By Vikas Girdhar

New York: Four days after

Hurricane Sandy officially sub-
sided, its aftermath was causing
widespread anger in the wake of
unrestored power outages and the
unraveling of even more deaths
and destroyed homes.
The latest death toll as a result
of the hurricane rose to 98 on
Friday, with 40 of them in New
York City and half of those in
Staten Island. Power outages were
still widespread and many homes
were still flooded or in rubble. On
Long Island alone, about half of
all LIPA customers were in the
dark, albeit a vast improvement
from the 90% who lost power on
Monday.
For those itching to get back on
their feet and on the road, public
transport was limping back into
action, and acute gasoline short-
age was a new factor to contend
with. In New York and New
Jersey tens of thousands of drivers
are forced to stand in line for
hours at gas stations to fill their
tanks. Fisticuffs ensue, and one
man in Queens Thursday even
flashed his gun to threaten the one
who cut in line.
New York schools were to
reopen on Monday after a historic
one week suspension.
(See our extensive Sandy cove-
age on pages 3, 5, and 16-17)
By Arun Kumar
Washington DC: Whoever wins
the tight White House race Nov 6,
Indian-Americans are bound to
play a key role in the new adminis-
tration going by their growing
clout in US politics.
At over a score, President Barack
Obama's administration already
has the highest number of Indian-
Americans working in high places
and his Democratic party gave a
pride of place to them at his nomi-
nating convention last August.
So did challenger Mitt Romney's
Republican Party which boasts of
having the only two Indian-
American governors, Bobby Jindal
of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of
South Carolina. Both were at one
time speculated among Romney's
vice presidential picks.
The likes of Rajiv "Raj"
Shah, the highest ranking Indian-
Continued on page 4
MAMMOTH RELIEF EFFORT ON, BUT DEATH
TOLL AND ANGER MOUNT AFTER SANDY
Indian-Americans will continue
to play key role under new Prez
President Barack Obama and New Jersey governor Chris Christie visited Oct 31 the
state which was worst hit by Hurricane Sandy. The bipartisan spirit of the visit
boosted Obamas likeability in the wake of the election.
Beach 130th Street and Newport Avenue in Queens looks like a war zone Monday,
October 30th in wake of fires caused by Hurricane Sandy. (inset) An idol of Jesus
Christ miraculously remained intact in the middle of the devastation.
The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e i n j o u r n a l i s m
Vol.5 No. 29 November 3-9, 2012 60 Cents New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Romney and Obama in see-saw battle for Prez
New York: Four days before the
Nov 6 polling, it was still haz-
ardous to predict the winner in the
keenly contested presidential race.
Hurricane Sandy and President
Barack Obamas prompt response
in arraying relief operations in
affected states gave him a slight
bump. But earlier Governor
Romney had a momentum going
following the first presidential
debate in which his challenger
Continued on page 4
See our extensive US election
coverage on pages 12 to 15 Mitt Romney campaigning in Virginia on Friday
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November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Washington, DC: Three days
after Hurricane Sandy slammed
into the US East Coast, hitting
New Jersey and New York the
hardest, millions of Americans
are now confronted with gas
shortages and an overwhelmed
mass transit system.
With over six million homes
still without power as far west
as Wisconsin in the Midwest
and as far south as the
Carolinas, motorists in New
Jersey, the hardest hit state,
roamed for hours looking for a
working petrol pump that still
had petrol, the ABC reported.
The disaster has been blamed
for 74 deaths in the US, includ-
ing 24 in New York City, eight
in New Jersey and four in
Connecticut, as rescue workers
pulled bodies from wreckage
across the region, the channel
said. Those with gas who had to
commute into New York City
encountered a major traffic jam
at the Lincoln Tunnel, one of
the only two entrances to the
city from New Jersey that hadn't
been closed down because of
damage from Sandy, ABC said.
The city's roads were grid-
locked Wednesday as com-
muters were forced to travel
above ground, which turned
Manhattan's streets into parking
lots -- a telling sign of just how
badly the city needs its mass
transit system back.
One commuter was quoted as
saying: "The traffic was terrible,
man. It takes about 45 minutes
to go four blocks. Horrible."
Meanwhile, hundreds of thou-
sands of people along the New
Jersey shore are facing months
and possibly years of rebuild-
ing, CBS News reported, saying
the storm had transformed
vibrant coastal communities
into beachfronts that look more
like shipwrecks.
A string of natural gas fires
broke out, but officials said no
one was hurt. In some spots,
residents were still waiting for
floodwaters to recede.
"This is our home. We've been
here for years," one New Jersey
man told New York CBS station
WCBS. "We clean up, we get
everything back to normal and
we go on."
In New Jersey 1.8 million
customers remain without
power, down from a peak of 2.7
million. Utility companies say it
will be a week before most of
that power is back. Some out-
ages could linger longer than
that.
New York: After direct
engagement wi t h t he
Offi ce of Emergency
Management (OEM)
and over 51 organiza-
tions, United Sikhs has
initiated an urgent call
for warm clothing, blan-
kets, diapers, baby for-
mula, hygiene supplies
and cleaning supplies.
Fami l i es desperat el y
seek warmth from the
bitter onset of winter
and supplies from which
they may provide nour-
ishment to their chil-
dren.
Due to the closure of
markets and stores there
is also a pressing need
for fresh and hot meals
as well as water.
The First Response
Team from United Sikhs
is in direct contact with
shel t ers i n New York
and New Jersey t o
assess needs and with
Gurdwaras to facilitate
the preparation of the
hot meals. The volun-
teers are in direct coor-
dination with the Red
Cross t o ensure t hat
they are updated on the
evolving ground reali-
ties.
The organi zat i on
urgent l y need vol un-
teers to administer the
distribution of supplies
and meal s and t he
preparation of the hot
meals.
You can also donate
by visiting their website
http://unitedsikhs.org
Sandy hit NY-NJ faces petrol shortage, transport problems
United Sikhs initiates Hurricane
Sandy relief efforts
Long lines at a CITGO gas station owned by Shudh Prakash Singh
on Veterans Hwy, Bohemia, NY. 11716
3 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY
NYC to get
FEMA help
T
here's relief in sight for
stranded New York City
residents: Gov. Andrew
Cuomo announced Thursday
the National Guard and FEMA
will deliver one million hot
meals and bottled water to
areas most affected by the hur-
ricane. While the city's electri-
cal company, Con Edison, said
power should be restored to
Manhattan by this weekend,
other parts of the city could
remain without power for
longer and be stranded. Staten
Island in particular took a par-
ticularly harsh hit from the
storm: roughly 113,000 resi-
dents are without power and
are not expected to get it back
for 10 days, while the city's
main transport to Manhattan,
the ferry, is closed
UN's New York office damaged by
hurricane: official
United Nations: The UN headquarter
complex in New York has "suffered sig-
nificant damage in terms of flooding"
from Hurricane Sandy, which hit the met-
ropolitan area Monday, Xinhua reported a
UN official as saying.
Speaking during a briefing Thursday at
the UN General Assembly on the effects
of the superstorm, described by experts
as one of the largest ever that hit the US,
Gregory B. Starr, the UN under-secre-
tary-general for safety and security, said:
"We have suffered significant damage in
terms of flooding."
"Flooding was at an historic level," he
added. The flooding was worse in lower
levels of the UN complex along New
York' s swollen East River when
Hurricane Sandy hit.
Devastated New York, New Jersey begin slow recovery
Washington/New York: Millions in the
worst hit New York and New Jersey and
up and down t he US East Coast
Wednesday began picking pieces of their
lives shattered by Hurricane Sandy that
left 48 dead.
Much of New York, America's biggest
city and its financial hub, remained para-
lyzed even as crews began the daunting
task of cleaning up flooded subways,
wat erl ogged bui l di ngs and burned
homes.
A total of 6.2 million people remained
without power.
Some of New York City ground transit
and airports were coming back to life
Wednesday. The New York St ock
Exchange reopened after a two-day clo-
sure, the first for weather-related reasons
since 1888.
Meanwhile, New Jersey neighborhoods
were still deluged under water ahead of
President Barack Obama' s scheduled
visit to the state.
And states farther west are grappling
wi t h super st orm Sandy' s dramat i c
encore -- a blizzard that dumped three
feet of snow in West Virginia and left
hundreds of thousands in the shivering
cold, CNN reported.
Two New York area airports -- John F.
Kennedy and Newark Liberty -- are
scheduled to reopen with limited service.
The third, LaGuardia airport, is expect-
ed to remain closed because of signifi-
cant damage. The city's massive subway
network will remain offline for several
days as workers try to recover the inun-
dated underground lifeline.
New York's bus service is set to resume
but it probably won't accommodate the
five million commuters who rely on the
subway every day.
The transportation headaches in New
Jersey are far from over with the rail
operations centre of NJ Transit crippled
by eight feet of water, and at least 65
locomotive engines and 257 rail cars
damaged.
"There is major damage on each and
every one of New Jersey's rail lines,"
Governor Chris Christie said. "Large sec-
tions of track were washed out."
There was no immediate estimate of
the losses from the storm, but the scope
of the damage - covering more than a
half-dozen states - pointed to tens of bil-
lions of dollars. Christie called it "incal-
culable".
Meanwhile, Washington, largely spared
of Sandy's wrath, started resuming nor-
mal life with the Metro and bus services
beginning regular schedules, federal
workers returning to work and schools
and colleges reopening.
Pets belonging to residents in Breezy
Point, Queens, being taken to safer
area during Hurricane Sandy relief
efforts, October 29.
UN headquarter complex
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Indian American story
Continued from page 1
American in the Obama team as administrator
of the USAID, and Preet Bharara, high profile
US attorney for Manhattan, were not there at
the Democratic Convention as they hold gov-
ernment jobs.
But Kamala Harris, 47, the first woman, and
the first South Asian to be elected as attorney
general of California, was one of the headlin-
ers.
Actor Kal Penn too had a starring role host-
ing primetime web coverage when Obama
accepted the party's nomination.
Jindal, son of Indian immigrants from
Punjab, governor since 2007, could not make
it to the Republican convention after
Hurricane Isaac hit Louisiana's southeast
coast.
But Haley, born Nikki Nimrata Randhawa
in a Sikh immigrant family, was given a key
speaking spot. So was another son of Sikh
immigrants, Ranjit 'Rikky' Gill, 25, who is the
lone Indian-American Republican running for
Congress from California.
Besides Gill, four Democrats - Upendra
Chivukula from New Jersey, Ami Bera from
California, Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania
and Syed Taj from Michigan -- are also mak-
ing credible runs for the Congress and dozens
more are either holding or seeking seats in
state legislatures.
(Arun Kumar is North America Bureau
Chief, IANS.)
Romney and Obama story
Continued from page 1
Mitt Romney dominated.
The latest job numbers (unemployment at
7.9%) released Friday have not gone in favor
of any candidate, however.
Meanwhile, both Obama and Romney
returned to full campaign mode after a few
days hiatus forced by the hurricane to make a
final push in the swing states and to make
their final argument to be elected President of
the United States of America. Romney was
noted to be taking a much more moderate line
than he displayed during Republican primar-
ies. Obama was in attack mode.
Those waiting to hear the name of the next
US President on Nov 6 evening will need to
brace for delaysin some states the voting is
closing late evening and some other untoward
factors can butt in, more so after Sandy.
But whoever wins, Indian Americans will
find a prime place in the new administration
as our other story on page 1 indicates.
Continuations of page 1
Mayor Bloomberg endorses
Obama for second term
Lavish birthday party for Naomis
boyfriend in Jodhpur
INOC-DC calls on world community for Sandy relief
US productivity, job growth up
4 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TURN PAGE
Washington: US President
Barack Obama earned another
high profile endorsement
Thursday, this time from New
York City' s Mayor Michael
Bloomberg, who cited climate
change as the primary reason for
choosing the incumbent president
for a second term.
"The increase in extreme weath-
er we have experienced in New
York City and around the world
may or may not be the result of it,
the risk that it might be - given
this week's devastation - should
compel all elected leaders to take
immediate action," Bloomberg
wrote in an opinion article for
Bloomberg View.
While Obama has taken steps to
reduce carbon consumption,
Bloomberg said Republican con-
tender Mitt Romney has
backpedalled on the earlier posi-
tions to battle climate change he
held as governor of the US state
of Massachusetts.
Bloomberg also noted Obama's
commitment to same-sex mar-
riage and women's access to legal
abortion as reasons behind the
endorsement.
Bloomberg, an independent,
was previously affiliated with
both the Democratic and
Republican parties. In the 2008
presidential election, Bloomberg
stayed neutral and did not endorse
either candidate.
By Prakash Bhandari
Jaipur: British super-
model Naomi
Campbell, who is fly-
ing to India with her
billionaire boyfriend
Vladimir Doronin, is to
spend her holiday at
Jodhpur. She will have
a lavish Indian birthday
bash for her boyfriend
at the majestic Ummed
Bhawan Palace here.
She has invited about
80 guests from
Russia, Britain and
the US, many of
whom are from the
fashion and film
world. They will
start arriving in India
by November
5..Campbell is flying
many guests to India
and paying for all
amenities, including
boarding, lodging.
Washington DC: The people of India and
the Washington Chapter of the Indian
National Overseas Congress (I), USA has
offered their prayers and solidarity to
Americans and the victims of Hurricane
Sandy. We call on people in the Washington
Metro Area, America and around the world
to send whatever assistance they can to the
American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) in
their extraordinary efforts to bring immedi-
ate relief to thousands across this great coun-
try, the press release said.
Washington: Employers stepped up hiring
in October and a small increase in the jobless
rate was due to more workers restarting their
job hunts, a hopeful sign for a lackluster
economy that has been a drag on President
Barack Obama's re-election bid.
Employers added 171,000 people to their
payrolls last month, the Labor Department
said on Friday. The government also said
84,000 more jobs were created in August
and September than previously estimated.
The jobless rate edged up a tenth of a point
to 7.9 percent, but that was due to workers
surging back into the labor force. Only peo-
ple who are looking for a job count as unem-
ployed.
"This report is consistent with the emerg-
ing picture of an economic recovery that is
continuing to regain traction after grinding
to a halt earlier this year," said Millan
Mulraine, an economist at TD Securities in
New York.
US non-farm business sector labour pro-
ductivity increased at a 1.9 percent annual
rate during the third quarter of 2012, authori-
ties said. The increase in productivity,
unchanged from the second quarter, reflects
increases of 3.2 percent in output and 1.3
percent in hours worked, in the July-
September quarter. Over the past year, pro-
ductivity rose 1.5 percent, reported Xinhua
citing the Labor Department.
Unit labour costs, the ratio of hourly com-
pensation to labour productivity, decreased
0.1 percent in the third quarter, while hourly
compensation increased 1.8 percent. .
Naomi Campbell
and her billionaire
boyfriend
Vladimir Doronin.
Long Island, NY: Nassau County
Executive Edward P. Mangano has
announced federal disaster aid has
been made available to Nassau
County through the U. S.
Department of Homeland Security's
Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)
. This aid will supplement state and
local recovery efforts in areas affect-
ed by Hurricane Sandy beginning on
October 27, 2012 and continuing.
I encourage residents and local
business owners who think they
may qualify for federal aid or would
like additional information on what
disaster assistance programs to call
FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 or visit
www.DisasterAssistance.gov to reg-
ister, said County Executive
Mangano.
Assistance can include grants for
temporary housing and home
repairs, low-cost loans to cover
uninsured property losses, and other
programs to help individuals and
business owners recover from the
effects of the disaster.
Federal funding is available to
state and eligible local governments
and certain private nonprofit organi-
zations on a cost-sharing basis for
debris removal and emergency pro-
tective measures, including direct
federal assistance, for Bronx, Kings,
Nassau, New York, Richmond,
Suffolk, and Queens counties.
Federal funding is also available
on a cost-sharing basis for hazard
mitigation measures statewide.
Residents and business owners
who sustained losses in the desig-
nated county can begin applying for
assistance starting tomorrow by reg-
istering online at http://www.disas-
terassistance.gov, by web enabled
mobile device at m.fema.gov or by
calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or
1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hear-
ing and speech impaired.
The toll-free telephone numbers
will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
EDT seven days a week until further
notice.
Applicants registering for aid
should be prepared to provide basic
information about themselves
(name, permanent address, phone
number), insurance coverage and
any other information to help sub-
stantiate losses. County Executive
Mangano is working with FEMA to
open local Disaster Recovery
Centers throughout Nassau County
in the coming days.
For more information on hurri-
cane recovery efforts, please visit
www.nassaucountyny.gov/hurricane
or follow Ed Mangano on Facebook
and Twitter.
Non-Emergency Hotline 1-888-
684-4274.
Mangano: Federal disaster aid available for Nassau County
By Ashok Vyas
O
n my way back from ITV studio in
Long Island City, on Tuesday, Oct
30th, I passed by many fallen trees.
Many roads were blocked in certain areas due
to the destructive imprints of Sandys visit to
my New York. New York is screaming with
pain, so much destruction by surge in waves.
The source and essence of life, water,
showed its other possible effect. Science has
definitely helped in forecasting it but is there
any way to prevent or divert the path of
Superstorm?
I stopped by at Hindu Temple, Flushing to
pray or to be in the intense presence of that,
which is everywhere. As I walked out, I
picked up The South Asian Times from the
temple.
In the piling of news about the unprece-
dented dance of destruction by the storm, I
had forgotten about having sent this article.
Interestingly, some of the lines written in the
Wake up call to align with our lifes pur-
pose appeared relevant in the light of the
aftermath of the storm. I had written, What
could ring the alarm bell to make us aware
about our false perception of ourselves. And
I had raised the question , Is there any way
to alert us about the mistakes we make in our
thinking pattern?
I guess, now the question is not just about
our thinking pattern as an individual, the
question is related to the mistake we make
collectively in choosing our lifestyle with
respect to our relationship with the environ-
ment. Is there any correlation between the
fury of Sandy, the unwinding coil of mas-
sive energy in the sea, moving towards us,
with powerful current of wind and our under-
standing about life in its totality?
We have instruments to measure air pres-
sure, the satellite images tell us about the
speed with which this power is travelling
towards us to cause mayhem. But, we dont
know how to appease this fury of mother
nature. Will we find it impossible to identify
with our forefathers, who used to worship
natural elements? The creation is made of
five elements, our body is made of five
elements. Our scriptures talk about treating
the human body as temple of God, there are
references to remind us Yatha Pinde, tatha
brahmande, in nutshell, As in the body, so in
the nature. Is it possible to feel this correla-
tion and rectify the imbalance in five ele-
ments around us by following certain pattern
of life.
On Oct 8th of 2012, till the time, I was
oblivious of the possible arrival of Sandy, I
was interviewing Viswayogi Viswamjee
Maharaj. This year, he has emphasized the
importance of being considerate towards
mother earth in all his addresses. He has also
composed a song in praise of Mother Earth,
It has been a recurring theme in his discours-
es to draw our attention for working towards
love and peace in the world. He said, we are
paying more attention to nation and religion,
we are ready to wage wars in the name of
these issues, which would become meaning-
less, if the earth is not safe. I was reminded of
his words, as in the aftermath of Sandy, the
political discussions seemed to have taken a
backseat, the impact of this storm requires
attention on many levels.
Sandys impressions demand a lot of work
for rebuilding and coping up with the loss. It
would be relevant to thank the proactive
approach of the administration in taking the
weather forecast seriously, taking many pre-
cautionary steps and closing subway system,
schools, tunnels and bridges. We will need lot
of strength in the recovery process.
The landscape and assumptions have
changed, Sandy has shaken us in a way
unimaginable. Water in tunnels and subway
system, unthinkable. We are finding it diffi-
cult to understand how nearly 80 houses were
devoured by fire at such a speed. We are still
shocked by death of people by fallen trees.
The city that never sleeps had to stay still for
two days, no wall street, no subway or buses
and no schools. Millions of people without
power and many trapped in their own homes
in Hoboken, NJ due to water surge.
Some areas have not felt the violent touch
of Superstorm Sandys anger but it has
proved, in some way, all of us are in harms
way. Indeed, rescue and rebuilding process
would be long and challenging.
Going back to my conversation with
Viswayogi Viswamjee Maharaj, who hails
from Guntur and has built an ashram Viswa
Mandir , he is considered to be a
Siddhapurusha, some devotees also treat him
as avtaar of Lord Dattatreya. You will see
his picture at Sai Mandir, Baldwin in the nav-
griha sthan. Dr Nori Dattatreya, the famous
cancer specialist also acknowledges yogic
powers of Viswayogiji. The reason, I mention
about him here is related to this recent natural
calamity. On Oct 8th, along with other ques-
tions, I also asked him, It appears, this year,
you are urging people to pay attention
towards mother earth with special emphasis,
do you foresee any natural calamity befalling
us in the near future?
I was reminded of his response to this ques-
tion and his informal words about how the
imbalance in five elements may prove to be
fatal for sons and daughters of mother earth.
Come Monday, Oct 29th, I was reminded of
my conversation with Viswayogi Viswamjee
Maharaj, I also got calls from Chandra
Shekhar and Sai Prasaad, who were present at
the time in New Jersey, when this interview
was being recorded for ITV.
In India, Sharad Poornima is observed as a
day to focus on Mother Goddess as Shri,
sages say, she descends on earth through the
rays of moon and asks, who is awake?
This night is considered special for increasing
the awareness about the knowledge of the
self, being awake means being aware. So, in
the normal circumstances, sadhakas prepare
Kheer, which is placed to absorb the special
rays coming from moon on this auspicious
night and then it is taken as prasaad. My
Guru Swami Shri Ishwarananda Giriji
Maharaj, addressed a group of disciples and
referring to Shri Sukt, reminded them that
Shri also means Earth. He said Moon is
related to mind, if mind is not filled with pol-
luted desires then it will manifest, beauty of
the soul, there will be experience of joy.
Quoting Swamijis words that came my
way in New York from Pondicherry via
soundcloud, as uploaded by a fellow devotee.
He said Your act must be revealing, it must
be healing. His special blessing was, May
your life be truly beautiful and beautifully
true.
We need to work towards being worthy of
this blessing by realizing the call of being
more sensitive towards mother earth.
(Author Ashok Vyas is a Hindu priest, poet
and program director, ITV. He has founded
Insight for Creativity for cultural and mean-
ingful expressions through audio-visual
medium.)
Revealing and healing in aftermath of Sandy
People helping each other in the
aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
Nassau County Executive Ed
Mangano addressing news
media on the county's
response to Hurriacne Sandy.
5 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY
6 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
AALDEF calls on Justice Department to monitor elections
in states with history of severe voting rights violations
T
he Asian American Legal Defense and
Education Fund (AALDEF) submitted
a letter to the U.S. Department of Jus-
tice urging the Attorney General to assign at-
torneys and appoint federal observers to mon-
itor the elections on November 6, 2012, for
practices that may infringe on the ability of
Asian Americans to exercise their right to
vote, as well as to ensure the full force of the
nation's voting protections under federal laws.
AALDEF has monitored several prior elec-
tions for compliance with the Voting Rights
Act and the Help America Vote Act. Last
week, AALDEF released a new report docu-
menting the many obstacles faced by Asian
American voters during the Presidential Pri-
mary Elections in early 2012. AALDEF re-
ceived several complaints of barriers to voting
in numerous jurisdictions across the country,
the most severe of which are highlighted in the
report. AALDEF requested that the U.S. De-
partment of Justice monitor the election in the
following jurisdictions: Queens County, New
York for Bengali language assistance under
Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. The
New York City Board of Elections has refused
to provide translated ballots in Bengali for the
past four elections and will be unable to trans-
late ballots for the November 6 election, in vi-
olation of federal law. The Board offered to
provide translated sample ballots, but there is
little assurance that such translated sample
ballots will even be at poll sites for Bengali-
speaking voters to access.
Philadelphia and Bensalem, Pennsylvania to
guard against nondiscriminatory application
of voter photo identification requirements:
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania enacted a new
voter photo identification law. Although a
state court blocked Pennsylvania's discrimina-
tory new voter ID law from being implement-
ed on November 6, poll workers might still
seek to apply the law and deny Asian Ameri-
cans the right to vote. In past elections,
AALDEF monitored polls in Philadelphia and
Bensalem and observed inappropriate ID
checks of voters.
Greater Atlanta, Georgia for nondiscrimina-
tory application of voter proof of citizenship
requirements: Georgia's new proof of citizen-
ship law will have a disproportionate impact
on Asian American voters, a large percentage
of whom are foreign-born naturalized citizens.
Following the Ninth Circuit's ruling that
Arizona's new law violates the National Voter
Registration Act, federal monitoring will
guard against the disenfranchisement of Asian
American voters in Georgia.
IACFNJ celebrates Navratri with Garba event for 7th year
I
ndo-American Cultural Foundation of
Central Jersey - IACFNJ organized Navra-
tri Garba at Cross Roads Middle School
Auditorium in South Brunswick, New Jersey
on October 19, 20, 26 and 27, 2012. Attended
by more than 8,000 people in four days, the
event was a grand success for the seventh con-
secutive year. Famous group of Mahesh
Mehta and his talented singers from Bolly-
wood and local talents of Entertainment Un-
limited rocked the stage with famous old and
new garbas, dandiya tunes, some famous Bol-
lywood tunes, sanedo and bhangaras for non-
stop live entertainment for more than six
hours. South Brunswicks cultural diversity
was witnessed on the dance floor where the at-
tendees were not only Gujaratis but from all
over India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
and other neighboring countries and high
school kids of various ethnic and cultural back
grounds. The local business entrepreneurs,
community leaders and local and state public
officials attended the celebration to support
IACFNJ community efforts to keep Indian
culture and heritage alive in this country. The
Grand Sponsors for this years event were
Pinakin and Kirti Pathak of OHM Internation-
al, Sunil and Vandana Nayak of Inn Zen Hos-
pitality, Hitesh and Trusha Patel of Finnegan
Plaza, Patel Cash and Carry and Subzi Mandi
of North Brunswick. South Brunswick Mayor
Frank Gambatese, Councilman Charlie Car-
ley, Joseph Camarota, John OSullivan, North
Brunswick Council members Shanti Nara and
Carlos Soccio were among the public officials
and invited guests to attend the event. New
Jersey State Assembly candidates Donna Si-
mon and Marie Corfield, Freeholder Sam
Khan, Congressman Rush Holt from the 12th
District also attended the event.
Memorial service held for baby Saanvi
M
ourners said a final goodbye to
baby Saanvi Venna, who was ab-
ducted and killed in a botched
kidnapping for ransom plan in Pennsylva-
nia. The 10 month-old infant, was buried
Sunday following a public memorial serv-
ice where family members struggled to
come to terms with the girl's death. Venna's
grandmother, Satayrathi Venna, was also
killed in the incident, trying to protect the
baby.
Police have arrested a neighbor Raghu-
nandan "Raghu" Yandamuri, 26, who al-
legedly kidnapped the girl. He had planned
to extract $50,000 ransom because he was
in financial trouble, the Philadelphia In-
quirer reported. Police said he stuffed a
handkerchief in the grandmother's mouth
so she couldn't scream before cutting her
throat. He then put the baby in a suitcase
before abandoning her in the basement of
the King of Prussia apartment complex he
shared with the Venna family. Despite an
intense hunt, she wasn't found in time.
Despite the tragedy, Saanvi's father,
Venkata Konda "Siva" Venna, urged those
mourning his daughter to keep their Hindu
faith.
"I am a proud father to have a daughter
like Saanvi," he said. "Don't lose your
hearts. People are good."
Four-year-old Dhyanesh mowed down by a speeding car
A
four-year-old Indian-American boy
was mowed down by a speeding car
driven by a woman at a traffic inter-
section here, police said.
The victim, Dhyanesh, son of Balaji
Jeyakannan, was struck by the car and killed
on the spot at the junction of Jefferson Avenue
and Central Avenue yesterday.
The mishap occurred when the child, hold-
ing his mother Nagarani Nagarajan's hand,
was crossing the road after the stop sign for
motorists. The vehicle driven by the accused
Eisa Templo first hit Nagarani, who lost bal-
ance as well as the hold of her kid, following
which the child got mowed down by the car.
Balaji Jeyakannan, a native of Madurai in
southern India, is working as an IT consultant
with Con Edison Company here.Police have
arrested the accused and remanded her to cus-
tody. The Consulate General of India in New
York is helping the victim's parents to trans-
port the body of the child to India.
Preet Bharara sues Bank Of America over
alleged mortgage fraud
P
reet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Man-
hattan, is suing Bank of America for
over $1 billion mortgage fraud against
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The complaint
alleges that Countrywide allegedly started a
fraudulent mortgage origination program
called the "Hustle," which was "designed to
sell defective loans" to Fannie and Freddie, an
official press release said.
When BofA acquired Countrywide in 2008
during the financial crisis that "Hustle" pro-
gram allegedly continued, according to the re-
lease.
"As alleged, through a program aptly named
the Hustle, Countrywide and Bank of Amer-
ica made disastrously bad loans and stuck tax-
payers with the bill. As described, Country-
wide and Bank of America systematically re-
moved every check in favor of its own balance
they cast aside underwriters, eliminated
quality controls, incentivised unqualified per-
sonnel to cut corners, and concealed the re-
sulting defects. These toxic products were
then sold to the government sponsored enter-
prises as good loans. This lawsuit should send
another clear message that reckless lending
practices will not be tolerated," Bharara said
in a statement.
Family members of Saanvi Venna at
the memorial service (Photo: Vijay
Shah/Freelance US Media LLC.)
More than 8000 people took part over four days
Atlanta gets an Indian Consulate
Atlanta: Nirupama Rao,
Ambassador of India to the
United States of America inaugu-
rated the new Consulate General
of India in Atlanta on October, 22,
2012. The Consulate is located at
5549 Glenridge Drive NE,
Atlanta, GA-30342. The inaugu-
ration was attended by Mayor of
Sandy Springs, Eva Galambos,
Congressman Rob Woodall,
Chairman of the Democratic Party
of Georgia, MichaelBerlon, sever-
al leaders of the Indian-American
community and media.
After the inauguration, a recep-
tion was held at the Heritage
Hallin Sandy Springs, which was
addressed by Ambassador Raoand
Mayor Galambos.
Dean and several members of
the Consular Corps, Michael
Berlon, President of the
University of the West Georgia,
Dr. Beheruz Sethna, President of
the University of Columbus State
University, Dr. Timothy S.
Mescon, Professor Jagdish N.
Sheth, Goizueta Business School,
leaders of the Indian-American
community, captains of industry,
representatives of chambers of
commerce, media and over 250
persons attended the reception.
Ambassador Rao called on the
Governor of the State of Georgia,
Nathan Deal on 23rd October,
2012 and discussed matters of
mutual interest to improve rela-
tions between India and Georgia.
From 1st October, 2012 the new
Consulate General of India in
Atlanta has started Passport and
Miscellaneous Consular Services
at 5549 Glenridge Drive NE,
Atlanta, GA-30342. For these
services, the consular jurisdiction
of the Consulate will be Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
Puerto Rico, South Carolina,
Tennessee and Virgin Islands.
Detailed information is available
on the website:
http://www.indianconsulateatla-
ta.org
Ambassador Nirupama Rao with Sandy Springs Mayor Eva
Galambos, US Representative Rob Woodall and Indian
community members while inaugurating the
new Consulate General of India in Atlanta
7 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Washington, DC: The Global
Organization of People of
Indian Origin (GOPIO), in col-
laboration with GOPIO chapters
of Metro DC and Virginia, is
launching its Gadar Centennial
Commemoration in the US.
Gadar was a newspaper pub-
lished for the Hindustani
Association of the Pacific
Coast, founded at Portland in
1912. The movement this
Association gave rise to, aimed
at winning freedom for India
from British colonial rule, came
to be known as the Gadar
Movement.
Marking the 100th anniver-
sary of the Gadar Movement
which began in 1913, a series of
commemoration events are
planned throughout 2013 in col-
laboration with several
NRI/PIO organizations, govern-
ment and international agencies.
It is a fitting tribute to patriots
and heroes of the Gadar
Movement and deserving of
their sacrifices to free India,
GOPIO said describing the his-
tory of the Gadar movement as
a testimony of the deep love
that the Indian immigrants had
for their motherland.
The Gadar Movement is an
integral part of the rich heritage
in the United States for the
Indian Americans and of Indian
history, it said.
The Gadarites left an extra-
ordinary legacy for the future
generations and a global centen-
nial commemoration is a fitting
and well deserved tribute,
GOPIO added.
As GOPIO has done for the
Kolkata Memorial unveiled on
Jan 11, 2011 in recognition and
remembrance of Indian inden-
tured laborers who left India
from 1834-1920, the Centennial
Commemoration of Gadar
Movement is another GOPIO
initiative in its continuing
efforts to preserve and promote
Indian history, heritage and cul-
ture, GOPIO said.
The launch event at the Indian
Embassy here on Nov 3 (while
going to print we had no confir-
mation if the event has been
rescheduled in aftermath of
Hurricane Sandy) includes a
lecture/discussion on "The Role
of Gadar Movement for India's
Independence" by prominent
Gadar researchers and histori-
ans and release of the GOPIO
publication on "Global Indian
Diaspora."
GOPIO to launch Gadar centennial
Nevada: Religious statesman Rajan Zed,
president of Universal Society of
Hinduism, has been invited to participate
in World Economic Forum.
The event, organized by Geneva
(Switzerland) headquartered World
Economic Forum is being held in India
from November 6-8. It will bring together
500 global and regional business leaders,
heads of state and government and minis-
ters, as well as leaders from media, acade-
mia and civil society.
Under the theme From Deliberation to
Transformation it will address key issues
and opportunities in the areas of develop-
ing human capital, redressing risk and ful-
filling the future promise.
The World Economic Forum is an
international organization committed to
improving the state of the world by engag-
ing business, political, academic and other
leaders of society to shape global, regional
and industry agendas. Klaus Schwab is the
Chairman. Nevada based Rajan Zed has
taken up interfaith, religion, environment,
Roma (Gypsies) and other causes all over
the world.
Rajan Zed invited to World Economic Forum
Rajan Zed
8 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL COMMUNITY
New York: Indian-American
writer/director Prashant
Bhargava and producer
Jaideep Punjabi have won the
South Asian Rising Star Film
Awards for Best Director and
Best Picture for the feature
film "Patang" (The Kite).
The two received the
awards at a ceremony here.
The jury consisted of Indian
film critic Rajeev Masand,
India Abroad editor Arthur
Pais, singer/songwriter and
Goldspot frontman
Siddhartha Khosla, American
actress and musician Janina
Gavankar and American actor
Maulik Pancholy.
"Patang" is one of the most
critically celebrated Indian films of the year.
"Patang" had its world premiere at the
Berlin Film Festival and its North American
premiere in competition at the Tribeca Film
Festival.
The film has gone on to play at 30 film
festivals worldwide and won numerous
accolades including Best Feature Narrative
at the Hawaii International Film Festival,
Best World Narrative at the Indy Film
Festival, Special Jury Award and the Best
Feature Narrative at the Dc Apa Film
Festival and the Special
Jury Award at the Osian's
Film Festival (New Delhi).
Described as a poetic
journey to the old city of
Ahmedabad, "Patang"
weaves together the stories
of six people transformed
by the energy of India' s
largest kite festival.
Seven years in the mak-
ing, the cast features award
winning actress Seema
Biswas ("Water", "Bandit
Queen"), Nawazuddin
Siddiqui ("Gangs Of
Wasseypur", "Peepli Live",
"Dev D") and Sugandha
Garg ("Tere Bin Laden",
"My Name is Khan",
"Janne Tu Ya Janne Na").
Hailed as a "masterful" filmmaker with
"hypnotically beautiful visuals", "naturalis-
tic storytelling" and a "colorfully vivid"
poetic style, Prashant Bhargava stands at the
leading edge of independent Indian cinema.
"Patang" is his feature length debut. Born
and raised in Chicago, Bhargava started out
as a graffiti artist. He went on to study com-
puter science at Cornell University and the-
atrical directing at The Actors Studio MFA
program.
India-American director's
'Patang' wins Rising Star awards
Prashant Bhargava on
stage with the co-host of
the awards show, Indian-
American actress
Sunny Leone
Washington, DC: At a time when unem-
ployment is a major issue in the US due to
its poor economic status, Indian companies
have created 50,000 jobs in the country
through massive investments, a top US
diplomat said.
"Our economic relationship is very much
a two way street. Both of us are focused on
attracting growth and investment to our
shores. Indian-owned Tata factory in Ohio
puts thousands of Americans to work, part
of the over 50,000 jobs Indian firms have
created in the US. Opportunities for small,
medium and large American businesses in
India are staggering, " US Deputy
Secretary of State William Burns said.
Burns added that India is being projected
as the world's third largest economy by
2025.
He also praised the recent Indian deci-
sions with regard to next phase of econom-
ic reforms. "Of course, for our companies
to provide the technology and expertise to
help India prosper, India's government
must create an environment that encour-
ages growth," he said, adding that the
countrys recent easing of some restric-
tions on Foreign Direct Investment are
promising.
Burns observes that US is Indias most
important partner. Total direct investment
from US in India has jumped from $2.4
billion in 2000 to $27 billion in 2010.
During the same period, Indian direct
investment in America grew over $200
million to nearly $5 billion, which is more
than a twenty fold increase, he said.
"Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
got $60 million in two way businesses
from his India visit. Kentucky Governor
Steve Beshear visited India three times and
brought about $7 billion private sector
energy deal. Norfolk has a sister city
alliance with Kochi in Kerala that has
helped Virginia export nearly $300 million
in goods to India each year," Mr Burns
added.
Burns also broached the topic about
Civil Nuclear Initiative, which according
to him, still holds promise for the people
of India and US.
"Without diminishing the real and frus-
trating challenges we have faced, both
governments are now engaged in realizing
practical benefits of the civil nuclear
agreement, especially reliable electricity
for India's homes and businesses," he said.
He argued that our companies are mak-
ing good headway in negotiations with
their Indian counterpart to complete works
agreements by the end of this year.
In June, Westinghouse and India' s
Nuclear Power Corporation took important
steps that will lead to Westinghouse
nuclear reactors in Gujarat. We hope
General Electric can follow suit, he said,
adding that the US is as committed as the
Indian government in expanding coopera-
tion in nuclear energy and other areas,
from wind and solar energy to natural gas
and bio fuels.
Indian companies created 50,000
jobs in US: Deputy Secretary of State
Deputy Secretary of
State William Burns
9
November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA
New Delhi: India Against
Corruption has turned its fire on
Reliance Industries chairman
Mukesh Ambani by alleging that S.
Jaipal Reddy was axed as petroleum
minister for refusing a RIL's propos-
al to hike gas charges and accused
the government of promoting "crony
capitalism."
IAC' s Arvind Kejriwal and
Prashant Bhushan demanded that
the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin
allotted to Reliance Industries be
scrapped and accused the UPA gov-
ernment of favouring the RIL by
giving contract on gas exploration in
KG Basin and concessions at a huge
cost to the exchequer.
"Their KG Basin contract should
be cancelled. The government
should immediately put in place
adequate systems to get full produc-
tion from KG Basin at the cheapest
price for the country."
Kejriwal and Bhushan slammed
what they called a "classic case of
crony capitalism", and charged that
Reliance was "blackmailing" the
government to hike the price of gas
by "almost stopping" the production
and indulging in "hoarding like
petty traders."
"Mukesh Ambani is running the
country it seems," Kejriwal told the
media here. "Jaipal Reddy was
removed as he refused to hike the
charges levied by Reliance
Industries to supply gas to the
NTPC (National Thermal Power
Corp)."
Reliance called the charges "irre-
sponsible". Petroleum minister M.
Veerappa Moily declined to com-
ment on the allegations.
According to Kejriwal, the KG
basin was awarded to Reliance in
2000 by the NDA government when
the company agreed to supply gas to
the NTPC for the next 17 years at
$2.34 per unit.
But, said Kejriwal, the company
revised the rate to $4.25 per unit in
2007 which then finance minister
Pranab Mukherjee agreed to as the
head of an empowered group of
ministers, benefiting Reliance to the
tune of Rs.10,000 crore.
"The entire contract was meant to
benefit Reliance because ... the cost
would be determined by the compa-
ny, and if the cost increases, so will
the profit," he said, adding this was
unheard of in business.
Kejriwal alleged that in 2006 then
petroleum minister Mani Shankar
Iyer was removed and Murli Deora
brought in to increase Reliance
Industries' capital expenditure from
$2.39 billion to $8.8 billion, and to
hike gas price from $2.34 per unit to
$4.25 per unit.
Later, the company wanted the
rate further hiked to $14.2. Jaipal
Reddy, who reportedly did not agree
to the proposal, was shunted out in
Sunday' s cabinet rejig, said the
activist-politician.
Kejriwal released to the media a
"secret" document of the petroleum
ministry that said that accepting the
Reliance demand would generate
for it an additional profit of
Rs.43,000 crore ($8.5 billion).
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
asked the prime minister to respond
to IAC and explain why Jaipal
Reddy was dropped from the petro-
leum ministry.
The activists cited purported con-
versations between corporate lobby-
ist Niira Radia and Atal Behari
Vajpayee's foster son-in-law Ranjan
Bhattacharya to say that Ambani
had boasted that the Congress was
under his control. The conversation
makes it clear that Ambani had pow-
erful influence over the Congress
and the BJP, he claimed.
"In the Niira Radia tapes, Ranjan
Bhattacharya is heard telling Niira
that Mukesh Ambani told him
'Congress to ab apni dukaan hai.
BJP signed a sweet deal with RIL in
2000. Congress faithfully imple-
mented it." The Congress pre-
dictably rubbished the charges. "His
charges are not worth a comment
from any political party," Congress
spokesperson P.C. Chacko told
IANS. Congress general secretary
B.K. Hari Prasad also said "the
charges were baseless".
Mukesh Ambani running country: Kejriwal
S. Jaipal Reddy was axed as petroleum minister for refusing a
RIL's proposal to hike gas charges, alleged India Against
Corruption (IAC)
Farukkhabad is External Affairs Minister
Salman Khurshid's constituency
Ralegan Siddhi: Veteran activist
Anna Hazare said India Against
Corruption leader Arvind
Kejriwal may never want to be
wealthy, but he is not above
being lured by power.
"There is a feeling of sacrifice
in him (Kejriwal), he does not
think about his family as much as
he thinks about the country and
society. He does not have greed
for money, but now after going to
politics another kind of greed... I
mean he will not become a min-
ister himself..." Anna Hazare said
in an interview to NDTV.
Asked if Kejriwal may end up
being greedy for power, Anna
Hazare said: "It is possible, but
he has no other greed."
Referring to the recent exposes
by Kejriwal against various
politicians, Anna Hazare said he
must take up the allegations one
by one, and take each charge to
its logical conclusion rather than
charging all political leaders one
after another.
"You don't have to catch every
one at the same time. Catch them
one by one. I sent home six min-
isters, so catch them one by one,"
he said.
Arvind may become power-hungry: Anna
Veteran activist Anna Hazare
Lucknow: Anti-graft activist
Arvind Kejriwal stepped up attack
on External Affairs Minister Salman
Khurshid in Farukkhabad and urged
the people to "dismiss" their tainted
representative in the 2014 polls,
even as Congress workers clashed
with his supporters.
"We urged the prime minister to
sack him but he did not, now I
request you to dismiss him in the
general elections of 2014," the India
Against Corruption activist told an
impressive and enthusiastic crowd.
He asked the people to pit a disabled
person as a candidate against
Khurshid in the polls and also to
ensure that the minister lost.
Earlier, the activists of the
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)
which is backing Kejriwal, and the
Congress workers clashed on the
outskirts of Farrukhabad. The "skir-
mish was a minor one and some
stones were pelted", a police officer
said adding that no one was injured.
Referring to his charges of corrup-
tion and forgery against the Dr.
Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run
by Khurshid and his wife Louise,
Kejriwal also accused the
Samajwadi Party (SP) government
in the state of trying to save the
tainted union minister.
They say a probe is being con-
ducted, Kejriwal said adding that:
"Where is the need for the probe as
it has already been done earlier this
year."
"Now the time has come to lodge
an FIR against Khurshid," Kejriwal
told the audience at the rally.
Enthused by the impressive crowd
at the meeting, Kejriwal said that
while he had seen various forms of
corruption in his crusade against
graft, the one done by Khurshid was
"by far the most shameful".
Dismiss Khurshid, Kejriwal
asks Farrukhabad
10 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA
New Delhi: Janata Party president
Subramanian Swamy has alleged
wrongdoing by Congress president
Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul
Gandhi leading to the takeover of
Herald House here. The Congress
dismissed the charges while Rahul
Gandhi' s office threatened legal
action.
Swamy said a company allegedly
floated by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul
Gandhi had done a "sham and
bogus" deal to "grab the Rs.1,600
crore worth Herald House" and
other properties of the group and
demanded a CBI probe.
The Congress was dismissive of
the allegations and referred to
Swamy as an "ajube" (strange char-
acter).A much more strong denial
came from Rahul Gandhi which said
the allegations were "baseless and
defamatory" and that legal action
would be taken for the "scandalous
abuse".
"The allegations made by you are
utterly false, entirely baseless and
defamatory," said a letter to Swamy.
"We are committed to pursuing legal
action." Swamy told the media that
the two Gandhis floated a company
called Young Indian in which each
had 38 percent stake.
Young Indian, he said, acquired
Associated Journals Pvt Ltd (APPL)
and became owner of the National
Herald and Quami Awaz and all
high value real estate property in
Delhi and Uttar Pradesh belonging
to the group.
"Rahul Gandhi was already a
shareholder in APJ Private Ltd in
2008 but failed to disclose this in his
affidavit filed for the Lok Sabha
elections in 2009," Swamy said.
Swamy demanded an investiga-
tion by the Serious Fraud
Investigation Office or the Central
Bureau of Investigation. He also
urged the Election Commission to
look into the illegality of loan given
by the Congress to a private compa-
ny.
The Congress poured scorn on
Swamy. "In every country and every
society there are some strange char-
acters," party general secretary
Janardan Dwivedi said.
"The name you are taking
(Swamy), he probably is one of
them. He can say anything, any-
time."
Swamy targets Sonia, Rahul
Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy
Hyderabad: Born in a farmer's family in a
remote village, Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu went
on to emerge as one of Andhra Pradesh's
tallest politicians. The 55-year-old, who died
in a road accident in his native Srikakulam
district early on November 2, was the Telugu
Desam Party's (TDP) most familiar face in the
national arena.
A four-time member of parliament and a
member of Andhra Pradesh assembly as many
times, he always remained loyal to the party
which he joined at its inception.
He was in the forefront of the TDP's protests
on people's issues. An affable person, he was
always accessible to people in his constituency.
Born on Feb 23, 1957, at Nimmada in
Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra,
Yerran naidu came up the hard way and went
on to become one of the most popular leaders
in the backward region.
The leadership qualities in him were evident
in his student days. Yerran Naidu, who
obtained a law degree from the Andhra
University in Visakhapatnam, joined the TDP
in 1982 when it was floated by popular Telugu
actor N.T. Rama Rao.
In 1983, he was elected to the state assem-
bly from Harishchandrapuram in his native
district. Belonging to Koppula Velama, a
backward caste in the region, he was re-elect-
ed in 1985. Denied a TDP ticket in 1989, he
fought as an independent and was re-elected
to the assembly. He later returned to the party
fold and was elected for the fourth consecu-
tive term in 1994.
He backed Chandrababu Naidu when the
latter led a revolt against N.T. Rama Rao and
became chief minister in 1995. He was the
government chief whip from 1995 to 1996.
Popularly known as Yeranna among TDP
circles, he was fielded by the party in 1996
parliamentary elections. Elected to the Lok
Sabha from Srikakulam constituency, he
emerged a key TDP leader in national politics.
With TDP joining the United Front govern-
ment, Naidu became a minister at the centre,
holding the portfolio of rural development and
employment.
He retained the Lok Sabha seat in the 1998
and 1999 elections. Two days before polling
in the 2004 elections, he survived an assassi-
nation bid by Maoists in Srikakulam district.
Re-elected to parliament, he was made the
party leader in the Lok Sabha.
Yerran Naidu: fighter and mass leader
New Delhi: Sunanda Pushkar has termed as
"downright disgusting" and belittling of
women the comment of Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi describing her as the
"Rs.50-crore girlfriend" of Shashi Tharoor.
In an interview to NDTV news channel,
Pushkar, who was allegedly linked to the IPL
Kochi cricket controversy in 2009, said she
was "extremely disappointed" at Modi' s
remarks and wondered, "how can someone
stoop to something like that".
Modi made the comment at an election rally
in Himachal Pradesh two days ago, after
Tharoor was brought back into the union
council of ministers. The Thiruvananthapuram
MP had resigned from the union ministry in
2010 over the IPL Kochi episode.
Pushkar said she was "completely horrified"
to hear the remarks by "this guy" who comes
from the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar
Patel.
"In the case of the Gujarat chief minister, I
feel sad why they get so personal and belit-
tle... It is downright disgusting," she said.
Asked if she would demand an apology,
Pushkar said, "A man who hasn't apologised
to his people for the killing of innocent
Gujaratis on his watch (2002 riots), how
would I expect an apology from him?"
She also said she had got a lot of support
from people, including many men, who had
reached out to her and asked her to speak out
following Modi's comments.
Referring to the IPL Kochi team issue,
Pushkar said: "we have completely sorted it
out, answered all questions of the ED
(Enforcement Directorate)". "Where is the
Rs.50 crore?" asked Pushkar.
"I was highly amused by the figure.. .
Earlier, the figure was Rs. 70 crore, so where
has Rs.20 crore gone?"
"The BJP needs to figure it out... it is an
imaginary figure," she said, adding: "Show
me the money."
To Modi's comment, Tharoor had retorted
with a tweet: "My wife is worth a lot more
than your imaginary 50 crores. She is price-
less. But you need to be able to love someone
to understand that."
Modi comments disgusting: Sunanda Pushkar
TDP leader Kinjarapu Yerran Naidu
Sunanda Pushkar with
minister-husband Shashi Tharoor
Obituary
Gandhinagar: Gujarat
will celebrate Diwali on
November 13 along with
the rest of the country and
then on December 20 when
the results of the state elec-
tion would be counted,
Chief Minister Narendra
Modi said Wednesday as
he renewed his attack on
the Manmohan Singh-led
central government.
"The people of Gujarat
will celebrate Diwali twice
this year. Once in
November, and then once
again on Dec 20, when the
BJP wins the election,"
Modi told a rally of the
Bharatiya Janata Party' s
youth wing.
He attacked the opposi-
tion Congress, accusing
them of "spreading lies"
about him and alleging that
the party was "wasting our
hard-earned money".
"But all this is not going
to work. Even today, five
years after the last polls,
the people of Gujarat still
love the BJP," said Modi.
He also again attacked
the prime minister.
"Manmohan Singh has
completed eight years in
power. And till today, he
does not have the courage
to see us eye-to-eye."
He appealed to the youth
BJP workers to spread out
into the state's villages and
tell people that the party
was with them.
"Tell the people of
Gujarat's villages that their
development is our duty
and that we are doing it.
"We have done, learnt
and achieved a lot in these
10 years. And we will con-
tinue to do so after we
come to power again,"
Modi said.
Gujarat goes to the polls
Dec 13 and 17. Vote count-
ing will be on Dec 20.
Gujarat will celebrate Diwali
again Dec 20: Modi
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
Kolkata: The coal ministry
will de-allocate 13 coal blocks
owned by private companies
after getting approval of the
law ministry, which is expected
within a week, Coal Minister
Sriprakash Jaiswal has said.
In September, the government
had accepted the recommenda-
tion of the Inter Ministerial
Group (IMG) for de-allocating
13 mines and deducting bank
guarantees of 14 allottees.
"That (IMG' s recommenda-
tion) has gone to the law min-
istry. Whenever that report will
come, it (coal blocks) will be
de-allocated," Jaiswal said at a
program organized by the Coal
India Limited (CIL) here.
Asked when t he l aw mi n-
istry's report will come, Jaiswal
said: "Any day within a week, I
feel the report should come."
The minister said the de-allo-
cation letters are legal docu-
ments and, therefore, his min-
istry thought it would be in
order to take the law ministry's
concurrence before sendi ng
them to the defaulting allottees.
Also, the ministry has asked
the Coal Controller to calculate
the amount to be deducted from
the bank guarantees given by
the companies.
He sai d t he IMG on coal
blocks would meet Nov 5-6 to
give its review report regarding
the 31 mines allocated to public
sector companies for captive
use.
The central government had
f or med t he I MG i n Jul y t o
review the coal blocks allo-
cated to companies for cap-
tive use. Some 58 mines have
been issued show cause notice
for t hei r fai l ure t o devel op
blocks within the given time-
frame.
Chandigarh: Haryana's Bhupinder Singh Hooda
government wants the whole world to believe that
Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president
Sonia Gandhi, has done no wrong in amassing huge
chunks of land in the vicinity of New Delhi in recent
years. Nor does it find anything amiss in Vadra's
Rs.58 crore deal with realty giant DLF for prime land
in Manesar near Gurgaon.
Backed by a team of "trusted" officers, two of
whom have handled the crucial town and country
planning and industries departments respectively for
years since Hooda became chief minister in March
2005, the Haryana government has come out with
many denials, clarifications and rebuttals after accu-
sations were made by India Against Corruption (IAC)
activist Arvind Kejriwal and objections raised to the
land deals by upright IAS officer Ashok Khemka.
Opposition leader Om Prakash Chautala and
Kejriwal have accused the Hooda government of
openly acting on behalf of colonisers and property
dealers.
Khemka's actions, as the director general of consol-
idation and inspector general of land registrations, in
enquiring into Vadra's land deals since 2005 and can-
celling the mutation of the Rs.58 crore land deal
between Vadra's company and DLF for the Manesar
land, left the Hooda government redfaced.
Two senior IAS officers, town and country plan-
ning director general T.C. Gupta and Haryana
Industrial and Infrastructure Development
Corporation (HSIIDC) managing director Rajeev
Arora, who have been handling these crucial depart-
ments in the last few years, led the fire-fighting effort
for the Hooda government, claiming that there was
nothing wrong in the land deals of Vadra and his
companies or the manner in which the Haryana gov-
ernment had been obliging DLF, the country's biggest
land developer, with huge investments in Gurgaon
and other places in Haryana adjoining national capi-
tal New Delhi.
Hooda himself has either dismissed the charges or
left it to his officials to defend his government.
The deputy commissioners of Gurgaon, Palwal,
Faridabad and Mewat, who were ordered by Khemka
to send reports on the land deals of Vadra and his
companies since 2005, dutifully said that there was
nothing wrong in any of the deals. Instead of sending
the complete documents, the deputy commissioners
gave a 'clean chit' to Vadra, saying that there was no
loss to the state exchequer in his purchase of nearly
200 acres of land in their respective districts.
"I am no longer holding the office from where I
ordered the inquiry. It is up to the state government
now," Khemka said.
De-allocation of private coal blocks soon: minister
Haryana government springs to Vadra's defense
Jaipur: A woman in a Rajasthan
village was branded a witch and
knifed to death by her nephew who
also injured her 10-year-old grand-
son, police said.
Ganesh Kumar was arrested for
the murder of his aunt, 65-year-old
Hanzana in Bilia Fala village near
Varda town in Dungarpur district,
about 500 km from here. The
woman's 10-year-old grandson was
injured when he tried to intervene, a
police official said.
"Ganesh Kumar worked in
Mumbai. He returned home a cou-
ple of days ago. Like always, he
started quarrelling with his 65-year-
old aunt Hanzana, saying that she
was a witch casting evil spells on
the family members and villagers,"
a police official said.
Suddenly, Ganesh attacked her
with a knife. She died on the spot.
"The woman's 10-year old grandson
tried to intervene and was beaten up.
The child is undergoing treatment at
a hospital," said the officer.
Ganesh escaped from the house
after the attack but was taken into
custody Thursday night.
The Rajasthan Women
(Prevention and Protection from
Atrocities) Bill, 2011, was prepared
by the state's women and child wel-
fare department keeping in view the
increasing cases of women being
branded witches in the state.
As per the bill, a crime would be
considered to have been committed
when any person or community
intentionally or inadvertently abets,
conspires, aids and instigates the
identification of a woman as a
witch, leading to her mental and
physical torture and humiliation.
The bill has proposed a maximum
of seven years' imprisonment and
fine for those who grab the land of
such women after forcing them to
leave their house.
If a woman commits suicide after
being called a witch, the accused
shall be given a prison sentence of
not less than five years, which can
be extended to 10 years, with a min-
imum fine of Rs.25,000. According
to the draft bill, the fine can be
enhanced to Rs.50,000.
Rajasthan woman branded
witch, killed by nephew
Srinagar: After hardline separatist
leader Syed Ali Geelani refused
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah's offer to take a hel-
icopter ride to prove his claim of a
road being constructed along the
forest trek to the Amarnath shrine,
the state government is now trying
its best to disprove his charges and
ensure he is not able to light protest
fires to a "non-issue".
Geelani has threatened a march to
the Amarnath Yatra base camps as
he claims the state government was
constructing a concrete road inside
the forests along the north Kashmir
Baltal route. (On Friday, he clari-
fied that he was referring to the
south Kashmir Pahalgam route.)
Geelani said he would consult
various separatist leaders to organ-
ise the march and to coordinate the
proposed agitation.
To generate public opinion
against Geelani's charges, the state
government earlier this week took a
group of journalists for an aerial
survey of the Baltal and Pahalgam
routes.
"No road construction has been
going on anywhere along the Yatra
treks as far as we could see", said a
journalist who undertook the aerial
survey.
The decision to organize the aeri-
al survey appears to be largely
influenced by the state govern-
ment's bitter experiences of the
past.
In 2008, a massive agitation crip-
pled normal life in the Valley after
the separatists alleged the govern-
ment had allotted some land to the
Shri Amarnath Shrine Board
(SASB) in the Baltal base camp
forests.
Kashmir has seen one of its most
impressive summers during 2012
with more than 700,000 tourists
visiting the Valley. Hoteliers, taxi
drivers, boatmen, handicraft dealers
and others connected with tourism
have earned a respectable living
after many years.
Kashmir govt takes no chances with Geelani threat
Separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani
The government had accepted the recommendation of a
panel for de-allocating 13 mines
Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress
president Sonia Gandhi
11 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA
Washington, DC: As a ferocious Hurricane
Sandy roared up the US East Coast, both
President Barack Obama and Republican
challenger Mitt Romney changed their cam-
paign plans in their final sprint before the Nov
6 election.
With just eight days to go before what by all
accounts would be one of the tightest contests
for the White House, Obama scrapped his
plans to campaign in Ohio Monday and
instead headed back to Washington to monitor
the approaching "Frankenstorm."
On Saturday, Obama's campaign cancelled
another Monday event in Virginia, as well as a
Tuesday morning event in Colorado.
Romney too cancelled his Sunday plans to
campaign in Virginia, which is in the storm's
path, and instead joined his running mate Paul
Ryan for events in Ohio.
The Republican is scheduled to campaign in
Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin Monday, then in
Ohio Tuesday. A Romney campaign stop
scheduled for Tuesday in New Hampshire was
cancelled late Sunday afternoon, the campaign
announced in an e-mail, CNN reported.
On Sunday, politicos from both sides said it
was still too early to tell how the storm would
affect the race for the White House, but that
access to voting centers would be a concern if
effects from the storm persist until Election
Day.
"I don't think anybody really knows," top
Obama adviser David Axelrod told CNN
about the potential political impact of
Hurricane Sandy.
"Obviously, we want unfettered access to
the polls because we believe that the more
people come out, the better we're going to do,
and so to the extent that it makes it harder, you
know, that's a source of concern. But I don't
know how all the politics will sort out."
The 2008 Republican presidential nominee
John McCain told CBS Sunday the storm
could help boost Obama in the eyes of voters,
but said he doubted the image of a strong
leader would sway voters after months of
campaigning.
Obama is being briefed regularly on the
storm's path, CNN cited White House officials
as saying, and he will balance his campaign
with his responsibilities as president.
Romney too faced the task of adopting the
right tone during a time of crisis for a large
chunk of the East Coast.
CNN cited an unnamed top Republican as
saying even "weather-safe" swing states such
as Colorado and Ohio might be difficult cam-
paign stops for Romney if Hurricane Sandy
devastates the Eastern Seaboard with wide-
spread injuries, deaths or life-threatening situ-
ations. "It gets tricky," the source told CNN.
"Optics are important." The Romney cam-
paign will "play it by ear" as the storm
unfolds, he added.
Washington, DC: The photograph
of former US president George W.
Bush staring down at hurricane-rav-
aged New Orleans from the window
of Air Force One in 2005 remains a
textbook example of ill-considered
political photo-ops, one that Bush
later called a "huge mistake" that
made him look "detached and
uncaring."
But with Hurricane Sandy pound-
ing the US east coast Monday - just
eight days before the US presiden-
tial election - the now-iconic photo
also underscores a peculiar finding
by political scientists: When it
comes to American presidential pol-
itics, weather matters.
American voters punish incum-
bent presidents at the polls for
severe weather damage incurred on
their watch, according to a study
published last year by political sci-
entists Andrew Reeves and John
Gasper.
But that's only half the story. The
electoral hit those incumbents take
for nasty weather is more than off-
set by gains at the ballot box should
they declare a federal state of emer-
gency in the affected areas, Reeves
and Gasper write.
"While voters do hold presidents
and governors accountable for a
natural disaster, what they really
hold them accountable for is the
response to that event," Reeves said
in a telephone interview Monday.
President Barack Obama Sunday
declared a state of emergency in
several states along the US Eastern
Seaboard, as well as in Washington,
DC, - a move that comes as no sur-
prise given the severity of the hurri-
cane.
Both he and Republican chal-
lenger Mitt Romney canceled cam-
paign events scheduled for Monday
and Tuesday amid the hurricane,
whose path runs though several
tightly contested election swing
states, including North Carolina,
Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
In their research, Reeves and
Gasper studied county-level elec-
tion data of gubernatorial and presi-
dential elections from 1970 to 2006.
They found that both a governor
and the president are ultimately
rewarded at the polls if the governor
requests federal disaster assistance
and the president grants it.
The governor, however, is still
rewarded at the ballot box even if
the White House rejects the request
- though the president suffers at the
polls for the decision, they con-
clude.
It's a conclusion that Reeves finds
satisfying.
"It's a little better than this arbi-
trary idea of holding the president
accountable for the weather," said
Reeves, a professor of political sci-
ence at Boston University. "Obama
did not cause the hurricane, but it's
well within his power to show lead-
ership."
In a separate paper published last
year, Reeves found that in cases of
less ferocious natural disasters,
presidents are more inclined to
grant federal disaster aid to so-
called "battleground states" - states
where the electoral divide between
Democrats and Republicans is
extremely thin.
The most important thing during a
natural disaster is to save lives and
minimize damage, Reeves noted.
But from a political standpoint,
Obama would be wise to make it
clear to voters that he's on top of the
situation.
Photographs the White House
released this week on its Flickr pho-
tostream appear aimed to do just
that, showing Obama solemnly
meeting with federal emergency
officials and members of his cabi-
net.
On Monday Obama cancelled a
campaign appearance in Florida
with former president Bill Clinton
to return to Washington, where he
was briefed on the storm in the
White House Situation Room.
"The worst thing to do is to look
like an absentee leader - what Bush
looked like flying over New
Orleans and looking down from an
airplane," Reeves said. "Or like a
mayor vacationing at a tropical
resort when their city is hit by a
snowstorm."
In US elections, weather can make waves at polls
Hurricane Sandy swipes
Obama, Romney campaigns
US Route 30, the White Horse Pike, one of three major approaches to Atlantic
City, N.J., is covered with water from Absecon Bay in this view looking west,
during the approach of Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29. Hurricane Sandy began
battering the US East Coast on Monday with fierce winds and driving rain, as the
monster storm shut down transportation, shuttered businesses and sent thou-
sands scrambling for higher ground hours before the worst was due to strike.
12 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info US ELECTIONS
President Barack Obama, left, embraces Donna Vanzant, right,
during a tour of Brigantine, N.J., a neighborhood severely
affected by Superstorm Sandy. (Oct. 31, 2012).
US poll can't be postponed, despite Sandy havoc
Washington, DC: Next Tuesday's US presi-
dential election apparently cannot be post-
poned despite the havoc caused by Hurricane
Sandy that has flooded towns and cities up
and down US East Coast and left millions
without power. The election for president can-
not be moved to a later date without passage
of a new federal law as an 1845 law set the
Tuesday immediately following the first
Monday in November of every election year
as Election Day across the country.
But, partial postponements of voting in
some affected areas are possible, consistent
with the laws governing the election of the
president and vice president, CNN said citing
a 2004 Congressional Research Service
report.
When people go to the polls on Election
Day, they aren't voting directly for their
choice for president or vice president. Instead,
they are voting to select representatives-or
"electors"-to the Electoral College that actual-
ly chooses the nation's top two.
The 1845 law also gives states some leeway
in picking electors to the Electoral College.
But to exercise that leeway, a state must have
"held an election for the purpose of choosing
electors," and "failed to make a choice on the
day prescribed by law," CNN said.
When that happens, the law says "the elec-
tors may be appointed on a subsequent day in
such manner as the legislature of such state
may direct."
Based on this, the CRS concluded that a
state could probably hold presidential voting
on Election Day in places unaffected by a nat-
ural disaster but postpone it until a later date
in affected areas without violating
federal law.
US ELECTIONS
After Sandy, Obama has edge
in close race
Obama, Romney offer contrasting
visions for America
13 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Arun Kumar
Washington: As President Barack
Obama and Republican challenger
Mitt Romney returned to the cam-
paign in the wake of Hurricane
sandy, new polls suggested a very
close race though Obama appeared
to have a very slight edge.
Buoyed by praise for his han-
dling of the 'Frankenstorm', Obama
Thursday ended a three-state swing
with a rally in the battle ground
state of Colorado where a
CNN/ORC International Poll
showed Obama with a 50 to 48
percent edge over Romney, well
within the survey's sampling error.
An American Research Group
poll conducted over the weekend
had Romney at 48 percent and
Obama at 47 percent, and an NBC
News/Wall Street Journal/Marist
poll conducted last week suggested
the race was tied at 48 percent.
A Washington Post-ABC News
showed 49 percent of likely voters
across the country backing Obama
to Romney's 48 percent. It's an
identical 49 to 48 percent looking
across eight states identified as
"tossups" by The Washington Post.
Nationally, in 10 out of 11 releas-
es of the tracking poll, the two
presidential contenders have been
separated by no more than a single
percentage point, the Post noted.
Seven times the gap between the
two has been less than 1 percent,
when looking at the fractional dif-
ferences.
But the president continues to
have a solid pushback to
Republicans on the economy. By a
15-point margin (51 to 36 percent),
more voters say former President
George W. Bush bears more
responsibility than does Obama for
current economic problems.
But there's less of an apparent
gap in the eight tossup states -
Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada,
New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia
and Wisconsin - where 47 percent
point the finger at Bush, 42 percent
at Obama, the Post said.
Looking at 12 polls in Iowa,
Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin,
FiveThirtyEight, an influential poll
watching blog on the New York
Times asserted Obama remains the
favourite in the 538-vote Electoral
College as it raised the President's
share to 303.2 giving him an 80.8
percent chance.
But it also hedged its bets saying
"Obama is not a sure thing, by any
means."
Politico, another influential
media site focused on politics gave
Obama a 290 to 249 edge over
Romney, while Real Clear Politics,
a political news aggregating site
showed the President edging ahead
47.4 to 47.3 per cent even as its
kept intact its forecast of 206 for
Obama and 191 for Romney with
146 too close to call.
Meanwhile, former president Bill
Clinton kept up his campaign blitz
for Obama and other Democrats
zig-zagging his way across the
country. He has appeared at nearly
40 events for House candidates this
cycle and raised $1.4 million for
the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee.
President Obama at a briefing on the response to
Hurricane Sandy at FEMA headquarters in
Washington, D.C., Oct. 31, 2012.
Washington: Barack Obama and
Mitt Romney Friday offered their
competing visions for America with
the president claiming real progress
in the last four years and the
Republican challenger focusing on
the still struggling economy.
The final arguments by the two
contenders in an extremely close
White House race came in op-eds
published by CNN hours before the
latest government jobs report showed
the US economy adding 171,000 jobs
in October, well above what econo-
mists had expected.
But unemployment rose slightly to
7.9 percent, the Labor Department
said in the highly anticipated report
just four days before the election,
with the media highlighting how it
may have a major impact in a presi-
dential race where economy has
played a central role.
Obama started his vision on a
bipartisan note discussing the impact
of Hurricane Sandy saying "when
hardship hits, America is at its best.
The petty differences that consume
us in normal times quickly melt
away".
"There are no Democrats or
Republicans during a storm -- only
fellow Americans," said the president
who has won all round praise for his
handling of the disaster, including
from the Republican governor Chris
Christy of the worst hit New Jersey.
Highlighting his successes - end of
Iraq War, the death of Osama bin
Laden, creation of more than five
million new jobs and bounce back of
the auto industry, he said: "We're not
there yet."
"But we've made real progress.
And on Tuesday, America will get to
choose between two fundamentally
different visions of what makes
America strong," Obama said high-
lighting the strength of the middle
class in building America's prosperi-
ty. "We don't succeed when a few at
the top do well while everyone else
struggles to get by -- we're better off
when everyone gets a fair shot,
everyone does their fair share, and
everyone plays by the same rules."
He also invoked the success of the
highly popular former Democratic
president Bill Clinton credited with
creating "the biggest surplus in histo-
ry" and warned that the path Romney
offered was the one tried during the
eight disastrous Bush Years.
Romney in his closing arguments
suggested that "America is a land of
opportunity. But lately, for too many
Americans, opportunity has not
exactly come knocking" with
America "mired in an economic
slowdown" that has left millions
unemployed.
Touting his "economic recovery
plan consisting of five central ele-
ments that will in four years create 12
million jobs" the challenger vowed to
"make trade work for America",
"restore fiscal sanity to Washington"
and "championing small business".
"Nothing is ever easy in
Washington, but these goals are root-
ed in bipartisan agreement, and I will
work with members of both parties to
accomplish them," said Romney
highlighting his successes as the gov-
ernor of Massachusetts, "a state that
was overwhelmingly Democratic".
Highlighting his credentials as a
man of business, he said: "the prob-
lems we need to overcome now are
not bigger than we are. We can defeat
them. I am offering real change and a
real choice."
By Parveen Chopra
T
here is good news for voters in the 3rd
Congressional district of New York,
which after redistricting extends from
parts of Queens to parts of Suffolk county
with a major part of the Nassau county. Given
the gridlock in Washington, Republican
Stephen Labate told the SATimes that as a
member of the House of Representatives, he
will always work for the welfare of people,
which may require working with whoever
becomes the next President and with the other
side of the aisle.
He understands the importance of team
building having served in the army.
Something my opponent does not believe in,
having voted 95% of the time on party line,
points out Stephen.
His opponent is Democrat Steve Israel.
Stephen Labate also points to a scandal
involving Israel. As per news reports, the
bank that holds Rep. Steve Israels mortgage
has approved a special deal allowing him to
wiggle out of nearly $100,000 owed on his
Dix Hills home while he unloads the proper-
ty.Stephen Labate says that a change in lead-
ership is needed in Congress, and he is asking
for voters support even as he vows to sup-
port and defend the Constitution . It is this
oath, which I will carry to Washington as a
member of the United States Congress, he
says.
Steve realized during the early and forma-
tive years in his life that his values were those
of someone who desired to serve his country,
and those values have never changed. While
attending St. John's University, he received
his B.A. in Political Science and was com-
missioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S.
Army. His formal Military education includ-
ed Military Police Basic and Advanced
Courses, Airborne School and Command and
General Staff College.
Steve decided upon a career in financial
services and worked at several major firms.
In those years, he assisted clients in all
aspects of financial services, to include retire-
ment planning. Steve holds a Certified
Retirement Counselor designation from the
International Foundation of Retirement
Education and is currently a Retirement
Counselor with Prudential Retirement.
As a member of the Army Reserve, he has
been called to Active Duty three times since
9-11. His most recent service was 12 months
at the Pentagon where he was part of the
Army's Crisis Action Team. During this time,
Steve regularly participated in the creation of
high-level briefings to the Secretary of the
Army and the Vice Chief of Staff of the
Army.
Steve also served as a Force Protection
Officer in one of the most heavily attacked
installations in Northern Iraq. In that capaci-
ty, he initiated counter measures to protect
the 23,000 soldiers and airmen from the
ongoing myriad of threats, ranging from indi-
rect fire attacks to suicide bombers. In sup-
port of Operation "Noble Eagle II", Steve had
the distinct honor to Command the Soldiers
of the 306th Military Police Battalion for a
year-long mission. In a Pentagon ceremony,
hosted by the Provost Marshal General of the
Army, Steve was promoted to his current rank
of Lieutenant Colonel.
Steve is married to Leticia Labate, and they
reside in Deer Park with their young twins,
Michael and Maria. In addition to being an
active member of the U.S. Army Reserve,
Steve is a member of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the American Legion, Knights of
Columbus the Reserve Officers Association,
and the National Rifle Association.
M
ichael Venditto is an attorney who
brings experience in governmental
issues to the 12th Legislative
District. Born and raised in the Massapequa,
Michaels legal and community background
will help him serve the residents of Nassau
County.
A former Deputy Town Attorney in the
Town of Hempstead, Michael currently serves
as Counsel to the Town Board. In this capaci-
ty, he acts as a liaison to residents on behalf of
elected officials, often dealing with con-
stituent issues and local community groups.
Throughout his tenure, he has conducted
research on various legislative matters and
drafted resolutions which were later adopted
by the Town Board.
In addition to providing general legal assis-
tance to the Hempstead Town Board, he has
also conducted hearings on various matters.
As Deputy Town Attorney, Michael served on
the Towns District Court Bureau, where he
prosecuted the Towns zoning code. Through
his work, Michael was able to help ensure the
suburban quality of life in Hempstead Town.
Coming from a family with a long tradition
of public service, Michael is the son of Oyster
Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. He
knows the importance of being responsive to
the concerns of local residents. He is a fiscal
conservative committed to policies that pro-
tect taxpayers and help working families, sen-
iors and singles. Michael claims that he will
fight to hold the line on County property taxes
and build on Nassau County Executive Ed
Manganos two consecutive balanced budgets
with no tax increases in the last two years.
Michael is a graduate of St. Johns
University School of Law, where he received
his Juris Doctor and was admitted to the New
York State Bar in 2007. He previously
received his BA degree in Political Science
from Hofstra University.
He is also a member of the Nassau Lawyers
Association.
Michael is a parishioner at St. Rose of Lima
R. C. Church. He and his wife Antonella, a
teacher, live in Massapequa.
Striking the right balance between some-
times conflicting interests takes the right kind
of person. It takes a person who knows and
understands our communities a person who
was born and raised here; he is the third gen-
eration of Vendittos to live in the Massapequa.
Michael Venditto has the energy, experience
and vision to protect the quality of life we
cherish. Thats why he was asked to run for
County Legislator because of his links to the
past and his commitment to the future.
He is competing in a Nov. 6 special election
against Joanne Maglione, 42, a lawyer at
Jaspan Schlesinger in Garden City. Maglione,
a former Nassau deputy county attorney from
Massapequa Park, is a registered Republican
who is running on the Democratic line.
Michael Venditto: Seeking to serve
in Nassau County legislature
Stephen Labate: In race for New York's 3rd Congressional District
Stephen Labate out campaigning on a Republican ticket, the first time
he is seeking elected office. As a member of the Army Reserve,
he recently served for a year at the Pentagon.
14 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info US ELECTIONS
Michael Venditto, 31, secured the
Republican nomination for the 12th
Legislative District rendered vacant by
the death of county legislator Peter
Schmitt, who died in early October
from a heart attack.
+++ RE-ELECT JUDGE +++
PETER B. SKELOS
Supreme Court Justice
Judge Skelos Received Highest Rating
from NYS Independent Judicial Election Qualication Commission
and the Nassau Bar Association for Supreme Court Judge
+ NYS Appellate Division Supreme Court Justice 8 years; Supreme Court Judge 14 years;
District Court Judge 4 years; Senior Deputy County Attorney; practicing attorney for
15 years; Adjunct Professor C.W. Post College (member of CWA Local 1101)
+ Achievements recognized by the Criminal Courts Bar Association; Italian Heritage Club;
Nassau Jewish Lawyers Association; Fordham Law School Alumni; Nassau Fraternal
Order of Court Ofcers; and Eastern Orthodox Lawyers Association
+ Endorsed by NYS Court Ofcers Association; NY Fraternal Order of Court Ofcers;
Nassau Court Ofcers Benevolent Association; NY Uniformed Fireghters Association;
Uniformed Fire Ofcers Association; Nassau Police PBA; Nassau Police Superior Ofcers
Association; Nassau Police Detectives Association; NYC Police Detectives Endowment
Association; NYS Fraternal Order of Police; and Italian American Political Action Committee
+ Life-long Long Island resident; married 30 years to Faith Skelos, an elementary school
principal; they have two daughters
Vote for Judge Peter Skelos - Republican Row B
For more information
www.JusticePeterSkelos2012.com
www.facebook.com/JusticeSkelos2012
Paid for by Committee to Re- Elect Justice Peter Skelos 2012
A long time friend of the Indian Community, Judge Skelos (2nd left) participates in the
2012 India Day Celebration in Hicksville
US ELECTIONS
How they got here: Romney and Obamas journey to Nov 6 showdown
15 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Vikas Girdhar
L
ess than a week remains until the presidential election
takes place and the nation will finally take part in decid-
ing its leader for the next four years. Whether it will be
the same man who has led the United States since 2008 or his
challenger remains to be seen. As it is, the race seems to be
neck-and-neck while campaigning was stranded by Hurricane
Sandy. How President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt
Romney got to a photo-finish finale is a tale all its own.
President Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the
United States at noon on January 20, 2009.
Was a US Senator from Illinois before becoming
President
Defeated Arizona Senator John McCain in presidential
race of 2008
Is the first African-American President of the US and
also the first to be born in Hawaii
Closest affiliates: Vice President is Joe Biden, wife is
Michelle Robinson Obama and daughters are Malia and Sasha
Attended Occidental College, earned his BA from
Columbia University and his JD from Harvard Law
Won the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2009 for his
extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and
cooperation between peoples
Within first week of office, signed Executive Order
13492, which suspended all ongoing proceedings of
Guantanamo military commission and for the facility to be shut
down within the year
Entered office with approval rating of 82%; dipped to
68% at end of his first week, which was the second highest
approval rating for a President since World War II
Signed the Children' s Health Insurance Program
Reauthorization Act (CHIP) on February 3, 2009 expanding
health care from 7 million children under the plan to 11 million
Led the high-profile killing of Osama Bin Laden on May
2, 2011
Most notable acts of legislation in 2009:
January 29: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; Feb 13: American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act; March 30: Omnibus Public
Lands Management Act of 2009; April 21: Edward M.
Kennedy Serve America Act; May 20: Helping Families Save
Their Homes Act of 2009; May 22: Credit Card Accountability,
Responsibility, and Disclosure Act of 2009; August 6: Cash For
Clunkers Extension Act; November 6: Worker,
Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009
Most notable acts of legislation in 2010: January 27:
Emergency Aid to American Survivors of Haiti Earthquake
Act, March 4: Travel Promotion Act, March 18: Hiring
Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act), March 23:
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, March 30: Health
Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, May 5:
Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010,
May 17: Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, July 1:
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment
Act, July 21: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act, July 22: Unemployment Compensation
Extension Act of 2010, July 22: Improper Payments
Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010, August 10: SPEECH
Act, September 27: Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of
2010, December 9: Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of
2010, December 13: Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010,
December 17: Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance
Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, December 22:
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
Most notable acts of legislation in 2011: January 2:
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010,
January 4: Food Safety and Modernization Act, August 2:
Budget Control Act of 2011, October 21: United States-
Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, October
21: United States-Panama Free Trade Agreement
Implementation Act, October 21: United States-South Korea
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, November 21:
VOW to Hire Heroes Act
Most notable act of legislation in 2012: April 5:
Jumpstart Our Businesses Startups Act
Governor Mitt Romney
Republican Partys nominee for 2012 election
Served as the 70thGovernor of Massachusetts from
2003-2007
Lost the Republican nomination in 2008 to John McCain
Is an American businessman and raised in Michigan
Earned his BA from Brigham Young and JD & MBA
from Harvard University
Secured a managerial position at and helped lead Bain &
Company out of financial crisis; became CEO and capitalized
on its growth, increasing his net worth to $190-250 million
(2012 estimate)
An additional blind trust of $100 million exists in the
name of the Romney children
Closest affiliates: running mate Paul Ryan, wife Ann and
5 sons
Helped develop and enact into law the Massachusetts
health care reform legislation, which was the first of its kind in
the nation
Combined spending cuts, increased fees and the closure
of corporate tax loopholes en route to eliminating an estimated
$1.2-1.5 billion deficit
Describes the day that his wife failed a series of neuro-
logical tests as a result of her multiple sclerosis as the worst
day of his life
Declined the governor salary of $135,000 during his
tenure as Massachusetts Governor
Announced his running for the 2012 presidential election
on April 11, 2011
Structured his campaign on the failing US economy and
President Obamas handling of it, as well as Americans dis-
content with the current state of affairs
Is the first Mormon to become a major party presidential
nominee
Made headlines in mid-September when he said that 47%
of Americans pay no income tax, see themselves as victims, are
dependent on the federal government and will support President
Obamas re-election unconditionally; said that his job was to not
worry about those people who do not take personal responsibility
for their own lives; went on to admit that in the grand scheme of
things, such comments wereinelegantly stated
Where these two presidential candidates came from to get to
this point is paramount to understanding the context behind
their successes and roles, as they will be defined next week.
Now that we have some histories, we can look forward to their
imprints on the future.
Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th
President of the United States on January 20, 2009.
Before serving as Governor of Massachusetts
(2003-2007), Mitt Romney was CEO of 2002 Winter
Olympics held in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Obama and Romney reach out to Indian-Americans
Washington: In a very close presiden-
tial election where every single vote
counts, both the Obama and Romney
campaigns have been making special
effort to reach out to the Indian-
American community.
The community, which numbers
more than three million according to
the latest census, is being reached
through full page ads in some local
Indian-American ethnic newspapers.
The Obama campaign has also devel-
oped flyers in Hindi which are being
distributed either through email or
being printed in large numbers by his
supporters.
"Barack Obama is not just a
President for some of us; he is fighting
for all of us," says a full page ad in
'India This Week' and 'Express India' -
which are published from the Greater
Washington Area. According to 2010
Census, more than 125,000 Indian
Americans live in this area.
The Northern California Asian
Pacific Islanders Americans placed
another full page ad in California based
India West in support of Mitt Romney.
"Ready to Go to Work. Vision for a
better America. Vote Mitt Romney for
President. Promising all my heart to
restore strength to America. We will be
strong again," said the ad.
Similarly, the 80-20 National Asian
American PAC has placed full page ads
in India Abroad, the most widely circu-
lated and oldest community paper in
the US.
Arguing that Obama is the first US
President to have done so much for the
Asian-American community, the 80-20
National Asian American PAC for the
past few weeks through their full page
ads have been urging Indian-
Americans to vote for Obama.
In its flyer translated in Hindi, the
Obama campaign lists out his achieve-
ments for the Asian American commu-
nity and lashes out at Romney and his
policies. According to the 2010 census,
the tri-state area of New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut have the largest
concentration of Indian-Americans in
the US. More than half a million
Indian-Americans live here.
According to a recent poll conducted
by the National Asian American
Survey, an overwhelming majority of
Indian-Americans support Obama. 64:
8 with 27 percent undecided.
Washington/NewYork: More than 3.75
million people up and down US East
Coast were still without power as cities
and towns started recovering from the
wrath of Hurricane Sandy that left New
York and New Jersey devastated.
Death toll from the disaster rose to 70
deaths in the United States, including 24
in NewYork City, 8 in NewJersey and 4
in Connecticut as rescue workers pulled
bodies fromwreckage across the region,
according to the NewYork Times
New York Governor Andrew M.
Cuomo said initial damage estimates
"project up to $6 billion in lost economic
revenue" in the State.
Awide stretch of Lower Manhattan re-
mained dark, as did the Jersey Shore,
waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn
and Queens, and most of Long Island.
Touring battered New Jersey with the
state's Republican governor Chris
Christie, who has been all praise for
President Barack Obama's handling of
the situation, Obama promised the fed-
eral government "will not quit" until
communities are cleaned up, according
to CNN.
"We are not going to tolerate red tape,
we are not going to tolerate bureau-
cracy," Obama said. "And I've instituted
a 15-minute rule, essentially, on my
team. You return everybody's phone
calls in 15 minutes, whether it's the may-
ors, the governors, county officials.
"If they need something, we figure out
a way to say yes."
Some 10,000 Army and Air National
Guard forces were on duty in the 13
states affected by the storm.
Mass transit was still in disarray. Most
buses were running in New York City,
and some subway lines were due to open
Thursday. Most of New Jersey's
statewide bus service will be restored
Thursday, Christie's office announced,
though most rail lines will still be closed.
Two New York-area airports-John F.
Kennedy and Newark Liberty-reopened
Wednesday with limited service. La-
Guardia Airport, where floodwaters had
covered runways and taxiways, re-
opened with limited service Thursday
morning, the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey said. The Lincoln
Tunnel was open, but the Holland Tun-
nel, the other tunnel connecting New
York and New Jersey, was still full of
water. The Port Authority said it can't
start pumping out the water until power
is restored.
About 2.2 million homes and busi-
nesses in New Jersey are still without
power tonight, utility officials said. Jer-
sey Central Power & Light reports
940,000 outages and Atlantic City Elec-
tric was down to 107,000, according to
New Jersey Star Ledger.
16 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info HURICANE SANDY HURICANE SANDY 17 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Some photos contributed by
Vijay Shah/FreelanceUS Media
On Marine One, President Obama and Governor Christie survey the damage caused by
Hurricane Sandy along New Jersey coast, Oct. 31, 2012.
Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island, N.J., is underwater Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012,
a day after Hurricane Sandy
Taxis line a flooded street in Queens, New York, as Hurricane Sandy
batters the East Coast.
An ambulance is stuck in over a
foot of snow off Highway 33
West, near Belington, W.Va., on
Oct. 30. Superstorm Sandy
buried parts of West Virginia
under more than a foot of snow
cutting power to at least
264,000 customers and closing
dozens of roads.
A truck drives through water pushed over a road by Hurricane
Sandy in Southampton, N.Y. on Oct. 29.
A woman walks past a house collapsed by Superstorm
Sandy in East Haven, Conn., on Oct. 30.
An aerial shot by 1-150 Assault Helicopter Battalion, shows the
damage caused by Superstorm Sandy to the New Jersey coast
Brian Hajeski (41) of Brick, N.J., reacts as he looks at debris of a
home that washed up on to the Mantoloking Bridge the morning after
Superstorm Sandy rolled through on Oct. 29 in Mantoloking, N.J.
Sea water floods Ground Zero construction site in New York.
The HMS Bounty, a 180-foot sailboat, is shown submerged in the
Atlantic Ocean during Hurricane Sandy approximately 90 miles
southeast of Hatteras, N.C., on Oct. 29. Of the 16-person crew,
the Coast Guard rescued 14, recovered a woman and is
searching for the captain of the vessel. (US Coast Guard via
Reuters)
A parking lot full of yellow cabs is flooded on Oct. 30 as a result of
superstorm Sandy in Hoboken, N.J.
This aerial photo on Oct. 30 shows burned-out homes in the Breezy Point section of the
Queens borough of New York City. The tiny beachfront neighborhood told to evacuate before
Sandy hit New York City burned down as it was inundated by floodwaters, transforming a
quaint corner of the Rockaways into a smoke-filled debris field.
A flooded car park in the Wall Street area of lower Manhattan.
Sandy hammers the East Coast, leaves region devastated
Death toll is 70; 3.75 mn Americans still without power
O
scar winning director Ang Lee was
set to fly down to India to begin the
promotions of his new film "Life
Of Pi", an adaptation of Yann Martel's
Booker Prize winning book of the same
name.
Lee, who shot the film at Puducherry and
Munnar, will visit Mumbai and Chennai
along with co-producer David Lee and
actors - debutante Suraj Sharma, Tabu and
Irrfan Khan - to promote the movie.
"We are privileged to announce Academy
Award winning director Ang Lee's visit to
India...'Life of Pi' international promotions
will be flagged off in India with Lee's spe-
cial visit along with the cast from the film,"
Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, said in
a statement.
"Ang is scheduled to arrive in India Oct
28 for Mumbai and Chennai visit, where he
will also showcase exclusive visuals from
the film for a select audience. The visit will
also kickstart the extravagant scale of activ-
ities planned, building on the excitement
and anticipation that has been growing for
'Life of Pi' since its trailer launch," Singh
said.
"Not only is it a stunning showcase of the
immense acting talent and breathtaking
locales of our country, it is also one of
those rare works of cinema that transcends
boundaries with its universal appeal,"
Singh added.
During his visit, Lee will showcase
unseen 20 minutes of the 3D film to media
and prominent Bollywood personalities.
18 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Ang Lee to begin 'Life Of Pi' promotions from India
Opening windows into diverse
India - Bollywood style
B
ollywood is going
pan-Indian. The
Punjabi ' mundas'
and 'kudis' - the staple of
so many movies - are mak-
ing way for Marathi
'mulgis' and Parsi 'dikras'
as Hindi films roll out a
tapestry showcasing the
diversity that is India.
From Parsi and Marathi
to Gujarati and Bengali,
filmmakers are bringing
diverse cultures to the
Hindi film firmament. And
the credit for this versatili-
ty goes to changing tastes
and mindsets of the view-
ers. Sujoy Ghosh' s
"Kahaani" is a case in
point. Made in Hindi, it
had a strong Bengali flavor
and was also shot in
Kolkata, appealing to audi-
ences so much so that it
earned Rs.75 crore --
almost 10 times more than
its total cost of Rs.8 crore.
Lauding the new trend
that he believes is a "great
time for India cinema",
Ghosh said: "We make
films with themes we are
familiar with. For me, it
was easy to write about
Bengali culture, as I am a
Bengali. Thanks to the
audience, they are allowing
us to experiment."
Another small budget
film, "Vicky Donor", wove
both Punjabi and Bengali
cultures to show an inter-
esting cultural contrast.
And it worked.
'Rush' lacks punch, but has
some riveting moments
O
uch, the TV chan-
nels won't be flat-
tered. "Rush", like
Ram Gopal Varma's "Rann"
three years ago, rushes into
the cut-throat world of
TRP-driven competition
among news channels
where news, if not discov-
ered is created in the news-
room. So Varma told us in
"Rann".
And now late director
Shamin Desai' s "Rush"
takes us into the ostensibly
murky chatroom politics of
newchannels where news-
baron Roger Khanna
(Aditya Pancholi, uninten-
tionally hilarious) gets
reporters, civilians, politi-
cians and criminals bumped
off to make news. Just like
that.
Far-fetched, yes. But
"Rush" has its adrenaline
rushing moments in the sec-
ond half when the narrative
picks up momentum and
moves steadily towards a
climax that is not entirely
edge-of-the-seat. But cer-
tainly the popcorn on your
lap is likely to ignored for a
bit as ambitious crime
reporter Sam Grover
(Emraan Hashmi) gets
sucked into a web of crime
created by his over-reaching
danger ousl y- connect ed
boss.
"Rush" is not the first film
about a young ambitious
professional losing moral
and ethical equilibrium to
attain success. Recently, we
had Kunal Khemu in
"Blood Money" and Paoli
Dam in "Hate Story" reap-
ing the bitter fruits of their
savage harvest.
"Rush" does have its slug-
gish chunks in the story-
telling. But the narrative
gathers strength from the
basic plot structure where a
television journalist is
shown to be on the run.
Some of the chase
sequences are expertly
done. And the whole theme
of the newsmaker's descent
into compromised journal-
ism makes for some rivet-
ing moments.
While many of the char-
acters are sketchy, some
like the sharp-shooter
(played by Murli Sharma)
who befriends our journal-
ist-hero provide the plot
with a spicy if not com-
pletely pungent propulsion.
Emraan as the backbone
of plot performs decently.
He has more speaking lines
and less kissing to do here
than in all his recent films.
Whether the verbosity actu-
ally translates into some-
thing substantial or not is
debatable.
A scene from 'Life of Pi'
Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh's 'Kahaani' is a case in point
A scene from the movie Rush
Review
Diwali doesn't always bring 'Lakshmi' to Bollywood
D
iwali hasn't been all that
crackling for Bollywood.
Of more than 30 films
released in the past decade during
the festival, less than a dozen
elicited fireworks at the box
office. But this year seems prom-
ising with "Jab Tak Hai Jaan"
(JTHJ) and "Son Of Sardaar"
(SOS) lined up to hit the screens
on November 13, Diwali day
itself.
Both are biggies. JTHJ is Yash
Chopra's last directorial venture,
starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina
Kaif and Anushka Sharma, while
SOS is a comic caper with Ajay
Devgn, Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi
Sinha in key roles. Chopra's sud-
den death Oct 21, before he could
can the last song for the film in
the Swiss Alps, has generated
more interest in JTHJ, expected to
be the last reflection of his kind of
romantic, sensitive and picture
perfect cinema.
The film is expected to set the
cash registers ringing -- given the
past record of Shah Rukh's Diwali
releases, including "Baazigar"
(1993), "Dilwale Dulhania Le
Jayenge" (1995), "Dil To Pagal
Hai" (1997), "Kuch Kuch Hota
Hai" (1998), "Veer-Zaara" (2004),
"Don: The Chase Begins Again"
(2006) and "Om Shanti Om"
(2007).
But those appeared to be the
exceptions. Shah Rukh' s
"Mohabbatein" (2000) and mega-
budget "RA.One" (2011), released
around the festival, didn't quite
ruffle up the ticket counters
beyond the opening weekend.
In 2010, it was a clash of come-
dies - the multi-starrer "Golmaal
3" and Akshay Kumar-Aishwarya
Rai's "Action Replayy". "Golmaal
3" took the lion's share, but the
latter was a damp squib.
A year before that came three
films - comedy "All The Best",
underwater action drama "Blue"
and Salman Khan-starrer "Main
Aur Mrs. Khanna". Only "All The
Best" managed a profit, the other
two were doomed despite the
hoopla.
Cut to 2008. Four movies -
"Fashion", "Golmaal Returns",
"Roadside Romeo" and "Heroes" -
were in competition during the
festival of lights. The success
ratio was 50-50 at the box office
with "Roadside Romeo" and
"Heroes" turning turtle at the tick-
et window.
Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif in 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'
19 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Yash had a soft corner
for Pak: director
S
aying she had a "long love
history with Mumbai", vis-
iting Pakistani director Iram
Parveen Bilal says late Bollywood
veteran Yash Chopra, who had a
"soft corner for Pakistan", was
such a source of inspiration for
her that after graduating in engi-
neering she took the plunge into
filmmaking.
The young director, who has
made her first film after four years
of arduous work, grew up watch-
ing Chopra's evergreen romances
"Kabhi Kabhie", "Chandni" and
the like.
"I have always been a big nerd
and I was selected to go to the
Asian Olympiad of Physics. But
my parents and me always loved
Bollywood films. I have been
brought up in Nigeria and
Pakistan and I grew up watching
films like 'Silsila', 'Kabhi Kabhie',
'Chandni'," Bilal said.
Bilal spent four years working
on her debut film "Josh", which
was the only fiction-category film
from Pakistan to be screened at
the just concluded 14th Mumbai
Film Festival. She was happy to
be here with her debut film, but
was heartbroken that she won't get
to meet her idol Yash Chopra
again, who died Oct 21.
Talking about her association
with the veteran filmmaker, she
said: "I have a long love history
with Mumbai. I came here for the
first time in 2004... Every time I
came here, I met Yashji.
No matter how busy he was, he
would take out 5-10 minutes for
me. He used to give me his pearls
of wisdom. But the fact that he is
no more and I won't be able to
meet him is heartbreaking," she
said.
Yash Chopra
'Cloud Atlas' is cinematic literature: Tom Hanks
H
ollywood's versatile actor Tom Hanks, who
plays six different characters in "Cloud Altas",
terms the film "cinematic literature". He also
admits that making the transition from one character to
another was a challenge for him.
The story of the film, which released Friday, spans
500 years and explores the interconnectedness of the
human race. It is an epic story of humankind in which
the actions and consequences impact one another
throughout the past, present and future.
It also features Halle Berry and Hugh Grant. "The
film runs into many years. And the transition is so
smooth. Each story is so swiftly connected with the
other. But there were a couple of challenges too like
change from one character to the other," Hanks said.
A lot of work went into giving each character an
authentic look. "There was a lot of makeup detailing
that all of us had to go through during the shoot. Like
we used prosthetic noses, wore wigs and a lot of
makeup," Hanks said.
The American actor made his Hollywood debut in
1980 with "He Knows You're Alone" and went on to
do films like "Apollo 13", "The Green Mile", "You've
Got Mail", "Charlie Wilson's War", "Forest Gump",
"The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons".
Hanks' latest release has been helmed by three direc-
tors - Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer -
and the actor feels all three have turned a complex
movie into a great watch.
Actor Tom Hanks (center) in 'Cloud Atlas'
Sherlyn Chopra to do Kama Sutra in 3D
S
herlyn Chopra, who recently hit headlines for
shooting nude for an international magazine
known for its provocative content, will be the
leading lady of Kama Sutra to be made in 3D by
Rupesh Paul. The director had announced his plans for
the film when he premiered his maiden Hollywood
venture Saint Dracula 3D at the Cannes Film Festival
earlier this year.
Confirming the news, the filmmaker said he is also
planning to premiere Kama Sutra 3D at the same pres-
tigious international film festival in 2013. He said,
"Sherlyn has exotic Indian looks and a bold attitude to
carry a role like this. The film will assure maximum
utilisation of her talent and beauty. Besides, it will
also be challenging and exciting for me as a director to
portray her in a new bolder avatar." As for making it in
3D, he asserted, "3D would add that extra dimension
to the sexual positions described in the ancient treatise
on the art of love."
It seems Sherlyn is all set to outdo Indira Verma and
Sarita Choudhury, who acted in Mira Nair's Kama
Sutra A Tale Of Love. While the two UK-born
actresses reportedly had apprehensions about going
nude and doing bold scenes, Chopra has no reserva-
tions, having bared all for her recent international
photo opportunity. Actor Sherlyn Chopra
By V.S. Karnic
S
.M. Krishna quit as external
affairs minister ostensibly
because the Congress wants
the services of its tallest leader in
Karnataka to recapture power in
the state in the assembly polls, due
early next year. A grand plan, no
doubt.
The catch, however, is that there
are few takers for this spin, even
within the Congress unit in
Karnataka, which is riven by
groupism and differences of caste.
If Krishna, who has been
replaced by Salman Khurshid as
India's foreign minister, returns to
active state politics, it will be the
second time in just over four years
that he has moved from center to
state.
After being chief minister for
five years from 1999, the party was
defeated in the 2004 polls; in
December that year, he was made
Maharashtra governor.
In March 2008 he quit as gover-
nor to return to state politics, and
actively campaigned for the
Congress in the assembly polls of
May that year. The Congress did
not gain much, and the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) came to power
for the first time in the state.
There was much hype, though, in
2008 when Krishna re-entered
Karnataka politics as he was leav-
ing mostly an honorary post of
governor, usually reserved for
either ageing leaders or trouble-
makers for the ruling party at New
Delhi.
This time, however, if he returns
to Karnataka, he will be returning
after losing one of the most impor-
tant portfolios in the union govern-
ment.
Krishna was the first external
affairs minister from Karnataka;
the most important central ministry
held by leaders from the state in
the past had been railways.
Krishna is no doubt the tallest
Congress leader in the state, and he
has a reputation for bringing all
sections of the party together.
However, at 80 years, age is no
longer on his side. Worse, the party
is bitterly divided on caste lines
with a powerful group of Lingayat
community leaders openly cam-
paigning to remove the present
Karnataka Pradesh Congress
Committee (KPCC) chief G.
Parameshwara.
Parameshwara is a Dalit but
known to be a staunch follower of
Krishna, who belongs to the
Vokkaliga community.
Lingayats, who comprise about
17 percent of the state's 65 million
population, and Vokkaligas, around
15 percent of the population, have
dominated state politics for
decades.
It is generally believed that
Lingayats, once strong Congress
supporters, have switched alle-
giance to the BJP after Veerendra
Patil was unceremoniously sacked
as chief minister by the Congress
in 1989.
The Lingayat campaign for the
replacement of Parameshwara as
state party chief continues, despite
a diktat from party president Sonia
Gandhi, during her two visits to the
state in the last six months, that
party organisation should not suffer
because of differences among lead-
ers. Krishna, meanwhile, has also
lost much clout in his home district
of Mandya, about 80 km from
Bangalore, over the years.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha poll, the
Janata Dal-Secular led by former
Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda,
who also belongs to the Vokkaliga
community, captured the Mandya
seat, defeating popular Kannada
actor M.H. Ambareesh, who too is
from the same community.
Unlike in 2008, Krishna is now
dogged by allegations of serious
lapses in granting iron ore mining
leases.
More trouble was in store for him
and the Congress. Just a day before
he quit the ministry, the Lokayukta
(ombudsman) court in Bangalore
ordered a probe into his role in the
alleged grant of excess land to the
111 km Bangalore-Mysore high-
way corridor with five township
and several commercial projects;
the grant was made at a time when
Krishna was chief minister.
Given this backdrop, the age fac-
tor and the lukewarm response he
would get from some sections in
the state Congress, Krishna can at
best play a minimal role, despite
the grand things his party might
say.
Though the BJP faces a possible
split ahead of the polls, as its for-
mer chief minister B. S.
Yeddyurappa plans to launch a new
party in December, the Congress in
the state and at the national level
are in no shape to take advantage
of the situation.
A distinct possibility staring the
state in the face is of a split verdict
and a messy coalition, continuing
the political instability witnessed
since 2004.
Krishna's loss may not be Congress' gain
This time if he returns to Karnataka, S.M. Krishna will be
returning after losing one of the most important portfolios
20 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info OP-ED
By Amulya Ganguli
I
t is now clear that both the
major parties - the Congress
and the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) - will approach the
next general election with the
ball and chain of corruption tied
to their feet.
While the Congress has been
weighed down by allegations of
sleaze for more than a year, the
BJP' s travails caused by the
infamy of former Karnataka and
Uttarakhand chief ministers B.S.
Yeddyurappa and Ramesh
Pokhriyal Nishank have been
aggravated by the latest charges
against party president Nitin
Gadkari.
What this means is that the
electoral contest between the
two parties will be on a level
playing field where their tainted
reputations are concerned. As a
result, the conventional wisdom
that the Congress - 206 Lok
Sabha seats, 28.5 percent votes -
will lose some ground while the
BJP - 116 seats, 18.8 per cent
votes - will gain only marginally
is likely to be proved correct.
Since there is little that the
Congress can do to refurbish its
sullied image, it will have to
bank on the Manmohan Singh
government's reforms initiatives
to generate an atmosphere of
hope in order to tilt the balance,
even if slightly, in its favour.
Aware that it had left the task of
boosting the economy too late,
the government will have to
work overtime to inject a sense
of buoyancy.
Its only advantage is the
silence of the earlier critics of
the reforms within and outside
the party - the "socialists" in the
Congress and Trinamool
Congress among the allies -
although the objections to a
National Investment Board by
environment minister Jayanthi
Natarajan show that hurdles still
remain.
However, the fact that the
National Advisory Council led
by Sonia Gandhi has withdrawn
into the background is a sign that
there is some a realization of the
harm which its left-of-center
outlook inflicted on the econo-
my, hobbling the government
and the party.
But, since an upswing in the
economy will take time to mani-
fest itself, notwithstanding
favorable indications like an
increase in the demand for hous-
ing and a rise in the number of
people with "good" jobs, accord-
ing to a Gallup poll, the
Congress will have to work
much harder to show its resolve
to fight corruption - something
which is not helped by the arro-
gance of its members, who
threaten to break television cam-
eras if they face inconvenient
questions, as Himachal Pradesh
chief minister Virbhadra Singh
did, or promise to write their
political careers in blood, as law
minister Salman Khurshid did.
The Congress's only hope lies
in the ever-deepening gloom in
the BJP camp. It isn't only that
Gadkari has become embroiled
in a scam of his own, there is
every possibility that
Yeddyurappa will strike out on
his own by forming his own
regional outfit. In that event, the
pride which the BJP took in
securing its first foothold south
of the Vindhyas - albeit with
some help from Janata Dal
(Secular) - will be dashed.
Both the BJP and the RSS are
now facing a dilemma, for, per-
sisting with Gadkari will nullify
the BJP' s criticism of the
Congress's alleged corruption
while sacking him will rock the
party even more than Advani's
dismissal from the president's
post did in 2005. Meanwhile, the
RSS may wonder why both its
recent choices for the post -
Rajnath Singh (who was called a
"provincial" by Jaswant Singh)
and Gadkari - have created more
problems than they solved.
Since the BJP depends on the
Sangh Parivar's organizational
prowess at election time, the
tremors in the party's top rungs
cannot but have a damaging
impact.
Congress, BJP on a level playing field of corruption
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
The Congress's only hope lies in the ever-deepening
gloom in the BJP camp
Taj in Dubai? Agra does not like it
By Brij Khandelwal
Agra: The reported move to build a Taj Mahal
in Dubai has not gone down well here with
people who think it amounts to desecrating a
renowned tourist draw and a spiritual monu-
ment.
The proposed Taj will be about four times
the size of the original monument. To be ready
by 2014, it will be set in the heart of the 41
million square foot Falcon city of wonders on
Emirates Road. It will be a five star hotel with
300 rooms.
People in Agra, about 200 km south of New
Delhi, are not amused. They are angry that
someone is trying to copy the original, a 17th
century marble monument built by Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife.
"At best it can only be a caricature of the
original. From where will they bring the
romantic tales, the river Yamuna and the
ambience of Agra?" asks Rakesh Sharma,
president of the All India Brahmin
Mahasabha.
The Taj, Agra residents hold, belongs to
Agra and India.
"At least they should pay a royalty to the Taj
city for using its brand name," tourism indus-
try leader Abhinav Jain said.
According to Jain, the Taj Mahal is a special
monument, unlike a palace or castle or even
the Eifel Tower.
Taj Arabia will celebrate the union of cou-
ples by serving as the world's grandest wed-
ding destination, according to a report in the
Gulf News.
Former Agra legislator Satish Chandra
Gupta is livid.
"It is patently wrong and absurd," Gupta
said. "This kind of distortion and in principle
duplication of history artificially makes no
sense.
"You cannot re-create history. Agra must get
its share in terms of royalty from anyone using
the brand Taj Mahal."
Gupta said the original design of the Taj was
given by a Sufi saint.
The Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation
Society has shot out protest letters to Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and
the Archeological Survey of India.
Surendra Sharma, president of the Society,
said: "Ideally the Dubai builder should not go
ahead with this project as it hurts our senti-
ments. Taj Mahal is basically a spiritual cen-
ter, with lakhs of people offering prayers and
paying obeisance round the year.
"The Taj represents or climaxes the 5,000
years of Indian excellence. To belittle the orig-
inal through a fake model is not a desirable
thing."
The Taj's caretaker, Munazzar Ali, said
nobody should doubt that the Taj Mahal was a
spiritual destination for millions.
Islamic scholar Syed Jafrey explained the
divine design of the Taj, India's biggest tourist
draw.
"Basically, the Taj is a mausoleum, a mazar.
Its status is the same as the mazaars of some
great saints like Chisti or Auliya. Shah Jahan
is now given the status of Vali-Allah, and an
annual Urs is held," he said.
Former Agra mayor Anjula Singh Mahaur
said she felt deeply hurt. "For commercial
purposes you cannot misuse symbols and
identity of a nation," she said.
21 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info FEATURES
The people that time forgot
By Rajat Ghai
New Delhi: Tilak Vihar could be
just another congested neighbor-
hood in west Delhi until you take a
closer look. Everywhere, there is a
profusion of turbans and beards - a
traumatic reminder that this is a
Sikh resettlement colony built on
the charred memories of riots 28
years ago.
The lapse of time has done little
to dull the bitterness or erase the
images of fathers, sons, brothers
and husbands killed mercilessly in
the rioting that followed the assassi-
nation of then prime minister Indira
Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on
Oct 31, 1984.
For three days after that, mobs
trawled the streets of the national
capital, massacring an estimated
3,000 Sikhs. The memories live on,
singeing the present.
In one of the apartments of the
shabby flat complex in Tilak Vihar
lives Pappy Kaur, 43, who saw 10
of her relatives killed in the east
Delhi colony of Trilokpuri.
"I was 15 then," she reminisces.
"We were eight brothers and sisters,
living in Trilokpuri. Ten of our fam-
ily, including my father and elder
brother, were killed by mobs
encouraged by H.K.L. Bhagat," she
says, referring to the late Congress
leader who many alleged had
prompted the riots.
"My mother went mad. For three
days, we were crying on the
streets," she adds.
Pappy Kaur is just one of the
many survivors for whom 1984 was
a black year. "We were ruined - and
have still not got any closure."
Twenty-eight years on, two issues
are all important for the survivors
of 1984. One, that their families'
killers still roam free. Two, their
lives are still unsettled, still uncer-
tain because of inadequate compen-
sation, neglect and apathy.
The stories are the same in house
after house.
Like Pappy, Baghi Kaur too lost
11 of her relatives in Trilokpuri in
1984. She too refers to the allega-
tions of Congress leaders being
involved and names Sajjan Kumar
and Jagdish Tytler. Until they are
punished, she asserts, there will be
no closure.
"Frankly, I have no hopes. I have
attended so many rallies and still,
there is no justice for us."
The level of frustration can be
gauged by the fact that the convic-
tion rate in cases is abysmal.
"No precise figure can be given
for the convictions as tabulation has
not been done. But I can tell you the
trend is very small. I myself took a
sample of 100 odd murder cases
and there were only eight convic-
tions. So one can say that the con-
viction rate is very nominal and,
most importantly, the big leaders
who led the riots have not been con-
victed at all," says human rights
lawyer Vrinda Grover.
Nirpreet Kaur, 44, whose father
was burnt alive in Palam Colony,
offers her perspective.
"Even if the lower courts sentence
the guilty, they are acquitted by the
higher courts. Even when some-
body is sentenced to death, they
often commute it to life (imprison-
ment), like what happened in the
case of Kishori Lal, 'the butcher of
Delhi'," she says.
"The most important problem fac-
ing survivors is making two ends
meet. Many families lost their
breadwinners. The widows who
survived their husbands were (in
many cases) not provided jobs.
Those who did, earn peanuts," adds
Nirpreet.
Darshan Kaur, 53, of Karol Bagh
is in such a condition. After her hus-
band and father-in-law were killed,
she worked for years as a maid,
earning as little as Rs.50 a day. For
the last 12 years, she has been
working in a beauty clinic, on a
salary of Rs. 5,000. "I am doing it
because I have no option. But I fear
for the future," she says.
There are other problems. The
children of riot victims and sur-
vivors have grown up but with their
fathers dead and mothers at work,
there was no guiding hand.
"Many young men today are drug
addicts. And still have adjustment
problems," says Nirpreet.
Men like Baghi's son, Balwant
Singh, 36. He lost his father and
uncles, grew up illiterate and is
married now, with four children.
Permanently ill with a stomach
infection, he survives on his moth-
er's slender salary. "1984 killed us,"
he says bitterly.
His younger brother, Balbir fared
worse. He became a drug addict and
died at 28.
The widows and orphans of 1984
are then nobody's people.
"If you cannot punish the guilty
and settle us, then bring back our
dead," says a bitter Pappy.
Is anybody listening?
Artists impression of the proposed Taj Arabia in Falcon City of Wonders, Dubai.
An estimated 3,000 Sikhs were massacred in the 1984 riots
that erupted after Mrs Gandhis assassination.
Operation Bluestar from June
3-6, 1984 was ordered by Mrs
Gandhi to neutralize the
militant group led by Sant
Bhindranwale ensconced in the
Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Mrs Indira Gandhi, then
Prime Minister, was killed by
her own Sikh guards
on 31 October 1984 to take
revenge for Operation
Bluestar.
Three decades on,
there is no closure in
sight for survivors of the
anti-Sikh riots.
1984 survivors:
Dubai: A Pakistani student and
her Indian lover, who became
friends on Facebook, have been
accused of cuddling and kissing
each other consensually after he
promised to marry her in Dubai.
The student admitted in court
that she cuddled and kissed her
lover nearly 20 times in his flat.
"Yes it's true. We hugged and
kissed several times but that was
after he promised to marry me,"
the girl claimed when she entered
a guilty plea before the Dubai
Misdemeanor Court.
Prosecutors accused the couple,
both aged 24, with hugging and
kissing consensually without being
married.
According to Gulf News, the
Indian boy, who works in customer
services, also entered a guilty plea
but denied that he promised to
marry her.
Prosecution said that the boy's
family reported to police that the
girl repeatedly harassed them and
kept coming to their flat wanting
to coerce their son into marrying
her.
The couple claimed that they
used to spend long hours at each
other' s residence and watch
movies or meet in coffee shops or
restaurants.
Records said that their friendship
developed into a love relationship
and they started exchanging hugs
and kisses every time they met.
"Our love affair blossomed in
2010. We had consensual sex sev-
eral times at his residence in Dubai
International City.
The last time we slept together
was at my residence in the same
area in August. We cuddled and
kissed and had protected sex. We
slept together more than 20 times,
I slept with him after he promised
to marry me," the girl told the
prosecutors.
Meanwhile, the man confessed
during prosecution questioning
that he cuddled and kissed with the
student but denied sleeping
with her.
Bali: To mark the 20th anniversary
of ASEAN-India Dialogue
Partnership, an academic seminar
titled India-Indonesia-Shared
History & Culture and opportunities
for deepening people-to-people
contact was organized jointly by
Consulate General of India, Bali,
and Udayana University, Bali on 30
October 2012 in Udayana
University in Bali. In a well-attend-
ed seminar, eminent speakers from
various organizations/ Institutes in
Bali addressed the gathering on var-
ied topics such as cultural relations
of India & Indonesia, common
threads of traditions between India
and Indonesia, the relationship of
India-Balinese Hindus, develop-
ment of Hinduism in Bali, compari-
son of dances from Bali and
Southern India, strategic agenda for
cooperation between India and
Indonesia and collective memories
of relations between India and
Indonesia.
In his opening remarks, the Rector
of Udayana University, Mr. Made
Bakta, welcomed the participants to
the seminar and hoped the delibera-
tions would lead to more insight and
understanding between two coun-
tries who share historical and cultur-
al links. He said his university was
looking forward to strengthen edu-
cational opportunities with Indian
universities especially in the field of
science and technology. The univer-
sity plans to establish a Center for
Indian studies next year which will
facilitate visit by Indian scholars.
Speaking on the topic of collective
memories of relations between India
and Indonesia, Prof Dr. Phil I Ketut
Ardhana, said the Indian influence
on Indonesia was now mainly in the
areas of social and cultural matters
and the challenge now is to see how
these influences are reinforced in
strengthening the ties between the
two countries. Mr Ketut Putra
Erawan, Executive Director,
Institute for Peace and Democracy
spoke on the topic of strategic agen-
da for cooperation between India
and Indonesia. He said India and
Indonesia are now emerging giants
that world cannot ignore. The chal-
lenge for these countries is to find
ways and means to eradicate pover-
ty and realize equitable distribution
of fruits of development amongst its
people. Prof. Dr. I. Made Titib,
Rector of Institute Hindu Dharma
Negeri and Prof. Dr. I.B. Gunadha,
Head of Post Graduate Program
UNHI, spoke on the relationship of
India and the Balinese Hindus and
how Hinduism had developed and
evolved in Bali over the centuries.
Ms. Aparajita Sarma, Performer and
Dance Teacher at the Indian
Cultural Center, Bali, gave a
demonstration on the comparison of
dances from Bali and Southern
India. Ambassador Gurjit Singh,
who was the key note speaker, said
that India and Indonesia share his-
torical and civilization ties which
was so well established and the
challenge now is how to modernize
the age old relationship. He said the
Embassy would play the role of
facilitator in establishing people to
people connectivity through semi-
nars, academic exchanges,
exchange of scholarships, twinning
arrangements between universities
of both countries and establishing
India corners in universities in
Indonesia. He also indicated that the
Embassy would endeavor to hold
the India-Bali Sangam cultural festi-
val on an annual basis which will go
a long way to reinforce the existing
cultural links.
Seminar on cultural and historical links between India and Indonesia
Since the arrival of INS Sudarshini, docked at Port Benoa in Bali,
a number of high profile events have been held which will
culminate with holding of India-Bali sangam in Bali, a cultural
extravaganza featuring Indian films, live demonstration of
Indian cuisine, textiles, and cultural performances.
22 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info DIASPORA
Saudi Arabia frees detained Indian terror suspect
Pakistani-Indian couple in dock
for 'cuddling and kissing without
being married' in Dubai
Bangalore: Saudi Arabian police have released Indian
doctor Usman Ghani from 20-day detention after their
investigation revealed he had no terror links as suspected
earlier.
"I am grateful to the Saudi police for releasing my son
Sunday and clearing him of charges that he had links with
terror elements when he was in India four years ago,"
Ghani's mother Fathima Khan told media Wednesday.
Ghani, 36, who works at a military hospital in Riyadh,
was picked up by the Saudi police from his home at the
behest of the Indian government on the advice of
Karnataka Police, Fahima alleged.
"My prayers have been answered by Allah! I want to
profoundly thank the Saudi government, especially its
embassy in New Delhi for conducting the inquiry expedi-
tiously and finding that my son had no connection with
terror suspects as alleged," Fathima said.Ghani went to the
Saudi kingdom in late 2008 to join the National Guard
hospital in Riyadh as an anaesthetist after working for
over three years in Bangalore hospitals.
"It was heartening to speak to Ghani Monday after three
weeks and to know that he is at home with his wife
(Rashida). I am looking forward to meet them soon as I
have applied for a Saudi visa," Fathima said.
Before Ghani left for the Saudi kingdom, police sum-
moned him after the questioning of some suspects picked
up in Hubli, about 410 km from Bangalore, for allegedly
planning a terror attack.
Indian soldiers' heroism remembered at El Alamein
Cairo: To commemorate the sacri-
fices and heroism of Indian soldiers in
the two battles of El Alamein, a
memorial service was organized by
the Indian embassy in Cairo at the
Indian Memorial Saturday.
Navdeep Suri, India's ambassador
to Egypt, and a number of senior
diplomats and defence officials of
friendly countries placed wreaths at
the memorial on this occasion, an
embassy press release said.
The simple but solemn ceremony
was a part of the 70th Anniversary of
the Battle of El Alamein being cele-
brated at El Alamein and memorial-
ized the selfless service of the coura-
geous Indian soldiers, thousands of
kilometers from their motherland.
On this occasion, Ambassador Suri
said the stellar role of the Indian sol-
diers in El Alamein was recognized
by German Field Marshal Rommel
himself. Suri drew attention to the
book -- North African Campaign
1940-1943 -- by JKW Bingham and
Warner Haupt which says that the
capture of Ruweisat Ridge in a com-
bined attack of 5 Indian Division and
New Zealand Division July 15, 1942
was the turning point in the battle.
Almost 25,000 officers and men of
the Indian Army participated in the
North African campaign, and over
3000 laid down their lives in the for-
bidding sands of the northern Sahara.
The famous Battle for El Alamein
alone accounted for 800 of these. Suri
underlined that a majority of those
martyred here were still in their teens.
They included Hindus, Sikhs and
Muslims from different parts of the
Indian subcontinent and the annual
memorial service was meant to ensure
that their sacrifices were not forgotten.
ISI 'linking' to Maoists; Security agencies worried
New Delhi: Pakistan' s covert
operations agency Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) has forged
deadly links with Maoists through
overground radicals and the
banned Students Islamic
Movement of India (SIMI)
activists not just in West Bengal
but the rest of India too, accord-
ing to Indian security agencies.
This information was shared
among police and civilian offi-
cials from nine Maoist-infested
states who met in the national
capital earlier this month to
review the anti-Maoist security
operations and progress of devel-
opment works in backward areas
of their respective states.
West Bengal's Director General
of Police Naparajit Mukherjee
had reportedly told the meeting
that "though Maoists were facing
all-round reverses what was
emerging were signs of a growing
link between them and Pakistan's
ISI, with clear evidence in this
regard emerging from four dis-
tricts of the state bordering
Bangladesh."
Murshidabad, West Midnapore,
Purulia and Bankura are the four
districts, he was quoted as having
said at the meet.
A worried Mukherjee is said to
have informed of the "growing
nexus", which came to light after
some Maoists were arrested from
these districts and they revealed
about overground sympathisers of
leftwing extremists establishing
ties with Pakistan's spy agency.
"Not just in West Bengal, ele-
ments having ISI links are joining
forces with overt outfits of
Maoists. We have also witnessed
the participation of members of
the banned SIMI in protest
marches and events organized by
Maoists and their sympathizers in
other parts of the country, includ-
ing at Jantar Mantar in Delhi (the
venue of all protests)," a govern-
ment official, with knowledge of
such developments, was quoted
as saying.
Mukherjee's revelations at the
review meeting at the home min-
istry came even as there has been
a "remarkable improvement" in
countering leftwing extremists in
West Bengal. It also came over a
fortnight after then Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
director general K. Vijay Kumar
last month appreciated the
Mamata Banerjee government for
the "cooperation extended to the
security forces' operations" to
counter the Maoists.
23 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info SUBCONTINENT
The ISI has reportedly forged deadly links with Maoists through
overground radicals and the banned SIMI activists
Khaleda to India: Time to look ahead
New Delhi: Bangladesh's former
prime minister Khaleda Zia, whose
stints in power saw tense relations
with New Delhi, has assured India
that Bangladeshi territory will not
be allowed to be used by anti-India
insurgents, saying "it's time to look
ahead and not in a rear-view mir-
ror".
In his first meeting with a foreign
dignitary after he took charge as
foreign minister a couple of days
ago, Salman Khurshid met Zia, the
leader of the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP), and dis-
cussed a cluster of bilateral issues.
In her talks, Zia reiterated the
assurance she had given to Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh that
Bangladeshi territory will not be
allowed to be used by anti-India
insurgents and rebels, Syed
Akbaruddin, the spokesperson of
the external affairs ministry, told
reporters here.
"Zia has conveyed that 'let's look
forward and not in the rear-view
mirror'," the spokesperson said.
Zia's comments indicated that
she and her party BNP want to
break from the past by having more
positive relations with India if she
wins the polls, expected next year.
Khurshid and Zia held talks on
an entire range of bilateral issues,
including the need to fast-track the
Teesta pact, the land boundary
agreement and occasional skir-
mishes on the border.
Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia with Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh
New Delhi: Taking forward their
congruence on a range of global
issues, India, the United States and
Japan have decided to ramp up
cooperation in areas ranging from
the Asia-Pacific to Afghanistan,
Africa and Myanmar.
Senior officials of India, the US
and Japan held their third trilateral
dialogue here that focused on firm-
ing up strategies to combat piracy,
bolstering maritime security and
shared their perspectives on the
evolving Asia-Pacific architecture.
The officials of the three coun-
tries held talks for five to six hours,
indicating intense discussions to
find more areas of commonality
between the three leading democra-
cies.They had discussions on a
strategic overview of the Asia-
Pacific region, Syed Akbaruddin,
spokesperson of the external affairs
ministry, told reporters. They dis-
cussed issues relating to the
ASEAN summit and the 18-nation
East Asia Summit, he said.
India, US discuss
Afghanistan
Islamabad: India's new Foreign Minister
Salman Khurshid has before him the gar-
gantuan task of not letting singular issues
and events "hijack the tenuous peace
process" between Pakistan and India, said a
Pakistani daily.
Salman Khurshid has replaced S.M.
Krishna as India's external affairs minister
in a major ministerial revamp aimed at bol-
stering the ruling Congress ahead of the
2014 polls.
An editorial in the News International
said that despite the recent controversy
regarding accusations that Khurshid and
his wife had "siphoned off funds for a char-
ity for the disabled, the important office of
foreign minister is now his, where he will
have to handle the most delicate diplomatic
dossier of India?s relations with Pakistan".
Krishna had overseen the revival of the
tentative peace process, which had col-
lapsed after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and
administered genuine movement on issues
such as trade and visa liberalisation, said
the daily.
"Khurshid now has before him the gar-
gantuan task of carrying forward the
process Krishna started - of putting all
issues on the table and not letting singular
issues and events hijack the tenuous peace
process," it added.
It cited some analysts as suggesting that
Khurshid has a firmer grip on diplomacy
and is likely to demonstrate a surer footing
than his predecessor.
"However, there are also those who point
to his recent mishandling of the corruption
scandal, and there is serious concern
whether Khurshid possesses the necessary
patience and maturity to dance the delicate
dance that the Indian foreign minister
always has to, especially in their dealings
with Pakistan," said the editorial.
Take care of India-Pak ties, daily tells Khurshid
Pak approves liberalized visa
accord with India
Islamabad: Pakistan has approved a liber-
alized visa agreement with India that will
relax curbs on issuing travel documents to
traders, elderly people, tourists, pilgrims,
members of the civil society and children.
The two countries had signed the agree-
ment in September during the then Indian
foreign minister S.M. Krishna's visit to
Islamabad.
Pakistan Information Minister Qamar uz
Zaman Kaira told a news conference
Wednesday that at a cabinet meeting
presided by Prime Minister Raja Pervez
Ashraf, the members unanimously accord-
ed approval to the relaxed visa agreement
with India which he hoped will promote
people-to-people contacts.
A 38-year-old visa pact has been replaced
with the new pact, which says that visa has
to be issued in a period of not exceeding 45
days of application.
Under the new system, one can visit five
places instead of three at present and those
above 65 and children below 12 years of
age and eminent businessmen are exempted
from police reporting.
Under the category of "Visitor visa", in
the new pact, single entry visa is to be
issued for six months. But the stay should
not exceed three months at a time. Earlier,
only single entry visa for three months used
to be issued for meeting relatives, friends,
business or other legitimate purpose.
Under the new Category II, a "Visitor
visa" for a maximum five specified places
may be issued for a longer period, up to two
years with multiple entries to senior citi-
zens (above 65 years old), spouses of a
national of one country married to a person
of another country and children below 12
years of age accompanying parents as given
earlier.
The new "Group Tourist visa" will be
issued for no less than 10 people and no
more than 50 people. Valid up to 30 days,
this visa will have to be applied through
tour operators registered by the two govern-
ments.
India's new Foreign Minister
Salman Khurshid
Tripoli: Libya' s Parliament has
approved the country's new Cabinet
in a vote of confidence, the
Parliament spokesman said, but
armed protesters cut the main road
leading to the parliament, vowing
not to leave until members of the
ousted regime of dictator Moammar
Gadhafi are excluded from political
life. Omar Humidan said five of the
27 ministers would be reconsidered
after concerns were raised over their
ties to the deposed regime.
That was not good enough for the
protesters, who tried to storm the
parliament building but were turned
back by security forces firing in the
air. Then they camped outside the
convention center that houses the
parliament sessions. The disruption
was the second in as many days by
protesters, some in pickup trucks
mounted with machine guns and
anti-aircraft pieces.
"The fruits of the revolution have
been harvested by regime rem-
nants," said Younis Mohammed.
"We want all members of the old
regime to be isolated," he added,
referring to the National Integrity
Agency tasked with filtering lists of
officials from Gadhafi's regime. "It
is not possible that those who fought
on the fronts are now under control
of the same people they were fight-
ing against," he said.
The vote approving the Cabinet
was 105 in favor, nine against and
18 abstentions, after parliament's
main political blocs gave their sup-
port to the new prime minister, Ali
Zidan.
The new Cabinet faces the daunt-
ing task of imposing control over
armed groups, mostly former rebel
fighters who defeated Gadhafi' s
forces during last year's eight-month
civil war. The government must also
build state institutions such as the
judiciary, police and military from
scratch, and rebuild cities and towns
destroyed during the conflict.
Zidan said he tried to strike a geo-
graphical balance in the new
Cabinet. A year after the overthrow
and death of Gadhafi, Libyans are
seeking a broader distribution of
political power among the country's
three main regions, after decades of
domination and discrimination by
the dictator's highly centralized state
based in the capital, Tripoli.
Zidan said he had talks with
Libya's largest political blocs in par-
liament, the Alliance of National
Forces by western-minded and
wartime Prime Minister Mahmoud
Jibril and the Muslim Brotherhood's
political arm Justice and
Construction Party, to ensure sup-
port for his Cabinet.
Zidan, a former human rights
lawyer, is the second prime minister
to be named by the 200-member
parliament. Legislators dismissed
his predecessor, Mustafa Abushaqur,
after they said he had put forward
unknown people for key Cabinet
posts and proposed a government
lacking diversity.
The new Cabinet has two women,
one as social affairs minister and the
other as tourism minister. The key
posts of defense minister and interi-
or minister went to representatives
of the eastern city of Benghazi,
where the revolt against Gadhafi
begin. Also, the Cabinet has three
ministers from the western city of
Misrata and one from Zawiya.
London: London's cash-strapped police force said it
was planning to sell its iconic New Scotland Yard head-
quarters, famous for its revolving sign, to help save 500
million pounds.
New Scotland Yard building in Victoria, central
London, has been the home of Britain's biggest police
force since the 1960s.
Now police chiefs are planning to sell the building
and move to a smaller headquarters as they try to save
500 million from a 3.6 billion pound annual budget, fol-
lowing government cuts. Other police stations in
London would also be under threat, with five already
approved for sale, as the force seeks to dispose of a third
of its estate.
The Metropolitan police has been tasked by the
mayor's office with making savings of 500 million by
2015.
Cash-strapped Scotland Yard may sell HQ
Libyan Parliament approves new Cabinet
The new Cabinet faces the daunting task of imposing control over
armed groups (in the picture), mostly former rebel fighters
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Moscow warns against Syrian
president's ouster
New Scotland Yard headquarters is famous
for its revolving sign
24 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info INTERNATIONAL
Paris: Russia has said removal of
President Bashar al-Assad from
power will do nothing to end the
19-month old civil war in Syria
but it will only escalate the vio-
lence
"It is like daydreaming to spec-
ulate on the subject, to the effect
that if the [Syrian] government is
overthrown everything will fall
into place, " Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov said after
meeting his French counterpart
Laurent Fabius.
"If this is a priority for some-
body, bloodshed will continue,
and for quite a while,
too...Assad's fate should be decid-
ed by the Syrian people, " he
added.
Lavrov said there is no military
solution to the Syrian conflict as
mercenaries fighting on the side
of the Syrian insurgents keep
arriving in the country from
neighboring states.
Western powers have con-
demned Russia and China for
their repeated refusal to back UN
sanctions against Assad regime,
which the UN has accused of
complicity in the massacre of
unarmed civilians.
Russian President Vladimir
Putin vowed earlier this year not
to allow a repeat of last year's
"Libya scenario," which saw the
ouster and murder of Libyan
leader Muammar Gaddafi after a
NATO military campaign.
US monitoring Iranian warships' Sudan visit
Washington: The United States
said it was monitoring a visit by
two Iranian warships to a
Sudanese port this week, but had
no details about it.
The warships left Port Sudan on
the Red Sea earlier, an AFP pho-
tographer said, after a visit that
coincided with Khartoum's denial
that Iran is making weapons in
Sudan. Acting US State
Department spokesman Mark
Toner said the United States was
"obviously watching that closely."
"We monitor Iran's activities in
the region very closely," he added.
Sudan's links to Iran have come
under scrutiny after Khartoum
accused Israel of sending four
radar-evading aircraft to strike the
Yarmouk military factory in the
heart of the capital Khartoum at
midnight on October 23.
The factory compound exploded
and burst into flames, and specula-
tion followed that Iranian weapons
were stored or manufactured
there.
The United States was "aware of
an explosion," Toner said, but
added that Washington had no
more details of what the incident
entailed and how it was caused.
Turning to the visiting Iranian
warships, he added: "It's hard for
us to know what the details are of
this visit right now... Certainly we
would be concerned, but we don't
have any more details."
Sudan' s army spokesman
Sawarmi Khaled Saad said that
the Iranian ship visit "will support
strong political, security and
diplomatic relations between the
two states."
Saad said the port call was a
chance for Sudanese naval person-
nel "to see advanced weapons and
advanced ships."
Iran's Press TV reported that the
two vessels had arrived. They had
been sent to the Djibouti area in
September "to convey Iran's mes-
sage of peace to the regional coun-
tries and maintain the security of
shipping corridors against mar-
itime terrorism," Press TV said.
China slams US
accusation of
hacking
Beijing: China has criticized
US intelligence agency's accu-
sations of hacking by Chinese
firms, saying it also falls vic-
tim to cyber crime.
Chinese foreign ministry
spokesperson Hong Lei was
asked during a press confer-
ence about accusations from
an unspecified US source that
Chinese firms had used hack-
ing to steal commercial
secrets.
Hong said China has
responded to hacking-related
issues on many occasions, and
that it is "grossly irresponsi-
ble" to allege that China steals
information and conducts
hacking online without evi-
dence and investigation.
"China also falls victim to
hacking," the spokesperson
said while noting that cyber-
space security was an interna-
tional issue and China intends
cooperation with the global
community to safeguard
online security together.
RBI keeps rates unchanged; Chidambaram unhappy
Mumbai/New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
cut cash reserve ratio (CRR) for banks by 0.25 percent
but kept interest rates unchanged, despite pressure from
the government.
The CRR, the money against deposits which commer-
cial banks have to retain in the form of liquid assets
such as cash, has been cut to 4.25 percent from 4.5 per-
cent. It will release Rs.175 billion into the system.
However, the central bank kept other policy rates and
reserve ratios unchanged. This means borrowing costs
by companies as well as individuals would remain high.
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram appeared disap-
pointed over the RBI move and said the government
would walk alone to face the challenge of growth.
"Growth is as much a concern as inflation. The gov-
ernment has to walk alone to face the challenge of
growth... Sometimes it is best to speak and sometimes it
is best to be silent. I think this is a time for silence,"
Chidambaram said in New Delhi, making his unhappi-
ness over the RBI's policy apparent.
A day before the RBI policy review, the finance min-
ister had announced a five-year road map for fiscal con-
solidation, setting a target of cutting the fiscal deficit to
3 percent by 2016-17 from 5.8 percent recorded in
2011-12. "The government is doing its best to send a
clear message that we are on the path of fiscal consoli-
dation and it is my hope that everybody will understand
the government's commitment of fiscal consolidation,"
Chidambaram said.
While announcing the policy review, RBI Governor
D. Subbarao, however, said inflationary pressure was
likely to worsen in the next couple of month and there-
fore the time was not right to cut interest rates. The poli-
cy announcements hit market sentiments, with the
benchmark Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange
falling 205 points or 1.1 percent to 18,430.85 points.
UBS global axe to affect India bond operations
Mumbai: The decision of Swiss
banking major UBS to shut its
fixed income business and lay off
about 10,000 people globally, will
have a minor impact on its Indian
operations since the fixed income
team and the revenues it generat-
ed were not significant.
In India, the fixed income team
in UBS had about 25 people and
the impact of the global decision
to wind down this part of the busi-
ness will impact these people too,
market sources said.
However, they said that in India,
unlike in the equities trading and
brokerage space, UBS was not a
big name in the bond trading
space. So naturally closing the
division will not have any materi-
al impact on its operations here.
A call to UBS spokesperson in
Hong Kong for its comments on
the development
in the fixed
income space
remained unan-
swered. UBS
unveiled plans to
wind down its
fixed income
business and fire
10,000 bankers
in one of the
biggest bonfires
of finance jobs
since the implo-
sion of Lehman
Brothers in 2008.
In another
development, Ashok Mittal, India
head of UBS's investment bank-
ing unit, put in his papers, surpris-
ing many on Deal Street. The exit
of Mittal, according to a UBS
spokesperson based in India, was
an isolated episode and there were
no other senior level departures
from India at this time. Mittal,
who had moved to the Swiss
banking giant from Lehman
Brothers in June last year, was
with the bank for just 16 months.
San Francisco: Microsoft has
unveiled Windows Phone 8, the
new version of its smartphone
operating system, representing the
software giant's latest move to
challenge market leaders Google
and Apple.
The new smartphone software
has a Start screen in the form of
square tiles, which can display
real-time information such as
updates on social networking
sites. Users can personalize the
Start screen by pinning their
favourite items such as applica-
tion and photos, and choose from
three sizes and 20 colors for the
so-called "Live Tiles".
At a media event held here
Monday, Microsoft executives
touted new user-friendly features
including "Data Sense", which
helps users conserve their data
allowance through ways such as
compressing web images.
"Our way is to put people at the
center of the experience, not icons
for apps," Joe Belfiore, corporate
vice president of Windows Phone
Program Management at
Microsoft, said at the event.
The smartphone software shares
the same user interface and tech-
nology core with Windows 8,
Microsoft's newly-launched oper-
ating system for personal comput-
ers and tablet computers, making
it easier for developers to create
apps for both platforms and for
users to run similar programmes
across different devices.
Windows Phone 8 also offers
support for hardware specifica-
tions including multi-core proces-
sors and near-field communica-
tion (NFC), a technology that
allows users to pay with their
smartphones or connect their
phones to other NFC-enabled
devices.
Phones running Microsoft's new
operating system will be available
this weekend in Europe and will
continue to go on sale in the rest
of the world from November.
Major mobile carriers in the US
including Verizon Wireless,
AT&T and T-Mobile will start
selling handsets running Windows
Phone 8 made by Nokia, HTC and
Samsung in the coming weeks,
according to Microsoft.
"We had a very different per-
spective on what a smartphone
should be," Steve Ballmer,
Microsoft's chief executive offi-
cer, said at the press event.
Apple's iOS platform accounted
for 16.9 percent of the smartphone
market in the quarter. For
Microsoft's phone software, the
biggest issue to date has been in
customer acceptance of its signifi-
cantly different user interface,
said Nick Dillon, an analyst at
research firm Ovum, in a recent
report.
Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 8
25 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info BUSINESS
US federal government to
borrow $288 bn
Washington: The US Treasury
Department said that the federal
government is expected to borrow
$288 billion from the market to
fund its operation in the fourth
quarter of this year.
"During the October-December
2012 quarter, Treasury expects to
issue $288 billion in net mar-
ketable debt, assuming an end-of-
December cash balance of $60
billion. This borrowing estimate is
$29 billion lower than announced
in July 2012," the Treasury said in
a statement.
The Treasury said during the
July-September quarter, it issued
$264 billion in net marketable
debt, and ended the quarter with a
cash balance of $85 billion,
reported Xinhua.
The Treasury also said that dur-
ing the January-March 2013 quar-
ter, it would issue $342 billion in
net marketable debt, assuming an
end-of-March cash balance of $30
billion.
The budget deficit of the US
federal government topped around
$1.1 trillion in the 2012 fiscal
year ending in September, about
$207 billion less than the 2011 fis-
cal year. But it was the fourth con-
secutive fiscal year that the US
federal government' s budget
deficit surpassed $1 trillion.
Due to financial crisis and eco-
nomic recession, borrowings of
the US government increased dra-
matically over the past three
years.
The US federal government ran
a record budget deficit of $1.41
trillion in the 2009 fiscal year and
a $1.29 trillion imbalance in the
2010 fiscal year.
The CRR, the money against deposits which com-
mercial banks have to retain in the form of liquid
assets such as cash, has been cut to 4.25 pc
Walt Disney buys Lucasfilm Ltd for $4 billion
Los Angeles: Walt Disney Co
agreed to buy filmmaker George
Lucas's Lucasfilm Ltd and its "Star
Wars" franchise for $4.05 billion in
cash and stock, a blockbuster deal
that includes the surprise promise of
a new film in the series in 2015.
The deal unites a boutique
Northern California film studio that
brought special effects into the digi-
tal era with a venerable Hollywood
powerhouse that has shown a knack
for getting the most out of big-name
entertainment brands.
Disney plans to release at least
three more films in the Star Wars
sci-fi saga that ranks among the
biggest movie franchises of all time,
Chief Executive Bob Iger told ana-
lysts on Tuesday. The last "Star
Wars" picture was "Revenge of the
Sith" in 2005.
Swiss banking major UBS is to lay off about
10,000 people globally
The
block-
buster
deal
includes
a new
film in
the Star
War
series in
2015
The new smartphone software has a Start screen in the form of
square tiles, which can display real-time information
26 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPORTS
Modi loses appeal against libel
award to Cairns
NY Marathon on despite mess left by Sandy
Yuvraj is the best judge of his fitness: Dhoni
New York: The New York
Marathon, an annual event includ-
ing some 50,000 runners, will take
place as scheduled despite the
damage left by Hurricane Sandy,
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.
"People have asked about the
marathon. There's tens of thou-
sands of people who've come from
around the world here to run.
We've decided the marathon will
go on," he told a press conference.
"We expect by Sunday, most of
the power will be back, if not all of
it," Bloomberg said. "It starts on
Staten Island right by the bridge.
We've been cleaning up that area,
and then it' s on main roads
throughout the city."
Noting that "some people said"
the marathon should be canceled
or postponed in light of the 32
deaths and extensive destruction
the city suffered from Sandy, the
mayor stressed the importance of
the event to the local economy.
"There's an awful lot of small
businesses that depend on these
people, we have to have an econo-
my," he said. "I think for those
who were lost, you know, you've
got to believe they would want us
to have an economy and have a
city go on for those that they left
behind."
The race, which runs through the
Big Apple's five boroughs, was
created in 1970 and usually draws
around 2 million spectators.
New Delhi: India cricket captain Mahendra Singh
Dhoni said that Yuvraj Singh, who has made a come-
back after battling cancer, is the best judge of his fitness
and it should be left to the southpaw to decide whether
he is fit enough for the grind of Test matches.
In his bid to get selected for the four-match Test series
against England, Yuvraj has kept himself in fine form in
the first class circuit.
With a double century for North Zone in the Duleep
Trophy semi-final against Central Zone and 59 for India
A against England XI in a warm-up game, Yuvraj has
surely strengthened his claims for the No.6 spot in the
national Test team.
But Dhoni feels given the "uncertainty" factor in
Tests, it should be left to Yuvraj to decide whether he
can survive for five days on the field.
"Test cricket is different from ODIs. We all know that
in ODIs after 50 overs one team will get down to bat-
ting. But Test cricket is full of uncertainties. There
might be situations when a team may go on to bat for
two days or more. In such a situation, Yuvraj has to
decide whether he can be on the field for two days," he
said."I feel Yuvraj is the best judge of his fitness. It
should be best left to him to decide if he can survive the
grind of Test cricket," he said.
Yuvraj's last Test match was against the West Indies in
Kolkata, November 2011, after which he was diagnosed
with a rare germ cell cancer. He made a comeback to
international cricket with a Twenty20 International
against New Zealand in Chennai in September and also
featured in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
The race runs through the Big Apple's five boroughs
Yuvraj Singh with MS Dhoni
Getting back to No. 1 will take time: Woods
Singapore: On the two-year
anniversary of losing his No. 1
ranking, Tiger Woods said that
winning was the best way for him
to get back to the top.
And that could take some time.
Four players have been No. 1 over
the last two years. The top ranking
belongs to Rory McIlroy, who has
widened his lead by winning the
U.S. PGA Championship and con-
secutive tournaments during the
FedEx Cup playoffs. McIlroy was
runner-up last week against a
strong field in Shanghai.
"Rory is playing a lot of events,
and so am I, toward the beginning
of the year, " Woods said in
Singapore, where he staged a
youth clinic on putting. "It's about
winning golf tournaments. That's
how I got to No. 1, that's how Rory
got to No. 1. You've got to win golf
tournaments, and when you don't,
you've got to be consistent and fin-
ish high. I'm looking forward to
that."
Woods won three times this year
on the U.S. tour, though it took
time for his trademark consistency
to develop. He did not have back-
to-back finishes in the top 10 until
the British Open (tie for third) and
the Bridgestone Invitational (tie
for eighth). He hasn't finished out
of the top 10 since The Barclays in
August, a streak of four tourna-
ments. Woods ends his 2012 sea-
son at his World Challenge in
California in the last week of
November.
"Things are progressing nicely,"
Woods said. "Last year I was 127th
on the money list, this year I was
second. So I think that's pretty
good improvement in a year. And
given that I'm healthy, I'm really
looking forward to next year."
Tiger Woods
Former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi
London: Former Indian Premier
League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi
lost his appeal against the 90,000-
pound libel award to ex-New
Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns
over unfounded accusation of
match-fixing.
The Guardian reported that three
judges in the Court of Appeal, head-
ed by the Lord Chief Justice Lord
Judge, said the "awards were pro-
portionate to the seriousness of the
allegation and its direct impact on
Cairns himself - and would serve to
vindicate his reputation".
The 42-year-old Cairns had sued
Modi over an "unequivocal allega-
tion" on Twitter in January 2010.
Modi had tweeted that the New
Zealander was removed from the
IPL auction list because of his
involvement in alleged match-fix-
ing. Cairns said that Modi's tweet
turned his achievements to "dust".
Earlier this year in March, Justice
David Bean, in his first decision on
the Twitter libel case, gave the ver-
dict in favor of Cairns.
Bean ruled that Modi had "singu-
larly failed" to provide any reliable
evidence of Cairns' involvement in
match-fixing or spot-fixing.
"It is obvious that an allegation
that a professional cricketer is a
match-fixer goes to the core attrib-
utes of his personality and, if true,
entirely destroys his reputation for
integrity.
"The allegation is not as serious as
one of involvement in terrorism or
sexual offences (to take two exam-
ples from recent cases). But it is oth-
erwise as serious an allegation as
anyone could make against a profes-
sional sportsman," Beans had said in
his ruling.
'Indo-Pak series could have been longer'
Karachi: He is glad that Indo-Pak bilater-
al cricket is finally set for revival come
December, but former Pakistan captain
Zaheer Abbas is not particularly pleased
with the short duration of the series.
While welcoming the BCCI announce-
ment that it had got clearance to host
Pakistan for a short one-day series from
December 25, Zaheer said he hoped for a
full series. "While it is a very good thing
that finally bilateral cricket matches are
being revived after nearly five years but the duration of
the series has disappointed me given the importance of
Indo-Pak cricket contests," he said.
"Any bilateral contest is welcome but I would have
thought that after such a long break,
both countries should have played a
proper Test series and found a window
for this in their busy schedules," he
added.
Zaheer said the duration of the series
was too short. "But anyway I hope that
very soon the two boards will schedule
a full Test series because it has been a
long time since we played Tests
against each other and that is the real
challenge of cricket," he noted. Another former Test
captain, Hanif Mohammad also welcomed the decision
by the PCB to send its team to India in December to
revive bilateral ties.
Former Pakistan cap-
tain Zaheer Abbas
November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
I
love a good scandal. When the paparazzi are
camped outside a mansion and newspaper
sub-editors are jacking up their headline
sizes, my heart fills with hope for humanity.
At times like these, I feel life has purpose,
Santa Claus really exists, and one day mutating
viruses will kill all the people I hate.
And life's been good this year. Now I wouldn't
want anyone to think that I have some sort of
irrational hatred of celebrities, simply because I
want them all to DIE DIE DIE as horribly as
possible.
No. I only enjoy watching them suffer because
they learn important moral lessons from doing
so. Case in point: the long-running debate on
avoiding tax.
In the US, the focus is on the decision of bil-
lionaire Eduardo Saverin (the guy who financed
Mark Zuckerberg to set up Facebook) to
renounce his US citizenship and move to
Singapore. Saverin says it's nothing to do with
avoiding tax but neither critics nor defenders
believe him.
In the UK, Jimmy Carr, a wealthy comedian,
put his cash into a scheme that enabled him to
pay less than one per cent tax. Carr had been
making jokes against business people who don't
pay tax.
"We'd all like to put some money away for a
rainy day, but you're more prepared than Noah,"
one comedian mocked Carr in front of a live TV
audience. "We all now see why you work so hard
- you get to keep all the money."
Another funnyman said he was shocked to
hear that Carr was only paying one per cent tax.
"One per cent? Couldn't you beat them down a
bit? To point five?"
His accountant was widely criticized. A
celebrity sitting next to a dancer on a TV panel
show said to Carr: "What a pleasure to be sitting
next to the only man in Britain more flexible
than your accountant."
Pop singer Gary Barlow, lead vocalist for the
band Take That, was also found using a dubious
tax avoidance loophole. One comedian said Take
That had "changed their name to Keep That".
For his part, Jimmy Carr originally used the
"but it was legal" defence, but quickly aban-
doned it in favor of groveling self-abasement. "I
could tell you about the work I did for charity,"
he said. "But I don't think lying will make it any
better."
On the plus side, the debate did produce some
creative ideas for tax accountants. One comedian
said: "I've got the best accountant in the world:
Stephen Hawking. He put my money in another
dimension."
*-*
A man died last week after eating an "upside
down nut", I heard from Steve Hyde, a reader in
Taiwan. How did such an innocent object kill a
perfectly healthy 37-year-old? The newspapers
explained that betel nuts which grow pointing
skywards are fine, but ones which grow pointing
down are poisonous.
It's odd how communities often have their own
"Innocent Item That Kills" myths. In South
Korea, it is widely believed that the air from
electric fans will kill you if they run for more
than a few hours in an enclosed space. If this was
true, everyone in Asia would be dead.
In Facebook-land, an item about diced onions
being poisonous is going viral. If that was true,
all French people would be dead. French people
put diced onions into everything, including jam,
fruit juice, perfume, shower gel, suppositories,
etc.
*-*
The man who designed the iPhone has just
bought a US$17 million mansion in California,
says a tech website. So, do people invited to din-
ner have to camp outside overnight before get-
ting in?
*-*
From Twitter: Of all the Asian martial arts, the
one that inflicts most pain is karaoke.
*-*
Somewhere in Asia, a Swedish fugitive is hid-
ing, the Stockholm media reported last week.
Police caught a guy for smuggling and thought
they had jailed him, but recently discovered that
he had paid a similar-looking friend to do his jail
term for him.
The case shocked people in Europe but is quite
common in parts of Asia and is sometimes done
with the suspected connivance of authorities.
The most notorious example is Gu Kailai at her
trial in China recently. Mrs Gu, thin-faced with
double-fold eyelids, grew chubby and developed
single-fold eyelids at her court appearance.
At a dinner party recently, I asked people how
much cash they would need to do someone else's
three-year jail term. For those who would, the
going rate was US$2 million. For me, no amount
of money would make me agree to be locked in a
building to be abused night and day by violent
murderers, sadists and rapists. I had quite
enough of that at school.
*-*
A guy aged 122 died in Russia the other day.
In an interview, he said he had lived so long by
abstaining from women, alcohol and tobacco. I
imagine his last words were probably: "If there's
no reincarnation, I am SO screwed."
*-*
A really troublesome prisoner refused to leave
prison EVEN AFTER HE DIED: his ghost
stayed in place to annoy the warden, guards and
jailbirds. (And I thought my kids were stubborn.)
The furious warden had to pay a sorcerer to
chase the spirit away from the jailhouse.
A reporter showed me this Hindustan Times
story, which came to light last week in Patna,
East India, during a rather uncomfortable discus-
sion on invisible "sitting tenants" (ie, ghosts) in
Asia.
You see, this columnist recently moved into a
new Kowloon apartment that was surprisingly
cheap. And before you complain, I KNOW it's
highly irresponsible (and possibly illegal) to use
the word "cheap" in connection with property
prices in Hong Kong these days.
But my informant believed I had rented a
haunted apartment. And when I mentioned that
one wall had been painted pink, he was sure of it.
"Feng shui masters paint walls red or pink to
repel the spirit of death," he said. "Your home is
probably the site of a mass murder."
Even though I don't believe in mythical crea-
tures such as ghosts, zombies, the Easter Bunny
or corruption-free Presidents of the Philippines, I
was dismayed.
So I called an old contact in the property busi-
ness. After looking at my address and rental bill,
he said: "No murder here. Murder sites get you a
much bigger discount. Would you like one?"
He told me that there were people who made
fortunes from haunted homes in high-priced
cities such as Hong Kong, Mumbai and Tokyo.
They simply book the apartments at a huge dis-
count, and then sublet them to overseas bankers
at market rates.
"Don't the ghosts scare the investment bankers
to death?" I asked.
"I hope so," he replied. "Improves my mar-
gins."
*-*
Bumper sticker seen by Daniel Bloom of
Taiwan: "Sorry, the lifestyle you ordered is cur-
rently out of stock due to climate change and
global warming impacts coming very soon. Call
back in one million years."
*-*
Funny Bone by Nury Vittachi
Sergio Romo posed for the crowd as the confetti came down on Market Street.
The San Francisco Giants celebrated their second World Series title in three
years with a parade down Market Street Wednesday October 31, 2012.
Photo of the week
28 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info HUMOR
The morality of tax avoidance
November 03
Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter. You
are a practical, energetic, business minded, brilliant
and an optimistic person. Youre co-operative and
helpful and enjoy great respect in your friends cir-
cle, but you need to check your tendency to behave
jealous and stubborn at times. This year you are ad-
vised not to trust others on important issues. Shar-
ing personal and secretive information will not be
in your interest. The atmosphere at office will re-
quire you to handle important jobs with more re-
sponsibility. A sudden influence of a spiritual per-
son will bring remarkable change in your life. Your
spouse and family members will be supportive to
your concerns and provide you with love and af-
fection. Distant journeys, maybe overseas for some
will fetch favorable returns. The months of Decem-
ber 2012 and February, March and June 2013 will
prove to be significant.
November 04
Ruled by number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are
generous, peace loving, dashing, systematic, disci-
plined, artistic character and introvert in nature.
You possess a strong memory and an ability to im-
press others with your intelligent and witty conver-
sation, but you need to control your tendency to be
extravagant, reckless and moody at times. This
promises to be a memorable year bringing prosper-
ity and good fortune. This is going to be a reward-
ing period for women as there will be new oppor-
tunities to improve career prospects. Students need
to concentrate on their studies and plan for the year
ahead. Romance and new alliances look likely for
the unattached. Elders and children in the family
will demand a lot of your attention. Health of your
spouse may cause concern and anxiety. The
months of January, February and April 2013 will be
significant.
November 05
Ruled by number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are
highly intelligent, diplomatic, highly business ori-
ented, accommodating, god fearing and kind heart-
ed person. You are fond of good food, meeting like-
minded people and visiting distant lands. You enjoy
a good name in the society and people respect you
for what you are, but you need to curb your ten-
dencies towards restlessness and over-exertion. It
will be a period of success and happiness through-
out, thanks to the support provided by your family
members. You will also gain importance amongst
your colleagues because of you better skills and ap-
titude. Health will show improvement despite hec-
tic hours that you might put in office. Investments
will yield handsome results. Romantic alliance de-
velops with someone that you have secretly ad-
mired. The months of July, September, and October
of 2013 will be eventful.
November 06
Influenced by number 6 and the planet Venus. You
are energetic, practical, systematic, methodical and
a generous person. You are creative and research
oriented and can do wonders with your intelligence,
but you need to control your tendencies to behave
impatient, whimsical and jealous at times. A stable
period of growth and prosperity sees you shine with
new confidence and enthusiasm. Your self-confi-
dence will be high. Speculation will prove to be re-
warding and long term investment is also recom-
mended. Long pending disputes will be sorted out
bringing relief to your mind. Blessing from a saint-
ly person will provide solace and comfort. Stay
away from strangers who behave extra friendly and
excuse those who approach you for loans. Friends
will be supportive but demanding. The months of
January, May, September and October 2013 will
prove to be result oriented.
November 07
Governed by number 7 and the planet Neptune. You
are affectionate, charming, sober, courageous, orig-
inal and honest. You are good at heart and very
helpful, but you need to control your tendency to
behave impatient and short temper to succeed in
your endeavors. Your stars will be in a favourable
position, bringing you happiness and prosperity.
Those involved in arts and other creative profes-
sions will achieve recognition and monetary gains
this year. Matrimonial alliances for those eligible.
Although health will be fine but it will be important
to take necessary precautions. Children will make
you feel proud with their achievements. Pilgrimage
or distant journey will be high on your agenda. The
months of February, April, May and June 2013 will
prove to be significant.
November 08
Ruled by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are
creative, active, confident, intelligent and an artis-
tic person. Your strong vision always keeps you
ahead of others and makes you popular in your sur-
rounding, but you need to restrain your tendencies
towards being erratic, stubborn, behaving moody
and jealous at times. The coming year is expected
to bring in achievements and rewards. Businessmen
will expand their ventures into new and more prof-
itable avenues. Property disputes will be settled
down to your satisfaction. Health will definitely
need more attention. Meditation and Yoga should
be practiced for spiritual gains. Some exhilarating
news from your children will boost up your spirits.
Journeys overseas or financial transactions from
abroad will fetch returns. The month of June, Au-
gust, October and November 2013 will be eventful
and result oriented.
November 09
Influenced by number 9 and the planet Mars. You
are active, energetic, trustworthy, systematic and
quick in taking decisions. You have a good com-
mand over your work which in return brings you re-
wards and appreciation, but you need to check your
tendency to behave vindictive and jealous at time.
This coming year is good for judicial and govt. fa-
vors. Long pending disputes will get sorted out and
important contacts will play immense role in im-
proving your financial standing. A sudden influence
of a person from the opposite sex will give a new
and interesting twist to your life. Later in the year
blessing from a saintly person will provide comfort
and peace of mind. Stay away from strangers who
behave extra friendly and excuse all those who ap-
proach you for temporary loans and financial assis-
tance. Friends will be helpful but demanding. Feb-
ruary, July, September 2013 will prove to be
significant.
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874
Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
Stars Foretell: November 3-9, 2012 Annual Predictions: For those born in this week
Learn about the fair value of
diamonds & precious stones.
from a Gems Expert
For appointment, please call 516-390-7847
or email consult.gems@gmail.com
A special offer for the readers of
The South Asian Times
Free Consultation
29
Aries: You would accomplish double the
usual output at work this week. There
would be few interruptions and problems, but
your sincerity and determination would help you
move quickly towards your goals. Recognition
and rewards are certainly yours. A minor differ-
ence of opinion with your beloved might erupt
which would bother your mind, but otherwise it
will be a happy and result oriented week ahead
for you.
Taurus: This week your creativity would
not be at its best because of added
domestic and professional pressures. You would
carry immense responsibilities on your shoulders
and implementing your plans would be rather
tough. Seek help from people who are experi-
enced and skillful. New romantic alliances seem
likely this period, as someone you work with
might be interested in you emotionally.
Speculation and new ventures should be avoid-
ed.
Gemini: You would do extremely well if
you work alone on important projects.
People around you would create more confusion
than extending any support. Distant relatives or
old friends would call on you later in the week
bringing you fabulous gifts and presents.
Financial position would improve through spec-
ulation and unexpected gains. Romantic ties
would strengthen if you let your beloved know
exactly how you feel. New job opportunities for
some through new contacts.
Cancer: Travelling and other activities
would keep you extremely busy this
week. You would interact with interesting people
who would provide you with valuable advice.
The new ideas you get would help you formulate
some new plans and boost your growth prospects
as well. Your health might suffer if you have
been somewhat complacent during the past few
days. If you are going to be working long hours
then you need to take regular breaks and relax as
much as possible.
Leo: Not a very beneficial period. You
should not believe everything that you
hear, verify your own facts and then act accord-
ingly. People around you would also not be
extremely helpful. They are likely to say things,
which are going to make you upset and bring
your morale down. Religious and spiritual func-
tions will be performed at home. New invest-
ments, residential changes, expensive purchases
can be made during this period.
Virgo: Stay brief and to the point when
interacting with influential people.
Matters relating to work would prove beneficial
for you. Your recent work would win you appre-
ciation and rewards, and chances of a promotion
or at least some monetary benefits would be
strong. Your self-confidence and dynamic per-
sonality would attract members of the opposite
sex. Children would look forward to the new
academic session with enthusiasm and confi-
dence.
Libra: Problems with relatives are likely
to arise if you try to dominate them. Do
not be erratic in your behaviour, especially with
family members; otherwise it would ruin the
peaceful atmosphere at home. You would find
solutions to many of your problems if you were
willing to communicate. At work your determi-
nation would help you achieve your goals. You
will come up with better results, as your imagi-
nation will be at its peak. Minor health problem
will hamper your work performance.
Scorpio: Dont get involved in other peo-
ples problems. You would make changes
to things around you, but not everyone would be
pleased with your efforts. It would be better if
you seek their approval before you implement
your plans. Health would need extra attention
and do not avoid preventive medication if neces-
sary. Traveling would be pleasurable and highly
educating. Charity and social work would bring
mental peace.
Sagittarius: New job opportunities
would come your way, but career
changes should not be done in haste. Differences
over certain beliefs might bring some tension
with people around you. Healthy conversation
without bringing emotion in-between would be a
good way to settle conflicting views. Dont over-
spend on luxury items or entertainment. Try to
put maximum efforts into learning new skills and
completing creative hobbies.
Capricorn: You would benefit if you lis-
ten to older individuals who have more
experience. Your spouse would be supportive
and provide you with love and care. New roman-
tic attachment for those unattached seems likely
through social gatherings and entertainment. The
phase seems to be difficult on the financial front,
especially if you have not been saving money on
the side. Unforeseen events could disrupt your
travel plans.
Aquarius: This week social activity
would bring you in touch with people
who can help you excel in your career. Certain
changes in your work environment are evident
later this week. You would be attracted to mem-
ber of the opposite sex, but chances of a long
lasting relationship do not seem strong. You can
easily earn some extra money if you put your
creative ideas to proper use.
Pisces: Misunderstandings might erupt
between you and your partner, if you do
not sit and talk about sensitive issues. You would
find people around you very demanding. Do not
promise more than you can deliver.
Financial benefits are certain if you invest in
secure investment schemes.Change of residence
or workplace will prove auspicious for some.
Avoid overeating and keep a check on your
weight.
i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date,
Time and Place of birth is accurate.
ii) Careful: Did you check background of the
astrologer before disclosing your secrets.
iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, dont feel
shy. Its his business.
iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the out-
come is not as desired, never give up.
v) Consult: Take second opinion before
spending thousands on cure/remedies.
Before you consult...
November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY
I
f we are in the body of an
adult, we are bound by the
responsibilities of our job or
of raising a family and doing our
duties in society. Our soul wants
to be lost in ecstasy in the arms of
the Lord, but our attention is
being pressured to attend to the
worldly pursuits. We have to put
in many hours on a job to get paid
to keep our body fed and housed.
We have to take care of our spous-
es, our children, or our parents.
We have to pay our taxes, pay our
mortgage, pay the expenses of a
car, pay annual licenses, and take
care of all sorts of paperwork that
each citizen of every country has
to do. Time is the enemy of the
soul, for it takes away from the
souls yearning to be lost in ecsta-
sy within.
Even if we are on a spiritual
path, the soul has some problems.
Those souls who have awakened
to their true nature are only happy
when in the presence of the
Master physically or inwardly in
meditation. They want to focus
totally on the Master when in his
presence. When not in his pres-
ence, they are restless for the next
chance to be with him. They are
filled with anguish and torture
when kept away from him.
Those on the spiritual path are at
different stages. Some are at a
stage where they have not yet
identified with their soul and are
still enticed by the world. They
have some pull towards the
Master and meditation, but they
are still functioning at the level of
the mind and the world. They act
responsibly. They look at the
Master more as a physical being.
They consider meditation a chore,
and do not like to do it. They
intellectually understand the path,
but their soul has not yet fully
tasted the bliss within and they are
content to come and go at the reg-
ularly scheduled times of pro-
grams.
Then, we reach a stage in which
we awaken to our spiritual nature.
We identify with the soul. When
we do so, then the soul is not
happy with things of this world. It
finds its enjoyment in being in the
spiritually-charged radiation of
the Master and sitting in medita-
tion. It enjoys the bliss of seva
because during those times it is
receptive to the Master power
within and flowing through it as
seva is done. It finds attending to
the world to be drudgery. It wants
to spend as much time as possible
in the Masters presence.
When such souls cannot be in
the Masters presence, they have a
difficult time. Their soul is in
agony and torture when away
from the Master. It is a real, living
pain that stabs at their heart. Their
heart feels like it is being stabbed
over and over again without stop.
Their whole being feels as if it is
on fire. They feel as if they are in
torture. Outwardly, they may look
like they are calm, cool, and col-
lected, but inside they are being
burned alive in the fire of separa-
tion. We know what it is like to
get a paper cut. The thin cut goes
right down to the nerve. Now pic-
ture a soul in separation from the
Masterit is like tens of thou-
sands of paper cuts are slicing the
disciple at once. Knives are stab-
bing at their hearts every second
of every day. Now, picture a soul
in such agony, and then asking it
to behave normally. Ask such a
soul to smile when tears are flood-
ing behind its eyes. Ask such a
soul to be cheerful, when the soul
cannot take the pain anymore. Ask
such a soul to do any work, when
its whole being is filled with pain.
But the worst of it is that it cannot
escape the pain and must bear all
this torture second by second. It
knows that escaping the pain is
not an option. So, the soul just has
to bear this torture of separation.
The soul then pleads to the
Master to be gracious. It cries out
with every ounce of its being to
the Master to end the separation.
It prays that the Master is merciful
in ending its period of distance so
it can enjoy that loving, captivat-
ing company again.
Then, if the Beloved does not
respond, the torture intensifies
because the soul feels the Master
has forgotten him or her. The soul
feels the Master does not care.
The soul cannot understand how
the Master can be aware of his or
her pain and not do something
about it. In such a state the soul
has reached the end of its limit. It
prays with great intensity to the
Master and begs for relief. Then,
the Master is gracious. The Master
lifts the veil and shows himself to
the disciple. The Master gives the
disciple a boost and a lift and
pours out his love to the disciple.
He takes the disciple in his arms
and fills the disciple with hope
and love again. The disciple is
able to survive for another day.
The plight of the disciple in the
world is best described by this
verse by Sant Darshan Singh Ji
Maharaj. This verse touches a
chord in describing the plight of a
soul in such a condition. The
verse says:
I am as full of the pangs and
longings for the Beloved as the
harmonium is full of music;
Just touch it, move your finger
on it once, and see what happens.
The disciple who has reached a
stage in which he or she has iden-
tified with the soul and wants only
the Master and God is like the dis-
ciple described by Sant Darshan
Singh Ji Maharaj in this verse.
Picture a harmonium or any
instrument sitting on a table. It
looks like any other physical
object. A harmonium looks like a
wooden box. It has white and
black keys. There is a part of it
that is like an accordion which
fans out as you move it in and out.
It looks very much like a physical
object. But when you just touch
the keys or move out the accor-
dion-like part, exquisite sound
comes out of it. Then, as you
move your fingers over it, you can
produce music so uplifting it stirs
the soul. From this physical object
comes unseen sound that has the
power to move hearts. The music
can make people dance, it can
make people sing, it can make
people smile, and it can make
people wail and cry. The element
that comes forth from this physi-
cal form is ethereal; it has no sub-
stance, but it can move the spirit.
Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj
is saying that just as music is hid-
den within the physical structure
of an instrument, such as a harmo-
nium, so is the music of longing
and pain hidden within the physi-
cal form of a disciple. The disci-
ple may have a body like every-
one else. The disciple may have
eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth
like everyone else. Yet, when one
just touches its strings the music
of longing and pining flow from
it. The disciple may look like a
human form like everyone else
but that form really is a casing or
embodiment of one long song of
yearning and pining for the
Beloved. Behind the face and
smile is a soul crying in agony to
be with the Beloved. The disciple
is really the music of the heart
playing its melody all twenty-four
hours of the day. It is singing
songs of pain and agony when in
separation from the Beloved. It is
singing songs of ecstasy when it is
with the Beloved. The music of a
disciple only contains two ragas:
ecstasy and agony. There is little
in between.
Those who live in the company
of such a disciple think they are
living with another physical per-
son with a body and a mind. But
that is as illusionary as the harmo-
nium sitting on a table. There is
skin, there is flesh and blood, but
within that disciple is a musical
instrument. It is either singing in
ecstasy because it is in the compa-
ny of its Beloved again, or it is
playing the most heart-rending
music of torture when separated
from the Master.
The disciples are asked to live in
the world. They are asked to fol-
low the path of positive mysti-
cism. They are asked to behave
normally. Thus, he or she plays a
role as a student in school, a pro-
fessional at work, a good wife or
husband at home, a good parent to
its children, and a good communi-
ty neighbor. But as the verse of
Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj
says, "Just touch the strings, just
touch the instrument," and see
what happens. If anyone living
with such a disciple just touches a
chord within the disciple, the
music of ecstasy or music of
yearning comes forth. It does not
take much. The disciple is already
ready to burst with the pain of
separation. The disciple is trying
to cover it up within the outward-
ly normal form. But the slightest
touch will cause the disciple to
explode out with his or her true
feelings.
Tears are already flowing like
waterfalls within the disciple.
Imagine containing all the force of
a waterfall behind a levee? But
just give the disciple one more
disappointment, and tears will no
longer be held within the eyes but
will pour forth from the eyes. The
disciple is using all the human
power to contain the grief and
sadness felt when kept away from
the Master and hiding it behind a
smile. But just add one more dis-
appointment and the smile will
crack and turn into a sorrowful
look. The disciple is trying hard to
play by the rules and follow deco-
rum and social structure, but give
the disciple one more disappoint-
ment, and all caution is thrown to
the winds.
The amount of energy a disciple
must expend in looking like a
human being fulfilling its role in
the world is so great that just one
touch of the finger can unleash the
depths of despair and pain welling
up within the disciple and a song
of either agony or ecstasy will
come spilling out. Anyone who
has experienced this will know
that the disciple cannot help him-
self or herself. It is not the disci-
ples fault.
It is the captivating beauty of
God expressed through the form
of the Master either within or
without that is pulling the soul of
the disciple, and the disciple is
helpless in its wake. Can an iron
filing help itself being drawn to a
magnet? Can a moth help from
burning itself in the flame of a
candle?
(To be continued...)
The agony and ecstasy of being a disciple
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
Those on the spiritual path
are at different stages. Some
are at a stage where they have
not yet identified with their
soul and are still enticed by
the world. They have some
pull towards the Master and
meditation but they are still
functioning at the level of the
mind and the world
.
30 November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Part two of the discourse
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SOS Childrens Villages is the worlds largest charity dedicated
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To create a miracle this diwali visit
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November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info
November 3-9, 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info