NEW YORK (TIP): Indian American Minita Sanghvi has secured the Democratic nomination for New York’s 44th State Senate district, propelled by critical endorsements from the Saratoga County Democratic Committee and Schenectady County Democratic Committee.
Endorsing Sanghvi, Saratoga County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Martha Devaney praised her as a committed advocate and proven problem solver. Devaney highlighted Sanghvi’s multifaceted background, including her roles as a dedicated parent, respected educator, and effective public servant, as evidence of her capacity to deliver results transcending partisan lines. Devaney expressed confidence that Sanghvi embodies the leadership qualities deserving of New York’s 44th State Senate district.
Frank Salamone, Chair of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Sanghvi’s successful track record as Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance. Salamone lauded her fiscal responsibility and highlighted key city improvements under her leadership, including the establishment of a third fire station, a 24/7 homeless shelter, and essential infrastructure enhancements. Salamone voiced certainty that Sanghvi’s commitment to infrastructure development and economic stimulation would benefit the region if elected as state senator.
The 44th State Senate district, encompassing Saratoga County, Niskayuna, and the City of Schenectady, currently under Republican incumbent Jim Tedisco, has witnessed a shifting political landscape. While traditionally Republican, a surge in registered Democrats, outnumbering Republicans by nearly 6,000, signals changing demographics. President Biden’s decisive victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 election within the district further underscores this trend.
“I’m running for State Senate because we deserve better,” said Sanghvi upon announcing her candidacy in January. Emphasizing her status as a parent, business educator, and dedicated public servant, Sanghvi vowed to prioritize community needs over partisan politics. She underscored her track record of collaborative leadership and tangible accomplishments, underscoring her commitment to fiscal responsibility and responsive governance.
Born in India, Sanghvi immigrated to the United States in 2001, holding degrees in accounting and an MBA. She taught business at Skidmore College for nearly a decade before winning the election as Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner in 2021. Sanghvi emphasized her achievements in delivering fiscally responsible results, prioritizing public safety, and enhancing residents’ quality of life.
Sanghvi’s potential election would mark historic milestones, making her the first openly gay woman and woman of color to represent New York’s 44th State Senate District, as well as the first openly gay woman in the New York Senate. She affirmed her commitment to safeguarding the rights of all residents, advocating for women’s healthcare access, LGBTQ rights, and equal opportunities.
Her opponent and incumbent Tedisco has held political office in Albany for four decades.
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Indian American Minita Sanghvi secures Democratic nomination for New York’s 44th senate district
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27-year-old Indian American dies in fire in Manhattan residential building in US
NEW YORK (TIP): A 27-year-old Indian national, who worked as a journalist here, tragically lost his life in a “devastating” fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in an apartment building in Manhattan.
Fazil Khan was killed in the fire that broke out in a six-story residential building at 2 St. Nicholas Place in Harlem, Manhattan, which left about 17 other people injured.
The New York City Fire Department said its marshals had determined that the “devastating” fire was caused by a lithium-ion battery.
Khan was a journalist with the New York-based media company The Hechinger Report, which is focused on innovation and inequality in education.
The Consulate General of India in New York expressed condolences on Khan’s death and said it is extending all possible assistance to repatriate his mortal remains to his family in India.
“Saddened to learn about the death of 27-year-old Indian national Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in Harlem, NY,” the Consulate said in a post on media.
The Consulate said it is in touch with Khan’s family and friends.
“We continue to extend all possible assistance in repatriation of his mortal remains to India,” the Consulate said.
Khan was a data reporter at The Hechinger Report and according to his profile on media, he was an alumnus of Columbia Journalism School. The Hechinger Report said in a post on X that it learned on Saturday that Khan died in a fire in the New York City building where he lived.
“We are devastated by the loss of such a great colleague and wonderful person, and our hearts go out to his family. He will be dearly missed,” it said.
Firefighters said the fire originated in the building’s 3rd floor. At 2.14 pm on Friday, the FDNY responded to the 2-alarm fire at 2 St. Nicholas Place in Harlem. Firefighters arrived within minutes to find people on the fire escape. People were also seen hanging out the windows on the fifth floor, the fire department said. Victims were trapped on the fifth floor of the building.
The fire department had said there were a total of 18 patients, out of which four were in critical condition.
Joseph Pfeifer, the Fire Department’s first deputy commissioner, had said on Friday that one person was in critical condition at the scene but died at the hospital. At the time, the victim’s identity had not been released.
The fire department said that fires caused by lithium-ion batteries have increased dramatically in New York City with deadly consequences. These rechargeable batteries are found in electric bikes and scooters, cars, laptops, tablets, phones and common household devices. Lithium-ion battery fires have caused deaths, serious injuries and devastating damage to property around the city, the department said on its website. -
87 people living in basement taken to migrant shelter
RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP): An onsite building inspection in New York led to the discovery of 87 people living in a Queens basement Monday, February 26, according to law enforcement sources, says a NewsNation report. NewsNation says the incident happened around 11:40 p.m. at 132-03 Liberty Ave. in Richmond Hill . The FDNY arrived at the building to conduct an onsite inspection. They entered the basement and found 87 people living there, according to sources. Mayor Eric Adams said a 311 call was what prompted an investigation into the building during a news conference Tuesday. WPIX reached out to the FDNY for comment.
The people were transported to a migrant shelter in the Bronx, sources said. The Office of Emergency Management confirmed to WPIX that it responded to the scene.
The backyard of the building was filled with what appeared to be delivery bikes, photos from the scene show.
The building’s owner, 47-year-old Ebou Sarr, told WPIX on Tuesday that he was charging migrants $300 a month to live in the building. He said most of the migrants are from Senegal, and that he was providing them with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sarr also said he’s looking at commercial properties to help them find a place to live.
“The city is saying that they have no place for these people,” Sarr said. “It’s not true.”
Officials have not confirmed if the people living in the basement were migrants.
When asked about the situation during Tuesday’s news conference, the Adams administration said that there is a housing problem in the city – but also defended its handling of the migrant crisis.
“What we discovered last night in some ways is also symptomatic of a larger crisis that this city is facing that we’ve talked about repeatedly in terms of the housing shortage in this city,” said Maria Torres-Springer, the deputy mayor for housing. “It is not a new thing that too many people make desperate choices about where to live and what to pay for and at the root of that is the fact that we haven’t built enough housing.”
The Department of Buildings issued a vacate order for the building due to unsafe conditions found in the basement, such as overcrowding, according to sources. After the FDNY found numerous fire hazards, the New York City Emergency Management Department referred people in need of further assistance, sources said.
(Source: NewsNation) -
Two Indian Americans bag Gates Cambridge Scholarship at the University of Cambridge
NEW JERSEY (TIP) : Two Indian Americans — Sadhana Lolla and Ishan Kalburge — are among 26 academically outstanding and socially committed US citizens selected to be part of the 2024 class of Gates Cambridge Scholars at the University of Cambridge.
The US Scholars-elect, who will take up their awards this October, are from a wide range of backgrounds, according to a media release. Nineteen are women, six are men and one would prefer not to specify. Thirteen will pursue PhDs while 13 will undertake one-year master’s degrees.
“In the rural Indian village that my family calls home, I grew up witnessing my grandmother labor endlessly without assistive technology,” says Sadhana Lolla, who plans to pursue an MPhil in technology policy.
“Her experiences, and those of millions of women, elderly, and people with disabilities worldwide, underpin my dedication to pursue artificial intelligence solutions that bring robotic assistive technology to underprivileged communities.”
“My background as a machine learning researcher and roboticist has enabled me to deeply appreciate the transformative power of technology, while also recognizing that technologists and governments must work together to leverage cutting-edge artificial intelligence to uplift those who need it the most,” she says.
“By pursuing the MPhil in technology policy,” Lolla says, “I hope to bring regulators, researchers, and the technology industry together to design policy solutions that promote bias-free, robust, and trustworthy artificial intelligence while spurring innovation.”
“I also hope to uplift the voices of vulnerable communities in conversations about technological development and deployment,” she says. “I’m thrilled to join the Gates Cambridge community and work together with such a diverse and talented group of peers to improve the lives of others.”
Lolla previously studied Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Ishan Kalburge, who will do a PhD in engineering, will look at how the human brain forms internal representations of uncertainty.
He hopes to develop computational models that emulate such representations to advance our understanding of human cognition in health and disease and pave the way for developing trustworthy and energy-efficient artificial intelligence.
While at Cambridge, he will also work to expand STEM outreach initiatives in under-resourced communities and lead dialogue on developing responsible AI regulatory policies.
Kalburge is also President of the Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering Society. He says the initial motivation for his research is a personal one: “When my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, I was driven to deepen my understanding of human cognition to develop solutions that could help people like him,” he says.
At Johns Hopkins University, he pursued a BS in Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, and Economics, developing interdisciplinary skills to achieve his goals. Through his research, Kalburge explored the largely unknown processes underlying human decision-making under uncertainty.
“In my free time, I hope to work on my jazz improve skills on the piano!” he says.
The 26 US scholars-elect will study and research subjects ranging from how magma shapes human life to how to create the necessary infrastructure to bring robots to marginalized communities.
The prestigious postgraduate scholarship program – which fully funds postgraduate study and research in any subject at the University of Cambridge – was established through a US$210 million donation to the University of Cambridge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000.
Since the first class in 2001, Gates Cambridge has awarded 2,182 scholarships to scholars from 112 countries who represent more than 700 universities globally (more than 200 in the USA) and around 90 academic departments and all 31 Colleges at Cambridge. -
Indian American Sikh teen rolls out album of Gurbani Shabad Kirtan in 31 ragas of Guru Granth Sahib
ALBANY, NY (TIP): A 12-year-old Arjanveer Singh has come out with an album of Gurbani Shabad Kirtan in 31 ragas of Guru Granth Sahib, qualifying him as a prodigy.
Based at Albany, New York he learned the recital of Gurbani Kirtan in classical Ragas pointed towards his dedication towards Gurmat philosophy. About his feat he said it was an initiative aimed at connecting children worldwide with the ‘Ragatmic Shabad Kirtan’ of Guru Granth Sahib. He rendered Gurbani Kirtain in Ragas such as Aasaa, Wadhans, Sorath and others. He learnt Gurbani Kirtan based on 31 ragas of Guru Granth Sahib from renowned Sangeet Kirtankar Dr Gurnam Singh, former head of Gurbani Sangeet Chair of Punjabi University through Baljinder Singh, the head of the Rara Sahib Samprada.
Album containing Gurbani Shabad Keertan in 31 ragas sung by 12-year-old Arjanveer Singh was jointly released by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, Rara Sahib Samprada head Baba Baljinder Singh and others at Akal Takht secretariat in Amritsar on Saturday. -
Indian American healthcare executive Smriti Kirubanandan appointed MD of Accenture’s healthcare practice
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP) : Indian American healthcare business executive Smriti Kirubanandan is joining Accenture as Managing Director of the firm’s healthcare practice.
Kirubanandan, 36, “emerges as a contemporary Renaissance figure, achieving significant milestones as a Growth and Partnerships Executive with a distinctive background in Robotics and Public Health,” according to a company press release.
Expressing her “excitement to join a leadership that values kindness, expansiveness, and believes in the power of equity and unity, Kirubanandan highlighted the role of individuals as “value creators, architects of change, and genuine guardians of the healthcare galaxy” in these challenging times.
“I am grateful and excited to share that I have started my journey with Accenture as Managing Director in Healthcare practice,” she wrote on LinkedIn.
Kirubanandan’s passion for emerging technologies and unwavering dedication to advancing healthcare are evident in her remarkable accomplishments, the release stated. Beyond her corporate success, she wears multiple hats, demonstrating expertise as a raw vegan chef and nutritionist, actively engaging in community service, and spearheading initiatives to combat food insecurity, it stated.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, the World Economic Forum bestowed upon Smriti Kirubanandan the title of Young Global Leader in 2023.
Kirubanandan has “helped organizations globally to build the capacity to empower people to engage in wellness programs,” the WEF stated noting she is “responsible for educating small farmers in Africa to lift them out of poverty to improve food & nutrition insecurity, impacting 2 million people per year.”
Additionally, she was recently elected as a fellow of the British Royal Society of Arts, highlighting her global impact. She holds a distinguished position within the Young Leaders Circle at the Milken Institute and serves as the visionary Founder of the HLTH Forward Podcast.
This celebrated media platform serves as a collaborative nexus, bringing together healthcare leaders, policymakers, and artists to address challenges within the healthcare system and collectively devise strategies for its advancement, according to the release.
In 2022, she was appointed to serve the Los Angeles County food equity round table as a Nutrition & Policy Advisor to design and strategize programs to address food insecurity by educating and improving access and affordability to nutritious food.
Kirubanandan gained her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering focused on Robotics (BSCEN), followed by her master’s in engineering management (MSEM) from USC and master’s in public health (MPH) from UCLA. -
Indian American Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan launches Zeteo, a new digital media venture
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): British Indian American liberal commentator Mehdi Hasan, who departed from MSNBC last month following the controversial cancellation of his weekly show in November, is preparing to launch his own digital media company, Zeteo.
Named after the Greek word meaning “to seek,” Zeteo is scheduled to make its debut in April on the Substack platform. The company’s flagship offerings will include a weekly streaming show titled “Mehdi Unfiltered,” hosted by Hasan himself, alongside a weekly podcast and a range of written contributions from prominent figures. Subscribers can access the platform for $6 per month, with an annual subscription option available.
Announcing the launch of the platform, Hasan told his 1.5 million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter:
“Some personal & professional news: I’m launching a new media company! It’s called Zeteo.
“And, in this era of war abroad, fascism at home, and propaganda everywhere, I hope I can count on your support.”
To kickstart Zeteo, Hasan told the Washington Post that he secured $4 million in funding, with support from friends, family, and concerned viewers following his departure from MSNBC. The network faced significant backlash after axing Hasan’s television and streaming shows on November 30, which many of his supporters believed was due to the sidelining of critical voices on the US position regarding the Israeli-Hamas war.
“I’ve decided that it’s time for me to look for a new challenge,” Hasan announced during his final episode on January 7. “Tonight is not just my final episode of ‘The Mehdi Hasan Show.’ It’s my last day with MSNBC. Yes, I’ve decided to leave.”
In a message circulated on social media to his followers on Wednesday, Hasan expressed, “I have asked you all to share and repost a lot of things over the years. You’ve always supported me. I am now making my biggest ask of all: I’ve launched my own media company. We need an alternative to the mainstream folks. This is it.”
While Hasan will serve as the face of Zeteo, he emphasizes the platform’s dedication to amplifying diverse voices and perspectives often sidelined by mainstream media. The launch of Zeteo signifies a bold move for Hasan, who acknowledges the risks involved but remains optimistic about the venture’s potential.
Hasan’s foray into the digital realm reflects a broader trend among media personalities seeking greater independence and autonomy in their expression.
Recently, Hasan joined The Guardian as a regular columnist. His first column, published on February 21, called on President Joe Biden to pressure the Israeli government to end the “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza. Hasan told Semafor that he was grateful for the opportunity to contribute to The Guardian, stating that he has been an avid reader of the publication since his teenage years.
Hasan previously worked for Al Jazeera English and the Intercept. His new venture mirrors a broader shift in media consumption, with digital platforms playing an increasingly influential role in shaping public opinion. The success of Zeteo will be closely monitored as Hasan aims to carve out a space for independent voices. -
Indian American executive Sidhartha Nair joins Alta Equipment Group as director
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP) : Indian American executive Sidhartha Nair has joined Alta Equipment Group Inc, a leading provider of premium material handling, construction and environmental processing equipment and related services, as a director.
Nair, 52, currently is the Head of Strategy, Americas Region, for Mercedes-Benz Mobility and leads Strategic and Transformation activities in the US, Canada and Mexico since December 2021.
Nair brings global experience and knowledge of startup, new market entry, growth, and digital transformation of businesses at different periods in their life cycle, according to a media release.
“Sid brings extensive business leadership experience as well as in-depth knowledge in digital transformation and business transformation in the automotive industry,” said Ryan Greenawalt, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. “His expertise will be a significant boost to our ongoing initiatives. I look forward to the contributions he will make as part of the Alta family.”
“I am excited to join the Board of Alta and be part of its rapidly expanding growth and position in the market,” said Nair. “My experience should be beneficial to Alta’s diversified strategy to capitalize on the growth opportunities and cost- efficiency initiatives.”
Nair first joined Daimler Financial Services in 2003 and has held roles of increasing responsibility during his tenure of more than 20 years in the US, Caribbean and India business units.
Prior to 2003, he held a previous role with McKinsey & Company as a consultant working on developing strategic solutions addressing growth, turnaround and new market entry.
Nair holds a MBA from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business and a Masters in Engineering from Purdue University. Alta owns and operates one of the largest integrated equipment dealership platforms in the US and has a presence in Canada. -
Indian American executive Reema Poddar elected to Oceaneering International board
HOUSTON (TIP): Indian American business executive Reema Poddar has been elected to the Board of Directors of Texas-based technology company Oceaneering International, Inc. as an independent, non-executive director for a two-year term. Poddar has also been appointed to the Nominating, Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee of the Board. Her initial term of office will extend until Oceaneering’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2026, according to a media release.
Poddar has 30 years of software industry experience, including product strategy, product development and digital business transformation. She has been recognized as a leader in data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cloud services, cyber security, industrial automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and diversity, equity and inclusion. She has served in executive roles at global firms ranging from startups to Fortune 500 corporations, including holding executive roles at General Electric, GE Digital, Emerson, Philips, Teradata Corporation, AdFender Inc., OptimEyes.AI and Intellution, Inc.
Poddar currently serves on the board of directors of MeridianLink, Inc. and Accion Labs Group Holdings, Inc., and on the board of advisors for OptimEyes.AI. Previously, Poddar served on the corporate council board of advisors to the Dean of UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.
Poddar holds a master’s degree in computer applications from Bangalore University, India and a master’s degree in physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, India.
Kevin McEvoy, Oceaneering’s Chairman of the Board, stated, “We are pleased to welcome Ms. Poddar to Oceaneering’s Board. Our strategic, robotics-focused vision will be strengthened by her successes as an experienced technology executive and respected thought leader and change agent.
“Her experience in setting product and technology strategy, building and delivering innovative, commercially viable products and services, accelerating digital transformations, and delivering results in the digital market is relevant and meaningful to Oceaneering.”
Oceaneering is a global technology company delivering engineered services and products and robotic solutions to the offshore energy, defense, aerospace, manufacturing, and entertainment industries. -
Indian American computer engineer Ashok Veeraraghavan wins award for revolutionary imaging technology
HOUSTON (TIP): Trailblazing Indian American computer engineer Ashok Veeraraghavan has won the 2024 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering for his revolutionary imaging technology that seeks to make the invisible visible. Veeraraghavan, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science, George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University, was bestowed with the award by The Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science, and Technology (TAMEST).
Imagine taking a pristine picture through fog, smoke and rain. Imagine taking interior images of the human body through skin, bone and other tissue that scatter light and limit human vision, says a media release about Veeraraghavan’s revolutionary technology.
Veeraraghavan and his team at Rice work on creating imaging systems that use novel multi-dimensional image sensors along with machine learning algorithms to undo the effects of light-scattering and see-through scattering media such as fog, smoke, rain and human tissue.
Recently, with support from researchers at the University of Maryland, his team has developed a new technology dubbed NeuWS, an acronym for “neural wavefront shaping.”
At its core, NeuWS is about undoing the effects of light scattering by using wavefront shaping and a novel machine-learning algorithm. Scattering is what makes light, which has a lower wavelength unusable in many scenarios. If you can undo the effects of scattering, imaging can go much further.
Capturing images through rain and fog is certainly interesting, but this technology could have lifesaving applications, the release stated.
Through NeuWS-like technologies, there could be a time in the future where a firefighter entering into a room filled with smoke could be equipped with goggles that allow them to have clear visibility.
Automakers could be able to install car headlights that can see through a host of dangerous weather conditions. Surgeons could be able to see blood vessels through the skin tissue without making a single cut.
While several further advances are needed to make any of these scenarios possible, their work has made significant progress and make all of this potentially feasible.
“Dr. Veeraraghavan is tackling one of the hardest problems in imaging, what many consider to be a ‘holy grail problem’ of optical engineering,” said nominator Alan Bovik, PhD (NAE), Professor, Cockrell Family Regents Endowed Chair in Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.
“Every time we improve our ability to see what is unseen, the number of things we can do increases. The NeuWS technology is going to allow us to see things we cannot even imagine today.”
Born in Chennai, Veeraraghavan earned a BTech in electrical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras in 2002.
He also earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the Department of Electrical in 2004 and Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park 2004 in 2008.
After joining the ECE Department in 2010, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017 and professor in 2020. He co-developed FlatCam, a small sensor chip with a mask that substitutes lenses in typical cameras.
Veeraraghavan is one of five Texas-based researchers receiving the TAMEST 2024 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards. Each is chosen for their individual contributions addressing the essential role that science and technology play in society, and whose work meets the highest standards of exemplary professional performance, creativity and resourcefulness.
The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards annually recognize rising star Texas researchers who are addressing the essential role that science and technology play in society, and whose work meets the highest standards of exemplary professional performance, creativity and resourcefulness.
Founded in 2004 TAMEST is composed of the Texas-based members of the three National Academies (National Academy of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences), the Royal Society and the state’s eight Nobel Laureates. -
Four Indian American brothers win $7 billion in California property dispute
LOS ANGELES (TIP): In one of the largest verdicts in the US in a decade, four brothers from India have been awarded $7 billion after a 20year legal battle with a fifth brother over alleged breach of a family partnership agreement. After a five-month trial, a jury Monday ordered Haresh Jogani to pay his brothers Shashikant, Rajesh, Chetan and Shailesh Jogani more than $2.5 billion in damages and to divide up shares of their Southern California property empire.
In total, the Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded the four successful brothers $2.5 billion in monetary damages and more than $4.5 billion in property interests, making the award one of the largest in the United States this year, according to the plaintiffs’ attorneys.
The case arose from a conflict involving the siblings, all from India, concerning more than 170 apartment buildings incorporating 17,000 units, primarily in the San Fernando Valley.
One of the brothers, Haresh Jogani, is listed on paper as the owner of the buildings. His attorneys maintained that there was no oral partnership as his siblings alleged and that he was the sole owner of the real estate portfolio.
But his brothers contended to the contrary and the jury agreed with them, determining that the defendant owed brothers Rajesh Jogani and Chetan Jogani $750 million in damages, plus real estate interests valued at more than $1 billion. “We are grateful to the jurors for their decision,” said attorney Peter Ross of Ross LLP, who represented Rajesh and Chetan Jogani. “Thanks to them, a long-standing wrong has been corrected, and this brother-against-brother war can come to an end.”
Shashikant Jogani, who was represented by another law firm, received the biggest payout; the jury awarded him $4.75 billion, and the fifth brother, Shailesh, received $570 million.
The jury also found that prevailing brothers Rajesh, Chetan and Shashikant are entitled to punitive damages. The hearing regarding the punitive damages will take place on Friday.
The 2003 lawsuit already has been through 18 appeals, generations of attorneys and five judges in Los Angeles Superior Court. It’s drawing comparisons from some of the lawyers to the fictional Victorian-era probate case that Charles Dickens wrote about in his 1852 novel Bleak House. They’re calling Jogani v. Jogani the new Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, but with a twist. “At end of the book, there was no money, hence the name, Bleak House,” said Peter Ross, an attorney who represents Chetan and Rajesh Jogani. “That’s not the case here. There’s billions here that remain to be distributed.”
The Jogani family from Gujarat, India, built a fortune in the global diamond trade, establishing outposts in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America.
Shashikant “Shashi” Jogani moved at age 22 in 1969 to California, where he began a solo firm in the gem business and started to build a property portfolio, according to a complaint he filed in 2003.
The properties suffered losses in the recession of the early 1990s, which worsened after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake killed 16 people in one of his buildings, leading Shashi to bring in his brothers as partners.
The firm then embarked on a buying spree that eventually built the portfolio to roughly 17,000 apartment units with the brothers collaborating until Haresh “forcibly removed” his sibling from managing the firm and refused to pay him, according to Shashi Jogani’s complaint. Haresh Jogani contended that without a written agreement, his brothers couldn’t prove they had a partnership with him.
But the jury found that Haresh had broken an oral contract. Jurors heard testimony that oral agreements are customary in both the diamond trade and among Gujaratis.
“The law is you can have oral contracts that are just as valuable as written contracts,” said attorney Steve Friedman, an attorney for Shashi Jogani.
The jury concluded Shashi owns 50% of the real estate partnership, followed by 24% to Haresh, 10% to Rajesh, 9.5% to Shailesh and 6.5% to Chetan, the youngest, who is now 62 years old, according to Ross. The initial damages award for Shashi, now 77, was $1.8 billion.
The properties generated as much as $137 million a year in net operating income, according to Michael Friedman, 37, who with his father, Steve, has represented Shashi since 2014, the year after he passed the bar to practice law.
“There’s an enormous portfolio that Shashi built,” he said. “And it sustains itself.” -
Eight Indian-origin women among 50 CNBC Changemakers
NEW YORK (TIP): Five Indian American and three other Indian origin women are among this year’s 50 “CNBC Changemakers: Women Transforming Business,” an annual list spotlighting women whose accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the business world.
Besides Indian American business leaders Revathi Advaithi, Sandhya Ganapathy, Dr Geetha Murali, Ritu Narayan, and Aradhana Sarin, the list features Svanika Balasubramanian, Dipali Goenka and Dr Suneeta Reddy from India.
“The women named to the inaugural CNBC Changemakers list are creating a pattern of what it takes to defy the odds, innovate and thrive in a volatile business landscape,” says CNBC.
“From startup founders to S&P 500 C-suite growth drivers, from personalities shaking up the media industry to figures taking women’s sports further into the mainstream, the 2024 Changemakers have broken new ground and set the stage for others to follow,” it says.
“By focusing on women who left an indelible mark on the economy and business world in 2023, CNBC Changemakers recognizes the accomplishments of names in the news and many who have flown under the radar” it says.
Indian Americans on the list are:
Revathi Advaithi, Flex, Chief Executive Officer
Notable in 2023: Advaithi forged a key Biden administration partnership on US/India relations and accelerated climate tech and EV adoption.
Named CEO in February 2019 after starting her career as a shop-floor supervisor in Oklahoma, Advaithi has helped build Flex into one of the most trusted manufacturing partners across a variety of industries by embracing the company’s “do the right thing, always” ethos.
Advaithi has also looked to create stronger alliances between the private and public sector, leading to factory visits from President Joe Biden and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, as well as her participation at the White House’s “Innovation Handshake” between the US and India and a state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In March, she was named by Biden to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. The visits from Biden and Granholm highlighted the role that Flex is playing in the clean energy transition and the future of electrification.
Sandhya Ganapathy, EDP Renewables North America, Chief Executive Officer
Notable in 2023: Leveraged the Inflation Reduction Act to drive a clean energy transition with diverse leadership.
Ganapathy sees her mission as helping to create a cleaner nation – and a cleaner world. She took over the helm at EDP Renewables North America as CEO in 2022.
The Houston-based company is one of the top five renewable energy operators in the US, operating 60 wind farms and 12 utility-scale solar parks.
The company’s projects generate close to nine gigawatts of clean energy annually, enough to power about 2 million homes.
EDP Renewables North America has created more than 1,000 jobs in the US and invested $17 billion in capital in local communities across the US, according to the company.
Dr Geetha Murali, Room to Read, Chief Executive Officer
Notable in 2023: Released a multimedia storytelling project to empower millions of girls to create change.
Murali is leading the effort to combat illiteracy and gender inequality through the development of a love of reading in marginalized children.
In 2023, the organization launched She Creates Change, a multimedia storytelling project intended to broaden its reach by encouraging young women and girls to create change in their own communities and achieve educational goals.
The multimedia project, the first of its kind, tells stories via physical books, live action and animated films, using techniques from vivid abstract imagery to Claymation, and audio productions, with iterations in dozens of languages intended to reach a broad audience.
Room to Read says that as of 2024, it will have benefited the same number of children over the past four years as the organization did during its first twenty.
Ritu Narayan, Zūm, Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Notable in 2023: Expanded school bus service to more major cities and is transitioning to all-electric fleets.
Narayan struggled with managing her career while making sure her kids could get from point A to point B. So, she started Zūm, a transportation company that focuses on students while using technology to create more efficient and environmentally friendly routes.
Zūm raised $140 million in series E financing in early 2024, putting the company’s valuation at $1.3 billion. The company currently serves thousands of schools, including school districts in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
The company provides guardians with an app, which gives live route notifications to and from school. Artificial intelligence has helped the company optimize drive times, leading kids to spend less time on the bus.
The company has also committed to having an all-electric fleet by 2027. The project includes the Oakland Unified School District, which will become the first major school district in the nation to have a 100% fully electric school bus fleet in 2024.
Aradhana Sarin, AstraZeneca, Executive Director & Global Chief Financial Officer
Notable in 2023: Led deals to expand AstraZeneca’s drug pipeline, transformed finance function to improve employee retention and productivity.
In November 2023, AstraZeneca launched its health-tech division Evinova. The business uses digital technology to develop clinical trials and medicine delivery.
AstraZeneca also acquired preclinical gene therapy programs and technologies from Pfizer in July 2023, specifically focused on rare diseases.
About 80% of the 7,000 rare diseases — meaning affecting 200,000 or fewer people — are based on genetics. Gene therapy could cure some of these illnesses.
Sarin took on the CFO role in 2022, joining biopharma Alexion, and worked on Wall Street in investment banking for two decades before moving into the pharmaceutical industry.
She trained as a medical doctor and treated patients in Tanzania and India earlier in her career and has an MBA from Stanford.
Three Indian origin women on the list:
Svanika Balasubramanian, rePurpose Global, Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer
Notable in 2023: Muscat, Oman based company collaborated with 300-plus consumer brands to reduce plastic waste and increase margins.
Dipali Goenka, Welspun Living, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director
Notable in 2023: Jaipur, India based company advanced innovation, sustainability, and gender parity while reaching the $1 billion revenue milestone.
India-based home textiles giant’s products are sold at retailers including Walmart, Ikea, Costco, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Macy’s and Home Depot, as well as through deals with many major hotel chains.
Suneeta Reddy, Apollo Hospitals Group, Managing Director
Notable in 2023: Spearheading the digital transformation and continued growth of India’s largest hospital system.
As a part of the founding family which began with one hospital, Suneeta Reddy has played a leading role in helping Apollo Hospitals grow into a huge player on the Asian health-care landscape.
It’s the largest integrated healthcare network in India, with 73 hospitals, a workforce of over 100,000, 6,000-plus pharmacies, over 200 clinics and over 2,200 diagnostic centers, and 25 million users on its digital health platform. -
British Indian doctor’s rock band embarks on UK-wide tour
LONDON (TIP): A 25-year-old British Indian doctor whose passion for music resulted in a band with some of his fellow medical colleagues has embarked on his first UK-wide tour, with the launch show in London recently proving a sell-out. Gulzar (Gulz) Singh Dhanoya started the indie-rock band named Gulz during his university days as a medical student. It was over the Covid pandemic that the singer-songwriter plucked up the courage to put out some of his musical creations onto the audio streaming service SoundCloud and soon this one-man project struck a chord with an ever-expanding fan base. The lead singer and songwriter is now busy rehearsing with his four bandmates for their next live gig in Birmingham on March 16.
“How it usually works is that now I go away and think of an idea for a song and its very bare bones. Then we go into a studio rehearsal room and all of us together kind of think about our parts and we just keep playing it over and over. It’s a great way to kind of balance our creative ideas,” Gulz told the media.
While two of his other bandmates are also National Health Service (NHS) doctors like him, two are professionals in other fields which he feels helps bring some flexibility to striking a balance with late-night hospital shifts. He admits sometimes wondering how they are all able to commit to their music with stressful full-time jobs.
“It’s a huge commitment. Obviously, the working day is long and then it fits in shows and rehearsals and social media stuff. It’s like a second job and one that doesn’t realistically pay compared to a ‘normal’ job. It’s very cliche, but it’s just because we love it,” he said.
Born in Newcastle to a Punjabi father born in India and mother born in Southall, west London, music was a part of Gulz’s life from a very young age. From strains of Mohammed Rafi to Stevie Wonder, his musical influences were an eclectic mix – something that chimes with the kind of tunes he is now creating lyrically and musically.
“I began by sort of writing music that sounds like the music I like and have tried to retain that in some ways. I just try to weave certain themes of my life at the time into the stuff that I’m writing, be it relationships and breakups or just having some fun,” he said.
Currently based in Brighton and completing his second foundation year as a junior doctor in the National Health Service (NHS), Gulz plans to take some time off later this year to focus entirely on music for some time. Asked about the ongoing strikes by NHS junior doctors demanding better pay and working conditions, Dr Dhanoya says the band fully supports their medical colleagues in industrial action.
“We always hope the next set of strikes will be the last one because junior doctors don’t want to have to strike. But sadly, there’s no other way to be heard by the government. The working conditions and pay right now are not acceptable. There’s so much responsibility that doctors have, with people’s lives at stake literally, and the working conditions and pay do not reflect that at all,” he said, pointing out that in real terms all his colleagues are fighting for is an extra GBP 5 an hour.
Juggling their work shifts and rehearsals, the band is all set to perform at the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham and then their tour is slotted for his home crowd in Newcastle followed by Manchester towards the end of next month. Beyond that, Gulz is open to bookings and asked if a tour to India may be in the offing, the doctor-musician sounds very excited at the prospect of playing a gig in the country he has so far only visited with family to spend time with cousins in Punjab.
“After August, I’m out of contract, which sounds dramatic but it’s actually a really good thing because it means that I’ve got a lot more flexibility in my time and work. So, I would love to go to India and perform, in case any promoters out there want to reach out,” he said.
Meanwhile, the band – dubbed the doctors/rockers – have sold-out shows in the UK to look forward to with tickets selling out fast on their socials. -
A new low for Congress high command
Himachal crisis was triggered by the top brass’ refusal to address brewing rebellion against
“The Congress central leadership has effectively alienated all senior leaders who can hold the hand, read the pulse and count a legislator in or out. Their services are no longer required in the post-Sonia Gandhi Congress. All the old leaders are being painted with a tar brush without new ones replacing them. So, Congress lawyer-leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had to cut a sorry figure and say that he could not judge the character of those whom he supped with a day before the Rajya Sabha election. It is surprising because everybody else knew about a brewing rebellion against Sukhu, which the central leadership refused to address.”
By Rajesh Ramachandran About seven years ago, there was a Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat that disproved the invincibility of the new BJP’s election-winning machine. Then Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political adviser Ahmed Patel was seeking his fifth consecutive term in the Upper House. There were three seats up for grabs: two for the BJP and one for the Congress. Then BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani were the BJP candidates who sailed through. The Leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, Shankersinh Vaghela, had split the Congress and taken away a chunk of the MLAs. Yet, the Congress had 44 legislators, which was enough for Patel’s victory. Indian democracy is still waiting for the primary Opposition party’s leadership to come of age.
But the difference between the late Patel and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is that the former planned for the worst-case scenario. Two Congress MLAs backstabbed the party candidate. However, their votes were declared invalid as they had shown their ballot papers to BJP leaders. Yet, the masterstroke was Patel preparing for a last-minute twist in the tale. He had a BJP rebel and an MLA of BJP ally JD(U) cross-vote for him. These two votes made all the difference. Patel’s victory in August 2017, three years after Modi came to power, was a big morale-booster for the Congress and the Opposition, proving that the BJP could be checkmated in its citadel.
There are no geniuses in politics, but only planners and doers. Patel was credited with magical machinations. But there was no sleight of hand or clairvoyance. His was a basic problem-solving approach towards a political situation. Elections need numbers and they need to be counted, again and again. The basic dictum of power politics is that those who stand closest would serve the hardest blow and the first lesson is to be prepared with extra numbers when the nearest ones slink away. Patel’s magic was to be prepared with a BJP and a JDU cross-voter each. But to count legislators and add up numbers, leaders need to have interpersonal chemistry.
The Congress central leadership has effectively alienated all senior leaders who can hold the hand, read the pulse and count a legislator in or out. Their services are no longer required in the post-Sonia Gandhi Congress. All the old leaders are being painted with a tar brush without new ones replacing them. So, Congress lawyer-leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi had to cut a sorry figure and say that he could not judge the character of those whom he supped with a day before the Rajya Sabha election. It is surprising because everybody else knew about a brewing rebellion against Sukhu, which the central leadership refused to address.
Earlier, the Congress top brass had always encouraged and rewarded rebellion, using rebels to keep satraps under check. Sukhu is the best example of a rebel rising up to topple the legacy of the biggest Congress mass leader in Himachal — Virbhadra Singh. Sukhu’s claim to fame has always been as the high command’s loyalist poking the six-term Chief Minister, who was an MLA nine times and an MP five times. The current crisis has proven that being a rebel is no real qualification to lead.
His detractors accuse him of punishing PWD officials for helping Virbhadra’s widow, state party president and Congress’ Mandi MP Pratibha Singh, during a foundation stone-laying ceremony. Obviously, such a CM would not know what’s cooking in his party.
Indira Gandhi could afford to keep top local leaders on their toes. For, she was not merely Nehru’s daughter but a child of the freedom movement. She knew local leaders and their competitors without any interlocutors introducing her to them. Not Rajiv Gandhi, whose infamous sackings in Andhra Pradesh led to the rise of Telugu pride and the Telugu Desam Party. And definitely not Priyanka Gandhi, who is not an elected member of any House. Democracy cannot be an exercise of power which has not been validated by the people directly or indirectly.
The primary task of the high command is to listen to the competing claims of the CM and his detractors. Most of the legislators, even ministers, do not have access to Priyanka or his brother. This has been the sad story of the Congress for a long time. It is now a family business run by proxies, with the owners refusing to look at the books. Many important functionaries in the Himachal Congress knew that the Rajya Sabha poll may end up messy. A former top leader openly, though privately, said it before the polls. But nobody was listening. Sukhu refused to hold the hands of his colleagues to read their pulse. And his government machinery was rendered useless by sundry advisers.
For a central leadership that has always encouraged rebellion within, this time round, Priyanka did not know how to control the levers of intra-party competition. Himachal is a bipolar polity, which does not offer a third alternative to defectors. Turncoats, in fact, find it difficult to make room for themselves in the opposite camp carrying the stigma of being a defector in society. Yet, if Congress legislators decide to move out of the party, it can only be because of the complete failure of the state and central leaders to “judge the character” of their own glorified selves. They almost surrendered the only government in north India to the BJP.
And it took Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda to bring the government back from the brink. And these are the kind of leaders that Rahul Gandhi may not like to associate with. Unfortunately, all mass leaders who have earned their spurs are out of Rahul’s charmed circle, reducing it to a bunch of featherweight hangers-on. That leaders like Shivakumar and Hooda should have been pressed into service before the poll and not afterwards is a lesson that Rahul and Priyanka have not yet learnt. Indian democracy is still waiting for the primary Opposition party’s leadership to come of age.
(The author is editor-in-chief of Tribune group of newspapers) -
BJP’s 370-seat target overly optimistic
With the INDIA bloc coming to its senses, the ruling party may not find the going easy
“The north, except Punjab and Himachal, is solidly with the BJP. But with the INDIA bloc coming to its senses, it is possible that the BJP will not reach the figure of even 303, its tally in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The figure of 370, quoted by Modi, is far too optimistic.”
By Julio Ribeiro I am convinced that Narendra Modi is going to be the Prime Minister for another five-year term. What I seriously doubt is whether his prediction that the BJP will win 370 seats (and the NDA will get 400) in the Lok Sabha elections will come true.
It is incumbent on the party firmly backed by the majority community to suppress its tendency of misusing its powers to humble the Opposition.
In Maharashtra, which sends 48 MPs to the Lower House, it seems that the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction will each win a few seats in their respective spheres of influence. The BJP has made major inroads into rural constituencies. Along with its new-found friends, the Shinde faction of the Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, it will win a few more than the Opposition, but certainly not the figure it quotes.
The Hindi-speaking belt is firmly on its side, but here, too, the going is not going to be so smooth that it can afford to let its guard down. The farmers’ renewed agitation is confined mainly to Punjab, a state where the BJP has little influence. Jat farmers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been weaned away by the bestowal of the Bharat Ratna on the tallest Jat leader, former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh. The award ahead of the Lok Sabha elections was one very clever move.
What was far from clever, though, was the attempt to tamper with the result of the Chandigarh mayoral poll. It resulted in prosecution being ordered against the presiding officer by the Supreme Court, whose judgments in the electoral bond case and the Chandigarh episode have alerted the party in power to refrain from venturing into such escapades.
The fate of the presiding officer should serve as a warning to officials wanting to prove their loyalty to the powers that be. The apex court’s decision on the electoral bond scheme has cast a shadow over the willingness of corporates to blindly help the party in power. They should revert to the system followed by the Tata Group and the Aditya Birla Group to donate to all political parties by crossed cheques, properly accounted for. That system was working seamlessly till the electoral bonds were invented.
It is natural for the party in power, particularly one riding a wave as the BJP is at present, to get the bulk of the donations made by corporates. But it is not normal for a ruling party to ensure through government agencies controlled by it to choke the funding of Opposition parties. The ‘freezing’ of bank accounts of the Congress by the income tax (I-T) authorities in the run-up to the General Election was a very ham-handed and mean method of ruffling feathers and it was not appreciated by even BJP supporters. Mercifully, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal intervened and restored sanity.
Modi was on a roll after he took over the role of the high priest and inaugurated the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. Even normally tepid followers of religion, in this case of the religion of India’s majority Hindus, were positively affected by the pomp and splendor associated with the January 22 function. Modi’s popularity went up by a few notches.
This glorious moment was repeated a few days later when he persuaded Qatar to free eight former Navy personnel, who had initially been sentenced to death (later commuted to imprisonment) for suspected spying. Our Prime Minister succeeded in his mission, thus displaying the strength of the country’s soft power in the Muslim world of West Asia.
Unfortunately, the comparatively petty-minded acts of trying to change the mandate in the Chandigarh mayoral poll and the I-T Department’s action against the Congress have neutralized the gains that Modi had generated.
It is incumbent on the party, now firmly backed by the majority community in its stronghold of Hindi-speaking states, to suppress its tendency of misusing its powers to humble the Opposition. Educated voters have realized that their favored party is needlessly needling its political opponents and making obvious attempts to lure Opposition bigwigs with threats of investigations by Central agencies like the ED, the CBI and the income tax authorities. Once they cross over, their sins are forgiven. Some of them are even made ministers or Rajya Sabha MPs!
One cannot be sure if the use of such tactics will be halted once electioneering begins in earnest. The Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc have woken up to the realization of the likely fate of their leaders if the BJP gets the 370 seats that Modi has quoted. In Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat, AAP and the Congress have reached an understanding. Though late in the day, it may help them salvage a few seats.
The south, which includes Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, is not going to go the BJP way. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the BJP is likely to draw a blank. Karnataka will contribute the biggest number to the BJP’s kitty, but even that will not make a difference.
In the east, West Bengal is still Mamata Banerjee territory. It has 42 seats to offer. The BJP has made sizeable gains in Bengal, but not enough to dislodge Mamata.
In the North-East, the regional players go along with the ruling party for their own survival. But after the Sangh Parivar’s activities in Manipur, the Baptist Christians of Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and the hill districts of Manipur have been having second thoughts on this score. Only Odisha and Tripura can be counted upon to partner the BJP. In any case, the number of Lok Sabha seats in the North-East is extremely small.
The north, except Punjab and Himachal, is solidly with the BJP. But with the INDIA bloc coming to its senses, it is possible that the BJP will not reach the figure of even 303, its tally in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The figure of 370, quoted by Modi, is far too optimistic.
(The author is former governor and a highly decorated retired Indian Police Service Officer) -
Change and continuity in India’s Palestine policy
India’s historical policy towards Palestine has been evolving, but a permanent fix to the Palestine question should not be lost sight of
By Stanly Johny Historically, India has been a firm supporter of the Palestine cause. And even when India’s relationship with Israel flourished in the past three decades, New Delhi has maintained a careful balance between its new partnership and historical commitment towards Palestine. In recent years, there have been questions on whether India is abandoning this balance and tilting towards the Jewish state in a changing West Asia, where even Arab nations have been ready to sidestep the Palestine question for better bilateral ties with Israel.
Immediately after the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, in which at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X, said he was “deeply shocked by the news of [the] terrorist attack”. He said, “We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”
Mr. Modi, who became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, has a good personal chemistry with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Supporters of Mr. Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hardly conceal their admiration towards Israel’s aggressive security model. On October 26, barely three weeks after the Hamas attack, India abstained from a vote at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that called for an “immediate, durable and sustainable humanitarian truce” in Gaza. India explained its stand by saying that there was no explicit condemnation of the October 7 “terror attack in the resolution”. All these factors suggested that India’s historical policy towards Palestine was undergoing a paradigm shift.
Evolving approach
India’s Palestine policy has evolved over the years. When the UN General Assembly voted on a resolution to partition Palestine into a Jewish state, an Arab state and an international city (Jerusalem) in November 1947, India, along with Pakistan and the Arab bloc, voted against it. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had compared the settler Zionists in historical Palestine to the Muslim League of undivided India. His position was that India, having gone through the horrors of Partition, should not support the partition of Palestine. But when the state of Israel was declared in May 1948, India swiftly adopted a pragmatic line: in 1950, it recognized Israel, but stopped short of establishing full diplomatic relations. Throughout the Cold War, India, an advocate of Third World autonomy, was one of the most vocal supporters of the Palestine cause.After it established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992, bilateral ties between New Delhi and Tel Aviv began to deepen and broaden (today, Israel is one of India’s major defense and technology partners). But India publicly maintained its support for “a negotiated solution, resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel, as endorsed in the Arab Peace Initiative, the Quartet Road map and relevant UNSC Resolutions” — this means that India supported the creation of a Palestine state with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on the 1967 borders.
This position has evolved further after Mr. Modi became Prime Minister. In February 2018, when he visited Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, he called for dialogue to find a permanent solution to the crisis, but stopped short of saying anything on the status of Jerusalem or borders. It does not mean that India supports Israel’s claim over the whole of Jerusalem (New Delhi voted against the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital), but it will not talk about the contentious issues such as the capital and border any more, while remaining a partner of Israel and a supporter of the two-state solution. Realpolitik displaces the moral content of India’s Palestine policy.
After October 7
A close analysis of India’s voting record at the UN, post-October 7, and the statements made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) suggests that this position of balancing has not changed. It is neither a strong moral critic, like Brazil or South Africa, of the way Israel is conducting the war, nor a mute spectator or enabler of Israel, like the United States or the United Kingdom.A few days after Mr. Modi’s tweet declaring solidarity with Israel over the “terror attack”, the MEA stated that India backed “a sovereign, independent viable state of Palestine”. After its first abstention, there were at least four votes at the UNGA on Israel.
On November 12, 2023, India voted in favor of a resolution that condemned Israeli settlements “in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan”. Two weeks later, New Delhi voted in favor of another resolution that expressed “deep concern” over Israel’s continuing occupation of Syria’s Golan Heights. On December 12, India supported a resolution that called for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire”. And on December 19, it voted for the Palestinian right to self-determination.
The voting record speaks for itself. One cannot have a two-state solution if Israeli settlements continue in Palestinian territories. And the only path towards a solution is diplomacy, not war, as there is no balance of power between Israel, the mightiest military in West Asia, and the Palestinian militants. So, in essence, if one supports the two state-solution, there should be a call for an immediate end to violence, support dialogue, condemn settlements and, in principle, back Palestinian right to self-determination. This is what India has done, unlike the U.S., which claims to be supporting the two-state solution while voting against all resolutions at the UN and refusing to back the ceasefire call.
India’s interests
The support for the Palestine cause, even if limited, is rooted in tangible national interests. Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which has killed over 30,000 people, wounded some 70,000 and displaced nearly 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, is one of the gravest humanitarian tragedies of the 21st century. Israel, despite this rogue behavior, manages to avoid the wrath of the international laws and system mainly because of the unconditional support it enjoys from the U.S. But America’s support for Israel and Tel Aviv’s disregard for Palestinian lives and international laws have created strong reactions in the Global South. South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice, while Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accuses Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza. China has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, while Russia is hosting different Palestinian factions, including Hamas.India, which aspires to be a leader of the Global South, cannot ignore these voices and sentiments. That is why External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said at the Munich Security Conference last month that Israel “should be and should have been mindful of the civilian casualties in Gaza”, which is India’s sharpest criticism of the Israel war till now.
The October 7 attack and Israel’s retaliatory war have also turned the strategic clock in the region back. Before October 7, India was gearing up to work in the post-Abraham Accords strategic reality through its cooperation with the Arabs, Israelis and Americans. But further Arab-Israel reconciliation is now on hold. The U.S.’s reputation stands as tarnished as that of Israel. If Saudi-Israel normalization is not taking place, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) will have to wait. If the crisis persists and Houthis continue to target vessels in the Red Sea, it would create lasting economic pains for India. A prolonged war in Gaza would also enhance risks of a wider conflict in the region, involving Iran, Israel and America, who are all India’s partners. An immediate end to the war, restoration of order and stability in West Asia and a permanent fix to the Palestine question are as much in India’s interests as anybody else’s in West Asia. This should be the guiding core of India’s Act West policy.
(Stanly Johny is an editor with The Hindu) -
Celebrating 18 Years of Excellence: The Indian Panorama’s Gratitude Gala
It was an evening of joy, celebration, and gratitude as The Indian Panorama welcomed patrons, well-wishers, and friends to the Gratitude Gala, marking the 18th year of the newspaper’s publication. The event was not just a milestone celebration but a testament to the unwavering support and encouragement received from a diverse community. The sheer number of guests in attendance not only made the evening vibrant but also served as a powerful affirmation of the publication’s quality and the satisfaction of its readers.The highlight of the evening was the presence of Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Her inspiring words of wisdom resonated with everyone present, serving as a source of encouragement for the dedicated team behind The Indian Panorama. The presence of Congressman-elect Tom Suozzi, a true friend of the Indian American community, added a layer of significance to the celebration. With three terms as a US Congressman, his encouragement was a valuable endorsement of the publication’s impact.
The Gratitude Gala also recognized and honored four distinguished individuals chosen by The Indian Panorama board for their remarkable contributions in their respective fields. Dr. VK Raju, a distinguished ophthalmologist and President of the Eye Foundation of America, has dedicated the past 40 years to the noble cause of eradicating childhood blindness worldwide. His tireless efforts have made a significant impact, aligning with The Indian Panorama’s commitment to positive change.
Ranju Batra, a relentless advocate, secured recognition for India’s festival of lights, Diwali, by successfully lobbying for a Diwali postal stamp from the US administration. Beyond this achievement, she actively promotes diplomats and diplomacy through her organization, instituting the Diwali-Power of One awards to honor diplomats contributing to global peace. Her dedication aligns with the values championed by The Indian Panorama.
Harry Singh Bolla’s inspiring journey from humble beginnings to billionaire status exemplifies the spirit of giving back to society. His philanthropic endeavors serve as an example worth emulating and resonate with The Indian Panorama’s commitment to social responsibility.
Purnima Desai, through her institutions, Shikshayatan Cultural Center and Srininiketan Foundation, has been a stalwart in promoting Indian culture for over four decades. Her unwavering dedication aligns with the publication’s mission of fostering cultural understanding and appreciation.
The evening was not just about accolades and recognition; it was a platform for meaningful communication between the diverse group of guests and honorees. The young talents who graced the stage with exceptional performances in music and dance added an extra layer of joy to the celebration. The dedicated volunteers who flawlessly managed the event deserve special appreciation, as their efforts contributed to the seamless flow of the evening.
Acknowledgment is due to colleagues from the media world who stood in solidarity with The Indian Panorama. Special gratitude is extended to Gary Sikka, the owner of Pearl Banquet Hall, whose hospitality provided the perfect backdrop for the Gratitude Gala.
In expressing gratitude, The Indian Panorama extends thanks to everyone associated with the event. Patrons, friends, and family members played a pivotal role in making the evening truly memorable. As The Indian Panorama embarks on the journey ahead, the support received at the Gratitude Gala serves as a powerful motivator to continue the pursuit of excellence and meaningful journalism.
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Supreme Court slams Patanjali
- Principle of integrity in advertising upheld
In a scathing indictment of Patanjali Ayurved’s advertising practices through which the ‘entire country is being taken for a ride’, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued contempt notices to the company and its Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna. Stemming from a petition by the Indian Medical Association, the case highlights the menace of misleading advertisements, which continue unabated despite previous warnings to the company. The SC had in November warned Patanjali that a fine of Rs 1 crore would be imposed per product if a false claim was made regarding its efficacy in curing a particular disease. The court also restrained the firm from advertising products intended to treat specific diseases listed under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. The message is loud and clear: deceptive advertising aimed at increasing commercial gains will not be tolerated, especially in the critical field of healthcare. Such measures are crucial to preventing erosion of public trust.
The SC has cautioned the firm against making adverse statements about other systems of medicine. Underpinning the significance of strict enforcement of rules, the court has also rightly questioned the functioning of the regulatory bodies and government agencies concerned. The clarification sought by the court on the action taken by the Centre under various laws should help in exposing the gaps in the implementation of policies intended to uphold advertising standards.
The SC’s firm stance sets a precedent for accountability in the health sector and reaffirms the principle that commercial interests must not eclipse public welfare. Those who indulge in unethical practices must face the consequences of their actions. It is hoped that intense judicial scrutiny will finally prompt the serial offenders to mend their ways.
(Tribune, India) -
The Indian Panorama celebrates the 18th Year of Publication with a renewed commitment to upholding the highest standards of journalism
- Thanks patrons for their support and loyalty
- Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj honors four eminent Indian Americans
- Tom Suozzi, Congressman-elect, felicitates The Indian Panorama
Parveen Chopra
February 26, 2024
HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): The Indian Panorama celebrated its 18th year of publication uniquely by hosting a grand Gratitude Gala on February 25 here.For The Indian Panorama’s Founding Editor and Publisher Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja, it was a double celebration as he also cut a cake for his 80th birthday.
In a busy program, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj presided and presented awards to four honorees. Congressman-elect Tom Suozzi dropped by to thank Prof Saluja and the Indian community for their support. The Indian Panorama also lent its platform to launch Blitz India’s US edition.
Attorney Ravi Batra introduced Ambassador Kamboj as a giant of a diplomat who has brought India much respect at the United Nations. 
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj in her address described the Indian diaspora as the best in the world, and praised Prof. Indrajit Saluja, publisher and chief editor of The Indian Panorama for maintaining the highest standards of journalism. 
Congressman -elect Tom Suozzi spoke highly of the Indian Americans and characterized the US-India relations as strong and getting stronger. 
Tom Suozzi was presented a replica of the Golden Temple, the Vatican of the Sikhs.
L to R: Ranju Batra, , Sunil Hali, Purnima Desai, , Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, Tom Suozzi, FIA President Avinash Gupta, GOPIO President Lal Motwani, Prof. Saluja.Even as Prof Saluja expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the guests present in the chandeliered ballroom of Pearl Banquet Hall, as well as his readers and the Indian community for their loyal support over 18 long years, he chose to honor four eminent Indian Americans at the event. All were honored with a citation scroll, a shawl, and a model of the Golden Temple.
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj presented to Dr. V.K. Raju, President of the Eye Foundation of America, the lifetime Achievement Honor.
L to R: Dr. Leela Raju, Secretary of the Eye Foundation of America, Ambassador Kamboj, Dr. V.K. Raju, Prof. Saluja.The four honorees are well-known in the community. Dr. V.K. Raju (Life Achievement Honor) is an eminent ophthalmologist who is on a mission to eliminate childhood blindness through his Eye Foundation of America.
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj congratulating her friend Ranju Batra after honoring her with the Excellence in Promotion of Diplomacy Award.
L to R: Deepak Dwivedi, Ambassador Kamboj, Ranju Batra, Abha Bhatnagar, Prof. Saluja.Ranju Batra (Excellence in Promotion of Diplomacy Award) honors diplomats at the Diwali Stamp – Power of One awards every year after she secured the Diwali Stamp from USPS.
Harry Singh Bolla (Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award) runs a billion-dollar chain of gas stations and has started a charity to support good causes here in New York and India. He could not be present in person to receive the award.
Ambassador Kamboj presented to Purnima Desai the Excellence in Culture Award.
L to R: Ms Desai, Ambassador Kamboj, Purnima Desai, Flora Parikh, Jag Kalra.Purnima Desai (Excellence in Culture Award) is the founder of Shikshayatan Cultural Center and Sriniketan Foundation to encourage and support Indian music and arts through training and events.
They were also presented citations from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Introducing the Chief Guest, Ravi Batra said Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj joined her post when India was already a Member of the UN Security Council and she took it to a higher trajectory.
Ambassador Kamboj in her brief address commended The Indian Panorama for not only being a mirror of the vibrant roots of our culture but also showcasing the journey of the Indian diaspora. She also called the US diaspora the best in the world. She lauded the achievements of the Indian community in the US, describing their journey as nothing short of inspirational. She emphasized the diaspora’s significant role in fostering excellence and innovation globally. Ambassador Kamboj congratulated all the honorees, and in particular, Ranju Batra whom she has come to know well because of her work at the UN. She commended Ranju for creating goodwill and earning a name for her country of origin.
Own Murtajiz Naqvi, Executive Director, Nassau County Office of Asian American Affairs, on behalf of Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive, presents a Citation to Dr. VK Raju (All photos : Mohammed Jaffar-SnapsIndia) Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) said he sees the US-India relationship as the most important in the next 50 years. “These two will define the long-term global world,” and whether it would abide by the “noble principles” outlined in the constitutions of both countries. While in the US Congress (he took the oath of office on February 28), Suozzi said he would do everything possible to represent the diverse Indian community in his district.
The new Consul General of India in New York, Ambassador Binaya S. Pradhan could not make it because of a conflict in scheduling.
Blitz India Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Deepak Dwivedi and CEO Sandeepp Saxena flew in from New Delhi for the US launch of their news weekly, which is India’s first chronicler of development news. The duo was joined by Prof Saluja and other dignitaries and mediapersons to release printed copies of the paper.
Two more media events followed. Journalists Beyond Borders (JBB), a fraternity organization founded by Prof Saluja in 2022, was formally launched. Local publishers and editors joined in to reveal its logo. Through journalism, JBB aims to protect and promote human rights, human values and world peace. Prof Saluja used the occasion to felicitate his friend Parveen Chopra, Founder and Editor of ALotusInTheMud.com, on the first anniversary of his wellness and spirituality web magazine.
Copies of The Indian Panorama’s 18th year Gratitude Gala souvenir were distributed among the guests. All guests were also gifted a model of the Golden Temple, the Vatican of the Sikhs.
Video messages were screened from Padma Bhushan Sant Chatwal, India’s Ambassador to Guatemala Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, Emmy-nominated film director and actor Tirlok Malik, and Prabhjot Singh, a senior journalist from Chandigarh.
The standing-room only audience was hooked on to the show, beginning with the very first item when two lithe dancers from Battery Dance took to the floor. The last item was the adrenaline-pumping bhangra dance. In between, dancers trained by Shilpa Jhurani and Rimli Roy showed their classical moves. The artists were profusely applauded by the audience for their mesmerizing performances and thanked by Prof. Saluja.
The guests at the gala included Padma Shri Dr Sudhir Parikh, Chairman and CEO of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, who congratulated Prof Saluja for his “great work in the media,” over the 18 years of The Indian Panorama. Dilip Chauhan from NYC Mayor’s office congratulated The Indian Panorama on behalf of Mayor Eric Adams. Zahid Syed, Director, Community Affairs with the Town of Hempstead and Rokeya Akhter, Community Coordinator with Queens District Attorney’s office also graced the occasion.
Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive sent his representative Own Murtajiz Naqvi, Executive Director, Nassau County Office of Asian American Affairs to present Citations to the Honorees- Dr. VK Raju, Ranju Batra, Harry Singh Bolla and Purnima Desai.Prominent Community organizations were represented: Gobind Munjal and Dr Jagdish Gupta from AIA, Dr Avinash Gupta, Srujal Parikh, and Alok Kumar from FIA-Tristate, Thomas Abraham from GOPIO, Pradeep Tandon from IALI, and George Abraham from IOC-USA, Shiv Dass, President, Jackson Heights Indian Merchants’ Association, besides many others.
Veteran Sikh community leader Master Mohinder Singh, a former president of Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, and a founder President of Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Sikh Center was present with Gurmej Singh, a former president of Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana, besides many others from the Sikh community.
The media fraternity stood in solidarity with Prof. Saluja: they included, besides Dr. Parikh, Sunil Hali (Promoter, Radio Zindagi, and Publisher, The Indian Eye), Sharanjit Singh Thind (Editor-Publisher, South Asian Insider), Varinder Bhalla (Publisher, Bollywood Insider).
The evening’s program was ably emceed by Piya Jyoti Kachroo, ITV anchor and producer.
The sumptuous dinner with a top-of-the-shelf bar was enjoyed by the guests. Prof. Saluja expressed his heartfelt thanks to Pearl CEO Gary Sikka and his staff for excellent food and hospitality.
Prominent guests included Arish Sahani, Sudhir Vaishnav, Gobind Bathija, Baldev Singh Grewal, Shiv Dass and Ashok Arora.
Guests came from various parts of the US and even India. They included Bidisha Roy, Assistant Editor of The Indian Panorama (TIP) from Tampa, Florida, Zia Khan, a celebrated photographer who looks after TIP’s Dallas edition, and Parminder Singh Aujla, TIP’s California representative, from Sacramento,
Politician Puneet Ahluwalia came from Virginia, social activist Murtaza from Pennsylvania. Harry Singh Panaser, Mrs. Manjit Kaur Panaser, Harvenderpal Singh, Seema Jagtiani, Nutan Dabholkar, Dave Makkar, Mrs. Rashmi Makkar, Prachi and Surya Makkar, Rimli Roy, Rupinder Singh, and many more from New Jersey.
From India came Arminder Arora and his wife Tript Arora, Sparsh and Bhola.
Those at the event from the electronic media included Pardeep Gill from Global Punjab, Munish Byala, and Gurinder Hothi. Photographers included Mohammed Jaffer, Vijay Shah and Kripa Prasad.
Prof Indrajit Saluja has become synonymous with his weekly newspaper, a labor of love. He is not only an eminent editor but also a well-respected community leader who has forged links across the ethnic, ideological, and political spectrum. His friends from all over the US and even India, supporters, and who’s who of the community wished him a long life on his 80th birthday.
For Prof Saluja, The Indian Panorama is an expression and extension of his love for India as well as a platform to project the rich South Asian culture and how our successful community has made a place in the melting pot of America. A trilingual, he has also helped start newspapers in Hindi and Punjabi.
Started 18 years ago in New York, The Indian Panorama has a Dallas edition.
Indefatigable Prof Saluja’s spirit and intensity of work belie his years. He came to the US over 20 years ago after having a long career as a Professor of English Literature at leading colleges in India. Alongside, he founded a prominent monthly magazine titled ‘Punjab Beat’.
Prof Saluja feels proud that throughout its eventful journey, the Indian Panorama has remained true to its motto, EVER TRUTHFUL”. “This commitment is not just a slogan but a guiding principle, a promise to our readers, and a testament to the collective effort that sustains the publication,” he insists.
Own Murtajiz Naqvi, Executive Director, Nassau County Office of Asian American Affairs, on behalf of Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive, presents a Citation to Ranju Batra. 
Own Murtajiz Naqvi, Executive Director, Nassau County Office of Asian American Affairs, on behalf of Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive, presents a Citation to Purnima Desai. 
Blitz India US edition is launched by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj. 
Deepak Dwivedi and Prof. Indrajit Saluja present a Citation to Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj. 
Journalists Beyond Borders, an international organization of Journalists founded by Prof. Indrajit Saluja is formally launched by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj. Ashok Arora, the International Legal Advisor to The JBB exhibited the JBB logo. 
Prof, Indrajit Saluja felicitated his friend Parveen Arora on completion of a year of founding of ALotusinTheMud.com 
Thank you, dear guests. We will meet again
Birthday Celebration
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Rishi Sunak makes impassioned plea to protect British democracy
LONDON (TIP): Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued an impassioned plea for Britain to protect its democracy as he warned that extremist forces were out to tear the country apart and undermine its multi-faith identity.
Referencing his own Hindu beliefs, the British-Indian leader on Friday , March 1, stressed that the enduring values of the UK are about embracing migrants of all faiths and ethnicities and urged protesters to ensure peaceful demonstrations are not hijacked by extremist forces.
“Immigrants who have come here have integrated and contributed. They have helped write the latest chapter in our island story. They have done this without being required to give up their identity,” said Sunak in a speech outside 10 Downing Street. “You can be a practicing Hindu and a proud Briton as I am, or a devout Muslim and a patriotic citizen as so many are, or a committed Jewish person and the heart of your local community, and all underpinned by the tolerance of our established, Christian church,” he said.
“But I fear that our great achievement in building the world’s most successful multi-ethnic, multi faith democracy is being deliberately undermined. There are forces here at home trying to tear us apart,” he added.
He was speaking soon after what he characterized as the “beyond alarming” win in a byelection on Thursday of a controversial politician, George Galloway, in Greater Manchester following a campaign dominated by the divisions of the Israel-Hamas conflict. He said on too many occasions recently, the streets of Britain had been hijacked by small groups who are hostile to British values and have no respect for its democratic traditions.
“Islamist extremists and the far right feed off and embolden each other. They are equally desperate to pretend that their violence is somehow justified when actually these groups are two sides of the same extremist coin… both loathe the pluralist, modern country we are,” he said.
The British Prime Minister stressed that both these groups of extremists were spreading the poison of extremism with the aim of draining Britain’s confidence. He added: “No country is perfect, but I am enormously proud of the good that our country has done.”
“I stand here as our country’s first non-white Prime Minister, leading the most diverse government in our country’s history to tell people of all races, all faiths and all backgrounds it is not the color of your skin, the God you believe in or where you were born, that will determine your success but just your own hard work and endeavor.” Sunak reiterated his support for a new protocol agreed with the police forces of the country earlier this week to take action against violent activities that threaten the personal security of members of Parliament and also any violence during serial protests taking place in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He said threats of violence and intimidation are alien to the British way of doing things and must be resisted at all times.
“I love this country. My family and I owe it so much. The time has now come for us all to stand together to combat the forces of division and beat this poison. We must face down the extremists who would tear us apart,” he urged.
(Source: PTI) -
Nikki Haley picks up first two Senate endorsements ahead of Super Tuesday
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, are backing the GOP presidential candidate. Voters in their states head to the polls next week for Super Tuesday
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley received her first two endorsements from senators on Friday, March 1, giving her a boost before Super Tuesday as she trails former President Donald Trump in the race for the GOP nomination. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, both backed the former South Carolina governor in separate statements.
“I’m proud to endorse Gov. Nikki Haley,” Murkowski said in a statement released by the Haley campaign. “America needs someone with the right values, vigor, and judgment to serve as our next President—and in this race, there is no one better than her. Nikki will be a strong leader and uphold the ideals of the Republican Party while serving as a President for all Americans.”
Collins told the Bangor Daily News that Haley “has the energy, intellect, and temperament that we need to lead our country in these very tumultuous times.” Haley’s campaign confirmed the endorsement to NBC News.
Voters in Alaska, Maine and more than a dozen other states will cast ballots on Super Tuesday, when 865 Republican delegates will be up for grabs. Haley has yet to win a primary or caucus.
On Friday, Haley expressed her gratitude to Murkowski in a news release announcing her first Senate endorsement, saying that the senator “represents the best of Alaska.”
“As president, I will fight to make Alaskans—and all Americans—proud by restoring fiscal sanity, energy dominance, and limited government,” Haley said.
Murkowski and Collins have long been critical of Trump, and they both voted to convict him during his second impeachment trial following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Haley has received only one endorsement in the House, from Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. He announced his endorsement more than a year ago. Trump, meanwhile, has been endorsed by about 80 Republicans in the House and more than half of GOP senators.
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46 killed in fire at 7-storey commercial building in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka
Dhaka (TIP): A massive fire that ripped through a seven-storey commercial building in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka overnight has killed at least 44 people and injured 22 others, the health minister said on March 1.
The fire on Thursday night engulfed the Green Cozy Cottage building in the capital’s Baily Road area that houses several restaurants and shops. The fire broke out around 9.50 pm on Thursday at a popular restaurant named ‘Kacchi Bhai’ on the building’s first floor and quickly spread to the upper floors that had more restaurants and a garment shop, according to fire service officials.
Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen said around 2 am that 33 bodies were brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and 10 others to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. Another victim died at the Police Hospital.
The condition of those injured is “critical”, he told reporters at a briefing.
Fire officials said 75 people, including 42 in unconscious state, were taken out of the seven-storey building. Thirteen fire service units were mobilised, the officials said.
The minister, a burn wound specialist, said 22 people are being treated at both health facilities and their condition is “critical”.
“The respiratory system of those who have survived so far has been seriously damaged,” Sen told reporters at the DMCH.
Doctors said some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and feared that the death toll could rise.
Witnesses and officials said to escape the fire, people rushed to the upper floors. Many were rescued by firefighters using ladders, they added.
IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun in a press briefing said that 44 people died and 75 had been rescued. Some of the rescued individuals received first aid treatment before returning home safely.
He also said the dead victims included the daughter of a police officer.
Fire Service DG Moin said the 42 unconscious included 21 women and four children.
“It was a dangerous building with gas cylinders on every floor, even on the staircases,” he said.
He believes the fire originated from a gas leak or stove. The building has only one exit – the staircases, according to him.
Most of the people died as they jumped off the building or from burns or suffocation, said firefighters who brought the fire under control around 12.30 am. Smoke was still brewing from the building at that time.
The first death was reported around 1 am when the firefighters took the bodies one by one to a freezing truck waiting outside the building, local media reported. (PTI) -
Sri Lanka ends visa extensions to war-hit Russians, Ukrainians
Colombo (TIP): Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians staying in Sri Lanka on extended visas due to the war have been asked to leave the island nation within two weeks, officials said.
The immigration controller has issued a notice to the tourism ministry that the Russian and Ukrainian tourists must leave the country within two weeks from February 23 as their visas have lapsed, they said.
Over 3,00,000 Russians, 20,000 Ukrainians have arrived since the war broke out in 2022. They have been asked to leave in 2 weeks.
President Zelenskyy admits 31,000 troops have been killed so far in the war.
However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office issued a notice that says he has ordered an investigation as to how the decision to ask them to leave had been made without a cabinet decision to revoke the previous extension of stay.
The President’s Media Division said the Sri Lankan Government had not officially decided to revoke the visa extensions previously granted to these tourists.
Russian and Ukrainian tourists had been allowed extended stays in the country due to the war breaking out between the two European countries. Nearly 3,00,000 Russians and 20,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the war in 2022.
However, the number of tourists currently residing on the island nation on extended visas is not available.
Authorities said the decision to allow them longer stays was then made because of flight shortages.
Immigration authorities said there had been complaints of abuse of tourist visas by Russian and Ukrainian nationals running illegal businesses, employing foreigners, and deploying payment methods for services bypassing local systems. (PTI) -
Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif officially nominates brother Shehbaz for PM’s post
Islamabad/Lahore (TIP): The parliamentary party of the PML-N headed by three-time former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif on February 27 formally nominated his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif for the post of prime minister to head a coalition government.
The parliamentary members’ meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was held in Islamabad with party supremo Nawaz Sharif, 74, in the chair. Shehbaz, 72, had led a coalition government for 16 months till August 2023 before the caretaker government took over following the announcement of elections.
The nomination of Shehbaz Sharif as the next prime minister by the elder brother, who himself was eyeing the plum post for a record fourth time, had surprised many within and outside the party. Outgoing National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has called the National Assembly session on Thursday. (PTI)