The Indian Panorama

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  • India, China relationship is going to be ‘tough’, says Rahul Gandhi

    India, China relationship is going to be ‘tough’, says Rahul Gandhi

    • Rahul Gandhi in US

    SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has asserted that India cannot be pushed around by China as he underlined that the relationship between the two neighbors is going to be “tough” and not an easy one.

    Gandhi, who is in the US for a three-city US tour, made the remarks on Wednesday, May 31 night in response to a question from Indian students at the Stanford University Campus in California. “How do you see the India-China relationship evolving in the next 5-10 years?” he was asked.

    Gandhi replied, “It’s tough right now. I mean, they’ve occupied some of our territory. It’s rough. It’s not too easy (a relationship).” “India cannot be pushed around. That something is not going to happen,” Gandhi said.

    India and China are also locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for three years.

    The bilateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020.

    India has maintained that the bilateral relationship cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border area.

    During his interaction at Stanford University, Gandhi supported New Delhi’s policy of having its relationship with Russia in the context of the Ukrainian war, despite the pressure it feels from the West.

    “We have a relationship with Russia, we have certain dependencies on Russia. So, I would have a similar stance as the Government of India,” Gandhi said in response to a question when asked does he supports India’s neutral stance on Russia. At the end of the day, India has to look for its own interest. India, he said, is a big enough country whereby it generally will have relationships with other countries.

    It’s not so small and dependent that it will have a relationship with one and nobody else, he added.

    “We will always have these types of relationships. We will have better relationships with some people, evolving relationships with other people. So that balance is there,” the former Congress president said.

    Supporting a strong relationship between India and the United States, Gandhi underscored the importance of manufacturing and both countries collaborating in emerging fields like data and artificial intelligence. Simply focusing on the security and defense aspect of this bilateral relationship is not enough he said.
    (Source: PTI)

  • Rahul Gandhi says his disqualification from Lok Sabha has given him huge opportunity

    Rahul Gandhi says his disqualification from Lok Sabha has given him huge opportunity

    Rahul Gandhi in US

    SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that he did not imagine his disqualification from Lok Sabha was possible when he joined politics but asserted that it has given him a “huge opportunity” to serve the people. Gandhi, who is in the US for a three-city US tour, made the remarks on Wednesday, June 31 night in response to a series of questions from Indian students at the prestigious Stanford University Campus in California.

    The Wayanad (Kerala) Member of Parliament was disqualified from Lok Sabha earlier this year after he was convicted by a Surat court in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark.

    In his remarks, Gandhi said that when he joined politics in 2000, he never imagined this is what he would go through. What he sees is going on now is way outside anything that he had thought when he joined politics.

    Referring to his disqualification from Lok Sabha as a Member of Parliament, Gandhi, 52, said he didn’t imagine that something like this was possible.

    “But then I think it’s actually given me a huge opportunity. Probably much bigger than the opportunity I would have. That’s just the way politics works,” he said.

    “I think the drama started really, about six months ago. We were struggling. The entire opposition is struggling in India. Huge financial dominance. Institutional capture. We’re struggling to fight the democratic fight in our country,” he said, adding that at this point in time, he decided to go for the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    “I am very clear, our fight is ours fight,” he said. “But there is a group of young students from India here. I want to have a relationship with them and want to talk to them. It’s my right to do it,” he said during his interaction with Indian students and academicians of Indian origin at the University here.

    He also emphasized in his frequent foreign trips like this, he is not seeking support from anybody.

    “I don’t understand why the prime minister doesn’t come here and do it,” Gandhi asked amidst applause from the audience who had packed the entire auditorium at Stanford.

    The moderator said that the Prime Minister is welcome to come to Stanford anytime and interact with the students and academicians.

    Some of the students were denied entry as the auditorium was packed. Students started queuing up two hours before the event started.

    In the last one and a half years, several Indian ministers have interacted with Indian students.
    (Source: PTI)

     

  • Rahul Gandhi says PM Modi thinks he knows more than God, calls him ‘specimen’

    Rahul Gandhi in US

    SANTA CLARA, CA (TIP): There are people in India who think they know more than God and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “one such specimen”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said.

    Speaking at the ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ event organized by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara in the US state of California on Tuesday, May 30, Gandhi said these people are “absolutely convinced” that they know everything and can explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army.

    “The world is too big and complicated for any person to know everything. That is the disease…There is a group of people in India who are absolutely convinced they know everything. They think they know even more than God.

    “They can sit with God and explain to him what’s going on. And of course, our prime minister is one such specimen. If you sat Modiji with God, he would explain to God how the universe works and God will get confused about what have I created,” he said, evoking peals of laughter from hundreds of his Indian American supporters.

    “They think they can explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army. But at the core of it is mediocrity. They’re not ready to listen!” he said.

    Gandhi’s event was attended by community members not only in Silicon Valley but also from Los Angeles and Canada.

    Gandhi told the Indian Americans that the idea of India was under attack and is being challenged.

    He applauded the Indian Americans for holding up the Indian flag in America, showing the American people what it means to be an Indian by respecting their culture and learning from them while also allowing the Americans to learn from them.

    “You make us all proud. When we think of our country, you are all our ambassadors. When America says Indian people are extremely intelligent. Indian people are masters of IT, Indian people are respectful. All these ideas that have come, they’ve come because of you and because of your actions and your behaviors,” he said.
    (Source: PTI)

  • BJP can be defeated if Opposition is ‘aligned properly’: Rahul Gandhi

    BJP can be defeated if Opposition is ‘aligned properly’: Rahul Gandhi

    • Rahul Gandhi in US

    SANTA CLARA, CA (TIP): The ruling BJP can be defeated if the Opposition is “aligned properly” and the Congress party is working towards it and it is “coming along very nicely”, Rahul Gandhi has told Indian Americans here, citing his party’s emphatic victory in the recent assembly elections in Karnataka.

    Responding to questions from the moderator and the audiences at an event at the Silicon Valley Campus of the University of California in Santa Cruz on Tuesday, Gandhi said he can clearly see “vulnerabilities” in the BJP.

    “As a political entrepreneur, I can clearly see vulnerabilities in the BJP… The BJP can be defeated if the Opposition is aligned properly,” he said.

    “If you look at the Karnataka elections, the general sense is that the Congress Party fought the BJP and defeated the BJP. But what is not well understood is the mechanics that we used,” he said.

    The Congress party used a completely different approach to fighting an election and building a narrative, Gandhi said, adding that elements of what happened in Karnataka came out of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

    In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, while incumbent BJP and the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) got 66 and 19, respectively.

    Gandhi said in the Karnataka elections, the BJP spent 10 times more money than the Congress party.

    He said the country needed an alternative vision to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in addition to having a united Opposition in the 2024 general elections.

    “On the matter of opposition unity, we are working towards it and it is coming along very nicely. But I think in order to defeat the BJP, you need more than just opposition unity. Just opposition unity, in my opinion, is not going to be enough to do the job. I think you need an alternative vision to the BJP,” he said.

    “Part of Bharat Jodo Yatra was the first step in proposing such a vision. It’s the vision that all opposition parties are aligned with. No opposition party would disagree with the idea of the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he said.

    Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March) was a Gandhi-led mass movement aimed at uniting India. The yatra began on September 7 from Kanyakumari, passed through 12 states and culminated in Jammu and Kashmir on January 31. During the course of the yatra, Gandhi, 52, addressed 12 public meetings, over 100 corner meetings and 13 press conferences. He had over 275 planned walking interactions and more than 100 sitting interactions.

    “So, I think bringing the opposition together is important, but also aligning the opposition and making the people of India understand that there is not just a group of opposition parties that have combined but a proposed way forward for the country. And we’re working on those things,” Gandhi said.

    The ex-Wayanad MP said it is the president of the Congress party who will decide the prime ministerial candidate.

    “We believe that everybody in India, regardless of who they are, whichever part of the society they come from, they should have a voice that voice should be respected, to be listened to be appreciated. And I think that voice is an asset,” he said.

    In his address, Gandhi also took a dig at the ruling BJP government, saying it is “threatening” the people and “misusing” the country’s agencies.

    “The BJP is threatening people and misusing government agencies. The Bharat Jodo Yatra started because all the instruments that we needed to connect with the people were controlled by the BJP-RSS,” he said.

    “We were also finding that in some way, it had become quite difficult to act politically. And that’s why we decided to walk from the southernmost tip of India to Srinagar,” he said.

    Gandhi said the yatra carried the spirit of affection, respect and humility.

    “If one studies history, it can be seen that all spiritual leaders — including Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Basavanna ji, Narayana Guru ji — united the nation in a similar way,” he said.

    Gandhi said India is not what is being shown in the media which likes to promote a political narrative that is far from reality, asserting that there is a “huge distortion”.

    “It was very clear to me in the Yatra that it’s in the media’s interest to project these things, it helps the BJP. So, don’t think that everything you see in the media is the truth,” he said.

    “India is not what the media shows. The media likes to show a particular narrative. It likes to promote a political narrative that is actually not what is going on in India,” he said.

    The Congress leader arrived here on Tuesday, May 30 on a three-city US tour during which he will interact with the Indian diaspora and meet American lawmakers.

    He had a first-hand experience of the American immigration system as he had to wait for about two hours along with his other co-passengers on the Air India flight because of the common shortage of staff at the US airports.

    People were seen taking selfies with him and asking him questions. He was seen interacting and mingling with other traveler’s at the San Francisco airport.
    (Source: PTI)

     

  • Rahul Gandhi speaks his mind on his visit to the US

    Rahul Gandhi speaks his mind on his visit to the US

    • Rahul Gandhi in US

    I.S. Saluja

    NEW YORK (TIP): On his first visit abroad after being disqualified from the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi spoke candidly on a number of national and international issues at a number of events which included a National Press Club appearance in Washington, D.C. , meetings with students at universities, and with the public in California and Washington D.C.
    On a six-day visit to the US, Rahul Gandhi was in California on May 30 and 31 on the first leg of his tour where he spoke at the ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ event organized by Indian Overseas Congress USA in Santa Clara on Tuesday, May 30.
    On May 31, he held interactions with Silicon Valley AI experts and startup entrepreneurs.
    Rahul Gandhi was in Washington, D.C. on June 1 and 2 where he appeared at a number of events including the National Press Club appearance , held meetings with students, business and trade representatives, the Indian Diaspora organizations and with US lawmakers.
    He would arrive in New York on June 3 on the last leg of his tour where the Indian Overseas Congress USA has planned a huge public meeting at the Javits Center in Manhattan on Sunday, June 4, and before that, on June 3, a dinner has been organized where Rahul Gandhi will meet people in an informal setting.
    During his stay in New York, he will be meeting with representatives of various organizations and have interactions with a number of delegations . He will also speak to students.

    Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda said Gandhi’s visit is aimed at promoting shared values and a vision of “real democracy”.

    “The purpose of his (Gandhi’s) trip is to connect, interact and begin a new conversation with various individuals, institutions and media, including the Indian diaspora that is growing in numbers in the United States and abroad to promote the shared values and vision of the real democracy with a focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability, justice, peace and opportunities world over,” Pitroda said in a statement on Sunday, May 28.

    The Indian Panorama brings you below the media coverage of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the US from May 30 to June 2, 2023.

     

  • Indian democracy is a ‘global public good’; its ‘collapse’ will have an impact on world, says Rahul Gandhi

    Indian democracy is a ‘global public good’; its ‘collapse’ will have an impact on world, says Rahul Gandhi

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Asserting that Indian democracy is a “global public good”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that its “collapse” will have an impact on the world and is not in America’s national interest.
    At the same time, Gandhi, who is currently on a six-day tour of the United States, said in multiple settings that the issue of democracy is an internal matter of the country, and he is committed to fighting against it.
    “It’s our job, it’s our business, and it’s our work to fight the battle for democracy in India. “And it’s something that we understand, we accept, and we do,” he told reporters at a news conference here at the National Press Club on Thursday, June 1.
    “But the thing to remember is that Indian democracy is a global public good. Because India is large enough that a collapse in democracy in India will affect…will have an impact on the world. So that is for you to think about how much you have to value Indian democracy. But for us, it’s an internal matter, and it’s a fight that we are committed to, and we are going to, we are going to win,” Gandhi said.
    He gave a similar answer to questions on democracy at a reception hosted for him by eminent Indian American Frank Islam.
    Responding to a question, Gandhi said that there is a need to broaden the India-US relationship and it should not be restricted to just defense relationships alone.
    “India has to do what’s in its interest. And that’s what will guide us… So, I am not entirely convinced about the sort of autocratic vision that is being promoted. I think that it’s very important that democracy is protected on the planet. So, India has a role there. India, of course, has its view on things, and I think that that view should be put on the table, but I don’t think one should think about these things as the center of things. I think that’s, that would be arrogant,” he said.
    “We understand the strengths that we bring to the table: democratic values, data, these are some of the things that technology, a highly educated, technically educated population. These are our strengths. I think we have to chart our course based on these strengths,” he said in response to a question on the India-US relationship.
    Read here: ‘Muslim League secular’: Rahul; ‘Compulsion to stay acceptable in Wayanad’: BJP
    During an interaction with the media at the National Press Club, Gandhi said that “the US and India have synergies, that if they come together can be very powerful. What we are facing is a particular vision of the world, the Chinese vision of the world that offers productivity, and prosperity, but under a non-Democratic field.”
    “That’s not acceptable to us, because we simply cannot thrive under non-democratic. So, we have to think about productive production and prosperity in a Democratic field. And I think that’s where the bridge between India and the United States can play a very important role for us and for you,” he said.
    Responding to a question on China, at a dinner reception, Gandhi said the Chinese system offers prosperity, but under a non-democratic system.
    “I feel that an alternative vision needs to be put on the table. I think that’s the real challenge facing the United States and India and other democracies. What exactly does a countervailing vision look like and what are the core elements of that vision?” he said.
    “I think we are in the midst of a number of transitions. We are in the midst of a transition in mobility, a transition in energy, a transition in communication. How do we, how do we think about those transitions? I think those are really the big questions. Of course, uh, with regards to the United States, we have cooperation on defense, and that’s very important, but I think it’s equally important to widen the relationship and make it broader so it’s more secure,” Gandhi said.
    China is occupying Indian territory, the former Congress party chief claimed.
    “It’s an accepted fact. I think 1,500 square kilometers of land the size of Delhi is occupied by them. It’s absolutely unacceptable. The Prime Minister seems to believe otherwise. Maybe he knows something that we don’t know,” he said at the National Press Club. The Indian government has rejected Gandhi’s claim.
    The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

    Read here: In US, Rahul backs India’s position on Ukraine

    India has underlined the importance of resolving the eastern Ladakh border row with China and ensuring peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control for the development of bilateral ties.
    (Source: PTI)

  • PM Modi invited to address joint session of U.S. Congress on June 22

    PM Modi invited to address joint session of U.S. Congress on June 22

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on June 22, during his state visit to the U.S.

    The leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate from both parties invited Mr. Modi to share his vision of India’s future and the global challenges faced by both countries.

    Mr. Modi first addressed the legislative bodies in June 2016 on an earlier visit to Washington.

    The invitation to Mr. Modi was co-signed by House Speaker (Republican) Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority (Democrat) Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “Your historic address to a Joint Meeting of Congress seven years ago left a lasting impression and greatly deepened the friendship between the United States and India,” the letter said. The lawmakers also said that the two countries’ “shared values and commitment to global peace and prosperity” was the basis on which the bilateral partnership was growing. “We look forward to continuing to work together to build a brighter future for our countries and for the world,” the letter said. Mr. Modi will be in Washington on June 22 and 23.

  • 238 people killed and more than 900 injured in a train crash in India

    238 people killed and more than 900 injured in a train crash in India

    PM Modi to visit train accident site, hospital in Odisha

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday, June 3 visit the site of the train accident in Odisha and also the Cuttack hospital where the injured are being treated.
    At least 238 people were killed and around 900 were injured in a horrific three-train collision in Odisha’s Balasore, officials said Saturday, June 3, the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than 20 years. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a high-level committee will be set up to investigate the train crash.
    The crash involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, and a goods train.
    The accident saw one train ram so hard into another that carriages were lifted high into the air, twisting and then smashing off the tracks. Another carriage had been tossed entirely onto its roof, crushing the passenger section.
    “The rescue operation has been completed, now we are starting the restoration work,” Amitabh Sharma, Railways Spokesperson, said. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has declared one-day state mourning in view of the horrific train crash. Vaishnaw has also announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for those who have died, Rs 2 lakh for those seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those who sustained minor injuries in the accident.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed his distress over the accident, and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the family of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

  • US Congress averts historic default, approves debt-limit suspension

    US Congress averts historic default, approves debt-limit suspension

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The U.S. Senate on Thursday, June 1 passed bipartisan legislation backed by President Joe Biden that lifts the government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, averting what would have been a first-ever default, reports Reuter.

    The Senate voted 63-36 to approve the bill that had been passed on Wednesday, May 31 by the House of Representatives, as lawmakers raced against the clock following months of partisan bickering between Democrats and Republicans. The Treasury Department had warned it would be unable to pay all its bills on June 5 if Congress failed to act by then.

    “We are avoiding default tonight,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday, June 1, as he steered the legislation through his 100-member chamber.

    Biden praised Congress’ timely action. “This bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people,” the Democratic president said in a statement, adding that he will sign it into law as soon as possible. He said he would make an additional statement on Friday at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT).

    Biden was directly involved in negotiations on the bill with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

    While this bitter battle has ended, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell wasted no time flagging the next budget fight. “In the coming months, Senate Republicans will continue working to provide for the common defense and control Washington Democrats’ reckless spending,” he said in a statement.

    McConnell was referring to 12 bills Congress will work on over the summer to fund government programs in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, which will also carry out the broad instructions of the debt limit bill.

    Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, meanwhile, issued some pointed advice saying, “I continue to strongly believe that the full faith and credit of the United States must never be used as a bargaining chip,” as Republicans did over the past several months.Before the final vote, senators tore through nearly a dozen amendments – rejecting all of them during a late-night session in anticipation of Monday’s deadline.

    With this legislation, the statutory limit on federal borrowing will be suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. Unlike most other developed countries, the United States limits the amount of debt the government can borrow, regardless of any spending allocated by the legislature.

    “America can breathe a sigh of relief,” Schumer said in remarks to the Senate.

    ‘TIME IS A LUXURY’
    Republicans had blocked passage of any debt limit increase until they locked in some wide-ranging spending cuts in a move they said would begin addressing a rapidly escalating national debt.

    Biden instead pushed for tax increases on the wealthy and corporations to help address the growing debt. Republicans refused to consider any sort of tax hikes.

    Both parties walled off the sprawling Social Security and Medicare retirement and healthcare programs from cuts, and McCarthy refused to consider reducing spending on the military or veterans.

    That left a somewhat narrow band of domestic “discretionary” programs to bear the brunt of spending cuts. In the end, Republicans won about $1.5 trillion in reductions over 10 years, which may or may not be fully realized. Their opening bid was for $4.8 trillion in savings over a decade.

    Treasury technically hit its limit on borrowing in January. Since then it has been using “extraordinary measures” to patch together the money needed to pay the government’s bills.

    Biden, Yellen and congressional leaders all acknowledged that triggering a default for lack of funds would have serious ramifications. Those included sending shock waves through global financial markets, possibly triggering job losses and a recession in the United States and raising families’ interest rates on everything from home mortgages to credit card debt.

    The Republican-controlled House passed the bill on Wednesday evening in a 314-117 vote. Most of those who voted against the bill were Republicans.

    “Time is a luxury the Senate does not have,” Schumer said on Thursday. “Any needless delay or any last-minute holdups would be an unnecessary and even dangerous risk.”

    Among the amendments debated were ones to force deeper spending cuts than those contained in the House-passed bill and stopping the speedy final approval of a West Virginia energy pipeline.

    COBBLED OVER WEEKS
    Republican Senator Roger Marshall offered an amendment to impose new border controls as high numbers of immigrants arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. His measure, he said, would “put an end to the culture of lawlessness at our southern border.”

    The Senate defeated the amendment, however. Democrats said it would strip away protections for child migrants and rob American farmers of needed workers.

    Some Republicans also wanted to beef up defense spending beyond the increased levels contained in the House-passed bill.

    In response, Schumer said the spending caps in this legislation would not constrain Congress in approving additional money for emergencies, including helping Ukraine in its battle against Russia.

    “This debt ceiling deal does nothing to limit the Senate’s ability to appropriate emergency supplemental funds to ensure our military capabilities are sufficient to deter China, Russia and our other adversaries, and respond to ongoing and growing national security threats, including Russia’s evil ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine,” Schumer said. The bill was cobbled together over weeks of intensive negotiations between senior aides for Biden and McCarthy.

    The main argument was overspending for the next couple of years on discretionary programs such as housing, environmental protections, education and medical research that Republicans wanted to cut deeply.

    The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would save $1.5 trillion over 10 years. That is below the $3 trillion in deficit reduction, mainly through new taxes, that Biden proposed.

    The last time the United States came this close to default was in 2011. That standoff hammered financial markets, led to the first-ever downgrade of the government’s credit rating and pushed up the nation’s borrowing costs.

    There was less drama this time as it became clear last week that Biden and McCarthy would find a deal with enough bipartisan support to get through Congress.

  • Much ado about the inauguration Oppn parties which boycotted the event should join hands to oppose Centre’s ordinance on Delhi

    Much ado about the inauguration Oppn parties which boycotted the event should join hands to oppose Centre’s ordinance on Delhi

    “Modi has his nose in front on these considerations and also because of his communication skills. But if he needles his political rivals to the point of desperation, like what he is doing with the AAP in Delhi, disparate forces will stack up against him for sheer survival. Misusing powers to deter critics, while going easy on supporters by releasing jailed convicts prematurely or allowing prolonged release on parole, will be noted by those voters who are wedded to the ideals of justice and equity. Reluctance to act against a party strongman accused by renowned women wrestlers of sexual harassment can influence female voters.”

    By Julio Ribeiro

    The controversy over the inauguration of the new building to house our Parliament was totally unnecessary. What is more relevant is whether the spanking new premises will be useful or not. The trend, of late, is to argue over issues outside Parliament on the streets, where the language used can be more colorful and lies can be bandied about without an instant challenge.

    If Opposition politicians want to emulate Modi, they will first have to displace him from his pedestal in 2024.

    What exactly did the Opposition gain by boycotting the inauguration by our nation’s most ‘Prominent Citizen’? It is true that our Prime Minister utilizes different vehicles to remind citizens of his omnipresence. What is wrong with that? He is a politician, extremely adept at popularizing himself. It will be difficult to compete with him as he occupies a commanding position on the popularity index. If Opposition politicians want to emulate him, they will first have to displace him from his pedestal in 2024, and that will not be easy.

    The main Opposition parties agreed on which dignitary was appropriate for doing the honors on May 28 — the nation’s first tribal President. The selection of an Adivasi woman to occupy that exalted, albeit ceremonial, position was hailed as a coup of sorts when it was announced. But everyone in India, including the President herself, knew that whenever it would be politically expedient to showcase the Prime Minister instead of the President, the choice would be preordained.

    The BJP has never made a secret of its wish for a unitary form of government. The Sangh Parivar, influenced strongly by the importance of discipline and obedience to the ruler or the presiding elder — as it was in the days of the Ramayana — is happy with Modi’s sole presence on the political stage. Droupadi Murmu would have understood this by now. She has not disputed her benefactor’s right to assert his popularity during inaugurations even where the President should have been showcased by right.

    The BJP feels that the inauguration of the new Parliament building will contribute to its prospects in 2024. I do not think it will matter. The voter in 2024 will ponder more on his or her own well-being. Economic well-being will naturally be the top priority, followed by security of the homeland and security of life and property around his home.

    Modi has his nose in front on these considerations and also because of his communication skills. But if he needles his political rivals to the point of desperation, like what he is doing with the AAP in Delhi, disparate forces will stack up against him for sheer survival. Misusing powers to deter critics, while going easy on supporters by releasing jailed convicts prematurely or allowing prolonged release on parole, will be noted by those voters who are wedded to the ideals of justice and equity. Reluctance to act against a party strongman accused by renowned women wrestlers of sexual harassment can influence female voters.

    The inauguration of a highway, a fast train or a new Parliament building will not change the equation, even though such events are organized at the expense of the exchequer and not from the party’s coffers. Our peripatetic PM has been traipsing around the country throughout the year almost, inaugurating one construction or the other. The end result is that people have stopped looking at the remarkable progress in infrastructure development and, instead, started concentrating on the august persona of the Prime Minister himself. That does help the party.

    Twenty-one Opposition parties boycotted the inauguration of the Parliament building. It made no difference. It cut no ice with the electorate, whose attention was turned to the Sengol, which is intended to signify the Speaker’s authority in the Lok Sabha. It was constructed by a jewelry firm in Tamil Nadu, which had also made the Sengol that was ceremonially handed over to Nehru by the last British Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, on August 14, 1947. The Opposition parties which came together to boycott the inauguration should unite to oppose the ordinance that the Central government has promulgated to nullify the Supreme Court’s judgment on the powers of the Delhi government over its bureaucrats. The ordinance attempts to overturn the mandate given by Delhi’s people to AAP. The ordinance vests authority to govern the National Capital Territory in bureaucrats despite the clear wishes of the people to the contrary.

    If this move succeeds, the Central government could invent ingenious ways to negate the people’s mandate in other states where the double-engine government is not installed by popular will. And that is a disturbing thought. The Congress should beware of this possibility. Its dislike of Arvind Kejriwal should not come in the path of opposing the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.

    An ordinance has to be cleared by both Houses of Parliament within six months. The government faces no problem in the Lok Sabha, but there is one in the Rajya Sabha. If all Opposition parties unite, there is no way the BJP can push through an Act on the lines of the ordinance. The danger to state governments in non-BJP-ruled states is stark. It should be obvious to even the most trusting of the NDA’s allies that their installed governments will not be safe should this ordinance prevail. The headlong rush for a unitary, ‘Opposition-mukt’ government at the Centre as well as BJP governments in every state will turn this ‘mother of democracy’ (Modi’s term for our existing system of governance) into a ‘child of autocracy’.

    From all indications at present, Modi will not find the going as easy in 2024 as it was in 2019 if the Opposition parties really unite. But I doubt if such unity is possible, considering the egos and aspirations of various leaders. I doubt if they will agree to put up a common candidate against a BJP nominee in every Lok Sabha constituency. If they agree to do so in a majority of the constituencies, they can expect to have a much stronger Opposition in the Lok Sabha than at present. That in itself should prevent this democracy from sliding into autocracy.
    (The author is a retired Indian Police Officer and a former governor)

  • “Hasya Kavi Sammelan” UPANY – Uttar Pradesh Association of New York

    “Hasya Kavi Sammelan” UPANY – Uttar Pradesh Association of New York

    Famous poet Surendra Sharma made the audiences go into peels of laughter

    BY PRADEEP TANDON

    NEW YORK (TIP): The magic of Hindi poetry was seen in the “Hasya Kavi Sammelan” of UP Association of New York. The auditorium at Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School in Oakland Gardens, New York reverberated with laughter and applause on Saturday evening, May 20 2023. The occasion was the ‘Hasya Kavi Sammelan’ organized by the Uttar Pradesh Association of New York. In the jam-packed auditorium, the audience delved into the sea of laughter and emotion on the recitation of four imminent, renowned poets from India. Dr. BK Mehta, President of Akhil Vishwa Hindi Samiti New York, former National President of International Hindi Association, Major Sher Bahadur Singh, President of New York Chapter Mrs. Kamla Panchal, Hindi lover and philanthropist Indrajit Sharma and President of Uttar Pradesh Association of New York Pradeep Tandon inaugurated the event by lamp lighting ceremony; with the chanting of Mantras by Pandit Ram Niwas Dixit, the priest of the Hindu Center. Saraswati Vandana was performed by Esha Mishra in a beautiful Kathak dance performance. Smt. Sushma Kaushik, President of Bharatiya “Pravasi” Sahitya Sangam, started the Kavi Sammelan with the recitation of a poem by her father late Dr. Om Prakash “Pravasi”, the founder of her organization. On this occasion, international poet Padma Shri Surendra Sharma was honored with ‘Kavikul Shiromani Samman’, Mr. Ramesh Muskan was awarded ‘Vyangya Bhushan Samman’, renowned poetess of ‘Shringar Ras’, Dr. Anu Sapan was awarded ‘Shabd Sadhna Samman’ for her poetic talent and Mr. Chirag Jain was honored with ‘Sarthak Srijan Samman’. Despite the heavy rains the Kavi Sammelan was attended by more than 440 persons. There was tea and snacks in the beginning and sumptuous dinner after the ‘Kavi Sammelan’. The poets recited poems for about three hours, reminding the audience of Indian culture and India. Kavi Sammelan started with humor and sarcasm of Ramesh Muskan. Dr. Anu Sapan recited her poems of ‘Shringar Ras’ in her beautiful melodic voice. Chirag Jain was at his best with his mischievous and emotional poems. Padma Shri Surender Sharma enthralled the audience with his comic talent, as well as his special poem ‘Radha-Krishna’.
    The president of the Uttar Pradesh Association of New York, Mr. Pradeep Tandon coordinated the entire program.Dr.Usha Tandon proposed the vote of thanks. The Kavi-Sammelan was a great success, due to the hard work of all the members of the association. The audience congratulated Pradeep Tandon by saying that such a ‘Kavi Sammelan’ has never happened before in New York.

     

  • Murphy opposes senior tax cut plan pushed by top N.J. Democrat, would shut down state over it

    Murphy opposes senior tax cut plan pushed by top N.J. Democrat, would shut down state over it

    TRENTON, NJ (TIP): Gov. Phil Murphy is opposed to a broad tax cut plan for New Jersey’s seniors being pushed by a top state lawmaker and is willing to shut down the state government over the proposal, NJ Advance Media has learned. Murphy would veto the proposal if it’s sent to his desk as is, over concerns that it’s “irresponsible” because it would benefit even the richest residents 65 and older, as well as worries over how the state would pay for it at a time when tax revenue is dropping, according to two senior administration sources.The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the matter in public. The development adds a large layer of uncertainty and new drama during the final month of negotiations between Murphy and his fellow Democrats who control the state Legislature as they hammer out a final state budget, due by July 1. If they don’t come to an agreement by the deadline, Murphy could order a shutdown of the state government — something that has happened only twice in state history. The last time was 2017. State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, introduced the tax cut plan Monday. Dubbed Stay NJ, it would establish a property tax credit program for all seniors in the Garden State. “It’s time to be there for our seniors, to make our state a better place to retire,” Coughlin, a 65-year-old who recently welcomed his first two grandchildren, wrote in a corresponding op-ed published on NJ.com. State Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, said he is working with Coughlin on the measure and suggested the state could help pay for it by extending a corporate business tax surcharge that Murphy and top Democrats have agreed to let expire at the end of the year. But Murphy still plans to let the surtax expire, sources said, despite pushback from progressive advocates and experts who warn against such changes at a time of plummeting revenue and economic uncertainty. The governor is also concerned about the senior tax cut plan because it’s “uncapped,” benefitting even wealthy residents despite seniors already receiving property tax relief from the state, according to the sources. Murphy’s administration is preparing a “contingency” plan for a government shutdown if lawmakers stand firm on the proposal, sources said. That could mean Murphy closes state government services, as well as state parks, just before the July 4 holiday. That’s what happened in 2017, when then-Gov. Chris Christie shut down the government over a budget fight — one that included those famous photos of Christie on the beach. Spokespeople for Coughlin and Scutari did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday morning.

  • IRS alerts businesses, tax-exempt groups of warning signs for misleading Employee Retention scams; simple steps can avoid improperly filing claims

    IRS alerts businesses, tax-exempt groups of warning signs for misleading Employee Retention scams; simple steps can avoid improperly filing claims

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP):  As aggressive marketing continues; the Internal Revenue Service, on May 25,  renewed an alert for businesses to watch out for tell-tale signs of misleading claims involving the Employee Retention Credit. The IRS and tax professionals continue to see a barrage of aggressive broadcast advertising, direct mail solicitations and online promotions involving the Employee Retention Credit. While the credit is real, aggressive promoters are wildly misrepresenting and exaggerating who can qualify for the credits.

    The IRS has stepped up audit and criminal investigation work involving these claims. Businesses, tax-exempt organizations and others considering applying for this credit need to carefully review the official requirements for this limited program before applying. Those who improperly claim the credit face follow-up action from the IRS.

    “The aggressive marketing of the Employee Retention Credit continues preying on innocent businesses and others,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Aggressive promoters present wildly misleading claims about this credit. They can pocket handsome fees while leaving those claiming the credit at risk of having the claims denied or facing scenarios where they need to repay the credit.”

    The Employee Retention Credit (ERC), also sometimes called the Employee Retention Tax Credit or ERTC, is a legitimate tax credit. Many businesses legitimately apply for the pandemic-era credit. The IRS has added staff to handle ERC claims, which are time-consuming to process because they involve amended tax returns.

    “This continual barrage of marketing by advertisers means many invalid claims are coming into the IRS, which also means it takes our hard-working employees longer to get to the legitimate Employee Retention Credits,” Werfel said. “The IRS understands the importance of these credits, and we appreciate the patience of businesses and tax professionals as we continue to work hard to get valid claims processed as quickly as possible while also protecting against fraud.”

    The IRS has been issuing warnings about aggressive ERC scams since last year, and it made the agency’s list this year of the “Dirty Dozen” tax scams that people should watch out for.

    This is an ongoing priority area in many ways, and the IRS continues to increase compliance work involving ERC. The IRS has trained auditors examining ERC claims posing the greatest risk, and the IRS Criminal Investigation division is working to identify fraud and promoters of fraudulent claims.

    The IRS reminds anyone who improperly claims the ERC that they must pay it back, possibly with penalties and interest. A business or tax-exempt group could find itself in a much worse cash position if it has to pay back the credit than if the credit was never claimed in the first place. So, it’s important to avoid getting scammed.

    When properly claimed, the ERC is a refundable tax credit designed for businesses that continued paying employees while shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic or that had a significant decline in gross receipts during the eligibility periods. The credit is not available to individuals.

    Warning signs of aggressive ERC marketing

    There are important tips that people should be wary of involving the Employee Retention Credit. Warning signs to watch out for include:

    • Unsolicited calls or advertisements mentioning an “easy application process.”
    • Statements that the promoter or company can determine ERC eligibility within minutes.
    • Large upfront fees to claim the credit.
    • Fees based on a percentage of the refund amount of Employee Retention Credit claimed. This is a similar warning sign for average taxpayers, who should always avoid a tax preparer basing their fee on the size of the refund.

    Aggressive claims from the promoter that the business receiving the solicitation qualifies before any discussion of the group’s tax situation. In reality, the Employee Retention Credit is a complex credit that requires careful review before applying. The IRS also sees wildly aggressive suggestions from marketers urging businesses to submit the claim because there is nothing to lose. In reality, those improperly receiving the credit could have to repay the credit – along with substantial interest and penalties. These promoters may lie about eligibility requirements. In addition, those using these companies could be at risk of someone using the credit as a ploy to steal the taxpayer’s identity or take a cut of the taxpayer’s improperly claimed credit.

    How the promoters lure victims

    The IRS continues to see a variety of ways that promoters can lure businesses, tax-exempt groups and others into applying for the credit.

    Aggressive marketing. This can be seen in countless places, including radio, television and online as well as phone calls and text messages. Direct mailing. Some ERC mills are sending out fake letters to taxpayers from the non-existent groups like the “Department of Employee Retention Credit.” These letters can be made to look like official IRS correspondence or an official government mailing with language urging immediate action.

    Leaving out key details. Third-party promoters of the ERC often don’t accurately explain eligibility requirements or how the credit is computed. They may make broad arguments suggesting that all employers are eligible without evaluating an employer’s individual circumstances.

    For example, only recovery startup businesses are eligible for the ERC in the fourth quarter of 2021, but promoters fail to explain this limit. Again, the promoters may not inform taxpayers that they need to reduce wage deductions claimed on their business’ federal income tax return by the amount of the Employee Retention Credit. This causes a domino effect of tax problems for the business.

    Payroll Protection Program participation. In addition, many of these promoters don’t tell employers that they can’t claim the ERC on wages that were reported as payroll costs if they obtained Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness. How businesses and others can protect themselves

    The IRS reminded businesses, tax-exempt groups and others being approached by these promoters that there are simple steps that can be taken to protect themselves from making an improper Employee Retention Credit.

     

    Work with a trusted tax professional. Eligible employers who need help claiming the credit should work with a trusted tax professional; the IRS urges people not to rely on the advice of those soliciting these credits. Promoters who are marketing this ultimately have a vested interest in making money; in many cases they are not looking out for the best interests of those applying.

    Don’t apply unless you believe you are legitimately qualified for this credit. Details about the credit are available on IRS.gov, and again a trusted tax professional – not someone promoting the credit – can provide critical professional advice on the ERC.

    To report ERC abuse, submit Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers. People should mail or fax a completed Form 14242, Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers, and any supporting materials to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

    Mail:

    Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center

    Stop MS5040

    24000 Avila Road

    Laguna Niguel, California 92677-3405

    Fax: 877-477-9135

    Properly claiming the ERC

    There are very specific eligibility requirements for claiming the ERC. These are technical areas that require review. They can claim the ERC on an original or amended employment tax return for qualified wages paid between March 13, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021. However, to be eligible, employers must have:

     

    • Sustained a full or partial suspension of operations due to orders from an appropriate governmental authority limiting commerce, travel or group meetings because of COVID-19 during 2020 or the first three quarters of 2021,
    • Experienced a significant decline in gross receipts during 2020 or a decline in gross receipts during the first three quarters of 2021, or
    • Qualified as a recovery startup business for the third or fourth quarters of 2021.

     

  • ISKCON Chicago Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori to celebrate 50 Years

    ISKCON Chicago Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori to celebrate 50 Years

    CHICAGO, IL (TIP): In the heart of Rogers Park, Chicago, the ISKCON temple, and home of the dear Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori (Radha Krishna) deities, is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this June 15th-18th, 2023.

    The four-day event will honor all the members who have served in the ISKCON Chicago community during the last 50 years. 5000 plus devotees will participate in this auspicious 4 days event.

    The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, is a worldwide spiritual society based on the philosophy of Bhagavad Gita and Sankirtana or musical chanting and was founded in America by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966. The movement has its roots from a spiritual tradition and the knowledge is accepted as being spoken by Sri Krishna 5000 years ago. Srila Prabhupada and his youthful disciples soon established temples in many cities around the world. ISKCON now has over 650 temples and centers, 110 restaurants, and a wide variety of community projects and still growing.

    Srila Prabhupada came to the United States on a cargo ship in 1966. He sacrificed the remainder of his time on earth and dedicated his life to propagating the Hare Krishna Movement and expanding ISKCON worldwide.
    In 1973, the deities of Radha-Krishna were installed in Chicago’s temple, which was located in Evanston. Srila Prabhupada affectionately named Them Kisora-Kisori, The youthful couple. In 1980 the deities were moved to their current location in Rogers Park.

    The 50th Anniversary festival will include spiritual discussions, music, presentations, food, and lots of fun. Everyone is welcome. This celebration from June15th-18th is meant to both glorify their Lordships Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori and to also recognize and glorify all the wonderful devotees and well-wishers that did service and helped bring in 50 years of wonderful service in the Chicago land community.
    (Photograph and Press release by Asian Media USA)

  • Baad Muddat ke Yeh Ghari Aayee: on Aligarh Alumni Association Eid celebration

    Baad Muddat ke Yeh Ghari Aayee: on Aligarh Alumni Association Eid celebration

    Audience

    MARYLAND (TIP): The Aligarh Alumni Association, Washington DC, organized an Eid Milan Party on 6th May 2023 after a hiatus of over three years. The community could not meet in person due to Covid-related health regulations. The Eid Milan party provided an excellent opportunity to foster a feeling of community and friendship. It was a very well-attended event, with families coming from far distances.

    The party was held at Bohrer Park, Gaithersburg, Maryland–a popular venue in Metropolitan Washington. The ballroom was beautifully decorated with colorful banners, balloons, ribbons, lanterns, and flowers, giving a festive look to the event. Excellent lighting and sound systems enhanced the overall ambiance of the party.

    The program started with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome speech by the Association’s president, Ms. Aisha Azim Khan. She thanked and reminded the audience about the Eid Milan events the Association used to organize in the past, emphasizing children’s participation. It was considered important to familiarize children with our heritage, language, and culture. She was pleased to note that many of those kids are now adults, and some now contribute to the scholarship program.

    The audience witnessed an emotional display of affection and love for their Alma Mater by alumni in a chorus rendition of the famous Aligarh AMU Tarana Yeh Mera Chaman Hai led by Masood Farshori.

    The Emcee of the event, Afzal Usmani, briefed the audience about the history of the Association and its role in community building as well as doing charitable work, especially the scholarship program at Aligarh Muslim University, India. “The Association is a non-political, non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable, educational, social, and cultural organization striving for educational upliftment of deserving underprivileged students and to foster cultural values of the Subcontinent in North America,” he said. He also apprised the audience that AAA-DC took a bold step to change the name of Aligarh Old Boys to Aligarh Alumni Association. Another first begun by the Association was the establishment of International Mushaira in the Western Hemisphere. This annual mushaira tradition has continued for over four decades in the Metro Washington area, and other Aligarh Alumni in North America are organizing such events.

    It was impressive and heart-warming to see the special recognition of the founding members of the Association. The Association was started in a meeting held in 1975 at the home of the late Mr. Tufail Ahmed. The founders present in tonight’s event were Dr. Abdullah, Mr. Azim Khan, Mrs. Aisha Khan, Mr. Tariq Farooqi, Mrs. Farzana Farooqi, and Mrs. Salma Ahmad (wife of Late Tufail Ahmad, founding president of the Association in 1975). In addition, the Association acknowledged current office bearers, the organizing committee, members of the core group, volunteers, and supporters of the Association.

    It was pleasing to see the active participation of children under 14 in games arranged for them. Hafiz Salahuddin and Aminah received prizes as the winner and runner-up in these games.

    There were several musical and cultural performances. Khursheed Bilgirami, Karamat Ali, and Mohammad Hamid entertained the audience with beautiful music singing everlasting songs and ghazals. Dr. A. Abdullah recited a poem on Eid and Masood Farshori recited Bekal Utsahi’s famous nazm Taj Mahal and Dlawar Figar’s humorous nazm Ishq ka Parcha in his style. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner with a variety of dishes, including sewain (vermicelli)—a traditional sweet dish on Eid.
    (Report by Afzal Usmani and Zafar Iqbal. Dr. Iqbal can be reached at raabta.india@gmail.com and 240-328-0162)

    A group of children at the celebration
    A group of volunteers
  • Bollywood looks to dubbing movies in Guatemala

    Bollywood looks to dubbing movies in Guatemala

    GUATEMALA CITY (TIP): Bollywood, in collaboration with local partners and artists from Guatemala, has undertaken the task of dubbing 100 popular Bollywood movies into the Spanish language. This ambitious project aims to introduce Indian cinema to the Guatemalan audience, provide a platform for Guatemalan artists to showcase their talent, and foster cultural understanding between the two countries.

    The Embassy of India in Guatemala has played a crucial role in facilitating this project and ensuring its successful implementation. The embassy has provided support and guidance to Bollywood film makers, acting as a bridge between them and local stakeholders.

    The collaboration between Bollywood and Guatemalan artists for dubbing Bollywood movies in Guatemala has several positive consequences and impacts in bringing people of two countries closer. The project promotes cultural exchange by introducing Indian cinema, music, and storytelling to the Guatemalan audience. It enhances the understanding and appreciation of Indian culture, fostering cross-cultural connections and dialogue. The project creates economic opportunities for local artists, dubbing studios, and technicians in Guatemala. It provides employment prospects and income generation within the entertainment industry, contributing to the local economy. The initiative strengthens bilateral relations between India and Guatemala by showcasing India’s vibrant film industry and artistic prowess. It deepens people-to-people connections and nurtures a sense of goodwill and mutual understanding.

    The collaboration between the Indian company and Guatemalan artists for dubbing Bollywood movies in Guatemala, with the active support of the Embassy of India, signifies the growing cultural ties and friendship between the two nations. The project not only introduces Indian cinema to the Guatemalan audience but also provides a platform for local artists to showcase their talent. It is expected that this initiative will have a positive impact on cultural exchange, economic growth, and bilateral relations between India and Guatemala.

  • Investment of US$ 250 million by Yash Pakka Limited in Guatemala

    Investment of US$ 250 million by Yash Pakka Limited in Guatemala

    Yash Pakka is honored. Seen on extreme right is Indian Ambassador to Guatemala Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra.

    GUATEMALA CITY (TIP): Compostable packaging industry pioneer Yash Pakka Limited has embarked on a significant venture by establishing its largest overseas plant in Guatemala, Central America. This milestone has been marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Yash Pakka Limited and major sugar companies in Guatemala to procure bagasse, the primary raw material used in its products. Anticipated to commence operations by mid-2025, the US $250 Million plant will have a daily production capacity of 400 tons, focusing on flexible packaging and molded fiber products.
    In recognition of this momentous occasion, the Government of Guatemala organized an official ceremony at the National Palace on May 23, 2023, to honor Yash Pakka. The event was attended by President Alejandro Giammattei, Minister of Economy Janio Rosales, and the Indian Ambassador to Guatemala, Dr. Manoj Kumar Mahapatra. The participation of high-ranking officials highlights the significance of Yash Pakka’s investment in Guatemala and its integration into the country’s nearshoring initiatives.

    Indian Ambassador to Guatemala, Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra addresses the gathering.

    Yash Pakka’s investment has the potential to stimulate economic growth in Guatemala on various fronts. By establishing operations in the country, the company will contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP), generate tax revenue, and boost economic activity within the region. This increased economic activity can have a positive ripple effect, fostering entrepreneurship, attracting further investment, and bolstering local businesses and industries. Furthermore, Yash Pakka’s investment exemplifies the growing economic cooperation between India and Guatemala. It signifies the confidence and interest of Indian businesses in the Guatemalan market and vice versa, fostering stronger economic ties. This, in turn, can pave the way for increased bilateral trade, promoting a balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship.
    Beyond economic implications, Yash Pakka’s investment also holds the potential to facilitate cultural exchange and people-to-people connections between India and Guatemala. The success of the investment venture would also strengthen the bilateral relationship, encouraging both governments to engage in further dialogue and cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, and development. Overall, Yash Pakka’s investment in Guatemala signifies a significant milestone in the economic cooperation between India and Guatemala. It has the potential to generate positive economic, cultural, and diplomatic outcomes for both countries, laying the foundation for a promising and mutually beneficial partnership.

  • India gifts Millet Seeds to Guatemala

    India gifts Millet Seeds to Guatemala

    Ambassador Mohapatra served delicious millets-based food to the Guatemalan delegation.
    Ambassador Mohapatra holds discussions with Guatemala delegation about Signing of a MOU on Agricultural Cooperation between India and Guatemala.

    GUATEMALA CITY (TIP): On 24 May 2023, a significant event took place at the Embassy of India in Guatemala, where Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra officially handed over a consignment of four varieties millet seeds to the Agricultural Minister of Guatemala, Mr. Edgar René De León Moreno. The handover ceremony was organized at the Embassy Residence and was attended by Mr. Guillermo De León Agreda, Cooperation Director, Mr. Rafael Oroxon, International Cooperation; and Mr. Rafael Oroxon, General Manager of the Institute of Agricultural Science from Guatemalan side, including representatives from the Embassy.

    The millet seeds provided by the Embassy of India will play a crucial role in promoting food security in Guatemala. Millets are highly nutritious and resilient crops that can thrive in various agro-climatic conditions. By introducing millet cultivation, the agricultural sector of Guatemala can diversify its food production and enhance resilience against climate change and other agricultural challenges. The handover of millet seeds signifies India’s expertise in millet cultivation techniques and sustainable agricultural practices. By sharing these seeds, India aims to contribute to Guatemala’s agricultural development and promote the adoption of advanced farming methods. The millet seeds provided by the Embassy can serve as a valuable resource for research and development initiatives in Guatemala’s agricultural sector. Researchers and scientists can study the characteristics of these seeds, explore their adaptability to local conditions, and develop improved crop varieties that are better suited to Guatemala’s agro-ecosystem.

    The handover ceremony serves as a platform to strengthen agricultural cooperation between India and Guatemala. It facilitates knowledge exchange, technical assistance, and collaboration in the field of agriculture. By nurturing this partnership, both countries can benefit from shared expertise, best practices, and innovative solutions to address common agricultural challenges. This gesture reflects the commitment of the Embassy of India to support Guatemala in its agricultural development endeavors. The event not only symbolizes the exchange of seeds but also signifies the deepening friendship and collaboration between the two nations in the agricultural sector. It is expected that this initiative will lead to fruitful outcomes, contributing to the sustainable growth of the agricultural sector in Guatemala.

  • Rahul Gandhi to Visit US

    NEW YORK (TIP): Shri Rahul Gandhi, former President of the Indian National Congress, will be visiting the United States towards the end of May and early June to participate in multiple events in San Francisco, Washington D. C., and New York. His schedule will include interactions with Universities, Tech entrepreneurs, Civil society, Business, Media, Politicians and Leaders . He will address the Diaspora in San Francisco and New York.
    Rahul Gandhi will be visiting after his historic Bharat Jodo Yatra, a long journey of walking 2500 miles from Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India to Kashmir, the northern tip of India, to inspire ,unify and listen to the people of India against the backdrop of divisive politics and religious polarizations.
    Mr. Gandhi has been a champion of the universal values of human rights, freedom, Justice, Diversity , inclusion, nonviolence and sustainability in India and abroad. He has been working tirelessly to represent the young and the people at the bottom of the economic pyramid whose aspirations for jobs and improved living conditions are regularly brought to the focus as India gains global economic importance. He believes that political and social stability is a prerequisite for economic growth and peaceful co-existence of all communities regardless of their caste, race, religion, language, or region.
    “The purpose of his trip is to connect, interact and begin new conversation with various individuals, institutions and media , including the Indian Diaspora that is growing in numbers in the United States and abroad to promote the shared values and vison of the real democracy with focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability , justice , peace and opportunities world over “ said Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian overseas congress.
    ‘I hope that Rahul Gandhi’s visit will energize the Diaspora into a renewed appreciation of democracy and freedom the Indian Diaspora aspires to have as they constitute more than 30 million Non-resident Indians who live around the world, said George Abraham, Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA.
    “The NRIs in the United States of America will get the much-awaited opportunity to interact with Rahul Gandhi in Si Valley, Washington and New York,” said Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, who is spearheading the effort to give a rousing welcome to Mr. Gandhi in New York. The Public meeting will be held at Javits Center, 429 11th Ave, in New York City on Sunday, June 4th, at 2:00 PM. Everyone is invited. Please go to www.rgvisitusa.com to register to attend this much anticipated event. For further information: Please call 646-732-5119, 917-749-8769, 848-256-3381, 201-421-5303, 917-544-4137 or contact at iocusaorg@gmail.com

    Profile of Rahul Gandhi
    Former President, Indian National Congress

    Rahul Gandhi was a Member of Parliament from 2004 till earlier this year. In March 2023, he was disqualified from Parliament pursuant to a court verdict which is currently under challenge in a higher court. He last represented the constituency of Wayanad in Kerala in the Lok Sabha and prior to that served three terms as MP from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. In 2007, he was named General Secretary of the Indian National Congress in charge of the youth and student organizations of the Party. In January 2013, he assumed office as Vice President of the Indian National Congress. He was the President of the Indian National Congress from December 2017 to July 2019.

    Rahul was born on June 19, 1970 to Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi. He has attended St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, Harvard College and Rollins College, Florida from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He went on to receive an M. Phil. in Development Studies from Trinity College, Cambridge University. Thereafter, he joined the Monitor Group, a strategy consulting group, in London, where he worked for three years. In the past, Rahul was a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committees on Home Affairs, Human Resource Development, External Affairs, Finance and Defense and the Consultative Committees for the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Finance & Corporate Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.

    Rahul has championed the development of a self-help group movement and a non-profit eye care provider in North India. He also serves as a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

  • Dr. Sampat Shivangi Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Xavier University in Aruba

    Dr. Sampat Shivangi Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by Xavier University in Aruba

    NEW YORK (TIP): Dr. Sampat Shivangi, a physician, an influential Indian American community leader, and a veteran leader of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Xavier University School of Medicine on Friday, May 19, 2023 at the Xavier’s Campus in Aruba. Dr. Shivangi was conferred with the Life Time Achievement Award by the Minister of Aruba, Mr. Croes along with the President of Xavier University of School of Medicine Mr. Ravi Bhooplapur.

    The award ceremony was part of the Global Leadership Summit organized by the University, which brought together world leaders in the Global Health Care community, who shared their insightful thoughts and expertise on various topics related to healthcare. The summit featured speakers from diverse backgrounds with areas of expertise, including healthcare policy, healthcare technology delivery, and healthcare education.

    The summit was aimed at providing education not only to Xavier University School of Medicine students and faculty but also to healthcare professionals and educators, who are passionate about making a positive impact on the healthcare industry and improving patient outcomes worldwide.

    “We are excited to bring together stingrays naked ladies from around the world did experiences and insights,” said Dr. Ravi Bhooplapur , President of Xavier University School of Medicine. “The goal is to create a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices that will help shape the future of healthcare and improve the lives of people around the world.” In his response to being chosen for the award, Dr. Shivangi said, “I am truly honored to receive this prestigious Xavier University of Aruba award, which has made a worldwide impression as a premier Institute of learning. It’s even a greater honor to be in such distinguished ranks of those present and past honorees, who have made important contributions to healthcare.”

    Dr. Shivangi with wife Dr. Udaya Shivangi

    Describing the honor as “a significant milestone in my life and a moment to cherish,” Dr. Shivangi said, “Health care across the world is regarded as an important determinant in promoting the general, physical, mental, and social well-being of people around the world and can contribute to a significant part of a country’s economy, development, and industrialization when efficiently improving human health and providing access to affordable high-quality health care.”

    Addressing the epidemic of mental health, Dr. Shivangi, a champion of women’s health and mental health, and whose work has been recognized nationwide, said, “Mental health illness continues to impact more people each year and is now a global disease.” Quoting the World Health Organization, Dr. Shivangi, said, “WHO estimates 1 in every 8 individuals worldwide suffer from a mental disorder, impairment in childhood, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, & psychosis in maturity and ending with dementia in old age. 5.6 crore Indians suffer from depression, while 3.8 crore suffers from anxiety disorders.”

    Focusing on Mental Health, Dr. Shivangi said, “Mental Health literacy is the gateway for mental health intervention. However, there is a lack of awareness, which can lead to overlooking, misjudging or dismissing the signs that someone needs help. Dr. Shivangi, an obstetrician/gynecologist, the first Indian to be on the American Medical Association, the apex law-making body, pointed out that substance abuse in the United States causes over 10,000 youth to die annually. Quoting studies that point to the fact that Mental Health has emerged as an “ever-challenging task,” Dr. Shivangi said, nearly 1 in 5 Americans has some type of Mental illness. During the Covid pandemic period, 78% of adults were experiencing a mental illness, an equivalent of over 50 million Americans, with millions of adults in the USA experiencing serious thoughts of suicide, with the highest rate amongst multi-racial individuals.

    Responding to realities, the US Government has initiated several measures to help people struggling with mental health issues and substance abuse. In this context, he referred to two recent initiatives by the US Government to address the twin issues of mental health and substance abuse:

    The exclusive 988 National Emergency Phone Number for the mentally ill has revolutionized the mental system that has saved thousands of lives and reduced by a third of hospital visits. In addition, making the antidote, Naloxone free of cost and available over the counter has helped save so many lives.

    Dr. Shivangi said, one can get instant help by calling #911 in crisis; they can call or Text #988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a new Nationwide service, attended by trained staff, and trained crisis counselors who can counsel, guide and get them admitted into nearby crisis center, community mental health center or hospital immediately that includes ambulance service. “This has caught nationwide attention. I would strongly recommend that Aruba should think along these lines.” The SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is another major initiative of the US government. Dr. Shivangi serves on the Board of SAMHSA, a prestigious position, appointed by the President of the United States. I was first appointed by President Trump & now by the current President Joe Biden.”

    Recalling his recent visit to Poland, where Dr. Shivangi shared about the huge impact through these initiatives, Dr. Shivangi said, the government of Poland was impressed and wanted to use them in their country as a way to save lives. Dr. Shivangi offered similar programs and services made available to the people of Aruba and was open to helping the Government of Aruba make them part of the healthcare delivery in the island nation.

    A conservative lifelong member of the Republican Party, Dr. Shivangi is the founding member of the Republican Indian Council and the Republican Indian National Council. Dr. Shivangi is the National President of Indian American Forum for Political Education, one of the oldest Indian American Associations. Over the past three decades, he has lobbied for several Bills in the US Congress on behalf of India through his enormous contacts with US Senators and Congressmen. A close friend to the Bush family, he was instrumental in lobbying for the first Diwali celebration in the White House and for President George W. Bush to make his trip to India. He had accompanied President Bill Clinton during his historic visit to India. Dr. Shivangi is Dr. Shivangi has worked enthusiastically in promoting India Civil Nuclear Treaty and recently the US India Defense Treaty that was passed in US Congress and signed by President Obama.

    Dr. Shivangi has actively been involved in several philanthropic activities, serving with Blind foundation of MS, Diabetic, Cancer and Heart Associations of America. Dr. Shivangi has done a lot of philanthropic work in India, including Primary & middle schools, Cultural Center, IMA Centers that he opened and helped to obtains the first ever US Congressional grant to AAPI to study Diabetes Mellitus amongst Indian Americans.

    Dr. Sampat Shivangi was awarded the highest civilian honor, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Samman award in 2016 in Bengaluru by the Hon. President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. He was awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York in 2008. He is married to Dr. Udaya S. Shivangi, MD, and the couple are blessed with two daughters: Priya S. Shivangi, MS (NYU); Pooja S. Shivangi who is an Attorney at Law.

  • Mahavir Jayanti celebrated at the Indian Consulate

    Mahavir Jayanti celebrated at the Indian Consulate

    Dr. Varun Jeph giving his remarks
    Guest speakers Samniji Nirdeshika Kamal Pragya and Samniji Karuna Pragya giving a talk

    NEW YORK (TIP): The Consulate General of India, NY and International Ahimsa Foundation Inc. in partnership with JITO USA (Jain International Trade Org – USA), and JAINA (Federation of Jain Associations in NA), hosted Mahavir Jayanti, Lord Mahavir’s 2621st birth anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 20th, 2023, at the Ballroom of the Consulate General of India in NY. The event also celebrated India’s yearlong initiative: Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (75 years of India’s independence).The program was attended by about 200 guests.
    The event was graced by many dignitaries and community leaders. Deputy Consul General of India Dr. Varun Jeph In his keynote address said : “ Lets bring more of Lord Mahavir’s message of Ahimsa & Satya ( truthfulness) in our lives. ” Congressman Gregory W. Meeks sent his best wishes via a video message. He said that this year’s occasion will bring together the community to honor Lord Mahavir’s principles of non-violence and peace.” Former Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney also emphasized the importance of “Live and Let Live” in today’s time, a teaching of Lord Mahavir. NYS Assemblyman David Weprin was represented by his Chief of Staff David Sprea and was also joined by Ms. Miosotis Munoz, Deputy Commissioner of External affairs, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigration Affairs. She also mentioned that Mayor Adams truly believes in non-violence. Democratic District Leader Gurdip Singh Narula also attended the event.
    We extend our sincere appreciation to our esteemed guest speakers, Samniji Nirdeshika Kamal Pragya and Samniji Karuna Pragya, for their blessings and enlightening talks. Their profound insights and teachings on non-violence were truly educative.
    Dr. Neeta Jain, Founder and President of International Ahimsa Foundation Inc. dwelt on Lord Mahavir’s life She stressed on teaching children the 5 Jain principles to make the world a better place to live in. She further mentioned that Lord Mahavir is the one that told the world that “Non-Violence is the Supreme Religion and it’s more relevant in today’s world than ever before. We should pass on Mahavir’s teachings to our next generation so they can learn how to adopt the virtues of non -violence in their lives and make this world a better place to live in peace and harmony.”
    On this occasion, the organization honored 4 distinguished individuals with the “Ahimsa Award” for their extraordinary contributions to society. They included Dr. Ashok Shaha MD (Chair Head and Neck Surgery/Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), Mr. Arvind Vora (Chair, JAINA Interfaith Committee & Shanti Fund of Long Island), Ms. Sweta Jain (Founder & President, Goshwara, Luxury Designer Jewelry), Ms. Kavita Bafana (Cofounder, Little Ustaads Music & Namaste Book Series), for their remarkable contributions and achievements. Their presence inspired many youngsters who attended the event.
    “Ahimsa Awards” and a NYS Assembly Proclamation were presented to honorees by Deputy Consul General, Dr. Varun Jeph, Board of Director IAF, Dr. Ravi Goyal, President and Founder, Dr. Neeta Jain, Vice President, Mr. Amarjyoti Jain and Chair Advisory Board, Mr. Rajeev Pandya.
    “All four honorees are purveyors of peace and align with our mission to spread Lord Mahavir’s message of ‘Live and Let Live,’” Dr. Jain said. Dr. Ashok Shaha said in his acceptance speech that “Forgiveness is the most Important virtue in Life”
    Mr. Arvind Vora another honoree expressed his views after the event as “ one can’t expect better way to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti than the confluence of dignified location of Indian Consulate, partner organizations like JITO & JAINA, stage decorations including Gandhi on a spinning wheel, participation by youths in dance and skit conveying messages of Mahavir and diverse audiences. Everything was wrapped up very efficiently.”
    Ms. Sweta Jain also emphasized in her speech, the importance of “Practicing Ahimsa in today’s time.
    Ms Kavita Bafana expressed her views on how important it is to keep our culture alive.

    The International Ahimsa Foundation Inc. was founded in 2012 with the goal of spreading the message of non-violence and peace based on Jain teachings throughout the world.

    The event was emceed by Aditi Lamba and began with the American National Anthem sung by Michelle Della Fave. Dr. Smita Guha sang the Indian National Anthem. A skit was presented by young Jains on “Color of Thoughts and their impact” directed by Surbhi Pandya. Two mesmerizing performances were presented on “Mahavir Sa Mujko Ban jana Hai” and “Garaj Garaj Aaj Megha”.by Little Ustad Arts: Directed by Kavita Bafana and Vanita Kothari. Mr. Rajeev Pandya Chair, Advisory Board of IAF thanked all the sponsors, media partners and volunteers. At the end, Jain lunch was served.
    You can watch the video at Indian Consulate fb @indiainnewyork or IAF fb page. You can also follow International Ahimsa Foundation on our website: International Ahimsa Foundation New York!
    (Press release)

    A dance performance by Little Ustad Arts
    Honorees with Deputy Consul General Dr. Varun Jeph and organizers
  • Happy Life Yoga Celebrates National Nurses Week at Lincoln Hospital NYC 2023

    Happy Life Yoga Celebrates National Nurses Week at Lincoln Hospital NYC 2023

    NEW YORK (TIP)- Tirlok Malik, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and Happy Life Yoga speaker shared a highly interactive and informative session with the Nurses, Doctors, Administrators & staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Hospital. On the occasion of National Nurses Week, 2023, the whole team expressed their experience as an “absolute happy time with the incredible Happy Life Yoga creator Tirlok Malik, who made us all burst into roaring laughs while sharing life advice rooted in practical ways of living, Indian Philosophy and Ayurveda. All the doctors, nurses and the entire community of the front-line workers at NYCHHC/Lincoln Hospital were grateful to celebrate this event!”

    Tara Sajan, Director of Nursing and Behavioral Health was the program’s MC. The event was opened by Christopher Roker, CEO of NYCHHC/Lincoln Hospital, and Lillian Diaz, Deputy Executive Director & Chief Nurse Executive at NYCHHC/Lincoln Hospital. A closing speech of thanks was by Frankie Hamilton, Deputy Director of Ambulatory Care Services at NYCHHC/Lincoln Hospital. Esteemed medical professionals Greta Bayne, Valerie St. Louis, Monica Anderson, Kencle Satchell, and Cheryl Simmons-Oliver were also present in the audience, among many others.
    The event was energetic, knowledgeable, inspiring, and celebratory in nature. While highlighting the growing importance of being responsible for your own health and happiness in today’s time, Malik emphasized “I love myself, I love myself.” Because if you love yourself, you will take responsibility for your own health and happiness. Malik explained his vision behind Happy Life Yoga and its underlying philosophy, “A way of living inspired by the wisdom of Ayurveda, Yoga and Indian Philosophy, Happy Life Yoga is beneficial for one and all.” He guarantees that if you follow his workshop tools you will find a way to live happier and healthier, by yourself.
    One of the major highlights of the Happy Life Yoga event was the knowledge sessions moderated by Malik who is known for his ability to engage with his audience using the right mix of banter and substance. Happy Life Yoga is the creation of Tirlok Malik. It is essentially an educational platform that offers a uniquely practical approach to health and happiness using tools from Ayurveda, Indian Philosophy, and Yoga to help better manage modern-day challenges such as work, finances, relationships, family, and other social pressures. It was launched in June 2019 in New York, featuring the chief guest Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President. Since then, Malik has done many sessions of Happy Life Yoga with professionals, college students, senior citizens, and people of all nationalities and professions. Malik’s portfolio of work has won many awards and has been acclaimed by the media and people worldwide. Through his work, he intends to inspire others to live happier and healthier lives and the journey continues. Malik looks forward to continuing to bring Happy Life Yoga to people across the world.

  • Four NYC Health + Hospitals, MetroPlusHealth Leaders Recognized as Crain’s ‘Notable 2023 Leaders in Health Care’

    Four NYC Health + Hospitals, MetroPlusHealth Leaders Recognized as Crain’s ‘Notable 2023 Leaders in Health Care’

    NEW YORK (TIP): NYC Health + Hospitals, on May 25,  announced that four of its leaders were among 84 people named to Crain’s list of ‘Notable 2023 Leaders in Health Care’ for their tremendous work caring for vulnerable New Yorkers. To qualify, candidates needed to work at a health care-related institution in the New York-Metropolitan area and have at least a decade of experience. Crain’s looked for professionals who share expertise with others in their fields and are involved in professional associations, community service initiatives, philanthropy, mentoring programs and the like. The publication noted these individuals, “… are truly exceptional – and their work is vital to the functioning of the city’s health care system and the city itself.” The four honorees from NYC Health + Hospitals are:

    Helena Grant, MS, CNM, LM, CICP, FACNM

    Director of Midwifery Services

    NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull

    Laura Iavicoli, MD

    Deputy Chief Medical Officer

    NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst

    Nicole Jordan-Martin

    Chief Executive Officer

    NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care

    Sanjiv Shah, MD, MPH

    Chief Medical Officer

    MetroPlusHealth

    In addition to her role leading midwifery services at Brooklyn’s first Baby-Friendly USA hospital, Grant is also co-chair of the health system’s Midwifery Council. She has more than 25 years of experience caring for and empowering pregnant people and their families. Ms. Grant lends her expertise to the New York State Association of Licensed Midwives as their current president, serves as co-chair of the Brooklyn Borough President’s Maternal Health Task Force, and is a member of the New York State Department of Health’s Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Advisory Council.

    “I am deeply humbled and grateful to represent the wonderful work we do in the areas of Midwifery, Birth Equity, Respectful and Trauma-Informed Care at Woodhull and across NYC Health + Hospitals,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Director of Midwifery Services Helena Grant, MS, CNM, LM, CICP, FACNM. “My fervent intention is to continue uplifting the midwifery model of care, used in every industrialized nation except the United States, that we, through belief in clinical evidence and trust in one another, have mastered here at Woodhull and are expanding throughout the health care system. I truly appreciate the support and confidence the department, the hospital, the corporation, and the community have placed in both my evolution and leadership.”

    Dr. Iavicoli was appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in 2021, after she used her background in disaster management to help guide the hospital through the first wave of COVID-19, when Elmhurst became the epicenter of the pandemic in America. Dr. Iavicoli has been an emergency medicine physician at Elmhurst for more than 20 years, has served as an Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and has also been a member of disaster relief teams for both the City of New York and FEMA.

    “I am humbled and honored to have received this recognition from Crain’s New York Business,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Deputy Chief Medical Officer Laura Iavicoli, MD. “I feel so blessed to work at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst with an amazing team of health care providers dedicated to our community and to our patients.”

    Nicole Jordan-Martin runs the health system’s Community Care division, which provides services to patients in their homes and communities. Those services include Home Care, Behavioral Health, Maternal-Child Health, and social support linkages for people coping with food insecurity, homelessness, and other immediate needs. Jordan-Martin is Board Certified in Health Care Management. She has worked internationally on behalf of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and has consulted for the World Health Organization on the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “It’s an honor to be recognized along with such an accomplished group of health care leaders,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care CEO Nicole Jordan-Martin. “Caring for and supporting our patients in their homes and communities reflects our commitment to their health and wellbeing beyond the walls of our hospitals and health centers. This is the future of health care and we are an essential partner in this movement.”

    Dr. Shah is the Chief Medical Officer for the System health plan, MetroPlus. He brings more than 20 years of experience as a physician leader, managed care executive, and infectious disease specialist. Dr. Shah also serves the community as a member of the New York/New Jersey chapter of the American Academy of HIV Medicine, the HIV Medical Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the New York Society of Infectious Diseases, and the Physicians Research Network.

    “It is an honor to be recognized by Crain’s, along with my amazing NYC Health + Hospitals colleagues, as one of the 2023 Notable Leaders in Health Care. Those of us in health care are always conscious of the necessity to put the needs of others before ours, and to put the focus on our patients – where it belongs,” said MetroPlusHealth Chief Medical Officer Sanjiv Shah, MD, MPH. “But recognition like this reminds me, once again, of the value and importance of the work our community of extraordinary providers does to serve this City, and why we chose this field from the start.”

    About NYC Health + Hospitals

    NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

    About MetroPlusHealth

    Since 1985, MetroPlusHealth has helped the people of New York City get quality health care at little to no cost. MetroPlusHealth is the plan of choice for over 700,000 New Yorkers, and its commercial and government-sponsored plans meet the needs of individuals, families, and workforces. The MetroPlusHealth staff speaks more than 40 languages and is as diverse as the great City it serves. MetroPlusHealth is part of NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest public health system. For more information, visit metroplus.org. Join the conversation on social media at @metroplushealth.

  • Consulate General of India in New York in partnership with Shanti Fund and New York Parks Department organizes Beach Cleaning at Jones Beach

    Consulate General of India in New York in partnership with Shanti Fund and New York Parks Department organizes Beach Cleaning at Jones Beach

    Consul General Randhir Kumar Jaiswal meets with Parks department officials.

    JONES BEACH, LONG ISLAND (TIP): The Consulate General of India, New York in partnership with Shanti Fund, and New York State Parks Department, organized a Beach Cleaning activity on May 21, 2023, at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York as part of G-20 ‘Beach Cleanup’. “Addressing marine litter” is one of the focus areas under India’s G20 Presidency. Keeping Gandhian ideals on cleanliness at centerstage, the beach cleanup drive was a part of India’s global initiative to bring attention to the problem of marine litter and the need to work together towards sustainable development of oceans. The activity also formed part of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” – celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence.

    Speaking on the occasion, Consul General Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, highlighted the message behind the theme of India’s G20 Presidency – ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. He emphasized the importance of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) and the need to adopt sustainable and environment-friendly lifestyles. Beach cleanup activity helps in preserving and protecting the coastal and ocean ecosystems. Plastic wastes harm marine life.

    It is a matter of urgency that we, the global community, address plastic waste dumping into the sea. The initiative will draw global attention to the need to combat coastal and marine pollution and the role of citizens and their participation in preventing and cleaning up marine litter. The event saw enthusiastic participation from the members of the community who came in large numbers including children to be part of the Swachhata Abhiyan and celebration of Mission LiFE.

  • Indian media in America faces challenges and opportunities

    Publishers and editors reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted.

    By Parveen Chopra
    Founder, ALotusInTheMud.com
    Founding Editor, The South Asian Times

    In 2020, India Abroad, known as the gold standard in ethnic newspapers in America, closed operations after 50 years in circulation. In 2022 New India Abroad was started by a different team.
    That tells you the story of Indian media in America. Down and up. Resilience and renewal. Learning and adapting.
    The downturn for all journalism – not just Indian ethnic media – has been caused by the ever-growing digital revolution. The 2008 economic meltdown was bad for the media too. Covid years were worse. Now, social media is the new villain in the journalism story. Many storied newspapers in the US have closed or curtailed operations.
    Indian ethnic media has been more vulnerable because of a lack of promoters with deep pockets for sustaining operations and a dearth of committed journalists doing quality work to keep readers engaged. Surprisingly, the big media houses from India have not ventured here.
    The need for quality journalism to serve the Indian community is greater than ever. For one, the community is growing – their numbers increased from about 3 million in 2010 to more than 4.5 million as per the 2020 census. Indian Americans make headlines as achievers in the US media and are referred to as a model minority.
    But being new immigrants, the community cannot let its guard down. Knowledge is power. It is the job of community media to bring to the notice of their readers issues that need collective action. And, becoming their voice, take their issues to officials and lawmakers concerned. For example, they need to keep hammering the US Congress to resolve the monstrous green card backlog for Indians.
    A new, combustible case is Washington state passing a law (now under consideration in California) banning discrimination based on caste, a practice allegedly extended here from India. Some Hindu groups condemned the move as anti-Indian. The community papers should be explaining the implications of the bill and build a consensus – for or against.
    Surely, all regions of the US with large Indian populations have community newspapers. But most of them have mainly ended up as aggregators compiling news and features available freely. In contrast, New York-based India Abroad once spawned editions in other diaspora countries and a news agency.
    India Abroad, under publisher Gopal Raju, even made press freedom history. They published a story linking megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan, to kickbacks in a defense deal. Ajitabh sued in London and won 40,000-pound damages in 1990. Raju fought the enforcement at home. US legacy media including The New York Times filed briefs in Raju’s support. Raju won.
    Unfortunately, declining ad revenue while honor-bound to keep printing copies to serve its 20,000+ paid subscribers made the paper a hot potato eventually.
    One contemporary of India Abroad was India West, a paper with big circulation on the West Coast. Its aging owners, Bina and Ramesh Murarka, shut it down when Covid struck.
    Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some gumption and broader vision.  Indian Americans are well-educated and high earners. Rightly leveraged, this market can support a vibrant media.
    So, what is blocking that from happening, and what is the way forward? Publishers and editors responded to reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted.

    Business models in the mix