The Indian Panorama

Year: 2017

  • Hostage situation has ended in Charleston: Mayor

    Hostage situation has ended in Charleston: Mayor

    Fired dishwasher shoots chef; takes hostages in Charleston

    CHARLESTON, S.C. (TIP):  Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said a hostage situation in a Charleston, South Carolina, restaurant has ended with the gunman being shot by police, says an AP report.

    Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said the restaurant employee shot by the gunman on Thursday has died. Interim Charleston Police Chief Jerome Taylor says all the hostages at Virginia’s restaurant were rescued safely.

    Earlier, an angry employee shot one person and held “a couple” of others hostage at a crowded restaurant during lunchtime in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, authorities said.

    “This is not an act of terrorism. This is not a hate crime. It is a disgruntled employee,” Mr. Tecklenburg had said.

    The shooting was reported shortly after noon on Thursday.

    Charleston Police sent SWAT teams and a bomb disposal unit to the area. Authorities instructed people inside to stay put and those outside to leave the area.

    The site is a few blocks away from Emanuel AME church, where nine black members of a church were killed by a white man during a June 2015 Bible study. Dylann Roof was sentenced to death in the case.

  • Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim found guilty of rape, taken into judicial custody

    Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim found guilty of rape, taken into judicial custody

    Dera Chief’s followers protest; Violence breaks out; curfew imposed in many places in Punjab

    PANCHKULA, HARYANA (TIP): Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was found guilty of rape by a special CBI court in Panchkula, Haryana, on Friday. He was immediately taken into judicial custody; he will be sentenced on Monday.

    The Dera head was present in court when the judgment was read out.

    A rape conviction carries a minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum of 10 years.

    The court delivered its verdict in the case against the 50-year-old Dera chief after 14 long years and amid unprecedented security, as thousands of Dera followers gathered in Panchkula ahead of the judgment.

    In fact, just two hours before the verdict, the Punjab and Haryana high court told the Haryana government it can go ahead and use force, if required and file FIRs against any Gurmeet Ram Rahim follower breaking the law or making provocative statements.

    Haryana’s chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Friday his government was ready to deal with any fallout from the verdict.

    “Whatever the verdict, will implement it. Ready to deal with any circumstances, security arrangements are in place, I appeal for peace and calm,” said Khattar.

    The charges against Gurmeet Ram Rahim date back to 2002, when a Dera sadhvi wrote an anonymous letter to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying she was raped by the Dera chief. In the letter, the sadhvi also accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim of raping several other female followers inside the sprawling Dera campus on the outskirts of Sirsa in the state of Haryana.

    Ahead of the verdict on Friday, Army columns moved into Panchkula early in the morning. As well, around 53 companies of the paramilitary forces and 50,000 personnel of the Haryana Police were deployed in the states of Haryana and Punjab.

    The 50-year-old Gurmeet Ram Rahim left the sect-headquarters at Sirsa, about 260km from Chandigarh, at about 9am, in a huge convoy. The Haryana director general of police (DGP) was asked if there were 200-plus vehicles in the Dera chief’s convoy. He didn’t confirm that number but did say that the convoy size would be cut en route to Panchkula.

    “Only a couple of cars which include escort vehicles will be allowed,” said BS Sandhu, the Haryana DGP.

    In 2002, the Punjab and Haryana high court took suo motu cognizance – action of its own accord – of the sadhvi’s letter to then PM Vajpayee, and directed the CBI to register a sexual exploitation case against the Dera chief in 2002. The case was then handed over to the CBI.

    The investigating agency questioned 18 sadhvis and two of them levelled allegations of rape against the spiritual leader.

    Their statements are part of the CBI chargesheet which was filed on July 30, 2007, in the CBI special court.

    One of the sadhvis said in her statement, that when she entered the Dera chief’s sprawling chamber, the doors automatically closed and she found him watching a pornographic movie on a big screen. The CBI is said to be banking heavily on this statement as only a select few have access to that chamber.

    The trial against Gurmeet Ram Rahim commenced in 2008 and on September 6, 2008, he was charged under Section 376 (rape) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

    The Dera chief consistently called the charges false and baseless and has told the court that he is “not capable of” engaging in physical relations.

    Gurmeet Ram Rahim is also facing trial in two separate murder cases – those of Dera follower Ranjit Singh in July 2002 and of journalist Ram Chander Chattrapati in October that same year.

    Meanwhile, the news of Dera Chief’s conviction spread like wild fire and his followers took to streets and violence.

    Clashes break out in Panchkula and Police resorted to firing teargas shells.

    Malout Railway Station and petrol pump set on fire by protesters in Punjab post Ram Rahim Verdict, similar incidents also reported in Bathinda. Curfew has been imposed in Punjab’s Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa following Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s conviction.

    Developing story:

    Farm, Dera and now prison: The story of rise and fall of GRR

    His Twitter profile describes him as “Spiritual Saint/Philanthropist/Versatile Singer/Allrounder Sportsperson/Film Director/Actor/Art Director/Music Director/ Writer/Lyricist/Autobiographer/DOP”.

    For his followers, who gathered in the thousands in Panchkula ahead of the verdict in the case of rape and criminal intimidation, their leader is all this and more. The bejeweled head of the Sirsa headquartered sect, who turned 50 this Independence Day, holds sway over millions in Haryana,

    Many trains bound for Punjab and Haryana were cancelled, schools and colleges shut and thousands of security personnel deployed to ensure that no trouble breaks out. But it did with ‘premis’, as his followers are known, going on a rampage.

    As curiosity grew about the man at the center of the frenzied storm, Gurmeet, who drove to Panchkula in a large convoy of scores of vehicles, put out a tweet appealing for peace and saying he would go to court even though he had a backache.

    It was the familiar blurring of lines between the larger than life image of the man of bling who would be god and superstar.

    For somebody who commands so much attention, the personal details are just a few.

    He was born in Sri Gurusar Modia village in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district on August 15, 1967, to a landlord father. An only child, Gurmeet helped his father in the farm in his early years.

    Gurmeet, it is said, was always spiritual. When he was seven, he was picked out by Shah Satnam Singh, then head of the Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa, who anointed him Ram Rahim.

    Sixteen years later, in 1990, Satnam Singh invited his disciples from all over the country for a grand satsang where 23-year-old Gurmeet Ram Rahim was chosen as his successor.

    The Dera chief, who completed his high school, is married to Harjeet Kaur. They have two daughters, Charanpreet and Amanpreet, both of whom are married, and a son Jasmeet. He also adopted a girl.

    The story also goes that he loved butter and ghee and took part in several sport activities.

    Combining entrepreneurial skills with his job as the spiritual head of the sect, he launched the ‘MSG’ range of “swadeshi and organic” products about two years ago.

    The business is looked after by the Dera chief’s children, who live inside the Dera in Sirsa, about 260 km from here.

    MSG is perhaps a reference to his first film “Messenger of God”, which he made in 2014 when he underwent an image makeover. Since then, he has made three more films, playing the lead role in each and performing ostentatious, dangerous stunts, quite like any other tinsel town superhero.

    Dera functionaries claim their chief has contributed in motivating millions of people to perform selfless services while the sect itself has devoted itself to humanitarian tasks such as blood donation and organ donation drives and educating the poor.

    In 2002, Gurmeet’s tryst with controversy and criminal charges began. He has since been named in cases dealing with rape, murder and forced castration.

    In 2002, a case of sexual exploitation case was registered against him. This followed anonymous letters alleging that the sect head had sexually exploited two ‘sadhvis’.

    He was held guilty in this case by the CBI court in Panchkula.

    Other cases in which his name figures include a murder case dating back to 2002 and the forced castration of some sadhus in 2014.

    In 2007, he earned the ire of Sikhs who accused him of replicating the attire of 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, following which Punjab remained on the boil for several days.

    Notwithstanding the notoriety, Gurmeet has reigned over the sprawling Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, where he dons glittering costumes and holds satsangs.

    Thousands of ‘premis’ gather from various parts to hear the message delivered by the ‘Pita ji’ (Dera head).

    The sprawling Sirsa Dera, spread over nearly 1,000 acres, is a township on its own, with schools, sports village, hospital, cinema hall and the like.

    It is common to find politicians from across the spectrum flocking to the Dera premises. However, no politician comes on record and Gurmeet himself maintains that as sect head he does not indulge in any political activity. He leaves it to the sect’s political wing to decide on whom to support.

    In the 2014 elections, the Dera’s political wing supported the BJP in Haryana.

    With sentencing in the case to be announced on Monday, will this all change for ‘rockstar baba’?

    (Source: TOI)

     

  • August 25 New York Print Edition

    August 25 New York Print Edition

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Print Replica ~ Digitally

    E-Edition

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”New York Edition” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2FTIP-August-25-NYC.pdf|||”][vc_single_image image=”87124″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/TIP-August-25-NYC.pdf”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”82828″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][vc_single_image image=”82829″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://www.theindianpanorama.news/advertising-media-kit-portal-indian-panorama/”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][td_block_ad_box spot_id=”custom_ad_3″ tdc_css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Lead Stories This Week” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Istok%20Web%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theindianpanorama.news%2F%20_blank|||”][td_block_5 separator=”” limit=”8″ tdc_css=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”td-default”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Indian American Executive Faces Racial Abuse from Trump Supporters

    Indian American Executive Faces Racial Abuse from Trump Supporters

    CHICAGO (TIP): An Indian-American executive was racially abused and told to “go back to India” after he said that he will not support President Donald Trump’s economic agenda after Trump appeared to defend white supremacists following the Charlottesville violence.

    Ravin Gandhi, 44, founder and CEO of GMM Nonstick Coatings, wrote an op-ed for CNBC following Donald Trump’s Charlottesville remarks but was immediately trolled and racially abused by readers, the Chicago Tribune reported.

    “I recently told the New York Times I was ‘rooting’ for certain aspects of Trump’s economic agenda,” Gandhi wrote in the op-ed. “After Charlottesville and its aftermath, I will not defend Trump even if the Dow hits 50,000, unemployment goes to 1 per cent, and GDP grows by 7 per cent. Some issues transcend economics, and I will not in good conscience support a president who seems to hate Americans who don’t look like him.”

    After that, he received many emails and tweets with abusive language.

    “You’re a f****** Indian pig” and “Get your f****** garbage and go back to India, and sell it there,” a woman said in a voicemail she left on YouTube. “You can stick your stickies up your sticky Indian (expletive) and you can take that other half-(expletive) Bangladesh creep with you, Nikki Haley. She’s the one that started all this when she took down the Confederate flag. So, don’t tell us that you gave him a chance. We don’t give a (expletive) who you gave a chance, OK? We’re going to start taking down Buddhist statues and see how you and Nikki Haley like that,” the Trump supporter said.

    Ravin Gandhi began his career at KPMG in Chicago.  In 1995, Mr. Gandhi joined Coatings and Chemicals Corporation (CCC), a family owned supplier of nonstick coatings, as Director of Global Marketing. Within a few years, CCC became the sole supplier to most American cookware, bakeware, and electrical appliance manufacturers by pioneering high quality “non-branded” non-stick coatings.

    Mr. Gandhi holds a BS from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Mr. Gandhi serves on the Board of Directors of Hester Biosciences, and is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). Mr. Gandhi makes frequent national media appearances on CNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal.

  • Right to privacy verdict: Top lawyers unsure about Aadhaar’s future

    Right to privacy verdict: Top lawyers unsure about Aadhaar’s future

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The landmark verdict of the Supreme Court ruling on right to privacy as a fundamental right was on August 24, 2017 welcomed by jurists and senior advocates who termed it as “progressive” and protective of “the basic right”.

    They, however, said the verdict’s impact on Aadhaar scheme can be assessed once the full judgement and reasons given by the court are examined.

    Lauding the unanimous verdict of the nine-judge bench, senior advocate Soli Sorabjee said it showed the “good approach” of the Supreme Court which does not hesitate in over-ruling its previous judgements.

    The former Attorney-General said, “It is a very progressive judgement and protects the fundamental rights of the people. Privacy is a basic right which is inherent in every individual.”

    “The unanimity of the bench in giving this decision shows a very good approach of the Supreme Court. Any judgement which enlarges the fundamental rights of the people should be welcome,” he added.

    Expressing hope that the citizens of India would now be protected from any kind of snooping, senior advocate Indira Jaising said, “It is a day to celebrate.”

    “Privacy is fundamental. It certainly has an impact on the day-to-day life. This verdict prevents any kind of snooping,” she said.

    Mr. Sorabjee, on being asked about its impact on Aadhaar, said the reasoning of the apex court needs to be examined and one cannot say that Aadhaar will now be banned. “You cannot make a blanket and categorical statement that Aaadhaar will be banned or is unconstitutional. No fundamental right is absolute. It is always subject to reasonable restrictions.”

    Ms. Jaising too said what impact it will have on Aadhaar was a separate issue but privacy cannot be compromised after this verdict.

    Welcoming the decision, BJP spokesperson and senior advocate Aman Sinha, termed it a “good verdict” but with reasonable restrictions.

    “We welcome this judgement. This is a good verdict. The Supreme Court has declared the Right to Privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. But like other Fundamental Rights, this is also subject to reasonable restrictions. We are awaiting the full judgement,” Mr. Sinha said.

    (Source: PTI)

  • Nandan Nilekani back at Infosys as Chairman

    Nandan Nilekani back at Infosys as Chairman

    BENGALURU (TIP): Nandan Nilekani, the 62-year-old co-founder of India’s second-largest software services exporter, returned to the Infosys board after an 8-year hiatus on Thursday, August 24, as the firm’s chairman, a move that investors expect would help end a bitter stand-off between founder N. R. Narayana Murthy and the company’s board, says a Hindu report.

    In an announcement, the Bengaluru-based company said that the board had unanimously approved Mr. Nilekani’s appointment as the non-executive chairman of the board “effective immediately.”

    Seshasayee, chairman of the board, along with former CEO and managing director Vishal Sikka, Jeffrey Lehman and John Etchemendy had stepped down from the board, Infosys said in a statement.

    Mr. Nilekani’s return was welcomed by the outgoing chairman Mr. Seshasayee, who said, “Under Nandan, Infosys will build a cohesive management team…I believe these changes will infuse further confidence to the stakeholders in executing the transition plan and in reinforcing the strategy for the future.”

    Mr. Nilekani’s appointment also saw Ravi Venkatesan step down as co-chairman, while staying on as an independent director.

    An electrical engineer from IIT Bombay, Mr. Nilekani was the CEO at Infosys from 2002 to 2007 and also served as co-chairman of the board before his departure in 2009 to head the Aadhaar project.

    Mr. Nilekani’s return was precipitated by Mr. Sikka’s abrupt resignation as CEO on August 18 amid a bitter and public row between the board and Mr. Murthy, with both sides trading a volley of charges and counter charges.

    Several institutional investors had urgently called for Mr. Nilekani’s return to help restore investor and customer confidence in the company.

    The board would actively consider a broad-based shareholder consultation as a key part of its overall engagement initiatives with stakeholders, Mr. Nilekani said in the statement.

    Balakrishnan, a former CFO said prior to Mr. Nilekani’s appointment, “We need a global face to pull the company up and restore confidence of investors and shareholders.”

    Infosys shares fell almost 10% on August 18 and lost more than 5% in the next trading session on August 21.

  • India Day Parade in New York City brings a riot of Tricolor

    India Day Parade in New York City brings a riot of Tricolor

    25 floats, dozens of marching bands and dancing groups; thousands cheering with tricolor in hands

    NEW YORK (TIP): Thousands of people from the Indian diaspora converged in the heart of New York, on August 20, to celebrate India’s 71st Independence Day at one of the largest parades outside India attended by ‘Baahubali’ actors Rana Daggubati and Tamannaah Bhatia.

    Grand Marshall and the Chief Guests. L to R: Rana Daggubati, General (Retd) Dalbir Singh Suhag and Tamannaah Bhatia.

    The 37th India Day Parade organized by the Federation of Indian Associations – New York, New Jersey, Connecticut – ran through several streets, from 38th to 26, on Madison Avenue in Manhattan on Sunday, August 20, and featured tableaux by several Indian-American organizations, marching bands, police contingents and cultural performances by young Indian-American children.

    For the first time in the 37-year-old history of India Day parade in New York City, a tableau dedicated to the creator of the Khalsa (Sikhs), Guru Gobind Singh formed part of the parade. Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed his entire life and family at the altar of safeguarding the rights of the underprivileged. He fought against injustice, tyranny and social differences. FIA President Andy Bhatia encouraged Harry Panaser, a social activist and lobbyist to arrange to have a float dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh whose 350th birth anniversary was celebrated earlier this year.

    On the float dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh. L to R: Deputy Consul General Paramita Tripathi, Harry Panaser, Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, Jagdish Sewhany and Prof. Indrajit S Saluja

    Greeting the crowd, New York city Mayor Bill de Blasio said the Independence Day parade celebrates the “extraordinary contributions” of the Indian-American community to the city.

    “This is a day we appreciate what people do for the city regardless of what they look like, regardless of what language they speak, regardless of where they were born. Everyone here contributes to making New York City better and making America stronger. That is what we are celebrating today,” de Blasio said.

    The mayor, holding the Indian tricolor, waved to the thousands of people gathered along the parade route.

    Daggubati, the Grand Marshal for the parade, said it was a matter of great pride for him to celebrate the Independence Day with a large population of Indian-Americans.”It gives me a huge sense of pride to be here. The people here are the ambassadors of our country making us proud outside of India,” he said.

    Bhatia said, “It is amazing to see Indians celebrating” the country’s culture and heritage.”India has given me lot of freedom to express myself. It is very humbling to represent India at the parade,” she said.

    A float by the Indian Consulate in the city focused the rich cultural heritage of India’s northeast states.

    The Consulate General of New York Float. The theme for the tableau was North East States of India. The Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty and Deputy Consul General Paramita Tripathi with participants

    Thousands of people from the New York tri-state area came for the day-long celebration, which included special food stalls, cultural extravaganza and about 25 floats by various Indian organizations based in the US, including Air India and State Bank of India.

    Air India float. Regional Manager Vandana Sharma, the CG and the DCG with the Air India staff and crew
    All Women crew of Air India celebrates Independence Day

    People, including young children and seniors, raised patriotic slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’ and carried banners, placards and Indian and American flags as they witnessed the floats and celebrities from the barricaded pavements along the parade route. Indian music and popular Bollywood songs reverberated through the air as people celebrated with a fervor of patriotism.

    Several Americans and people belonging to different ethnicities also stopped to watch the parade and enjoy the festivities. Families had travelled from nearby states such as Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts to witness the parade, an annual fixture in the city’s calendar since 1981.

    Mrs. & General Dalbir Singh Suhag with the Consul General Sandeep Chankravorty on the stand

    On India’s Independence Day on August 15, the iconic Empire State Building was lit up in the Indian tri-color.

    Commemorating the Day, India’s Consul-General in New York, Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty had rung the opening bell at the NASDAQ stock market in Times Square. Flag-hoisting ceremonies and commemorative events were held at the Indian Consulate as well as at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

    Maharashtra Dhol Tasa
    Haryana dancers

    Singer Kailash Kher had attended the flag hoisting ceremony at the permanent mission. Later speaking to PTI, Kher applauded the significant contributions of Indian Americans to the social and economic fabric of the US.

    He called on Indians settled in America to join hands and continue to make contributions that take India to the next level of growth and development, particularly through support of flagship Indian programs such as ‘Swachch Bharat’, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ and ‘Digital India’.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • TN to probe Jayalalithaa’s death

    TN to probe Jayalalithaa’s death

    CHENNAI (TIP): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday announced that an inquiry commission headed by a retired High Court judge would be constituted to probe the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in December last year.

    A decision on the judge who will head the commission will be taken in due course, Palaniswami said, flanked by several senior Cabinet Ministers at the Secretariat. Palaniswami also said that ‘Veda Nilayam’, the erstwhile residence of Jayalalithaa in Poes Garden here, would be converted into a public memorial, an announcement that was slammed by Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa Jayakumar, who questioned the unilateral decision sans consultations with heirs. Till date, it is not clear if Jayalalithaa left behind a will bequeathing her vast estate to anyone.

    The sudden announcements are essentially seen as a move to put pressure on the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) to come forward for negotiating a quick merger with the ruling AIADMK (Amma) and to checkmate “ousted” deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who is in a combative mood.

    The Panneerselvam faction had laid down two conditions for a merger — an inquiry into Jayalalithaa’s death (varying from a CBI probe to a judicial probe) and expelling Sasikala and her family from the AIADMK. During Jayalalithaa’s 75- day hospitalisation, only Sasikala and the doctors and paramedical staff had access to her.

    A campaign to convert the Veda Nilayam into a memorial was also launched by Panneerselvam.

  • WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE IN AMRITSAR WITH INAUGURATION OF PARTITION MUSEUM

    WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE IN AMRITSAR WITH INAUGURATION OF PARTITION MUSEUM

    AMRITSAR (TIP): A first-of-its-kind ‘Partition Museum’ bringing alive memories of the Independence era in the form of photos, artefacts and documents was today inaugurated in the historic city of Amritsar – the transit point of the massive migration on both sides of the border in 1947.

    Chief Minister Amarinder Singh inaugurated the museum, a tribute to the sacrifices of thousands of people who lost their lives and homes in the partition, with a call for learning lessons from history to ensure that such an event is never repeated in any part of the world.

    “And without their past and knowing that past and understanding their past and learning from the past, no nation can move ahead,” he said on the occasion.

    Amarinder unveiled the plaque of the museum at a special commemoration ceremony which scripted the observation of August 17 as the ‘Partition Remembrance Day’.

    The Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust (TAACHT), a NGO, whose chairperson is author, columnist Kishwar Desai, is behind setting up of the museum.A minute’s silence was observed after the ringing of a bell at the historic Town Hall,where the museum has been built.

    The chief minister dedicated the museum, developed in collaboration with the state government, to the nation. Amarinder lauded the efforts of Lord Meghnad Desai, who is on the board of patrons of the museum, in giving shape to the museum, which “recreated a very sad chapter of our history.”

    The chief minister said while for the younger generation, those days of the partition had been reduced to statistics, those who went through it had many grim memories of those times. The museum, he said, would help the youngsters actually see and experience one of the greatest migrations in history.

    Source: NDTV

  • PM MODI WANTS ‘SWACHH BHARAT’, WE WANT ‘SACH BHARAT’: RAHUL GANDHI

    PM MODI WANTS ‘SWACHH BHARAT’, WE WANT ‘SACH BHARAT’: RAHUL GANDHI

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the government for not being able to keep its promises and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to create a “Swachh Bharat” (Clean India) but people wanted a “Sach Bharat” (True India).

    Addressing a meeting of opposition leaders, hosted by rebel Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, Gandhi also took a dig at the government’s flagship programme ‘Make in India’, saying most products available in the country were made in China.

    The Congress leader accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of not fulfilling the promises made to the people during the 2014 general elections. These included bringing back black money stashed abroad and creating jobs for the youth.

    The meeting, “Sanjhi Virasat Bachao” (save country’s composite culture), was also attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior Congress members as well as Left party leaders, including CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI national secretary D. Raja. “Modiji says he wants to create a Swachh Bharat but we want Sach Bharat. Wherever he goes he lies,” Gandhi alleged.

    Gandhi also took a potshot at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), BJP’s ideological arm, saying it was bent on changing the country’s Constitution. “One says this country is mine, other says I belong to the country. That’s the difference between RSS and us,” he said. Source: PTI

  • Army to get its own attack helicopters

    Army to get its own attack helicopters

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The country’s defence acquisition council (DAC) on Thursday gave the green light to a proposal to buy six Apache AH64E attack helicopters for the army from the United States. The Boeing-manufactured helicopters and associated equipment cleared by the council are expected to cost around Rs 4,168 crore, defence ministry sources said.

    Attack helicopters have been on the army’s wish list for several years, but the air force has objected to the plan. India placed orders worth $3.1 billion for 22 Boeing AH- 64E Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers in 2015.

    The six helicopters cleared by the DAC, headed by defence minister Arun Jaitley, will be bought from the US as a follow-on option to the IAF contract, the sources said.

    Armed with fire-andforget Hellfire missiles, the Apache can track up to 128 targets a minute and prioritise threats. The missiles equip the gunships with heavy anti-armour capabilities.

    Source: HT

  • VISHAL SIKKA RESIGNS AS INFOSYS CEO; PRAVIN RAO NAMED INTERIM BOSS

    VISHAL SIKKA RESIGNS AS INFOSYS CEO; PRAVIN RAO NAMED INTERIM BOSS

    BENGALURU (TIP): Infosys Ltd, in a surprise announcement, said Vishal Sikka has resigned as CEO citing a stream of distractions and disruptions in recent months, pushing down shares of the second-largest Indian IT services firm almost 8 per cent on Friday.

    UB Pravin Rao, Infosys’ chief operating officer, was named interim managing director and chief executive. Rao will report to Sikka, who will take the executive vice chairman role until a permanent CEO takes charge, which should be no later than end-March 2018, Infosys said. The move comes after a protracted war of words between Infosys and its founders and some former executives, who were unhappy with various decisions taken by the board.

    The founders, who still own 12.75 per cent of Infosys, have in the past questioned a pay rise granted to Sikka and Rao as well as the size of severance payouts given to others, including the company’s former finance head Rajiv Bansal.

    In his resignation letter, Sikka said: “Over the last many months and quarters, we have all been besieged by false, baseless, malicious and increasingly personal attacks.” “This continuous drumbeat of distractions and negativity …inhibits our ability to make positive change and stay focused on value creation,” Sikka said in the letter.

    A former member of the executive board at German software firm SAP, Sikka took the top job at Infosys in 2014, becoming the first CEO of the company who was not also one of its founders. Sikka, a professional manager with a charismatic manner, was known for frequently wearing black t-shirts and a blazer, in contrast to his suit-clad peers.

  • Corporates donated Rs 957 cr to national parties, BJP got lion’s share: Report

    Corporates donated Rs 957 cr to national parties, BJP got lion’s share: Report

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The BJP received the lion’s share – Rs 705.81 crore – of Rs 956.77 crore that corporate houses donated to five national parties between 2012-13 and 2015-16, a report by a Delhi-based nonprofit pushing for poll reforms said on Thursday.

    The party,which swept to power in 2014, got money from 2,987 corporate donors followed by the Congress that received Rs 198.16 crore from 167 business houses, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.

    The Nationalist Congress Party received Rs 50.73 crore, Communist party of India (Marxist) Rs 1.89 crore and CPI Rs 0.18 crore, said the report based on submissions made by political parties to the election commission.

    The bulk of BJP’s funds came from trusts and business houses dealing in real estate, mining, manufacturing, oil and power, construction, exports/imports among others.

    The division of corporate donors along 14 sectors was done by ADR and didn’t form a part of the submission made to the poll panel. There is a growing demand to make poll funding transparent in India to cleanse politics of money power for free and fair elections.

    Business houses have been taking the electoral trusts route to make donations that allow companies to give money without appearing to favour one party over the other.

    As the parties are not covered under the right to information, their disclosures to the election commission and income-tax returns offer a glimpse into their finances. Still a large chunk of donations are from unknown sources and are not disclosed.

    The ADR report also shows that even when the BJP was not in power, most of the donors chose it over the Congress, a clear indication that they expected the party to win the Lok Sabha poll.

    Also, 2012-13 was the time when the Congress-led UPA government was battling a string of corruption charges and was struggling to get the better of the Opposition in Parliament. Donations peaked during 2014-15. Sixty per cent of the money received over the four years was during the election year. In 2012-13, the BJP got 89% of the donations. As the poll dust settled, 2015-16 saw a sharp fall in funds but even then, the BJP was the pick of donors, cornering 87% of the money.

    All national and regional parties are required to furnish with the election commission the details of donations above Rs 20,000. Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party was not considered by the ADR after it declared it had not got more than Rs 20,000 from any donor during the period.

    Source: HT

  • Amit Shah sets ‘360+’ BJP target for ’19

    Amit Shah sets ‘360+’ BJP target for ’19

    NEW DELHI (TIP): The BJP today set the ball rolling for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, fixing an individual target of “at least 360- plus” seats and winning constituencies (around 120 or so) where it had never won or had come second.

    BJP chief Amit Shah’s strategy meet was attended by ministers and senior leaders of the party. It focused on ascertaining whether the Modi government’s “pro-people and propoor schemes” had impacted the grassroots and whether the issues raised by cadres, especially in the BJP-ruled states, were being addressed or not.

    The party’s “below expected” performance in Madhya Pradesh local bodies’ poll is indicative of the chinks that needed to be taken care of in its “sangathan garhe chalo”campaign. The BJP also did not perform on expected lines in the West Bengal civic body elections.

    Though Shah’s three-day visit to MP beginning tomorrow is part of his 110-day nationwide tour, the fact that at some places in the state the BJP defeated the Congress by a narrow margin might be a big perusal point. Shah’s ambitious aim to increase the BJP tally in 2019 may be an ominous signal for the allies, including Akalis.

    In 2014, the BJP contested 428 seats and won 282 — a strike rate of 66 per cent. To reach 360- plus, it might not be as generous towards allies as it was in 2014. Therefore, if not complete separation, allies may have to be content with fewer seats.

    In Punjab, where the BJP has two seats out of 13, a section of leaders has for long been clamouring for a separation from the Akalis, professing “good scope” on “at least six to seven” seats. The leadership is also looking for “good candidates”. Some sitting MPs might be shown the door on the basis of their performance in their constituencies and Parliament, sources said.

    While the saffron dominance has been augmented with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar-led JD-U switching sides (which has, in turn, increased the redundancy of NDA ally in Bihar — Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP), there are areas where the BJP still needs help. This is precisely the reason why down-South, the leadership is working hard at getting together the warring AIADMK factions.

    Source: The Tribune

  • JAPAN BACKS INDIA ON DOKLAM ISSUE

    JAPAN BACKS INDIA ON DOKLAM ISSUE

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Japan came out in full support for India in its protracted military stand-off with China at Doklam, near the Sikkim-Tibet-Bhutan tri-junction, saying no country should use unilateral forces to change the status quo on the ground.

    Acknowledging the situation at the Doklam Plateau, Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu said, “We recognise Doklam is a disputed area between Bhutan and China and the two countries are engaged in border talks.

    We also understand that India has a treaty understanding with Bhutan, that’s why Indian troops got involved in the area,” according to the local media.

    The endorsement of the Indian position by Japan is a significant development at a regional level as China has violated agreements with Japan as well and not with only India and Bhutan.

    It is pertinent to mention that Japan is also engaged with the sovereignty issue with China over East China sea. Reacting to the developments in Doklam, the Bhutanese Government had on June 29 issued a press release in which it clearly stated that the construction of the road inside the Bhutanese territory is a direct violation of the agreements and affects the process of demarcating the boundary between the two countries.

    China is attempting to build a road through Doklam plateau, which is part of Bhutan, a development that would be a serious disadvantage to India’s military defences. Meanwhile, as the Doklam standoff is approaching its second month, China’s Foreign Ministry has reiterated that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops would continue to defend Dong Lang, which is Chinese territory, and India should withdraw all its troops and equipment from there.

    The stand-off began when China started constructing a road in the area. India objected to the road construction after the Chinese troops ignored Bhutanese protests, triggering the faceoff from June 16.

    External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has reiterated that India’s road map is peace and talks are going on to resolve the issue diplomatically. India has made its stance clear that that it stands for peace the border question can be solved diplomatically, not by war. Source: ANI

  • The Pathetic & dangerous transformation of India to Crony Capitalism in last 70 years

    The Pathetic & dangerous transformation of India to Crony Capitalism in last 70 years

    By Dave Makkar

    “India is in the top ten nations with the widest socio-economic gap. It is an economically, socially and politically failed state for majority of its 1.3 billion citizens; who cannot solve its socio-economic, religious and political problems including its Land dispute with Pakistan since 1948 over Kashmi”, says the author.

    India never had a good ruler since independence except for a very brief period Lal Bahadur Shastri and Morarji Desai. All of them including the current PM/Ruler Modi has proved to be the facilitators of crony capitalism. Modi has gone one step further by becoming the first & the last PM of India that put his hand in the mouth of poor to take out what they were eating and took away their professions and openly allowing mob lynching of people. They all have lived/living to the apprehensions of Mahatma Gandhi that he feared India will have English Rule without the Englishmen! India is in the top ten nations with the widest socio-economic gap. It is an economically, socially and politically failed state for majority of its 1.3 billion citizens; who cannot solve its socio-economic, religious and political problems including its Land dispute with Pakistan since 1948 over Kashmir. 

    India’s elite world-famous Billionaires, part of the 56 million filthy rich Indians, are living side by side with almost a billion poor and treat them as sub humans who are burden for the country. It looks like Indian Leadership political, religious and business rather than being ashamed of this, are proud to have more than 800 million Indians living under extreme poverty & inhuman conditions. They have the insanity to say, “India is shining”. A former diplomat, politician, author and thinker Pavan Varma wrote in his book “Being Indian” that in the Indian elite “there is a remarkable tolerance for inequality, filth and human suffering”. He adds that “concern for the deprived and the suffering is not a prominent feature of the Indian personality. The rich in India have always lived a life quite oblivious to the ocean of poverty around them”. Less than 10-15 minutes from every slum in any major city of India there are very expansive heavily guarded residential areas with houses rather mini palaces costing few million dollars to $1 Billion Mukesh Ambani’s Palace. One city: two universes.

    Out of the total budget 74% is used to run the system/government and 38% in debt servicing after adding new borrowing. In real terms, the cost to run the system is 115% and 60% in debt servicing. The non-plan expenditure i.e. just to run the “System” or the government that includes Police, Military, Judiciary, Postal Services, President, Vice President, Prime Minister, 30 Governors (political appointees of the ruling party), 53 Ministries with numerous departments, 1 Department of Atomic Energy, various Commissions/ Committees to accommodate failed politicians, friends & relatives, 543 MP’s, millions of government employees as well as so called Z category security services for rulers, their families & friends practically at all levels.  The new additions under Modi very soon will be Cow Ministry, Ministry to advise people what to eat, what to wear, whom they can marry & how many kids Hindu couples should produce and Ministry of Nationalism; what is national & what is anti-national !

    If Modi had even an iota of Nationalism/Patriotism towards India and love for the less fortunate Indians; he would have cut down the cost of governance of India. He could have announced some measures to at least re-structure the 53 Ministries to cut down their massive size, Complete ban on Official Functions in 5 Star Hotels & Resorts, Abolish Pension for MP’s, Ban on allocation of properties for Political Party Offices, end to VVIP & VIP culture of providing security & subsidized housing, cap on telephone bills, air travel, foreign trips, rail travel of elected & appointed officials and un-necessary appointment of officials under Ministers and various departments, commissions and committees. Can Modi explain how come a law maker is entitled to Pension and princely perks after winning one election only even if he never gets elected again; where as a government servant is entitled to a pension only after 20-25 years of service. Modi could have proposed a road map to cut down the non-plan expenditure from present 74% to at least 60% in next 4 years.

    Modi in his political carrier as Gujarat CM has been a known destroyer of any opposition in his own party as well as leaders of other political parties. He is also known to have least respect for democratic norms and judiciary. Since 2014 Modi is ruling India with the same undemocratic philosophy and destroying all the democratic institutions, judiciary as well as any opposition all over India to make India, “Opposition Free”.

    Congress also tried to destroy opposition parties to make it one party rather one family rule in India and they succeeded to a certain extent only. Recently a writer Apoorvanand wrote about the reaction of Munshi Premchand that “Elimination of Opposition is a Threat to Democracy.”

    Premchand recorded this apprehension in a brief commentary titled ‘Germany Ka Bhavishya’ (The Future of Germany) right after the victory of the Nazi Party in Germany in 1933. “After the landslide victory of the Nazi Party in Germany, the question that arises is will Germany really turn into a fascist regime and will the Nazis be able to hold and consolidate power for at least five years? If it happens and the Nazis get an opportunity to establish themselves, they will suck the democratic life and vision out of Germany through its political and military strength in such a way that not a single opponent of the Nazi Party would be left in Germany for 25 years.”

    It is not necessary to view Premchand’s observation in the context of the present times but the focus of his comment is the forced elimination of opposition before the victory of the Nazi Party. He does not censure the German opposition parties for their inability to protect themselves. He clearly states that the crime was Hitler’s who was phasing out the opposition through undemocratic means. The Nazis had a private army which none of the other political parties in Germany possessed. Premchand unequivocally states that the elimination of opposition should be a cause for worry and one who carries it out must be held responsible for it and must be questioned.

    The process of selling India to Corporate houses started by Congress has been expedited under Modi aka BJP. Modi regime is ignoring the extreme poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and inequality due to the fact that 56 families own 75% of India! Modi was created and installed in a Rs 32,000 crore marketing scam by these very corrupt business houses of India and marketed by Washington based APCO that is PR company of practically all the dictators around the world including all the Muslim Dictators of Middle East. Modi is catering to the elite, establishment & his handlers only with no emotions and responsibility towards the general public especially the farmers and extreme poor of India. Modi is presiding over the half burnt Funeral Pyre of Indian Democracy started by Congress. BJP’s Modi is making sure that it is fully burnt and ashes are immersed in Holy Ganga by sacrificing the left over Democratic norms in this ongoing burning Funeral Pyre of Indian Democracy.   

    Even being 3rd gen RSS/Jansangh/BJP supporter and victim of Indra’s emergency I cannot support the present leaders like Modi, Jaitley, Shah, Smriti, Uma, Adityanath working as facilitators for the New East India Company owned by Adani, Ambani, Tata, Jindal, Ruia’s etc.
    All these corporations unlike East India Company do not have their private army but soon will be making all kinds of war heads, missiles, helicopters, air planes, ammunition and other sophisticated military gadgets because Jaitley has increased the FDI limit to 49% from 26% for this Industry. Just few days before the 2015 budget Middleman/Lobbyist has been legalized in India for deals with the government including defense deals. Now there won’t be any shortage of Radias openly operating in the corridors of power to influence law makers for favors for their corporate clients.

    (The author is a community activist. He can be reached at davemakkar@yahoo.com)

  • India’s Independence Celebrated at NASDAQ

    India’s Independence Celebrated at NASDAQ

    NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): As a part of the celebrations for the 70th anniversary of Independence Day of India and India@70 series, Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, rang the opening bell at NASDAQ on Tuesday, August 16, 2017.

    Speaking on the occasion, Consul General said, “Ours is an old civilization but a young country. India, a nation of 1.3 billion people, with 65 per cent under the age of 35 years, has emerged as the fastest growing major economy in the world. Our GDP growth rate this year is expected to be more than 7%. India is a bright spot of growth and stability in the global economy and is expected to remain so in the long run.

    On almost every index of economic performance – competitiveness, innovation, ease of doing business, logistics, attractiveness as an investment destination, consumer confidence and business optimism – India’s ranking is constantly improving. India’s progress will not only ensure the wellbeing of one-sixth of humanity, it will also provide a new engine of global prosperity and an anchor of its stability.

    About the Indo-US relations, he said,” The India-US relationship is a strong partnership that touches almost all areas of human endeavor. We consider the USA an important partner in our flagship programs such as Make in India, Digital India and Start Up India for bringing about inclusive social and economic changes in India. I also believe that amongst all the determinants of this incredible relationship, the most important are the financial sector tie ups which is the engine of growth and prosperity in both countries. In this the role of Nasdaq is critical.

    Since the first Indian company was listed at Nasdaq in 1999, the number has gone up steadily and Indian companies have generated value by their association with Nasdaq.

    Consul General thanked NASDAQ for continuing with the eight-year old tradition of celebrating India’s Independence with the ringing of the bell.

    Prominent members of the business and Indian community and media were present at the ceremony.

    This year marks the 8th year in the row that bell ringing ceremony was held at Nasdaq to commemorate India’s Independence Day.

  • Nikolay Kudashev is Russia’s new envoy to India

    Nikolay Kudashev is Russia’s new envoy to India

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Career diplomat Nikolay Kudashev has been appointed as Russia’s new ambassador to India, the Russian embassy here said.

    Kudashev, a specialist in South East Asia, is currently the Deputy Director General Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

    “President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin by the executive order appointed Nikolay Kudashev as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of India,” the Russian Embassy here said in a statement on Friday evening.

    The appointment of Kudashev comes nearly seven months after the death of Russia’s previous ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin.

    Kadakin, a fluent Hindi-speaking career diplomat considered a great friend of India, passed away on January 26 at a hospital here after a brief illness. He was 67.

    Kudashev was the Russian Ambassador to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands in 2014-2015. (Source PTI)

  • Indian American Joins New Jersey Democratic Coordinated Campaign Committee

    Indian American Joins New Jersey Democratic Coordinated Campaign Committee

    EDISON (TIP): Victory 2017, the coordinated campaign between Murphy for Governor and the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, announced the hiring of two veteran state political operatives including Indian American Amit Jani, who will undertake crucial roles between now and Election Day.

    Victory 2017 Director Iris M. Delgado said that Justin Braz and Amit Jani have joined the campaign effort. Braz will coordinate Victory 2017’s work among the state’s organized labor unions, while Jani will undertake electoral efforts among New Jersey’s growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

    “Justin and Amit both bring a wealth of first-hand organizing experience that cannot be matched,” said Delgado. “They are trusted, they are tested, and they produce results. For the next 13 weeks, they will play critical roles in building the diverse coalition that Democrats will need to elect champions up and down the ballot. We are excited to have them aboard.”

    Amit Jani currently serves as a Hudson County Director for the South Asian American Caucus within the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.

    In 2016, he played a leadership role in South Asians for Hillary, which assisted the Hillary for America campaign on outreach nationally to the South Asian community — and currently serves as a national co-chair of the successor organization South Asians for America, which is committed to advocating for issues important to the South Asian American community and helping to elect progressive candidates across the country.

    Jani has also been a district representative for Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., in Long Branch, and was a legislative aide to Congresswoman Judy Chu and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in Washington. He has also assisted on campaigns in the14th Legislative District for Senator Linda Greenstein and Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo and Daniel Benson.

    He is the co-founder and president of the New Jersey Leadership Program, a 501(c)3 organization that exposes South Asian youth to government and politics.

  • Indian American Sentenced to Prison for Participating in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

    Indian American Sentenced to Prison for Participating in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

    FREMONT (TIP): An Indian American Mahendra Prasad, 55, of Fremont, was sentenced Aug 14 by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $328,000 in restitution for his role in a mortgage fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

    In May 22, 2017, Prasad pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud affecting a financial institution. According to court documents, in 2006, Prasad caused loan application packages that contained false statements to be submitted to a mortgage lender in order to buy a property in Sacramento. The false statements included statements concerning Prasad’s employer, income, and purported intention to occupy the property as his primary residence. Following his fraudulent purchase, Prasad, with the assistance of others, rented the property as Section 8 housing and collected rents. Prasad did not reside in or occupy the property as his primary residence.

    In 2013, Prasad applied to a bank to sell the property to another person at a loss to the bank. He falsely claimed to the bank that the “short” sale was an “arm’s length” transaction, and that neither he nor the buyer were related by commercial enterprise. Prasad’s conduct caused a loss to a financial institution of approximately $328,000.

    Co-defendants Jyoteshna Karan, Praveen Singh, Sunita Singh and Nani Isaac are scheduled for a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Fresno, on Monday, December 11, 2017.

  • Indian American man Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Victims in IRS Impersonator Scam

    Indian American man Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Victims in IRS Impersonator Scam

    MIAMI (TIP): A Miami resident of Indian origin was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Aug 15, to be followed by three years of supervised release for his role in defrauding victims in an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) impersonator scam.

    Anandkumar Jayanti LA Nayee, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1).

    According to court documents, from January 2014 through early 2017, defendant Nayee conspired with others to defraud victims. Nayee’s co-conspirators contacted victims by telephone and made fraudulent representations to them, including that the victims owed income tax payments to the IRS, or owed fees for grants or loans that they had purportedly received. Nayee’s co-conspirators instructed the victims to deposit payments related to the taxes or fees that they purportedly owed onto debit cards and into bank accounts controlled by Nayee and his co-conspirators. Nayee and his co-conspirators then received and retained the victims’ payments.

    From January 2014 through February 28, 2014, a co-conspirator purchased Green Dot prepaid debit cards and provided the full debit card numbers to Nayee, who resided in India at the time. Nayee then caused the prepaid debit cards to be registered in the names of real people, and notified his co-conspirator once the cards had been funded by victims of the telephone fraud scheme. The co-conspirator then used the prepaid debit cards to purchase money orders, and deposited the money orders into bank accounts specified by Nayee.

    Nayee moved to the Southern District of Florida from India in 2015. He and his co-conspirators picked up funds that that had been sent via money transfer by victims of the telephone fraud scheme, and deposited those funds into accounts controlled by Nayee and his co-conspirators. Nayee was held responsible for at least $150,000 in victim losses during the telephone fraud scheme.

  • Indian American Investment Bank Vice President Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading

    Indian American Investment Bank Vice President Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading

    NEW YORK CITY,  NY (TIP): An Indian American executive Avaneesh Krishnamoorthy, who worked as a vice president and risk management specialist for a Manhattan-based investment bank pled guilty Aug 10 to a criminal Information charging him with engaging in a scheme to commit insider trading. Krishnamoorthy made over $78,000 by trading in the stock and options of three publicly traded companies based on material nonpublic information he misappropriated from the Investment Bank and its parent company (the “Company”). Krishnamoorthy pled guilty before United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As he admitted today in federal court, Avaneesh Krishnamoorthy abused his position as an investment bank executive to get nonpublic information about several companies and then trade on it. We remain committed to prosecuting financial professionals whose greed drives them to break the law.”

    According to the allegations in court documents, including the Information and a previously filed criminal complaint, and statements made during court proceedings:

    As a vice president and risk management specialist, Krishnamoorthy was given access to material, nonpublic information concerning mergers and acquisitions in which the Investment Bank was potentially going to be retained.

    In November 2016, the Investment Bank was contacted about financing the acquisition of Neustar, Inc., a company whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, by a private equity fund. Krishnamoorthy received multiple emails regarding the Investment Bank’s potential involvement in the transaction, which also summarized the mechanics of the deal. In violation of the Company’s policies and in breach of his duties to the Company and its clients, Krishnamoorthy used this material nonpublic information to acquire Neustar stock and options. In the days and weeks after receiving the emails, Krishnamoorthy purchased numerous Neustar call options and hundreds of shares of Neustar stock before the public announcement of the transaction. Krishnamoorthy did not reveal these trades or the existence of the underlying brokerage accounts to the Company. The price of Neustar stock increased by approximately 20% following the public announcement of the Fund’s acquisition of Neustar on December 14, 2016. Krishnamoorthy also used material nonpublic information that he received from the Company to make profitable trades in securities of Cabelas Inc. and Axiall Corporation.

    As a result of the scheme, Krishnamoorthy reaped over $78,000 in ill-gotten gains, which he has agreed to forfeit to the Government as part of his plea agreement. Krishnamoorthy 42, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. He is scheduled to be sentenced November 21, 2017.

  • Indian American Professor Thomas Kailath to be honored with lifetime achievement award by Marconi Society

    Indian American Professor Thomas Kailath to be honored with lifetime achievement award by Marconi Society

    STANFORD (TIP): Stanford electrical engineering Professor emeritus Thomas Kailath will be given the Marconi Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his many transformative contributions to information and system science, as well as his sustained mentoring and development of new generations of scientists.

    Kailath is the sixth scientist to be honored with a Marconi Society Lifetime Achievement Award. The society is dedicated to furthering scientific achievements in communications and the internet.

    “The award is being conferred on Kailath for mentoring a generation of research scholars and writing a classic textbook in linear systems that changed the way the subject is taught and his special purpose architecture to implement the signal processing algorithms on VLSI (Very Large-scale System Integration) chips,” the society said.

    Thomas Kailath received a B.E. (Telecom) degree in 1956 from the College of Engineering, Pune, India, and S.M. (1959) and Sc.D. (1961) degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then worked at the Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena, CA, before being appointed to Stanford University as Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering in 1963. He was promoted to Professor in 1968, and appointed as the first holder of the Hitachi America Professorship in Engineering in1988. He assumed emeritus status in 2001, but remains active with his research and writing activities. He also held shorter-term appointments at several institutions around the world: UC Berkeley, Indian Statistical Institute, Bell Labs, Indian Institute of Science, Cambridge University, K. U. Leuven, T.U. Delft, Weizmann Institute, Imperial College, MIT, UCLA, T. U. Munich.

    His research and teaching have ranged over several fields of engineering and mathematics: information theory, communications, linear systems, estimation and control, signal processing, semiconductor manufacturing, probability and statistics, and matrix and operator theory. He has also co-founded and served as a director of several high-technology companies. He has mentored an outstanding array of over a hundred doctoral and postdoctoral scholars. Their joint efforts have led to over 300 journal papers, a dozen patents and several books and monographs, including the major textbooks: Linear Systems (1980) and Linear Estimation (2000).

    He received the IEEE Medal of Honor in 2007 for “exceptional contributions to the development of powerful algorithms for communications, control, computing and signal processing.” Among other major honors are the Shannon Award of the IEEE Information Theory Society; the IEEE Education Medal and the IEEE Signal Processing Medal; the 2009 BBVA Foundation Prize for Information and Communication Technologies; the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award; election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; foreign membership of the Royal Society of London, the Royal Spanish Academy of Engineering, the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Indian National Science Academy, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences).

    In November 2014, he received a US National Medal of Science from President Obama “for transformative contributions to the fields of information and system science, for distinctive and sustained mentoring of young scholars, and for translation of scientific ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that have had a significant impact on industry.”

  • Singer Kailash Kher hosted at TV Asia

    Singer Kailash Kher hosted at TV Asia

     EDISON, NJ (TIP):  Kailash Kher, award-winning Indian pop-rock and Bollywood playback singer, was hosted at TV Asia Aug 17 for a live interactive session and a community reception.

    Kher, who was recently conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, is known for his unique and powerful voice and music style influenced by Indian folk and Sufi music.

    More than 200 members of the community attended. Kher was welcomed and led into the TV Asia auditorium by chairman H R Shah, himself a recent recipient of the Padma Shri.

    In welcoming Kher, Shah was joined at the event by Dr Navin Mehta, chairman of Bharatiya Vidhya Bhawan USA and Ramesh Patel, chairman of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of NY, NJ and CT.

    Kher, who spoke in Hindi as well as English, took questions, interacting over two hours with an engaging audience.

    Often philosophical and emotive, Kher spoke eloquently about his life and career. He started off by recounting his days in New Delhi, where he grew up. He said his music was a summary of his life’s experiences.

    “My music is an extension of my struggles, failures and successes,” he told the audience. “I continue to learn every day and imbibe it in my singing.”

    Responding to an audience question, Kher noted he stayed focused even in his most difficult days. “I had set my eyes on being a musician and after I moved to Mumbai in 2001, I realized it was impossible to get work for an untrained singer like me, but I never lost hope.”

    Kher’s musical pedigree draws from his father, who was an amateur musician and whose performances of traditional folk songs were a regular household event. His first brush with music came in his childhood. Brought up in a musical atmosphere, from his school days, he was enchanted and fascinated by music, listening to his father’s Indian folk songs all day.

    During his TV Asia interaction, Kher entertained the audience with some of his selective poetry as well singing. The entire session was taped by TV Asia, to be broadcast on Aug 24.

  • Consulate General of India Celebrates India’s 71st Independence Day

    Consulate General of India Celebrates India’s 71st Independence Day

    NEW YORK CITY, NY (TIP): Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty unfurled the National Flag at the Consulate premises in the morning of 15 August. The unfurling of the flag was followed by the playing of the national anthem. Consul General read out President’s Address to the Nation delivered on the eve of the Independence Day.

    CG Sandeep Chakravorty reads out the President’s address

    A short cultural program was held by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, which included singing of patriotic songs and poetry recitation.

    A section of the gathering

     More than 200 people including prominent members of the Indian community and local dignitaries, attended the ceremony.

    At the initiative of local Indian community organizations, iconic monuments in New York and surrounding areas were lit up on the occasion with the colors of the Indian flag. These included the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls among others.

    The Consulate, in association with various Indian business, professional and community organizations is organizing a series of events this year to celebrate India@70.