Mumbai as “absolutely outrageous and terrible”. He vowed to strengthen diplomatic and military ties with India while expressing admiration for the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.
Trump is contemplating drastic changes in US foreign and economic policies. He has been strongly critical of American military interventions in Iraq, Libya and Syria. Though a large number of anti-Semitic bigots backed him, Trump will deal with Israel with even greater care and consideration than Obama. His own high-flying son- in-law, Jared Kushner, is an Orthodox Jew. Trump’s daughter converted to Judaism before she married Kushner. Breaking with the practices of his predecessors, Trump will insist that European NATO allies and Pacific partners like Japan and South Korea spend more on their defense, thus reducing the American “burden”.
Trump will put an end to the post-Cold-War policy of “strategic containment” of Russia. He believes that Putin’s Russia is a “natural ally” to fight “Islamic extremism”. Trump’s National Security Adviser designate, Lt Gen Michael Flyn, has described Russia as a “natural ally” in confronting threats from “radical Islam”. Progressive easing of sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine and its takeover of the Crimean Peninsula is likely. This message on a new Russia-US relationship will shake both NATO and former Soviet republics ranging from Kazakhstan and Georgia to Latvia and Lithuania. While Trump and Flyn have warned of tough action against Iran, they will face opposition from Russia and China, apart from NATO allies like Germany and France. It remains to be seen if the Iranians cool their anti-Israeli rhetoric. The Americans, Russians and Iranians will, however, find themselves on the same side in dealing with developments in Syria. It also remains to be seen how Trump will deal with the economic and strategic challenges that a growingly assertive and jingoistic China poses.
Apart from the comments that Trump made, while addressing members of the Indian community during his campaign, he and members of his family have fond memories of their experiences in their business dealings in India. They met a group of Indian realty tycoons on November 11 at the Trump Towers in New York. Trump reportedly expressed considerable happiness about the family projects in India, including the 800-ft 75-storeyed tower in Mumbai, designed to become the highest residential complex in the world. The 17.5-acre project, being designed by Trump’s companies, is said to include residential apartments, hotels, malls and entertainment hubs. The companies are also involved in real estate development in Pune.
Modi recently told a dinner meeting hosted by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan that he looked forward to meeting Trump. South Block knows that dealing with Republican administrations in Washington is much easier than dealing with their preachy Democratic Party counterparts. Foreign Secretary Jaishankar has, however, been circumspect about his meetings in New York with Trump’s senior advisers. But, given the domestic agenda of the incoming Trump administration, its proposed restrictions on outsourcing, could cause problems for our IT exports and for US companies choosing to relocate some of their activities to India. With Trump focused on “Make in USA”, there is likely to be some adverse impact on “Make in India”. With Brexit underway, there will be similar sentiments spreading to other countries. Finally, we need to look at future trends in US visa policies. Attorney General (designate) Jeff Sessions reportedly harbors racist sentiments.
After the US military strike that took out Osama bin Laden, Trump has been stridently critical of Pakistan. Senator Sherry Rehman, who has been an astute Pakistan ambassador to the US and now heads the Jinnah Foundation in Pakistan, has painted a gloomy picture about the prospects for US-Pakistan ties. She believes that given his rhetoric, the Trump administration will not withdraw anytime soon from Afghanistan, spelling continuing problems for Pakistan. She warns: “Buckle up Pakistan, it’s a rough road ahead.” New Delhi, would, however, be well advised to not get too self-satisfied with these developments. We are seeing the emergence of a Russia-China-Pakistan triangle in dealing with developments in Afghanistan. How this will impact on US foreign policy in the Af-Pak region, given Trump’s inclination to shun foreign military adventures abroad and his aversion to Iran, remains to be seen.
If the government thought media was exaggerating the prevailing “cash chaos” and focusing excessively on urban India, its own officers’ report has confirmed that the situation is far worse in rural India. A team of 81 Central bureaucrats sent on November 18 to assess the ground-level impact of demonetization in rural India has pointed to a loss of jobs in farms and factories. Among those badly hit are tiny, small and medium enterprises where cash payments used to be the norm. Handlooms have suffered as cloth sales have declined. In the absence of currency notes of smaller denominations farm produce prices have dipped. The non-operation of cooperative banks has added to farmers’ worries during Rabi sowing.
The uneven spread of bank branches and ATMs has deprived villagers and daily wagers of whatever limited currency relief that has been rushed to tide over the situation. It is a known fact that rural and semi-urban bank branches cater to more customers than the urban branches do. A geographically large state like Rajasthan has fewer bank branches than Delhi. Given the limited reach of banking, much of rural India relies on cash deals. Media reports say actual or rumors of scarcity have led to the hoarding of 100-rupee note, while the inadequate availability of the new 500-note has also contributed to financial dislocation. Even where the 2000-note is available, it is of limited use since the lower denomination currency needed for change is unavailable.
The net effect is hiring has slowed and reports of retrenchment stand confirmed. Though people in rural India often show greater patience in moments of crisis, their capacity to bear pain is lower than those in urban India. For them it is not just inconvenience, it is a loss of livelihood. Maybe the government should put the national rural job guarantee scheme to greater use, particularly in areas where survival is already at the marginal level. This is callousness foretold. A regime that prides itself on knowing the country and its needs better has been found wanting. Its incompetence and arrogance are spelling misery in rural India.
LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): During the beautiful week of Thanksgiving, as Holiday season started, members of Indian American Community joined together and started initiative for Our Veterans Families in USA. Collections for Veterans Families was started by NY State Senator Kemp Hannon in Garden City, Long Island.
Several members of IAF, IALI, Ladies Club and other groups started collecting nonperishable items to be sent as donations to soldiers and veterans of US Army.
Donations were given on Nov 22 at Senior Bethpage Community Center in Hicksville Long Island. IAF conducts senior programs at the Bethpage Center every fourth Tuesday of the month.
Mr Richard Olson, President of Adopt a Battalion Program in Massapequa accepted the donations on behalf of the Veterans Group. Senator Hannon praised the efforts of the Indian American Community and thanked them for this initiative.
Beena Kothari, President of India Association of Long Island Presented Medals of Appreciation to Senator Hannon, Mr Richard Olson, Mr Vijay Goswamy and to Anu Gulati.
Special thanks to members of Ladies Club, Dr Manju Sharma, Ranu Jajoo, Dr Usha Bansal, Dr Urmilesh Arya, Dr Ami Walia, Dr Veena Arora, Indus American Bank and HAB Bank for coordinating the collections and donations.
NEW YORK (TIP): Amitabh Bachchan-starrer PINK, which dealt with crime against women, has been invited for a special screening at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The 73-year-old Bollywood actor, who plays a lawyer in the film, announced the news on Twitter, saying, “‘PINK’ invited for a special screening of the film at UN Headquarters, in New York… by Assistant Secretary General… honoured!”
The courtroom drama reflects on the plight of women in today’s world and the blatant discrimination they face.
Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, the film also starred Taapsee Pannu, Andrea Tariang and Kirti Kulhari in lead roles.
It released on September 16 in India. The film was widely appreciated by the audience and the critics alike.
NEW YORK (TIP): Local media reports speculated that a top Indian-American real estate executive could join Trump administration, after the President Elect met him at the Trump Towers in New York on November 28.
Sandeep Mathrani, 54, the chief executive officer of Chicago based General Growth Properties had a meeting with Donald Trump. Mathrani earned $39.2 million last year-more than any other CEO of a U.S. real estate investment trust.
Mathrani joined General Growth in 2011, right after the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. With a market capitalization of nearly $23 billion, General Growth is the second-biggest mall owner in the country, with local properties including Water Tower Place, Northbrook Court and Oakbrook Center. Before joining General Growth, Mathrani was president of retail real estate at New York-based Vornado Realty Trust. With more than 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, he joined Vornado Realty Trust in February 2002. Mathrani served as the Chief Executive Officer of Rouse Properties, Inc. until January 02, 2012. He served as an Executive Vice President at Forest City Ratner Companies, LLC from 1994 to February 2002 and was responsible for its retail development and related leasing in the New York City metropolitan area. Prior to Forest City Ratner, he served as a Senior Vice President of Sanford Nalitt & Associates, a regional shopping center developer in New York.
He has been Director of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. since July 12, 2016. Mathrani served as a Director at Aliansce Shopping Centers SA since March 2011. He holds a Master of Engineering, Master of Management Science and Bachelor of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, in Hoboken, NJ.
WASHINGTON (TIP): On November 29, President-elect #DonaldTrump picked up Seema Verma, a health care consultant, to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, putting her in charge of a federal agency within the health department as part of a “dream team” which he said would transform America’s healthcare system. Her nomination came days after
Indian-American Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina, was named as US ambassador to the United Nations.
“I am pleased to nominate (Dr) Seema Verma to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” Trump said in a statement. “She has decades of experience advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems. Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans,” Trump said.
Verma currently is the President, CEO and founder of SVC, Inc, a national health policy consulting company.Verma worked for the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County as vice president of planning and at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials in Washington, DC. She founded the health policy-consulting firm SVC Inc. in June 2001. She is President and CEO of the company, which has worked with the states of Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Maine, and Tennessee.
Based in Indianapolis, Vermaworked with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels on health care policy. She was the architect of the Healthy Indiana Plan. The health insurance program, designed for people with low income, requires participants to pay into a health savings account and has high deductibles.
NEW YORK (TIP): Sharath Narayan, an Indian American teen from Madison, Alabama won Jeopardy! Teen Tournament – a top quiz show in the US. In the finale held in Washington, DC, on November 22, he won first place with just $1, taking home the grand prize of $100,000 and beating the two other finalists, Alex Fischthal and Michael Borecki.
“I’d still like to go on a trip to Europe with my family (maybe Italy or Germany), but the majority of it will probably go towards taxes and college tuition,” he said after winning the award.
“I’m definitely more confident since I won the tournament, and it has showed me that I can surprise myself and accomplish things that I never would have thought of,” he said.
“Jeopardy!” attracts 23 million viewers each week and is in its 33rd season. Narayan, a junior at James Clemens High School,says he has grown up watching the popular game show and have the chance to compete on it was a dream come true.
NEW YORK (TIP): Arvind Kumar Bansal, a professor and head of the department of pharmaceutics at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in India, has been nominated by The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) as one of its Fellows, 2016.
AAPS announced the elevation of nine recipients to Fellow, one of the highest honors given to members of the association.
Each year, AAPS elevates a few members to Fellow in recognition of their professional excellence in fields relevant to AAPS’s mission: to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health.
Each Fellow has demonstrated a sustained level of superior and distinguished professional achievement and contributions in fields related to this mission. Fellows are nominated by supporters, selected by a committee of their peers, and elevated by AAPS’ Executive Council.
Dr Bansal develops technologies to improve water solubility of medicines so that they are more effective for patients. He is currently Professor and Head, department of Pharmaceutics at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), SAS Nagar, Punjab, India. Dr. Bansal is leading a group of about 15 post-graduate and doctorate students, in various areas of Pharmaceutics like pre-formulation profiling, solid-state characterization, improvement of aqueous solubility, enhancement of oral bioavailability and compaction physics. Dr. Bansal holds a masters (1988) and doctorate degree (1993) in Pharmacy from the University of Delhi. Dr. Bansal served in the pharmaceutical industry as a research scientist in major Indian pharmaceutical companies – JK Pharmaceuticals (now called Regent Drugs after being acquired by Teva Pharmaceuticals, Israel) and Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited.
WASHINGTON (TIP): On November 30, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was re-elected to her leadership post for an eighth term, beating Representative Tim Ryan, a 43-year-old congressman from Ohio. Pelosi’s margin of victory, 134 votes to 63 for Ryan was the narrowest margin in decades. With this victory Pelosi, a former speaker of the House, continues her 14-year leadership of the Democrats in the lower chamber.
In a tweet, Pelosi said, “Honored to be elected by my colleagues to serve as Democratic Leader. Let’s get to work.”
Nancy Pelosi is the Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 114th Congress. From 2007 to 2011, Pelosi served as Speaker of the House, the first woman to do so in American history. As the Democratic Leader, Pelosi is fighting for bigger paychecks and better infrastructure for America’s middle class families. In 2013, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the American women’s rights movement.
For 29 years, Pelosi has represented San Francisco, California’s 12th District, in Congress. She has led House Democrats for more than 12 years and previously served as House Democratic Whip.
Under the leadership of Pelosi, the 111th Congress was heralded as “one of the most productive Congresses in history” by Congressional scholar Norman Ornstein. President Barack Obama called Speaker Pelosi “an extraordinary leader for the American people,” and the Christian Science Monitor wrote: “…make no mistake: Nancy Pelosi is the most powerful woman in American politics and the most powerful House Speaker since Sam Rayburn a half century ago.”
NEW YORK (TIP): Donald Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton has surprised many. But now the President-elect’s Cabinet picks also have created a buzz as he is building it with his allies, old friends, and even some past rivals.
The latest to be named is General James Mattis as defense secretary (in picture above). Trump made the announcement in Ohio, December 1, at the start of a “USA Thank You Tour 2016” for his supporters. “We are going to appoint ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis as our secretary of defense,” he told the crowd in Cincinnati.
“He’s our best. They say he’s the closest thing to General George Patton [World War Two commander] that we have.”
Trump has previously described Gen Mattis, 66, as “a true general’s general”.
Gen Mattis, who is known as “Mad Dog“, was an outspoken critic of the Obama administration’s Middle East policy, particularly on Iran.
He has referred to Iran as “the single most enduring threat to stability and peace in the Middle East“.
Gen Mattis is a former marine with battlefield experience.
He led an assault battalion during the first Gulf war in 1991 and commanded a task force into southern Afghanistan in 2001.
He also took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and played a key role a year later in the Battle of Fallujah.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, Attorney General
Sen. Jeff Sessions, Attorney General – The Alabama senator became one of the first members of Congress to endorse Trump this February. He became an adviser on almost every major decision and policy proposal Trump made during the campaign. As the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration, Sessions helped Trump craft a hardline immigration plan that he touted would prevent people from entering the country illegally. Sessions has opposed nearly every immigration bill that has come before the Senate the past two decades that has included a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally.
Rep. Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Rep. Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services -Georgia Rep. Tom Price, the six-term Congressmanis the fierce opponent of the Affordable Care Act. A Republican with a plan to simultaneously repeal and replace Obamacare, Obama’s signature legislative accomplishment, Price, 62, an orthopedic surgeon from the Atlanta suburbs and the chair of the House Budget Committee, began focusing his energies on dismantling Obamacare almost as soon as President Obama signed the landmark health insurance law in 2010.
Betsy DeVos, Secretary of the Department of Education
Betsy DeVos, Secretary of the Department of Education -DeVos is aschool-choice activist, philanthropist and Republican mega-donor. The 58-year-old billionaire philanthropist, heads the American Federation for Children. Her group advocates for charter school education and she has been an advocate for school vouchers. Her foundation (American Federation for Children) has been mainly focused on trying to further the privatization of public education, not on strengthening it.
Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations – SouthCarolina Gov.Nikki Haley became the first woman Trump appointed to his Cabinet. She quickly accepted Trump’s offer to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She initially backed Trump rivals Sen. Marco Rubio and then Sen. Ted Cruz during the GOP battle for a White House nominee. At one point she called Trump “everything a governor doesn’t want in a president.”
Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation –
Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation – Trump tapped Chao, a former labor secretary, to head the Department of Transportation. Chao is the first American woman of Asian descent to be appointed to a President’s Cabinet in nation’s history. Having served from 2001-2009, she is the longest tenured Secretary of Labor since World War II, and the only member of President George W. Bush’s original cabinet to have served the entire eight years of his Administration.
Secretary the Treasury- Steve Mnuchin
Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury- Mnuchin, a banker, film producer, and political fundraiser served as the Trump campaign’s national finance chair and was largely considered the frontrunner for the job. He began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he spent 17 years and rose to become a partner. He left to start his own hedge fund and went on to become a financier of Hollywood films like “Avatar” and “American Sniper.” Throughout his career, Mnuchin showed only a limited interest in politics and remained mostly behind the scenes during Trump’s run.
Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commercerump
Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce – The 79-year-old billionaire former banker, is known for restructuring failed companies in industries such as steel, coal, telecommunications, foreign investment and textiles. He also has been an outspoken critic of free trade agreements, which was a hallmark of Trump’s campaign. His relationship with Trump goes back decades. Ross helped Trump keep control of his failing Taj Mahal casino in the 1990s by persuading investors not to push out the real estate mogul.
NEW YORK (TIP): Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan, said after meeting the President-elect at Trump Tower on November 30 that he would remain in office under Donald Trump’s administration.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bharara said, “The President-elect asked, presumably because he’s a New Yorker and is aware of the great work that our office has done over the past seven years, asked to meet with me to discuss whether I’d be prepared to stay on as the United States attorney to do the work as we have done it, independently, without fear or favor for the last seven years.”
Bharara said that he had already talked to Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, who is Trump’s choice for attorney general. “He also asked that I stay on, and so I expect that I will be continuing,” he said.
Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, for whom Bharara served as chief counsel, issued a statement after Bharara made his announcement, saying, “President-elect Trump called me last week and asked me what I thought about Preet Bharara continuing his role as U.S. attorney.” “I told him I thought Preet was great,” Mr. Schumer added, “and I would be all for keeping him on the job and fully support it. I am glad they met, and am glad Preet is staying on.”
Indian Americans are happy that Bharara, has agreed to stay in his current role under the Trump administration and hailed President elect Donald Trump for his effort to ‘Reaching across the party lines’ and expressed hope that in near future ‘President Trump will appoint Preet to become a justice of the United States Supreme Court.’
Rajiv Khanna, President, India-America Chamber of Commerce and a prominent lawyer said in a brief comment, “I am glad that President-elect Trump is reaching across the party lines to pick his team.”
Ravi Batra, renowned Indian American lawyer said in a statement, “President elect Trump after meeting with the fearless United States attorney Preet Bharara, in a move more poignant then any before, declared that America, a nation of laws, will enjoy law enforcement without regard to political party labels: Republican or Democrat. After all, as has been said before, there is no democratic or republican way to lock up a criminal.
That Preet shared, within the confines of the law, his areas of interest with POTUS45 resulted in, as I had publicly hoped and urged, Trump offering Preet four more years. To our great benefit, Preet who can do anything he wants and go anywhere he wants, chose to remain the “Horatio Hornblower” of the United States Attorneys for the Southern District of New York and continue to battle against those who play checkers while Preet plays chess.
The fumigation and disinfectant of Albany and City hall is far from over, because those in dire need of being indicted, convicted and severed from their arrogant corrupt roots of power were playing the “run the clock out game” – suddenly find themselves checkmated by President elect Trump. I know that all hard-working New Yorkers are celebrating with unexpected joy that they have Preet back on their side to eviscerate the casual and comfortable corruption that has taken residence in the great state of New York.
Given Preet Bharara’s exceptional service to the people of these United States, meeting, and I believe well exceeding, the power that emanates from the chair of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York – I hope that then-president Trump will appoint Preet to become a justice of the United States Supreme Court when the next vacancy occurs – beyond the one created by the untimely demise of the great Nino Scalia.
There is inherent greatness and Preet, much like the America we love and the Constitution we cherish and protect from enemies foreign and domestic.”
As U.S. Attorney, Bharara oversees the investigation and litigation of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the United States in the Southern District of New York, which encompasses New York, Bronx, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Sullivan counties. He supervises an office of more than 220 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, who handle a high volume of cases that include domestic and international terrorism, narcotics and arms trafficking, white collar crime, public corruption, gang violence, organized crime, and civil rights violations.
Since his appointment as U.S. Attorney, the office successfully extradited and prosecuted one of the most notorious arms traffickers in the world, Viktor Bout, who is now serving a 25-year sentence. The office also obtained a life sentence for Faisal Shahzad, the Times Square bomber, and for one of the Al Qaeda plotters of the 1998 bombings of two American embassies in East Africa. In addition, the office has convicted scores of insider trading defendants, including Raj Rajaratnam, who was sentenced to 11 years, and Rajat Gupta.
Bharara was born in 1968 in Ferozepur, Punjab, India, to a Sikh father and Hindumother. He grew up in Eatontown in suburban Monmouth County, New Jersey and attended Ranney School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, where he graduated as valedictorian in 1986. He received his B.A magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1990 and his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1993, where he was a member of the Columbia Law Review.
PARIS (TIP): In a surprise move Francois Hollande has announced he will not seek a second term as president of France.
“I’ve decided not to be a candidate to renew my mandate,” the Socialist leader said in a live televised address.
The 62-year-old, faced with very low popularity ratings, has become the first sitting president in modern French history not to seek re-election.
Conservative Republicans party candidate Francois Fillon is seen as a favorite in next year’s election. Recent opinion polls suggest far-right contender Marine Le Pen from the National Front could be Mr Fillon’s closest challenger. “In the months to come, my only duty will be to continue to lead my country,” Mr Hollande said on Thursday, December 1. “The world, Europe, France have faced particularly serious challenges during my mandate. In these particularly challenging circumstances I wanted to maintain national cohesion,” he said.
