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Washington DC: Indian American

Kamala Devi Harris, the Attorney

General of California, is all set to

become the first Indian American

senator in the US Congress. This

became clear when she over‑

whelmingly won the state

Democrats' official seal of

approval last week.

"I'm incredibly honored to have

the endorsement of the California

Democratic Party in the USSenate race, and I'm so proud of

the support our campaign has

received from every corner of our

state," Harris said Saturday.

Harris is far ahead of Rep.

Loretta Sanchez in terms of

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 INDIA BUDGET 10 BOLLYWOOD 16

Vol.8 No. 43 March 5-11, 2016 80 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info

SCI-TECH 25

slamabad India has never attacked

any country in 5000 years of its

history. Yet

Pakistan feels

in t imida ted

by it .

Islamabad on

Thursday said

its nuclear arsenal is for the

defense of Pakistan and i ts people.

This comes after US Secretary of

State John Kerry asked the South

Asian country on Monday to consid‑

er reducing its nuclear arsenal. Hewas speaking at the inaugural

session of the US‑Pakistan Strategic

Dialogue in Washington.

"Our nuclear deterrence is to

deter any aggression against

SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30

Pakistanfears India

Continued on page 4

Kamala Harris set tobecome US Senator

Washington: Two previous presi‑

dential nominees of Republican

Party have attacked the current

front‑runner, Donald J. Trump,

warning that his election could

harm the party, put the US and its

democratic system in peril. In

what seemed like open warfare,

Mitt Romney, the partyʼs nominee

in 2012, attacked Trump as “a

fraud” and “a phony” who would

drive the country to the point of

collapse. “He has neither the tem‑

perament nor the judgment to be

president,” former Massachusetts

governor said, evoking the

specter of totalitarianism, saying

New Delhi: Finance

Minister Arun Jaitley on

Monday gave relief to

small tax payers, nudged

the affluent to shell out

more while focusing on

the rural economy with

much higher fiscal out‑

lays, as he presented

India's national budget

for 2016‑17 in the Lok

Sabha.

Making his first big announcement, Jaitley said that the

farming sector would be allocated Rs 35,000 crore. For ruraldevelopment as a whole, Rs 87,765 crore has been allocated.

The highest allocation has been made in infrastructure sector:

a mammoth Rs 2.21 lakh crore. This includes Rs 97,000 crore

for development of roads, Rs 55,000 crore for upgradation &

the remaining amount for capitalization of Indian Railways.

100 per cent electrification of all villages is targeted by

May 1, 2018.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana will be pumped with Rs

1,80,000 crore to complete the task of financial inclusion.

Tax burden reduced on those earning below Rs 5 lakh per

annum. Tax rates would be reduced from Rs 5,000 to Rs

2,000.

1500 Multi Skill Training Institutes will be set up.

Entrepreneurship education & training will be provided in

2200 colleges, hundreds of schools and vocational training

centers through open online courses.

Current account deficit has come down from 18.4 billion

dollars to 10.41 billion.

Continued on page 4

India’s budgetaims at growth

and inclusion

Romney leads waragainst Trump

Mitt Romney during a speech at the University of Utah denounced Donald Trump. (Photos: AP)

There is a sense of urgency in the GOP after Super Tuesday, that the Trump train has to be stopped.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley making hisbudget speech on Feb 29.

GOP bigwigs talk of brokered conventionto deny Trump the nomination

Big outlays in the $300 Billionbudget for rural sector,

infrastructure, and job creation

Endorsed by her party inCalifornia, Harris is likely to

become the first Indian Americanin US Senate. (Photo: AP)

Continued on page 4

See full story on page 8

Some of the highlights:

For details of the budget: pages 10‑11, and 23.



TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 5-11, 2016



Haryana cancelsNRI summit

Gurgaon Haryana Chief Minister Manohar

Lal Khattar on Wednesday announced that

the 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' to be held here

on March 9 has been cancelled following the

Jat protests for job quotas that l ed to wide‑spread violence in the state.

Hundreds of NRIs, specially belonging to

Haryana, had registered themselves for the

event.

Khattar said the state had witnessed

"unhappy stories and we cannot go forward

comfortably with events like an NRI summit

though it was a dream event. We will plan it

for some other time".

He said the cultural programs scheduled to

be presented during the 'Happening Haryana'

Global Investors Summit on March 7‑8 had

also been cancelled. Khattar, however, said

the two‑day business meet, focused on

attracting investment, will be held as per

scheduled on March 7 and 8.

Properties, business establishments, facto‑ries and vehicles belonging to non‑Jats were

looted and torched at several places in the

state. The nine days of violence left 30 people

dead and over 200 injured. Earlier, the NRIs

of Haryana origin in Canada had expressed

fears that the Jat agitation will impact invest‑

ment in the state. In a statement in Toronto,

the Overseas Association of Haryanvis in

Canada said, "We, the NRIs of Haryana origin,

would like to appeal to our brothers and sis‑

ters to support centuries‑old brotherhood

among 36 biradaris in the larger interest of

Haryana and the nation.”

3March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info TR I S TATE COMMUNI TY

San Francisco A battle has broken out at

the University of California, Irvine over a

$6 million gift from donors affiliated with

the Dharma Civilization Foundation (DCF),

which would endow four chairs in Hindu,

Sikh, Jain and Buddhist studies.

UC Irvine has rejected the donation, after

faculty members objected to the establish‑

ment of the chairs, saying proper procedur‑

al practices had not been followed, and

alleging that DCF is affiliated with Hindu

fundamentalist organizations, reported

India West.

“I feel strongly violated, humiliated and

discriminated against,” nephrologistUshakant Thakkar, who gave $1 million to

fund the Thakkar Family‑Dharma

Civilization Foundation Presidential Chair

in Vedic and Indic Civilization Studies, said.

“The university pursued us for two years.

We never wanted to be in a place that was

not receptive,” the Indian American physi‑

cian added. The Thakkar Family chair was

established at UCI in May 2015 in the uni‑

versityʼs School of Humanities. Donations

have also been secured to endow a chair in

Jain Studies, one in Sikh Studies, as well as

the Swami Vivekananda‑DCF Chair in

Modern India Studies. Plans are also to

endow a chair in Buddhist Studies and one

in Parsi Studies; DCF has connected with

the Godrej family to possibly fund the lat‑

ter. DCF was established in 2012 with the

goal of establishing Indian religious and

cultural studies at several U.S. universities.

The organization was created after Shiva

Bajpai, who served as professor of history

and director of Asian Studies at CaliforniaState University, Northridge, and psychia‑

trist Manohar Shinde, who was on the

teaching faculty at UCLAʼs School of

Medicine, found there was a lot of misrep‑

resentation of Hindus and India in current

academia, and a lack of religious scholars,

according to Thakkar, who serves as the

chairman of DCF. Bajpai, who has a Ph.D. in

ancient Indian history, has few contempo‑

raries in his genre.

“This country has studies of most reli‑

gions, but not Hinduism. We need Indian

scholars to defend and create a narrative,”

Thakkar said.

But shortly after the first chair was estab‑

lished, faculty at UC Irvine began a petition

drive protesting the endowments. A total of

391 professors from UCI and other univer‑

sities throughout the world have signed an

online statement, which states that DCF has

ties to fundamentalist groups in India, and

seeks to establish its own agenda through

the gift.One of the signatories, Catherine Liu, a

professor at UC Irvineʼs Film and Media

Study Department, told India‑West that due

diligence was not followed in accepting the

donation and that DCF had not been prop‑

erly vetted. Moreover, Liu claimed, South

Asian scholars at UCI were excluded from

the process of consultation. India is cur‑

rently studied by scholars as a region in

South Asia, said Liu, noting that DCF has

proposed to free India studies from the

larger context of South Asia studies, forgo‑

ing established critical and cultural

methodologies used in the study of any cul‑

ture.

Liu also noted that DCF had sent a list of

proposed faculty members. “This is against

all norms,” she said, adding: “A donor can‑

not determine or suggest candidates as a

stipulation of the gift.”

“DCF must pursue their agenda some‑

where else,” stated Liu. “We are not a reli‑

gious organization. There is a strong sepa‑ration of church and state.”

She reiterated the protesting professorsʼ

belief that many of DCFʼs members have

ties to the RSS and the Hindu Swayamsevak

Sangh. Thakkar refuted such statements,

noting that he is married to a Catholic

woman, and his children practice Jainism

and Buddhism.

New York Over a hundred Indian academ‑

ics and public figures have floated an

online petition to remove a renownedAmerican Indologist as editor of a presti‑

gious Harvard University Press book series

on Indian languages.

Sheldon Pollock, the current Arvind

Raghunathan professor of South Asian

Studies at Columbia University, should be

barred from helming the Murty Classical

Library of India ̶ an ambitious effort to

translate classical works from ancient

Indian languages into English ̶ because

of his opposition to Hindu nationalist per‑

spectives, the petition argues.

It has been authored and endorsed by

132 Indian professors, and so far has been

signed more than 13,000 times, Time mag‑

azine reported. But in his first public com‑

ments on the issue, Rohan Murty, the sonof Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy,

said that Pollock will continue to oversee

the translation of Indian classics into

English for several more years as he is crit‑

ical to the project. The Murty Classical

Library was set up with a $5.2 million

endowment from him.

In what many say is a disconcerting sign

of Indiaʼs increasing Hindu nationalism

under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the

petition also cites, as another reason for

his removal, Pollockʼs signature on two

statements condemning the Indian govern‑

mentʼs recent handling of a controversy at

New Delhiʼs Jawaharlal Nehru University,

where students were charged with sedition

under a colonial‑era law for allegedly

shouting “anti‑India” slogans.

“It is crystal clear that Pollock has shown

disrespect for the unity and integrity of

India,” the petition claims.

The Indian academics also take offense

to the fact that Pollock is an American, ref‑

erencing Modiʼs “Make in India” campaign

(an effort to increase homegrown manu‑

facturing) as a justification.

“The project must be part of the ʻMake in

Indiaʼ ethos and not outsourced wholesale

to American Ivy Leagues,” the petition says.

Several academics express consternation

at the petition but also fear speaking out

against it within the current environment,

Washington D.C.–based education website

Inside Higher Ed reported.

“I deplore these attacks on my colleague,”

Wendy Doniger, a prominent Hinduism

expert at the University of Chicago, whose

work has been similarly attacked in the

past, was quoted as saying.

“The whole situation both in India and

among the American Hindu diaspora wor‑

ries me greatly,” she added.

UC Irvine rejects $6M gift to endow 4 Chairs in India studies

The petition seeks to bar Sheldon Pollock from helming the Murty ClassicalLibrary of India; but Rohan Murty (left, who endowed the project,

is sticking with the American Indologist.

Indian academics demand droppinga scholar from a Harvard project



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Website: TheSouthAsianTimes.info Updated Daily

Romney leads war against TrumpContinued from page

Trump embodied a “brand of anger that has led other nations into

the abyss.”

Senator John McCain, the partyʼs standard‑bearer in 2008, too

denounced Trump as a candidate who was ignorant of foreign poli‑

cy and has made “dangerous” pronouncements on national security.

On Thursday, dozens of conservative national security leaders

released a letter announcing that they would never vote for Trump.

There is a growing prospect the GOP leadership could abandon its

own nominee this fall, reports The New York Times. Romney hashinted at a messy convention floor battle.

In an immediate and venomous reply, Trump derided Romney as a

“failed candidate,” “choke artist” and “loser” for his loss to President

Obama in 2012.

The timing of new assault on Trump after his commanding elec‑

toral victories in seven states on Super Tuesday may make it futile.

Still, Romneyʼs plea may help deter other Republicans from join‑

ing forces with Trump at a point in the race when party leaders

would typically rally around a clear front‑runner.

The Associated Press asked Republican governors and senators if

they would support Trump if he becomes the party's nominee. Of

the 59 respondents, slightly fewer than half could not commit to

backing him in November. A handful of officials, including

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse,

have said they would not support Trump in November, though it

was unclear what alternatives they would have.

One long‑shot idea rumbling through power corridors in

Washington was the prospect of a late third‑party candidate to rep‑

resent more mainstream conservatives. A more likely, though still

extraordinarily unusual, scenario being discussed is a contested

convention.

Kamala Harris set to become...Continued from page

support and funds to win the primary in June to succeed Senator

Barbara Boxer, who is not seeking re‑election.

Pakistan fears IndiaContinued from page

Pakistan's territorial integrity," Foreign Office Spokesperson

Mohammed Nafees Zakaria said. "It is for the defense of Pakistan and

its people, as a responsible nuclear state, we have invested in ensuring

nuclear safety, nuclear security and robust command and control sys‑

tem."

On Wednesday, Pakistan's Foreign Affairs Adviser said in

Washington that "India, not terrorism, is the biggest threat to the

region", and asked India to reduce its nuclear stockpile so that

Pakistan can consider reciprocation. Sartaj Aziz underscored that

Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is a major deterrent, a fact that the US also

recognizes.

Responding sharply to Kerry's suggestion to cut its nuclear arsenal,

Aziz said it was India that was stockpiling n‑weapons and not Pakistan

as it has to keep up a minimum deterrence.

"If they increase the stockpile, we cannot reduce ours," he said.

New Delhi India has denied visas

for a delegation from the US gov‑

ernment agency charged with mon‑

itoring international religious free‑

dom, the agency said on Thursday.The delegation from the US

Commission on International

Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had

been scheduled to leave for India on

Friday for a long‑planned visit with

the support of the US State

Department and the US embassy in

New Delhi, but India had failed to

issue the necessary visas, the com‑

mission said.

“We are deeply disappointed by

the Indian governmentʼs denial, in

effect, of these visas,” USCIRF chair‑

man Robert George said in a state‑

ment.

“As a pluralistic, non‑sectarian,

and democratic state, and a closepartner of the United States, India

should have the confidence to allow

our visit,” he said.

George said USCIRF had been able

to travel to many countries, includ‑

ing those among the worst offend‑

ers of religious freedom, including

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam,

China, and Myanmar.

The Indian embassy in

Washington did not immediately

respond to a request for comment.

PA Sangma dead

Purno Agitok Sangma, who

died on March 4, was

Speaker of Lok Sabhafrom 1996

to 1998and Chief

Minister of

Meghalaya

from 1988to 1990.

He was aco‑founder

of the Nationalist CongressParty (NCP) and remained a

member of the Lok Sabha for

eight terms.Currently, he represented the

Tura (ST) constituency in the

West Garo Hills district in the16th Lok Sabha.

Modi govt denies visa toUS religious freedom body

New York Grabbing a handrail on the New

York Cityʼs subway transfers as much bacte‑

ria as shaking hands with 10,000 people.

That's according to a recent study that found

the Big Apple has by far the most bacteria in

its subway system compared with other US

cities.

Many of the bacteria found have been

known to cause respiratory problems and

skin infections, although scientists stress

most are harmless and could even be good

for our immune system. Travelmath, a logis‑

tics website, sent a team to gather bacteria

samples from public transit systems in fivemajor cities: New York, Washington, D.C.,

Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco. The

study found that while 'surprisingly few

germs' were on handrails on most cities,

there was one major exception: New York.

The Big Apple's subway system has more

than three times as many travelers as the

city's other four transit systems combined.

Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco

was the second grubbiest subway.

Broken windows

policy thrown outof the window

New York Starting Monday, police officers in Manhattan

are supposed to stop arresting people for minor crimes

like urinating and drinking in public and instead give

them criminal summonses. The goal is to reduce the

backlog in Manhattan Criminal Court, which officials

told the New York Times could drop by about 10,000

cases per year.

To be sure, pissing in public, along with making unrea‑

sonable amounts of noise and littering and other petty

offenses targeted by "broken windows" policing, remains

illegal.

But instead of being arrested, most violators will now

be asked to appear before a judge and answer questions.The judge can then decide whether to dismiss the case

or impose a penalty.

The joint decision between the NYPD and Manhattan

District Attorney Cy Vance preempts a broader proposed

change to policing in New York. In January, City Council

Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito unveiled the Criminal

Justice Reform Act of 2016; if passed, it would give cops

the discretion to hand out either civil penalties or (crimi‑

nal) summonses, as called for under the new Manhattan

policy, for low‑level offenses.

NYC has countryʼs

most bacteriaridden subways



5March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info TR I S TATE COMMUNI TY

New York: Members of a Sikh temple under

construction in Plainview voiced concerns

Tuesday over Oyster Bayʼs halting of build‑

ing on the site.About two dozen Sikhs came to the town

board meeting to speak to the board or to

support speakers, newsday.com reported.

On Feb. 2, the Town Board took review of

the temple site plan out of the hands of the

town Planning and Development depart‑

ment following complaints by residents over

parking and traffic.

That move surprised the congregation of

the Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center on Old

Country Road whose members said they had

worked with former Commissioner of

Planning and Development Frederick

Ippolito to resolve parking issues.

“We got blindsided,” Gurmeet Sodhi, 41, a

television producer from Northport, was

quoted by Newsday. Sodhi said the town

board halted construction without inform‑ing the congregation.

“Everything was approved, everything was

moving along; why did we stop this?” she

said.

Construction on a new $3 million temple

on the site of the old one began in 2014 but

was halted last July on the grounds that it

didnʼt comply with an off‑street parking

plan. That 2015 stop work order was subse‑

quently lifted.

Town Supervisor John Venditto said the

town was looking for a compromise

between the Sikh community and neighbor‑

ing residents “to make the project fit.”

By SATimes Team

Mineola NY: Nassau County

Comptroller George Maragos host‑

ed on Feb 2, for the third consecu‑

tive year, the Nassau County Art

and Photography Exhibition to

promote local female artists and

contribute to the growing arts

industry in the county. With the

theme “Truth & Beauty”, the art

from over 50 award winning

artists kicked off Womenʼs History

Month in the county.Comptroller Maragos who could

not attend the event in the

Theodore Roosevelt Executive

Building here, said in a statement,

“I am honored to once again host

the exhibition as a way to promote

our local talent and spur further

growth in our local art industry.

My office is always ready to sup‑

port our local businesses, artists

and entrepreneurs.” The works on

display were curated by Carla

DʼAmbra and Minna Dunn and pro‑

fessionally judged with prizes

awarded to winners in various cat‑

egories from local sponsors.

New York Nassau County police

have ended their investigation into

the so‑called sexting scandal

involving Nassau County Executive

Ed Mangano.

As CBS2 Political Reporter

Marcia Kramer reported, Nassau

County police said they could not

find any evidence that Mangano

exchanged sexually explicit mes‑

sages with a local marketing execu‑

tive. But there are still questions –

and a mystery.

Nassau County police Detective

Sgt. Patrick Ryder said when he

interviewed Mangano about the

case, he warned the county execu‑

tive he would put him in handcuffs

if he was lying.

As 1010 WINSʼ Juliet Papa

reported, Ryder has spent the last

few weeks conducting interviews

and gaining access to the phones of

Mangano and marketing executive

Karin Caro. But after denials from

both Mangano and Caro, Ryder

said both were telling the truth

that they were not having an affair,

they never texted one another, and

they were the victims of a hoax,

WCBS 880ʼs Sophia Hall reported.

“The evidence that I have and the

investigation that I did shows that

Mr. Mangano and Mrs. Caro did

not sext each other,” Ryder said.

But Ryder also said, “with the evi‑

dence that I have, the phones were

not hacked or spoofed,” as

Mangano had suggested.

Rather, police said it all appears

to be a cut‑and‑paste job made to

look like text messages and tweets.

“This could have been a kid or

somebody who has an agenda,”

Ryder said.

Town Supervisor John Venditto interacts with members of the Sikh community at anOyster Bay town board meeting. (Photo courtesy: newsday.com)

The work of over 50 female artists was presented at the show markingWomenʼ History Month. Seen in the picture, Anu Jain with her paintingʻFreedom ‑ The Beauty of Lifeʼ, flanked by James Garner, Chief DeputyCounty Comptroller, and Dilip Chauhan, Director of South East/Asian

Affairs with the Comptroller.

New York Rajasthan Association

of North America (RANA) has

organized Spring Festival

Celebrations on March 26 at

Hotel Hilton, Long Island

Huntington, Melville NY 11747

from 2.30 pm onwards.

RANA has previously success‑

fully organized Rajasthan

Mahotsav – Festival of Festivals2015 under the able leadership

of President Naveen C Shah

which saw participation from

over 3000 attendees, complete

with a grand parade featuring

elephants, horses and camels to

various dance & musical per‑

formances showcasing the vari‑

ety and depth of Indian culture.

The Deepavali celebrations in

November 2015 was another

monumental sensation with over

600 people packing the Grand

Ballroom at the Long Island

Marriott and were entertained by

the sensational music trio from

India – Dhwani.

In his address to the communi‑

ty leaders at the kick‑off meeting

held recently, Naveen C Shah

said, “RANA has proven that we

can celebrate all our festivals on

one common platform. We want

to continue this practice this year

by organizing the Spring

Festivals Celebration.”

The 2016 Spring Fest ival

Celebration includes a Fashion

Show event showcasing the attire

of different states from India by

top fashion designers, a segment

on Wedding Day Attire by com‑

munity members and cultural

performances. This will be fol‑lowed by a Kavi Sammelan fea‑

turing renowned poets and

satirists from India, emceed by

Shailesh Lodha. Over 1000 peo‑

ple are expected to attend the

event. “We expect people from all

communities – Rajasthanis,

Gujaratis, Punjabis and all other

Indian communities to attend the

dayʼs events and partake of the

celebrations. RANA aims at bring‑

ing about harmony and celebrat‑

ing the festivals of India jointly

with other communities to foster

the spirit of brotherhood and

comradeship,” said Shah.

Tickets cost only $75 each and

include lunch, afternoon tea &

snacks, dinner and entrance to

the fashion show, cultural enter‑

tainment, kavi sammelan & exhi‑

bitions area.

For more information, visit

website www.ranausa.org

RANA to host grandSpring Festival

Celebration on March 26th

Sikhs express concern to town board oversuspension of approved gurdwara site

Nassau County Comptroller hosts art exhibition

No evidence of Mangano sexting found



6 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TR I S TATE COMMUNI TY

Use your cricket trivia knowledge tohelp spread the word about cricket

and also win $10,000. Registra‑

tions are open to participate in the first

annual MoneyGram Cricket Bee

(http://cricketbee.com/cricket‑contest‑

registration/)

Game Format at each regional center is

as follows:

1st Innings: 35 question Multiple

Choice Written Round; Qualify by an‑

swering 25 or more questions correctly;

lunch; 2nd Innings: Oral Round on a missand out basis; Player gets a question, if

answered correctly, moves onto second

round, if incorrect, then they are Out; The

top 3 from each regional are invited to

the Finals to compete for a grand pr ize of

$10,000 and a runner up prize of $2,000.

There are three centers: April 10, NJ;

April 17 Bay Area and Apr 24, Toronto.

Registration is Free. So brush up on

your trivia and get ready to play the

Cricket Bee

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles

(IFFLA) announced its 2016 lineup of

narrative and documentary features,

short films, and galas for its 14th annual fes‑

tival. Opening the festival on April 6 is the

U.S. premiere of the ensemble powerhouse

Angry Indian Goddesses, from filmmaker

and four‑time IFFLA alum Pan Nalin. Anu

Menonʼs poignant Waiting, starring

Naseeruddin Shah and Kalki Koechlin, clos‑

es the festival with its North American pre‑

miere on April 10.

The festival is widely recognized as the

premiere showcase of groundbreaking Indi‑

an cinema globally. IFFLA will run April 6‑

10 at ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles,

the festivalʼs home since its inception.

"India's independent filmmakers are tak‑ing bold risks, defying convention, and re‑

sponding to injustice in each of these vi‑

sionary films, and the results are breathtak‑

ing,” said Mike Dougherty, Director of Pro‑

gramming. “I'm extremely excited for our

Los Angeles audience to experience these

films, which have garnered raves from

around the world, or are making their world

premiere with us."

This year the festival will feature three

world premieres, including IFFLA alum

Kranti Kanadeʼs CRD, two North American

premieres, and ten U.S. premieres.

More features and shorts from female

filmmakers will be presented this year by IF‑

FLA than ever before, including: Deepa

Mehtaʼs gangster drama Beeba Boys; Leena

Yadavʼs Parched, a piercing examination of

Indiaʼs patriarchal culture through the sto‑

ries of four women; Ruchika Oberoiʼs genre‑

bending triptych, Island City; and RinkuKalsyʼs documentary For The Love Of A

Man, about the fierce devotion shared by

South‑Indian superstar Rajinikanthʼs fans.

New Delhi There is nothing

that cannot be achieved if a

person has the will and is de‑

termined to make decisions,

NASA astronaut Sunita

Williams said on Thursday.

"A person should aspire to

try out new things and ex‑plore new opportunities. Con‑

fidence, perseverance, persist‑

ence and knowledge play a

key role in achieving the most challenging

feats," the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration astronaut, who is also a US

Navy Captain, said while addressing a ses‑

sion on women's empowerment here. The

event was organized by the women wing of

the Federation of Indian Chambers of Com‑

merce and Industry.

"I considered myself the girl next door, but

I always grabbed the opportunities and ex‑

plored them," Williams added. She said op‑

portunities were aplenty and the need was

to grab and explore them. It was important

to be a good student as it opened doors of opportunities, the United States Navy officer

of Indian‑Slovenian descent said. Williams

also recounted her experience of viewing 16

sunrises and 16 sunsets in a

single day during her space

mission. "I was in a spacecraft

moving at tremendous speed

(28,000 km per hour) around

the earth. There was a time

when I saw 16 sunrises in a

couple of hours," she said.Speaking on the theme of the

session 'Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathemat‑

ics(STEM)', she said: "Studying STEM today

offers a plethora of areas to learn, explore

and understand." Reminiscing her journey,

she said when she joined the US Naval Acad‑

emy, there were only 10 percent women stu‑

dents but the number had doubled over the

years. "NASA is keen on having young and

feisty females in its midst," she remarked.

Williams also spoke about her experiences

in a male‑dominated field. She said she often

found herself in a minority but it never de‑

terred her or interfered with her goals. "I

knew my tasks well and was competent to

take on any challenge. And every womanbrings to the table team work and willingly

takes care of the team as it's her innate

nature."

Passionate about Cricket?Participate & win $10,000

Shalini Vadhera, a renowned,

award‑winning global beauty and

lifestyle expert, founder and CEO

of Power Beauty Living, and best‑selling

author of Passport To Beauty, took her

Power Beauty Living brand global on

February 29th at the United Nations

alongside IMPACT Leadership 21, for

an exclusive VIP POWER UP Network‑

ing and Cocktail event.

Vadhera was recently appointed to

IMPACT Leadership 21's Global Adviso‑

ry Council (GAC) as its newest member.

A global leadership platform that pro‑

vides solutions to creating inclusive

economies, IMPACT Leadership 21's

GAC is comprised of men and women in

diverse leadership backgrounds and in‑

fluence from multi sectors.

"We are thrilled to add such a dynam‑

ic, passionate leader with a strong track

record of success and zest for empow‑

ering women to the GAC. Shalini's ex‑

tensive entrepreneurial experience and

industry knowledge is a welcomed ad‑

dition to our team, especially as we ex‑

pand our international reach," said

Janet C. Salazar CEO and Co‑Founder of

IMPACT Leadership 21.

Shalini Vadhra launches

"Power Beauty Living" at U.N.

Internationally renowned playwrightMahesh Dattani will direct the Eng‑

lish‑language premiere of Chokher

Bali (Sand in My Eye), a play based on

Rabindranath Tagoreʼs modern literary

classic. The performance, presented by

the Barnard College Department of The‑

atre March 3‑5, is one of few Indian pro‑

ductions to be performed in the United

States and will also feature the work of

Broadway production designer Neil Pa‑

tel. This production is dramatized and

translated by Professor Partha Chatter‑

jee of Columbia Universityʼs Depart‑

ments of Anthropology and Middle East‑

ern, South Asian, and African Studies.

Barnard College and Columbia Universi‑

ty students will comprise the cast.

Chokher Bali (Sand in My Eye) is based

one of the most well‑known Indian clas‑

sical works. The play is a compelling ac‑

count of marriage and widowhoodagainst the backdrop of the rapidly mod‑

ernizing bhadralok, or gentlemanly

class, of late 19th century Calcutta.

Chokher Bali transcends its immediate

historical context to become a timeless

meditation on feminine desire and

agency.

The Thursday performance will fea‑

ture a post‑show talkback with director

Mahesh Dattani; the playwright, Partha

Chatterjee; and Shayoni Mitra, Barnard

College Assistant Professor of Theatre.

The discussion will be moderated by Al‑

ice Reagan, Barnard College Assistant

Professor of Professional Practice in

Theatre. The play will be staged at Mi‑

nor Latham Playhouse, located on the

first floor of Milbank Hall on the

Barnard campus, 3009 Broadway, New

York, NY, 10027

Manesh Dattani directedʻChokher Baliʼ to premiere in NY

IFFLA announces 14th festʼs lineup

Nothing that can't be achieved throughwill, determination: Sunita Williams

Shalini Vadhera(Photo courtesy: zimbio.com)

IN BRIEF

Philanthropist and Ellis Island Medal winner Meera Gandhi (right) has beencampaigning for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for President. The Manhattan

based founder of The Giving Back Foundation was in New Hampshire doingdoor to door campaigning with Hon. Jackie Weatherspoon.

Sunita Williams speakingat FICCI event inNew Delhi

(Photo courtesy: aninews.in)



Washington DC:

Congresswoman Tulsi

Gabbard, vice chair of the

Democratic NationalCommittee, resigned on

Sunday in order to endorse

presidential candidate Bernie

Sanders.

Gabbard ̶ who was the first

Hindu and first American

Samoan to be elected to

Congress, as well as the

youngest person ever elected

to the Hawaii legislature, at

age 21 ̶ commended the left‑

ist Vermont senator for his for‑

eign policy, and his opposition

to the hawkish policies of fel‑

low presidential candidate

Hillary Clinton.

“After much thought andconsideration, Iʼve decided I

cannot remain neutral and sit

on the sidelines any longer,”

she wrote in an email to fellow

DNC officers obtained by

Politico. “There is a clear con‑

trast between our two candi‑

dates with regard to my strong

belief that we must end the

interventionist, regime change

policies that have cost us so

much,” Gabbard said.

“This is not just anotherʻissue.ʼ This is THE issue, and

itʼs deeply personal to me,”

Gabbard continued. “This is

why Iʼve decided to resign as

Vice Chair of the DNC so that I

can support Bernie Sanders in

his efforts to earn the

Democratic nomination in the

2016 presidential race.”

Gabbard, who is a member of

the House Armed Services

Committee, has condemned

U.S. policy in Syria. In late2015, she introduced a biparti‑

san bill that called for “an

immediate end to the illegal,

counter‑productive war to

overthrow” Syrian dictator

Bashar al‑Assad.

7March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info NAT I ONAL COMMUNI TY

New York Seven out of eight Indian‑

American candidates, who ran for

local elections in Lexington city in

the state of Kentucky on Tuesday,

have won.

With this, now their are a total of

12 Indian‑Americans elected mem‑

bers of the Lexington Town Meeting,

India New England News reported

on Wednesday.

"This movement is historic. Great

result despite heavy turnout because

of presidential elections which tends

to favor known contestants and

incumbents," Narain Bhatia, a long‑

time Lexington resident and commu‑

nity activist, said.

The winners of Lexington elections

include Sharmila Mudgal from

Precinct‑3 for one year term, Anoop

Garg from Precinct‑4 gets three year

term, Pam Joshi and Rita Pandey

gets three year term each from

Precinct‑9 and Precinct‑5, respec‑

tively.

Anil Ahuja from Precinct‑5, Vikas

Kinger from Precinct‑7 and Nirmala

Garimella from Precinct‑8 got one

year term each.

The only Indian‑American candi‑

date to lose in the election was Hema

Bhatt in Precinct‑9.

"Hema Bhatt lost but got 375 votes

and lost by just 36 votes while beat‑

ing Scott Burson, a long time town

meeting member and former School

Committee member by 76 votes,"

Bhatia said.

In addition to the winners in

Tuesday's elections, Indian‑

Americans have five current Town

Meeting members whose term is not

over making a total of twelve.

These sitting members are: Narain

Bhatia, Ravish Kumar, Sanjay Padaki,

Dinesh Patel and Syed Rizvi. (IANS)

San Francisco: An Indian

American woman who raised

thousands of dollars online

allegedly posing as a victim of a

rare blood cancer, was arrested

here Feb. 26, and charged with

five counts of felony fraud.

Manisha Nagrani, 40, is cur‑

rently being held in San

Francisco County Jail, on a no

bail warrant from Santa Clara

County, according to media

report.

Nagrani has been charged

with false personation; receiv‑

ing or buying stolen property;

2nd degree commercial burgla‑

ry; and acquiring access cards

without the cardholder or

issuerʼs consent.

Nagrani was previously

arrested in 2006 and served

time before being released on

parole. In 2009, the San

Francisco Chronicle referred to

her as an “accidental entrepre‑

neur” who – after losing a job in

public relations – founded a

matchmaking business, which

introduced over 40 couples

who got married.

Sometime around 2014,

Nagrani began posting on her

Facebook page that she hadbeen diagnosed with

Myelodysplastic syndromes, a

blood disorder affecting stem

cells in bone marrow.

Nagrani – who used the pro‑

file Manisha MN and also

allegedly used several fake pro‑

files including Matt Marc –

stepped up her game on May

27, 2015, posting a lengthy,

heart‑rending post about her

struggle with a terminal dis‑

ease.

Supporters immediately

began raising funds for

Nagraniʼs treatments, creating

campaigns on the web portals

gofundme.com; youcaring.com;

and giveforward.com. Nagraniʼs

fundraising pages are no longer

visible on gofundme and you‑

caring, but her giveforward

page shows donations of

$17,552, with many donations

of over $1,000.

Manisha Nagrani(Photo: Facebook)

TulsiGabbard

(Photocourtesy:newsmax.com)

Seven out of eight Indian‑American candidates win

in Lexington elections

ʻFAKEʼ CANCERVICTIM ARRESTEDIN SAN FRANCISCO

Tulsi Gabbard quits DNC,endorses Bernie Sanders

Washington DC: Indian

American Rep. Ami Bera, D‑

Sacramento received endorse‑

ments from the CaliforniaDemocratic Party Feb. 27, during

the state convention.

Bera won his endorsement,

gaining nearly 90 percent of the

vote. Fifty people voted for the

sole Indian American in

Congress, while six voted against

him. Bera – who is seeking his

third term in office – is running

unopposed in the primary elec‑

tion June 7.

He will face Sacramento

County Sheriff Scott Jones – a

Republican – in the general elec‑

tion Nov. 8.

Bera has been opposed by

some labor organizations for his

vote last year supporting the

Trade Promotion Authority bill in

the House, which allows the pres‑

ident to “fast‑track” trade treaties

with certain countries, withoutCongressional oversight.

House Minority Leader Nancy

Pelosi, D‑San Francisco, told

party delegates before the

endorsement vote was taken that

Beraʼs position on TPA was dif‑

ferent from her position, but that

his vote on the issue should not

be the sole basis for his re‑elec‑

tion. “He is a valued member of

the Congress. He has a great

base of support at the grassroots

level and I think he will win,” said

Pelosi.

New Delhi The US health regula‑

tor has refused entry of 11,664

Indian products, including drugs,

into the American market

between January 2011 and

February 2016, Parliament was

informed on Wednesday.

"According to refusal report

data available on the US Food and

Drug Administration (USFDA)

website, 11,664 refusals of Indian

products were recorded from January 2011 to February 2016,"

Minister of State for Commerce

and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman

on Wednesday said in written

reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The products from India that

were denied entry into the US

included medicine, bakery prod‑

ucts, fried snacks, spices, basmati

rice, fisheries and herbals, she

added. Dietary supplements, hair

dyes and colors were also part of

the no‑entry list.

"The reason given for the

refusal varies from problems in

branding to packaging, labelingand adulteration," the minister

said.

Elaborating on the steps taken

by the government to improve

standards and quality to interna‑

tional levels, the minister said:

"The steps taken by the govern‑

ment include tightening labeling

rules and making it mandatory

for companies to clearly mention

the dates of manufacturing."

Other steps include improving

pre‑export inspection, greater

emphasis on standards through

sensitization of exporters for

compliance of regulatory issuesthrough export promotion agen‑

cies and also taking up the issue

at bilateral trade forums wherev‑

er possible, Sitharaman said. (PTI)

Ami Bera wins CaliforniaDemocratic Party endorsements

USFDA rejected entry of over 6Indian products a day since Jan 2011

Ami Bera



New York: The American India

Foundation, one of the leading U.S. phil‑

anthropic organizations working in the

U.S. and India, announced Feb. 22 that

its board of directors named Alex

Counts as the organizationʼs next presi‑

dent and chief executive officer, effec‑

tive March 29.

Counts is the founder of the Grameen

Foundation and became its president

and CEO in 1997, after having worked

in microfinance and poverty reduction

for ten years.

As president and CEO of AIF, Counts

will continue to build and scale AIFʼs

presence by leveraging its strong spec‑

trum and networks as well as ensuring

that AIF stays at the cutting‑edge of

innovative solutions for poverty allevia‑

tion and economic development in

India, according to a press release.

After training under Nobel Laureate

Muhammad Yunus, the founder and

managing director of Grameen Bank,

Counts leveraged a $6,000 seed grant

to grow Grameen Foundation to a glob‑

al leader in international development

with a $20 million annual budget.

“Alex is a highly regarded develop‑

ment leader who built one of the most

successful international humanitarian

organizations in the world,” said co‑

founder of AIF and co‑chair Lata

Krishnan. “He not only has the manage‑

ment experience, passion and drive, but

also deep experience in India and South

Asia to create the strongest develop‑

ment programs in India.”

Counts succeeds M.A. Ravi Kumar,

who joined AIF as CEO in September

2012, and led the company through a

significant growth trajectory.

8 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info NAT I ONAL COMMUNI TY

On way to become first Indian American senator in USWashington DC: Indian American Kamala

Devi Harris, the attorney general of

California, may become the first Indian

American senator in the US Congress, the

media reported on Wednesday.

The landslide victory of 78.1 percent of

votes earned Harris, the much‑needed

California state Democrats' official seal of

approval and, most likely, financial support

from the party, reported the Los Angeles

Times on Sunday.

"I'm incredibly honored to have the

endorsement of the California Democratic

Party in the US Senate race, and I'm so proud

of the support our campaign has received

from every corner of our state," Harris rel‑

ished the victory in a statement late onSaturday.

"We know there is more that unites us than

divides us, and I'm grateful to the

Californians who joined together to send that

message this weekend," she added.

The win also solidified her position as the

front‑runner for the US Senate and delivering

a setback to her top rival, Loretta Sanchez

who won 19.3 percent of the 2,139 ballots

cast. The remaining 2.6 percent voted for no

endorsement at all, the report added.

While talking to Democrat supporters,

Harris described the life‑shaping experience

of growing up in the Bay Area as the daugh‑

ter of two civil rights activists. Her speech

hewed to the high ideals of the Democratic

Party and the "poison" politics consuming the

Republican presidential race.

She vowed to protect and restore the funda‑

mental rights of all the citizens of the nation.

"For far too many, liberty and justice for all

is a promise we have failed to keep," Harris

said. Winning the party endorsement

required at least 60 percent of the votes from

credentialed party delegates or their proxies,

a mark that historically has been difficult to

reach because delegates also have the option

of checking a box for "no endorsement."

(IANS)

Illinois: American Telugu Association [ATA] host‑

ed a grand ATA DAY Gala at the grand ballroom

in Sheraton Hotel in Lisle, Illinois on February

27. This ATA Day gala was held as a reaffirming

precursor leading up to the magnificent mile‑

stone silver jubilee ATA Convention to be held in

July 1‑3, 2016 at Rosemont Convention Center

in Chicago, IL. The highlight of the ATA DAY galawas the donation of over $812,000 from

inspired donors touching a groundbreaking

milestone to help host grand ATA Convention on

an unparalleled scale and magnitude. The glitter‑

ing evening was replete with music, dance,

singing enhanced by the presence of prominent

Tollywood/Bollywood actress: Tapsee Pannu.

The evening attracted the attendance of promi‑

nent ATA pioneering, intermediary and contem‑

porary leaders from all across the country with

Democratic front runner for the United States

Congress Raja Krishnamoorthi stepping in as anhonored guest and spelled out his robust sup‑

port to the large growing constituency of Telugu

people & complimented them for their soaring

success in America.

Washington DC: Neel Sethi, an

Indian‑American boy with no

acting experience, has broughtout the charisma, spunk and a

bit of swagger of world‑famousfictional character Mowgli in

the 3D cinematic adaptation of

"The Jungle Book", says the

movie's director Jon Favreau.The team of the Disney movie

conducted auditions acrossseveral countries to zero in

on their Mowgli, but settled for a young‑ster in America with an Indian connect ‑‑

much like the character himself. Favreau,

known globally as the "Iron Man" and"Chef" director, said Neel's portrayal as

Mowgli is like a flashback tour to his own

childhood memories around the animat‑ed character.

"You need the personality, humor,charm and the emotion of the characters.

That's really what 'The Jungle Book' rep‑

resents. People don't think about action...It's fun to have it, but really what you

think about is the characters and therelationships. "Neel really seems to cap‑ture for me what I remember of Mowgli

in the film. He has spunk and a littleswagger. He's just a great kid and I loved

working with him,"

Favreau said here.

Neel, 12, stays inManhattan and has

his roots in Gujarat ‑‑a state from where

Prime Minister

Narendra Modi

comes.After showing the

clips, which highlight‑ed Mowgli's chemistry

with Baloo, chase sequences and the fightsequence that the director delved on the

whole casting process, he started getting

worried when there would be an end tosearch for the perfect Mowgli. Then, the

team stumbled upon Neel. "We were real‑

ly scared because we looked at 2,000children and I was getting a little worried

as casting is everything for me. And espe‑cially when a kid is (required to be) on

the screen that much in a movie, then

you don't want someone you get tired of,or might look good only for a couple of

scenes. "You're going to need someonewho holds the screen and is interestingto watch... His habits, body movements

and physicality reminded me of theMowgli that I saw as a child," he added.

Neel Sethi in The JungleBook directed by Jon

Favreau.

Party support solidifiesKamala Harrisʼs candidature

Alex Counts namedpresident and CEO of

American India Foundation

ATA DAY GALA HELD AS A GRAND

PRECURSOR TO CONVENTION

Democratic front‑runner Raja Krishnamoorthi with ATA leaders [LtoR] Mr & Mrs.KrishnaMushyam, Keerthi Ravoori, Krishna Rangaraju, Hanumanth Reddy,

Dr. Meher Medhavaram & Conf.Convenor: Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai.

Alex Counts is founderof Grameen Foundation

(Photo courtesy: globalhealthhub.org)

California AG Kamala Harris(Photo courtesy: oag.ca.gov)

Neel Sethi has the spunk andswagger to bring Mowgli to life

on screen: Director

Actress Taapsee Pannu, chief guest [in white attire] seen with the ATA team.



9March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info U S AFFA I RS

Washington

Donald Trump and Hillary

Clinton both had commanding wins in seven

states each in Super Tuesday's nomination

contests across 12 states, but their rivals

vowed to stay on in the US presidential race.

Handily winning seven states, from the lib‑

eral northeast to conservative south, thebrash billionaire demonstrated broad appeal

for his anti‑establishment movement among

the Republicans, while Democrat Clinton

showed her strength with minorities in the

South.

But the "most consequential night of vot‑

ing so far in the presidential campaign

demonstrated remarkably divergent for‑

tunes of the two major parties vying for the

White House: Democrats are falling in line.

Republicans are falling apart," as the New

York Times put it.

"This has been an amazing night," Trump

told reporters at his Mar‑a‑Lago resort in

Palm Beach, Florida. He vowed to be a "unifi‑

er" and to go after Clinton with a singular

focus once he wins the Republican nomina‑tion.

"I'm a unifier," Trump said, seeming to

pivot his message for the presidential elec‑

tion on November 8. "I know people are

going to find that hard to believe but I'm a

unifier." But Trump's Republican rivals

vowed to fight on after Texas Senator Ted

Cruz won his home state of Texas, thebiggest single prize of the night, and added

Oklahoma and Alaska, while Rubio finally

landed his first win in the Minnesota

Republican caucuses.

Pointing to his three victories combined

with his win in the Iowa caucuses, as proof

that only he can actually beat Trump, Cruz

suggested that Rubio and others "prayerful‑ly" consider exiting the race to unite the

party.

But Rubio called it a "fight for the heart

and soul of the Republican Party," and

vowed to "go through all 50 states before

we stop fighting to save the Republican

Party from someone like that (Trump)".

"The complicated delegate math meant

that Trump's various competitors combined

could yet prevent him from reaching the

threshold needed to win the nomination,"

said Time magazine."But the path forward for the anti‑Trump

wing of the GOP looks increasingly tricky ‑

and ugly," it said.

After her southern sweep in the

Democratic race, Clinton declared at her vic‑

tory rally in Florida: "What a Super

Tuesday."

And setting her sight on the November

elections, she took aim at Trump by assert‑

ing that America was already great, despite

his campaign mantra, and vowing to make

the country "whole again".

Clinton's self‑styled Democratic Socialist

rival Bernie Sanders, backed by an army of

small donors and grass‑roots appeal, also

vowed to stay in the race after victories in

his own state, Vermont, along with Colorado,Minnesota and Oklahoma.

"This campaign is not just about electing a

president," Sanders said at a rally Tuesday

night in Vermont. "It is about transforming

America."

R

epublican presi‑

dential frontrun‑

ner DonaldTrump's penchant for

gaffes continues ‑ his

latest is misquoting

Mahatma Gandhi.

"First they ignore you.

Then they laugh at you, then they

fight you, then you win," Trump

wrote on his Instagram account,

taking a dig at his rivals and the

media for their initial failure to

take his candidature seriously.

The Hill, a website that tracks

polit ics , wrote Monday that

"there's no record that Gandhi

ever used the phrase, which has

been widely attributed to him". It

added that the quote appeared"similar to words used in a 1918

trade union address by Nicholas

Klein". In fact, according to CNN,

the online newspaper Christian

Science Monitor list‑

ed the quote in a

report titled"Political misquotes:

The 10 most famous

things never actually

said".

The "quote" from

Gandhi came a day after Trump

was trolled on Twitter and other

social media for retweeting a

quote by Benito Mussolini, the

Italian fascist: "It is better to live

one day as a lion than 100 years

as a sheep."

Gawker, a news site, claimed

that it had fooled Trump into

retweeting the Mussolini quote. It

said the quote was "originally

posted by a Twitter bot that (it)had made several months ago,

expressly for the purpose of goad‑

ing Trump into retweeting a

Mussolini quote".

After almost a year in space aboard the

International Space Station, NASA

astronaut Scott Kelly made it back to

Earth safe and sound along with cosmonauts

Mikhail Kornienko and Sergey Volkov. NASAannounced that the trio landed in Kazakhstan

at on March 1st. Kelly has set two American

records, having chalked up the most consecu‑

tive days in space, at 340, and most days in space cumulatively at 520.

These sustained missions are being used to investigate how the human

body responds to long‑term visits to space. That will include direct compar‑

isons between Scott Kelly and his twin brother, ex‑astronaut Mike Kelly.

(Photo: NASA)

New York Retired neurosurgeonBen Carson appeared set to end hisbid for the 2016 U.S. Republican

presidential nomination onWednesday after failing to win asingle state despite a short‑livedsurge of support last fall in theearly‑voting state of Iowa.

"I do not see a political path for‑ward in light of last evening's SuperTuesday primary results," Carsonsaid in a statement. He said hewould skip the next Republicandebate, scheduled for Thursdaynight in Detroit.

Carson signalled his withdrawalafter Donald Trump consolidatedhis lead in the Republican race witha string of victories on Tuesday, butfailed to eclipse his rivals or drawreluctant party leaders into his cor‑

ner.Yet Trump proclaimed himself a

"unifier" on Tuesday night after hewon seven states from centristMassachusetts to the conservativeDeep South in the contests to pick aparty nominee.

That fell on deaf ears as his WhiteHouse rivals were unbowed and theRepublican establishment unwillingto accept him as their standard‑bearer for November.

"If this was anybody else as afront‑runner, there'd be peopleright now saying 'Let's all rallyaround the front‑runner,'" said U.S.Senator Marco Rubio of Florida,who won his first state contest,

Minnesota, on Tuesday."That will never happen with

Donald Trump," Rubio, favorite of the Republican establishment, toldFox News on Wednesday. "On the

contrary." His latest wins com‑pounded the problem for a party

whose leaders are both critical of many of Trump's positions and val‑ues and skeptical he can defeat thelikely Democratic nominee inNovember, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

While they have yet to coalescearound a single strategy, anti‑Trump Republicans have begun tak‑ing action. Conservative advocacygroup Club for Growth claimedcredit for slowing Trump in someprimary states by running attackads.

Some party donors ‑ includinghedge‑fund manager Paul Singerand Meg Whitman, the Hewlett‑Packard Enterprise chief executive ‑

organized a phone call on Tuesdayto get funding for an anti‑Trumpeffort, the New York Times report‑ed. The party's 2012 nominee, for‑mer Massachusetts Governor Mitt

Romney, has weighed in againstTrump, speculating about a "bomb‑

shell" in the billionaire's tax returns.Romney scheduled a speech forThursday about the state of therace, media reported.

But one of Trump's former rivalsin the 2016 race, Mike Huckabee,admonished Republicans for notrespecting the will of the voters.

"The establishment Republicansare all bed‑wetting over this andthey donʼt seem to understand thatwe have an election," the formerArkansas governor said on FoxNews. "Letʼs remember that we havean election process not a selectionprocess."

Trump responded to the furoreagainst him, saying in a tweet on

Wednesday, "The special interestsand people who control our politi‑cians (puppets) are spending $25million on misleading and fraudu‑lent TV ads on me."

Now Hillary Clinton will certainly be Democratic presidential nominee

Scott Kelly

The delegates of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio together are more than Trumpʼs. So to keep Trump from becoming the partyʼs standard‑bear‑er, there may be a brokered or open brokered nomination convention.

Trump and Clinton have a Super Tuesday, but rivals stay on

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SCOTT KELLY RETURNS

AFTER 340 DAYS IN SPACE



New Delhi Adding further confu‑

sion over tax treatment of provi‑

dent fund contributions proposed

in the Union Budget, the finance

ministry said a final view was yet

to be taken on the subject.In a statement, the ministry said

on members of the provident fund

who invest their withdrawals in

annuity funds, no tax will be

levied. If not, 60 percent of the

money withdrawn will be taxed.

Thus far, it is clear.

But what has created confusion

is over whether only the interest

component will be taxed upon

withdrawal or the whole corpus

itself built after April 1 this year.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh

Adhia had alluded that only inter‑

est will be taxed and not the cor‑

pus. But a statement thereafter

suggests no firm decision has beentaken as yet.

"We have received representa‑

tions today from various sections

suggesting if the amount of 60

percent of corpus is not invested

in annuity products, tax should belevied only on the accumulated

returns of the corpus and not on

the contributed amount," it said.

"We have also received repre‑

sentations asking for not having

any monetary limit on employercontribution under EPF because

such limit is not there in NPS. The

Finance Minister would be consid‑

ering these suggestions and taking

a view on it in due course."

The salaried class was shocked

by Monday's budget proposal pre‑

sented by Finance Minister Arun

Jaitley that seemed to suggest that

60 percent of withdrawals fromthe provident fund accounts will

be taxed ‑‑ that, too, with retro‑

spective effect.

Jai tley sai d 40 perc ent of the

National Pension Scheme (NPS)

corpus would be tax‑exempt at the

time of withdrawal to make it

attractive for the savers. He said

the annuity fund, which goes to

legal heirs, also won't be taxable.

In case of superannuation funds

and recognised provident funds,

the same norm of 40 percent of

corpus to be tax‑free will apply in

respect of corpus created out of

the contributions made on or from

April 1, the minister added.He said the government was also

proposing a monetary limit for the

contributions of employer in

recognised provident and super‑

annuation fund at Rs.150,000 per

annum for taking the tax benefit.

The service tax on single premi‑

um annuity policies had been

reduced to 1.4 percent from 3.5

percent of the premium paid incertain cases.

Similarly, Jaitley also announced

exemption of service tax for annu‑

ity services provided by NPS and

services provided by Employees

Provident Fund Organisation

(EPFO).

The earlier clarification from

Adhia seems to have come due to

the uproar against the govern‑

ment's proposal. But the ministry

statement has clearly said the mat‑

ter was not closed as yet.

"The Finance Bi l l does not

reflect Adhia's clarification.

Perhaps the government may

change the relevant provisions,"Neha Malhotra, executive director

of Nangia and Company, an inter‑

national tax advisory and account‑

ing firm, told IANS.

10 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info I ND IA

Washington The US‑India Business Council

(USIBC) has hailed Indian Finance Minister

Arun Jaitley's third budget as "an accurate

path to economic growth in a period of

global uncertainty."

"The budget consolidates the

Government's pro‑growth agenda through

economic liberalisation, while remaining

committed to bringing in long‑term invest‑

ment and job opportunities in areas such as

agriculture, infrastructure development and

clean energy," it said.

In addition, the trade body comprised of

350 top‑tier US and Indian companies

advancing US‑India commercial ties, also

applauded the Indian government's contin‑

ued efforts to create a stable and certain tax

environment to encourage enterprise and

ease of doing business.

A number of recommendations by the

Easwar Committee and the Shome

Committees that aim to simplify the IncomeTax Act and administration of tax policy

were addressed in the budget, it noted.

USIBC said it is also pleased to see that the

budget supports the removal of any retroac‑

tive taxation.

"It is evident that the Government of India

is leaving no stone unturned to build on to

create an investment climate that is

favourable to improving India's ranking in

the ease of doing business index," USIBC

President, Dr. Mukesh Aghi said.

"Tax reforms presented in this budget are

unprecedented, and lay the road map to cre‑

ate an attractive environment for foreign

investors," he said.

"US companies are still eager for the

implementation of GST that has the poten‑

tial to be a game‑changer for the economy.

This is also an inclusive budget‑ one that

creates opportunities for increasing domes‑

tic demand."

In a recent USIBC survey, about 20 per‑

cent of USIBC member companies con‑

firmed that they have already invested over

$15 billion in India since Prime Minister

Narendra Modi assumed office.

"In 2016‑17, we expect an additional $27

billion to be invested by at least 52 US com‑

panies in India," Aghi said. "We are certain

that with this path of reforms, these num‑

bers are achievable."

Chennai Global credit rating agencies ‑‑

Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) and

Fitch Ratings ‑‑ termed India's fiscal budget

for 2016‑17 as credit positive for sover‑

eign rating, but pointed out certain uncer‑tainties. "The budget is modestly credit

positive for the sovereign, since it indicates

a continued commitment to gradual fiscal

consolidation by bringing down fiscal

deficits to 3 percent over the next two

years," said Atsi Sheth, a Moody's associate

managing director for the Sovereign Risk

Group, in a statement.

"However, the proposals did not contain

significant measures to address structural

fiscal challenges, such as the government's

low tax revenue base and the vulnerability

of government finances to economic

shocks," added Sheth.

"This situation suggests that any deficit

reduction will come from either cyclical

upswings or tactical fiscal management,rather than a broad‑based fiscal consolida‑

tion strategy," Sheth said.

According to Moody's while the budget is

moderately positive for most sectors, it is

negative for public sector banks.

The credit rating agency said the budget

is credit negative for public sector banks

due to its insufficient allocation of capital

for the sector, as the government has stuck

to the capital infusion road map announced

last year, budgeting Rs.25,000 crore in cap‑

ital injections. However, increased recogni‑

tion and provisioning for non‑performing

loads (NPL) will require a corresponding

front‑ending of capital requirements, which

suggests that capital constraints willremain a key credit weakness for public

sector banks, Moody's said.

The budget's changes on tax and duties

are credit positive for energy and commod‑

ity producers, but negative for auto‑mak‑

ers.

Finally, the budget is positive overall for

India's securitisation markets as changes in

the distribution tax norms for securitisa‑

tion trusts will improve investors' post‑tax

returns and make investments in securitisa‑

tion products more appealing, which could

attract a new class of investors to the asset

class.

According to Fitch Ratings, the budget

contains a number of elements that could

be positive from a sovereign rating per‑spective over the medium term, but uncer‑

tainties regarding implementation of the

reform agenda and meeting targeted rev‑

enue growth remain.

Fitch Ratings said the Indian government

retains its vision on how to structurally

improve the economy and create sustain‑

able growth and cited reforms relating to

financial sector, agriculture and liberalisa‑

tion of the foreign direct investment regime

announcements.

India's 2016‑17 budget creditpositive: Moody's & Fitch

People keep a close track of national budg‑et 2016‑17 at a TV showroom in Kolkata.

(Photo: IANS)

Jaitley to decide on taxing your provident fund

Business leaders keep a close track of national budget 2016‑17 during aprogramme organised by CII in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)

US‑INDIA TRADE BODYHAILS INDIA BUDGET



11March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info I ND IA

N e w D e l h i Former finance minister P.

Chidambaram said there was "no big idea" in

the 2016‑17 general budget but commended

the government on the fiscal consolidation

issue.

"There is no big idea in the budget. One

virtue of the budget is that it has left every

section of people equally disappointed. This

budget is a wasted opportunity,"

Chidambaram told the media here.

"I am happy that the government has

spurned the advise of Chief Economic Adviser

Arvind Subramanian and went in for fiscal

consolidation. I take this as a vindication of

the (earlier) United Progressive Alliance gov‑

ernment's policy on fiscal consolidation," thesenior Congress leader added.

He said 'reform' was a misunderstood word

for the government.

"Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had prom‑

ised to reform to transform. The word 're‑

form' is a little understood but much‑used

word. Reform means reform of factor markets

or product markets. There is little evidence of

such reforms in the budget. The National

Democratic Alliance has followed its own

brand of budget‑making, which is just house‑

keeping and accounting," Chidambaram said.

The former finance minister emphasised that

the Bharatiya Janata Party‑led government

did not pass on the benefit of plummeting oil

prices to the common man to give a respite

from inflation.

"The government boasts that it earned more

tax revenues than it had budgeted at the

beginning of the year. Did they collect morecorporation tax? No. Did they collect more

income tax? No."

"What they collected more was excise

duties. It is a whopping increase of Rs.54,334

crore! That amount was due to the numerous

times the government increased excise duties

on petrol and diesel after the budget was pre‑

sented last year," he said.

"There is lukewarm reference to the Goods

and Sales Tax Bill but there is no promise of

accommodating the legitimate criticism by

the opposition.

I am happy that the UPA schemes have been

continued but the crucial problem is price.

There is no major initiative in increasing pro‑

ductivity of crucial crops," the Congress

leader said.

"The NDA government reneged on its prom‑

ise to give cost plus 50 percent. It did worse

last year by giving meagre or nil increases inthe MSP," Chidamabarm said while alleging

the government was running away from its

poll promise of giving a remunerative mini‑

mum support price to farmers.

No big idea in budget but fiscal consolidation good: Chidambaram

New Delhi Focusing on rural economy and

infrastructure with minor rebate for small

taxpayers but amnesty for defaulters,

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley unveiled a

Rs.19.78 lakh crore ($300 billion) budget

for 2016‑17, earmarking more money for

health, literacy and roads.

The focus on rural economy and the

promise to double the income of farmers in

five years came against the backdrop of a

distressed agrarian economy, fewer jobs

and assembly elections in five states this

and next year.

The direct impact on taxpayers from the

proposals announced during the 100‑

minute budget speech will be a Rs.3,000

rebate, benefiting 20 million assessees.

Those living in rented homes will get a

higher exemption of Rs.60,000 now,

against Rs.24,000 earlier. But the tax slabs

remain unchanged.

At the same time, withdrawal of provi‑

dent fund and pension upon retirement are

partially taxable.

Jaitley also announced an amnes ty for

those with disputed tax claims, with a waiv‑

er of penalty on amounts up to Rs.10 lakh.

He said 300,000 such cases were pending

before appellate authorities, for an amount

totalling Rs.5.5 lakh crore.

Similarly he also unveiled a limited tax

compliance window from June 1 to

September 30 for people to declare their

undisclosed incomes, with a tax liability of

45 percent of value, including the sur‑

charge and penalties ‑‑ together with

immunity from scrutiny, enquiry and pros‑

ecution.

His other steps include a pilot project to

extend the direct cash benefit transfers,

currently in areas like cooking gas to the

fertiliser sector, as also Rs.25,000 crore for

the recapitalisation of state‑run banks that

are under financial stress on account of

mounting bad loans.

While there were misgivings over money

set aside for additional capital for banks,

Jaitley told a press conference later that

more money will follow as and when war‑

ranted. "The budget is not the last word on

this," he said, adding he was also open to

consolidation of commercial banks.

On cutting subsidies, he promised a bill

soon to use Aadhaar for direct transfer of

cash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick

to appreciate the budget and said its focus

on development of agriculture, farmers,

women and rural areas will give a major

push to India's agrarian economy. "It will

also help the poor man realise the dream

of owning a house," he said.

Jai tley also sa id the governme nt wi ll

meet its fiscal targets but said that from

next year he proposed to do away with the

classification of plan and non‑plan expen‑

diture ‑‑ a move bound to stir up a contro‑

versy.

"I have weighed the policy options and

decided that prudence lies in adhering to

fiscal targets. Consequently, the fiscal

deficit in revised estimated 2015‑16 and

budget estimates 2016‑17 have been

retained at 3.9 percent and 3.5 percent of

GDP, respectively," he said.

Jaitley also enhanced the total expendi‑

ture for this fiscal to Rs.19.78 lakh crore

from Rs.17.85 lakh crore in the revised

estimates for this fiscal ‑‑ a hike of 10.7

percent ‑‑ while the plan expenditure com‑

ponent was revised upward by 15.3 per‑

cent.

"A broad understanding over years has

been plan expenditures are good and non‑

plan expenditures are bad. This results in

skewed allocations in the budget," he said,

adding this would be dispensed with from

2017‑18 to focus on revenue and capital

classification of expenditure.

This move is likely to face stiff opposi‑

tion.

Jaitley, a lawyer by profession, decided to

bring his fellow practitioners under the

service tax net of 14 percent. He also

imposed an across‑the‑board cess of 0.5

percent on services towards farmer wel‑

fare, which will add 50 paise for every

Rs.100 one spends on food to mobile bills.

He also left the market mood sullen by

proposing to hike securities transaction tax

for options to 0.05 percent from 0.017

percent, levy an additional dividend distri‑

bution tax of 10 percent payable by recipi‑

ents in excess of Rs.10 lakh per annum and

1 percent surcharge on luxury cars.

This was enough to sully the market

mood. The sensitive index of the BSE

dipped sharply to a 52‑week low soon after

the finance minister read out these propos‑

als, but eventually recovered slightly

towards the end of the day, but still down

152.30 points, or 0.66 percent, at

23,002.00 points.

Jaitley said the bulk of his tax plan was in

nine categories: Relief to small assessees,

boosting growth and employment, incen‑

tivising "Make in India", encouraging pen‑

sion, promoting affordable housing, push‑

ing rural economy, reducing litigation, tax‑

ation simplification and accountability.

Among the various sectors, the allocation

for the ministry of agriculture and farmers'

welfare was enhanced by 93 percent to

Rs.44,485 crore, for rural development by

10.7 percent at Rs.87,765 crore and for

health and family welfare by 13 percent to

Rs.39,533 crore.

A major boost was also given to infra‑

structure including energy with a 11.3 per‑

cent hike in the outlay to Rs.246,246 crore,

as also for human resource development

with allocation up by 7 percent at

Rs.72,394 crore.

The budget also used the opportunity to

send out signals to the global investor,

seeking to ease the foreign equity norms.

Notably, 100 percent such equity will now

be permitted in multi‑brand retailing

where the produce sold has been

processed and sourced locally.

In a bid to boost entrepreneurship, a

lower corporate tax rate has been

proposed for small firms with a turnover of

below Rs.5 crore, to 29 plus surcharge

and cess, and 100 percent deduction of

profits for three out of five years for start‑

ups set up between April 2016 and March

2019.

Similarly to boost "Make in India" ,

changes were proposed in customs and

excise levies on certain inputs to reduce

costs and improve competitiveness in sec‑

tors such as IT hardware, capital goods,

defence, textiles, minerals fuels, chemicals

and petrochemicals, and aircraft and ship

repair.

Jaitley opens coffers for rural India,unveils tax amnesty

Former finance minister P. Chidambaram.(Photo: IANS)

Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley set to present the General Budget 2016‑17 inNew Delhi. (Photo: IANS/PIB)



12 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info I ND IA

N e w D e l h i "N o

direct link" has been

found between Ja wa ha rl al Ne hr u

University (JNU)

Students' Union

president Kanhaiya

Kumar and anti‑

India sloganeering

at the campus on

February 9, said a

Delhi government

report on March 3.

"I have submitted

the report to the

Delhi government

late last

(Wednesday) night,"

District Magistrate, New Delhi, Sanjay Kumar,

who conducted the inquiry, told IANS.The report also stated that the role of Umar

Khalid, another JNU student accused of rais‑

ing anti‑India slogans, needs to be further

investigated.

"Umar Khalid was visible in many videos.

His support for the role of Kashmir and Afzal

Guru is known and he was the organiser of

the event. His role needs to be further investi‑

gated," the report states.

Sanjay Kumar refused to divulge the details

but an official privy to the report, who did not

want to be named, said: "The DM report says

they could not find any link between what

Kanhaiya Kumar said and the anti‑India slo‑

gans raised at the gathering. "No witness or

video available to me could support allegation

against him," Sanjay Kumar stated in thereport. But the official said that "anti‑India

slogans were indeed raised in the campus.

There is no doubt about it".

"Anti‑national slogans were indeed raisedon the campus of the JNU. The university

administration has identified few faces who

were clearly heard raising anti‑India slogans.

Whereabouts of them should be found out

and their role must be investigated further,"

the report stated. The official said that seven

videos were sent to Truth Labs, Hyderabad, of

which three were found to be doctored. "In

those doctored versions, video has been edit‑

ed and voices added," the official said.

The state government had ordered a magis‑

terial probe into the matter on February 13.

On February 9, a cultural event was organ‑

ised at JNU to commemorate the hanging of

parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

During the event, anti‑India slogans were

allegedly raised, following which JNUSU pres‑ident Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested by Delhi

Police on February 12.

JNU CONTROVERSY:

BREATHER FOR KANHAIYA

RJD workers celebrate JNU s tudent leader Kanhaiya Kumar'sbail in Patna. (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi

on March 3 invoked late Congress stal‑

warts and prime ministers JawaharlalNehru and Rajiv Gandhi to urge the opposi‑

tion to let parliament function "peacefully

and responsibly".

"Parliament is a forum where different

view points are put forward, where ques‑

tions are being asked to the government,

where government is made accountable

and nobody is spared, and one shouldn't

expect otherwise," Modi said, replying to

the discussion in the Lok Sabha on the

motion of thanks to President Pranab

Mukherjee's address to parliament.

"And in doing so, it would be great if we

uphold parliamentary traditions" to let the

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha function

"peacefully and responsibly", he said.

"It is not me saying this... These are thewords of former prime minister Rajiv

Gandhi," Modi told the Lok Sabha with

most of the MPs present in the house.

He also referred to India's first prime

minister Nehru and his speeches in parlia‑

ment and urged the opposition to help the

government pass crucial legislations,

including the Goods and Services Tax bill.

"If house maintains decorum, we will be

able to put our point of view in a better

manner," he said.

Modi also referred to Left leader

Somnath Chatterjee who was Lok Sabha

speaker during the first UPA government

from 2004 to 2009.

"As far as disruptions are concerned, our

former speaker and some members herewhose guide and philosopher Somnath

Chatterjee said that to disrupt is totally

counter‑productive."

Modi also stressed that the nation suffers

if parliament does not function properly.

"The House is a place where debates are

to take place. When parliament sessions

are not functional, the nation suffers and

more than that the MPs suffer because

they can't discuss issues," said Modi.

Parliament is a forum where the govern‑

ment is questioned and made to clarify its

stand on various issues, Modi said and

added that the sessions are fruitful if boundaries are maintained during a

debate.

Modi invokes Rajiv,Nehru in Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(Photo: IANS)

Bengaluru Liquor baron Vijay Mallya filed objec‑

tions to the State Bank of India's (SBI) interlocutory

application (IA) on March 3 before the debt recovery

tribunal seeking his arrest in the defunct Kingfisher

Airline's multi‑crore‑rupee loan default case.

"We are filing our objections today (Thursday)

against the IA on the merit that the tribunal was not

the right forum to seek a defaulter's arrest or

impound his passport," Mallya's counsel told IANShere.

The bank's IA also sought a direction from the tri‑

bunal, headed by judge R. Benkanahalli, to the

authority for impounding Mallya's passport, seize

his assets and claim on the $75 million (Rs.516

crore) severance package British liquor major

Diageo signed with him on February 25.

After arguments by the bank's advocate, the judge

posted the IA for next hearing on Fridayand gave

notice to Mallya for filing objections, if any.

A consortium of 17 state‑run and private banks

led by SBI moved an application a day after the

February 25 Diageo deal in the tribunal seeking a

directive to Mallya for paying the amount Diageo

agreed to pay him over the next five years, including

$40 million this year and balance $35 million by

2020.Kingfisher Ltd. owes the consortium Rs.7,800

crore as outstanding loans, including Rs.1,600 crore

from SBI as a lead bank over a decade from 2004‑

12. The debt‑ridden airline suspended operations in

October 2012 due to staff strike and termination of

its licence by the civil aviation regulator DGCA sub‑

sequently.

New Delhi Finance MinisterArun Jaitey said the investi‑

gation into the alleged Aircel‑Maxis scam was at a "criticalstage" but refused to divulgemore details about the possi‑ble money laundering caseinvolving Congress leader P.Chidambaram's son Karti'sfirms. Denying that there wasany polit ical vendettainvolved in the probe, Jaitleytold the Lok Sabha that thegovernment was not influ‑enced by the opposition'sstance over the issue thatstalled parliament proceed‑ings on Tuesday andWednesday morning.

He said the Central Bureauof Investigation (CBI) had"already filed a charge‑sheetinto the case and that proce‑

dures were being followed instrict compliance with the

law".Let the case details go to

the court and then "all thedocuments will become pub‑lic", he said.

Raids by the EnforcementDirectorate (ED) and otherinvestigating agencies wereconducted in the Aircel‑Maxiscase, especially in Chennai, hesaid.

AIADMK members raisedthe issue against Karti in theparliament, displaying copiesof an English daily whichclaimed that, as per investiga‑tions by the ED and Income

Tax authorit ies duringsearches at his premises, hehad invested in real estateacross the world.

Vijay Mallya in the dock

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya. (Photo: IANS)

AIRCEL‑MAXIS SCAM

PROBE AT 'CRITICAL

STAGE': JAITLEY



13March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info I ND IA

Washington: Describing India as "a politico‑

economic opportunity" for the Asia Pacific,

India's Ambassador to the US Arun K. Singh

has said it could play an important role for

growth, development and stability of the

region.

India's participation in the 21‑nation Asia

Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum

could also help consolidate India's quest to

speed up growth and to integrate closer with

its neighboring Asia‑Pacific economies, hesaid here on Tuesday.

"India represents a politico‑economic

opportunity for APEC," Singh said during a

discussion at the Indian embassy on "India

and the APEC Opportunity" over a new

report brought out by the Asia Society Policy

Institute (ASPI).

The envoy noted that India was a G20

country and member of the East Asia Summit

and the Regional Comprehensive Economic

Partnership (RCEP), "whose economic and

political weight is bound to increase in the

coming years".

"We believe that India could play an impor‑

tant role within APEC for growth, develop‑

ment and stability of the region," he said. "In

turn, membership of APEC would help Indiain integrating further with economies of the

region, resulting in a win‑win situation for

all," Singh said.

"It can also help India become familiar and

more involved with the sweeping changes

taking place in the region towards reducing

transaction costs, improving connectivity

and supply chain linkages, strengthening

human capital development, and building

sustainable and inclusive communities," he

said. "Today Asia is witnessing a consolida‑

tion of competing mega regional trade

agreements," Singh said, citing the US led

Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement,

the RCEP, and APEC promoted Free Trade

Area for the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).

"While India is part of RCEP, it is not

involved in TPP or FTAAP. Yet, India has

already become a 'strategic partner' of sever‑

al APEC member countries and all, but four,

APEC member countries already have or are

pursuing trade agreements with India bilat‑

erally or multilaterally, including China."

"India joining the APEC forum can bring

India's economic integration with the region

to a level‑matching its strategic partnership

with the APEC members and groups like

ASEAN," he said. In its new report, "India's

Future in Asia: The APEC Opportunity", the

Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) highlights

the significant benefits that would accrue to

India, APEC members, and the region as a

result of India joining the forum.

Accra Ghana): India Inc. has said

that with Africa's farm sector pro‑

jec ted to grow to $1 tril lion by

2030, there is significant scope

for the continent's agriculture to

benefit from India's experience.

In a forward to a global account‑

ing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers

(PwC) report on agricultural part‑

nership between India and the 54‑

nation continent, the secretary

general of the Federation of Indian

Chambers of Commerce and

Industry (FICCI), A. Didar Singh,

said India's food sector is poised

for a transformation and needed

to look for consumers with similar

consumption patterns, while

Africa offers one of the most

attractive and large untapped mar‑

kets. With the changing global

landscape for agriculture and

food, India and Africa have

emerged as key partners in con‑

tributing to global food security,

Singh added.

The PwC report said Africa "rep‑

resents the 'last frontier' in global

food and agricultural markets".

"The continent houses almost 60

percent of the world's uncultivated

land and an abundance of natural

resources."

It also said sub‑Saharan Africa

was specifically attractive due to

the large percentage of uncultivat‑

ed fertile land and the presence of

water. In addition, the lack of

finance to invest in the sector has

also been a problem. It is, there‑

fore, Africa's largest economy,

Nigeria, was turning to China to

develop its commercial agricul‑

ture.

PwC India's head of agriculture

and natural resources Ajay Kakra

said Africa's gross domestic prod‑

uct (GDP) is projected to reach

$2.6 trillion by 2020 and has 11

of the world's fastest growing

economies.

"At present, India and Africa

together have manpower of

almost $2.2 billion and a com‑

bined GDP estimate of more than

$3 trillion," Kakra said.

"The agricultural sector in Africa

has great potential to contribute

to this growth, with the continent

having almost 60 percent of

uncultivated land in the world and

currently producing only 10 per‑

cent of the global output," he

added.

He said Africa is aspiring to raise

its agricultural output from $280

billion in 2010 to $880 billion in

2030.

"This increase will be enabled by

bringing potentially cultivable

land into cultivation, increasing

yields and shifting to cultivation of

high‑value and high‑yielding

crops," Kakra said.

The report estimated that sub‑

Saharan Africa alone requires

additional annual investments of

as much as $50 billion to make

the agricultural system work bet‑

ter. "Over the last decade, coun‑

tries that have increased invest‑

ments in agriculture as per the

Comprehensive Africa Agriculture

Development Programme (CAADP)

targets have seen reductions in

hunger and poverty, and increases

in productivity," it said.

"Ghana, Togo, Zambia, Burundi,

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Congo,

Senegal, Ethiopia and Malawi are

some examples," it added.

The PwC report suggested that

to take Africa's agriculture to the

next level, "public‑private partner‑

ships throughout the value chain

as a whole are key," adding that

the role of governments in sup‑

porting the private sector to grow

their businesses should not be

underestimated.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (AEPC) is a forum for 21 PacificRim member economies that promotes free trade throughout the

region. India does not border the region, and was denied admissionby some member countries. But with India becoming the fastest

growing big economy, admittance seems imminent.

India's Ambassador to the US Arun K. Singh

'India, Africa are key partners in global food security'

India a 'politico‑economic opportunity'for Asia Pacific: Amb. Arun Singh

N e w Y o r k : With China

and the rest of the global

economy slowing down,India has emerged as the

fastest growing major

economy in the world. A

new Asia Society Policy

Institute (ASPI) report

argues that India has

great potential to boost

economic growth at

home, in the Asia‑Pacific,

and globally if it is better

integrated with the

region by joining the

Asia‑Pacific Economic

Cooperation (APEC). APEC, a forum of 21

member economies, has played a central

role in promoting regional economic inte‑

gration in the Asia‑Pacific. As APEC consid‑ers adding new economies, India is “the

ideal next member,” argue authors Harsha

V. Singh, senior associate at the

International Center for Trade and

Sustainable Development (ICTSD), and

Anubhav Gupta, ASPI senior program offi‑

cer, in the a new report.

“The first necessary step toward greater

Indian participation in Asian trade and

investment flows is membership in APEC,”

writes ASPI President and former Australian

PM Kevin Rudd in the

foreword to the report. “It

is a step whose time hascome, for India, for APEC,

and for the international

economy.”

The report concludes

that Indiaʼs inclusion in

APEC would produce tan‑

gible benefits for India,

APEC member economies,

and the region. India is

projected by the US

Department of Agriculture

to be the world's third

largest economy by 2030.

Its middle class, expected to grow to 475

million by 2030, can provide a significant

boost to global demand if better connected

to other markets. India's growing workforcecould help offset aging populations and

labor shortages in other parts of the world.

For these reasons, in the past year, key

APEC economies, such as the US, China,

Japan, and Russia, have welcomed Indiaʼs

interest in APEC. The reportʼs authors cau‑

tion, however, that not all APEC members

are currently in favor of Indian membership

because they view Indian policy and politics

as insufficiently supportive of more open

trade and greater regional integration.

Asia Society urges Indiato join APEC to boost

global growth

Kevin Rudd, President of AsiaSociety Policy Institute and

former Australian PM.



14 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info OP-ED

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

By Abhik Ghosh

What's the one assurance investors

want before setting up manufactur‑

ing base in India? The ease of mak‑

ing workforce adjustments in line with chang‑

ing market conditions. In this area, Indian

labor laws are among the most restrictive.

The Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 has two

provisions in the way of workforce adjust‑

ments. Chapter VB of the Act requires prior

approval of the appropriate government

before resorting to any layoff, retrenchment

or closure in establishments employing 100

or more workers. The draft Labour Code onIndustrial Relations currently in circulation

seeks to raise the threshold to establishments

employing 300 or more workers, but it is still

work in progress.

Another major contentious provision is

Section 9A of the Act which mandates 21

days' notice before affecting any change in

established conditions of service of any

employee, including any change necessitated

by "rationalization , standardization or

improvement of plant or technique". This is

anathema for investors, particularly in this

age of fast changing technologies and manu‑

facturing processes.

Contract labour is yet another major area of

concern. Investors would surely want to know

if engaging workers on temporary contractswould run afoul of the law. The Contract

Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970,

as the name suggests, is enforced to regulate

the practice and abolish it in certain cases.

In other words, the practice is not prohibit‑

ed. Engaging contract workers for temporary,

intermittent or seasonal work is allowed but

using them for work of perennial nature vio‑

lates the letter and spirit of the law.

Why would investors want to engage work‑

ers on temporary contracts in the first place?

To meet surges in demand for goods and

services requiring urgent workforce adjust‑

ments. Immediate deployment of regular

workers is not always feasible and pruning

them alongside falling demand often meets

legal obstacles. Moreover, regular workersare increasingly becoming less productive

and more expensive.

The central government has yet to initiate

any action in this area. Rajasthan has taken

the early lead, raising the threshold for appli‑

cability of the law to cover industries or con‑

tractors engaging 40 or more contract work‑

ers, up from the original 20. Other state gov‑

ernments are expected to follow suit. The

move has been welcomed by employers and

criticized as anti‑worker by trade unions.

But changing the applicability clause is like

nibbling at the edges. Plunging into the core,

the status of temporary workers must be

redefined and extended beyond the present

limit of 240 days in a year. That should take

care of persistent demands by the traditionaltrade union movement for regularization of

all contract workers.

On this aspect, the experiment by India's

largest carmaker is innovative and instruc‑

tive. In 2012, Maruti introduced a new cate‑

gory of directly recruited temporary workers,

substantially reducing the role of intermedi‑

aries. It has appreciably narrowed the gap in

emoluments and allowances between regular

and contract workers, which is the main bone

of contention.

Temporary workers get on‑the‑job training

as apprentices and become eligible for regu‑lar appointment in due course. Maruti pays

such workers a stipend for the period they

must wait out for regular appointment. This

also promotes a sense of belonging and soli‑

darity with the company. It is the habit of

institutions to give birth to loyalties. The poli‑

cy has worked well and has brought industri‑

al peace to what was a volatile workplace.

The big question is: How soon can the cen‑

tral government bring about meaningful

changes in the existing laws to facilitate quick

workforce adjustments? Labor reforms are

critical to the "Make in India" campaign.Investors have been waiting with anticipation.

Brand India cannot afford to disappoint.

Why Make in India is stumbling over our labor laws

Labor reforms are critical to the "Make in India" campaign. Investors have been waiting withanticipation. Brand India cannot afford to disappoint. (Photo: IANS)

By Amulya Ganguli

Just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi

described MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employment Guarantee

Act) as a living monument to the Congress's

decades‑old neglect of rural distress, thequota system is the fallout of, first, a similar

prolonged failure in the fields of employ‑

ment and education and, secondly, of politi‑

cal chicanery.

Haryana is bearing the brunt of these fail‑

ures because of the violent agitation by the

Jat community for reservations.

Originally envisaged as a gesture for a lim‑

ited period to the Dalits and Adivasis who

suffered social and economic deprivation for

many centuries, reservations are now

regarded as a pathway to easy official jobs

and out‑of‑turn admissions to government

schools and colleges by the backward castes.

In view of these advantages, which over‑

ride merit, the quota system has become a

tool in the hands of vote‑hungry politiciansfor buttressing their support bases.

The prime villain in this respect was prime

minister V.P. Singh, who included the back‑

ward castes in the quota system in 1990 as

a safeguard against being undercut by his

rival, Devi Lal. The Pandora's box was thus

opened with more and more communities

seeking the benefits of secure jobs in gov‑

ernment offices and seats for their children

in public educational institutions.

However, it is the stagnant economy and a

moribund educational sector which fueled

the demand for preferential treatment. Had

the economy prospered and a greater num‑

ber of jobs been available, there wouldn't

have been such a rush for reservations.A buoyant economy would have created an

atmosphere of wellness, encouraging

greater public and private investment in the

educational sector.

But the 2/3 percent Hindu rate of growth

under the Congress's "socialist" regimes till

1991 ensured that the economy limped

along, aggravating the unemployment prob‑

lem and starving the academic sphere of

funds.

The post‑1991 era of liberalization did not

bring about a dramatic improvement in the

situation despite the much higher growth

rate because the world had entered a period

of automated technology where machines

did the work of men. Hence the term 'joblessgrowth'.

Although more jobs were available than

before in the services, real estate and infra‑

structure sectors, they were not enough to

satisfy the growing demand, which was

caused not only by a rising population but

also the limited availability of agricultural

land as the farming families grew in num‑

bers. Needless to say, it is not only the fail‑

ures on the economic front which added to

the appeal of reservations but also an offi‑

cial inability to enforce the population con‑

trol program.

The distortion which V.P. Singh introduced

in the quota system was to include the rela‑

tively well‑off, though socially backward,

communities like the Yadavs of the Hindi

heartland who had considerable clout in the

countryside.

Now, the Jats who, like the Yadavs, are an

influential group in the countryside are alsoclamoring for quotas in their favor. Not sur‑

prisingly, the Supreme Court described them

as a "self‑proclaimed socially backward class

of citizens" while turning down the

Congress‑led central government's decision

to confer the backward caste status on them

before the last general election.

This warping of the system has recently

been accentuated by the demand of the

Patidars or the Patels of Gujarat for reserva‑

tions despite being well‑placed, both socially

and economically.

But the worst example of the skewed

nature of reservations was the demand by

the Gujjars of north India for relegation

from their present backward caste status to

that of scheduled tribes or Adivasis.The idea of scrapping the quota system

has been floated by both proponents of a

market economy, who favor a meritocracy,

and social conservatives like Rashtriya

Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan

Bhagwat, who wants a review of the system.

Irrespective of whether Bhagwat's views

reflect the longstanding resentment of the

upper castes over the bounties offered to

the lower castes by reservations, there is lit‑

tle doubt that the quota system is out of

place in an open economy with its emphasis

on individual enterprise and not family

background.

Jat mayhem: Quota system out of sync in open economy

The quota system is out of place in an open economy with its emphasis on individualenterprise and not family background. (Photo: IANS)



Photo taken on Nov. 23,

2015 showsthe scenery of Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall of Chinaafter a snowfall in Tianjin, north China.(Photos: IANS)

Photo taken on Dec. 3, 2015 shows an illumination modelingthe Temple of Heaven at the Magic Winter Lights Show inHouston, TX. The Show there was held in winter months.

WINTERSCAPES

People walk on asnow‑covered streetin Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner

MongoliaAutonomous Region,Nov. 22, 2015. Heavy

snow had hit a vastarea of north China,disrupting traffic inBeijing, Tianjin and

Inner MongoliaAutonomous Region.

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LENS EY E 15March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info



16 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info ULT I MATE B OLLY WOOD

The Revenant" had a golden

run at the 88th Academy

Awards, where its lead actor

Leonardo DiCaprio broke his Oscar

jinx by winning the best actor tro‑

phy and Alejandro GonzalezInarritu was named best director.

The gala night in Los Angeles saw

British filmmaker of Indian origin

Asif Kapadia winning for "Amy";

late India‑born British actor Saeed

Jaf frey getting an 'In memori am'

honour and Bollywood actress

Priyanka Chopra taking to the stage

as a star presenter.

DiCaprio, who had been nominat‑

ed for the golden statuette four

times for his acting earlier, took

home his first Academy Award in

the Actor in a Leading Role catego‑

ry for his power‑packed perform‑

ance in "The Revenant". He rightful‑

ly received a standing ovation and

accepted the honor with an impact‑

ful speech, in which he addressed

climate change.

It was also a first for Brie Larson

when she won an Oscar in the

Actress in a Leading Role category

for her portrayal of a kidnapped

girl imprisoned by a psychopath in

"Room".

The big surprise came when

"Spotlight" ‑‑ a movie which shines

the spotlight on journalism and a

story of uncovering a child molesta‑

tion scandal ‑‑ won the Best Picture

title at the ceremony held at the

world‑famous Dolby Theatre.

However, the maximum awards

went to George Miller's directorial

"Mad Max: Fury Road" that picked

up six trophies ‑‑ Best Sound

Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best

Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hair

Styling, Best Production Design and

Best Costume Design categories.

The Supporting Actor category saw

English actor Mark Rylance defeat‑

ing Sylvester Stallone to win the

Academy Award for Steven

Spielberg's cold war drama "Bridge

of Spies", backed by Indian busi‑

nessman Anil Ambani‑led Reliance

Entertainment; and Swedish actress

Alicia Vikander won in the same

category for women, for her role in

"The Danish Girl". The awards cere‑

mony, held at the Dolby Theatre

here, was hosted by actor‑comedian

Chris Rock who tackled the 'lack of

diversity' and #OscarsSoWhite con‑

troversy, in a light‑hearted manner ‑

‑ drawing mixed reactions. For

India, while Marathi film "Court",

the country's official entry for Best

Foreign Language Film, did not

make it to the final nomination list

this year, there were proud

moments for the country in abun‑

dance.

Priyanka Chopra looked stunning

in an elegant white gown, a cre‑ation by Lebanese designer Zuhair

Murad. Besides flaunting a perfect

red carpet appearance, she exuded

confidence as she presented the

Oscar in the Best Film Editing cago‑

ry to "Mad Max: Fury Road" along

with Hollywood star Liev Schreiber.

Also presenting an award at the

event was British actor of Indian origin Dev Patel, while

London‑based filmmaker of

Indian origin Asif Kapadia

bagged the Best

D o c u m e n t a r y

Feature Oscar for

"Amy", based on

the l ife of late

singer Amy

Winehouse.

H o w e v e r ,

I n d i a n ‑

A m e r i c a n

Pixar artist

Sanjay Patel 's

animated short

" S a n j a y ' s

Super Team",

which tells the

story of an

i m m i g r a n t

c o m m u n i t y

and "a family

of colour",

lost the Oscar

to Chilean

film "Bear

Story". There

was a

Malayalee angle too in Sajan Skaria,

who worked as the character super‑

visor in "Inside Out", which was

named the Best Animated Feature

Film.

Also, Indian‑born British actor

Saeed Jaffrey was remembered in

the annual "In Memoriam" mon‑

tage, along with Alan Rickman,

David Bowie and Leonard Nimoy.

For Pakistan, it was time for cele‑

brations as filmmaker Sharmeen

Obaid‑Chinoy won the Oscar for

Best Documentary‑Short Subject for

her project based on honour killingtitled "A Girl in the River: The Price

of Forgiveness". It is her second

Oscar win, and she said the fact that

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is hop‑

ing to change laws around honour

killing following the success of her

documentary, shows the "power of

the film".

The night of the glitz and glam‑

our would have been incomplete

without soulful music. Sam Smith

performed Oscar winning song

"Writing's on the Wall" from the

James Bond movie "Spectre", while

The Weeknd performed Oscar nom‑

inated song "Earned it" from "Fifty

Shades of Grey", and Lady Gaga

called for an end to rape culturewith a rendition of her "Till it hap‑

pens to you". Other star presenters

at the Oscars included Julianne

Moore, Reese Witherspoon, Henry

Cavil l , Russell Crowe and Cate

Blanchett. In fact, "Titanic" star Kate

Winslet sparkled in accessories by

NIRAV MODI jewels, an Indian luxu‑

ry brand with a global presence.

British filmmaker of Indian origin Asif Kapadia bagged the Best

Documentary Feature Oscar for "Amy", based on the life of late

singer Amy Winehouse. Actress Daisy Ridley and British actor of

Indian descent Dev Patel handed over the trophy to the film's produc‑

er James Gay‑Rees and director

Kapadia, who won a Grammy Award

for "Amy" earlier this month. The

documentary uses archive footage to

tell the story of the "Rehab" hitmak‑

er's life and premature death. She

died at the age of 27.

These are the first Academy Award

nominations and win for Kapadia and

Gay‑Rees. The film also won a British

Academy of Film and Television Arts

(BAFTA) honor.

In d i a n ‑ b o r n

British actor

Saeed Jaffrey,

popular for movies

like "Gandhi" and

"Masoom", was

honored at the88th Academy

Awards ceremony

here in the "In

Memoriam" montage. Saeed,

who passed away in London in

November last year and was

posthumously named for the

Padma Shri , India 's fourth

highest civilian award earlier

this year, got a musical tribute

by Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters.

He was remembered at the

awards ceremony, which was

held at at the Dolby Theatre.

Saeed was included in the

annual montage along with

Wes Craven,

Alan Rickman,

Ja me s Ho rn er ,

Omar Shariff ,

David Bowie,

Leonard Nimoy

and ChristopherLee. Grohl put

his rock music on

pause to pay the

musical tribute as he rendered

The Beatles hit song

"Blackbird" as the footage of

the departed souls played in

the background, creating an

emotional moment. Saeed was

best known to the international

audience for his roles in films

like "Gandhi", "The Man Who

Would Be King", "A Passage to

India", aceThe Horsemen" and

"The Wilby Conspiracy", among

others.

Saeed Jaffrey.(File photo)

Asif Kapadia. (Photo: IANS)

Asif Kapadia wins Oscar for 'Amy'

Bollywood starPriyanka Chopra

presented theBest Film Editing

Oscar toMargaret Sixelfor "Mad Max:

Fury Road"

LeonardoDiCaprio of "The Revenant"after winningthe award forbest actor in aleading role.(Photos: IANS)

Saeed Jaffreyhonored at Oscars



TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Superstar Shah Rukh

Khan, whose upcom‑

ing film "Fan" prom‑

ises to feature world class

visual effects, says it has

been his "humble attempt

to really make it in India".

"My most cherished and

close to the heart aspect

of work. Been my humbleattempt to really make it

in India. Love them," SRK

posted on Twitter on

Tuesday along with a link

of Red Chillies VFX, a

visual effects company

set‑up by the actor in

2006.

The company has worked on films like

"Ra.One" and "Krrish 3", which had an

abundance of visual effects.

"Fan" revolves around a young boy from

Delhi named Gaurav who embarks on a

journey to the ci ty of dreams, Mumbai, in

order to wish his favourite actor Aryan

Khanna on his birthday. As Gaurav and as

Aryan Khanna, Shah Rukh is ready to treathis real life fans with a dual avatar, and he

has admitted that it took some doing to

work on the make‑up for his role as

Gaurav. Earlier, Shah Rukh had said that

"Fan" is a "special film" considering that he

hopes that it has turned out to be "some‑

thing that Bollywood can look up to in

terms of technology and make‑up that has

not been used in the industry so far". The

film's trailer was launched by his fans at

the Yash Raj Studios here on Monday.

Directed by Maneesh Sharma and pro‑duced by Aditya Chopra, "Fan" also fea‑

tures Shriya Pilgaonkar among others. The

film is slated for an April 15 release.

With veteran actor Kabir Bedi congrat‑ulating Preity Zinta on her marriage,

social media was abuzz with reports

that the Bollywood actress has already said "Ido" to her American beau Gene Goodenough

in a hush‑hush ceremony in Los Angeles.The virtual world had a flood of specula‑

tions that the “Kal Ho Naa Ho” star had

exchanged wedding vows with Goodenoughon Monday night (Tuesday morning in India).

There is also news that Preity's close friends ‑‑

fashion designer and stylist Surily Goel andSussanne Khan ‑‑ were part of the secret cere‑

mony. Sussanne, the estranged wife of Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan, also shared a

photograph with Surily on Instagram, and cap‑

tioned it as: “Calif Sunday with my @surilydp‑goel Sunshine and a vintage car. #cityofangels

#LA #dreamcatcher.”

However, there was no direct mention of Preity's wedding. Sending the twitterati into a

tizzy, Kabir Bedi tweeted: “Huge congrats my

friend @realpreityzinta on your marriage toGene in Los Angeles, City of Angels.

Blessings!” A user posted: “Finally#PreityZinta married a Goodenough Gene!”,

while another shared: “Actress Preity Zinta

gets married to Gene Goodenough ‑ so will shenow have the epic name Preity Goodenough?”.

With no confirmation on the union from both

the parties, it seems the marriage gossip is not

leaving Preity's side. Last year, there werereports that the "Soldier" actress will be mar‑

rying Goodenough in January, and thenaround Valentine's Day. But she had declined

the reports, saying that she is fed up with all

the speculation about her personal life.

17

Come April and Kapil

Sharma will be back with

his brand of comedy on the

small screen with his squad,

including Sunil Grover and Ali

Asgar. The star comedian says

his aim has always been to

spread happiness, and he hopes

to do the same with “The Kapil

Sharma Show”.

The first episode of the show

will be shot with a live audience

as an event in Delhi.

“Me and my team are over‑

whelmed with the kind of love

India has showered on us. Our

aim has always been to bring a

smile to everyone and with 'The

Kapil Sharma Show', we wish to

do just that,” Kapil said in a state‑

ment.

The show will now be aired on

Sony Entertainment Television

starting April 23. Other cast

members on the show are Kiku

Sharda, Navjot Singh Sidhu,

Sumona Chakravarti and

Chandan Prabhakar.

Produced by K9 and Frames

Production, the show promises to

provide unlimited, unadulterated

and spur‑of‑the‑moment enter‑

tainment.

Before the premiere of the

show, fans will get a chance to

interact with their favourite stars

as they embark on an entertain‑

ing journey with a multi‑city

tour. Starting at Amritsar on

March 5, Kapil and his gang will

move to Bhopal (March 11),

Lucknow (March 16) and Delhi

(first week of April).

Danish Khan, executive vice

president and business head of

the channel, said: “It is a family

show, which we hope will become

a habitual dinner‑time ritual for

families across Indian homes.”

March 5-11, 2016ULT I MATE B OLLY WOOD

Actor‑businesswoman Preity Zinta.

Comedian Kapil Sharma.

Kapil Sharma to be back onTV in April with more fun

Actor Irrfan Khan

says he is thrilledthat British film‑

maker of Indian origin

Asif Kapadia's "Amy" wasnamed the Best

Documentary Feature at

the 88th AcademyAwards in Los Angeles.

"Amy" is based on thelife of late singer Amy

Winehouse.

Irrfan, who workedwith Kapadia a decade

ago for "The Warrior",

said in a statement: "I amextremely thrilled for

Asif. He is an amazingfilmmaker and I am

happy that we had the

opportunity to worktogether in the past.

"His film 'The Warrior'

was a turning point of my life. It's overwhelm‑

ing to know that finallyhe got the much deserv‑

ing Oscar."

Irrfan is himself an internationally popular actor, who has acted inHollywood films like "Jurrasic World" and "A Mighty Heart". He has

also shot for "Inferno" with Hollywood actor Tom Hanks.

Irrfan 'extremelythrilled' over Asif Kapadia's Oscar

My humble attempt tomake it in India: SRK

Shah Rukh Khan at the trailer launchof his upcoming film 'Fan'.

Preity gets married tobeau in Los Angeles?

Actor Irrfan Khan. (All photos: IANS)



By Neena Badhwar

Patrick Farmer, Australiaʼs

Ultra Marathon runner, is in

India running a daunting

jo ur ne y fr om Ka ny ak um ar i to

Kashmir covering 4,600 km in

about 60 days.

The ongoing, much publicized

Spirit of India run has Pat Farmer

supporting ʻNanhi Kali – Education

of girl childʼ program . Farmer is

known globally for his ʻPole to

Poleʼ 20,000 km run when he col‑

lected for Red Cross close to a hun‑

dred million dollars. He also served

as a minister in the Australian gov‑

ernment.

Starting his noble venture on

January 26, Indiaʼs Republic Day,

Farmer has completed by now

more than half the journey having

crossed Kerala, Mysore,

Maharashtra, and Gujarat. On

February 29 he arrived in Udaipur.

Interacting with the media there,

he said, “The run is a public diplo‑

macy initiative intended to pro‑

mote India‑Australia relations, and

raise money for the education of

the girl child. It is expected to pro‑

mote goodwill, friendship, tourism

and trade between the two coun‑

tries,"

People are amazed at his stami‑

na, will power, and inner strength

as he passes through some of the

hottest states, dusty roads, never

ever stopping. He says, “I am a pris‑

oner of my journey” when he does

not have the time or luxury to stop

to see the beautiful buildings, her‑

itage sites and temples he passes

by. But he promises, “Next time Iwill visit India to see all the beauti‑

ful places that I have passed.”

He does have time for the smiling

crowds who welcome him, plonk a

turban on his head or a tilak on his

forehead or a garland around his

neck. His tired face lights up at the

sight of people, school kids, moth‑

ers with children touching his feet

in reverence as if Pat had turned

into something of an itinerant

sadhu for the simple village folks.

He wants to bring a change, and

an awareness about the education

of girls in India. “Educate a girl, you

educate a mother who will then go

on and educate the whole family,”

is Patʼs message to bring about that

change.

At times he has felt dehydrated,

hurt a tendon in his ankle, and is

tired after running 80 km each day

which are equal to two marathon

runs a day to reach his destination,

Kashmir. There is a whole contin‑

gent in toe with an ambulance, a

film crew, photographer, a doctor

and the officers of the Indian

tourism who follow him, run along

with him, even when he insists to

be left alone. As Pat passes various

towns he stops at schools, gives

inspiring messages to the students

who wave flags of both India and

Australia. At times he is welcomed

by thundering drums, dances and

people dressed in local costumes.

In about a month Pat Farmer has

become a hero with the print and

visual media covering his marathon

extensively. At times he is looking

at himself on those big billboards

erected to welcome him whenever

he enters a new state.

Says he humbly, “I donʼt think I

could imagine such a kind hospital‑

ity in Australia.

He asks everyone to donate for

the cause he is trying to fundraise

from this marathon. He asks all in

Australia to donate to ʻNanhi Kaliʼ

foundation by visiting his blog:

www.patfarmer.com

The Indian ministry of tourism

and the ministry of external affairs

along with state tourism depart‑

ments of many states are support‑

ing the run.

Neena Badhwar is editor of The

Indian Down Under, Sydney.

Patrick Farmer started his run from Kanyakumari and passed through Kerala.

Invited to schools, Pat gives inspiring messages to students asin this school in Mangalore.

Pat Farmer says that the daunting run is a public diplomacy initiative to promote India‑Australia relations.

Maharashtrian women giving Pat Farmer a traditional welcome.(Photos courtesy: Kevin Nguyen)

What is walking and running alongside amazes Pat as when he passed through Mumbai.

Pat Farmer, the ultra marathon runner and former Australian minister,is running the 4,600 km Kashmir to Kanyakumari marathon for a noble cause.

An Australianʼs transIndia marathon

to support girls education

TheSouthAsianTimes.info I ND IAMarch 5-11, 201618



By Anil K. Rajvanshi

Last month, the major agenda

item at the World Economic

Forum in Davos was the

Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR).

Since FIR is already under way in

some of the advanced economiesthere are fears that it will be dis‑

ruptive and create huge unemploy‑

ment. The Davos meeting was

meant to allay these fears. I feel

FIR for developing countries can, in

fact, produce more employment

and benefits.

The first revolution started in the

late 1700s when muscle power

was replaced by steam – mostly

produced by coal. The second,

traced to early 1900s, was driven

by electricity and characterized by

big machines and assembly line

manufacturing. The third, which

began in the early 1960s was

based on IT, electronics and auto‑mated production.

The present revolution is charac‑

terized by the internet of things

(IOT) ̶ 24/7 connectivity, rapid

communication, miniaturization of

design and 3D printing. which

allows for manufacturing and pro‑

duction of goods wherever they are

needed. I feel that IOT and 3D

printing (or additive manufactur‑ing) have the capability of allowing

countries like India to leapfrog into

the FIR.

India is already a decentralized

society where more than 60 per‑

cent of its population lives in rural

areas and lacks the basic amenities

of life. They live in one‑room huts

with nearly non‑existent electricity;

cook on primitive biomass stoves

that produce tremendous indoor

pollution; and lack potable water

and toilets.

Their lives can be improved dras‑

tically by providing livelihood

opportunities and amenities for

households powered by FIR.Around 80 percent of the rural

population is involved in the farm‑

ing sector. At present, farming is

non‑remunerative and needs to be

completely overhauled to make it

attractive. To increase income for

rural households I foresee the use

of high‑tech precision farming

which could either be land‑based

or container‑based. In containerfarming, all the inputs of farming

are applied in an efficient way in

enclosed shipping containers.

This container‑based farming, as

opposed to land‑based farming, can

grow any food (grain, vegetables or

fruits) or fodder with the use of

precise levels of light, temperature,

humidity and nutrients. All these

inputs are controlled by smart sen‑

sors and computers.

There are claims by the practi‑

tioners of container agriculture

that it uses 90 percent less water

than conventional agriculture and

produces several times the yields

that would have been obtainedfrom land‑based agriculture.

Today the biggest crisis in farm‑

ing in India is the lack of labor, low

prices of produce, shortage of

water and poor soils. With preci‑

sion land‑based or container agri‑

culture, powered by solar energy

and other renewable energy sys‑

tems, farming can become very

efficient, high yielding and henceremunerative..

Land‑based agriculture can be

used for planting mostly perennial

crops like grasses for fodder and

trees for fruits, timber and the like.

Grasses and trees can bind the soil

and stop its erosion.

Further, FIR based on 3D or addi‑

tive manufacturing will also usher

in a revolution in its own right. In

3D printing, parts or the product is

built layer by layer at any place.

The designing can be done any‑

where in the world and it can be

sent by internet to a 3D printer.

Thus the raw material ̶ metal

powders in case of production of metal parts, or plastic wires for

plastic products ̶ together with a

suitable glue or solidification of

raw material, forms the end prod‑

uct. 3D printing is being used to

produce parts of rockets, whole

machines and even body parts.

Use of 3D manufacturing will

also reduce the energy consump‑

tion in transportation of goodssince they will be manufactured

and made available wherever they

are needed.

In most cases, prices would come

down. We might therefore see a

proliferation of high‑tech small

scale manufacturing facilities in

rural areas. For rural mobility elec‑

tric vehicles can form the backbone

and could be charged by locally

produced renewable electricity.

And 3D manufacturing may help in

production of such vehicles in rural

areas. The FIR can usher in a

decentralized and democratic soci‑

ety since the control of the means

of production and usage will be inthe hands of locals.

(IANS)

19March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info OP - ED

How India can leapfrog into 4th Industrial Revolution

By Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Ihave heard and read many

questions, comments, and

news stories regarding recent

changes to the government of the

United Arab Emirates (UAE). Why,

everyone seems to want to know,

did we establish a ministry of hap‑

piness, tolerance, and the future,

and why did we appoint a 22‑

year‑old minister of youth?

The changes reflect what we

have learned from events in our

region over the past five years. In

particular, we have learned that

failure to respond effectively to

the aspirations of young people,

who represent more than half of

the population in Arab countries,

is like swimming against the tide.

Without the energy and optimism

of youth, societies cannot develop

and grow; indeed, such societies

are doomed.

When governments spurn their

youth and block their path to a

better life, they slam the door in

the face of the entire society. We

do not forget that the genesis of

the tension in our region, the

events dubbed the "Arab Spring",

was squarely rooted in the lack of

opportunities for young people to

achieve their dreams and ambi‑

tions.

We are proud that the UAE is a

young country. And we are proud

of our youth. We invest in them

and empower them precisely

because they are our future. We

believe that they are faster than

us in acquiring and processing

knowledge, because they have

grown up with tools and tech‑

niques that we lacked at their age.

We entrust them with driving our

country to new levels of growth

and development, which is why

we have now appointed a cabinet

minister of their age and created

a special council of youth.

We have also learned from hun‑

dreds of thousands of dead and

millions of refugees in our region

that sectarian, ideological, cultur‑

al and religious bigotry only fuel

the fires of rage. We cannot and

will not allow this in our country.

We need to study, teach, and prac‑

tice tolerance ‑ and to instill it in

our children, both through educa‑

tion and our own example. That is

why we have appointed a minister

of state for tolerance. We believe

that a legal framework should for‑

malize the tolerance our society

already displays, and that our

policies and initiatives will pro‑

vide an outstanding example to

our neighbors.

When the Arab world was toler‑

ant and accepting of others, it led

the world: From Baghdad to

Damascus to Andalusia and far‑

ther afield, we provided beacons

of science, knowledge, and civi‑

lization, because humane values

were the basis of our relation‑

ships with all civilizations, cul‑

tures, and religions. Even when

our ancestors left Andalusia, peo‑

ple of other faiths went with

them.

Tolerance must be woven into

the fabric of our society to safe‑

guard our future and maintain the

progress we have made. There

can be no bright future for the

Middle East without an intellectu‑

al reconstruction that re‑estab‑

lishes the values of ideological

openness, diversity, and accept‑

ance of othersʼ viewpoints,

whether intellectual, cultural, or

religious.

With every lesson we learn

comes a decision that will shape

our future. But we also know that

we can learn by looking to the

future, not just the past or pres‑

ent. Simply put, we must think of

what life will be like in a post‑oil

economy. That is why we have

invested heavily ‑ more than 300

billion dirhams ($81.5 billion) ‑ in

establishing a focus for the UAEʼs

path ahead, with the aim of

preparing for a diverse economy

that frees future generations from

dependence on the ever‑fluctuat‑

ing oil market.

In writing this commentary, I

want to send a clear message to

others in our region that change

happens by our hands only. Our

region does not need a super‑

strong external power to stop its

decline; we need the power from

within that can overcome the

hatred and intolerance that has

blighted life in many neighboring

countries. We are not new to this

talk about the governmentʼs role

in promoting happiness. Since the

dawn of history, happiness is all

that humanity has sought.

Aristotle said the state is a living

being which develops in seeking

the achievement of moral perfec‑

tion and happiness for individu‑

als. Ibn Khaldun said the same

thing. Likewise, Americaʼs

Declaration of Independence

upholds the pursuit of happiness

as every personʼs right.

In our own time, the UN is now

calling for changes in the criteria

used to measure governmental

success from economic indicators

to measures related to human

happiness and well‑being. It has

dedicated a UN World Day for

Happiness to emphasize the

importance of this shift.

Focusing on happiness is both

feasible and fully justified.

Happiness can be measured, and

its evaluation is already the sub‑

ject of many programs and stud‑

ies. Moreover, it can be developed

and its achievement linked to

material objectives. Studies have

shown that happy people produce

more, live longer, and drive better

economic development in their

communities and countries. That

is why there must be a minister to

guide and follow up with all gov‑

ernment institutions (as well as

provide leadership to the private

sector).

(The writer is Prime Minister of

the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The article is being published by IANS

in arrangement with WAM)

Why UAE appointed ministers forhappiness, tolerance and youth

There can be no bright future for the Middle East without an intellectual

reconstruction that re-establishes the values of ideological openness, diversity,

& acceptance of others’ viewpoints, whether intellectual, cultural, or religious.

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

Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announcedthe forming of the "UAE Gender Balance Council" last year

to boost UAE's efforts to evolve and enhance women'srole in building the future of the nation.



Abu Dhabi Distressed Indians

in the UAE have been urged to

use 11.7 million dirham (Rs.21

crore) community fund to

which Indian expats contribute

every time they avail a consular

service, a media report said on

Friday.

Dinesh Kumar, First Secretary

(Community Affairs) at the

Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi

told Khaleej Times that the

fund under the mission current‑

ly amounts to 11.7 million

dirham.

Needy Indians ‑‑ including

those stranded after losing

jobs, runaway house maids and

crit ically il l patients ‑‑ are

among those who can availmonetary support from the

Indian Community Welfare

Fund (ICWF).

As much as 2.43 million

dirham was spent from the

fund in 2015 within the UAE

and an additional 6.7 million

dirham was disbursed from the

same for the evacuation of

Indians in Iraq last year, figures

from the embassy showed.

"An amount of Rs.12 crore

was allotted to the Indian

Embassy in Baghdad for the

evacuation of the Indians stuck

there (due to the civil war in

Iraq). We still have about Rs.21

crore left in the fund," said

Kumar.

At the launch of a family pro‑

tection scheme for NRI families

from Aster DM Healthcare and

RAK Insurance this week,

Indian Ambassador to the UAE

T.P. Seetharam urged Indians in

distress to seek help from the

fund.

"There are various categories

of distressed Indians who can

approach us for financial aid

from the fund. These are issuedunder the guidelines for

Indians in the UAE and are also

published on our website and

Facebook page," he said.

He said there are over 8,000

Indian associations or commu‑

nity groups in the UAE and

sought their help in bringing

the cases of distressed Indians

to the attention of the Indian

missions here. (IANS)

London A Sikh group in Britain

has urged the media and politi‑

cians to stop describing the

Rotherham grooming gang,

which was handed combined sen‑

tence of more than 100 years for

sexual assault on women, as

"Asian."

Sikh Federation UK said the use

of term "Asian" for the

Rotherham gang is too vague and

"besmirches" other communities,

The Independent reported on

Sunday.

Rotherham gang is a group in

Britain, including four Pakistanimen and two British women who

groomed, raped, prostituted and

abused teenage girls in

Rotherham town of England and

were handed combined prison

sentences of 103 years on Friday.

It was found that at least 1,400

girls had been sexually exploited

in Rotherham over a 16‑year

period.

Bhai Amrik Singh, chairman of

the Sikh Federation UK said he

hoped their combined prison sen‑

tences of more than 100 years

would give a measure of justice

to "victims that have endured

more than a decade of violence

and horrific sexual abuse".

"One of the demands in the Sikh

Manifesto that we published a

ye ar ag o be fo re th e Ge ne ra l

Election was that the government

should encourage public bodies

and the media to abandon theuse of the term 'Asian' when

describing perpetrators for rea‑

sons of political correctness,"

Singh was quoted as saying. "If

the four men that have been

found guilty and carried out the

abuse were Pakistani Muslims,

this is how they should be

described and not called Asian,"

he added.

The term "Asian" was earlier

criticized in December 2013,

when Sikh and Hindu groups

started a petition against the use

of the word for the gang.

In a joint statement, the Hindu

Council UK, the Network of Sikh

Organizations, Sikh Media

Monitoring Group and the Sikh

Awareness Society had said:

"Communities who themselves

fall victim of this emerging pat‑

tern of criminality, should not be

besmirched by the vague termi‑nology 'Asian' ... in order to help

find a solution to the problem, we

need to be clear on the identity of

those involved."

The petition closed with 1,859

signatures calling for the word

"Asian" not to be used in groom‑

ing and sex abuse cases. (IANS)

Suva A team of

doctors from

India has suc‑

cessfully per‑

formed 16

open‑heart sur‑

geries at the

Colonial War

M e m o r i a l

Hospital in

Fij i 's capital

city of Suva, a

media report

said. The sur‑

geries were

performed by a team of special‑

ists brought from India by theFiji‑based Sahyadri Specialty

Pacific Hospital Limited, The Fiji

Times Online reported on

Monday. Project coordinator

Durdamya Munibhargav said that

24 patients were initially booked

for the life‑saving surgeries but

eight did not turn up.

"Of the 16 operated on, two

were Nauruans and the rest wereFijians of Indian descent," he said.

Munibhargav expressed grati‑

tude on the success of the surger‑

ies and thanked another Indian

Nikhil Ghodke for bringing much‑

needed injections from India to

Fiji to keep the surgeries going.

(IANS)

Distressed Indians in UAEto use community fund

STOP USING TERM 'ASIAN' TO DESCRIBE

ROTHERHAM GANG: SIKH GROUP

Mumbai The Hinduja Group said

on Wednesday that it had acquired

the heritage Old War Office in

London that was once inhabited by

Winston Churchill.The Group said in a statement

that it planned to restore and con‑

vert the 1,100 rooms there into a

five‑star hotel and luxury resi‑

dences besides other facilities.

The British Ministry of Defence

handed over the keys to the his‑

toric building to Hinduja Group

Global Co‑Chairman G.P. Hinduja,

Chairman Europe P.P. Hinduja,

Chairman of Villar‑Mir and OHL

Group Juan‑Miguel Villar‑Mir, at a

ceremony in London on Tuesday

evening. Located at 57 Whitehall,

near the British Parliament and 10

Downing Street, it is spread across

580,000 sq feet on seven floors,

connected by more than three kilo‑

meters of corridors.

The heritage building has 1,100

rooms which the Hinduja Group

will restore and convert into a five‑

star hotel and residences besides

rooms for private functions, spa

and fitness facilities.

"With our Spanish partners, we

have a unique vision for the Old

War Office ‑‑ our ambitious plans

will give it a new lease of life and

add a glittering new jewel to

London's crown," said G.P. Hinduja

on the deal which he described as

'giving something back to the

United Kingdom as an ode'.

P.P. Hinduja said that in keeping

with the dynamic spirit of London,

the Group will give the building a

new lease of life, while "remaining

conscious of its unique heritage".

"We will work meticulously to

restore the distinctive and historic

fabric of the building and convert

it into a distinguished hotel and

luxury residence, bringing a fur‑

ther dimension to this prominent

Whitehall landmark," P.P. Hinduja

added. The building has been

acquired on a 250‑year lease

arrangement by Hinduja Group in

partnership with Spanish industri‑

al company Obrascon Huarte Lain

Desarrollos (OHLD) following a

competitive marketing process.

The high‑profile project will also

see State Bank of India entering

and collaborating into the London

realty markets, said SBI official

Sanjiv Chadha. The SBI is funding

the project. Present on the occa‑

sion were Indian High

Commissioner Navtej Singh Sarna

and former Indian National

Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan.

(IANS)

Hindujas acquire Old War Office inLondon, to become luxury hotel

Indian doctors perform 16

open‑heart surgeries in Fiji

20 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info DIASPORA

Old War Office, London was once inhabited by Winston Churchill.(Photo: hindujagroup.com)

The team was brought by Fiji‑based Sahyadri SpecialtyPacific Hospital Limited (Photo courtesy: Every Stock)



New Delhi External Affairs Minister

Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with

former Afghan president Hamid

Karzai here. “An old friend pays a

call. Former President of

Afghanistan @KarzaiH meets EAM

@SushmaSwaraj,” external affairs

ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup

tweeted. Karzai addressed the

Raisina Dialogue, a global conclave

on geopolitics and geo‑economics

organized by the external affairs

ministry and the Observer Research

Foundation.

In his address, he said that

Afghanistan wanted to be a bridge

between south Asia, central Asia,India and China. In an obvious ref‑

erence to Pakistan, he said that

state entities should not be encour‑

aged to harbor terrorist elements.

SUBCONT INENT 21March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Washington Ahead of the Nuclear

Security Summit here, the US has

asked Pakistan to reduce its nuclear

weapons arsenal as a responsible

nuclear power, while Islamabad has

sought greater US understanding of

its security concern. "It's important

for Pakistan to really process that

reality and put that front and centre

in its policy," Secretary of State John

Kerry said Monday, noting that the

US and Russia were seeking to fur‑

ther reduce their nuclear warheads.

Speaking at the inaugural session

of the US‑Pakistan Strategic

Dialogue here, Pakistan Foreign

Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz, however,

sought greater US understanding of

Pakistan's security concern and its

desire to contribute actively to non‑

proliferation. "Our engagement on

non‑proliferation and strategic sta‑

bility will continue, and Pakistan

hopes to see greater US understand‑

ing of Pakistan's security concerns

and its desire to contribute active‑

ly," Aziz said. As a mainstream

nuclear power, Prime Minister

Nawaz Sharif is looking forward to

attending the Nuclear Security

Summit in Washington on March

31, he said. Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi is also expected to

attend the summit. Earlier, welcom‑

ing Aziz, Kerry said: "Non‑prolifera‑

tion, nuclear safety is of obvious

concern to both our countries, and I

expect that we will continue to dis‑

cuss the obligations of being a

responsible state with nuclear

weapons in the coming year."

He noted that once both the US

and the then Soviet Union had

50,000 warheads pointing at each

other, but today, Russia and the US

are operating under a treaty that

has about 1,500 or so nuclear war‑

heads. "And we are seeking to

reduce that. So we're moving in the

other direction," he said. "And I

think it's important for Pakistan to

really process that reality and put

that front and centre in its

policy."

Colombo Sri Lanka aims to imple‑

ment a Free Trade Agreement with

China in order to gain an access to

the market of 1.3 billion people,

the country's state investment

agency said here on Wednesday.

Both countries recognized the

benefits that can be leveraged

through the positive relationship

between trade and investment, the

Board of Investments (BoI) said in

a statement, Xinhua news agency

reported. The BoI said that the Sri

Lankan government also informed

China that it was accelerating the

implementation of ongoing

Chinese project in the island

nation and aimed to attract more

Chinese tourists to visit Sri Lanka.

"Both sides recognised that

China's Going Abroad strategy and

Sri Lanka's very favourable loca‑

tion on the Maritime Silk Road

provided a strong basis for

strengthening Sino‑Lanka econom‑

ic relations," the BoI said.

It added that Colombo also paid

its gratitude for Beijing's support

during the country's 30‑year civil

conflict as well as assistance for

infrastructure development.

China has been Sri Lanka's

biggest contributor of Foreign

Direct Investments. Nearly, 70 per‑

cent of the infrastructure projects

in the country have been funded

by China and built by Chinese

companies. Sri Lanka already has

preferential trade agreements with

India and Pakistan.

Kabul A policeman and two civilians were

killed when militants targeted the Indian

consulate in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city,

triggering a fierce gun battle that left all

five attackers also dead, officials said. All

Indian diplomats were safe.Nineteen other civilians were injured in

the mayhem and admitted to a hospital,

Afghan news reports said. Officials said all

diplomats and staff at the Indian consulate

were safe.

Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province,

is often targeted by Taliban militants.

The consulate was attacked earlier in

2013 too by the Taliban. But no one

claimed responsibility for Wednesday's

attack which involved a team of militants

armed with weapons and explosives.

The dramatic attack began around noon

when a suicide bomber came up to the

front gate of the consulate and suddenly

detonated his explosives‑laden vest, stun‑

ning the guards and civilians there.The aim was to pave the way for the

other militants to storm the building, police

officer Fazel Ahmad Shirzad told TOLO

News.

The explosion, which was heard in a wide

area, left two civilians and a policeman

dead ‑‑ and triggered a massive fight as

security forces rushed to the area in their

armored vehicles. Panic gripped the area,

also home to the Pakistani and Iranian mis‑

sions. Civilians fled from the spot.

Journalists reported explosions and gun‑

fire. A shopkeeper near the consulate told

journalists that he saw several injured peo‑

ple lying on the ground after a massive

blast shattered his windows.

"Four other attackers were killed afterhalf an hour of clashes with the security

forces," the police officer said.

In January, the Islamic State group

claimed responsibility for a deadly gun and

bomb siege targeting the nearby Pakistani

consulate in Jalalabad, the first major

attack by the group in an Afghan city.

The attack comes ahead of direct peace

talks this week between the Afghan govern‑

ment and the Taliban.

In January, a gun battle took place near

the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad in

which at least seven Afghan security per‑

sonnel were killed.

The Afghan government has been bat‑

tling the Taliban for over a decade. The

Taliban have launched several high‑profileattacks in recent months.

In September, the Taliban briefly overran

the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, in one

of their biggest victories since they were

ousted from power in 2001.

Afghan security officials members inspect the site of asuicide attack in Jalalabad city. (Photo: Xinhua/IANS)

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj meets former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS/MEA)

Sri Lanka aims to have Free Trade Agreement with China

New Delhi External Affairs

Minister Sushma Swaraj held a

meeting with former Sri Lankan

president Chandrika

Kumaratunga here. “Another old

friend, from Sri Lanka. EAM

@SushmaSwaraj meets former

President Chandrika

Kumaratunga,” external affairs

ministry spokesman Vikas

Swarup tweeted after Sushma

Swaraj earlier on the day met

with former Afghan presidentHamid Karzai.

On Tuesday, Kumaratunga

addressed the Raisina Dialogue, a

global conclave on geopolitics

and geo‑economics organized by

the external affairs ministry and

the Observer Research

Foundation.

In her address, she said that

while cooperation and economic

integration proceeded very fast

in the rest of the world, econom‑

ic integration in South Asia was

very slow.

Lamenting that the India‑

Pakistan conflict prevented

regional integration in SouthAsia, she, however, said that

things were likely to change now

with the rise of the post‑Partition

generation.

Sushma meets ex‑Sri Lankanpresident Kumaratunga

Eight die as Indian consulate in Jalalabad is attacked

US ASKS PAKISTAN TO REDUCEITS NUCLEAR ARSENAL

Sushma meets former Afghan president Karzai



I NTERNAT IONAL22 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Beijing An editor of one of China's

most prestigious newspaper, the

Guangzhou‑based Southern

Metropolis Daily, was sacked over

an allegedly veiled critique of media

censorship by Chinese President Xi

Jinping.

Liu Yuxia, who had worked on the

daily's front page for the last three

years, was fired from the newspa‑

per and her senior Wang Haijun

handed a "serious demerit" over the

front paged critique in the newspa‑

per's February 20 edition, EFE news

reported.

The main headline carried a quote

from Xi, from his recent visit to the

headquarters of state TV broadcast‑

er CCTV, in which he had sought

loyalty from official media towards

the country's Communist Party and

below this piece of news, was a

report on the funeral of a historic

leader of the regime.

While the two stories had no

apparent connection, the headlines

of both, when combined read as

"Media following the surname of

the party have their souls returned

to the sea," which was seen by some

as a veiled critique of the iron‑fisted

information control exercised by

the Chinese president.

China has also clamped down on

online journalism, and last month

saw the suspension of over 580

social media accounts, including

those belonging to popular online

commentators.

Islamabad Pope Francis has accepted

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's invita‑

tion to visit Pakistan this year, a media

report said on Thursday. According to

a message received from the Vatican,

the invitation was extended by Ports

and Shipping Minister Kamran

Michael and Religious Affairs Minister

Sardar Yusuf, Dawn online reported.

Michael led a high‑level delegation forRome to meet Pope Francis at the

Vatican City on February 23. The

highest Catholic priest also offered

special prayers for Pakistan and the

Pakistanis who have fallen victim to

terrorism.

U n i t e d N a t i o n s UN

Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon condemned the

recent terrorist attacks inIraq's Baghdad and east‑

ern town of Muqdadiya

which are claimed by theextremist group Islamic

State (IS).Earlier, a suicide bomb‑

ing attack near

Muqdadiya killed at least

34 people and wounded43 others. On Sunday, 53

people were killed and117 others were wounded

in back‑to‑back bombings

at a busy marketplace inBaghdad.

The deceased include

seven Shia militia leaders, Xinhuareported.

In a statement released by hisspokesperson, Ban said he is con‑

cerned that these "cowardly"

attacks claimed by IS at funerals,markets, and places of worship

are aimed at undermining the

unity of the people of Iraq."The Secretary‑General calls on

the Government of Iraq to make

sure that the perpetrators of

these crimes are swiftly brought

to justice," said the statement.Iraq is currently undergoing a

wave of violence since IS took

over areas of Iraq's northern andwestern regions in June 2014. A

United Nations report estimatedthat over 22,300 people were

either killed or injured in Iraq's

armed conflict in 2015.

Istanbul

Turkey has been put on high

alert following a warning by the intelli‑

gence agency of possible terror attacks

by the Islamic State militants, Turkish

media reported.

"Turkish intelligent units have revealed

that two IS suicide bombers, illegally

crossing the border into the country,

have been planning to conduct terror

attacks in Turkey," the Haberturk daily

reported.

According to the report, the two mili‑

tants were expected to meet with a Syrian

citizen in Turkey's southeastern province

of Kahramanmaras.

The intelligence agency, while distribut‑

ing the photos of the two IS militants to

all the units in the country, had requested

security forces to review the security

measures throughout the country, the

report said. Ankara, Istanbul and other

Turkish cities have come under deadly

terror attacks over the past months, with

the latest one hitting Ankara, the national

capital, on February 17, in which 29 peo‑

ple were killed, mostly military person‑

nel. Turkey also blamed the IS for twin

suicide bombings in Ankara in October

last year, which claimed 102 lives and

injured hundreds more.

A new wave of terror attacks has been

hitting Iraq, Libya and other Middle

Eastern countries in recent days.

Turkey blamed the IS for twin suicidebombings in Ankara in October last year,

which claimed 102 lives and injuredhundreds more. (Photo: IANS)

UN Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon.(Photo: IANS)

UN CHIEF CONDEMNSIS ATTACKS IN IRAQ'S

CAPITAL

Turkey on high alert over possible IS terror threat

Chinese daily editor sackedover veiled critique of Xi

Pope acceptsinvitation tovisit Pakistan

Beijing China sought to allay the fears of

doing business in the country, saying it

believes in protecting the interests of for‑

eign investors.

It also said that efforts were on to paint

a grim picture of China but that would notdeter foreign companies from doing busi‑

ness as the country had favourable poli‑

cies for investors.

Talking on the eve of the 4th Session of

the 12th Chinese People's Political

Consultative Conference National

Committee (CPCCC), its spokesperson

Wang Guoqing said the Chinese policy of

attracting foreign investors "will not

change"."Business activities in China are not get‑

ting worse but better. Last year, from

January to November, the number of for‑

eign companies coming to China increased

by 11 percent," Wang said.

The world's second largest economy wit‑

nessed the slowest growth last year since

2009. The stock market crash and devalu‑

ation of the yuan in 2015 made matters

worse, triggering fear in the global market."China will remain the favorable destina‑

tion of foreign investors," Wang asserted

at the Great Hall.

The CPCCC is the country's top political

advisory. The meeting comes before the

session of the National People's

Conference (NPC) ‑‑ parliament ‑‑ begins

on March 5.

The 13th Five Year Plan will be dis‑

cussed by around 3,000 members of thecountry's legislative body.

Economic development and worsening

pollution are some of the likely issues to

be discussed.

France tells British voters migrantswill flow to Britain after EU exit

London France warned Britain on

Thursday it would end border

controls and let thousands of

migrants move on to Britain if vot‑

ers backed leaving the European

Union.

It also said it would open its

arms to British‑based banks want‑

ing to flee a non‑EU Britain and

stay in the bloc. French Economy

Minister Emmanuel Macron

echoed comments by BritishPrime Minister David Cameron

that a migrant camp known as the

"Jungle" in the northern French

coastal town of Calais could move

to southern England in the event

of a British EU exit.

Speaking ahead of an Anglo‑

French security summit in Amiens,

Macron said a British exit would

scupper a border deal that halts

migrants in France but that Paris

would be happy to accept bankers

fleeing London.

Macron's comments, which sup‑

port Cameron's argument that an

EU exit after the June 23 referen‑

dum could undermine security, led

television news reports in Britain,where opinion polls indicate immi‑

gration is the biggest concern for

voters. Opponents of membership

said the comment was part of a

campaign to scare British voters

into supporting membership.

China to protect interests of foreign investors



BUS INESS 23March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info

New Delhi In a post‑Budget 2016‑17 meeting with India

Inc, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reiterated the need for

fiscal discipline and said he was optimistic of the reform

process moving ahead in parliament.

"Fiscal discipline is going to be very important, and I'm

sure that if we keep to it, we'll be able to meet the targetsset by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian in the

Economic Survey," Jaitley told representatives here of

industry associations FICCI, CII and Assocham.

"I am also sure, if there is cooperation in the political

sphere, that we will be able to go ahead with reforms," he

added.

Presenting the budget in parliament on Monday, Jaitley

said he had decided that prudence lies in adhering to fis‑

cal targets, but while doing so, has also ensured that the

development agenda is not compromised.

The government has targeted reducing the fiscal deficit

to 3.9 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the

current financial year, compared with four percent last

year, and reduce it further to 3.5 percent in 2016‑17.

The fiscal deficit for 2014‑15 touched 4.1 percent of

GDP.

The Economic Survey presented in parliament last weeksaid "the coming year is expected to be a challenging one

from the fiscal point of view because of challenges posed

by a lower‑than‑projected nominal GDP growth" and

"chances of India's growth rate in 2016‑17 increasing sig‑

nificantly beyond 2015‑16 levels are not very high, due to

likelihood of persistence of global slowdown".

Fiscal discipline is of prime importance: Jaitley

Pune

Barely five hours after

the Maharashtra government

sealed the Sahara India

Pariwar's flagship Aamby

Valley Resort for non‑paymentof tax, the company paid up the

outstanding non‑agriculture

tax dues and the seal was bro‑

ken.

The company also termed as

"il legal and high‑handed

approach" the sudden move to

seal and close the resort's gates

by the revenue department offi‑

cials earlier this morning.

In a statement, the Sahara

Group also contested the state

government's claims of out‑

standing dues of around

Rs.4.50 crore and said it has

already paid up Rs.4.25 crore

for the past two financial years,with a small outstanding of

Rs.27,27,740 left.

For the current fiscal (2015‑

2016), it said that the outstand‑

ing amount was only

Rs.2,26,13,870 for which it had

30 days time (till March 31).

However, at the insistence of

the revenue department offi‑

cials who sealed the project

main gate and its administra‑

tive offices, Sahara Group madethe full outstanding payments

(Rs.2,53,41,610) by cheque on

Tuesday itself.

The company also subse‑

quently circulated the latest

photos and videos of unrestrict‑

ed entry‑exit at its prestigious

project near Lonavala hillsta‑

t ion in Pune district this

evening.

Aamby Valley, labeled a hill

city paradise for the rich and

famous, is spread across

around 4,300 hectares of lush

green hills with a large natural

lake and three artificial lakes

on the property in Pune dis‑trict.

Constructed in 2003, it

boasts of a private airstrip, an

18‑hole golf course, premium

chateaus, villas and bungalows,

shopping plazas, boating and a

good all‑year round weather.

Sahara pays tax dues,Aamby Valley 'unsealed'

Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley addressesthe representatives of FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM

in New Delhi (Photo: IANS)

Washington Reliance Industries

chairman Mukesh Ambani againtopped 84 Indian billionaires in

Forbes 2016 list of the world's

richest people once again headed

by Bill Gates with a net worth of $75 billion.Mukesh Ambani with a net

worth of $19.3 billion was

ranked 36th among world's1,810 billionaires with an aggre‑

gate net worth of $6.48 trillion,

down from $7.05 trillion last year.

Technology guru Gates, whohas topped the list for 17 of the

last 22 years was followed by

Spanish clothing retailerAmancio Ortega, best known for

the Zara fashion chain, with

Warren Buffett remaining in thethird spot.

The US led with the greatestnumber of billionaires, with 540,followed by China with 251,

Germany with 120, India with 84and Russia with 77.

China had the most of 198

newcomer billionaires, adding 70to the list. Thirty‑three newcom‑

ers were from the US, 8 from

India and 28 from Germany.Notable newcomers included

Flipkart cofounders Sachin

Bansal and Binny Bansal (No.

1476) of India.India's top ten: 1 (world rank‑

ing 36) Mukesh Ambani $19.3

bn; 2 (44) Dilip Shanghvi $16.7

bn; 3 (55) Azim Premji $15 bn; 4(88) Shiv Nadar $11.1 bn; 5

(133) Cyrus Poonawalla $8.5 bn;6 (135) Lakshmi Mittal $8.4 bn;

7 (184) Uday Kotak $6.3 bn; 8(196) Kumar Birla $6.1 bn; 9

(219) Sunil Mittal $5.7 bn; 10

(233)Desh Bandhu Gupta $5.5bn.

Telecom mogul Carlos Slim

Helu (No. 4) dropped two spots,and his net worth decreased to

$50 billion from $77.1 billionlast year.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos (No. 5)

moved up to the fifth from thefifteenth spot last year; his net

worth increased to $45.2 billion.Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg

(No. 6) moved into the top 10 for

the first time.He was the biggest gainer with

his fortune going up by $11.2

billion for a total net worth of $44.6 billion. He is the sixth rich‑

est in the world.

Reliance Industries chairmanMukesh Ambani. (Photo: IANS)

Mukesh Ambani tops 84 Indianbillionaires in Forbes list

Key Indian equity indicesstage post‑budget bull run

After a fall on Budget day, the bull run on Indianstock markets continued for the second

straight day, with the mood also lifted by the

strong showing in other Asian markets and overnightgains in the US and Europe.

The opening itself was quite strong with the sensi‑tive index (Sensex) of the BSE debuting above the

24,000‑point mark at 24,044.96 points, against the

previous close at 23,779.35 points. Post‑noon, theindex was ruling at 24,178.10 points (at 12.31 p.m.) ‑

‑ up 398.75 points or 1.68 percent.

At the National Stock Exchange, the broader Niftyopened at 7,321.70 points, against the previous close

at 7,222.30 points. It was since quoting at 7,356.90points ‑‑ up 134.60 or 1.86 percent.

Analysts said the sentiments were also boosted by

signs of a surprise rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), given that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

has decided to adhere to meeting the deficit target of

3.9 percent for this fiscal, and lowering it to 3.5 per‑cent for the next.



SPORTSMarch 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info 24

ad r i d Suspended Union of

European Football Associations

(UEFA) president Michel Platini

has submitted to the Court of

Arbitration for Sport (CAS) an

appeal against the six‑year sus‑

pension imposed by FIFA for

alleged corruption, seeking to

annul the ban.

The CAS has confirmed receiv‑

ing Frenchman Platini's appeal,

which seeks to annul the decisions

taken by the Ethics Committee of

FIFA, confirmed on February 24

by the Appeals Committee of that

body, reports Efe. "In appealing to

the CAS, Michel Platini seeks to

annul the decisions taken by the

Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA

Ethics Committee and by the FIFA

appeal committee which led to

him being declared ineligible totake part in football‑related activi‑

ty at national and international

level for six years. A CAS arbitra‑

tion procedure is in progress,” the

CAS statement said.

The CAS has already started

arbitration proceedings.

First the two sides will exchange

their arguments in writing and a

panel of three arbitrators, after

choosing a date for the hearing,

will later issue a formal decision.

The decision to punish Platini

and former FIFA president Sepp

Blatter was based on the payment

of 1.84 million euros ($2 million)

which FIFA made to Platini in

February 2011, authorised by

Blatter, which "had no legal basis

in the written agreement signed

between both officials on August

25, 1999".

Platini had been viewed as the

obvious successor to Blatter as

FIFA president before his suspen‑

sion. Gianni Infantino, UEFA's gen‑eral secretary at the time, became

a candidate in his stead, and won

last week's vote in Zurich to

become FIFA's new leader.

Platini takes appealagainst FIFA ban to

sports tribunal

Mirpur Bangladesh): India will aim to

maintain their all‑win record when they

meet minnows United Arab Emirates (UAE)

in their final group game of the Asia Cup at

the Sher‑e‑Bangla National Stadium here.India top the pool table with six points

after winning all their three matches so far

‑‑ against hosts Bangladesh, arch‑rivals

Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The men in blue

have assured themselves a place in

Sunday's final after the five‑wicket win over

the Lankans and even an unlikely defeat

against the UAE will not hamper them.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni may

decide to make a few changes in the line‑up

in order to give match practice to some of

the players who have not featured in the

tournament till now.

"We'll definitely make a few changes in

the coming games. How many we can,

that's something we will have to see.

Because we still want the strength and thecomposition of the side to be very good,"

Dhoni told reporters here.

"I think most of the players will definitely

get a chance in the next game. Whether all

the people who are sitting outside will get a

chance, we're not sure. But we will try to

make as many changes as possible," headded. The Indian team management may

consider including the likes of Ajinkya

Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi and

Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the line‑up for the

UAE game.

Among the four, Rahane is the one who

has the best chance to be selected. Theright‑hander has been in good form in

recent months and may be included in

place of the off‑color Shikhar Dhawan.

The Indian think tank may also decide to

rest veteran pacer Ashish Nehra in order to

keep him fresh for the final. The 36‑year‑

old Nehra has been in excellent form, pick‑

ing up five wickets. If the Indian team man‑agement does decide to rest the Delhi

pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar may be includ‑

ed in his place.

The spin bowling combination may also

witness a change as experienced off‑spin‑

ner Harbhajan Singh and left‑armer Pawan

Negi may replace Ravichandran Ashwin

and Ravindra Jadeja for this particular

game.

Negi who was the most expensive Indian

player during the recent Indian Premier

League (IPL) auction, will also be valuable

for his ability to produce the big hits lower

down the order. The UAE will look to their

captain Amjad Javed to lead from the front.

Javed has bagge d 12 wickets from the

UAE's six matches in this tournament(including the qualifiers) and will hope to

inflict some early blows on the Indian

batting.

Auckland Legendary New Zealand crick‑

eter Martin Crowe passed away here on

Thursday after fighting a long battle with

cancer. The 53‑year‑old was diagnosed in

September 2014 with terminal Lymphoma.

He is survived by wife Lorraine Downes,

daughter Emma and step‑children Hiltonand Jasmine. His funeral will be held on

March 11 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral

here, stuff.co.nz reported.

The right‑handed batsman played 77

tests and 143 One‑Day Internationals for

New Zealand. He scored 5,444 runs in

Tests at an average of 45.36, including 17

centuries and 18 half‑centuries with a top

score of 299. Crowe's ODI runs totaled

4,704 at an average of 38.55 with four

centuries and 34 half‑centuries and a best

score of 107 not out.

Shimla Indian cricket board sec‑

retary Anurag Thakur said that

politics should be kept away

from sports, but Himachal

Pradesh Chief Minister

Virbhadra Singh reiterated his

concern over "security" as opin‑

ion of families of martyred sol‑

diers in the state is against hold‑

ing the India‑Pakistan World

Twenty20 tie at Dharamsala. "It's

a world event and not a bilateral

series," Thakur, who is also the

Himachal Pradesh Cricket

Association president and a

Bharatiya Janata Party parlia‑

mentarian from the state, toldreporters here. State leaders

from both the ruling Congress

and the opposition Bharatiya

Janata Party (BJP) are united in

their opposition to the Super 10

Group 2 match between India

and Pakistan being hosted at

Dharamsala on March 19, keep‑

ing in mind the local sentiments

against Pakistan.

"I wil l go to any extent to

request anyone with folded

hands in the interest of Himachal

Pradesh," Thakur said, seemingly

making it an issue between him

and others. He called upon all

stakeholders to rise above petty

politics in the interest of the

nation and not to oppose the

match at Dharamsala.

"Even if they are against theHPCA, they should forget it for

the time being. Court cases are

pending, inquiries are pending,

I ʼm ready to step down, but

please don't let the state suffer,"

Thakur said. However, state lead‑

ers from both the ruling

Congress and the opposition BJP

were steadfast in opposing the

India‑Pakistan match scheduled

to be held at Dharamsala. While

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh

has in a letter to union Home

Minister Rajnath Singh asserted

that the state government will

not be able to provide security

during the game, former chief

minister and BJP leader Shanta

Kumar in his letter to Prime

Minister Narendra Modi said the

match should not be allowed atDharamsala in Kangra district as

it is home to hundreds of valiant

jawans, martyrs and ex‑service‑

men.

ASIA CUP: India aim to continue winning run

India captain MS Dhoni may decide to make a few changes in the line‑up. (File photo)

Michel Platini. (File photo) Legendary New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe. (Photo:www.sportal.co.nz)

New Zealand cricketer MartinCrowe passes away

India-Pak match: Keep politics away, says Thakur



25March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info SC IENCE & TECH .

OK, so everyone in the wire‑

less industry is talking about

5G. Why should I care?

5G aims to be 100 times faster

than our current wireless technolo‑

gy and even speedier than what

Google Fiber offers through a phys‑

ical connection to the home. The

incredible speeds and responsive‑

ness achieved with 5G open up new

possibilities, and the technology

had people buzzing at the Mobile

World Congress trade show in

Barcelona, Spain, last week.

"5G will take it to the next level,"

said Cristiano Amon, president of

Qualcomm's chip business. "Therewill be "ubiquitous connectivity

from all sorts of devices."

Do be mindful of the hype sur‑

rounding 5G. The earliest mobile

deployments likely won't happen

until 2018, with broader availabili‑

ty in the years after.

But that doesn't mean you can't

dream about what's next. Here are

a few things you'll be able to do

with 5G.

Games and new experiencesWant to play a virtual game

against a friend across the world or

visit a fancy beach house when

you' re real ly stuck in your base ‑

ment apartment? With 5G, you can

wirelessly stream that content into

your virtual‑reality headset.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

said at MWC that he hoped VR

would be one of the "killer applica‑

tions of 5G." Data transfers so

quickly that you won't have to wait

long for virtual experience to load

on your mobile VR headset.

Thanks to the minute lag times,

you'll be able to keep up with your

gamer friend on the other side of

the planet.

Self-driving cars5G networks can respond fast

enough to coordinate self‑driving

cars, either with cars talking to a

central controller at a road inter‑

section or communicating with

each other.

"You can imagine no traffic lights

in the street ‑‑ the cars are crossing,

but they're not bumping into each

other," said Volker Held, head of

innovation marketing at network

equipment maker Nokia.

Once all cars have sensors and

cameras, they could also capture

continuous video footage, said

Marc Naddell, a vice president at

chipmaker MediaTek. If there's an

accident, you'll be able to view

video from all angles, not just from

the cars involved but from all cars

in the area at that time.

Remote healthcare

Telemedicine becomes feasiblewith 5G, whose communication lag

is brief enough to permit doctors to

perform some procedures remote‑

ly, said Matt Grob, CTO of mobile‑

chip maker Qualcomm. Carriers can

set up 5G networks so those med‑

ical procedures get priority over

someone watching YouTube videos.

The lag time is so miniscule that

doctors could use robots to operate

on you from 1,000 miles away.

People in remote regions can be

treated by the specialists, even if

they're halfway across the world.

"You can get the best doctors in

the world to work on your mother's

cancer," Samsung's Kim said. "That

was not feasible years ago."

Videoconferencing likeyou're really there

Kim believes the way we commu‑

nicate will become more visual.

Imagine talking to your family by

way of a supersharp video, with

resolution so high it's like you're

next to them. Or rehearsing with

yo ur ba nd ma te s ‑‑ in di f fe re nt

homes ‑‑ via video. That seems sim‑

ple, but today's networks don't

offer precise real‑time communica‑

tions. There's always a lag, and that

causes it all to fall apart.

Hollywood-like Web speeds

Remember in "The AmazingSpider‑Man" when Peter Parker

runs a Bing search (we know,

Bing?) on Dr. Kurt Connors and

instantly gets results? Your Web

pages never load that fast. "That's

Darth Vader's computer there,"

Ericsson Chief Technology Officer

Ulf Ewaldsson quipped. Pages usu‑

ally take a second or two to load,

even on a fast connection. With 5G,

those results will come immediate‑

ly. Or if you wanted to kick back

and download the movie "The

Guardians of the Galaxy," it would

zip to your device in 15 seconds

instead of the 6 minutes it takes

via 4G.

Ateam of Chinese researchers has devel‑

oped a new thin display that creates a 3D

image without causing viewing discom‑

fort on your smartphone as you watch a 3D

movie on the go.

Using a technique called "super multi‑view",

researchers at the Sun Yan‑Sen University in

China developed a new display with comfort‑

able 3D visual effects.

The "super multi‑view" technique not onlyworks to reduce viewer discomfort but also

greatly decreases the required number of

microdisplays which makes a compact design

possible. "There are many causes for 3D‑view‑

ing discomfort but the most substantial one is

the vergence‑accommodation conflict," said

Lilin Liu, associate professor of the State Key

Lab of Optoelectronics Materials and

Technology at Sun Yat‑Sen University.

Vergence‑accommodation conflict is a mis‑

match between the point at which the eyes

converge on an image and the distance to

which they focus when viewing 3D images.

Human eyes are separated by about 6 cm,

which means that when we look at an object,

the two eyes see slightly dif ferent images.

In natural viewing, human's vergence andaccommodation responses are correlated with

each other and adjust simultaneously.

Conventional 3D displays try to mimic the

natural viewing by creating images with vary‑

ing binocular difference which simulates ver‑

gence changes in the natural 3D landscape. But

the accommodative distance remains

unchanged at the display distance, resulting in

the so‑called vergence‑accommodation conflict

that causes viewer discomfort.

The team's solution is to project numerous

2D perspective views to viewpoints with inter‑

vals smaller than the pupil diameter of the eye.

This means the device can deliver at least

two different views to a single eye pupil.

According to Liu, adjustments to the device

could make it even thinner which is a focus of

their future work.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the firstreport of a 'super multi‑view system' with thin

structure which makes it suitable for portable

electronics such as smart phones and wearable

devices," Liu noted.

Scientists from a US university have

created the thinnest, lightest solar

cells ever produced which could be

placed on almost any material or surface

including your hat, shirt, or smartphone,

or even on a soap bubble.

Although it may take years to make

such solar cells commercially available,

the laboratory proof‑of‑concept shows

their potential in helping power the nextgeneration of portable electronic devices,

believe researchers at MIT, who created it.

The process is described in a paper by

MIT professor Vladimir Bulovi, research

scientist Annie Wang, and doctoral stu‑

dent Joel Jean, in the journal Organic

Electronics.

The key to the new approach is to make

the solar cell, the substrate that supports

it, and a protective over‑coating to shield

it from the environment, all in one

process.

"The innovative step is the realization

that you can grow the substrate at the

same time as you grow the device," Bulovi

said. In this initial proof‑of‑concept exper‑

iment, the team used a common flexiblepolymer called parylene as both the sub‑

strate and the over‑coating, and an organ‑

ic material called DBP as the primary

light‑absorbing layer. Parylene is a com‑

mercially available plastic coating used

widely to protect implanted biomedical

devices and printed circuit boards from

environmental damage.

The entire process takes place in a vacu‑

um chamber at room temperature and

without the use of any solvents, unlike

conventional solar‑cell manufacturing,

which requires high temperatures and

harsh chemicals. In this case, both thesubstrate and the solar cell are "grown"

using established vapor deposition tech‑

niques.

The team said different materials could

be used for the substrate and encapsula‑

tion layers, and different types of thin‑

film solar cell materials, including quan‑

tum dots or perovskites, could be substi‑

tuted for the organic layers used in initial

tests.

To demonstrate just how thin and light‑

weight the cells are, the researchers

draped a working cell on top of a soap

bubble, without popping the bubble.

Although cells may be too thin to be

practical, but researchers said that pary‑

lene films of thicknesses of up to 80microns can be deposited easily using

commercial equipment, without losing the

other benefits of in‑line substrate

formation.

The superfast wireless technology promises a lot, and eventually it will happen. Think virtual reality, telemedicine and

more. Some companies like Verizon say they'll roll out 5G starting in 2018.

Soon watch 3D movie on smartphonewithout headache or nausea

Ultralight solar cells maypower next generation devices

5 amazing things you'll be able to do with 5G



U

nderstanding the evolving

job market can he lp you

focus your energy produc‑t ively and land a coveted

new job.

The recently released 2016

Hot Jobs List , published by

Randstad US, one of the largest

HR services and staffing compa‑

nies in the United States, sheds

light on important trends and

predicts the jobs in greatest

demand for the coming year.

Some hot areas include informa‑

t ion technology, human

resources, finance and account‑

ing, office and administration,

engineering, and manufacturing

and logistics. And thereʼs good

news ‑‑ experts say that acrossthe board, job candidates can

raise their expectations.

So what are the most in‑

demand jobs and skills needed to

secure employment in these

fields? Consider the following

insights and predictions from the

Randstad 2016 Hot Jobs study:

Engineers will be highly

sought after this year to support

innovative technologies, especial‑

ly in sectors that have not typi‑

cally required engineering talent

in the past, such as healthcare

and entertainment.

Technology will continue to

transform finance and account‑ing, presenting a tremendous

opportunity to elevate these

types of roles. The key will be

helping to shape company strate‑

gy through a comprehensive data

approach. Organizations will likely

gravitate toward human resource

candidates with specific skills to

cope with an increasingly com‑

plex workforce environment, par‑

ticularly around critical matters

such as talent acquisition and

retention, succession and com‑

pensation planning and work‑

force engagement.

There continues to be a lack

of skilled IT talent, particularly in

industries that deal with the

increasingly complex issues

related to cyber risk and busi‑

ness compliance. Companies will

continue to seek those with softskills, like strong writing and

communication abilities.

As the economy continues

to improve, manufacturing com‑

panies are expanding their busi‑

nesses. This will require anincrease in highly‑skilled talent.

With industry workforce short‑

ages, employers will need to con‑

sider different ways to attract

and retain talent.

The administrative role con‑

tinues to evolve, particularly as

new technologies are introduced

into workflows. Additionally,

many organizations are coping

with baby boomers retiring at a

rapid pace by advancing current

employees into more senior

roles, rather than replacing the

positions outright. These trends

create great opportunity for

administrative talent.With a lit t le research and

industry trend insight, you can

achieve career success in 2016.

(StatePoint)

Are you experiencing heart

palpitations, shortness of

breath, fatigue and discom‑

fort around your heart? You could

be experiencing atrial fibrillation

(AF or AFib), the most commonheart rhythm disorder.

Recognizing signs and symptoms

is essential to early diagnosis and

effective treatment.

Affecting about three million

Americans, AF is a rapid heart‑

beat, which can lead to poor

blood flow and increased risk of

serious conditions, including

stroke and heart failure.

AF is the result of abnormal

electrical impulses, which travel

chaotically throughout the upper

chambers of the heart, causing

the atria to contract so quickly

the heart loses its ability to pump

efficiently. This may cause bloodto pool in the heart, where it can

clot. If a clot travels to the brain,

it can cause a stroke. A recent

study by researchers from Boston

University found that people with

AF are nearly five times more

likely to have a stroke.

“All types of patients of all ages

should monitor heart rate and

blood pressure regularly, and

seek medical help when they

donʼt feel well. Even short bursts

of palpitations may be the begin‑

ning of persistent or chronic AF,”

says Dr. Leo Polosajian, an elec‑

trophysiologist and founder of

Cardiac Rhythm Specialists in

Reseda, CA.

Unfortunately, many AF

patients donʼt experience symp‑

toms until an event happens.

“While biking my normal route,

my heart rate rose and I couldnʼt

breathe. I pretty much went into

sudden cardiac death,” says Todd

Smiland, a patient of Polosajianʼs.

“Luckily the ambulance made it to

me in seven minutes and they

were able to defibrillate me back

to life, essentially. That pretty

much started all of my heart

issues.” By correcting abnormal

conduction fibers in the heart

through ablation, its electrical

system may be repaired and the

heart may return to a normal

rhythm. One of the newest inno‑vations uses contact force abla‑

tion technology, which gives

physicians a real‑time, objective

measure of force applied to the

heart during the procedure.

“I felt this patient was an ideal

candidate for an ablation proce‑

dure instead of medication, which

only treats symptoms. When

patients donʼt respond to medica‑

tion or itʼs not an optimal therapy

option, I turn to radiofrequency

ablation,” says Polosajian.

“It was like night and day,” says

Smiland, who after receiving abla‑

tion treatment, resumed activities

he previously enjoyed.According to Polosajian,

Smilandʼs experience may not

represent those of all patients,

but a recent FDA review found

ablation had at least a 47 percent

greater success rate than medica‑

tion. “This patientʼs experience is

what all physicians hope to

achieve,” says Polosajian.

Itʼs important to note there are

risks and potential adverse eventsassociated with ablation proce‑

dures, including but not limited to

cardiovascular related complica‑

tions, such as hematoma, effusion

and infection. Contact force abla‑

tion may not be appropriate for

patients who have had certain

recent heart surgeries, prosthetic

valves, active systemic infection

or have undergone other major

vascular procedures. Patients

should consult with their physi‑

cians about options.

A checklist of questions to ask

yo ur do ct or ca n be fo un d at

www.sjm.com/AfibAnswers, a site

provided by St. Jude Medical, aleader in technologies that treat

atrial fibrillation.

Know the signs and symptoms

of AF and talk to your doctor, if

you suspect anything is amiss.

T

ax season can be one of the

most, well, taxing times of

year, especia lly for chronic

procrastinators who make up

about 20 percent of the American

public, according to research con‑

ducted at DePaul University.

Why drag out the stress? Here

are some great ways to streamline

the process of preparing and fil‑

ing taxes:

Review Forms : As you receive

your W‑2, 1099s and othe r tax

forms, review each document

right away to ensure itʼs accurate.

Then, file these forms in one place

so they will be ready for you when

youʼre ready to file.

E F i le : Consider filing taxes

online. The IRS provides a free

database of e‑file providers, as

well as information on free tax

preparation for qualifying individ‑

uals and families. More informa‑

tion and resources can be found

at www.irs.gov.

Get Ready : For business own‑

ers, it may make sense to turn to

professionals for tax filing servic‑

es, but many individuals have rel‑

atively uncomplicated financial

situations and can save a lot of

money by preparing taxes on

their own.

However, the right tools will

make the process go more

smoothly. For quick calculations,

make sure that youʼre equipped

with tools like a desktop calcula‑

tor with tax calculation function‑

ality. For example, those from

Casio are ideal for home or office

use.

You can reduce your margin of

error by keeping better documen‑

tation of your tax paperwork and

better notations throughout the

preparation and filing process.

Donʼt Wait : When it comes to

filing your taxes, donʼt procrasti‑

nate. Not only will the task loom

over your head until you take care

of it, but you may encounter filing

issues that delay the process and

cause you to miss the deadline

and incur a hefty penalty fee.

If youʼre due for a refund, youʼll

especially want to file early so you

can put that refund to good use

right away (i.e. paying down debt,

investing it in a retirement fund

or college savings account).

Consider filing your taxes as soon

as you have all your forms in hand

and opting for direct deposit for

an even faster refund (keep in

mind you will need your bank

information on hand to do so).

While tax season is only anannual headache, it can be a major

headache if you are not prepared

and organized. Take steps to

reduce the stress.

26 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info S ELF HELP

Tips to efficientlyprepare & file taxes

Chest Discomfort, Feeling Extra Tired?

Job hunting? What careers & skillsare in greatest demand this year



LIFESTYLE 27March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info

New Delhi Oscars ceremony isnʼt

only about film and stars. It is also

about fashion and beauty trends.

Here's how you can get the Oscar

red carpet look in no time and

without hassle.

Shailesh Moolya, national cre‑ative director, hair, at Lakmé

Salon, and Sushma Khan, national

creative director, makeup, at

Lakmé Salon, have decoded the

best of hair and make‑up look

flaunted at the 88th Academy

Awards ceremony held in Los

Angeles on Sunday.

Messy braid bun as seen on

Olivia Wilde: Separate hair at the

crown. Tease it lightly, working the

comb downward. Separate the hair

into three pieces. Braid the pieces

very loosely, allowing strands to

pop out.

Secure two of the three strands

at the end of the braid with anelastic band, leaving the last

strand free. Pull the loose strand at

the end of the braid, pushing up

the rest of the hair until youʼve

formed a bun. Holding the hair in

one hand, tuck it under, then

insert a large bobby pin horizon‑

tally to secure the bun. Let strands

pop out, or pin them up if you pre‑

fer. Spray hair lightly to hold the

style.

Je nn if er Ga rn er ʼs su bt le

smokey eye: To get a clean surface

to apply make‑up, use an eye

primer from the lid to the brow

bone. Then, use a shadow base

from the inner corner to outeredge of the eyelid. Lightly apply

brown eye shadow, avoiding any

smudging or smearing around the

eye.

Fill the water line with grey kohl

pencil and smudge on the outside

with a pencil brush for a smoky

effect. Add a touch of mascara for

a little drama. Lastly, shape eye‑

brows with a clean raised arch for

a shapely and sculpted look. For a

nude look, use a foundation shade,

matching to your skin tone.

Using a brush, start from the

centre of the ear and go downward

towards the corner of the lip, stop‑

ping halfway at the cheek. Add apeach blush for slight color and to

shape cheekbones. For nude lips,

line your lip with a lip pencil three

shades darker than your lip color

and fill in with a natural nude

shade to bring out the eyes.

New Delhi In view of increase in

usage of mobile based health appli‑

cations, Indian doctors have urged

people to not blindly rely on suchtechnologies for health updates as

they may give wrong estimates.

They said that a lot of times the

applications suggest wrong diet to

the user, without knowing the

metabolism of the userʼs body,

resulting in serious health compli‑

cations.

"A lot of applications are not to be

relied upon and exist just to gener‑

ate revenue in the market. There

are health applications which claim

to measure blood pressure by sim‑

ply keeping thumb on the screen.

Such techniques are misleading,"

said Pradeep Gadge, a leading dia‑

beteologist.Citing an example, he said that

the blood pressure result after

measuring through health applica‑

tions is always different from man‑

ually measuring it.

"There are situations when health

application users rely on it for the

calories burn during the entire day

along with several other things,

without even realizing that suchapplications are pre set and do not

show the actual results," said Gadge.

According to doctors, there are an

estimated 50,000 medical applica‑

tions in the market and this is

expected to grow. Currently, 500

million people worldwide are using

such apps for health updates.

Sudhir Kumar, a Delhi‑based dia‑

beteologist , said: "People want

instant results and further they fol‑

low their own methods to lose extra

kilos through apps or some meth‑

ods rather than going for the natu‑

ral way or the way suggested by

doctors.

He said that a recent survey alsohad revealed that various health

applications had diagnosed several

types of diseases to its users, but

when they consulted the doctor fur‑

ther they were found to not be suf‑

fering from any diseases.

Donʼt blindly followhealth apps, warn doctors

Oscars red carpet look decoded

New York Listening to rap music frequent‑

ly can lead to having early sex in

teenagers, warn researchers, adding that

rap music is more likely to have sexuallyexplicit messages than other music genres.

According to researchers from the

University of Texas' health science center

at Houston (UTHealth), when middle

school youth listen to rap music for three

or more hours each day, they are more

likely to believe that their peers are having

sex and subsequently more likely to initi‑

ate sex by ninth grade.

"Rap music influences your beliefs about

what you think your peers are doing. It's a

norming agent that tells you that certain

things are ok, like drinking alcohol or hav‑

ing sex. It gives you the idea that everyone

is doing it," said Kimberly Johnson‑Baker,

lead author and faculty associate at

UTHealth's school of public health."The more you're listening to it, the more

you're conforming, so you could see how it

would set up a belief about what your

peers are doing," Johnson‑Baker added.

In an analysis of 443 youth enrolled in a

longitudinal evaluation study in Houston,

middle school students were surveyed

about how often they listened to rap music

and whether they believed their peers

were having sex.

At follow up in ninth grade, the same

youth were surveyed about whether they

had initiated sex.

Youth who listened to rap music three

hours or more each day in seventh grade

were 2.6 times more likely to report hav‑

ing had sex two years later.However, researchers found that the

association was partially mediated by per‑

ceived peer sexual behavior because youth

who believed their peers were having sex

were 2.5 times more likely to initiate sex,regardless of the additional factors.

Johnson‑Baker emphasi zed that when

adolescents hear sexually explicit mes‑

sages in a song, they are looking to their

friends to confirm whether such behavior

is happening around them.

If their friends confirm it, youth are

more likely to initiate sex. But if friends

are being critical of the themes in the

music, they may be convinced that it's not

happening around them.

Rap music and forms of progressive hip‑

hop education can be used as tools to

deconstruct sexually explicit messages

adolescents receive.

"Parents can play a more proactive role

by having open conversations with their

kids regarding the themes in rap music

while sett ing clear expectations for

responsible sexual and dating behavior,"

the authors noted.

New York A team of

researchers, including

an Indian‑origin scien‑

tist, has revealed in a

new study that people

who live close to gro‑

cery stores may make

healthier food choices.

A study of Instagram

posts revealed that

food posted ‑‑ and

eaten‑‑ by people in

"food deserts" are five

to 17 percent higher in

fat , cholesterol and

sugars compared tothose shared in "non‑food deserts"

areas. The researchers used a term

"food deserts" to describe communities

with limited access to grocery stores.

"The US Department of Agriculture

identifies food deserts based on the

availability of fresh food," said lead

author Munmun De Choudhury from

Georgia Tech's School of Interactive

Computing.

"Instagram literally gives us a picture

of what people are actually eating in

these communities, allowing us to study

them in a new way," Choudhury

observed. "Fruits and vegetables are the

biggest difference."

The team from the Georgia Institute of Technology has identified three million

geo‑tagged Instagram posts of food to

determine what people are eating.

"Forty‑eight percent of posts from

people in non‑food deserts mention

them. It 's only 33 percent in food

deserts," Choudhury noted.

The research team used the USDA's

database of nutritional values for nearly

9,000 foods to create a nutritional pro‑

file for both groups.

The amount of calories didn't differ

significantly, but the levels of fats, cho‑

lesterol and sugars were much higher in

food deserts, especially in the West and

Southwest, the study found.

Pictures of meals that are most likely

to be posted by both groups tend to be

the staples of each region. Steak and

coffee in the West; lox and cheesecake

in the East; and okra and biscuits in theSouth. "It doesn't matter where you live,"

Choudhury said. "Everyone seems to eat

what their region is known for."

(Stories: IANS)

Beware! rap music cantrigger early sex in teenagers

Nearness to grocerystore may change the

way you eat, says study



IMPORTANT If you are on a skiing holiday

and you see angels, do NOT fall backwards

and wave your arms to make an angel shapein the snow.

They may find it offensive.

Always be politically correct.

Especially to angels.

***

Besides, if I could have any job I wanted, I

would be the Angel of Karma.

Her timing is like SO TIGHT these days.

This rave review was sparked by reader

Dhruv Banerjee who sent me a news report

about a robber in Illinois who bought a get‑

away car but failed to pay for it.

At the EXACT MOMENT that he went on a

crime spree at the local mall to raise funds,

karma arranged for a repossession agent to

appear and tow the car away.

Police caught up with the man walking

dejectedly down the road.

Had they listened, Iʼm sure they would have

heard chuckling from a nearby cloud (and

applause from a thousand writers of bad

comedies).

***

To me, the Angel of Karma is a superhero

without the cape and external underpants.

***

More proof arrived in a second car‑related

news story.A Texas woman whose old, broken‑down

car was stolen by a thief with a tow truck

spotted the vehicle in town a month later.

Police helped her take it back, after which

her husband found the thief had fixed the

drive shaft and paid for new wheels.

Victim Chelsea Peters was said to be "very

happy."

***

It ainʼt just America. These reports remind‑

ed me of a case in Malaysia in which a thief

parked his getaway car outside an emptyhouse and broke in.

The owners came back and the villain ran

away, leaving behind his most prized posses‑

sions: toolbox, keys and car.

He returned to ask for them back the same

day.

The conversation must have gone some‑

thing like this.

***

THIEF: "I'm the guy who tried to steal your

stuff but ended up giving you all my stuff!

Life's funny, right? Ha ha."

VICTIMS: [Grim silence]

THIEF: "Maybe I should just go."

[Leaves.]

VICTIMS: "Woohoo! Let's check out our new

wheels!" ***Sometimes Ms Karma does not go for the

big stuff, but works delicately, with the tiniest

of nudges.

In Hong Kong in the 1990s, Yeung Yu‑kit, a

20‑year‑old mugger, leaped onto a victim to

steal her purse.

In the tussle, Yeung lost her own purse,

dropping it conveniently into the victim's bag

to be carried away.

It was a sort of reverse robbery.

I'm not quite sure what crime they charged

her with.

"Committing a grossly ironic act in public,"

perhaps.

***

What does it all mean? I think the Angel of

Karma has risen in the ranks and irony now

rules the world.

Three proofs

1) A friend bought a pair of expensive sun‑

glasses and was warned: "Keep them out of

direct sunlight."

2) My local authority canceled Kite Flying

Day because high winds were forecast.

3) I bought a pair of scissors and it came in

a package that could only be opened by some‑

one who already owned scissors.

***

At least the Angel of Karma has a sense of

humor. ***

28 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info HUMOR

Funny Side by Nury Vittachi

IRONY AND THE ANGEL OF KARMA

New York Head Quarter

422S Broadway

HI KSVILLE

NY 11801

5168271010

BESTRATEFORINDIAANDPAKISTAN

Laughter is the Best Medicine

by Mahendra Shah

Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and

humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the

immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat,

he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.



5th March 2016

Traits in you: As your ruling planet is the Mercury, you are

born realistic, intelligent, simple, focused, caring, deter‑mined, and courageous. As you are very helpful, peopletrust you very soon and you enjoy a good impression in your friendʼs circle. H owever, you need to work on yourstubbornness and jealousy to become a better individual.Health this year:

Your health may remain the same as itwas during the last year. You may improve a bit with med‑ication and diet control. You may practice meditation and yoga for better results. Do not neglect the health of yourfamily members as well as they may fall ill frequently this year and you may remain bothered for the same.Finance this year: You may find yourself in financial bene‑fits. However, you need to take enough toil to make thishappen. You may go for various new proposals and assign‑ments, which would improve your income and prosperity.There may be a huge rise in expenses, but you will be ableto meet those with your increased earnings.Career this year: You will be successful in every project youtake up this year. You may be adjudged the best employeeby your higher management because of your efficiency,hard work, and timely delivery. You may need to negotiatewith different types of customer and learn a lot about han‑dling a p roject independently.

Romance this year: Your marital relationship will move onsmoothly. If you are yet to marry, you may fall into aromantic relationship this year. You may get into a maritalalliance if you are already into a relationship. You will beleading a blissful romantic life with your spouse or partnerwith lots of love, care, and concern.Lucky month: September , November and December6th March 2016

Traits in you:

As you are ruled by Venus, you are simple,generous, cheerful, friendly, humble, honest and peace lov‑ing. You are pretty interested to stay in harmony with eachand everyone in your surroundings. You need to work on your nature of being restless and pessimistic.Health this year: Your health would be moderate this time.You may not have the privilege to take the diet of your wishas the doctor would prescribe to avoid that. You may prac‑tice yoga and meditation along with your prescribed medi‑cines for better results.Finance this year:

Your expectations for financial gainsmay not convert to reality as you have to spend a moderatefinancial life this year. Do not invest huge amount on any‑thing as you may go in loss. You should wait for the right

time to invest on anything. You should not lend money toanyone as it may create financial crisis for yourself.Career this year: As far as your professional life is con‑cerned, you are expected to get a lot of opportunitiesthroughout this year. However, you have to work hard andefficiently to convert those opportunities. Being a quickdecision maker, you may have to decide on many critical

matters in your professional circle.Romance this year: You may try and convert your long

time romantic relationship to a married one. You will beenjoying a great life with your spouse with lots of under‑standing, love, and care. You need not get into any kind of argument with your beloved this year.Lucky month: April, August, October and November7th March 2016

Traits in you:

Your ruling planet Neptune makes you intel‑ligent, adaptable, charming, independent, humble, decisive,courteous, and courageous. Along with many positive char‑acters, you also have few negatives. You need to work on your carefree and dominating attitude towards others toget respect and attention in your friend circle.Health this year: You need to take an appropriate care of your health. You may fall sick in the middle months of the yea r tho ug h tho se wi ll no t be ser io us . If yo u are asportsperson, you need to be very careful for your diet andnutrition to perform better in your sporting events.Finance this year: You will be financially profited from youlong term past investments. Your legal issues wil l be solvedto give you a huge amount of money. You may end upspending a lot of money on your family members this yearthough you will earn a handsome amount. You may go forinvestments to get benefited in future.

Career this year: Professionally, you are a very smart andefficient worker. So you may need to clarify doubts andhelp you peers and juniors in their work. People in yourprofessional circuit will seek your help at every crucial situ‑ation. You may get promoted as a result of your spectacularperformance throughout the year. You may be assigned anew responsibility this year. You may go for a job changeas well as there will be plenty of opportunities available.Romance this year: You will be spending a peaceful andcontent life with your beloved. During the last few monthsof the year, you may have few misunderstandings, whichcan be cleared and sorted out if you both sit and try to lis‑ten each other.Lucky month: April , June and September8th March 2016

Traits in you: The influence of the planet Saturn makes you creative, realistic, helpful, thoughtful, enthusiastic, andoptimistic. You should take care of your impatience and jealousy to excel as an individual.Health this year:

You may fall sick often this year if you donot take required preventive measures. You should see your doctor once a month to check your health conditions

and supplements if required. You should also take care of the health of your family members by providing them med‑ical attention.Finance this year:

You may prosper financially with theopportunity to earn as much as possible with new sourcesof income. You may go for long distance business trips if you want success in your business. Be aware of fraud invest‑

ment agencies as you may end up losing a huge amount of money. You are advised not to lend money this year.

Career this year: Your hard work, dedication, and efforts in your work wil l get reflected in your professional hierarchyas you may go a step further towards your promotion. Youwill be admired by your peers and seniors this year for your performance and decision making capabilities. Treat your ordinates respectfully and try to help them in difficultsituation as it would help you in getting a better appraisaltowards the end of the year.Romance this year: Your relationship with your partnermay reach to new heights this year as your love, trust, careand concern will develop towards your beloved. You mayget married towards the end of this year if you are yet tomarry.Lucky month: April , October and January9th March 2016

Traits in you:

Your ruling planet Mars makes you strong,determined, courageous, enthusiastic, intelligent, ambi‑tious, and motivated. You have a strong dislike towardsfake people and fake emotions. You are a huge fan of truthand cleanliness. You need to work on your nature of show‑ing dictatorship and being rude and stubborn at times.Health this year: As far as your health is concerned this year, you may not remain healthy throug hout the year.

There will be few hiccups in your health as you may sufferfrom many minor diseases. If you want to stay healthy, youshould go for proper medication and a healthy diet plan.You have to leave consuming alcohol and smoking ciga‑rettes.Finance this year: You may go through sudden gains andlosses this year. However, you will be capable enough tofind out the source to earn ample amount of money. Yourfinancial condition will be improved for a long term. If youare into business, you may enhance your business to gainbetter profits. You should invest in real estate this year asthe chances of return are hig h.Career this year: You will face huge challenges in your pro‑fessional field this year. There will be a lot of changes in your profess ional life. You may remain distur bed about your profession. You may go for a new job change as youwould find the current work disgusting and monotonous.Romance this year: You will enjoy an improved life with your partner with lot of love, care, and concern. You shouldgive time to your spouse or partner. If you are not married, you might have to wait as the movement of your planetsdoes not suggest a marital alliance this year.

Lucky month: June , July and October10th March 2016

Traits in you: Your ruling planet, the Sun blesses you witha unique character. You are pretty confident, creative, intel‑lectual, optimistic, and enthusiastic. You are gifted with anartistic perception. You are very much social and like tomake new contacts wherever you go. However, you need to

control your mood swings and selfishness.Health this year: You may go through a very bad patch as

far as your health is concerned this year. You may fall sickfrequently with minor diseases like fever, cough, cold, bodypain, and so on. You should take care of your health by tak‑ing proper medication.Finance this year: If you are well educated and employed, you may find yourself in huge monetary benefits this year.You might get favors from government officials to get yourwork done, which will earn you a lot of money. You may gofor investments in various sectors as it may prove to beprofitable for you.Career this year: You are quite capable of taking wise deci‑sions. So your colleagues may seek you help in taking criti‑cal decisions. You will excel as an efficient employee andthis might bring you a promotion or salary hike. Your confi‑dence, hard work, and dedication will help you obtain suc‑cess in every project assigned to you.Romance this year:

You may go for a romantic relationshipthis year if you are yet to be in one. If you are married, youwill enjoy a good time with your spouse. You may plan formarriage if you are still unmarried. You should plan for along holiday with your par tner to give time to each other.Lucky month: June, August and November11th March 2016

Traits in you: Being influenced by the Moon, you are cre‑ative, simple, reliable, intelligent, hardworking, and verysocial. You are a very efficient in your work. However, youneed to control your attitude of being rude and pessimistic.Health this year: Your health will remain fine. However, you may suffer from various minor diseases say cough,cold, body pain, loss of sleep and so on. To enjoy a veryhealthy life, you need to get a good control on your diet.You have to stay away from alcohol and cigarettes to avoidany organ dysfunction.Finance this year:

You may go through a moderate finan‑cial condition this year. You past investments may notbring you expected results. You may get minimal returnfrom your fixed savings and that would not make yousecure financially. You should not lend money to anyoneduring this year as you may feel the requirement of moneyat any point of time.Career this year: Being a hardworking professional, youare well capable of performing the best. However, you needto be very selective and cautious if you plan to make amove for your career. You may go for a new job opportuni‑ty. You may see many ups and downs in your career as you

may struggle to get things right for yourself.Romance this year: Your marital life will go on smoothlywith the gradually growing understanding between youand your spouse. You will get enough support from yourpartner whenever you are in a problem. If you are yet tomarry, you may need to wait for another year.Lucky month:

April, June and November

By Dr Prem Kumar SharmaChandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 [email protected]; www.premastrologer.com

MARCH 5‑11, 2016

ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK

29

ARIES New ventures start on a positivenote. Guests visit would make it a pleas‑ant & wonderful week. This week long‑

term investment would enable to make sub‑

stantial gains. Your flashing smile would workas the best antidote for romantic partnersunhappiness. Charity work undertaken willbring mental peace & comfort. Enjoy your hol‑iday with love of your life. Selling your homeprivately can be an excellent way of saving oncosts. A surprise gift especially later in theweek could come your way.

TAURUS You succeed in completingprojects efficiently provided you put inall your efforts. You will be in the

mood to celebrate with family and friends thisweek. Financial hassles will be eased out withthe help of your friends. Sharing candyflossand toffees with lover/beloved would bringunlimited joy.Meditation and self‑realization prove benefi‑cial. Romantic destinations seems appealingto you. Off‑plan property investment is one of the easiest and most profitable methods tomaximize gains in the real estate market.

Interactions with youngsters will be anenriching experience.

GEMINI Hard work put‑in the past will yield handsome rewards in businessthis week. Good advice from family

members brings gains. Certain importantplans will be executed, bringing fresh finan‑cial gains. Company of love partner wouldinspire to take initiatives this week. You willhave ample time to do things to improve yourhealth. Travel for fun and pleasure is what

you demand. Your property prices will boostin the coming period. Devoting quality time tohelp needy people would bring immensepleasure.

CANCER Business partners behavesupportive on executing strategies tosort out pending problems. The com‑

pany of family friends will keep you in a

happy & relaxed mood. Speculations are likelyto bring monetary profits. Love works like apanacea as you find sanity. Sound physicalhealth will enable to participate in outdooractivities. Small journey with your office col‑leagues will be interesting. Buying propertycan lead to gains as property prices continueto increase. Your guidance would encourageothers.

LEO Innovative ideas & technicalexpertise would enable to win the con‑fidence of seniors at professional front.

Parental guidance in your decision wouldimmensely help. Monetary position is likely toimprove later in the week. Love partner touch‑es soul that would take imagination to unlim‑ited heights. You will be successful in gettingrid from tensions. Your boss may ask you for

your company to a friendʼs party. You couldbuy the property that you are looking for.Developing social contacts would immensely

help in widening horizons.VIRGO Service people, artists andthose in creative field will get severalnew opportunities. A week when mis‑

understandings at family front are sorted outwith ease. Hard work of previous weeksbrings good fortune enabling to fulfill mone‑tary promises. Someones timely help wouldenable visualizing succeeding in love. Asparkling laughter filled week when mostthings proceed, as you desire. Travel plan witha colleague might lead to a new relationship.Investing on properties which are underdeveloped will be profitable. A visit to placewhere never gone before is on the card.

LIBRA Your greatest gains will comethrough your creative ideas at profes‑sional front. Believe it or not someone

in the family is watching you closely and con‑

siders you a role model. You succeed in mak‑ing some extra cash on playing your cardswell. Romantic imagination would keep you ina jovial & cheerful mood. Your enormous con‑fidence would help in enjoying a healthy life.Small picnic organized by your company isgood to change your mood. Whether young orold, now is the t ime to start investing. An idealweek to impress others with creative talent.

SCORPIO Success is certain provided you wor k as a team. An im por tantdevelopment at personal front brings

jubi lat ion for ent ire fami ly. An auspici ousweek to invest money on items that wouldgrow in value. The company of love partnermakes you forget about the work. A veryhealthy week filled with happiness & vitality.Official journeys prove to be more fruitful for

you. Looking for good long term investments,then go for a property which is under con‑struction. You get unlimited respect in friend

circle.SAGITTARIUS You will be on the sev‑enth heaven when you receive recog‑nition for your achievements at work.

A happy time in the company of friends andrelatives as they do many favours to you.Investment on long‑term plans would pave theway for earning financial gains. Suddenromantic encounter will lift your spirits.Pleasure trip would help in maintaining soundhealth this week. Fly away with your dreams,new business horizons are ready to explore.Value the property at right price to attractbuyers for it. Efforts succeed in winning thehearts of adversaries.

CAPRICORN Your creativity willamaze people around you besidesenhancing career prospects. Enjoying

the company of close relatives will brighten

your evening. Improvement in finances makesit convenient in clearing long pending dues &bills. Attending a social event/family functionbrings a romantic encounter. Yoga and medi‑tation would help in keeping in shape andmentally agile.A fun‑ filled holiday at an amusement andtheme park with your family is there. Italways is exciting to begin looking at homesfor sale in your area. Strange fascinations arelikely to attract.

AQUARIUS New job opportunitiesfor some will be better than expected.Shopping with family members will

be highly pleasurable and exciting. Successfulexecution of brilliant ideas would help inearning financial profits. Your physical charmwould catch the attraction of opposite sex.Blessings of a saintly person give peace of mind. An interesting cruise ship is next placefor your vacation. Buying cheap property in

the right location can provide you triple gainannually. Interaction with others will be sig‑nificant.

PISCES At work you are likely to winappreciation and awards for pastefforts. You will be at the limelight in a

social gathering provided you attend. A verysuccessful week as far as monetary position isconcerned. Love life blossoms paving the wayfor lovely times ahead. Chances of recoveringfrom physical ailment are high. Breathtakingbeautiful site scenes are your loverʼs desire.Investing in property business sounds veryappealing. Temptation of any kind fails toallure you.

March 5-11, 2016TheSouthAsianTimes.info A STROLOGY



30 March 5-11, 2016 TheSouthAsianTimes.info S P I R I TU AL AWARENES S

Life is challenging. Every day

people face situations that

can make one feel stress and

anger. Modern science has proven

the affects stress and anger have

on the health and wellness of our

body and mind. Is there any way

that we can deal with stress and

anger so that it does not create

stress‑related illness of our body

and mind? Is there a way that we

can face the tension of life in a

way that we maintain calm and

equanimity physically, mentally,

emotionally, and spiritually?

The combined wisdom of the

saints and mystics from ancient

India and the current research by

scientists, medical doctors, and

researchers point to the same

answer: we can reduce stress and

anger and maintain optimum

health and wellness through the

practice of meditation.

As life has become more com‑

plex, we interact with many peo‑

ple in the course of the day. Any

one of these can result in stress.

Whenever there are disagree‑

ments between two or more peo‑

ple, or things do not go the way

we expect, this can lead to anger.

In the past, when people lived and

worked on a farm or from their

homes, there were fewer interac‑

tions with others. However, today,

we have many opportunities

throughout the day in which we

meet and interact with others.

People have stress on the job.

When we are raising a family,

there is stress over the health of ourselves or our loved ones, their

schooling, their financial difficul‑

ties, or living in a household with

multiple people. With the econom‑

ic difficulties of modern life, we

have financial stress. As students,

either in a school or college, or in

training for our career, we have to

worry about our grades in school

and our test scores. We worry

about whether we will be accept‑

ed into a school or training facili‑

ty, and once there, whether we

will pass so we can get a job in

our chosen career. Once we have a

job, there is stress about keeping

it with the stiff competition work‑

ers face, or we worry what will

happen if we lose the job? The

terminal illness or death of a fami‑

ly member or loved one creates

tremendous pain and stress in our

lives. There is also stress caused

by interpersonal relationship

problems. From morning until

night, we face one or more of

these situations that cause stress

or which makes us feel angry.

The good news is that there is a

solution to dealing with stress and

anger. From ancient times, saints

and mystics have taught medita‑

tion as a way to remain calm and

peaceful. In the past few decades,

the practice of meditation has

gained popularity in countries all

over the world. While people have

been practicing meditation

because they recognize how good

it makes them feel, there is the

added bonus contributed by med‑

ical researchers and doctors that

prove why we feel so good when

we meditate. These medical stud‑

ies bear out the positive effect

meditation has on the health and

wellness of our body and mind.

The most beneficial gains from

meditation are that it reduces

stress and anger, which in turn

reduce our risk for stress related

illness. Numerous diseases have

been linked to stress, such as can‑

cer, stroke, heart problems, diges‑

tive problems, circulation prob‑

lems, migraine headaches, skin

problems, and others. By reducing

stress, we can minimize our risk

for these problems, prevent them,and mitigate them if we already

have them. Spending daily time in

meditation contributes to our

health and wellness.

Two meditation techniques we

use in Science of Spirituality̶

Sawan Kirpal Ruhani Mission are

simple to do and can be

practiced by anyone

of any age in their

homes or wherever

they like. It does

not require dif‑

ficult pos‑

tures or

asanas, and can be performed

anywhere at any time. One is the

Shabd Meditation, or Meditation

on the Light and Sound. This pro‑

vides us an inner connection to a

source of happiness, peace, and

bliss within us. It is like having an

internal retreat that we can visit

anytime we want to recharge and

refresh. The second is an intro‑

ductory technique called Jyoti

Meditation, which involves sitting

quietly, focusing our attention

within, and experiencing the

peace and calm within us. For

more instructions, many

resources related to meditation

can be found at www.sos.org

A few other factors can help us

reduce our stress and anger. New

research is showing the value of a

vegetarian diet. By eating plant‑

based foods, we also can reduce

our risk of many diseases. Illness

produces its own stress not on

only our body, our families, our

work, but also on our finances. If

we can remain healthy through

healthy eating such as a vegetari‑

an diet, we can also reduce stress.

Selfless service to others also

reduces stress. When we are a

contributing member of a commu‑

nity, we are calmer and happier.This reduces tension and stress.

By being of service to others, we

create a joyful life for ourselves

and make life better for others.When we think of others first, it

helps take our attention away

from our own problems.

As a byproduct of meditation,

we realize the same light within

us is in all others. We realize that

at the level of soul or spirit, all

humanity is one. We begin to

develop love for all and treat oth‑

ers kindly as members of one fam‑

ily. As we become more loving and

calm, we eliminate much of our

stress and anger. We replace

stress and anger with love and tol‑

erance for all, making our own

lives and that of others more

peaceful.

Here are some easy tips to help

us when w e feel anger arise in our

daily lives

Tip : We can remove ourselves

from the situation and go some‑

where to quietly meditate. This

gives us a break from the situa‑

tion so we can calm down, slow

down our heart rate and brain

waves to a calmer state, and then

return with the equipoise to deal

more peacefully with the situa‑

tion.

Tip 2: When we return to the

stressful situation after meditat‑

ing, try to talk things over. Listen

calmly to what the other person

has to say and see if there is any

truth to it. If so, we can apologize

if we have done or said something

to hurt them, and resolve to

refrain from repeating

that action or those

words. After the other

person has felt

heard and that

we truly lis‑

t e n e d ,

they may be more open to hear

things from our point of view. We

can then share our side of the

incident, so they can understand

us as we have tried to understand

them. We can then discuss a way

to have a win‑win solution or

compromise. In this way, we can

use conflict resolution to work out

a problem without resorting to

anger and violence.

Tip 3: We can look at the source

of our anger, which is often ego.

We get angry when things are not

going our way. It could be that we

want to control others, have

power over others, or make others

do what we want. If we can step

back and find ways to make

things work out in a way that is

mutually beneficial for all parties,

we are happy, others are happy,

and we have made the environ‑

ment peaceful.

Through daily meditation, lead‑

ing a calm, peaceful life becomes

a habit. Over time, a habit turns

into our nature. Day by day, we

transform ourselves into peaceful,

nonviolent, and calm people and

radiate that to others. The ripple

effect of our calmness and

equipoise spreads and it will notbe long before we have a peaceful

family, community, and world.

Peace begins with each of us.

Dealing with stress and anger

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

SE RET TO ENLIGHTENED LIVING

There is a quotation by the great

Greek philosopher, Socrates. Once

he said, “Our prayers should be for

blessings in general, for God knows best

what is good for us.” This quote coin‑

cides with the prayer to God to give us

whatever is good for us.

Time and again, whenever we

demand something from God that is con‑

tinually denied to us, it is usually

because we are asking for something

that is not good for us ultimately.

There have been many instances in

which people prayed to God for some‑

thing, and God did not grant their wish.

Later they came to learn that receiving

the wish would not have been a good

thing after all. Will a mother allow the

child to have poison? The child may cryfor it and throw a tantrum, but if it is

poison, the mother will not grant it.

Instead the mother will give the child

what is best for him or her. The child

may not realize it at the time, but as the

child grows and learns, the child is

grateful for all the things the mother

denied him or her that were ultimately

not good.

Many people are anxious about

making choices. The way to be sure we

make the right choices about what to

pray for is to pray that God gives uswhat is best for us. God makes no mis‑

take. Rather than pray for something

that may or may not be the best for us,

let us pray for Godʼs will for us.

What are the spiritualpearls to enlightened

living?

If we relax and rest in Godʼs will, we will find that every‑

thing works out for the best in the long run. Meditation is

a process of relaxing in Godʼs will. Meditation provides a

time when we can let go of all clutching and praying for this

thing and that. It is a time in which we sit in a state of still‑

ness and surrender to Godʼs will. It is a chance to let go of allour wants and desires. We merely sit in a receptive mood

and ask God to grant what is best for us. We will find that

God will give us much more than we had expected.That is

the secret to enlightened living.

By Sant Rajinder Singh JiMaharaj



TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 5-11, 2016



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