The Indian Panorama

Year: 2018

  • 35th Annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon Raises Funds for Central Park Conservancy

    35th Annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon Raises Funds for Central Park Conservancy

    Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg donates $4 million

    NEW YORK CITY(TIP): The Women’s Committee, founded in 1983, held their 35th annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon yesterday, which is also appropriately known as the hat luncheon. The Committee’s purpose is to raise money and awareness for the Central Park Conservancy.

    The Indian Panorama was informed of the plans of the Committee for this year. The Committee is planning to raise at least $5 million for a $10 million project to restore the Conservatory Garden, located at 5th Avenue and 105th Street. It was last restored in 1983, the same year the Committee was founded. The upcoming renovation is set to update the paths and plazas throughout the garden, in addition to infrastructural changes.

    Prior projects made possible by the Women’s Committee include the recreation of the urns at Bow Bridge, the reconstruction of the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center and the renovation of Safari Playground. The Women’s Committee is responsible for raising 15 percent of the Central Park Conservancy’s $67 million budget.

    Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg donated $4 million.

  • Miani Welfare Society is Expanded: Larger Participation Mooted for Greater Good

    Miani Welfare Society is Expanded: Larger Participation Mooted for Greater Good

    RICHMOND HILL, NY(TIP): On April 29, a meeting of Miani Welfare Society was held at Liberty Palace here to welcome new members. The meeting was attended by a number of members who welcomed the idea of expanding the Society with a view to doing good to the community through a larger participation.

  • America’s Smartest Family Attracts Big Audiences

    America’s Smartest Family Attracts Big Audiences

    NEW YORK(TIP): Zee TV’s original production – Americas’ Smartest Family, has been attracting large audience numbers all season. Now in its 8th episode, and heading towards the semi-finals, the show, which pits families against families in a unique quiz format, is poised to become the number 1 show in its time slot and category.

    Hosted by 23-year-old YouTube sensation Zaid Ali, “America’s Smartest Family” is a unique mashup of the American household favorites “Family Feud” and “Jeopardy,” but with that special ZEE TV twist that celebrates its South Asian heritage. Complete with a diverse set of categories and a buzzer, each episode will feature five challenging in-studio question rounds, testing pre-screened contestants on their ability to answer quickly and more importantly – their ability to work as a team. Only the fastest, most well-rounded family will get to take home the crown.

    Round one consists of four questions, with a dice roll deciding which family goes first. Participants can choose from one of five topics – including science, math, arts, history and geography. Once a category is chosen, it may not be selected for the remainder of the round. During the first round, 100 points will be awarded for every correct answer. There are no deductions for wrong answers until round three and four, where a mistake can cost a team 100 points for every incorrect answer.

    As the game progresses, questions become increasingly difficult. By rounds three and four – each correct answer is worth 200 points. During the fifth and final round, the game takes a turn and host Zaid Ali spices things up by offering clues. If the team answers correctly without a clue, a maximum of 1000 points is awarded. If the family choses to get clues, each clue costs them 200 points. At the end of five rounds, scores may vary from -2400 to 5500. In the event of a tie, an extra tie-breaker round will identify the winner.

    Produced by leading firm, Touchdown Productions, the show was conceptualized as a Zee Originals property and produced by Touchdown Productions. The production was done over a one-month period in a custom-built studio accommodating the set. A crew of over 35 apart from the post production team and knowledge partners worked for almost 6 months to bring the show to life.

    “We are very happy with the result of this first ever endeavor and look forward to producing multiple seasons of the show,” said, Rahul Walia, Executive Producer and CEO of Touchdown Productions. “the effort of the crew, Director and channel team was a winning combination,” he added.

     “I’m very happy with the outcome of the show whether it is on the production end, or the sponsorship end. With this we can easily allude to Zee TV’s initiative of being the first movers in the market. I am looking forward to learning who the winning family turns out to be,” said Sameer Targe, Head of Americas for Zee TV.

     “America’s Smartest Family” is broadcast every Saturday at 9:00 p.m. EST; 9:30 p.m. PST; and 9:00 p.m. AST on ZEE TV.

    To learn more about “America’s Smartest Family,” visit https://www.zeeoriginals.com/americas-smartest-family/

    About Zee Network

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited is one of India’s leading television media and entertainment companies. It is amongst the largest producers and aggregators of Hindi programming in the world, with an extensive library housing over 222,000 hours of television content. With rights to more than 3,818 movie titles from foremost studios and of iconic film stars, ZEE houses the world’s largest Hindi film library. Through its strong presence worldwide, ZEE entertains over 1 billion viewers across 172 countries.

    About Zee TV USA

    Zee TV USA was the first ever Hindi General Entertainment channel to be launched in the US way back in 1998. Since the start of the journey more than 2 decades ago, Zee now has 43 networks and full time dedicated work force across 5 different locations all across the North America and Caribbean. Zee TV USA was the first Asian channel to launch in HD. Zee TV was the first Hindi network to be measured by Nielsen in the US, Zee TV is also the most widely available Hindi General Entertainment network on all major DTH, Cable, Telco and IPTV platforms with availability over 86 million US households.

     

     

  • “Our revered institutions are under severe threat; It is time to wake up”! George Abraham at the AICC Plenary session

    “Our revered institutions are under severe threat; It is time to wake up”! George Abraham at the AICC Plenary session

    NEW YORK (TIP): “Many of the Colonial Nations that gained independence from their Colonial masters faltered because they failed to build Institutions. However, India under the leadership Nehru, built institutions that provided security, safety, and justice for all its citizens”, said New Yorker George Abraham, Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress. He was addressing the All India Congress Committee Plenary session which was held in New Delhi in March 2018. “Today, these revered Institutions are under growing threat, and it is time for us to wake up and deal with it. Freedom of Conscience is fundamental to all freedoms. It is innate and God-given; nobody has any right to trample it” he was alluding to the growing attacks on people of faith and other minorities in the country. “The NRI community is indeed concerned about these and other issues plaguing the country, and we will work together with AICC to coordinate our actions while working as goodwill ambassadors in the U.S. to help to forge stronger ties” added Mr. Abraham.

    George Abraham speaking at the AICC Plenary session.

    Mr. Abraham also thanked Sonia Gandhi for inaugurating the Overseas Congress in 2001 and applauded the appointment of Mr. Sam Pitroda as the Chairman of the newly created ‘Overseas Congress Department’ under AICC.

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  • IDC Conference Session on “Indo-Caribbeans in the USA” at St. John’s University

    IDC Conference Session on “Indo-Caribbeans in the USA” at St. John’s University

    QUEENS, NY(TIP): The Indian Diaspora Council International(IDC) organized and coordinated the May 3, 2018 conference session on “Indo-Caribbeans in USA: Achievements, Opportunities & Challenges”whichwas part of 9thAnnual CLACS Multidisciplinary Symposium on Immigration with the theme “The Rise of Transnational Populism: A Multidisciplinary Approach”.

    The symposium was held on May 2-3, 2018 at St. John’s University at the Queens Campus and sponsored by St. John’s University Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) and by the Office of the Provost; the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Lecture Series; Office of Student Affairs; Office of Global Studies; Department of Languages and Literatures; and the Graduate School of Health Sciences at Touro College.

    The session on “Indo-Caribbeans in USA: Achievements, Opportunities & Challenges” was chaired by Ashook Ramsaran, president of IDC, who made a presentation on historical background, migration to the USA, achievements, opportunities, challenges, issues of interest and concerns, trends and the future. Dr. Ashford Maharaj, Accounting and Finance professor at Berkeley College, New York, spoke on compliance with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), an important development in U.S. efforts to combat tax evasion by U.S. persons holding accounts and other financial assets offshore. Mr. Vishnu Mahadeo, longtime community advocate spoke about community needs, voter registration, and becoming more proactive to address people’s needs and wellbeing.

    In an earlier session on May 3, Dr.Sharla Madho-Khargi, a clinical psychologist; director at a New York state mental health facility, adjunct professor at the City University of New York, andDirector, Community Based Rehabilitation, Indian Diaspora Council International, made a presentation on “Mental Health Challenges in the Caribbean Community (Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica etc)”. This was part of the session on “Serving Increasing Minority Adult Populations in Healthcare Contexts”.

     On May 2, Hon. Kiva Clarke (Consul General, Trinidad & Tobago), spoke at inaugural session “Distinguished Diplomats’ Roundtable Discussion”. Otherdiplomats participating included: Hon. Roseann St. Hill-Billouin (Dep. Consul General, Trinidad & Tobago); Hon. Álvaro Rodrigo Pinilla Romero (Consul General of Bolivia in New York); Hon. Maria Nieto (Consul General of Colombia in New York); Hon. Carlos Castillo (Consul General of Dominican Republic in New York); Hon. Diego Gomez Pickering (Consul General of Mexico in New York); Hon. María Teresa Merino de Hart

    (Consul General of Peru in New York)

    For more information contact: Ashook Ramsaran at AshookRamsaran@gmail.com  Mobile (USA) +1 917 519 5783

     Indian Diaspora Council International (IDC), established in 1997, is an international non-profit organization with global affiliates and membership in 21 countries with the objective to embrace, engage, and enhance the shared heritage, aspirations, and interests of persons of Indian origin with optimum inclusivity.

     

     

  • Irada, produced by New York based Falguni & Chintu Patel, wins 2 National Film Awards

    Irada, produced by New York based Falguni & Chintu Patel, wins 2 National Film Awards

    NEW DELHI(TIP): ‘Irada’, produced by New York-based Falguni and Chintu Patel, was presented the Best Film on Environment award at The National Film Awards 2018 ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on May 3.

    ‘Irada’ (meaning ‘Resolve’) also won the Best Supporting Actress award for Divya Dutta.

    The prestigious annual awards were presented by India’s President Ram Nath Kovind and Information & Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani.

    President Kovind said on the occasion, “This is a special moment for all of you.” He added that cinema is “an expression of Indian soft power and has a transcontinental footprint.”

    The Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation award for ‘Irada’ was received by Irada Entertainment founder and partner Falguni Patel from the I& B minister, cheered by Chintu Patel, in the august hall of Vigyan Bhavan.

    ‘Irada’, that also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and New York-born actor Prashantt Guptha, raises the contemporary ecological issues of uranium poisoning, reverse boring, and fertilizer poisoning due to the green revolution and their adverse impact on the people who live in India’s Malwa region, which extends to parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

    Chintu and his brother Chirag Patel are co-chairmen of Amneal Pharmaceuticals, the fifth largest generics drugs firm in America.

    Chintu and Chirag were The South Asian Times Person of the Year 2017 and were felicitated by the newspaper at a gala function in January this year on Long Island, NY.

    Pleased with the award for ‘Irada’, the first film from Irada Entertainment, Chintu Patel said: “We will be making more content-based films, making more web series and growing it into certain other media outlets over a period of time.”

     

  • Air India’s Pragmatism before Sale

    Air India’s Pragmatism before Sale

    By Harjap Singh Aujla

    Perhaps the most exploited airline in the world is our Air India. The powerful politicians and influential bureaucrats of our country have been overburdening this commercial venture with unqualified people of their choice far over and above the needs of the airline. Their emoluments were also on the higher end. This resulted in overstaffing of the venture. In addition, all the bigwigs in politics and bureaucracy were getting free rides in premium class at the expense of this national flag carrier. The cumulative losses kept mounting and at one point the government started toying with the idea of its privatization. But the lobby of the exploiters was so powerful, that every time, the government floated this idea, it was shot down by those very folks, who floated the idea. Such developments gave birth to indiscipline. The pilots frequently went on strike and so did the air crew and the ground staff. Accountability was a casualty. No one ever cared for the elusive profitability. Every exploiter posed as a God father. The previous prime minister was an economist, he thought the emancipation was in its disinvestment. But most within the corridors of power thought otherwise. This has been happening for half a century. Some of the redundant staff has retired long ago. Some are still on the payrolls and adding to the losses.

    The routes of operation were not as a result of legitimate research and analysis. The government made politically correct, but most of the time financially ruinous decisions and Air India was made to tamely implement and face the music. Due to the political decisions, some of the most profitable routes were discontinued in favor of populous loss-making routes. The justification invariably was that all routes were losing money. Even the routes with 90% passenger load were dubbed unprofitable. No one went into the reasons of such losses. The primary reason was terrible overstaffing and an army of free travelers. Some minor decisions with cumulative effect included expensive food from well-known places rather than cheaper, but more delicious food from lesser known places. It takes two hours between New Delhi and Mumbai, many times a full meal was served on this route too. Food from expensive cities was served even to passengers from cities known for their food. Most airlines run special cargo flights to business-friendly cities, which are profitable. Air India never explored such innovative ventures. On some of the important flights the routes were longer than required. As an example, the Bombay-Frankfurt-Los Angeles flight completed one way in 22 hours. Due to customary late flying by Air India the 24-hour cycle was always exceeded, this resulted in cancellation of a good profitable flight.  Air India was on the route of self destruction. In the most expensive cities like New York, there was excessive staff. The government too has finally realized the writing on the wall.

    When reality dawned on Air India that its sale price may not be enough to stay afloat. A long overdue course correction has started. But the all-powerful government was still in populous mode. Finally, it appears that Air India is putting its foot down and making decisions conducive to profitability. Some routes are being altered to touch load centers. Some routes on which profitable business was witnessed for six days a week, but there was scope for more flights, those routes are seeing augmentation of frequency. The hub and spoke system is not suitable for countries like India, there is scope for a change. Several flights have more passengers from specific spoke stations than hubs, they may get justice now. Such stations were so far ignored, and the hub system was brutally enforced. Now there is a scope for change. There is a possibility of Air India turning the corner during the period leading up to the fall of hammer. Such a scenario can potentially fetch a good price. There is plenty of real estate owned by Air India in the most expensive areas of India. That will help too. Let us keep our fingers crossed. Best of luck to Air India.

    (The author is a regular contributor to The Indian Panorama. He writes on diverse issues with equal felicity. He can be reached at harjapaujla@gmail.com)

  • North Texas student arrested for planning ‘ISIS-inspired’ mass shooting at mall

    North Texas student arrested for planning ‘ISIS-inspired’ mass shooting at mall

    FRISCO, TX(TIP): A North Texas student has been arrested for planning an “ISIS-inspired” mass shooting at a shopping mall, Collin County officials said in a news release.

    Plano resident Matin Azizi-Yarand, 17, was arrested for criminal solicitation of capital murder and making a terroristic threat when officials say he planned a mass shooting at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco and solicited others to assist him in the attack, which was planned for mid-May.

    Collin County officials said Azizi-Yarand was inspired by ISIS.

    In Dec. Azizi-Yarand began communicating online with an FBI Confidential Human Source about his desire to either “make hijah [travel]” or to conduct a terrorist attack within the United States, an arrest affidavit said.

    In January, he began communicating with an undercover FBI agent, to whom he joked about getting a knock on his door and getting big smiles from men in suits.

    When discussing potential places for the attack, he mentioned school as the “perfect place for an attack,” the affidavit said. Azizi-Yarand wrote a speech with his “message for America,” in which he described his plan to attack the shopping mall.

    Azizi-Yarand sent more than $1,400 to other individuals to buy weapons and tactical gear, the news release said.

    “We are fortunate that the brave men and women of local and federal law enforcement work around the clock to prevent acts of terrorism and mass shootings,” said Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis. “I’d like to thank the FBI’s North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Frisco and Plano Police Departments for their efforts in this case and their vigilance in protecting the citizens of Collin County.”

    This case will be prosecuted by the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. If convicted, the 17-year-old could face life in prison.

    Azizi-Yarand is in custody with bonds totaling at $3 million.

  • May 04 New York & Dallas Print Editions

    May 04 New York & Dallas Print Editions

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    Print Replica ~ Digitally

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  • Karnataka election: voters to choose between tainted leadership and clean governance

    Karnataka election: voters to choose between tainted leadership and clean governance

    By George Abraham

    “In contrast to the BJP rule, the Congress Party under the leadership of Siddaramaiah has fulfilled many of the promises that were made to the people of Karnataka. Key among them is the government’s social welfare policy”, says the author.

    Interacting with media during a tour of Lingayat and Dalit mutts in central Karnataka, Amit Shah, the national President of BJP began making allegations against the current Siddaramaiah government.

    “Recently, a Supreme Court judge said if ever there was a competition for the most corrupt government, then Yeddyurappa government will get number one,” shocking Yeddyurappa who was seated near him. It may have been a faux pas by Mr. Shah who immediately tried to control the damage. Congress Party wasted no time in seizing the original quote and expressing their total agreement.

    A few weeks later, Karnataka has witnessed the tainted Reddy brothers sharing a dais with Yeddyurappa and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan at a rally in Molakalmur. It appears that Mr. Janardhana Reddy who came out of jail on bail from the noxious mining scam is back along with the Bellary gang asking people to vote for BJP. The party has also given tickets to his two brothers Somashekhara Reddy and Karunakara Reddy despite the statement by Mr. Shah that BJP has no links with Reddy brothers.

    In 2012, India’s Supreme Court ordered the CBI to probe charges of corruption against B S Yeddyurappa. That order followed a court-appointed committee’s suggestion that Mr. Yeddyurappa be investigated for alleged abuse of power. The anti-corruption report had indicted him in a mining scandal that cost the exchequer more than 3 Billion dollars. He also holds the distinction of being the first sitting Chief Minister of a State to spend time in jail.

    All the BJP talk about corruption in the opposition camps seem to fly in the face of what has happened under BJP rule in Karnataka. With openly courting the Bellary gang, Yeddyurappa is once again signaling to the Karnataka voters that nothing has been changed regarding their attitude towards corruption or abuse of power. Mr. Shivraj Chouhan, whose administration was embroiled in the VYPAM scandal in Madhya Pradesh, sharing the dais with Yeddyurappa and Janardhana Reddy may only reinforce the notion that corruption is endemic in the system and across the country and BJP pays merely lip service in countering it.

    Rahul Gandhi, President of the All India Congress Committee, tweeted the following in response to the latest developments: “When in power, Yeddyurappa and Reddy Brothers looted Karnataka. Our government brought them to justice. Now Modi is trying to take 8 of them from jail, into the Vidhan Sabha. This is an insult to every honest citizen, to Karnataka and to the spirit of Basavanna.”

    Congress High Command appears to be following a ‘Captain Model,’ strategy in Karnataka giving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, enormous latitude in decision making as in regards the running of the election campaign. The decision may be based on the premise that strong regional and local leadership is critical in winning elections as in Punjab where Captain Amarinder Singh wrested away the power from Akali Dal in the last election where his charisma, leadership and independent decision making were all at full display.

    In contrast to the BJP rule, the Congress Party under the leadership of Siddaramaiah has fulfilled many of the promises that were made to the people of Karnataka. Key among them is the government’s social welfare policy.Within an hour of oath-taking as Chief Minister, he has implemented the food subsidy scheme to give 30kg rice per month at Re 1 per kg to 10.2 million families below poverty line across the State with a plan outlay of Rs.4300 crore. The State later on added Wheat, Ragi, and Jowar to the scheme. The State also started distributing 150ml milk thrice a week to 6.5 million children studying in state-run and aided schools across the state to check malnutrition and prevent dropouts.

    Under the Bhagyalakshmi and Kuteer Jyoti schemes, the state government waived off Rs.268 crore arrears due from two million energy consumers in the rural areas. It also waived off Rs. 1340 crore loans with interest borrowed by a million SCs, STs and OBCs and minorities for various economic activities and increased the housing subsidized loan to economically weaker sections to Rs. 120,000 per unit from Rs. 75,000 under the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation.

    Programs and projects like the opening of the Indira Canteens, the introduction of the new economic policy that focused on Industries, construction of Medakettu Dam, Introduction of Bike Ambulance and the Scheme for Organ Donation etc. have shown the people of Karnataka that a government committed to the service of its people could still deliver results. Most importantly, there have been no significant financial scandals during its tenure that stands in stark contrast to the Yeddyurappa rule.

    Siddaramaiah in his tweet recently challenged Prime Minister Modi to walk the talk when it comes to dealing with corruption. He called on Modi to “appoint Lok Pal, investigate Judge Loya’s death, investigate the astronomical rise of Jay Shah, and appoint an untainted person as your CM candidate.”

    The fate of Karnataka is said to be hanging on the swing voters who are actively weighing in on the promises made on the campaign trail. Janata Dal (S), the third party in the puzzle may yet to play a critical role if there is a hung Assembly. For the Congress Party, stakes are very high in Karnataka. A win by the party in Karnataka will provide a huge momentum towards the upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh and eventually towards the 2019 general election. However, the party may require a better post-election strategy to prevent a repeat of what has been transpired in Goa, Manipur, and Meghalaya!

    (The author is a former Chief Technology Officer at the United Nations and Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA)

     

     

     

     

  • The Rocky Road to 2019

    The Rocky Road to 2019

    Concrete steps are needed to defuse crises that could disrupt India’s political and social equilibrium

    By M.K. Narayanan
    “The authorities also need to be aware that as various State elections draw near, newer threats are likely to emerge. Among them are cyber threats. India is possibly the third most vulnerable country today from the point of view of cyberattacks. Many experts are of the view that as the digital economy expands, India will confront the specter of cyberattacks.”

    As 2019 and the general election beckon, the situation within the country appears far from reassuring. Several events over the past few months seem to presage that there is worse to follow. Protests and agitations have a life of their own and underestimating their potential could be cause for grief. Hence, it might be worthwhile for the nation’s leaders to pay heed to the ancient Chinese proverb, “the wind sweeping through the tower heralds a storm rising in the mountain” and take anticipatory steps.

    Lowdown on internal security

    The authorities need to analyze why simultaneous upheavals are taking place on different planes across the country. Each day, a concatenation of events and situations are contributing to feelings of deep unease. Take internal security, for instance. The authorities may claim that the situation is stable, but the daily litany of violence tells a different story. Jammu and Kashmir is a good example where the situation has been steadily deteriorating. The past year has witnessed an increase in casualties, of civilians and security personnel, an upsurge in terrorist violence, a rise in cross-border terrorism and increased infiltration from Pakistan. Despite the surgical strikes by India, a palpable fear syndrome prevails in the areas bordering Pakistan.

    Likewise, claims made latterly of the eclipse of the Maoist menace — there are reports of scores of Maoists having been killed in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district in end-April — are clearly unconvincing. Maoist violence is not so prevalent in areas where it was once rampant; while the kill-ratio of Maoists to security force personnel appears to have gone in favor of the security forces, the capacity of Maoists in carrying out selective violence has not been significantly blunted, especially in their strongholds in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. As an ideology-based militant movement, Maoism needs to be countered by a sustained ideological campaign in rural and urban areas, but this is nowhere in evidence.

    Next is the growing specter of agrarian unrest. Over the past year, a series of protest movements by farmers have rocked the country. While the causes are varied, the basic issue remains the same, viz. the neglect of farmers and the agrarian community by those in authority. Large-scale protest marches by farmers such as the one in Maharashtra in March, evoke both concern and fear. More protests are in the offing. With cohesive leadership, the current peaceful agrarian protests could attain a dangerous dimension.

    Dalit identity and concerns

    An even bigger challenge confronts the nation today — on how to deal with the issue of Dalit “self-assertion”. This aspect was clearly manifest during the April 2 Bharat Bandh which was sponsored by different Dalit groups; its pan-India imprint was unprecedented. The bandh was to protest the judgment of the Supreme Court, amending the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The outburst of violence, which resulted in some casualties and the destruction of property worth crores, went far beyond this aspect. There was and is no mistaking the pent-up resentment or the degree of mistrust.

    Anger and resentment have been building up within the Dalit community for quite some time. Growing numbers of atrocities against Dalits in recent years, which thanks to modern communications systems and social media have gained critical publicity, are undoubtedly the root cause of the pent-up anger. Instances in 2016, such as Rohith Vemula’s death at Hyderabad University, and, separately, in Una, have been triggers for the explosion of anger and violence.

    However, the recent outburst points to a new brand of Dalit “rejectionist politics” which should be a matter of utmost concern. Appeasement is no longer acceptable. Moderating or repealing cow protection laws will hardly matter or make a difference. More reservation in jobs is unlikely to assuage Dalit concerns. A group of alumni from the Indian Institutes of Technology have given up their jobs to form a political party to fight for the rights of the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

    Violence against children

     If the authorities have been found wanting or are being accused of their inept handling of the April 2 agitation, they are now being hauled over the coals for their inability to check the spate of incidents of rape across the country. The brutal assaults on young children have touched a raw nerve. Demands are being made to ensure that crimes of this nature end and that the administration sheds its helplessness and starts taking stringent action.

    Today, the place names, Kathua (Jammu) and Unnao (Uttar Pradesh), have become synonymous with the “epidemic” of rapes. But sexual violence still continues despite public outrage and the administration is seen to be helpless in preventing it, which is beginning to create a crisis of confidence in the ability of the administration and the government to deal with the situation. Questions are being asked as the administration is unable to fulfil one of its most basic responsibilities — to protect the honor and the dignity of women and children. Mere condemnation of rape by those in authority will not do.

    Cracks in the two pillars

     Distinct from these issues, but equally worrisome, is the extent of disruption seen in the functioning of Parliament. A disruption of parliamentary proceedings is not new, but the near total washout of the Budget session has shaken the faith of the nation.

    The view from the Treasury Benches that the Opposition is to blame for this has gained little traction. Most people believe that the responsibility to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament rests equally, if not more, with the ruling dispensation, apart from the Presiding Officers of the two Houses. What the nation is demanding is a resolution of the impasse, and not the assigning of blame. A lack of demonstrable action is only adding to the sense of dismay.

    The prevailing dissonance in the higher judiciary, the display of divisions within the highest court of the land, and the charges levelled against the Chief Justice of India by Opposition parties which are seeking his impeachment, are again highly disturbing. There has been no precedent for such a situation. The persistence of such trends is giving rise to serious concerns as to where the nation is headed.

    Cyber concerns

    The authorities also need to be aware that as various State elections draw near, newer threats are likely to emerge. Among them are cyber threats. India is possibly the third most vulnerable country today from the point of view of cyberattacks. Many experts are of the view that as the digital economy expands, India will confront the specter of cyberattacks. Given that it is already struggling to deal with threats such as ransomware and cryptojacking, India will need to tone up its strategic mindset and increase its homegrown capabilities expeditiously; a devastating cyberattack could undermine public confidence in an election year.

    Finally, given the current resurgence in communal and caste aspirations, India cannot afford to overlook the danger of a rise in regional subnationalism, of which there are already some incipient signs. Such tendencies could gain a fillip, if as anticipated, the coming elections witness bitter electoral campaigns based on a variety of considerations that include caste and community.

    It is not that solutions for all these problems fall within the purview of the authorities or the government. However, it is in the nature of things that the responsibility for situations tends to devolve on the government. Hence, it is important that the road to 2019 is paved with not only professed good intentions but also concrete steps to mitigate and “defuse” a succession of crises that have the potential to disturb the political and social equilibrium in an election year.

    (The author is a former National Security Adviser and a former Governor of West Bengal)

  • When India and China Meet

    When India and China Meet

    By Nirupama Rao

    The message from Wuhan is: let us give each other space and rationalize our differences in a grown-up way.

    By Nirupama Rao
    “The outcome statement from the Indian foreign office and from the Prime Minister’s social media network speaks about Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi having forged a common understanding in Wuhan on the future direction of India-China relations “built upon mutual respect for each other’s developmental aspirations and prudent management of differences with mutual sensitivity”

    The path of India-China relations is strewn with the ghosts of summits past. The leaders of the two countries have met, expressed the loftiest of sentiments, gone their separate ways. No doubt, summits are good, nobody has a quarrel with them, the media at least loves them. The relationship has often benefited from such meetings.

    A note of hope was therefore sounded when Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into the Chinese city of Wuhan to meet with President Xi Jinping for an “informal” summit last week. The aim, as announced, was to build strategic communication and provide a long-term perspective for what is a complex and adversarial bilateral relationship.

    Cautious optimism

    For the duration of a day and a half, the leaders of the world’s two most populous countries held talks against a classic Chinese landscape of gardens and lakes, with and without aides. The optics were reassuring and optimism about the outcome of these conversations was implied. Only a year ago, on the high Himalayan plateau of Doklam on the borders of Bhutan, India and China, overlooking the vital Siliguri Corridor connecting ‘mainland’ India to the Northeastern States, Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a tense stand-off lasting 73 days. The visit of the Dalai Lama, exiled in India for nearly six decades, to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh engendered deep Chinese resentment. The voluble Indian opposition to China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being developed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, was also a source of serious friction. China’s growing inroads in the form of high-profile projects and support for anti-Indian political interests in India’s South Asian neighborhood fueled Indian distrust. Hawkish and hyper nationalist voices in both countries raised tensions further, and the specter of armed conflict on a shared but disputed frontier lurked in the shadows.

    Last year was an annus horribilis for the India-China relationship. The Wuhan summit signaled that the two countries are working on restoring a much-needed equilibrium in a deeply disturbed relationship. This is a relationship in therapy. For Mr. Modi, whose scorecard on neighborhood policy has been underwhelming, a detoxifying policy facelift with China is certainly advantageous both in terms of his domestic political image, with the 2019 parliamentary elections drawing near, as well as in improving his global profile.

    The outcome statement from the Indian foreign office and from the Prime Minister’s social media network speaks about Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi having forged a common understanding in Wuhan on the future direction of India-China relations “built upon mutual respect for each other’s developmental aspirations and prudent management of differences with mutual sensitivity”. These are words that can be variously interpreted. Their distilled essence is: let us give each other space and let us rationalize our opposition to each other and our differences in a grown-up way. The takeaway buzzword from Wuhan appears to be “strategic communication” by both leaderships in order to provide a more cogent sense of purpose and direction that helps heal the relationship.

    Two statements

    The Indian statement (the separate statement from the Chinese foreign ministry is not so full-bodied) also makes it known that the two leaders have “issued strategic guidance” to their militaries to strengthen communication in order to especially “enhance predictability and effectiveness in the management of border affairs”. The intention is to prevent incidents in border regions of the Doklam variety, it is presumed. The situation bears watching. There are many pockets along the 3,500 km border between the two countries where the Line of Actual Control is disputed. Transgressions from both sides occur regularly and military establishments, Indian and Chinese, are trained not to yield an inch. Efforts to establish a clearly delineated Line of Actual Control have not succeeded, mainly due to Chinese reluctance. The summit at Wuhan coincided with news that India will build 96 more border outposts along the frontier with China.

    The summit has apparently not yielded (and neither was it expected to) any significant reduction of differences on the CPEC. The Indian government can ill-afford to give the impression of any concession on this question to China given the Pakistan factor — a perennial trigger for public hysteria. The announcement that China and India will jointly work on a project (details yet to be announced) in war-torn Afghanistan is a first and unlikely to give Pakistan comfort, although China will no doubt provide undercover assurances to the former that its interests will not be harmed.

    A sober prognosis for the future of India-China relations is warranted despite the euphoria of Mr. Modi’s visit to Wuhan. The potential for tension on the Himalayan piedmont is aggravated by the clash of Chinese and Indian ambition in the maritime environment of the Indo-Pacific. The growing alignment of interest among three democracies — India, the U.S. (now termed an “indispensable” partner) and Japan — is a source for Chinese insecurity, just as China-Pakistan strategic cooperation and China’s inroads in South Asia make India uneasy. Twenty-first century Asia is not a pacific place. It is multi-polar and multi-aligned and a testing ground for the security architectures of the future.

    Securing the Asian century

    Decades ago, India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, famously said that the challenge between India and China “runs along the spine of Asia”. As India and China re-emerge from the shadows of history, hopes for the so far elusive dream of an Asia united will be center on the progress and development of these two nations. At the same time, tension or conflict between the two takes away from the prospects of the Asian century that their leaders speak of. Perhaps it is this realization that prompted the rendezvous in Wuhan. The world should have no quarrel with India and China beating swords into ploughshares. We need a regular pattern of more informal summits between the leaders of the two countries. The challenge across the spine of Asia does no one good.

    (The author is a former Foreign Secretary of India and Ambassador to the United States and to China. Twitter: @NMenonRao)

  • Caught in the visa vice, Indian spouses face more restrictions in the US

    Caught in the visa vice, Indian spouses face more restrictions in the US

    The US Citizens and Immigration Services agency has been taking positions that make it more and more difficult for individuals to migrate. Indian professionals have long benefited from the H-1B visas that allow them to work in the US. Persons who get H-1B visas are highly skilled workers. So are most of their spouses, who are given H-4 visas. President Barak Obama had liberally allowed such visa holders to work in the US too, and as a result, many of the highly skilled spouses of H-1B visa holders are now working and contributing to the US economy. The USCIS is actively considering revoking the permission to work for such individuals, an overwhelming majority of them women. An estimated 80,000-1,00,000 persons would thus be affected; so would the companies and communities that were benefiting from their expertise, and the taxes that they paid.

    This year, the truncated H-1B visa quota was filled up in just four days, even as the total number of applications has decreased significantly. The USCIS has imposed stringent conditions, increased the paperwork and also for the first time announced that the initial visa would not be for three years. In some cases, it could be granted for less time too. The initial hope that President Donald Trump would tone down from the electioneering rhetoric has been belied. The USCIS has quoted the President’s “Buy American, Hire American” Executive Order in its letter on the H-4 visas. Protectionism and anti-immigrant positions have been central to the Trump arrangement, but they are both inimical to the principles that shaped the most powerful democracy in the world.

    Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has rightly pointed out that H1-B visa holders drive innovation and help build and strengthen the US economy. The bond between the largely Indian H-1B visa holders and the US tech companies is strong and one that is mutually beneficial. The decrease in the number of applications and anecdotal evidence indicate a drop in interest from fresh Indian visa seekers. As for those who are already there, as a general principle, it is neither wise nor fair to revoke permissions once granted. The spouses of H-1B visa holders are there to stay in the US for the designated period, allowing them to contribute both to their individual well-being and the society they serve.

    (Tribune, India)

  • Harendra Singh files for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

    Harendra Singh files for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

    CENTRAL ISLIP, NY(TIP): Harendra Singh, the key witness in the federal corruption trial of Nassau County’s former executive and Oyster Bay’s former town supervisor, has filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in U.S. Eastern District Court in Central Islip.

    Court records show that Singh, also a former Town of Oyster Bay concessionaire, filed for bankruptcy protection on April 20.

    Singh, 59, of Laurel Hollow, asked in the voluntary bankruptcy filing to make installment payments on the filing fees. The fee for filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is $310, according to the website for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District.

    Singh’s bankruptcy petition, filed without an attorney, listed two creditors, CIT Bank, N.A. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and LoanCare LLC, a mortgage servicer based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

    CIT Bank sued Singh in August 2016 in New York State Supreme Court in Mineola alleging he had stopped making mortgage payments on his Laurel Hollow home beginning Oct. 1, 2014 and owed $2.5 million plus interest. On July 20, 2017, New York State Judge Thomas Adams granted summary judgment in favor of the bank. On Jan. 9, Adams ordered the property foreclosed and to be put up for sale and awarded CIT Bank $2.9 million plus interest and fees.

    Under a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the debtor seeks a payment plan to repay his or her debts.

    In October 2016, Singh pleaded guilty to bribing former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and former Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. Mangano, his wife, Linda, and Venditto are currently on trial in federal court in Central Islip. They have pleaded not guilty.

    (Source: Newsday)

     

  • Trump confirms payment to porn star, denies affair; Says his lawyer paid $130,000 to buy Stormy Daniel’s silence

    Trump confirms payment to porn star, denies affair; Says his lawyer paid $130,000 to buy Stormy Daniel’s silence

    WASHINGTON(TIP): US President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday, May 3 that he reimbursed his personal lawyer $130,000 he had given to adult film star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to buy her silence over an alleged affair with the then presidential candidate.

    Trump’s confirmation came hours after his new legal aide and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani revealed that the President had personally repaid Michael Cohen $130,000 that was used to buy Daniels’s silence through a non-disclosure agreement.

    In an early morning tweet, Trump, 71, said his personal attorney, Cohen, was paid via a monthly retainer and that the hush agreement into which Cohen entered with Daniels had “nothing to do with the campaign”.

    The President had previously denied knowledge of the payment, which has prompted complaints to the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission over potential violations of campaign finance law.

    Trump had told reporters on Air Force One last month that he did not know about the payment to Daniels or the source of the money.

    The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair,” Trump said.

    He added, “Prior to its violation by Ms Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in this transaction.”

    Speaking on Fox News on Wednesday, May 2, Giuliani said the reimbursement to Cohen was “not campaign money” and that the payment was “perfectly legal”. Cohen had admitted to paying Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, out of his own pocket through a private LLC.

    Daniels has sued Trump and Cohen, saying the nondisclosure agreement is void because Trump did not sign it. The White House has said Trump denies the affair.

    Giuliani recently joined Trump’s legal team in an effort to bring special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s 2016 election meddling and any possible coordination with the Trump campaign to an end.

    “He (Trump) paid him back. No campaign finance violations, no crime of any kind. Michael had discretion to solve these,” Giuliani told The Wall Street Journal in another interview.

    When the daily asked whether the fact that Trump had repaid his lawyer conflicted with the President’s previous statements that he was unaware of the payment, Giuliani said it was “not [an] issue”.

    “Cohen was his lawyer and had discretion to settle, as I have had for clients ultimately paying for it,’ he said. Trump was “probably not aware” of the payment at the time it was made, he said.

    Giuliani said Trump repaid Cohen “over several months” by putting him on a “retainer of $35,000 when he was doing no work for the President”. Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, told CNBC: “This is exactly what we predicted would ultimately be shown. Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged.”

     

  • Free press makes for a stronger democracy: PM Modi on World Press Freedom Day

    Free press makes for a stronger democracy: PM Modi on World Press Freedom Day

    The United Nations General Assembly had declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness about freedom of press.

    NEW DELHI(TIP): Multiplicity of ideas and human expression make us more vibrant as a society and a free press makes for a stronger democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on World Press Freedom Day on Thursday, May 3.

    “Today on #WorldPressFreedomDay, let us reaffirm our commitment towards steadfastly supporting a free press. It is the multiplicity of ideas and human expression that makes us more vibrant as a society,” he said in a series of tweets.

    Narendra Modi

    ✔@narendramodi

    A free press makes a stronger democracy! Today on #WorldPressFreedomDay, let us reaffirm our commitment towards steadfastly supporting a free press. It is the multiplicity of ideas and human expression that makes us more vibrant as a society.

    2:56 AM – May 3, 2018

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded all those who have been working tirelessly to uphold the freedom of press.

    “It is due to these countless women and men that the spirit of a free press is significantly enhanced…would once again like to appreciate the proactive role of everyone on social media for their commendable work towards safeguarding the freedom of press and expression,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

    Narendra Modi

    ✔@narendramodi

     I applaud all those who have been working tirelessly to uphold freedom of press. It is due to these countless women and men that the spirit of a free press is significantly enhanced. #WorldPressFreedomDay

    2:56 AM – May 3, 2018

    The United Nations General Assembly had declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness about freedom of press.

    (Source: PTI)

  • The Sikh Community Takes Out an Impressive Parade to Mark their Birthday

    The Sikh Community Takes Out an Impressive Parade to Mark their Birthday

    I.S. Saluja

    NEW YORK, NY(TIP): Organized by the Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, New York, in cooperation with Sikh Temples and Sikh organizations of the Tri-States of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the 31stSikh Day Parade on April 28thin Manhattan, New York, attracted, as usual, large crowds of Sikh men, women and children. Contingents of Sikhs came from as far as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. An estimated 30,000 (according to the organizers, 50, 000) Sikhs participated.

    The parade that started from 37th Street and Madison Ave, wound its way through the city and ended up at 26th Street and Madison Ave for the conference on 23rdStreet.

    The Young Sikhs in traditional attire

    There were 9 floats depicting Sikh history and religion. Thousands marched in the parade singing hymns from the Holy Sikh Scripture.

    An interesting feature was participation in parade of NYPD band and police officers.

    A group of volunteers at one of the scores of stations serving langar (free food)

    Another impressive feature of the parade was langar (free food). The whole 26thStreet between Madison and Park was dedicated to food stalls where free food was served to the thousands who had come for the parade.

    NYPD officers being honored
    New Jersey State attorney General Gurbir Singh Grewal is honored
    Hoboken City Mayor Ravinder Singh Bhalla is honored

    A conference was held as the closing part of the parade. Those who addressed the gathering included Sikh community leaders and officials from various departments of New York City and New Jersey State. The more prominent among them were New Jersey State Attorney General Gurbir Singh Grewal,James P. O’Neill, Police Commissioner of New York City, Mayor of Hoboken City, Ravinder Singh Bhalla, TLC Commissioner Meera Joshi, and Balbir Singh Freeholder, Burlington. They were honored by organizers of the parade.

    The event is held annually to mark Vaisakhi, the harvest festival of Punjab that coincides with the day the Tenth Master of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, created the order of Khalsa in 1699.

  • Indian American arrested in Texas for trying to hire hitman to kill ex-lover and family

    Indian American arrested in Texas for trying to hire hitman to kill ex-lover and family

    DALLAS(TIP): An Indian American man was arrested last week for allegedly trying to hire a hitman to kill four people, including his ex-girlfriend.

    According to the official press release of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Rajesh Bakshi, 54, was arrested on April 17, after his plot to murder four Houston residents was foiled by an undercover police officer who pretended as the hitman.

    Bakshi, a jilted-lover, wanted to kill his ex-girlfriend, her current boyfriend and her parents, and hired a hitman by paying a down payment of $1,500, said DA’s office.

    “This operation saved lives in a very sensitive situation,” District Attorney Kim Ogg said. “Imagine how bad this could have been had it not been uncovered before it got to a real hitman.”

    The DA’s office said Bakshi has been harassing the woman, whom he dated some time ago, for months before hiring a killer to wipe her and her family.

    The woman reported to the court that Bakshi has been subjecting her to violence while they were in a relationship and after being rejected he started harassing her and the family.

    It has been reported in the court document that the undercover police official disguised as a hitman was instructed by Bakshi to sprinkle cocaine near the bodies, once he completes his contract.

    He also reportedly guided the contract killer on the pattern and method in which each member on the hit list has to be murdered. Bakshi insisted the police officer also take photographs of the victims once his mission is complete.

    When he was arrested, Bakshi had nearly $13,000 in cash with him. If found guilty of solicitation of capital murder, Bakshi may face life imprisonment.

    Bakshi, who is an employee at Dixie Corner Store, lives in Pearland with his wife, a 14-year-old son and twin daughters. His bail is set at $150,000 for each count.

    Bakshi’s lawyer has requested the court to put his bail at $30,000. The lawyer told the court that he has a history of health issues, including diabetes and neurological disorders.

    Bakshi, an Indian citizen, has also been asked to surrender his travel documents.

     

  • City to spend $23M for anti-bias training for public school educators

    City to spend $23M for anti-bias training for public school educators

    NEW YORK CITY(TIP): The city will spend $23 million for anti-bias training of city educators after the Daily News exposed shocking instances of racism in public schools.

     

    In February, The News uncovered allegations of a white Bronx teacher who stepped on a black student during a lesson on slavery, a Bronx principal who barred black history lessons and a Park Slope PTA group that used blackface imagery in gala invites.

     

    The stories fueled demonstrations across the city from activists who had pushed for anti-bias training for months without response from the city.

     

    Now the 2019 city budget unveiled by Mayor de Blasio includes millions in funding for the training and a plan to offer anti-bias training to all city educators by 2021.

     

    Chancellor Richard Carranza lauded the cultural sensitivity training for city educators.

     

    “This is a real step forward for serving New York City’s kids and families,” Carranza said. “Culturally responsive teaching meets our kids and families where they are, and tailors the way we teach and serve our kids to their unique backgrounds and the experiences they bring into the classroom.”

     

    The city will spend $4.8 million on implicit bias- and culturally responsive practice training in fiscal year 2019, which begins July 1. That’s up from just $660,000 on the programs in fiscal year 2018.

     

    The budget for the programs also includes $6.9 million for the programs in 2020, $6.2 million for 2021 and $5.5 million for 2022.

     

    NYC Coalition for Educational Justice Coordinator Natasha Capers, who organized many of the rallies calling for anti-bias training, said thousands of parents have worked hard to bring racial justice to city classrooms.

     

    “We look forward to working with Chancellor Carranza and NYC educators to fulfill the promise of this initiative and begin the important work of diversifying curriculum and course offerings as well,” Capers said.

    (Source: New York Post) 

     

  • India’s Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla lauds Modi’s Initiatives and Policies

    India’s Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla lauds Modi’s Initiatives and Policies

    NEW YORK(TIP): Vijay Sampla, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, who had stopped in New York City for a day, on his way back from Haiti, to India, met with a cross section of the Indian American community in New York.

    The Long Island Indian American community hosted a reception for the visiting minister, as did FIA which hosted a lunch.

    Addressing the Indian American community in Long Island, the visiting minister spoke at length about the achievements of NDA Government under the “charismatic leadership of Narendra Modi”. He said that Prime Minister Modi always has the good of the   common man in mind. He is always eager to work for empowerment of the weaker sections of society, and women.

    Sampla specifically spoke about the benefits of demonetization and GST, contrary the general belief that both schemes of government have done irreparable harm to the country. He emphasized that had the policies been wrong India would not have been growing as the fastest economy in the world. He gave credit to Modi for making India a highly respectable nation in the world.

    Community reception to Mr. Vijay Sampla on Long Island

    Earlier, Jagdish Sewhani, President, The American India Public Affairs Committee welcomed Mr. Sampla.

    In his opening remarks, Mr. Sewhani   thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic Ordinance on Women’s Safety. He welcomed death penalty for rape of any girl below 12 years and increasing the punishment to 20 years if a girl below 16 years is violated.

    The proposed Ordinance sets a time-limit of two months for investigation and trial in rape cases to be completed and prescribes a time limit of six months for disposal of appeals in rape cases.

    Community reception to Mr. Vijay Sampla on Long Island

    Jagdish Sewhani also congratulated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ordinance to confiscate properties of fugitive economic offenders. The ordinance aims to deter economic offenders like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi from evading the process of Indian law.

    Introducing Mr Vijay Sampla, Sewhani said that Mr Sampla started his journey as a Plumber in Saudi Arabia and with his hard work, honesty and integrity today, he is a Minister in Modi’s Government.

    FIA honors the minister

    Mr. Sampla was honored with a shawl.

     At the FIA lunch, Mr.  Sampla spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream to build “New India – Clean India”, and asked for NRI community’s support in fulfilling that vision. He spoke about Disability laws and woman empowerment in India.

    The minister also met with the community at Ravi Dass Temple and Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana where he was felicitated.

  • Maharaja bites the dust

    Maharaja bites the dust

    By Mythili Bhusnurmath

    Merely because we have failed to turn AI around in the past, it does not mean we should compound the error and settle for a distress sale. It is better to bide time.

    The best laid schemes of men and mice oft go awry. This oft-quoted line from English poet Robert Burns’ ‘To a mouse’ might have been written for the much-awaited, much-debated stake sale by the government in the national carrier, Air India (AI). With less than a month left to go before the deadline (May 14, 2018) for the submission of EOI (expression of interest) and domestic airlines showing no interest, the government’s much-vaunted plan seems headed for an ignominious end. Despite the fact that, unlike most disinvestments where the government, typically, sells a small stake, here it is willing to cede control, reducing its stake to just 24 per cent, post divestment.

    So why are there no takers for what was once regarded as the jewel in the crown and cherished as the Maharaja? What ails the Maharaja and, in turn, is apparently souring the offer government has put on the table? Does the plan need a ‘recalibration’, as an un-named government official is quoted as saying in a news report? What kind of ‘recalibration’? Is there a fine line between being flexible and conceding too much? A danger of being carried away by the (mistaken?) view that privatization will be construed as a measure of government’s commitment to reform?

    There are no easy answers. Most, apart from Leftists caught in time warp, will agree there is no case for the government to run an airline. More so, one that’s been losing money hand over fist for years now and needs costly infusion of scarce taxpayer resources to stay airborne. Remember, AI has been the subject of not one, but many attempts to turn the airline around; the latest being the turnaround plan approved by the previous UPA government, under which Air India was to receive a bailout package of up to Rs 30,231 crore for a period of 10 years, starting 2012.

    However, all that changed with the new government. With the airline not showing any sign of improvement despite infusion of funds and Niti Aayog opining that ‘further financial support to an unviable non-priority company in a matured and competitive aviation sector would not be best use of scarce financial resources of the government’, the die was cast.

    In what was hailed as a landmark decision, in June 2017, the Cabinet approved strategic disinvestment of the airline. The government, it was announced, would sell 76 per cent in AI, after hiving off a substantial amount of debt to a special purpose vehicle, along with 100 per cent stake in Air India Express and 50 per cent stake in Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd, a joint venture services company managing airport logistics. Only to find that, contrary to expectations of huge investor interest, the announcement seems to have left potential buyers cold.

    So, what are the sticking points? Principally, two, (apart from the huge debt): one, the 24 per cent stake that the government intends to retain, post divestment, and two, the employees. Take the first. It does not take much intelligence to realize that no potential buyer will relish the idea of the government retaining 24 per cent. True, company law requires a minimum of 26 per cent to block special resolutions, so the scope for interference is limited. Nonetheless, this is unlikely to reassure potential investors. Governments are not like other shareholders. They can, and do, interfere even with much smaller stakes.

    Agreed, the bid document does contain a clause that the government will sell the balance 24 per cent ‘in time’. However, ‘in time’ has not been defined. Granted, the aviation sector is notoriously cyclical and few airlines anywhere in the world have made profits on a sustained basis. So, it is extremely difficult to specify a timeframe upfront. But the alternative of leaving it open-ended is just as problematic. Especially given government’s track record in strategic divestments like Balco and Hindustan Zinc Ltd, where the government residual share is yet to be transferred.

    In that case, is selling the entire stake, ie 100 per cent rather than 76 per cent a better option? On paper, the argument of retaining 24 per cent is that the government will be able to cash in on the upside of a higher share price once the airline is listed. In practice, however, it is not possible to quantify the likely gain from selling 24 per cent later or the higher price one might get from selling 100 per cent today. At the same time, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush; especially when oil prices are on an upward trajectory. So, there is a strong case for the government to exit, totally.

    The second sticking point, AI’s huge staff, is just as tricky, if not trickier. Any potential buyer is bound to want a free hand to deal with the, admittedly, bloated staff strength. But can a government, especially one that is headed for elections in little over a year, afford to antagonize powerful labor unions by giving potential buyers a free hand to rationalize (retrench?) staff? Will the promise to give stock options to employees act as a sweetener? A generous VRS (voluntary retirement scheme) could be an option. But how will it be funded?

    Again, there are no easy answers. What is certain is that some flexibility in the terms and conditions is essential if the sale is to elicit greater interest. What is also certain is that given the tepid response, the proposed timelines — selecting the winning bid by September 2018 and completing legal transfer of ownership by December 2018, are both unrealistic and overly ambitious.

    Yes, as Jitendra Bhargava, former executive director, AI, and vociferous advocate of complete government exit, says, “For last two decades, the Air India’s turnaround plan failed to work. This is the perfect time to disinvest as the airline will only go from bad to worse in future if it remains under bureaucratic control.”

    But what if the present proposal does not attract meaningful bids? Should we act in haste and sell the Maharaja for a song? As the experience of Alitalia and Japan Airlines has shown, there is no guarantee that once an airline is in private hands, the government will be able to wash its hands off and let it sink if it is no longer viable. Merely because we have tried and failed to turn AI around in the past, we should not compound the error and settle for a distress sale. Having waited so long, it is better to bide time. By all means sell AI, fully. But make haste, slowly!

    (The author is an economist and former central banker)

  • 102-YEAR-OLD LEGENDARY GOLD MEDALIST MAN KAUR TO JOIN VAISAKHI 5K RUN

    102-YEAR-OLD LEGENDARY GOLD MEDALIST MAN KAUR TO JOIN VAISAKHI 5K RUN

    NEW YORK(TIP): We can learn a lot about a society by examining the accomplished individuals that serve as its athletic icons. In recent years we have seen worldwide media coverage for famous Sikh runners, Fauja Singh and Milkha Singh. All the while, another Sikh athlete has been quickly but quietly amassing recognition in the sporting community. Her name is Man Kaur, and as a record-breaking runner, her fascinating story is an inspiration to Sikhs, Punjabis, athletes, women, and senior citizens alike.

    Though today Man Kaur has been recognized across the world as a 102-year-old award-winning athlete, her career as a runner began relatively late in her life, at the age of 93. Far prior to her life as a runner, Man Kaur lived an illustrious past as royal servant to the 360 queens of the King of Patiala State in Punjab. In this position, she started every day at 4:00AM and often worked until 10:00PM, taking on tasks such as grinding wheat on a manual grinding mill, milking cattle, and making butter from yogurt, to prepare dishes which would be served to the royal family. Man Kaur specifically attended to the queens who had children or were sick. Man Kaur’s service to the royalty follows her family’s legacy: Her father, Ranjeet Singh, worked for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Ji and Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Ji as a Langari, preparing meals for the family. Her mother would look after the queens of the same Maharajas, as well as the children—including current Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Her grandfather Trilok Singh was also a Langari. Who could have imagined that the humble servant, whose life existed in the shadows of Punjabi royalty, would herself go on to achieve international prestige and fame?

    In 2009, Man Kaur followed the advice of her son, Gurdev Singh—a seasoned athlete himself at the age of 81—and began training as a runner. She started participating in the India Masters Athletics in national competitions. In just two years, she took her career international—winning two gold medals at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Sacramento, setting world records in the 100m and 200m races, and earning herself the title “Athlete of the Year.” Man Kaur has gone on to win gold at the 2012 Asian Masters Athletics Championships held in Taiwan, the 2013 in Canadian Masters Athletics Championships in Regina, and the Huntsman World Senior Games in St George, Utah. As of 2016, she has been breaking records in the 100+ age group, including at the Americas Masters Games in Vancouver and Sky Walk in Auckland. In addition to breaking barriers in racing, Man Kaur has excelled in shot put and javelin throw.

    Man Kaur has worked very hard to earn her success. She is actively looking toward self-improvement and keeps a strict training and diet regimen. Man Kaur trains every afternoon with her son, Gurdev Singh. After a brief warmup, she sprints five intervals of 40–50m interspersed with five-minute breaks. On alternate days, she increases her sprints to 100–200m. In addition to training daily (Man Kaur believes even one day off can decrease an athlete’s momentum), she credits a very strict diet to her athletic success. Gurdev Singh prepares soy milkshakes each morning, and throughout the day they eat whole wheat chapatis, nuts, yogurt, fresh fruit juice and wheat grass juice. Man Kaur avoids sweets and fried food, and instead focuses on food that will fuel her body and gives her the energy to compete across the world.

    Despite her international success, Man Kaur has remained humble and keeps close ties to her Sikh religion. After completing each race, she feels grateful for God’s blessings that has pushed her to finish.  When some people compared her to Jamaican Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, Man Kaur denied any part in her success and celebrity. There are a billion others in the world just like her, she claims, but with the grace of God, she has earned the awards to show for herself. And she doesn’t let this gift go in vain. “Those who are healthy, they don’t bother for counting years but those who are having ill health pass their time by counting,” Man Kaur adds. As long as the Guru keeps her healthy, she will continue to compete.

    In addition to her training regimen and her religious faith, Man Kaur credits her success to her supportive family. Man Kaur was first introduced to athletics by Gurdev Singh, her son, “You have no problem, no knee problem, no heart problem—you should start running,” Gurdev said. Though hesitant at first about competing, she quickly found her comfort zone. Gurdev was a regular member of his college athletic program and soccer team, but his career slowed after graduation. He continued pursuing his interest in fitness, but found his calling as a coach, supporting the careers of others, including that of Man Kaur—his mother and best friend.

    Man Kaur’s accomplishments have transcended all communities. She is credited today as the world’s fastest centenarian. Last year, she won the Guinness World Record for the javelin throw in her age group. She has competed across India, US, Canada, Taiwan, and New Zealand. Even Charmaine Crooks, a five-time Olympian who serves as an athlete ambassador for the Masters Games, praised Mrs. Kaur for her dynamic spirit. She said, “She’s inspiring everyone, young and old.”

    With successes of films like Bhag Milkha Bhag and Dangal and Adidas’ multi-million-dollar endorsement deal with Fauja Singh, Punjabi athleticism has been in the public eye, and Man Kaur adds tremendously to further inspire the community. Members of the New York City Tri-State Area can meet Man Kaur this Sunday, April 29, at the Vaisakhi 5K Run 2018 at Victory Field in Woodhaven, NY. The Vaisakhi 5K Run—now in its fifth year—is a community gathering to celebrate fitness, sport, and the spirit of Chardi Kala, marking the festival of Vaisakhi every spring. Previous guests of honor have included marathoner Fauja Singh and humanitarian Ravi Singh of Khalsa Aid.

    Attendees can register online at Vaisakhi5K.com or by calling 844-VAISAKHI.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Parikh Worldwide Media acquires 24×7 TV channel ITV in the US

    Parikh Worldwide Media acquires 24×7 TV channel ITV in the US

    NEW YORK(TIP): Parikh Worldwide Media, the largest Indian-American news publishing house in the United States, has acquired the New York City-based 24×7 national cable TV channel, ITV Gold (International Television Broadcasting), the longest running channel in the US catering to the Indian and South Asian diaspora.

    ITV Gold is the first-ever 24×7 cable TV channel in the US to deliver news about India, Indian-Americans and South Asians, since it was launched in 1985.

    The ITV Gold portfolio includes the signature program ‘Vision of Asia’ that the community is familiar with since 1976, when it was launched by founder of ITV Gold, Dr. Banad N. Viswanath, an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He passed away in October 2014.

    With this acquisition, Parikh Worldwide Media is now the #1 media house in the United States, catering to the Indian and South Asian diaspora community.

    The New York City-headquartered Parikh Worldwide Media, with offices in Chicago, Bay Area, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, publishes the nationally circulated English weekly newspaper News India Times; regional English weeklies, Desi Talk in New York, and, Desi Talk in Chicago; as well as the Gujarati language weekly newspaper, Gujarat Times. It also publishes an online magazine, Indian American, and a bimonthly journal, U.S. India Global Review, which is affiliated to a think tank based in New York City, the Parikh Foundation for India’s Global Development.

    Parikh Worldwide Media was founded by Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a renowned allergist, philanthropist, and decorated community leader.

    Dr. Parikh is the recipient of India’s Padma Shri award (2010) as well as Knights of Malta (2012), the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (2006), and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2005). He supports numerous charitable organizations both in the US and India. He has been closely involved with strengthening US-India relations for decades, including bringing the US-India civil nuclear cooperation deal to fruition.

    In 2002, he received the National Excellence Award from former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. Dr. Parikh was appointed member of the National Leadership Advisory Committee of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans in 1999 by the Chairman of the India Caucus, U.S Congressman Gary Ackerman (D) of New York. He was a Member of American Media Delegation that accompanied President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on their visit to India in November 2010.

    Dr. Parikh has led major Indian-American organizations, including the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and the Indian American Forum for Public Education (IAFPE), where he was instrumental in starting a Congressional Internship Program for second-generation Indian-Americans. Among the charitable organizations he has supported are American India Foundation, Share and Care Foundation, Gujarat Cancer Society, the Nargis Dutt Foundation, and was named the ‘Grand Benefactor’ of the Vraj Srinalhajee Temple in Pennsylvania.

    “I had many discussions in the past with Dr. Viswanath about joining hands and while I am saddened that he is not here to witness this union, being the visionary that he was, it is what he would have wanted,” said Dr. Parikh, of his acquisition of ITV Gold. “ITV Gold has solid brand value and a massive following in the Indian-American, South Asian, and Indo-Caribbean market and we plan to give more community news and local events coverage with the combination of print and television connecting viewers to matters that affect them here in the U.S. and in India,” he added.

    “This partnership combines the strength of two well established and respected Indian American Medias. It is a launching pad to expand the channel on new platforms across the USA. I look forward to working with Dr. Parikh in building a bigger ITV Gold Network,” said Deepak Viswanath, son of the founder, Dr. Viswanath, in a statement representing his family.

    ITV Gold brings 24×7 local and national entertainment and news content to Indian and South Asian diaspora households in the US, with select entertainment and news programs from India as well.

    “We want to connect the community in the US to India’s culture and heritage. ITV Gold is already available on cable through Time Warner, Cablevision and RCN. We will strive to take this forward to the next level platform, including digital and satellite, to reach out to even more viewers,” said Dr. Parikh, on his vision for ITV Gold.

    “Future plans include to increase healthcare and political round table programs, shows on the second generation Indian-origin and South Asian-origin diaspora, and to increase community and diaspora coverage to have daily community roundup programs,” he added.

    Dr. Parikh is also keen to launch ITV Gold in India soon.

    “We will have tie-ups with digital platforms in India, to launch ITV Gold, before we penetrate the cable markets there, with informative news shows and programs that will give insight into the Indian diaspora and their issues in the US,” said Dr. Parikh.

    (Press Release)

  • Indian Politicians at Annual Invitational Program on International Relations and Strategic Affairs at Princeton University

    Indian Politicians at Annual Invitational Program on International Relations and Strategic Affairs at Princeton University

    PRINCETON, NJ(TIP): A group of Indian politicians is currently visiting the USA to participate in the Annual Invitational Program on International Relations and Strategic Affairs at Princeton University. The event is jointly organized by India based Center for Policy Research and Center for International Security Studies at Princeton University in New Jersey.

    From left, Richard Fisher, US Military Expert, MP Bharatemdra Singh, Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP Spokesperson; Cynthia Ernst, University Program Coordinator; Ex-MP, Priya Dutt, Ramesh Chandran, Dir Center for Policy Research and Omar Abdullah, Ex CM, J&K
    Photo /Jay Mandal/On Assignment
  • 2018 Guru Nanak Prize Awarded to Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding

    2018 Guru Nanak Prize Awarded to Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding

    GARDEN CITY, NY(TIP): A non-profit organization that promotes religious understanding in schools, workplaces, health care settings and regions of armed conflict across the globe has been awarded Hofstra University’s 2018 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize.

    The Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, founded 25 years ago and based in Lower Manhattan, offers programs and resources providing educators, physicians and corporate leaders with practical tools for addressing religious differences and creating cultures that respect religious diversity. It was founded in 1992 by Dr. Georgette F. Bennett, in memory of her late husband, Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum, a humanitarian interfaith leader. The organization received the honor from Hofstra University’s President Stuart Rabinowitz at a dinner and reception on Wednesday, April 25, at the Garden City Hotel.

    Through its Peacemakers in Action Network, Tanenbaum also facilitates and supports collaborations by a network of individuals from varied religious traditions who promote grassroots and interfaith peacebuilding efforts in armed conflicts around the world. The Network currently consists of 28 individuals from 23 regions.

    “Tanenbaum is an extraordinary organization that embodies the principles of Guru Nanak,” said President Rabinowitz. “Tanenbaum empowers people with concrete strategies that lead to greater religious understanding and inclusion in societal institutions.”

    Tanenbaum is also an inaugural member of the now 330+ participant CEO Action Diversity and Inclusion movement, and is in the third year of its public education campaign Combating Extremism, which aims to dispel stereotypes, inspire interreligious respect, and provide trustworthy information about current religion-related issues.

    Said Dean Benjamin Rifkin of Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: “Tanenbaum’s accomplishments and mission are a perfect manifestation of the vision for this award, which is based on the conviction that we have much to learn from the traditions of others.”

    The $50,000 Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize is bestowed every two years to recognize significant work to increase interfaith understanding. The award will be formally presented to the Tanenbaum Center at a banquet in April 2018.

    The first Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize was awarded in 2008 to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. Since then, eight individuals and organizations have been recognized with the Guru Nanak prize.

    “Receiving the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize is an honor of the highest order,” said Tanenbaum CEO Joyce S. Dubensky. “To be recognized as an advocate for the same values embodied by Guru Nanak—justice, equality, respect and compassion—is an affirmation of everything Tanenbaum seeks to achieve.”

    Joyce S. Dubensky, CEO of Tanenbaum receiving the award. Seen in the picture, from L to R: Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz; Joyce S. Dubensky, CEO of Tanenbaum; Tejinder Bindra; and Dean of Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Benjamin Rivkin …Photos / Philip Hinds

    The Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize was established in 2006 by Ishar Bindra and family and named for the founder of the Sikh religion. It is meant to encourage understanding of various religions and encourage cooperation between faith communities. Guru Nanak believed that all humans are equal, regardless of color, ethnicity, nationality or gender.

    In September 2000, the Bindra family endowed the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies at Hofstra University in honor of the family’s matriarch.

    Tejinder Bindra, speaking on behalf of the Bindra Family, noted when the award was inaugurated that Guru Nanak espoused a message of universal brotherhood at a time of increasing religious intolerance during 15th and 16th century India.

    “It is in this spirit that the Guru Nanak Prize was initiated,” Bindra said. “If one can experience that universality then there is absolutely no room left for differences in race, color, caste, creed, religion or gender, and then as the Sikh scripture tells us ‘I see no stranger’.”

    “The awardees may or may not be Sikh and may represent any of the multitudes of faiths or, for that matter, even no particular faith at all,” he said. “It is their dedication that brings humankind to their shared destiny, common purpose and roots that they honor.”