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    The South Asian Timese x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m

    excellence in journalism SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30

    Vol.8 No. 7 June 20-26, 2015 60 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

    US AFFAIRS 9 DARK IS DIVINE 18

    New Delhi: For a govern-

    ment that promised to clean

    up the Augean stables of 

     politics in India, the murkydetails of the links of 

    External Affairs Minister 

    Sushma Swaraj and

    Rajasthan CM Vasundhara

    Raje with the fugitive for-

    mer IPL chief Lalit Modi

    and how they helped him

    with immigration in UK 

    have exposed the bitter 

    truth that corruption at top

    levels is endemic in BJP

    too. One can, of course,

    recall from the past at least

    three high profile corruption

    By Parveen Chopra 

    New York: While at business meetings after arriving

    in the US, India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was

    assuring foreign investors on economic reforms and

    the tax regime in the country, he was at home ground

    when addressing a community outreach event organ-

    ized by the Overseas Friends of BJP at Five Star 

    Restaurant and Banquet in Long Island City

    Wednesday.

    In a flowing speech mixing some English with

    Hindi, the No 2 in Modi’s cabinet heaped praise on the

    industrious and successful Indian diaspora, who con-

    tribute to the countries where they settle and also

    extend help back home as they retain emotional ties

    with the motherland.

    He gave several examples testifying to the growing

    importance of NRIs in the host countries as well as in

    India. Thousands of Indian Americans travelled to

    India to canvas for BJP in the 2014 election or took to

    the phone or email to do the same. Then, they filled

    the Madison Square Garden in New York for Modi’s

    reception. In the run up to the elections in Britain,

    realizing the importance of Indian voters, Prime

    Minister David Cameron traveled to India thrice, and

    had a Mahatma Gandhi

    Vatican City: Pope Francis has

    issued a stark warning over the

    urgent need to tackle "extraordi-

    nary climate change and an

    unprecedented destruction of 

    ecosystems" in an eagerly-awaited

    message on the environment

    released Thursday.

    In his encyclical, which is a

     papa l le tter sent to al l bishops

    around the world and in turn to one

     bil lion Catholic s, he blames cli-mate change on apathy, political

    shortsightedness and a pursuit of 

     pro fit s. He cal ls climate change

    one of the principal challenges fac-

    ing humanity today and has

    SELF HELP 27

    Detailed story on page 21.

    LalitModiGateCorruption Exposed

    at top level of BJP

    ‘Indian diaspora has become an important constituency’ The Pope appeals for sweepingaction on global warming

    Pope Francis has issued anencyclical on climate change ina stunning move reverberating 

    across the world.

    Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje with Lalit Modi; (right) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

    New York: As the

    world celebrates

    International Day

    of Yoga (IDY) on

    Sunday in a unique

    event that is in

    many ways an

    endorsement of the

    Indian way of life,

    over 30,000 people

    are expected to par-

    ticipate in a mass

    demonstration of 

    the ancient art in

    the city's Times

    Square after global

    leaders and diplo-

    mats from around

    the world launch

    the observance at the UN headquarters.

    Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to

    deliver the keynote address at the main

    event at the UN headquarters in an open

     plaza, India's Permanent Representative to

    the United Nations Asoke Kumar Mukerji

    told reporters here on Tuesday. UN General

    Assembly President

    In preparation for International Day of Yoga on June 21, the United Nations is festooned with banners announcing the celebrations in New York. (Inset) Amb. Asoke Mukerji briefing on the headlineevent at UN headquarters. (Photo courtesy: Jay Mandal)

    Ban Ki-moon, Sushma Swaraj and Sri Sri Ravishankar to address the UN event.

    30,000 expected at NYC’sYoga Day Celebration

    Continued on page 4Continued on page 4

    Continued on page 4

    Arun Jaitley addressed an OFBJP meet after ringing the closing bell at New York Stock Exchange

    Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje come

    under fire for helping the fugitive former IPL chiefwho has been probed for financial irregularities

    Continued on page 4

    See detailed stories on page 11.

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    Practice sessions for the First International Day of Yoga in Haute Savoie, Francewith the backdrop of Mont Blanc. The event is being organized by Embassy of 

    India in Paris in association with Center Tapovan.

    2 June 20-26, 2015   TheSouthAsianTimes.info YOGA

    Embassy of India in Mexico organizes public yoga class cum demonstration at theFeria de las Culturas Amigas 2015 (Culture and Friendship Fair 2015) at the

    Historic Centre of Mexico City 

    A curtain raiser in Budapest by Art of Living Yoga Team.

    Embassy of India Doha organized an event on Yoga at the KATARA – Cultural Village, Doha on June 12.

    Volunteers rehearsing Yoga asanas forIDY in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 

    An IDY curtain-raiser event was organized by theEmbassy of India, Moscow at the Technology and 

    Design College in the city of Korolyov,Moscow in April 2015 

    Consulate General of India, Sydney organized a curtain raiser for theInternational Day of Yoga. The participation was drawn from several leading 

    yoga schools of Sydney. Yoga Guru Govindaraju Venkataramandemonstrated various Yoga asanas.

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    By Ashok Ojha 

    New York: With its 13 year long

    tradition of celebrating yoga at

    Times Square, New York City is

     playing a central role in the globalcelebration of International Day of 

    Yoga on June 21. The Government

    of India will enthusiastically sup-

     port IDY events in New York City

    in the presence of India’s External

    Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj,

    who will address the main event at

    UN headquarters and visit Times

    Square at noon where thousands of 

     New Yorkers in yoga gear will par-

    ticipate in a spectacular public per-

    formance of yoga led by well-

    known instructors.

    Yoga is part of New York’s

    lifestyle, where trained teachers

    conduct classes for a fees. However,there is no fee for participating in

    the yoga session at Times Square.

    Organized by Times Square

    Alliance, registration for participat-

    ing in yoga session on June 21 will

     begin at 7 am. All classes will be

    webcast so that yogis from around

    the world can participate in Times

    Square’s celebration of the IDY”,

    said their announcement. 30,000

     people are expected to participate in

    the Times Square yoga sessions.

    The Consulate General of India

    office in New York has extended its

    support to all events taking place

    around the city, said Ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay at a press con-

    ference.

    Tech Mahindra, an Indian IT com-

     pany, and a host of other organiza-

    tions are striving to ensure the suc-

    cess of the yoga events at numerous

    locations in and around NYC,

    including at JFK and Newark air-

     por ts, where air traveler s will be

    invited to join in the yoga sessions

    and receive information flyers.

    The Ganesh Temple in Flushing is

     preparing to receive 3,000 people at

    its Yoga celebrations throughout the

    day on June 21st. The daylong cele-

     bration at the temple includes Indiancultural performances and ‘Satvik’

    meals. More than 5,000 people are

    expected to attend a ticketed event

    at Lincoln Center in the city in the

    evening headlined by spiritual guru

    Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. “The proceeds

    from the event will go to help needy

    children”, said a representative of 

    the organizer, Art of Living

    foundation.

    By Arun Kumar 

    Washington: Prime

    Minister Narendra Modi's

    government has e fectively

    laid the foundation for 

    India's rapid transformation

    and purposeful diplomacy

    leading to new terms of 

    India's engagement with

    the US, according to Indian

    Ambassador Arun K.

    Singh.

    "As we celebrate one

    year of India's current gov-

    ernment, it is difficult notto see the changes in the

    way of doing business, and not to see in them

    cause for optimism," he said Tuesday in a

    keynote address at the Asia Society in New

    York.

    "Of course there is more to come in each of 

    these, and I am confident that each passing

    year, we will make new progress," Singh said

    speaking on the topic of "India under Modi:

    One Year In." Turning to what India's trans-

    formative goals at home and creative diplo-

    macy abroad mean for its relations with the

    US, Singh said: "In the past year, our relation

    with the US has been transformed."

    "The US was quick to offer to partner with

    India in realizing the goals that our new

    Government set for India's transformation,

    and as a result, the narrative in our relations

    has begun to reflect new found energy and

    optimism," he said.

    "The excellent personal friendship" enjoyed

     by Modi and President Barack Obama has

    "provided a solid political foundation for our 

    overall relationship," Singh said. Modi "fur-

    ther expanded the canvas of our interaction

    with the US by giving full play to the role of 

    the enterprising and high-

    achieving Indian-American

    community," Singh said.

    "In two summits with the

    US in four months, the

    Government addressed lin-

    gering differences with the

    US on nuclear liability,

    injected new energy into

    defense and economic

    cooperation, and explored

     pragmatic ways forward on

    IPR issues and climate

    change," Singh said. "Bold

    new initiatives were taken"

    and the two summits "cre-ated new milestones, new

    expectations and new excitement, Singh said

    asserting, "Sound progress has been made to

    implement the vision of our leaders."

    "I would argue that we are at a qualitatively

    different phase in India's domestic transfor-

    mation, in India's foreign policy approaches

    and in India's engagement with the US than

    we were a year ago," the ambassador said.

    "The last year has been used effectively to

    lay the foundation for India's rapid transfor-

    mation and for robust and purposeful diplo-

    macy, which have also led to new terms of 

    India's engagement with the US," Singh said.

    Turning to India's broader external engage-

    ment, the envoy said, "In the last one year,

    foreign policy has seen emphasis as a dynam-

    ic tool for the government's quest to acceler-

    ate India's transformation and leverage India's

    strengths to promote development in our 

    region, under the motto of 'diplomacy for 

    development'."

    "Enhanced engagement with neighbors in

    South Asia and in the Indian Ocean Region

    has been a hallmark of the government's

    diplomacy," he said.

    3June 20-26, 2015TheSouthAsianTimes.info  TRISTATE COMMUNITY

    Events galore to mark Yoga Day in NYC

    Consul-General Dnyaneshwar Mulay briefing on events to 

    mark the International Day of Yoga celebrations in NYC on

     June 21.

    Indian Ambassador to US,

    Arun Kumar Singh

    Modi has changed terms of India-US

    engagement: Amb. Arun K. SinghMelville, NY: IndiaAssociation of Long

    Island (IALI), one of 

    the oldest and largest

    organizations serving

    the Indian community

    of Long Island, cele-

     brated its 36th Annual

    Award and Fund-

    Raising Gala at

    Huntington Hiltonhere on June 14, amid

    a good mix of digni-

    taries, business and

    community leaders,

    heads of organiza-tions, IALI members,

    South Asian media,

    and others.

    IALI President Satnam S. Parhar gave the

    welcome address and appealed for donations

    for IALI's newly acquired India Center in

    Hicksville. At hand to greet all guests wasIALI's Executive Council.

    Six prominent Long Islanders honored

    were: President /CEO of NYC Health and

    Hospitals Corporation Dr. Ramanathan Raju,

    Senior VP Wealth Management of Prandara

    Group Morgan Stanley Kamesh Nagarajan,

    Hotelier / Owner Swan Club Roslyn Bobby

    Singh Sidana, Chairman Sapient Party

    Bobby K. Kalotee, IALI's Community

    Projects Chair Aruna Saxena and principal

    attorney at Banad Law Offices Dev

    Viswanath. To do the honors were India’sDeputy Consul General in NY Manoj

    Mohapatra, Director of Nassau County’s

    Business and Economic Development

    Kamlesh Mehta representing County

    Executive Ed Mangano, NYS Assemblymen

    Michael Montesano and Chad Lupinacci

    (representing districts falling in Long Island),

    Senior Councilman Town of Hempstead

    Anthony Santino, Nassau County Legislator 

    Laura Curran, Hempstead Town Clerk 

     Nasr in Ahmad, Nass au County Human

    Rights Commission Chairman Zahid Syed

    and Commissioner Sharanjit Singh Thind.

    On the occasion, donors to IALI's India

    Center were individually recognized with

    citations in Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze

    and other donor categories. A special plaquewent to IALI Vaisakhi Chair Ajay Batra and

    Pinki Jaggi for raising over $20,000 from the

    IALI Vaisakhi Cruise “Cruise for a Noble

    Cause”.

    Parhar also recognized the contributionsfor the community of two newspaper owners:

    South Asian Insider’s Sharanjit Thind and

    Indian Panorama’s Prof Indrajit Saluja.

    The entertainment segment included per-

    formances by Shradhanjali Indian Arts

    Academy, and NYC Bhangra Group.

    Sponsors including HAB Bank, IndusAmerican Bank were thanked.

    IALI honors India House donors

    and others at gala

    IALI President Satnam S. Parhar was presented a citationfrom Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. Seen in the

    picture from left are: New York State assemblymen Chad 

    Lupinacci and Michael Montesano, Parhar, Hempstead TownClerk Nasrin Ahmad, and Director of Nassau County’s Business and Economic Development Kamlesh Mehta.

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    4 June 20-26, 2015 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TURN PAGE

     Lalit Modi-gate exposes corruption at top...

    Continued from page 1

    cases involving BJP leaders – then BJP

     president Bangaru Laxman caught on cam-

    era accepting a bribe, former Karnataka

    CM B.S. Yeddyurappa embroiled in mining

    scam, and corruption charges against for-

    mer BJP chief Nitin Gadkari.

    The latest on the fast moving and as yet

    unconcluded scandal is that a stung Modi

    government is looking at the possibility of contesting Delhi HC order on Lalit Modi's

     passport, which was restored on the order 

    of Delhi high court, uncontested by the

    Enforcement Directorate. The passport was

    revoked earlier.

    Sushma Swaraj maintains that she helped

    Lalit Modi on ‘humanitarian grounds’ to

    help him travel to Portugal for the treat-

    ment of his cancer-stricken wife. Raje also

     pleads no wrong doing or impropriety but

    admits family relations with Lalit Modi.

    While Swaraj is being defended by her col-

    leagues in party and the government,

    reportedly they have been told not to do the

    favor for the Rajasthan CM till facts come

    out.

    30,000 expected at NYC’s Yoga Day...

    Continued from page 1

    Sam Kutesa and India’s External Affairs

    Minister Sushma Swaraj too will speak at

    the event attended by representatives of 

    some of the co-sponsoring nations of IDY

    resolution.

    Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of the

    Art of Living Foundation, is to give a lec-

    ture on the benefits of yoga and lead a

    demonstration by a group of his followers

    at the UN and, through a video link, the

    thousands on Times Square.

    The UN celebrations are to be webcast on

    the UN network and also shown on the

     NASDAQ marke t build ing's giant video

    screen and others on Times Square.

    "Yoga offers a simple, accessible and

    inclusive means to promote physical and

    spiritual health and well-being," Ban Ki-

    moon said in his message for IDY. "It pro-

    motes respect for one's fellow human

     beings and for the planet we share."

    A manifestation of the universal value of 

    "vasudhaiva kutumbakam" -- the world is

    one family, the UNGA resolution for IDY

    was co-sponsored by 177 nations (the

    largest number ever for such a resolution)

    and adopted unanimously by the 193-mem-

     ber organisation, Amb. Mukerji said.

    The idea of an International Day of Yoga

    was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra

    Modi in his address to the General

    Assembly last September, calling yoga "a

    holistic approach to health and well-being"

    and to finding "the sense of oneness with

    yourself, the world and the nature.""Yoga embodies the unity of mind and

     body; thought and action; restraint and ful-

    filment; the harmony between man and

    nature; a holistic approach to health and

    well-being. It is not about exercise but to

    discover the sense of oneness with yourself,

    the world and the nature."

    For yoga day to be observed starting this

    year, Amb. Mukerji said the resolution for 

    it had to be passed by UNGA before the

    end of last year, but the calendar had

    already been set with no room for fresh

    items.

    The Indian Mission found a way around

    this by invoking the association Modi made

     betw een heal th and yoga . They had the

    Yoga Day resolution introduced as part of the health agenda that was already on the

    calendar for December, Mukerji said.

    The Mission brought the full force of 

    multilateral diplomacy to bear on the proj-

    ect, he said. The Indian diplomats were able

    to have the 18 co-sponsors they initially

    had snowball to reach 177 co-sponsors.

    And when both the US and China signed

    on, the effort gained momentum.

    Asked about the role of Muslim countries

    as co-sponsors and the controversies raised

    in India by some Muslims, Amb. Mukerji

    said yoga was presented as a health matter 

    with no religious undertones and pointed

    out that 47 of the 56 members of the

    Muslim grouping, the Organization of 

    Islamic Cooperation (OIC), joined as co-

    sponsors. While Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

    did not co-sponsor, they did not object to

    the resolution either.

    The Pope appeals for sweeping action...

    Continued from page 1

     brought the moral case for acting to combat

    manmade global warming center stage in a

    way it never has before. While slamming a

    slew of modern trends -- the heedless wor-

    ship of technology, our addiction to fossil

    fuels and compulsive consumerism -- the

    Pope said humanity's "reckless" behavior 

    has pushed the planet to a perilous "break-

    ing point." Citing Scripture and past popes'

    and bishops' appeals, he urges people of all

    faiths and no faith to undergo an awakening

    to save God's creation for future genera-

    tions.

    Francis has set his sights far beyond thecircle of his church. With an eye toward

    several key climate change summits sched-

    uled for later this year, the Pope said his let-

    ter is addressed to "every person living on

    this planet."

    At least two Catholic presidential candi-

    dates – Jeb Bush and Rick Santorum- have

    already distanced themselves from the

    Pope’s views on climate change, denied by

    Conservative Republicans. Religion and

     politics should not be mixed, they argue.

     Indian diaspora has become an important...

    Continued from page 1

    statue installed in front of the parliament

     building. More, Jaitley said at the World

    Economic Forum in Davos he came across New Zealand PM visiting the India pavil-

    ion, who when asked pointed out that

    Indian population in his country has

    reached 8% and is only going to grow.

    Pointing to the biggest outcome of the

    2014 election in India – with contributions

    from the youth, BJP and Modi - Jaitley said

    that caste based and dynastic politics was

    delivered a blow and meritocracy won. In

    the context, he revealed the BJP chose ‘Ab

    Ki Baar Modi sarkar’ over ‘Ab ki bar 

    Bhaajpa sarkar’ as its poll slogan because

    55% people polled preferred to vote for 

    Modi compared to 35% for the party. “In

    Modi people see a leader who would suc-

    ceed in fulfilling their dream of making

    India great again,” Jaitley said amid

    applause.

    Jatiley said India is not content being the

    fastest growing economy in the world. “We

    lead because others have slowed. But we

    have the capacity to grow in double digits.”

    He also expressed pride in the perform-

    ance of the Modi government in its first

    year. “We have provided a decisive leader-

    ship and a government that slogs,” he said.

    Printed Every Saturday by: Forsythe Media Group, LLC, ISSN 1941-9333, 76 N Broadway, Suite 2004, Hicksville, NY 11801 P: 516.390.7847

    Website: TheSouthAsianTimes.info Updated Daily

    LODI, NJ: Devan Solanki, the Ivy League-

     bound valedictorian at Lodi High School in

     New Jersey, alleges that school officials have

     plotted against him – first by stripping him of 

    the opportunity to deliver the graduation

    speech, then by suspending him, and finally,

     by requi ring that he undergo a psych iatri c

    evaluation before he can return to school.

    About 90 students held a rally in front of 

    the school Tuesday, demanding that school

    administrators reverse their decision, lift the

    suspension and give Solanki the platform he's

    seeking on Tuesday, June 23, when the 2015

    graduating class meets on the football field.

    Solanki admits to having disciplinary

    infractions but insists they're minor – using a

    cell phone on one occasion, and talking back 

    to teachers on two separate occasions. Hethinks it's his reputation for occasionally

     being sharp-tongued with Lodi High School

    staff that's led to the end-of-year graduation

    woes. Although the psychiatrist determined

    that Solanki is no danger to himself or others

    and can go to school, Principle D'Amico still

    isn't allowing him on school grounds, accord-

    ing to his mother.

    ValedictorianSolanki denied hisright by NJ school

    Devan Solanki 

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    5June 20-26, 2015TheSouthAsianTimes.info  TRISTATE COMMUNITY

    New York: Two US lawmakers have urged

    India to take action against telephone scam-

    mers who they said defraud millions of 

    Americans. Their appeal came after they

     proposed tough legislation to combat wide-

    spread fraud by foreigners that hijacks

    caller IDs.

    "We think that all governments should

    crack down on scammers, fraudsters and

     ba d ac to rs -- in cl ud in g In di a, "

    Representative Leonard Lance of New

    Jersey said in a statement this week.

    Another cosponsor of the anti-fraud bill,

    Representative Grace Meng of New York,

    said, "As we push for it to become law, we

    urge law enforcement agencies -- where

    these scams are occurring and originating --

    to do all they can to combat it."

    The call for action in India by Meng and

    Lance is significant because many of the

    frauds originate in India or use Indians and

    they could erode the credibility of India's

    $118 billion back office sector.

    The bill the two Democrats have cospon-

    sored with Republican Representative Joe

    Barton of Texas seeks tougher action by the

    US against telephone scams knows as

    "caller ID spoofing."

    In these frauds, the criminals make it

    appear that they are calling from a govern-

    ment agency, bank, police department, cred-

    it card or technology company, pharmacy or 

    hospital by having those numbers appear on

    the victim's phone. The scammers then

    make fraudulent claims and ask for and

    often receive money or the person's person-

    al or financial information, which they use

    to commit more fraud.

    Their bill proposing the Anti-Spoofing

    Act of 2015 would strengthen the Truth in

    Caller ID Act by prohibiting spoofing by

    foreigners, and target new Internet-based

    Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services

    and text messaging used in frauds, the

    Representatives said earlier when they

    announced it.

    "The problem of caller ID spoofing has

    gotten out of control," the lawmakers said.

    "Millions of Americans continue to get

    ripped off by con artists and scammers who

     perpetrate this despicable crime, many los-

    ing thousands of dollars."

    Last year, Microsoft filed a suit in a

    Federal court in California against C-Cubed

    Solutions Private Limited based in India,

    accusing it of pretending to be from

    Microsoft and cheating people into paying

    for nonexistent services, stealing their 

    financial information for further fraud and

     planting viruses.

    The lawmakers, whose constituencies

    include many Indian Americans, noted that

    the fraud affects "particularly the South

    Asian community."

    Law enforcement officials in several

     pl ac es , in cl ud in g Ne w Je rs ey an d

    California, have issued alerts specifically

    warning the Indian American and South

    Asian communities about these frauds after 

    discovering victims among them.

    By Ashok Ojha/SA Times

    New York: India’s Finance

    Minister Arun Jaitley has force-

    fully reaffirmed his government’s

    commitment to revitalize Indian

    economy by bringing liberaliza-

    tion and reducing corporate taxes.

    Speaking Wednesday at a gath-

    ering of industrialists, business

    executives and attorneys at a

    reception held at Waldorf Astoriain New York City, Jaitley said that

    India’s current growth rate of 8 %

    was not enough to revitalize its

    economy and unleash its true

     potential.

    In addition to bringing down corporate

    taxes, Jaitley elaborated upon a series of steps

    undertaken by his ministry including plans for 

    further liberalizing economic policies, creat-

    ing transparency in implementation of gov-

    ernment decisions and introducing strict

     penalty against black money and its transfer 

    to foreign banks. “We are enforcing legisla-

    tion to stop illegal transfer of black money

    into foreign banks. When we are reducing

    taxes there is no reason for transfer of funds

    abroad”. Criticizing the flawed policies of the

     prev io us go vern ment and th ei r at ti tu de

    towards liberalization, Jaitley said the old sys-

    tem encouraged crony capitalism. “Some

    industrialists still feel comfort in the old sys-

    tem, but transparency and liberalization is

    essential for promoting market based econo-

    my and rejecting a system where discre-

    tionary powers were abused.”

    Referring to steps taken vis-à-vis states,

    Jaitley said that state governments

    are entitled to a greater share in

    central revenue irrespective of 

    which party was ruling the state.

    “The elected governments in

    states have a duty to improve the

    lives of their people and deserve

    higher stake in the Indian econo-

    my. However state governments

    must demonstrate their serious-

    ness for development”, he said.

    Commenting on the landreforms controversy, Jaitley

     pointed out that India’s agricul-

    ture sector was experiencing a cri-

    sis due to the huge number of 

    landless peasants. “The only way

    to solve this crisis was land reform by which

    more land is allocated for manufacturing sec-

    tor to accommodate surplus labor from agri-

    culture.”

    Indian law firm Shardul Amarchand

    Mangaldas hosted the reception.

    On Wednesday afternoon, Jaitley rang the

    closing bell at New York Stock Exchange in

    lower Manhattan and toured its trading floor.

    Accompanied by a high-level business dele-

    gation from India, it was his first major public

    engagement in USA.

    Speaking to reporters outside NYSE, Jaitley

    said that he was eager to convince foreign

    investors about stability in government poli-

    cies. “There have been concerns from

    investors about our reform and taxation poli-

    cies which I intended to clarify.”

    Later he met with investors to explore

    opportunities of increasing long-term

    investments in India.

    India committed to reducing corporate taxes: JaitleyNew York: Vegetarian

    Vision Team under the

    leadership of Chairman

    Mr. H.K. Shah & Malati

    Shah organized a patriotic

    musical and singing pro-

    gram "Jago Hindustani”

    on May 31st at Bellerose

    High School, Queens, NY.

    The authentic presentation

    of carved fruits, vegeta-

     ble s, tra di tiona l dinne r 

    and the unique heart

    touching patriotic theme

    of the program were the

    highlights of the event.

    Under the guidance of 

    President Chandra Mehta & K.K. Mehta, the

    overall event was coordinated by vice presi-

    dent Flora Parekh with the help of 

    Development Director Vinod Shah, Treasurer 

    Minesh Desai & a team of hardworking vol-

    unteers, who worked tirelessly to make the

     program a huge success l eading into a "sold

    out" event couple weeks before.

    Over 335 people attended the event which

    started with a sumptuous authentic dinner. The

     progra m sta rte d wit h Americ an & Ind ian

     National Anthems by Kirti Shukla followed by

    inspiring speeches by H.K. Shah and ChandraMehta. Vegetarian Vision Goals and objectives

    were presented in the speeches. "Our vision is

    to make people aware of the benefits of 

     bec omi ng veg eta ri an . Hum an be ing s, by

    nature, are vegetarian and veggie diets are

    healthy and environmentally friendly. Be a

    Vegetarian Vision member to help spread the

    noble cause. Membership forms available on

    our website at www.vegetarianvision.org,"

    said Chairman H.K. Shah.

    "Production of non-vegetarian food has a

    direct effect on global warming. If one person

    turns five other people vegetarian and requests

    them to repeat, we can fulfill our dream and

    importantly involve our youth. We are plan-

    ning various unique, fun filled events for the

    year including a ThanksGiving Dinner,” said

    President Chandra Mehta.

    The Jago Hindustani program involved non-

    stop singing and music that charged up the

    audience with a highly patriotic spirit. Peoplelearned a lot about the history of India, during

    the Moghul and British regime, through pow-

    erful commentary and songs and also learned

    about the sacrifices made by great patriotic

    leaders. The singers were handsomely reward-

    ed by impressed attendees. Overall, the organi-

    zation, through its unique vision and mission,

    helped spread vegetarianism, patriotic way.

    Vegetarian Vision presents ‘Jago Hindustani’ program

    Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is in US leading a business 

    delegation

    In these frauds, the criminals make it appear that they are calling from agovernment agency, bank, police department, credit card or technology

    company, pharmacy or hospital by having those numbers appear on thevictim's phone. The scammers then make fraudulent claims and ask for andoften receive money or the person's personal or financial information, whichthey use to commit more fraud.

    Two US lawmakers urge India to take action against phone fraud

    Vegetarian Vision team at the event 

  • 8/21/2019 Vol 8 Issue 7 - June 20-26, 2015

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    Washington, DC: A leading Indian

    community organization will honor a

    US senator as a Friend of India along

    with five outstanding achievers of the

    Indian American community at its

    annual awards banquet in Stamford

    Saturday.

    The Connecticut chapter of the

    GOPIO has selected senior 

    Democratic senator from

    Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, for 

    the "Friend of India" award.

    Blumenthal serves on several

    important US Senate committees

    including armed services, commerce,

     judiciary, veterans' affairs and science

    and transportation.

    "With increasing US-India cooperation in Defence,

    Commerce and Science & Technology, Senator 

    Blumenthal helps to improved bilateral relations

     between the two countries," GOPIO

    said.

    Five Indian Americans to be hon-

    ored for their achievements in profes-

    sion and community service are:

    Prof. Akhil Reed Amar, Dr. Vinod

    Srihari, Nisha Arora, Dr. George

    Joseph and Moh Sharma.

    Amar is Sterling Professor of Law

    and Political Science at Yale

    University. Srihari is Yale faculty

    member and Associate Director of 

    Yale's Psychiatry Residency Training

    Program. Arora is Co-founder of 

    Indian Community Centre (ICC) of 

    Greenwich. Joseph is Deputy

    Director of the Whitney and Betty

    MacMillan Centre for International and Area Studies at

    Yale. Moh Sharma serves as a Policy Advisor for the

    House Democratic Caucus.

    Hempstead, NY: Anthony J. Santino, a close

    friend of the Indian American community for 

    over two decades, is the Republican nominee

    to run for the Supervisor of the Town of 

    Hempstead this November.

    When elected, Santino will replace Kate

    Murray who is the GOP pick for Nassau

    County District Attorney.

    Santino was first elected to the Hempstead

    Town Board in 1993 and has been re-elected

    every four years with a large plurality.

    Hempstead is Long Island's largest town.

    In a recent interview with Varinder Bhalla,

    of the Indian American Voters Forum of New

    York, Santino said, “As Senior Councilman

    of the Hempstead Township, I have worked

    closely with the Indian American community

    on Long Island, but I will be able to do a lotmore when I get elected Supervisor in

     November.” Santino has been a consi stent

    supporter of the India Association of Long

    Island (IALI) and its food drives to benefit the

    Interfaith Nutrition Network.

    Dr. Sunil Mehra, the former President of 

    IALI and of Long Island-Queens AAPI,

    applauds the bond that the Santino has built

    with the community. “For over 20 years,

    Santino has been the liaison of the Indian

    community and the go-to person for any gov-

    ernmental assistance from the Hempstead

    Town and Nassau County governments,” says

    Mehra. Adds Arvind Vora, “Councilman

    Santino is also active with the Shanti Fund, a

    charitable organization that promotes peace

    through education.” Santino was namedShanti Fund’s Man of the Year in 1997.

    The Gujarati Samaj of New York also hon-

    ored Councilman Santino in 2004 for his dedi-

    cation to the community. The Councilman’s

    outreach to the Indian American community

    also includes active participation in the Five

    Towns Indian Association and the Elmont-

     based Kerala Center.

    On January 26, 2003, Town Supervisor Kate

    Murray and Councilman Santino unfurled the

    Indian tricolor flag outside the Hempstead

    Town Hall – the first time ever by any town-

    ship across New York – and launched the cele-

     bration of the Republic Day of India, which is

    commemorated annually.

    In recognition of Councilman Santino’s two

    decades of dedicated service to the Indian

    American community, the Indian American

    Voters Forum of New York honored him on

    August 15, 2014 at the Consulate of India,

    where Amb. Dnyaneshwar Mulay presented

    him a plaque on their behalf.

    TRISTATE COMMUNITY6 June 20-26, 2015 TheSouthAsianTimes.info 

    Santino nominated forHempstead Town Supervisor

    US senator to be honored as Friend of India

    Senator Richard Blumenthal 

    Councilman Tony Santino & Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmad at the flag hoisting out- side Hempstead Town Hall to celebrateIndia's Republic Day in January 2014.

  • 8/21/2019 Vol 8 Issue 7 - June 20-26, 2015

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    7June 20-26, 2015TheSouthAsianTimes.info  NATIONAL COMMUNITY

    Washington, DC: A Sikh college student

    will be able to join the US Army, without

     being for ced to cut his hai r, shave his

     beard or stop wearing his turban thanks to

    a Washington court ruling.

    District Court Judge Amy BermanJackson ruled last week that the Army vio-

    lated Hofstra University student Iknoor 

    Singh's rights when it refused to let him

    compete for a spot as a contracted member 

    of his college's Reserve Officer Training

    Corps program.

    "The court finds that defendants have

    failed to show that the application of the

    Army's regulations to this plaintiff and the

    denial of the particular religious accom-

    modation he seeks further a compelling

    government interest by the least restrictive

    means," the judge wrote. She added that

    the Army's refusal to permit Singh to

    enroll while adhering to "articles of faith"

    that include his hair and turban "cannotsurvive the strict scrutiny" of the federal

    law. The Army has given "tens of thou-

    sands of exceptions" to its grooming and

    uniform policies, the judge wrote, and

    made "successful accommodation of 

    observant Sikhs in the past," noting several

    who have served with distinction, receiv-

    ing commendations. Jackson said the

    Army's own research contradicted deputy

    chief of staff Lt. Gen. James C.

    McConville's opinion in denying Singh's

    enrollment request.

    McConville and other Army officials had

    contended the articles of faith would have

    an adverse impact on unit cohesion and

    morale, discipline and health and safety.Singh, a resident of Queens in New

    York, who plans to enroll in the ROTC

     program in autumn, told Newsday in a

     phone interview Monday: "Being told no a

    handful of times, I didn't give up."

    "I had faith and let things play out," he

    was quoted as saying. "I'll be going on

    weekend field exercises, which I wasn't

     previous ly able to do. I'm very exci ted

    about that."

    Sikh student can join US army with beard, turban

    New York: A UN report says that

    Indians in its peacekeeping opera-

    tions were involved in three sub-

    stantiated cases of sexual exploita-

    tion or abuse between 2010 and

    2013.

    During those four years, there

    were a total of 64 substantiated

    cases of sexual abuse by UN peace-

    keepers, according to the report

    released on Friday. More than

    100,000 uniformed personnel serve

    in UN peacekeeping operations.

    For context, the UN Office of 

    Internal Oversight Services (OIOS),

    which looked into allegations of 

    sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations, however,

    noted in its report that largest con-

    tributors of troops to the UN like

    India had lower incidence of cases

    of abuse.

    India, which currently has over 

    8,000 personnel in the peacekeeping

    operations, is one of the largest con-

    tributors to the UN.

    The other largest contributors of 

    uniformed personnel to the UN are

    Pakistan, which has more than

    8,750 in UN operations and had

    four substantiated cases, and

    Bangladesh with over 9,000 person-

    nel and two such cases.

    "While many variables, including

    contingent size, could affect the

    numbers of substantiated allega-

    tions, it appears that the largest

    TCCs (troop contributing countries)

    do not have the highest number of 

    substantiated allegations against

    their personnel," the report said.

    Britain, which has fewer than 300 personnel serving in UN operations,

    had one substantiated case. South

    Africa with 2,160 had the highest

    number of cases, nine. Uruguay

    with under 1,500 personnel had

    eight cases.

    The UN Department of Field

    Services, which deals with the

    deployment of personnel in peace-

    keeping operations, said in response

    to the report, that given the huge

    number of troops deployed "it can

    easily be argued that such data

    would more appropriately point to

    individual failings than to the over-

    all attitude of a member state's mili-

    tary forces towards SEA (sexual

    exploitation and abuse)."

    The report lacked specific infor-

    mation about the incidents, except

    for one case against Pakistani police

     per sonnel in Hai ti involv ing the

    abduction and rape of a 13-year-old

     boy.

    According to the report, besidesoutright violence and rape, many

    cases involved troops providing

    gifts to women and girls, exploiting

    their poverty. In some of the

    instances, the women were given

    food and supplies for babies and in

    others, gifts like jewellery, clothing

    and electronics.

    Washington, DC: Ahead of the

    2015-2016 election cycle, the

    Republican Party has included two

    Indian-Americans state legislators

    on a project to recruit, train, and

    elect Republican candidates from

    diverse communities on the state

    level. Niraj Antani and Janak Joshi,

    State Representatives in Ohio and

    Colorado Houses respectively, are

     pa rt of th e le ad er sh ip te am of 

    Republican State Leadership

    Committee's (RSLC) Future

    Majority Project (FMP).

    Headed by former Oklahoma

    Speaker of the House and

    Republican National Committee

    member T.W. Shannon the project

    seeks to get elected Republican

    candidates "who better represent

    the full diversity of America."

    In 2013-2014, FMP recruited

    hundreds of new candidates and

    elected 43 new leaders to office.

    This cycle, FMP aims to recruit

    250 new, diverse candidates and

    see 50 of those candidates appoint-

    ed or elected to office, the party

    said.

    "As someone who has served in

    the trenches of state government, I

    understand the importance of 

    recruiting the right candidates with

    the right message in every district

    and state across the country," said

    Shannon.

    Richmond, Vir: In

    recognition of his

    dedication to serving

    the less fortunate,

    V i r g i n i a

    C o m m o n w e a l t h

    University Indian

    American graduate

    student Braveen

    Ragunanthan was

    honored by the U.S.

    Public Health

    Service PhysicianP r o f e s s i o n a l

    Advisory Committee

    with its 2015

    Excellence in Public

    Health Award.

    According to VCU News, the

    national award recognizes medical

    students who demonstrate their 

    commitment to improving public

    health. He received the award at

    the School of Medicine’s student

    Honors Day ceremony in May.

    As an undergraduate student at

    Duke, he spent summers in the

    Mississippi Delta, at the epicenter 

    of the HIV/AIDS crisis in South

    Africa and battling neglected trop-ical diseases in Ethiopia. He says

    that these trips instilled in him the

     belief that “all people of all back-

    grounds, regardless of their cir-

    cumstances, deserve a chance to

    enjoy a healthy life.”

    Since enrolling in the School of 

    Medicine, Ragunanthan has

    interned with the World Health

    Organization in Geneva,

    Switzerland, and participated in

    the School of Medicine’s

    International/Inner-City/Rural

    Preceptorship. This four-year pro-

    gram focuses on equipping med-

    ical students with the knowledge,

    skills and values needed to pro-

    vide compassionate care to under-

    served communities. “Eventually,

    I plan to work as a primary care physic ian in a medically under-

    served community and health pro-

    fessional shortage area. I am inter-

    ested in grassroots community

    organizing and the potential of 

    working in the space of public

    health to positively impact com-

    munities,” Ragunanthan said.

    UN reports three sex cases involving Indian peackeepers

    Two Indian-Americans on Republican diversity project leadershipVirginia student Braveen

    Ragunanthan honored withNational Public Health Award

    Niraj Antani (left)and Janak Joshi 

    Iknoor Singh

    Braveen Ragunanthan (Photo: duke.edu) 

  • 8/21/2019 Vol 8 Issue 7 - June 20-26, 2015

    8/32

    8 June 20-26, 2015   TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY

    Washington, DC: Shivshankar 

    Menon, former national securi-

    ty adviser to India’s prime min-

    ister, has joined the Brookings

    Institution as a distinguished

    fellow, its president Strobe

    Talbott recently announced.

    Menon will serve within the

    foreign policy program at

    Brookings. Menon’s profes-

    sional experience includes

    diplomacy, national security,

    atomic energy, disarmament

    issues, and India’s relations

    with its neighbors and major 

    global powers. He currently

    serves as chairman of the advisory board of 

    the Institute of Chinese Studies in New Delhi,

    and has been a Richard Wilhelm Fellow at

    MIT and Fisher Family Fellow at HarvardUniversity.

    Menon served as national security advisor to

    the prime minister of India from January 2010

    to May 2014, and previously

    as foreign secretary of India

    from October 2006 to August

    2009.

    He has served as ambassador 

    and high commissioner of 

    India to Israel (1995-1997), Sri

    Lanka (1997-2000), China

    (2000-2003), and Pakistan

    (2003-2006). He was also a

    member of India’s Atomic

    Energy Commission (2008-

    2014). A career diplomat,

    Menon also served in India’s

    missions to the International

    Atomic Energy Agency in

    Geneva and the United Nations in New York.

    Menon studied at the Scindia School,

    Gwalior and at St. Stephens College, Delhi

    University, where he studied ancient Indianhistory and Chinese. In 2010, he was chosen

     by Fore ign Pol icy magazine as one of the

    world's "Top 100 Global Thinkers."

    Washington, DC: Indian-

    American cardiologist Suresh

    Gadasalli was shot dead last

    week at the Healthy Heart Centre

    in Odessa, Texas by a patient and

     busi ne ss as so ci at e who th enkilled himself, according to

     police.

    Witnesses said 60-year-old

    Ayyasamy Thangam shot the 53-

    year-old Gadasalli multiple times

    on Thursday afternoon, accord-

    ing to an Odessa Police

    Department news release.

    Thangam then closed the door 

    of the room the two men were in

    and witnesses heard another sin-

    gle gunshot, it said.

    Gadasalli was in the Odessa

    area since 1993, and became

     prominent by performing cutting-

    edge heart surgeries, helping

    open Alliance Hospital before it

    was purchased by OdessaRegional Medical Center in

    2007, according to local OA

    online.

    Gadasalli was named

    'Community Statesman' in 1997

     by the Heri ta ge of Odes sa

    Foundation.

    He reportedly performed the

    world's first simultaneous hybrid

    revascularization, and he was

    nominated as "Super Doctor" by

    the Texas Monthly Magazine in

    2008, it said.

    Gadasalli was also previously

    investigated in a federal court

    case on a currency structuring

    charge, the news site said.

    The FBI began their investiga-

    tion into the Healthy HeartCenter in June 2012.

    Gadasalli was accused of vio-

    lating federal law in structuring

    transactions to avoid reporting

    requirements, it said citing previ-

    ous reports. According to court

    records, Gadasalli's case was

    closed on January 22, 2014.

    Washington, DC: Three Indian

    Americans are among the national final-ists for the 2015-16 White House

    Fellowship which offers exceptional

    Americans first-hand experience work-

    ing at the highest levels of the federal

    government.

    Luxme Hariharan, Payal Patel and Anil

    Yallapragada are among those represent-

    ing "an accomplished and diverse cross-

    section of professionals from the private

    sector, academia, medicine, and armed

    services."

    They will be evaluated by the

    President's Commission on White House

    Fellowships from June 11 to 14, accord-

    ing to a White House statement.

    Luxme Hariharan from Madison,

    Wisconsin, is Paediatric Cataract,Glaucoma, Cornea and International

    Health Fellow, Children's Hospital of 

    Los Angeles, University of Southern

    California Eye Institute.

    Payal Patel from Houston, Texas, isInfectious Diseases Fellow, Beth Israel

    Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard

    Medical School.

    Anil Yallapragada from Myrtle Beach,

    South Carolina, is Medical Director,

    South Carolina Stroke Institute, Grand

    Strand Medical Centre.

    Under the program founded in 1964 by

    President Lyndon B. Johnson, selected

    individuals spend a year in Washington,

    DC working full-time for cabinet secre-

    taries, senior White House staff, and

    other top-ranking government officials.

    There are more than 700 White House

    Fellow alumni, a distinguished group

    that includes former secretary of state

    Colin Powell, CNN chief medical corre-spondent Sanjay Gupta, and Pulitzer 

    Prize-winning author and historian Doris

    Kearns Goodwin.

    New York, NY: Museum of the

    Moving Image will present a spe-

    cial tribute to film maker Mani

    Ratnam featuring the director in

     person with a trilogy of films that

    follow lovers against a backdrop of 

    Indian politics: Roja (1992),Bombay (1995), and Dil Se

    (1998)—the last featuring one of 

    the most famous scenes in all of 

    Indian cinema, the “Chaiyya

    Chaiyya” musical number on top of 

    a moving train. The series, Politics

    as Spectacle: The Films of Mani

    Ratnam, runs from July 31 through

    August 2, 2015. Ratnam will partic-

    ipate in conversations after each

    film, moderated by Richard Peña.

    “Mani Ratnam is a treasure, and

    we are pleased to host him in New

    York with three of his most signifi-

    cant and beloved films,” saidChristina Marouda, the Museum’s

    Deputy Director for Development

    and Founder of the Indian Film

    Festival in Los Angeles, who organ-

    ized this program. “This weekend

    tribute offers audiences, both devot-

    ed fans and new viewers, a rare

    opportunity to see his gorgeous

    films on the big screen, presented in

    35mm.”

    Richard Peña, Director Emeritus,

     Ne w Yor k Fi lm Fe st iv al an d

    Professor of Film Studies at

    Columbia University, added: “The

    false dichotomies that are used tocategorize films—art vs. commer-

    cial cinema, entertainment vs. polit-

    ical filmmaking—disappear when

    one sees how easily Mani Ratnam

    is able to combine aspects of all of 

    them into his work. A New York 

    tribute to this important filmmaker 

    is long overdue.”

    Washington, DC: An 18-year-old

    Indian American teenager from

    Texas was killed during a game of 

    Russian roulette, media reported.According to police, Vikram

    Virk, 27, confessed on Saturday to

    shooting Jaskaran Singh in the

    head that afternoon while playing

    the deadly game in Virk's car, CBS

     News reported.

    Virk reportedly told police that

    he handed Singh a handgun that

    Virk believed he had emptied.

    Singh then pulled the trigger twice

    while pointing it at Virk, the police

    said."The suspect then took the gun

    and pointed it at (Singh) and pulled

    the trigger one time and the gun

    did not fire. The suspect then

     pul led the trigger a second time

    and the gun fired, striking the com-

     pl ai na nt in th e le ft te mp le ," a

    detective wrote in the arrest affi-

    davit for Virk. Virk rushed Singh to

    a local hospital, where Singh suc-

    cumbed to his injury. Hospital per-

    sonnel recovered the handgun usedto shoot Singh from Virk's car and

    turned it over to police.

    Virk initially said Singh shot

    himself, but during questioning

    admitted that he killed his friend,

     pol ice said . Poli ce have charged

    Virk with manslaughter. He is

     being held on a $150,000 bond.

    Shivshankar Menon namedDistinguished Fellow at Brookings

    Three Indian Americans shortlistedfor White House Fellowship

    Museum of Moving Image NY to honor Mani Ratnam

    Indian-American teen killed during Russian roulette game

    The filmmaker to appear in person with his trilogy: Roja, Bombay, and Dil Se

    Indian-American doctor shotdead by friend in Texas

    Former national security adviser to India’s PM Shivshankar Menon

    Cardiologist Suresh Gadasalli 

  • 8/21/2019 Vol 8 Issue 7 - June 20-26, 2015

    9/32

    9June 20-26, 2015TheSouthAsianTimes.info  US AFFAIRS

    Washington: Jeb Bush, a

    son and brother of former 

    US presidents, joined a

    crowded field of 

    Republican contenders set-

    ting the stage for a possible

    dynastic clash with a for-mer first lady, Hillary

    Clinton in 2016 White

    House race.

    Watched by his 90-year-

    old mother, Barbara Bush,

    wife of George H.W. Bush, who lost the

    1992 presidential race to Bill Clinton, Jeb

    Bush made the announcement Monday in

    his adopted hometown of Miami, Florida, a

    state he governed for eight years. Formally

    throwing his hat into the ring after a six

    month exploratory run, Bush saying that

    "America deserves better," declared: "We

    will take Washington - the static capital of 

    this dynamic country - out of the business of 

    causing problems."

    "The question for me is what am I going todo about it," said Bush who has cultivated

    the image of a sober conservative. "And I've

    decided: I'm a candidate for president of the

    United States of America."

    At one point, he was interrupted by protes-

    tors wearing yellow shirts with letters that

    read, "Legal Status Is Not Enough," calling

    for immigration reform.

    Departing from his prepared remarks,

    Bush took a dig at President Obama saying

    as president, he would pass "meaningful

    immigration reform" rather than solving the

     problem via an execut ive

    order.

    He tried to distinguish

    himself from other 

    Republican candidates as

    an executive animated by

     bi g id ea s an d un iq ue lycapable of carrying them

    out and hit out at

    Democratic frontrunner 

    Hillary Clinton. Mocking

    her "no-suspense primary"

    he warned that "the presidency should not

     be passed on from one liberal to the next."

    The 11th Republican contender to jump in

    the race, John Ellis Bush, 62, the second son

    of 41st president George H.W. Bush and

    younger brother of 43rd George W. Bush,

    who succeeded Bill Clinton in 2001, is

     banking on more than his family name.

    "It's nobody's turn. It's everybody's test.

    And it's wide open, exactly how a contest

    for president should be," Bush said hinting

    he knew he would need more than his line-age to win the Republican nomination.

    As a CNN/ORC Poll released earlier this

    month showed Bush isn't entering the race

    as a clear front-runner. It found him virtually

    tied at the top of the field with Senator 

    Marco Rubio, a fellow Floridian.

    Behind them, 10 percent of those polled

    said they planned to support Wisconsin

    Governor Scott Walker and former Arkansas

    Governor Mike Huckabee. When matched

    against Hillary Clinton, Bush trails 51 per-

    cent to 43 percent.

    Third Bush jumps into White House race

    Most US adults back ban on powdered alcohol: Survey

    Washington: Addressing the first major 

    rally of her 2016 presidential run from New

    York City’s Roosevelt Island in a state thatshe represented as senator for eight years

    after as many years as First Lady, she said

    “America can’t succeed unless you succeed”.

    Wearing a blue pant suit, with husband Bill

    Clinton in a red T-shirt and daughter Chelsea

    standing among a cheering crowd by the side

    of an H-shaped blue stage with a red arrow

    like her campaign logo, she declared

    “Democracy can’t be just for billionaires and

    corporations”.

    “Prosperity can’t be just for CEOs and

    hedge fund managers,” she told the crowd of 

    supporters waving paper US flags and chant-

    ing “Hillary, Hillary!”

    “Prosperity and democracy are part of your 

     bas ic bargain, too ,” said the Demo cra tic

    frontrunner invoking both her husband Bill

    Clinton and President Barack Obama, whomshe served as Secretary of State for four 

    years after a hard fought battle with her 2008

    rival. “You brought our country back. Now

    it’s time, your time, to secure the gains and

    move ahead. And you know what? America

    can’t succeed unless you succeed.”

    Invoking President Franklin Roosevelt’s

    famous remark “This generation of 

    Americans has a rendezvous with destiny”,

    Clinton noted America’s longest serving

     president had “called on every American to

    do his or her part and they answered”.

    “It’s America’s basic bargain — if you do

    your part, you ought to be able to get ahead,”

    she said. “When everybody does their part,

    America ought to be able to get ahead too.”

    Clinton slammed Republican opponents

    with an extended riff on the Beatles song

    “Yesterday”.

    “There may be some new voices in the

    Republican choir,” she said of the party’s

    2016 field. “But they’re all singing the same

    old song. It’s a song called ‘Yesterday’. They

     believe in yesterday.”

    “These Republicans trip over themselves

     promising lower taxes and less regulations

    for wealthy corporations without any regard

    for what that will do to income inequality,”

    she said.

    Since announcing her candidacy in April,

    Clinton had so far addressed only low-key

    and small roundtable events in the first states

    to vote in the presidential primaries — Iowa,

     New Hampsh ir e, Sout h Caro li na an d

     Nevada.

    New York: Driven by concerns of potential

    misuse among underage youth, majority of 

    adults in the US favor a ban on recently

    approved powdered alcohol which can cre-

    ate an instant cocktail when mixed with

    water, reveals a survey.

    Packaged in travel-friendly pouches, the

    new alcohol-on-the-go product is set to be

    launched in flavors of distilled spirits like

    vodka, rum and mixed drinks.

    According to the University of Michigan's

    C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll

    on Children's Health, 60 percent of the US

    adults favor a complete ban of powdered

    alcohol in their states, while 84 percent sup- port prohibiting online sales of the product.

    "The product's makers tout powdered

    alcohol as improving convenience for peo-

     ple who enjoy the outdoors and others who

    want to travel light with alcoholic bever-

    ages," said Matthew Davis, director of the

     National Poll on Children's Health and pro-

    fessor of pediatrics and internal medicine at

    the University of Michigan Medical School.

    "Given that several states are considering

    legislation about powdered alcohol, our poll

    looked at what the public thinks about this

    new product.

    The majority of adults agree that pow-

    dered alcohol may spell trouble for young

     people." Only about a third of adults had

    heard about powdered alcohol when the poll

    was conducted in May 2015. The product isset to launch this summer but some states,

    including Louisiana, South Carolina and

    Vermont, have already banned it.

    Corporate Office: 385 Seneca Avenue, Ridgewood NY 11385

    718.821.3182, www.AtlanticDialysis.com

     Jeb Bush

    The Democratic frontrunner for WhiteHouse chose Roosevelt Island in NYC for 

    her first major rally.

    The first women-only mosque in the United States that opened in Los Angeles in February this eyar. on The mosque is housed in a century-old multifaith worship spacenear downtown.Originally built as asynagogue, Pico-Union is 

    now the home of thenonprofit Women’s Mosque as well asseveral Jewish and Christian groups.

    An all-women mosque in LA

    Hillary Clinton begins second‘rendezvous with destiny’

  • 8/21/2019 Vol 8 Issue 7 - June 20-26, 2015

    10/32

    10 June 20-26, 2015   TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA

    Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister 

    Manik Sarkar said that Prime

    Minister Narendra Modi remained

    "non-committal" on continuation of 

    the special category status for eight

    northeastern states, demanding the

    arrangement be continued for their 

    development.

    "Prime Minister Narendra Modiremained silent on the eight chief 

    ministers` demand to continue with

    the special category status," Sarkar 

    told reporters here on Wednesday

    after returning from New Delhi,

    where he met Modi on this issue.

    Expressing his apprehensions that

    the special category status of the

    northeastern states was going to end

    due to various factors, he demanded

    that the special status was a must to

     bring these underdeve loped states

    on par with other mainland states.

    These states are Arunachal

    Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,

    Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland,

    Tripura, and the Himalayan state of Sikkim. "The prime minister also

    remained evasive on a joint meeting

    with all eight chief ministers.

    However, he agreed to attend the

    next meeting of North Eastern

    Council (NEC) in Delhi," the

    Tripura chief minister said. "If the

    central government does not provide

    funds for the development of the

    northeastern states, we cannot

    approach Washington or Pakistan

    for money," remarked Sarkar, who

    has been the chief minister of 

    Tripura for more than 17 years.

    All the eight chief ministers

     belonging to the Congress, Left and

    regional parties sent a signed resolu-

    tion on April 23, urging Modi to

    continue with the `special categorystatus` to their mountainous states.

    Sarkar, a member of CPI-M polit-

     buro, said that after the Plann ing

    Commission`s abolition, the funding

     pa tt er n of No rmal Ce nt ra l

    Assistance (NCA), Special Central

    Assistance (SCA) and Special Plan

    Assistance (SPA) had become

    unclear.

    "Earlier, the special category

    states used to get reasonable amount

    under the NCA, SCA and SPA. The

    funding pattern for the special cate-

    gory states for centrally sponsored

    schemes (CSS) was in the ratio of 

    90:10, where 90 percent of the totalexpenditure was borne by the cen-

    tral government and 10 percent con-

    tributed by the state concerned," he

     pointed out.

    "Any change in the burden shar-

    ing will only add to the liabilities of 

    the states, which they will not be

    able to meet, leading to dumping of 

     pro-people developmental schemes

    in the northeast region," Sarkar 

    added.

    He expressed the apprehension

    that after the formation of NITI

    (National Institution for 

    Transforming India) Aayog and con-

    sidering the 14th Finance

    Commission recommendations andthe 2015-16 union budget, their spe-

    cial category status was going to

    end. There are 11 states in India

    clubbed under the special status cat-

    egory, comprising eight northeastern

    states, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu

    and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

    Kathmandu: In a major step

    towards sub-regional cooperation

    with far-reaching consequences,

    four Saarc nations - Bangladesh,

    Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) -

    will start unhindered vehicular movement between them from

    September this year.

     Nepal' s Mini ste r for Physical

    Infrastructure and Transport

    Bimalendra Nidhi said on

    Thursday that direct vehicular 

    movement among the four mem-

     ber countries of the SAARC will

    kick off from September 18. The

    four countries inked the BBINMotor Vehicle Agreement in

    Bhutan's capital Thimphu on

    Monday. Nepal and India have

    already signed the Motor Vehicle

    Agreement during the 18th Saarc

    Summit held in Kathmandu last

     November.

    Minister Nidhi said that the

    accord will not only help facilitate

    seamless and unhindered transport between the BBIN countries, but

    also help in promotion of eco-

    nomic development and tourism

    of these countries.

    New Delhi: Opposition parties,

    including the Congress and AAP,

    on Thursday attacked the Narendra

    Modi government after veteran

    BJP leader L.K. Advani's remarks

    that forces that can crush democra-cy were stronger at present and a

    repeat of an Emergency-like situa-

    tion cannot be ruled out.

    Advani made the remarks in an

    interview to the Indian Express

    daily.

    Congress spokesperson Tom

    Vadakkan said it is not only his

     par ty whi ch is que st ioning the

    government "but even senior BJP

    leadership is raising questions on

    the efficacy of the government".

    Another Congress spokesperson

    Sanjay Jha tweeted: "A totalitarian

    system is gradually overwhelming

    India; Advani Ji's warnings con-

    firm our worst apprehensions."Delhi Chief Minister Arvind

    Kejriwal also took a dig at Prime

    Minister Modi and the central gov-

    ernment in a reference to the vari-

    ous standoffs between the Centre

    and his Aam Aadmi Party govern-ment on issues including power to

    appoint and transfer officials.

    "Advani ji is correct in saying

    that Emergency can't be ruled out.

    Is Delhi their first experiment," he

    tweeted. AAP leader Ashutosh alsotweeted that Advani's interview is

    first "indictment of Modi's poli-

    tics". "He is saying democracy is

    not safe, emergency is not far,

    under Modi's leadership. When

    Modi was to be made PM candi-

    date Advani discussed in his blogabout Mussolini and Hitler. He

    was hinting at the future then

    under Modi," he said in a series of 

    tweets.

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish

    Kumar, of the Janata Dal-United,

    said Advani was a veteran leader 

    and there is need to give attention

    to his fear and worry.

    "The BJP leader is right to a

    large extent in his remarks that at

    the present point of time, the

    forces that can crush democracy,

    notwithstanding the constitutional

    and legal safeguards, are stronger,"

    he told media persons in Patna.

    BJP spokesperson M.J. Akbar,however, said Advani may have

     been referring to institutions rather 

    than individuals, and he does not

    think there is any chance of an

    emergency-like situation.

    In an interview to the Indian

    Express ahead of the 40th anniver-sary of the imposition of emer-

    gency in India, Advani said "forces

    that can crush democracy, notwith-

    standing the constitutional and

    legal safeguards, are stronger".

    Observing that he did not mean

    the political leadership was not

    mature, he said he did not have

    faith due to i ts weakness.

    Advani also said that he did not

    have confidence that Emergency

    cannot happen again, noting "there

    aren't enough safeguards in India

    in 2015".

    Internal emergency was imposed

    on the country by Prime Minister 

    Indira Gandhi on June 25-26, 1975and it lasted 19 months.

    New Delhi/Shimla:

    In a setback toHimachal Pradesh

    Chief Minister 

    Virbhadra Singh, the

    CBI on Thursday ini-

    tiated a preliminary

    inquiry against him

    and his family over 

    allegations of corrup-

    tion and acquiring

    d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e

    assets during his

    tenure as union steel

    minister. However,

    Virbhadra Singh

    refuted the allegations. Official

    sources told IANS that the

    Central Bureau of Investigation

    (CBI) restarted the preliminary

    inquiry on the basis of the

    income tax department order 

    that said the agricultural income

    of Virbhadra Singh and his fam-

    ily dramatically increased in the

    revised return, which was an

    apparent attempt to justify the

    investments made in the pur-

    chase of insurance policies

    worth over Rs.6.1 crore.

    "This is just a preliminary

    inquiry. If the allegations are

     proved to be true, a regular case

    will be registered against

    Virbhadra Singh and his fami-

    ly," a CBI official told IANS.

    Virbhadra Singh's petitionchallenging the order of the

    income tax department transfer-

    ring his cases from Shimla to

    Chandigarh is also pending in

    the Himachal Pradesh High

    Court.

    Admitting his petition on May

    8, a division bench of JusticeRajiv Sharma and Justice

    Sureshwar Thakur made

    absolute an interim stay on the

    April 1 notice of the income tax

    department, observing that a

    reasonable opportunity of being

    heard in the matter granted to

    the assessee must be effective

    and not a mere formality.

    "The order must contain spe-

    cific reasons after taking into

    consideration the factual matrix.

    Merely stating that the transfer 

    is for the purpose of coordinat-

    ing in itself is not a ground for 

    consolidating the cases at one

     place.The cause of action has arisen

    in Himachal and the conven-

    ience of the party cannot be

    overlooked," it noted.

    Disproportionate assets:CBI begins probe against

    Himachal CM

    Opposition picks up Advani remarks to attack Modi government

    Do Advani’s remarks hint at fear oftotalitarian system under Modi 

    Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh belongs to

    Congress party 

    The Seven Sister States inIndia’s northeast 

    PM non-committal on northeastern states'special status: Tripura CM

    4 Saarc nations drive towards free vehicular movement

  • 8/21/2019 Vol 8 Issue 7 - June 20-26, 2015

    11/32

    11June 20-26, 2015TheSouthAsianTimes.info    INDIA

    By Prakash Bhandari 

    Jaipur: The new revelations

    made by the former IPL supremo

    Lalit Modi in an interview to a

    news channel has bared the skele-

    tons of the Rajasthan Chief 

    Minister Vasundhara Raje. His

    move reveals facts about how

    thick was the relationship

     between him and Raje.

    Particularly, the fact that duringthe critical time when his wife

    Minal was ailing with cancer, it

    was Raje who took her to Portugal

    in 2012 and 2013.

    Lalit Modi seems to have picked

    up cudgels against Raje as a

    revenge because she severed her 

    relationship with him and ousted

    him from the Rajasthan Cricket

    Association's (RCA) presi-

    dentship. This was the time when

    she was out of power and despite

     be in g made the lead er of 

    Opposition, she hardly stayed in

    Jaipur. The then Chief minister 

    Ashok Gehlot often jocularly

    asked, “Where is Vasundhara?

    What is she doing abroad? Why is

    she staying for so long in UK 

    where Lalit Modi has taken

    refuge? Why is she not playing

    her role as the leader of 

    Opposition?”

    Lalit Modi enjoyed the fruits of 

    his friendship with Raje for long

    and despite the fact that he was

    not present in India, when the

    RCA election took place last year,

    Modi largely because of the sup-

     port of Raje government’s bureau-

    crats, won the RCA election.

    Lalit Modi was a thorn in the

    flesh of the former national crick-

    et board chief N. Srinivasan and

    finance minister Arun Jaitley andthe BCCI banned the RCA for 

    electing Modi as president whom

    it had banned for life.

    Meanwhile, Vasundhara Raje

    felt uncomfortable keeping her 

    friendship going with Lalit Modi

    as her detractors were still linking

    Modi with her. During her first

    term as the state’s Chief Minister,

    she had invited a lot of criticism

     by both her own party men and

    the Opposition by allowing Lalit

    Modi to become an “extra

    Constitutional authority”

    Finally, Vasundhara found that

    any association with Modi would

    allow her detractors to thrive on

    the situation because Modi was

    continuing as President of the

    RCA. So, she engineered a coup

     by encouraging a close associate

    of Modi and the BJP’s minority

    community face Ameen Pathan to

    oust Modi as RCA president.

    Pathan led a rebel group who

    voted Modi out of the RCA

    through a no confidence motion.

    This came as a shock to Lalit

    Modi and he tweeted just after the

    no confidence motion that

    Vasundhara was being misguided

     by some of her aides.As Chief Minister, Raje now

    had no option but to keep dis-

    tance from Modi especially

     be ca us e when sh e wa s ou t of 

     power, her MP son Dushyant got

    embroiled in a controversy

     because of his alleged financial

    deals with Modi. A Jaipur-based

    lawyer Poonam Chand Bhandari

    wrote a series of letters to the

    Enforcement Directorate claiming

    Modi had laundered black money

    for Raje's son. Bhandari alleged

    that around Rs 11 crore was rout-

    ed to Niyant Heritage Hospitality

    Ltd by a company owned by Modi

    and his wife. In this company

    Dushyant and his wife are direc-

    tors. The money was transferred

    from Mauritius.

    Raje, after severing her relation-

    ship with Lalit Modi, tried to tell

    the BJP high command that she

    was no longer associated with

    him. Modi, meanwhile, was tar-

    geting her indirectly by twitting

    sarcastic comment against Jaitley

    and the BJP general secretary

    Bhupendra Yadav.

    After the controversy about the

    appeal made by Sushma Swaraj

    on behalf of Lalit Modi was made pu bl ic , he to ok hi s re ve ng e

    against Vasundhara by stating

    how she also tried to help him in

    getting immigration visas.

    Money for rural India from Delhi triplesNew Delhi: Over the next five years, money to rural local governments

    (panchayats) will rise nearly three times, from Rs.63,051 crore to

    Rs.200,292 crore, on the recommendations of the 14th Finance

    Commission - a constitutional body that recommends sharing of financial

    resources between the centre and the states. Panchayat institutions in

    Kerala are most effectively decentralised and so best placed to handle this

    money. The next best are Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

    Gram panchayats, the smallest unit of the panchayat system, get the

    largest share of finances, 60 percent, from the central government.

    Block and district-level panchayats, the second and third tier of the

    three-tier panchayati raj system, get most of their money from the states.

    While gram panchayats generate 11 percent of revenue, block and dis-

    trict-level panchayats generate 0.4 percent and 1.6 percent respectively.

    These are some of the key findings of a report titled "A Contemporary

    Analysis of Fiscal Transfers to Rural Local Governments in India" by

    Accountability Initiative, a New Delhi-based think tank. While India's

    urban population increased 31.8 % between 2001 and 2011, 69 percent of 

    India is still rural. This fact has not been lost on Delhi.A major transfer of power was a part of local government reforms in the

    early 1990s when panchayats were duly empowered. The Indian

    Government became a three-tiered structure -centre, state and local (rural

    and urban) - in 1992 under the 73rd and 74th amendments.

    New Delhi: The controversy over Sushma

    Swaraj helping former IPL chief Lalit Modi

    continued to billow as senior Congress

    leader and former union finance minister P.

    Chidambaram accused the external affairs

    minister of "nepotism" and abuse of authori-ty even as the government reiterated its stand

    that she had committed no impropriety.

    Speaking to reporters in Chennai,

    Chidambaram also asked the government

    about the steps it has taken to bring back the

    former IPL chief, who faces an Enforcement

    Directorate notice for alleged financial

    impropriety.

    Chidambaram said Finance Minister Arun

    Jaitley has confirmed that the Enforcement

    Directorate was investigating 16 cases

    against Modi and show cause notice was

    issued in 15 cases.

    Posing seven questions to the government,

    Chidambaram said if Sushma Swaraj wanted

    to facilitate Modi getting travel documents

    on humanitarian grounds, she should have

    asked him to get in touch with the Indian

    High Commission in London. "Why did she

    feel he should have UK travel documents

    rather than Indian travel documents?" he

    asked.

    Leveling a series of allegations,Chidambaram said it was "nepotism, abuse

    of authority and violation of rules".

    He also asked the NDA government to

    make public the letters exchanged between

    him and British Chancellor of Exchequer 

    George Osborne.

    Chidambaram said he wrote to his British

    counterpart Osborne that Lalit Modi was

     being investigated under Indian laws and the

    British government should send him back to

    India as his passport was revoked by the

    Indian government.

    Continuing the attack on the government,

    the Congress party demanded that Prime

    Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on

    the issue. Calling him "Maun Modi",

    Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh

    Surjewala questioned the PM’s "conspirator-

    ial" silence on the Lalit Modi controversy.

    The Congress is also demanding the resig-

    nation of Sushma Swaraj over her assistance

    to Lalit Modi.

    Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad backed Sushma Swaraj, saying she did not

    commit an action of impropriety or corrup-

    tion by helping Lalit

    Modi procure documents to travel to

    Portugal last year for his cancer-stricken

    wife's treatment.

    Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday got strong

     backing from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,

    who termed "baseless" all allegations against

    her. On Rajasthan Chief Minister 

    Vasundhara Raje, whose name also cropped

    up in the controversy, Prasad said the details

    would have to be looked into. The Congress

    on Wednesday demanded Raje's resignation

    over allegations that she testified in favor of 

    former IPL chief Lalit Modi's British immi-

    gration application in 2011.

    As finance minister P. Chidambaramhad written to his British counterpart 

    that Lalit Modi was being probed under Indian laws and the British

    government should send him back as his passport was revoked.

    Lalit Modi link comes back to haunt Rajasthan CM

    Patna: BJP presi-

    dent Amit Shah

    will take lessons

    from a Muslim

    yoga teacher at a

    special camp here

    on June 21 -

    I n t e r n a t i o n a l

    Yoga Day.

    "Yoga experts

    Mohd Tamanna and Ashok Sarkar 

    will teach yoga to Shah at Moinul

    Haque stadium here," Ajit Kumar,

    in-charge of Bihar-Jharkhand

    Patanjali Yogpeeth, said.

    He said Tamanna will give tips

    on yoga to Shah.

    At least half a dozen union min-

    isters from Bihar, including Ravi

    Shankar Prasad, Rajeev Pratap

    Rudy, Radha Mohan Singh and

    Ram Kirpal

    Yadav, will also

    attend the yoga

    camp in Patna.

    Shah's plans to

    attend the yoga

    camp here has

     become a political

    issue. Chief 

    Minister Nitish

    Kumar targeted the BJP and

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

    and said they had made yoga a

    matter of "show-off and publici-

    ty". He termed BJP's move to

    hold a yoga camp on June 21 a

    "drama", following which

    Telecommunications Minister 

    Ravi Shankar Prasad advised

     Ni ti sh Ku ma r to pr ac ti ce

    'pranayam' for peace of mind.

    Amit Shah to take yogalessons from Muslim teacher

    Chidambaram bolsters attack on Sushma on Lalit Modi link

    Vasundhara Raje allegedly testified in favor of former IPL chief and RCA president Lalit Modi's British immigration application

    BJP President Amit Shah

  • 8/21/2019 Vol 8 Issue 7 - June 20-26, 2015

    12/32

    The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.

    By Amit Dasgupta 

    The front page news that Prime

    Minister Narendra Modi has

     persona lly directed that the

    feasibility of foreign universities

    entering the education space in India

     be urgently examined has come as

    good news for the higher education

    sector, which is currently reeling

    under burgeoning demand, limited

    supply and the mushrooming of 

     poor quality educational institutions.

    There is hope that the BJP, which

    had opposed the bill on the subject

    when UPA-II moved it, would sup-

     port it now if the prime mini ster 

    endorses it.

    This might well turn out to be the

    game changer that would transform

    the education landscape in India. It

    is an accepted fact that many gradu-

    ates, including those with engineer-

    ing degrees, are unable to find

    employment because they do not possess the knowledge or skills that

    make them market-worthy. This is a

    consequence when shoddy educa-

    tion vendors flood the market sim-

     ply to take advantage of demand.

    Quality education suffers as a con-

    sequence.

    The passage of the long-pending

    Foreign Educat


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