The South Asian Times
e x c e l l e n c e
Vol.12 No. 11 July 13-19, 2019 80 Cents
Modi 2.0’s first budget
to stimulate India Inc
New Delhi: The first Budget of the
newly installed Modi government
soug ht to fire all eng ines to
revive private investment and
boost consumption of fering a
slew of tax concessions to compa‑
nies, raise public spending for
infrastructure and ensure credit
flow for business expansion.
Presenting her maiden Budget
in Lok Sabha on July 5, Union
Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman noted the role of pri‑
vate sector in the growth story
and termed India Inc as job‑cre‑
ators and also the nat ion's
wealth‑creators. The statement
seemed to be aimed at bridging
the trust deficit between the gov‑
ernment and the private sector.
In line with prescriptions given
in the Economic Survey, the
Minister stressed on private sec‑
California assembly honors
Acharya Lokesh Muni
Acharya Lokesh Muni, India's Ambassador of Peace, was
felicitated Monday by the California State Assembly for
his dedication to promote world peace and global
harmony. The Certificate of Recognition was presented to
him by assemblymen Ash Kalra on the floor of the house.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 6
i n j o u r n a l i s m
New York Edition Follow us on TheSouthAsianTimes.info
President Trump’s
would continue to be the key
focus area with the government
intending to invest Rs 100 lakh
crore in it in next 5 years.
Besides proposing to relax vari‑
‘Salute to America’
a roaring success
ous rules for foreign and NRI
investment into the country,
Sitharaman came out with out‑of‑
the‑box idea to create a 'Social
Stock Exchange' for listing social
enterprises and voluntary organi‑
zation. The move is expected to
help social firms raise funds and
promote governance.
The Budget has also proposed
The budget presented by Indiaʼs to open FDI flood‑gates in avia‑
first female finance minister, tion, insurance intermediary, ani‑
Nirmala Sitharaman, has also mation and media. India's FDI
been hailed by the US inflows in 2018‑19 remained A flypast, marching military bands, fireworks and a rousing speech by
corporate sector as it will the President were highlights of the July 4 celebration at the Lincoln
attract FDI. (Photo IANS) Continued on page 4 Memorial in the Capital. (Photo courtesy AP)
tor‑led investment, jobs, exports SEE RELATED STORIES ON Washington DC: President Donald
and consumption. Infrastructure PAGE 13, 14 AND 22. Trump said on Monday that his The President
Fourth of July “Salute to America” promises to make the
India through to event was a “tremendous success”
and he plans to hold the celebra‑
July 4 jamboree an
tion every year “for the foresee‑ annual event in DC
World Cup final? able future.” Trump said his holi‑
day address ̶ which was accom‑
even as economy has
Manchester, England: Indiaʼs disciplined bowl‑ edged up his approval
panied by displays of military
ing attack dominated New Zealand before inter‑
mittent rain washed out the rest of Tuesdayʼs
Continued on page 4 rating to highest ever
play in the first SEE DETAILED STORY AND in his presidency.
Cricket World Cup
MORE PIX ON PAGE 17.
semi‑final which
will continue on
Wednesday.
Trump again calls Indian tariffs
New Zealand will
resume their on US products ‘unacceptable’
innings at 211‑5 Washington: President Trump up to the talks between him and
(46.1 overs gone). again hit out at India over the Modi in Osaka, Japan on the
Virat Kohliʼs in‑ issue of tariffs on Tuesday, less sidelines of G20 Summit.
form Indian team is good at chasing, and is con‑ than a fortnight after he dis‑ In the tweet, Trump said, "India
fident of entering the final against the team that cussed the issue with Prime has long had a field day putting
wins the other semi‑final between England and Minister Narendra Modi in Japan tariffs on American products. No
Australia Thursday. The ICC said that “should and both agreed to address the longer acceptable!"
adverse weather continue throughout the issue. Earlier, before his meeting with
reserve day (Wednesday) the match may be Trump's attack in a tweet came Modi on June 28, Trump had
shortened. India will be required to bat for at just as trade officials of the two tweeted: "I look forward to
least 20 overs to complete the match.” countries are preparing to meet speaking with Prime Minister
If no play is possible on Wednesday, India will to address the issue as a follow
See story on page 3. Continued on page 4
enter the final because it tops the points table.
BOLLYWOOD 18 SCI-TECH 27 SPIRITUAL AWARENESS 30 excellence in journalism
TheSouthAsianTimes.info July 13-19, 2019

Premier Print Media Partner

TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY July 13-19, 2019 3

India should open up its markets to US: Panagariya

New York: The escalating trade
war between the US and China is
an “opportune time” for India to
attract the large multinationals
looking for alternative locations
outside the Communist country,
eminent economist Arvind
Panagariya has said.
Speaking at a panel discussion at
the Consulate of India on June 24,
Panagariya also called for India to
slash tariffs on imported motorcy‑
cles and automobiles through
“give and take” negotiations with
the US.
He said the large corporations
“are coming out” of China and “this
is also a great time for India to
begin attracting the large multina‑
tionals that are now looking for
for India. I would open it unilater‑
ally, but here is an opportunity to
actually negotiate with the US.
Give them something and get
something in return,” he said at
the event t itled ʻEconomic
Priorities for the New Government
of Prime Minister Narendra Modiʼ.
Panagariya called for undertak‑
ing labor law and land acquisition
reforms to make them more flexi‑
ble to attract MNCs.
(from left) Eminent economist Arvind Panagariya, Consul General
Panagariya, who served as the
Sandeep Chakravorty, Chip Kaye ‑ Co‑CEO Warburg Pincus, and
first Vice‑Chairman of the NITI
Krishna Memani ‑ Vice Chairman, Investments Invesco at a panel
Aayog in 2015‑2017, acknowl‑
discussion on ʻeconomic priorities for the new Modi governmentʼ.
edged that there were “some sticky
alternative locations. Their wages ket in a big way,” Panagariya said. issues” vis‑à‑vis USA such as data
have gone up and the trade war Panag ariya stressed that localization, but added that other
with the US has begun to close the America was asking India to open issues such as tariffs on the Harley
access of the MNCs in the US mar‑ up its markets. “It is a good thing Davidson motorcycles can be
resolved.
He emphasized that rather than
tariffs, India can use the exchange
rate to its advantage. “Let the
rupee depreciate a bit, it will open
the door for your exporters, while
it also compensates for the tarif f
liberalization. This is exactly what
we did in the 1990s.” This will
help make Indian goods much
more attractive and boost exports.
Panagariya is Director at the Raj
Center on Indian Economic
Policies at Columbia University.
The panel discussion was organ‑
ized by the Indian consulate in
partnership with the Deepak and
Neera Raj Centre for Indian
Economic Policies and the US‑India
Strategic Partnership Forum.

California Assembly Healing music concert held

honors Acharya Lokesh at Kennedy Center in DC
By Surekha Vijh
and Gaur Gopal Das The South Asian Times

Sacramento, CA: HH Washington DC: For the first time the

Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni famed Kennedy Center for Performing
and Dr. Gaur Gopal Das, Arts here hosted an Indian spiritual guru
two saints and global with his musical ensemble in their con‑
peace leaders, created his‑ cert hall. ʻRaga Maya Raga Sagara,ʼ a
tory when they were felici‑ Meditation and Healing Concert led by
tated by California State Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji of
Assembly with the Mysore was held on July 6.
Certificate of Recognition More than 2000 people listened
on the floor of the house intently at the two‑and half‑hour concert
on July 8. with no intermission. Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji with his
The words of apprecia‑ Acharya Lokesh Muni, California assemblymen Swamiji played Chandika and accompanists including (to his right) violinist
tion by assemblymen Ash Ash Kalra, Dr. Gaur Gopal Das and community Kamavardhini ragas, which he said, Dr. L. Subramaniam.
Kalra and Bill Quirk during leader Ajay Bhutoria worked on the entire body, including amidst the audience with a crystal rod and iden‑
the live assembly on record highlighted impact in communities. seven chakras, twelve zodiac signs, and five ele‑ tified people with chronic diseases and chan‑
their dedication to promote world peace, Community leader and prominent ments. neled healing energy and vibrations.
global harmony and values of compas‑ Democrat Ajay Bhutoria was present on He also played Rushyaketupriya, Kapi, Mohana, In his musical ensemble was noted violinist Dr.
sion, equality and justice. In the case of the occasion and helped shape the con‑ Chandika, Kamavardhini, Madhuvarshini, and L. Subramaniam.
the Jain Muni it is through his immensely versations of the assembly members with Sama ragas, which helped in cervical spondylo‑ Prakasarao V Velagapudi, a close associate of
powerful global awareness campaigns, the spiritual leaders. Also present were sis, stress, thyroid diseases, laryngeal disorders, Swamiji, said Swamijiʼs extraordinary musical
conferences and leadership. Kay Walia, Sharad and Natarajan Gutta, hyperacidity, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, journey has taken him to 30 countries, where he
The Speaker of the State Assembly, from the Indian American community. high BP, and insomnia. Regularly listening to has conducted over 160 healing musical con‑
Hon. Anthony Rendon, requested Hon. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji is a versa‑ these ragas helps in such ailments. certs. He said at a recent recording session,
Kalra to introduce the two distinguished tile thinker, writer, poet and social At a press conference before the concert, Dr. Swamiji played 400 Indian ragas on the synthe‑
guests to the House. Both were wel‑ reformer who has tirelessly worked for Sachchidananda said music stimulates every‑ sizer. Swamiji has received numerous awards and
comed in the with a huge round of the past 33 years for national character thing, even flora and fauna. According to him, honors and is mentioned in the Guinness Book of
applause and a standing ovation. building, development of human values music influences the cells, tissues, and nerves of World Records.
Ambassador of Peace Acharya Dr. Lokesh and establishing non‑violence, peace and the body. Tissue breakdown, cancerous growths, Rajan Natarajan, Transportation Commissioner,
Muni is founder President ʻAhimsa mutual co‑operation in the society. He skin ailments, mental problems are healed to a Maryland, presented a memento to Swamiji from
Vishwa Bhartiʼ in India. Dr. Gaur Gopal has traveled on foot about 20,000 km great extent by music. He said dif ferent ragas his state. Shambhu Hakki, First Secretary and
Das is a former Hewlett Packard engineer throughout India for removing social like Sriranjani, Keeravani, Amruta Varshini, Spokesperson for the Indian Embassy, honored
turned lifestyle coach and motivational evils and for propagating moral values. Chakravakam, Hamsanandi have curative effects. Dr. Subramaniam. The DC event was a part of
speaker who is part of ISKCON. He was honored with ʻNational While Raga Nilambari cured insomnia, Sri Raga Swamijiʼs US and Switzerland concert tour 2019.
Hon. Ash Kalra held conversations with Communal Harmony Award 2010ʼ by the aided in indigestion, Sama raga is for mental A public reception for Swamiji was organized
the Acharya and Dr. Gopal Das on climate Government of India and ʻAmbassador of health and Dwajavanti for nervous debilities. at the Gaithersburg High School Performing Arts
change, world peace and creating positive Peaceʼ at London Parliament. During the concert, Swamiji walked Center in Maryland on July 5.
 4 July 13-19, 2019
India demands Security Council action
against Dawood, D‑Company, JeM & LeT
United Nations: India has demanded
Security Council action against mafia
don‑turned terrorist Dawood Ibrahim
sheltering in Pakistan and his D‑
Company terror organization behind
the 1993 wave of bombings in
Mumbai that killed 257 people declar‑
ing they posed "a real and present
danger". Following up on Indiaʼ's diplo‑
matic success in getting a Council
sanctions committee to declare LeT
chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist,
Indiaʼs Permanent Representative to
the UN Syed Akbaruddin on Tuesday
asked for action against Ibrahim, the
D‑Company, the Jaish‑e‑Mohammad
(JeM) and the LeT.
Participating in a Council debate on
Linkages between International
Terrorism and Organised Crime, diplo‑
matically without mentioning Pakistan
by name, Akbaruddin hit out against it
for sheltering Dawood while denying
Billionaire who has been running impeach
Trump TV ads announces 2020 run
Washington: Billionaire activist Tom
Steyer on Tuesday officially entered
the crowded fie ld for the 2020
Democratic presidential nomination,
reversing his earlier decision not to
run. “The other Democratic candi‑
dates for president have many great
ideas that will absolutely move our
country forward, but we wonʼt be
able to get any of those done until
we end the host ile corporate
takeover of our democracy,” Steyer
said in a statement along with a
four‑minute announcement video.
“As an outsider, Iʼve led grassroots
efforts that have taken on big corpo‑
rations and won results for people.
Thatʼs not something you see a lot of
from Washington these days. Thatʼs
Chairman and Co-Founder
Kamlesh C. Mehta
Kamlesh@thesouthasiantimes.info
Co-Founder: Saroosh Gull
President: Arjit Mehta
Arjit@thesouthasiantimes.info
Chief Executive Officer
Shomik Chaudhuri P: 646.498.5122
shomik@shomikchaudhuri.com
Chief Operating Officer
Ginsmon P. Zacharia P: 516.776.7061
ginsmon@hotmail.com
Printed Every Saturday by: Forsythe Media Group, LLC, ISSN 1941-9333, 95 Broadway, Suite 2, Second Floor, Town Center Building, Hicksville, NY 11801 P: 516.390.7847
Website: TheSouthAsianTimes.info Updated Daily
Notice: The South Asian Times is published weekly by The Forsythe Media Group, LLC. POSTMASTER: Send all address notices, subscription orders/payments and other inquiries to The South Asian
Times, 95 Broadway, Suite 2, Second Floor, Town Center Building, Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. Copyright and all other rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be reprinted without the
consent of the publisher. The views expressed on the opinion pages and in the letters to the editor pages are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of The South Asian Times. The editor/
publisher does not warrant accuracy and cannot be held responsible for the content of the advertisements placed in the publication and/or inaccurate claims, if any, made by the advertisers. Advertisements of
business or facilities included in this publication do not imply connection or endorsement of these businesses. All rights reserved.
his presence there.
"The D‑Company''s illegitimate eco‑
nomic activities may be little known
outside our region, but for us, such
activities as gold smuggling, counter‑
feit currency, as well as arms and drug
traf ficking from a safe haven that
declines to acknowledge even his exis‑
tence, are a real and present danger,"
he said.
Making the case for action against
Dawood and Pakistan based terror
groups, Akbaruddin said: "The success
of collective action to denude ISIL
(Islamic State) is a pointer that the
Council's focused attention can and
does yield results."
"A similar degree of interest in
addressing the threats posed by pro‑
scribed individuals, such as Dawood
Ibrahim and his D‑Company, as well as
proscribed entities, including the
Jaish‑e‑Mohammad and Lashkar‑e‑
Tom Steyer
why Iʼm running for president,” he
added. T he 62‑year‑old former
Managing Editor: Parveen Chopra
P : 516.710.0508
parveen.chopra@gmail.com
Associate Editor
Hiral Dholakia-Dave
hiral@thesouthasiantimes.info
Contributing Editors:Shaker Nelanuthala,
Prof. Shivaji Sengupta, Surekha Vijh
(Washington, DC), Suchitra Srinivas (New
Jersey), Melvin Durai, Dr Prem Kumar
Sharma, Ashok Vyas, and Dr Akshat Jain
New Delhi Bureau
Meenakshi Iyer
Delhi@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
TURN PAGE
Toiba, listed as affiliates of Al‑Qaeda,
under the 1267 sanctions regime, will
serve all of us well," Akbaruddin said.
Azhar was sanctioned in May by the
committee that oversees action under
the provisions of Council Resolution
1267 against al‑Qaeda, ISIL and their
affiliates. The action came about after
China under the US pressure stopped
shielding him.
Indiaʼs focus on Ibrahim and D‑
Company comes as the US is trying to
have the group's alleged international
operation director Jabir Motiwala
extradited from Britain to face money
laundering and trafficking charges.
The US has imposed sanctions under
various laws on Ibrahim, his brother
Shaikh Anis Ibrahim Kaskar, Aziz
Moosa Bilakhia, Chhota Shakeel,
Ibrahim "Tiger" Memon and the D‑
Company, as well Pakistan‑based busi‑
ness enterprises linked to them.
hedge fund manager, who founded
the environmental advocacy non‑
profit NextGen America, has spent
millions seeking to gain support for
the impeachment of President
Trump, who has called him a
“weirdo.”
On Tuesday, Steyer did not men‑
t ion Trumpʼs impeachment,
although the president was briefly
seen in the video, as was his former
campaign chairman Paul Manafort,
who was seen being led away in
handcuffs.
Steyer allies have told the
Washington Post that he had grown
increasingly dissatisfied with the
nearly two dozen Democrats already
in the running for the White House.
Jaipur Bureau
Prakash Bhandari
Prakash@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Photographs
Xitij Joshi/xitijphoto.com
Cartoonist: Mahendra Shah
Art and Design: Dhiraj Kumar Showaan
Bharat Bhushan Chopra
Senior Designer: Vladimir Tomovski
Consultants
Shomik Chaudhuri, Inc.
Ginsmon Zacharia & Family Inc
Sai Creations Inc, Bhagwati Creations
News Service
IANS News Service
HT Media Ltd.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
President Trumpʼs Strateg ic and Partnership
ʻSalute to Americaʼ a
roaring success
Forum (USISPF) Mukesh Aghi
said the budget is inclusive and
Continued from page 1
power ̶ was “something really
policy decisions are encourag‑
ing for American companies.
special” during remarks at the "We are pleased to see a
White House. “Standing on the 2019‑2020 Budget that deliv‑
steps of the g reat Lincoln ers a forward‑looking and
Memorial and looking out on reform‑minded approach for
the crowds, these incredible big the Modi government's second
beautiful crowds, braving the term," Nisha Desai Biswal, presi‑
weather all the way back to the dent of US India Business
Washington Monument, we cel‑ Council, told PTI.
ebrated freedom and all of its
magnificence, while saluting Trump again calls
our great military,” Trump said Indian tariffs on US
about the event. “Based on its products ʻunacceptableʼ
tremendous success, weʼve Continued from page 1
made the decision to do it again Modi about the fact that India,
next year, and maybe, we can for years having put very high
say, for the foreseeable future.” tariffs against the United States,
T he Independence Day just recently increased the tar‑
address was the first by a presi‑ iffs even further. This is unac‑
dent on the Mall since ceptable and the tariffs must be
President Harry Truman spoke withdrawn!" India slapped tar‑
there during the Korean War in iffs on 28 US products includ‑
1951. ing Harley‑Davidson motorcy‑
In his speech, the president cles and US‑grown apples, after
recounted episodes from the Washington withdrew its long‑
Revolutionary and Civil wars, as standing preferential status on
well as the suffragette and civil
rights movements.
June 1 that exempted billions of
dollars worth of products made
there from US levies.
Meanwhile, President Trumpʼs
overall approval rating among During their meeting, Modi
voting‑age Americans rose from told Trump that India had taken
39% in April to 44% in the lat‑ some action after the General
est Washington Post‑ABC News System of Preferences (GSP)
poll. T he key to his ratings was revoked by the US and "we
seemed to be the economy, with should now look forward and
51% of respondents approving we should see how we can
of his job performance in that resolve some of these issues,"
area, the poll said. It was the according to Foreign Secretary
first time in his presidency that Vijay Gokhale.
the measure was above 50%. "There was a discussion on
trade. Both sides aired their
Modi 2.0ʼs first budget concerns, both sides spoke
to stimulate India Inc about the interest of the other
Continued from page 1 side and what was agreed was
strong at $64.375 billion mark‑ that the trade ministers of both
ing a 6 per cent growth over countries would meet at an
the previous year. early date and would try and
Meanwhile, the American cor‑ sort out these issues," Gokhale
porate sector has hailed this had told the media after the
budget. President of US India meeting.
Printing: Five Star Printing, NY
Contacts
Editor@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Subscribe@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Advertisements
Advertise@TheSouthAsianTimes.info
P: 516.390.7847, F: 360.323.0036
NYC office: Attn. Mr. Karan Jain,
18 E 48 Street. Suite 1201,
New York, NY 10017
Website
www.TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Updated Daily
TheSouthAsianTimes.info TRISTATE COMMUNITY July 13-19, 2019 5

US corporate sector gives thumbs up to Indian budget

Says it will attract FDI, encourages US companies to invest more
New York: The American corporate sector
Friday hailed the maiden Budget of Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, noting that it
is not only inclusive but also attractive for
foreign investments.
President of US India Strateg ic and
Partnership Forum (USISPF) Mukesh Aghi
said the budget is inclusive and policy deci‑
sions are encouraging for American compa‑
nies.
It's "good news" for companies like Apple,
Aghi told PTI. The Budget opens up the
Indian market, and encourages US compa‑
nies to invest more, at the same time it
ensures prosperity and growth for the lower
sections, he said.
The Budget is trying to make positive
structural changes, he added.
"We are pleased to see a 2019‑2020
Budget that delivers a forward‑looking and
reform‑minded approach for the Modi gov‑
ernment's second term," Nisha Desai Biswal,
president of US India Business Council, told
PTI. USIBC welcomes proactive measures to
double farmers' income, liberalize FDI in a
number of sectors and allow 100 percent
FDI for insurance intermediaries, and
increase FPI investment limits ‑– all reforms
USIBC has actively supported, she said.
USIBC members will be encouraged by the
Budget's focus on skilling Indians, with an
emphasis on jobs in data analytics, artificial
intelligence, and robotics, Biswal said.
"Goals like transforming India into a glob‑
al space and aviation hub also demonstrate
the longer‑term thinking of the new govern‑
ment. We look forward to working with
Prime Minister Modi and the Government of
India to make these priorities, and the larger
vision for a modern India a reality," Biswal
said.
"This is a visionary budget from the first
woman Finance Minister of India marked
with a long‑term 10‑year plan while retain‑
ing focus on immediate priorities," said
Karun Rishi, president of USA‑India
Chamber of Commerce told PTI.
The focused impetus for sustainable job
creation via targeted investment in infra‑
structure will have a ripple effect on second‑
ary and tertiary employment.
The mission to provide housing to all by
2022 has the potential not just for growth
in downstream sectors such as cement and
steel but also for overall job creation in
these vital industries, he said.
It is a relatively cautious Budget, consider‑
ing the government's election mandate,
noted Rick Rossow from the Center for
Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
think‑tank."I expected some bigger ideas,
but instead we saw a continuation of key
programs such as infrastructure develop‑
ment, expansion of social programs in rural
areas, and nods to big campaigns like Digital
India and Make in India," Rossow told PTI.
From a foreign business perspective, it
was a mixed bag, he said.
"On the positive side, several sectors were
listed for foreign investment reforms includ‑
ing insurance, media, and single brand
retail," he added.

NY legislature declares August 2019 Indian‑American Heritage Month

New York: This June 13, the New
York State general assembly
passed Bill NY K00555, by a 45‑20
vote declaring August 2019 as
Indian‑American Heritage Month.
Passing the resolut ion has
become an annual event after
2015, when Demo crat ic
Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski,
who represents N.Y. Assembly
District 96, upon requests from his
Indian constituents, initiated the
resolution. His district includes the
entire towns of Clarkstown and
Haverstraw and part of the Town
of Ramapo.
The Bill K00555 notes how The
Immigration and Nationality Act,
enacted on June 30, 1968, abol‑
ished the national origins quota
system replacing it with a prefer‑
ence system focused on skills and
family relationships.
That radical change of 1968, to
immigration rules which had been
in existence since 1920, increased
Indian immigration to the U.S.
from fewer than 15,000 to more
than 200,000 by 1980, it says,
adding that to day there are
approximately 4 million Indian‑
Americans in the country, of whom
an “astounding” 72 percent have a
bachelorʼs degree compared to the
national average of just 28 per‑
cent.
“Indian‑Americans greatly con‑
tribute to the leadership, wisdom,
and vitality of our great State and
Nation,” the Bill says, and names
achievers in numerous fields in the
text – Miss New York Nina
Davuluri to the first Indian‑
American governor of a state, for‑
mer Louisiana Republican Gov.
Bobby Jindal, Microsoft CEO Satya
Nadella, former US Ambassador to
the United Nations Nikky Haley,
the first Indian American elected
to the US Senate Kamala Harris;
and the first Indian‑American ever
elected to the U.S. Congress in
1957, Rep. Dalip Singh Saund, a
Democrat from California among
others.
The Bill further adds there are
nearly 35,000 Indian‑American
doctors practicing in the United
States including Doctor Sanjay
Gupta, renowned Neurosurgeon
and Assistant Professor of
Neurosurgery at Emory University
School of Medicine and Associate
Chief of Neurosurgery at Grady
Memorial Hospital.

Indian American teen Lisa Ramjit
earns spot in US cricket team
Maryland: Lisa Ramjit, a 14‑year‑old eighth
grader at Northwest Middle School in
Taneytown, Maryland, has been selected to
play for the US national womenʼs cricket
team. On May 20, Ramjit debuted for Team
USA, which was playing a three‑match ICC
Americas Regional Womenʼs T20 Qualifier in
Florida against Canada. According to the
Maryland Youth Cricket Association, Ramjit
started by “taking the first‑ever international
T20 wicket in USA womenʼs cricket history on
just her second ball, and then continued to
baffle the Canadian players throughout the
series, finishing with five wickets taken in 11
overs, while allowing a paltry 30 runs scored
against her.”
Ramjit and her team, said the Maryland
Youth Cricket Association, now have a few
months to prep for the 2019 Womenʼs T20
World Cup Qualifier in Scotland, which begins
Aug. 31. Should the U.S. advance, it will com‑
pete in the 2020 ICC Womenʼs T20 World
Cup, which will be held in Australia from Feb.
21 ‑ March 8, 2020.
Ramjit began her cricket journey as a 7‑
year‑old playing 11U ball for the Bowie Boys
and Girls Club. In 2017, she became the first
Maryland Youth Cricket bowler to take five
wickets in a match, and in June 2018, she was
LIsa Ramjit
(image courtesy: baltimoresun.com)
among the top run scorers at the Girls Cricket
League tournament played at Central
Broward Regional Park, according to
Usacricketers.com. In October 2018, Ramjit
was named best batter at the NYCL Girls tour‑
nament. Cricket, which is Indiaʼs most popu‑
lar sport, has been a lifelong ambition within
the Ramjit family, which moved to the US
from Guyana but is of Indian descent, said
The Baltimore Sun. Ramjitʼs mother Liloutie
and her father, Satnarine, played the sport in
Guyana, where Liloutie told the publication
children learn how to hit a ball with a stick
“as soon as kids can walk.”
South Asia’s No.1 radio channel Radio
Mirchi now in Central and South Jersey
New York: After the successful launch of 8
radio stations in the US, Radio Mirchi – South
Asiaʼs No.1 radio station, is further strengthen‑
ing its presence in the Tri‑state Area. Radio
Mirchi will be available on two more frequen‑
cies in New Jersey ‑ 92.7 FM and 103.3 FM HD
2. With these two additions to the network,
Radio Mirchi will cover the
very important area of
Central Jersey and South
Jersey which is home to
more than 60% of South
Asians living in New Jersey.
Radio Mirchi is already
available on 1600 AM which covers the New
York, North Jersey and Connecticut area.
Besides tri‑state area, Radio Mirchi can be
heard in Atlanta, GA on 107.5 FM HD3; in
Baltimore, MD on 92.3 FM HD‑2; Cleveland,
OH on 93.1 FM‑HD2; Columbus, OH on
107.5FM HD2; Raleigh‑Durham, NC on 99.9
FM HD‑4, 101.9 FM & 1490 AM;, Philadelphia,
PA on 103.9 FM HD‑2; St. Louis, MO on 95.5
FM HD2.
Targeted at the South Asian diaspora, the 24‑
hour stations play a winning combination of
the best in Bollywood music, infotainment and
comedy that Mirchi is known for. Radio Mirchi
will be introducing Gujarati elements in its
programming for the New Jersey station to
cater to the large Gujarati community settled
there. Over a period, it will introduce certain
elements in other languages to cater to differ‑
ent communities. All stations are available
online onradiomirchiusa.com and on Amazon.
In New Jersey, Radio Mirchi has partnered
with Touchdown Ventures. Rahul Walia,
President Touchdown Ventures & Licensee of
92.7 FM W224CW said, “ We
are excited to serve as a con‑
duit for Radio Mirchiʼs con‑
tent here in Central New
Jersey. For long there has
been a need to cohesively
connect the diaspora and we
feel that Mirchiʼs programming will be the win‑
ning formula. We wish them the very best in
their endeavor to engage the South Asian
Diaspora.”
Some shows on the network are done by
popular radio presenters from “back home”,
like Mirchi Sayema, Mirchi Rochie and Mirchi
Shruti, to give the audience a “slice of their
country.” People will also be able to tune in to
the wildly popular Mirchi Murgas by RJ Naved
and dance mixes on Club Mirchi on these sta‑
tions. Prashant Panday, MD & CEO, Radio
Mirchi commented, “We are very excited to
further expand our network in the US with
these new stations in New Jersey. We hope
that the diaspora who we cater to connect with
and enjoy the content we put out on air!”
 6 July 13-19, 2019
New York offers
$55M for Long
Island energy
storage projects
Albany, NY: New York state is
offering up to $55 million in
incentives for commercial and
residential energy storage proj‑
ects on Long Island.
The funding, announced last
Wednesday, is intended to
reduce the costs of storage sys‑
tems for renewable energy.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the
idea is to use the state's
resources to make it easier to
expand Long Island's use of
green energy while also creating
new energy sector jobs. The
money will be awarded over the
next several years. State lawmak‑
ers earlier this year approved the
nation's most aggressive targets
for reducing emissions and
ramping up renewable energy
sources. Officials say state incen‑
tives are a key way to leverage
private investment and make
New York state a leader in ener‑
gy innovation.
Queens ranks as
3rd most diverse
county in US
New York: According to a new
study by media company Axios,
Queens is the third most diverse
county in America and the most
diverse county in the continental
U.S. Researchers said the study
analyzed U.S. Census data to cre‑
ate a diversity index for each
county. The number represents
the probability that two people
chosen at random will be of a dif‑
ferent race or ethnicity.
On average, two Americans
chosen at random have a 57%
chance of being of different
backgrounds. In Queens, that
probability jumps to 76%.
The only two counties that
rank above Queens are Hawaii
and Maui counties in Hawaii.
Both have populations under
200,000, while Queens is home
to more than 2 million people.
All of New York City, most New
Jersey counties along the
Hudson River, and Westchester
County in New York ranked as
diverse or more diverse com‑
pared to the national average.
Suffolk County, Long Island, and
counties in Western New Jersey,
like Hunterdon, Morris, and
Sussex, were labeled as less
diverse. Experts said more
diverse counties tend to be locat‑
ed in or near larger cities, and
rural counties far from coasts are
less diverse.
Now, we are devoting a full page to local government news, initiatives, and other information of significant importance to our readers.
Requesting all government agencies at state, county and town levels to send their press releases to: editor@thesouthasiantimes.info
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
NYC posts record low in murders,
other major crimes
New York: Murders in New York
have reached an all‑t ime low,
police announced Monday as they
revealed “record” reductions in
major crimes ̶ along with an
uptick in shootings.
There have been just 135 mur‑
ders reported since the beginning
of the year ̶ narrowly edging out
a record‑low 136 reported mur‑
ders for the same time period in
2017. “New York City is the safest
big city in America, and itʼs as safe
Belmont Park arena to include
new Elmont LIRR station
Elmont: Elmont could be getting a
full‑service LIRR train station to go
along with the proposed NY
Islanders arena at Belmont Park.
The new train station would be
located between the Queens Village
and Bellerose stations, just east of
the Cross Island Parkway.
The proposal is expected to cost
about $105 million. The bulk of the
cost is being covered by the devel‑
opers of the Belmont arena. The
remaining $8 million will come
from the state. The project has been
controversial for civic associations
in Elmont. Some are worried that
the community could be taken
advantage of. "Everything is being
Curran kicks off summer youth
employment programs
Mineola, NY: Nassau County
Executive Laura Curran and the
Nassau County Of fice of Youth
Services kicked of f the Countyʼs
2019 Summer Youth Employment
Program (SYEP) on June 28 at the
Mitchel Field Athletic Complex Field
House with their annual On‑
Boarding Day. She was joined by
Deputy County Executive Kyle Rose‑
Louder and Commissioner of Human
Services Carolyn McCummings and
participating local students ages 14‑
21. Through the support of the
Countyʼs Department of Human
Services, and partnerships with
Gateway Youth Outreach, Hispanic
Brotherhood Inc. of Rockville Center,
Bank of America, and the United
Way, 55 youth will be employed at
community‑based nonprofit agencies
as well as for profit companies and
organizations throughout Nassau
County for the months of July and
as itʼs ever been in modern times,”
NYPD Commissioner James OʼNeill
said in a statement.
“But the hardworking members
of the NYPD know that to make
our achievements meaningful for
everyone we have to make this
record‑breaking safety a reality in
every community we serve. Weʼre
going to do that by continuing to
build strong re lationships, by
relentlessly pursuing those who
commit violent crime, by deploying
An artistʼs view of the new home for NY Islanders ice hockey team,
part of the $1.3 Billion project.
built in Elmont," one resident said.
"The arena is in Elmont. Our race‑
Nassau County Executive
Laura Curran
August 2019. Organizations include:
Mercy Hospital, Molloy College,
Hampton Inn, and Mejias, Milgrim
Alvarado, P.C. as well as Hicksville
Teen‑age Council, Inc., Hispanic
Counseling Center, Inc., and Choice
for All not‑for‑profit organizations.
This year OYSʼ summer employment
initiative has also received support
from Ikea which donated bookbags
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
our resources ef fectively and by
constantly evaluating our perform‑
ance in an effort to do even better.”
The department also reported
record lows in reported robberies,
burglaries and car thefts for the
first half of the year.
Overall crime is down 3.8 per‑
cent for June compared to the
same month last year, though
shooting incidents are up 27.1 per‑
cent for June 2019, NYPD figures
show.
track is in Elmont. The train station
is going to be in Elmont. We have a
to participating youth.
Said Department of Human
Services Executive Director, Dana
Boylan, Esq: “The Of fice of Youth
Services is excited to announce that
this yearʼs summer youth employ‑
ment includes a new Career
Exploration Summer Employment
opportunity for Hempstead youth to
explore a diverse range of career
options while they work. The goal is
to encourage youth to engage in
early exploration of pathways that
will help to inspire them to reach for
career goals – through education,
shadowing and apprenticeship pro‑
grams. We encourage companies,
sole proprietors, professional offices
to contact our office if they would
like to serve as a host employer as
we move toward building our capaci‑
ty to provide more jobs and serve
more youth in the area.”
In addition, Nassau Countyʼs Office
NYPD Commissioner
James P. O'Neill
lot of needs and wants and they
need to be addressed." The project
envisages 19,000‑seat arena, 250‑
room hotel and retail village on 43
acres of the Belmont property.
According to a project analysis
released by the governor's of fice,
the project will create approximate‑
ly 10,000 construction jobs, 3,200
permanent jobs and generate near‑
ly $50 million in new public rev‑
enue annually.
New York state Monday certified
the environmental impact state‑
ment for the new Islanders arena.
The station is expected to receive
service every half hour during peak
times and hourly during
of Mental Health, Chemical
Dependency & Developmental
Disabilities Services also provide
internships focusing on: Narcan
trainings, public education, commu‑
nity outreach and forensics.
The Nassau County Department of
Health partners with colleges and
universities to provide internships
and summer seasonal positions to
undergraduate and graduate stu‑
dents who are Nassau County resi‑
dents. The Department currently
has 40 interns and summer seasonal
staf f. Opportunities range from
learning and assisting in the surveil‑
lance of communicable diseases, par‑
ticipating with partner agencies to
collaboratively implement health
programs, gain an understanding of
the pathology and social determi‑
nants of health, and develop the
skills that are required for the
reporting of public health measures.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info NATIONAL July 13-19, 2019 7

Kamala Harris' campaign raises $12m in 2nd quarter

Washington, DC: US Senator
Kamala Harris, riding a wave of
support after her performance in
the first presidential debate,
raised nearly $12 million in the
second quarter of the year which
ended on June 30, her campaign
has announced.
Harris, who is of Indian and
Jamaican descent, st ill lags
behind in fundraising totals
when compared alongside other
2020 Democratic contenders.
Her fundraising total for the sec‑
ond quarter was announced by
her campaign on Friday, the US
media reported. Harris is at
fourth posit ion among
Democrats who released their
fundraising totals. South Bend
Mayor Pete Butt ig ieg raised
$24.8 million, former Vice
President Joe Biden raised $21.5
million and US Senator Bernie
Sanders raised $18 million dur‑
ing the same period.
According to Harris' campaign,
nearly 150,000 donors were
new contributors and the aver‑
age donation was $39. The aver‑
age online donation was $24.
Overall, Harris raised more than
$23 million since launching her
campaign in January.
Harris emerged as a top con‑
tender for the 2020 Democratic
presidential nomination after
last week's presidential debate.
Her campaign said it raised $2
million in the first 24 hours after
she went head‑to‑head with nine
other candidates on June 27.
Harris sparred with Biden at
the debate for his record on race
and on his previous comments
about segregationists.
Her campaign raked in 63,000
donations the next day ‑ her best
online fundraising day to date.
Her campaign says that nearly
half a million dollars this quarter
came from its online store, which
sold at least 1,400 "That Little
Girl Was Me" T‑shirts that fea‑
ture a photo of Harris as a young
school girl.
This was the single best‑selling
item in the month of June,
despite it only being available
later in the month.

Ambassador Harsh Vardhan reveals plans

for Gadar Memorial restoration
San Francisco: Ambassador Harsh
Vardhan Shringla revealed plans for
the restoration of the historic Gadar
Memorial at a special reception
here June 21 afternoon.
Arvind Iyer, the chief architect on
the project will submit a final pro‑
posal to the San Francisco Planning
commission after consultations with
the cityʼs Fire Department, building
inspector, and the police depart‑
ment.
T he Planning Commission is
expected to take 3‑4 months to
approve the project, during which
time residents in the small neigh‑
borhood in San Franciscoʼs
Richmond District must be
informed. The project will then be
posted on the San Francisco City
Indian Ambassador to US Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Councilʼs consent calendar for final
approval, barring any push‑back
from neighbors, said Iyer.
The Gadar Memorial was initially
built in 1914 and refurbished in
1974. It is the birthplace of the
Gadar Party, a movement led prima‑
rily by Indian Americans to support
Indiaʼs independence from the
British. The movement was led and
funded primarily by Sikh American
farmers from the Central Valley and
students at UC Berkeley.
The hall had an electric printing
press onsite, which printed out
10,000 copies of a six‑page newspa‑
per every week, which was then dis‑
tributed throughout the U.S. and
sent by ship to India, according to
Inder Singh, chairman of the Global
Organization of People of Indian
Origin. The newspaper was first
written in Urdu by Lal Har Dayal,
then translated into Punjabi, and
stamped and addressed manually.
The memorial burned down in the
1950s, and was last restored in
1974.
The Indian government has com‑
mitted to paying for the restoration
of the building, a $9 million project
expected to be completed in 2021.
The new structure will host an audi‑
torium, a museum, a library, and a
meeting room, among other fea‑
tures.
Speaking to a packed auditorium
at the Gadar Memorial June 21,
Shringla said: “The idea is to bring
the building back to its original
beauty, and to make this a focal
point for our community as a
remembrance to the Gadar Party,
who struggled for our freedom.”

Indian‑origin man charged with Apple appoints Sabih Khan

killing wife, in‑laws, aunt in Ohio
New York: An Indian‑origin man has been
charged with killing his wife, her parents and her
aunt in a shooting rampage that had created
fears of anti‑Sikh violence in the state of Ohio.
West Chester police Chief Joel Herzog announced
on Tuesday the arrest of Gurpreet Singh on four
charges of murder, according to WCPO TV in
Cincinnati. It reported that Butler County
Prosecutor Mike Gmoser intended to seek the
death penalty.
Gurpreet Singh's wife Shalinder Kaur, 39, her
parents Hakikat Singh Panag, 59, and Paramjit
Kaur, 62, and her aunt, Amarjit Kaur,58, were
found shot dead at his residence in West Chester
in Ohio state on April 28.
His two daughters aged 11 and 9, and a son
aged 5 was not at home at that time and were
physically unharmed.
He had called the police himself after the shoot‑
ings and told them that he had found the bodies
when he came home.
The police in Branford, Connecticut state, who
arrested Gurpreet Singh, said in a statement that
after the West Chester police notified them that
he was staying at a residence in Branford, offi‑
cers saw him leaving the place and he was appre‑
hended in the parking lot of a nearby store. He
was supposed to be produced in court on
Wednesday. A post made on Branford Police
Facebook page on the behalf of the victims' fami‑
ly thanked the police, the Federal Bureau of
new senior VP of operations
New York: Apple has appointed Sabih
Investigation and other agencies "who worked
Khan as its new senior VP of operations
hard to give justice." They said they were "also
to look after supply chain and manufac‑
thankful to the American government and Indian
turing. Khan has been working with
government." WFSB TV said that Gurpreet Singh
Apple since the 1990s and has been
is a truck driver who is often away from home.
behind all of Apple's greatest product
The four victims were shot a total of 18 times,
launches over the last two decades.
all but once to their heads, with Pannag taking
Sabih Khan, who has worked with
eight bullets, WLWT TV station reported citing
Apple for the last 24 years, will be
officials. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that
responsible for looking after "Apple's
after the shooting, Gurpreet Singh had broken
global supply chain, ensuring product
down as he said in a mix of Punjabi and English:
quality and overseeing planning, pro‑
"I have no words. The trauma has been too much.
curement, manufacturing, logistics and
It's too hard to even think of all that has hap‑
product fulfillment functions, as well as
pened. My brain is not working."
Apple's supplier responsibility programs
The newspaper quoted Ajaib Singh, who is a
that protect and educate workers at pro‑
brother of both Amarjit Kaur and Paramjit Kaur,
duction facilities around the world."
as saying: "I am not surprised at Gurpreet's Sabih Khan
Therefore, Khan will look after the
arrest. I expected it. We knew there were disputes
manufacturing and distribution of all ers everywhere w ith dignity and
in the family and we expected fist fights or a
Apple products across the world. This respect, and protecting the environment
divorce but we never expected the whole family
comes at a time when Apple is consider‑ for future generations."
to be killed."
ing India as its next manufacturing hub Sabih Khan hails from Moradabad in
"We trusted him, we treated him like a son. It's
for its popular iPhone models. Apple has Uttar Pradesh, India and was born in
painful to me, nobody deserves to die like this,
begun manufacturing the older iPhone 1966. He studied up to the fifth grade in
nobody," he said. The Enquirer said that soon
models in India and has a plan to fur‑ India be fore his family shifted to
after the killings Gurpreet Singh had "received an
ther expand its manufacturing of the Singapore from where he completed his
outpouring of support from the Guru Nanak
new models to Foxconn's facility in rest of schooling. He later completed his
Society of Greater Cincinnati, the local Sikh gurd‑
India. "Sabih leads our Ops team with mechanical engineering from the US.
wara." It quoted Satinder Bharaj, past President of
heart," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "He Khan has been with Apple since 1995.
the gurdwara, as saying: "I hope the truth comes
and his entire worldwide team are com‑ Sabih Khan is fond of Hindi songs and
out and we get an answer to the question of why
mitted to delivering unmatched experi‑ one of his relatives says he loves Parle‑G
this happened or had to happen."
ences to our customers, treating work‑ biscuits, as reported by Aaj Tak.
8 July 13-19, 2019
Talluri Jayashekar
elected TANA president
T C
alluri Jayashekar has been elect‑
ed as the new president of
Telugu Association of North
America (TANA). He took the charge
from the incumbent Sathish Vemana
during the 22nd biennial TANA confer‑
ence held at the Walter E Washington
IALI hosts annual gala dinner
Gala honorees with IALI President Lalit Aery (5th from right)
I
ndia Association of Long Island cele‑
brated Annual Fundraising Gala
Dinner on June 30th, 2019 at
Marriott, Long Island. The function was
attended by about 270 guests. India
Association of Long Island is a 41‑year‑
old non‑profit organization with more
than 2300 members and still growing.
Reception committee under the leader‑
ship of treasurer Rajeev Chaudhary and
event advisor Mrs. Jyoti Gupta extended
a warm welcome to all the guests. The
program started with cocktail hours fol‑
lowed by a grand entry of the president
and all the honorees in the banquet hall.
After all the guests were seated com‑
fortably, emcee Indu Gajwani, cultural
chair, invited two talented artists Khushi
and Jigna Oza to perform Ganesh
Vandana. Introduction of president Lalit
Aery was done by emcee and he was
called for his speech. In his speech, he
mentioned about the forum doing excel‑
lent job and thanked all the chair per‑
sons for their good work.
Senators Anna Kaplan and Kevin
Thomas graced the occasion and gave
citations to all five honorees. Chairman
Guru Poornima celebrations at
Shirdi Sai Baba temple
L
ike every year, the Shirdi Sai Baba
temple is holding weeklong cele‑
brations of Guru Poornima, which
honors the life and times of the Shirdi
saint, beginning July 14th. Various pro‑
grams will be held in the name of Sai
Baba.
Like on previous occasions, since the
temple was formally inaugurated in
2010, the highlight of the Guru
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
Convention Centre in Washington DC
from July 4 to 6. Jayashekar hails from
Iravendi village of Burgampahad man‑
dal in Bhadradri Kothagudem
district. He was the president‑elect at
the previous conference of the associa‑
tion.
of Human Rights Commission Bobby
Kalotee and Nassau County Human
Rights Commissioner Zahid Syed also
attended the event. The honorees Mrs.
Indu Chhabra, Dr Vijay Rasquinha, Dr
Gopal Kishore, Mr. Jasbir Jay Singh and
Mrs. Anupam Goenka were given cita‑
tions. All the special guests and hon‑
orees were honored with plaque and a
beautiful scarf by IALI officers and exec‑
utive committee.
IALI launched membership card to
IALI members which was sponsored by
Gary Sikka (Mint Restaurant), Dilip
Bansal (India Visa Center), Mr. Batra
(Batra Travels) and Sumit Verma
(Hicksville Optical). At the launch Indu
Gajwani called Naveen Shah and Madhu
Pareek from Navika Group and all the
past presidents of IALI on the stage to
come and cut the ribbon of the box and
present card to all the officers.
Bollywood celebrity star Jinal Pandya
was a special guest at gala dinner. She
performed two dances and asked the
audience to join on the dance floor. The
vote of thanks was given by the secre‑
tary Govind Gupta
Poornima programs is Palki Yatra, also
known as Pallaki Yatra. In the palanquin
procession an Utsava Vigraha of the
saint goes around the nearby streets of
Flushing. The procession begins at 4pm
on Saturday, July 20, and ends around
7pm when it returns to the temple fol‑
lowed by Aarati and Maharprasad. The
temple is located at 46‑16 Robinson
street, Flushing, Queens, NYC
The 2019 South Asian Spelling Bee
finishes strong with 5 regionals
ontinuing its quest for
the best speller in the
community, the 2019
South Asian Spelling Bee trav‑
eled to California, Maryland,
North Carolina, Washington DC
and New Jersey these past two
weekends. With a huge turnout
this year, the Bee attracted some
top talent as well as young and
new spellers that competed for
the coveted prizes and titles.
In Bay Area, Nidhi Vadlamudi
of Santa Clara was the regional Navneeth (Regional Champion) and Advitiya
champ and Vayun Krishna of Jadhav (First Runner up) from New
Sunnyvale, California was the
first runner up.
In DC, Aryan Nindra of Leesburg
Virginia along with Nilla Rajan of
Chillicothe, Ohio were named co‑champi‑
ons.
In Charlotte, Maya Jadhav from
Fitchburg, Wisconsin was the regional
champ and Ekansh Rastogi of Heathrow,
Florida was the first runner up.
In Dallas Pranav Nandakumar of Austin,
Texas was the regional champ and
Hepzibah Sujoe of Fort Worth, Texas was
the first runner up.
In New Jersey, Navneeth Murali from
Anu Ramaswami named inaugural
director of Chadha Center at Princeton
P
rinceton University June 20
announced that Anu Ramaswami,
an Indian American researcher of
urban sustainability, has been named the
inaugural director of the M.S. Chadha
Center for Global India. Ramaswami, an
interdisciplinary environmental engineer
who is recognized as a pioneer and leader
on the topic of sustainable urban systems,
has been named professor of India stud‑
ies, civil and environmental engineering,
and the Princeton Environmental Institute,
in addition to the inaugural director of the
M.S. Chadha Center for Global India. She
will assume her new duties at Princeton
on Aug. 1, Princeton said in a news
release. Ramaswami has been the Charles
M. Denny Jr. Chair of Science, Technology
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Jersey regionals.
Edison, New Jersey was the regional
champ and Advitiya Jadhav of Princeton
Junction, New Jersey was the first runner
up.
The event is open to children of South
Asian descendants up to 14 years of age.
Organized by Touchdown Media Inc.,
the South Asian Spelling Bee is celebrat‑
ing its 12thanniversary this year.
The top two spellers of each regional
competition advance to the finals to be
held in New Jersey on August 8th and the
championship prize is $3,000.
INDIA CORNER
Inauguration of
'India Corner' ‑ a
new book
collection featur‑
ing books about
India donated by
the Consulate
General of India
was held at the
Fletcher Free
Library,
Burlington,
Vermont on
June 29th.
and Environmental Policy at the
Humphrey School of Public Affairs and
professor of bioproducts and biosystems
engineering at the College of Food,
Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sciences at the University of Minnesota
since 2012.
The M.S. Chadha Center for Global India,
established in 2018 and part of PIIRS, will
bring together scholars and students from
all disciplines to broadly explore contem‑
porary India, including its economy, poli‑
tics and culture under Ramaswamiʼs aegis,
the university said.
Ramaswami will also build a broadly
multidisciplinary anchor program within
the center focused on urbanization, inno‑
vation and global India, it said.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info DIASPORA July 13-19, 2019 9

UK's top woman police officer Parm

Sandhu sues Scotland Yard over racism
London: One of Britain's senior‑
most Indian‑origin female police
of ficers is taking leg al act ion
against Scotland Yard over allega‑
tions of racial and gender discrimi‑
nation within the UK's largest
police force.
Parm Sandhu, currently serving
as Temporary Chief Superintendent
w ith the Metropolitan Police,
claims she was denied promotions
and opportunities at work due to
her race and gender.
The first hearing in her case is set
to take place at an employment tri‑
bunal next week.
"At this early stage, we are unable
to comment further around defend‑
ing the claim," the Met Police said
in a statement.
Ms. Sandhu is being backed by
the Metropolitan Black Police
Association, which says it is con‑
cerned about the lack of senior
female ethnic minority officers.
The 54‑year‑old officer took the
legal step at the end of an internal
Met Police investigation which
exonerated her of gross misconduct
last month.
The inquiry, launched in June
2018, focussed on whether Ms.
Sandhu encouraged her colleagues
to support her nomination for a
Queen's Police Medal (QPM), which
is awarded twice a year by Queen
Elizabeth II as part of her honors'
lists.
The medals are given to serving
police officers in the UK in recogni‑
tion of distinguished service or out‑
standing courage in the line of
duty. "A temporary chief superin‑
tendent currently attached to
human resources was served with a
g ross misconduct not ice on
Wednesday 27 June and has been
placed on restricted duties," said a
Met Police statement at the time.
T he UK's National Police Chief
Council guidelines say that "any
person can nominate any other per‑
son for an honor."
However, as with other honors,
people are not expected to nomi‑
nate themselves and are not meant
to contribute to or know about the
process.
The internal Met Police investiga‑
tion concluded last month that Ms.
Sandhu had "no case to answer"
and would face no further action,
with restrictions on her duties at
work being lifted.
Ms. Sand hu, who joined the
police service in 1989, rose
throug h the ranks to become
Borough Commander in Richmond‑
upon‑Thames. She is one of the
most senior ethnic minority female
of ficers in the Met Police and in
2006 received an Asian Women of
Achievement Award for her
achievements in the police force.
(PTI)

In son's memory Swraj Paul

donates million pounds for
London Zoo Reserve
London: Leading British Indian entrepreneur
and parliamentarian Lord Swraj Paul has
announced 1 million pounds donation to the
London Zoo for a major new project that will
lead to creation of the Angad Paul African
Reserve in memory of his late son.
The Caparo Group chief, who has donated
substantially over his long association with
the zoo, said the latest donation will go
towards the redevelopment of its aviary and
the surrounding area.
"I have now decided to give 1 million
pounds to the zoo for its next major project,
the redevelopment of the Snowden Aviary
and the surrounding area, which will be
called the Angad Paul African Reserve," said
Lord Paul, during his annual gathering held
at the London Zoo on Sunday.
"Dominic Jermey, the Director General, and
the team are working very hard to open it
next year," said the 88‑year‑old India‑born
industrialist.
The redesign of the Zoological Society of
London (ZSL) aviary, being undertaken by
celebrated British architect Norman Foster, is
set to transform the aviary conceived by
renowned Brit ish photog rapher Lord
Snowden many years ago into a walk‑through
enclosure.
Swraj Paul's son Angad, who is credited
with taking the Caparo Group into India, died
Lord Jagannathʼs Rath Yatra passing through Piccadilly Circus London on June 16th.
suddenly in 2015 aged 45.

NATIONAL

Kumaraswamy woos US businesses to invest in Karnataka

Washington/Bengaluru: Showcasing
Karnataka as a favorite investment
destination in India, Chief Minister
H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday
invited US businesses to invest in the
southern state.
"I seek your investments in our
state, which offers huge opportuni‑
ties in manufacturing and services
sectors for US businesses,"
Kumaraswamy told investors at a
seminar in Maryland's Silver Spring
near Washington.
Though on a week‑long private
visit to the US since June 29, the
Chief Minister addressed US
investors and NRIs at the seminar on
"New business opportunities in
Karnataka", organized by the US‑
India Small and Medium Enterprise
Council.
According to a copy of his speech
shared with media by the Chief
Minister's Of fice in Bengaluru,
Kumaraswamy invited US businesses
to participate in the ''Global
Investors'' Meet'' the state would
host in January 2020 on opportuni‑
ties, incentives and facilities it offers
to potential investors.
"I seek your participation to make
the Global Investors'' Meet a success
as it is meant to attract investments
from domestic and overseas firms
with global linkages for job cre‑
ation," he said.
Holding his state was ready for
business as never before, the Chief
Minister said his coalition govern‑
ment made doing business easier
and smarter by ensuring 98.6 per‑
cent compliance to the Business
Reforms Action Plan norms.
"Our government is drafting a new
industrial policy for 2019‑24 to
offer a robust ecosystem to spur eco‑
nomic growth, create jobs and make
the state a global manufacturing and
services hub," he told the gathering.
Claiming that Karnataka was
ranked first in the country to attract
investments and Bengaluru rated as
the world's most dynamic city,
Kumaraswamy said the state's
growth was due to its pro‑active,
business‑friendly policies, good
infrastructure, skilled manpower and
ecosystem for nurturing innovation.
"Karnataka contributes 50 percent
to the country's machine tool pro‑
duction, 39 percent to IT exports, 67
percent to making aircraft and heli‑
copters for defence services and 33
percent to biotech exports," he said.
The state is also at the forefront of
next‑gen technology such as
blockchain, additive manufacturing,
3D printing, robotics, nanotechnolo‑
gy, medical technology and genetic
engineering, he said.
"We are undertaking comprehen‑
sive reforms to ensure seamless and
time‑bound processes for project
approval, grant of statutory permis‑
sions and licenses. Our transparent
policy initiatives are aimed at provid‑
ing support to new industries and
entrepreneurs.
"We are determined to ensure our
state leads in the Fourth Industrial
Revolution and use the power of big
data, high computing capacity, artifi‑
cial intelligence and analytics to digi‑
tize manufacturing in the state," he
added. (IANS)
 10 July 13-19, 2019 US AFFAIRS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Trump admin still pushing to add citizenship question to census

Washington: Attorney General William Barr
said Monday that he believes the Trump
administration can legally add a citizenship
question to the 2020 census, though the
Supreme Court ruled against its inclusion
last month.
In an interview with The Associated Press,
Barr said he has been in regular contact
with President Trump about the question,
which the president is determined to see
featured on the decennial survey.
“I agree with him that the Supreme Court
decision was wrong,” Barr told the AP. The
attorney general added that he thinks there
is “an opportunity potentially to cure the
lack of clarity that was the problem and we
might as well take a shot at doing that.”
Barr declined to provide further details on
how the question will be added to the cen‑
sus. However, the AP cited a senior official
who said President Trump is expected to
issue a presidential memorandum to the
Commerce Department directing it to
include the citizenship question on the 2020
census. Action is expected to be taken in the
coming days.
The Supreme Court, in a 5‑4 ruling last
month, found that the administration's stat‑
ed reason for adding the citizenship ques‑
tion to the census didnʼt match up with the
evidence in the case.
The justices blocked the question from
appearing on the survey for the time being
but left an opening for the Commerce
Department to provide another reason for
the questionʼs inclusion. The Trump admin‑
istration had claimed the question was nec‑
essary to enforce the Voting Rights Act.
Opponents of the question argued that its
inclusion on the census would lead to an
inaccurate count of the population, as immi‑
grants might be discouraged from partici‑
pating. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had
argued that the data would not be used for
purposes beyond compliance with the vot‑
ing law, but critics said the perception was
enough to cause individuals to skip the
question or the survey altogether.
The DOJ initially appeared ready to accept
defeat in the legal battles, announcing
Tuesday that census materials would be
printed without the question.
But Trump one day later tweeted that
those efforts would move forward, appear‑
ing to catch even DOJ lawyers on the case
by surprise.

Trump’s approval
rating rises to 44%
Washington: While a majority of Americans still dis‑
approve of President Trumpʼs performance in office,
his approval rat‑
ing among voting‑
age Americans
rose from 39% in
April to 44% in
the latest
Washington Post‑
ABC News poll.
The key to his
ratings seemed to
be the economy,
with 51% of
respondents
approving of his
job performance President Trumpʼs job‑
in that area, the approval rating is now at the
poll said. It was highest point of his presidency.
the first time in (Photo courtesy AP)
his presidency that the measure was above 50%, ABC
News noted.
His weak spot was the 65% of people who said he
had acted “unpresidential” since taking of fice, but
that was lower than the 70% registered in early 2018.
“The survey highlights the degree to which Trump
has a narrow but real path to reelection,” The
Washington Post said in its analysis.
Cuomo signs bill
allowing state to release
Trump’s tax returns
Albany, NY: Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law
Monday the bill that gives congressional Democrats
access to President Trumpʼs New York tax filings.
The legislation green lights the state Department of
Taxation and Finance to release Trumpʼs tax returns
following a written request “for a specified and legiti‑
mate legislative purpose” made by at least one of
three congressional committees ̶ the House Ways
and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee
and the Joint Committee on Taxation.
Information that violates state or federal law or
poses an “invasion of personal privacy,” like social
security numbers or personal addresses, would be
redacted.
The measure only includes the filings of Trump and
other elected officials, not private citizens.
But Republican critics argue itʼs a political ploy, and
Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep.
Richard Neal (D‑Massachusetts) has said the move is
unnecessary as Congress probably wonʼt act on the
powers granted.
Friend of Trump and Bill Clinton
arrested in sex trafficking case
New York: Investigators seized nude pho‑
tographs of underage girls from the
Manhattan town house of Jeffrey Epstein
as part of a new investigation into allega‑
tions he exploited dozens of minors for
sex, prosecutors revealed on Monday.
That detail was mentioned by federal
prosecutors as they unsealed an indict‑
ment charging Epstein with sex traffick‑
ing and made an appeal to other women
who may have been abused by him as
girls to come forward. "They deserve
their day in court and we are proud to
stand up for them by bringing this indict‑
ment," said Geof frey Berman, the US
attorney in Manhattan.
Epstein, 66, is accused of engaging in
sex acts with dozens of vulnerable
minors, some as young as 14, during
naked massage sessions, then paying
Trump foe Amash quits GOP, may
launch third party presidential bid
Washington: Justin Amash, who faced a
likely removal from his committee and
GOP conference membership,
announced in a letter Monday he is
resigning from both.
The decision came a day ahead of a
GOP steering committee vote that
would have likely removed Amash
from the House Oversig ht and
Government Reform Committee.
The Michigan independent said in a
July 4 op‑ed he would leave the GOP in
a move that followed his call for
President Trumpʼs impeachment.
The libertarian and former House
Freedom Caucus member wrote to GOP
leaders Monday afternoon, “I am with‑
drawing my membership in the House
Republican Conference, e f fect ive
immediately, for the reasons outlined
in my accompanying op‑ed.”
In an interview with CNN Amash said
that high‑level party of ficials have
thanked him behind closed doors for
engaged in sex traf ficking, bringing
underage girls to his Upper East Side
mansion in New York City and his pala‑
tial compound in Palm Beach, Florida.
Accusations of pedophilia and sexual
predation have dogged Epstein for
decades. He has avoided a lengthy prison
sentence largely because of a controver‑
sial plea deal with prosecutors in 2008.
President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew
of Britain were pals with Epstein. He
was also linked to Harvard law professor
Prosecutors laying out the case Alan Dershowitz, and to then wealthy
against multimillionaire NYC real estate mogul named Donald
financier Jeffrey Epstein Trump.
them hundreds of dollars in cash. He also In 2002, the future president told New
York Magazine: “Heʼs a lot of fun to be
asked some of the girls to recruit other
underage girls, the indictment said. with. It is even said that he likes beauti‑
Prosecutors said that from 2002 to ful women as much as I do, and many of
2005 Epstein and his employees them are on the younger side.”
his stance on impeachment proceed‑
ings against Trump.
Amash didn't mention the President
by name, but his decision to abandon
the party comes after months of esca‑
lating criticism not just of Trump but
of his own colleagues for their failure
to hold the President to account,
specifically for the actions detailed in
special counsel Robert Mueller's report
on the 2016 election and its aftermath.
In the same interview, Amash said
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should
start impeachment proceedings against
Trump. "From a principled, moral posi‑
tion, she's making a mistake. From a
strategic position, she's making a mis‑
take," Amash said. The Michigan law‑
maker's break with the Republican
Party added fuel to growing specula‑
tion that he will seek the Libertarian
Party nomination and launch a long‑
Congressman from
shot bid for president in 2020, which
Michigan Justin Amash
he has not ruled out.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
It would be
'great' to have
a female
running mate:
Joe Biden
Washington: Demo crat ic
presidential front‑runner Joe
Biden says it would be "great"
to have a female vice president,
but he won't say whether he'd
pick Senator Kamala Harris for
the No. 2 spot if he receives his
party's nomination.
In an interview aired Friday
on CNN, Biden said, "I think it
helps having a woman on the
t icket." Biden was asked
whether it might be Harris,
who confronted him at last
week's Democratic presidential
debate over his stance on bus‑
ing in the 1970s. Biden said he
was not going to get into
specifics because "I don't even
have the nomination." Harris
surged in polls after the debate
confrontation, when she criti‑
cized Biden for recently high‑
lighting his decades‑old work
with segregationist senators
and his opposition to public
school busing during the
1970s.
Ridgecrest, CA: T he two major
earthquakes that hit Southern
California should alert people
across the nation of the need to be
prepared for natural disasters, the
state's governor said as of ficials
expressed relief that the damages
weren't worse.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday
that governments must strengthen
alert systems and building codes,
and residents should make sure
they know how to protect them‑
selves during an earthquake. "It is a
wake‑up call for the rest of the state
and other parts of the nation,
frankly," Newsom said at a news
conference to update the public on
the state's efforts to help the region
hit by earthquakes on Thursday and
Friday.
Friday's earthquake was the
largest one Southern California in
nearly 20 years. Of ficials voiced
concerns about the possibility of
major aftershocks in the days and
even months to come. No fatalities
or major injuries were reported
after the 7.1‑magnitude quake,
which jolted an area from
Sacramento to Mexico and prompt‑
ed the evacuation of the Navy's
largest single landholding, Naval Air
Weapons Station China Lake in the
Mojave Desert.
The quake struck at 8:19 p.m.
Friday and was centered 11 miles
(18 kilometers) from Ridgecrest, the
same area of the desert where a
US AFFAIRS
California governor says
earthquakes are a 'wakeup call'
A fissure that opened in the desert during a powerful earthquake
that struck Southern California near Ridgecrest on July 4, 2019.
(Photo courtesy: Reuters
6.4‑magnitude temblor hit on
Thursday. It left behind cracked and
burning buildings, broken roads,
obstructed railroad tracks and leak‑
ing water and gas lines.
The light damage was largely due
to the remoteness of the area where
the earthquake occurred, but
Newsom cautioned after touring
Ridgecrest that "it's deceiving,
earthquake damage. You don't
notice it at first." Newsom estimated
more than $100 million in econom‑
ic damages and said President
Donald Trump called him to of fer
federal support in the rebuilding
effort. "He's committed in the long
haul, the long run, to help support
the rebuilding ef forts," Newsom
said of Trump.
Only 28,000 people live in the
Ridgecrest area, which is sand‑
wiched between more populated
areas of Southern California and
July 13-19, 2019 11
Las Vegas' Clark County. But seis‑
mologists warned that the area
could see up to 30,000 aftershocks
over the next six months. April
Hamlin said she was "already on
edge" when the second quake rat‑
tled her Ridgecrest home. She and
her three kids initially thought it
was another aftershock. "But it just
kept on intensifying," Hamlin said.
"The TV went over, hanging by the
cord. We heard it break. We heard
glass breakage in the other rooms,
but all we could do was stay where
we were until it stopped."
With the possibility of aftershocks
and temperatures forecast to reach
100 degrees (38 Celsius) over the
next several days, officials were tak‑
ing precautions. T he California
National Guard was sending 200
troops, logistical support and air‑
craft, Maj. Gen. David Baldwin said.
The Pentagon had been notified,
and the entire California Military
Department was put on alert, he
said. Naval Air Weapons Station
China Lake said in a Facebook post
that nonessential workers were
evacuated and operations halted.
The epicenters of both quakes were
on the base, and officials said they
are continuing to assess damage.
 12 July 13-19, 2019 INDIA NEWS TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Karnataka crisis deepens, echoes in Parliament

Bengaluru/New Delhi: The crisis in

Opposition walks
the H.D. Kumaraswamy‑led govern‑
ment in Karnataka deepened fur‑
ther on Tuesday with one more
Congress MLA resigning, taking to
17 the number of legislators of the
ruling Congress‑JD‑S combine who
have quit over the last few days.
out of Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Major opposition par‑ their seats. The Speaker pointed
Meanwhile, the 11 rebel Congress
ties, including the Congress and out that he had allowed the
MLAs, who resigned from their
the DMK, on Tuesday stormed Congress on Monday to speak on
Assembly seats three days back, on
out of the Lok Sabha over the the issue. "But don't give out an
Tuesday skipped the party's legisla‑
political crisis in Karnataka impression outside Parliament
ture meeting in Bengaluru, which
where several Congress and JD‑S that it is a place for sloganeering
was attended only by 60 of the 78
MLAs have quit, putting the and showing placards."
party MLAs.
coalition government in a crisis. "Don't make the House look
The political crisis in Karnataka
The House was plunged into like a municipal corporation
resonated in Parliament as well on
an uproar when a Cong ress hall," Birla said.
Tuesday, with the Congress accus‑
request to raise the issue during The Speaker, who had earlier
ing the BJP of destabilizing its gov‑
Zero Hour was not allowed by warned the members amid
ernment in the southern state.
Speaker Om Birla. protests, urged them to take
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh
Congress and DMK MPs imme‑ their seats, adding that he had
rejected the charge, saying the
diate ly trooped near the been giving opportunities to
Congress was unable to handle its
Speaker's podium raising slo‑ members to speak out of turn.
internal problems.
gans like "we want justice" and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan
If the resignations of all the 12
"stop dictatorship". Congress Chowdhury hit out at the govern‑
MLAs of the Congress, three of the
leaders, who persisted with their ment and asked it to stop "poach‑
JD‑S, one of regional party KPJP
Congress legislators led by Siddaramaiah stage a demonstration at demand, first protested from ing politics".
and an Independent are accepted by
Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. (Photo: IANS)
Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh resigned. Besides them, one legisla‑ President Dinesh Gundu Rao for the
Kumar, the ruling coalition's num‑ Congress legislator R. Roshan Baig the legislators of both the parties to tor of KPJP and an Independent, party's rout in the recent Lok Sabha
ber in the 225‑member House will resigned from the Shivajinagar meet me on July 12, July 15 and have also quit as ministers and elections.
drop from 118 to 101, 12 short of Assembly seat, submitting his resig‑ July 21, as their resignations are withdrawn their support to the The Congress, which contested
the majority mark. nation letter to the Speaker in his faulty and explanations are not in Kumaraswamy government. the Lok Sabha polls in pre‑poll
The Speaker on Tuesday asked all of fice. Later, the Speaker declined accordance with the law under sec‑ Baig, 67, an eight‑time lawmaker alliance with its coalition partner
the MLAs who have resigned to to accept the resignations of the 13 tion 202 of the Anti‑Defection Act," from Shivajinagar, was suspended JD‑S, won only one of the 21 seats it
meet him personally to clarify on Congress‑JD‑S rebel legislators, as 8 said Kumar. With Baig quitting, the from the party on June 19 for his contested. The JD‑S also managed
their resignation letters, saying were not in the prescribed format number of Congress lawmakers attack on the party's state in‑charge to win only one seat.
some of those were not in proper and 5 needed explanations to who have resigned from their K.C. Venugopal, Congress The opposition BJP swept the
format. The Speaker's directive ensure they were in accordance respective Assembly seats has gone Legislative Party (CLP) leader polls, bagging 25 of the 27 seats in
came hours after suspended with the law. "I have summoned all up to 12. Three JD‑S MLAs also Siddaramaiah and state unit the state.

Contract given to kill me: Modi pips Ramdev to become

Anna Hazare tells court top fitness influencer
Mumbai: Social crusader Kisan Baburao
Hazare, popularly known as Anna Hazare,
told a Special CBI court here on Tuesday
that a contract has been handed out to
eliminate him for speaking out against the
corruption in the Terna Sugar Factory in
Osmanabad.
Deposing as a prosecution witness in the
ongoing murder trial of Congress leader
Pawan Raje Nimbalkar before Special
Judge Anand Yavalkar, Hazare said that
after he learnt about the death threats
through the media, he had lodged a com‑
plaint with the Parner police station in
Ahmednagar.
Former Minister and NCP leader
Padamsinh Patil, a prime accused in the
sensational 2006 killing of his cousin
Nimbalkar, is linked to the Osmanabad‑
based sugar factory and is currently the
President of the Terna Public Charitable
Trust. Hazare said that before lodging the
complaint, he had also informed the Prime
Minister and the Maharashtra Chie f
Minister about the risk to his life, but no
action was initiated since Patil was a rela‑
tive of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
President Sharad Pawar.
Hazare said that in protest against the
threats, he had returned his Padma Shri
and Vriksha Mitra honours, which he fol‑
Social crusader Kisan Baburao Hazare.
lowed by sitting on a hunger strike after
which the government appointed a com‑
mission of enquiry headed by a retired
Supreme Court judge.
Later, one of the accused in the case had
given a statement in which he had given
details about the conspiracy to eliminate
the social worker.
Hazare, 82, had exposed alleged corrupt
goings‑on in the Terna Sugar Factory,
which allegedly had angered Patil.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has emerged as the top‑most health influ‑
encer in the country ‑‑ second time in a row
‑‑ followed by Bollywood actor Akshay
Kumar and yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Indias
leading preventive healthcare ecosystem
GOQii announced on Tuesday.
The new entrants in this year's coveted
list of India's "Top 30 Health influencers for
2019" include MS Dhoni, Ranveer Singh,
Kareena Kapoor, Tiger Shroff and Priyanka
Chopra who made it to the top 10. Others in
the top 10 list are Indian cricket team cap‑
tain Virat Kohli and actor Deepika
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Padukone.
performing yoga.
"This report is an ef fort to identify the
most influential healthcare personalities in "Even with his hectic life, he manages to
our country who have the power to make maintain his workout regime, occasionally
India healthy; a goal for us at GOQii as well adding new exercises to avoid boredom. He
as the government of India," Vishal Gondal, believes that one should devote their body
CEO and founder GOQii, said in a statement. to exercise for one hour in order to be fit,"
"Modi was instrumental in instituting the the report mentioned. A popular household
International Day of Yoga 2015, which is name, yoga for Ramdev is an integral part of
now observed globally. He is not only keen life. "His claim to fame is his company,
on improving India but keen on improving Patanjali Ayurved, that believes in yoga and
the health and fitness of Indians as well. ayurveda as a way of improving life. His
Despite all the tasks at hand, the 68‑year‑ brand is now a popular name in India and is
old still manages to stay fit," said the report. giving MNC FMCG companies a run for their
Akshay is undoubtedly India's fittest money. As of May 19, his company is the
celebrity who is trained in martial arts and third largest FMCG company in India," the
has a black belt in taekwondo. report noted.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INDIA NEWS July 13-19, 2019 13

Budget extends tax on NRIs for receiving gifts

New Delhi: The expensive gift that you kept
for your overseas cousin or friend may
attract tax from this year with the Budget
2019‑20 proposing to impose withholding
tax all such transfers, plugging an earlier
loophole that allowed its tax‑ free treatment.
The Finance Bill 2019 has imposed tax on
any sum of money paid or any property situ‑
ated in India, transferred by a person resi‑
dent in India to a person outside India, as it
would be deemed to accrue or arise in India.
The changes will be applied for all such
transfers made on or after July 5, 2019.
Currently gifts given by Indian residents
to non‑resident Indians ‑ apart from the
specified list of relatives ‑ would be claimed
as non‑taxable.
This is because the earlier tax put the onus
on the recipient of the gift to make the dis‑
closure and pay tax. As a gift to NRIs means
that income is accrued abroad, it remained
outside the tax net.
But now, all gifts to NRIs will be income
accruing in India and would be taxed as per
the normal slab rates applicable to resident
Indians. This means that the origin of the
Currently gifts given by Indian residents to non‑resident Indians ‑ apart from the
specified list of relatives ‑ would be claimed as non‑taxable.
gift becomes important for tax purpose,
instead of the destination of the gift abroad.
The onus will be on the recipient (the NRI
in this case) of the gift to disclose such gifts
received if they originate in India and then
pay a tax on it.
So, if the value of the gift is above Rs 10
lakh, the recipient will have to pay 30 per
cent tax. The tax rate would get higher if the
value of the gift, be it payment for studies or
a house abroad, is more than Rs 2 crore or
Rs 5 crore. In such cases, the highest tax
rate for super rich, i.e. 35.7 and 42.7 per
cent respectively would apply.
For the purpose, gift will constitute shares,
property, vouchers, cash etc exceeding Rs
50,000 made to anyone, apart from the
specified relatives or blood relations.
While making gifts to NRIs taxable, the
Budget has proposed that in a treaty situa‑
tion, the relevant article of applicable DTAA
(double taxation avoidance treaty) shall con‑
tinue to apply for such gifts as well.
This amendment will take ef fect from
April 1, 2020 and will, apply in relation to
the assessment year 2020‑21 and subse‑
quent assessment years.
The specified relatives list in terms of
Section 56 of the Income Tax Act is fairly
wide. It includes brothers and sisters, and
their spouses. Gifts to this category will not
attract any tax. But acquaintances, friends,
and other close family relations would come
under the purview of the tax.

Wealth of high India to face fiscal challenges despite

net worth
individuals fell
3% in 2018
New Delhi: The overall wealth of High
Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) declined
by 3 per cent in 2018, resulting in a
worldwide loss of $2 trillion, said the
World Wealth Report 2019 (WWR).
This is the first drop in the last seven
years, said the report published by
Capgemini on Tuesday.
"Largely due to a drop in wealth in the
Asia‑Pacific region (specifically China),
this decline has resulted in a loss of $2
trillion worldwide. Despite this, wealth
management firms maintained stable
lower deficit target: Moody's
Singapore/Mumbai: Credit rating agency
Moody's Investors Service on Tuesday said
that India continues to face fiscal challenges,
despite lower deficit target in the full Budget
2019‑20. In its analysis of the full Budget
2019‑20, Moody's said that weak growth
prospects for India will complicate the gov‑
ernment's fiscal consolidation efforts, weigh‑
ing on the sovereign credit quality.
"Simultaneously delivering on fiscal consoli‑
dation and raising incomes will be extremely
challenging for India's authorities, particular‑
ly since growth is likely to remain weak over
the coming year," the credit rating agency
said. The full Budget presented on July 5 tar‑
geted a slightly lower deficit of 3.3 per cent of
the GDP for fiscal 2019 than what the author‑
ities had predicted in February.
As per the report, budget announcements
for public sector banks, non‑bank finance
companies (NBFCs), the infrastructure sector,
property developers, some domestic produc‑
ers and securitization transactions are credit
positive.
Specifically, the report pointed out the Rs
70,000 crore ($10.2 billion) capital infusion
into public sector banks and a temporary
credit guarantee facility to alleviate tight liq‑
uidity for NBFCs as credit‑positive for the rel‑
evant entities and "should encourage the flow
of credit to the economy and support
growth".
"The hike in customs duties on certain
imported products will increase the competi‑
tiveness of domestic producers, while new
incentives for the purchase of af fordable
homes will be credit positive for Indian prop‑
erty developers," the agency said.
"And, plans to increase public spending on
infrastructure and expand funding sources to
these companies are credit positive for the
sector."

Modi slams 'professional pessimists'

levels of customer trust and satisfaction
throughout the year, though better per‑
sonal relationships are still key for
enhanced performance of firms which
can be achieved through effective utiliza‑
tion of next‑gen technologies," it said.
T he g lobal HNWI population and
wealth declined by 0.3 per cent and 3
per cent respectively, with Asia‑Pacific
hit the hardest, it noted.
"The region (Asia Pacific) represented
$1 trillion of the global decline in wealth,
as the HNWI population decreased by 2
per cent and HNWI wealth by 5 per cent.
China alone was responsible for more
than half (53 per cent) of Asia‑Pacific
and more than 25 per cent of global
HNWI wealth loss," it said.
Meanwhile, HNWI wealth declined
across nearly all other regions; in Latin
America it declined by 4 per cent, Europe
by 3 per cent and North America by 1
per cent. However, the Middle East
bucked the trend, generating 4 per cent
growth in HNWI wealth and increasing
its HNWI population by 6 per cent due to
strong GDP growth and financial market
performance.
Varanasi: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said that those
criticizing his government's
vision of making India a $5 tril‑
lion economy were "profession‑
al pessimists".
"T here are certain people
who are questioning why the
government has set such a tar‑
get, what is the need, why all
this is being done? These peo‑
ple should be called profession‑
al pessimists," said Modi while
inaugurating a BJP member‑
ship drive here in Uttar
Pradesh. Union Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
on Friday presented the Union
Budget in which she spoke
about making India a $5 trillion
economy by 2024‑25.
Modi said: "Professional pes‑
simists are different from com‑
mon people. If you go to a com‑
mon man with a problem, he
will help you find a solution.
But if you go to these pes‑
simists people, they will turn it
into a threat."
The Prime Minister said that
there has been a lot of buzz
around the $5 trillion economy
since the Budget was tabled in
Parliament, and it is important
to explain to people its mean‑
ing. He said to reach the figure,
India's economy has to nearly
double.
"There is a saying in English,
that 'size of the cake matters'...
We have increasing India's
share to double of what it was,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
and the benefits of it will reach
every Indian." today, and it is India's time now. merely as food producers. "We
Modi added that the devel‑ He said that one of the meth‑ are now looking at farmers are
oped nations of the world also ods of boosting the economy is exporters. There is tremendous
went through their own strug‑ to see farmers as wealth cre‑ potential for our farmers to
gles to reach where they are ators of the nation and not grow exponentially."
 14 July 13-19, 2019 OP-ED TheSouthAsianTimes.info

What the quest for a $5 trillion economy entails

By Partha trillion is not necessarily good crore, more than the actual Rs
Mukhopadhyay for exports, though it is possible 55,166 crore spent in 2017‑18
to get real GDP growth, even if and Rs 55,000 crore allocated

F
ollowing the Economic
Survey, which turned it
into a hashtag, it was only
to be expected that the finance
minister would say “it is well
within our capacity to reach the
$5 trillion [economy] in the next
few years”. And well it is.
In 2000, Indiaʼs dollar GDP was
a little less than half a trillion. By
2014, when Narendra Mo di
came to power, it was a little over
2 trillion dollars – it had risen
over four t imes in 15 years.
Indeed, if India continued grow‑
ing at the same rate it did during
the previous NDA regime and
ʻdysfunctionalʼ UPA decade, our
date with $5 trillion would have
been 2023, just before the next
elections. So, will we still get
almost there, by almost then, if
we just manage to replicate what
we did before?
Whatʼs true of income is also
true of taxes. T he minister
informed us that direct tax col‑
lections rose from Rs 6.38 lakh
crore in 2013‑14 to Rs 11.37
lakh crore in 2018‑19 – an annu‑
al increase of 10.3%, “growing at
a double digit rate”. Of course,
the Economic Survey also
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Parliament to
present the Union Budget 2019, in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)
reminds us that in the eighties, it
grew at 16%, in the nineties, at
13.3%, and 15.3% in the 2000s.
Indeed, we might pleasantly sur‑
prise ourselves.
The $5 trillion discourse is a
consequence of compounded
growth and the fact the exchange
rates have not fully adjusted to
inflation dif ferentials, especially
in emerging economies where
foreign capital likes to invest.
The capital inflows prevent the
rupee from depreciating as much
as it should, given domestic infla‑
t ion (the budget implicitly
assumes it to be 5%) – which
actually makes Indian products
costlier in dollars than they
should be, which could – possibly
– af fect our push to grow by
exporting. Whatʼs good for $5
export prices face some head‑
wind. We can hope, just like sav‑
ings is not responsive to interest
rates, that our buyers are not
that responsive to prices either.
Is the budget shifting gears? If
so, we are not doing so very
abruptly. If we compare the
budget shares for outlays on
major schemes, it appears that
the big expenditures, on PM‑
Kisan, for example, have been
financed largely through redis‑
tribut ing g rowth in overall
expenditure, from Rs 8 lakh crore
to over Rs 11 lakh crore.
T he shares of many older
major schemes has been reduced,
even as their absolute allocations
have risen. While the minister
spoke about gaon, garib and
kisan and the common man, the
umbrella schemes for scheduled
castes, scheduled tribes and
minorities, has taken a hit, rela‑
tively for the first two, and an
absolute fall from Rs 3,948 crore
in expenditure in 2017‑18 to an
allocation of Rs 1,590 crore in
this budget, a reduction in share
from 0.5% to a little over 0.1%.
MGNREGS remains substantial,
with an allocation of Rs 60,000
last year, but its share has
dropped by over 20%, from 6.9%
to 5.3%.
But, neither are fertilizer subsi‑
dies that have risen from Rs
66,467 crore in 2017‑18 to
nearly Rs 80,000 crore, but their
share of expenditure on major
schemes has dropped from 8.3%
to 7%.
Maybe itʼs too early and a little
risky with Maharashtra elections
looming (the allocation for cot‑
ton procurement has risen to
over Rs 2,000 crore from Rs 100
crore in 2017‑18), but even a
gesture towards moving to direct
transfers, away from price subsi‑
dies, would have been nice.
This is a budget that is taking
firm, if relatively gentle steps,
towards shaping a New India. For
a mandate as massive as the
Modi government has received, a
first budget could have tried
harder. It could have relied a bit
more on wing in the budget and
prayer in the Survey.
(Partha Mukhopadhyay is sen‑
ior fellow, Centre for Policy
Research. The Op‑Ed appeared in
The Hindustan Times)

Indo‑US ties: Time to discuss mutual interests

By Jayanta Ghosal Support within the country is giving
Modi the strength to fight a world leader

U
S Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo came in advance for the
final round of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's face‑to‑face meeting
with American President Donald Trump.
Trump sent him to fix the schedule of the
two top leaders' meeting. It was just
before June 28 that a bilateral meeting
would be held in the G‑20 summit in
Japan.
But with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar,
Pompeo also held an advance meeting
basically for themselves. Trump praised
Modi with a tweet as soon as his second
innings started, but his main goal was to
ensure that India withdrew tax on US
items ‑ India has taxed medicine, cars,
toys, and this tax had to be reduced.
US goods and services trade with India
was estimated at $142.1 billion (2018).
But the volume of this trade has now
reduced. There is now a US trade deficit
with India. There are complaints that
India has increased tariffs in 29 of the US
products that are coming into India.
Trump has opposed the buying of the
S‑800 TRIUMF missile system of India
from Russia. From 2020, this missile will
be available in India. According to the
American consumersʼ legislation, the US
authorities are opposing this defense
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
agreement. According to US law, the
country will ban those who enter into a
defense agreement with Russia. Again,
the angry US authorities made it more
difficult for Indians to get an opportunity
to get H‑1 visas. The cost of US visas has
increased. As a result, Indian students
and information technology workers are
in trouble.
There is also trouble on the Iran issue.
In August 2012, the Trump administra‑
tion issued fresh financial sanctions on
Iran. US officials wanted India to freeze
diplomatic ties with Iran, but New Delhi
did not care about American threats.
India did not change Modi's policy on
Iran. Understanding the situation in
India, US officials have also given a con‑
cession to Iran on this issue till May this
year. Now see what they do. In 'self‑inter‑
est', there has been a peace deal with the
Taliban in Afghanistan. Peace negotia‑
tions with the Taliban for India is not
very happy news.
like Trump. He is able to bargain. If a
government is not backed by a majority
in Parliament, if it is weak, or a patch‑
work coalition government, the govern‑
ment would be weak internationally.
However, the foreign policy of Trump is
also dif ficult to understand ‑ trade war
with China; Russian sanctions; a shaky
deal with North Korea; a fight with a
neighbor like Canada and problems with
Mexico.
Here, Modi has to show diplomatic
expert ise. So far, both Mo di and
Jaishankar have been successful on this
front. Modi knows that India cannot have
enmity with the US.
Meanwhile, another US presidential
election is coming up. What if Trump is
elected President once again? Ahead of
the 2020 election, he is now becoming
more conservative and more aggressive.
Now India should not expect that all
claims of Mo di w ill be accepted by
Trump.
Or India will accept all expectations of
Trump. There is always a dif ference
between these basic needs and effective
demands. There is a conflict between the
demands of the two sovereign states. The
path of getting through these conflicts is
wide.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ART July 13-19, 2019 15

Indira Govil holds her debut art show in Delhi

H
er entire life, painting has
been the way for Indira
Govil to express her emo‑
tions. In the late 1970s, she had
the opportunity to attend four
semesters of art classes on full
scholarship at the University of
Iowa School of Art and Art
History. Under the tutelage of
renowned artist Genie Hudson
Patrick, she developed a deeper
understanding of medium, form,
and color and she found her style.
After a long hiatus, Indira start‑
ed painting again in 1990, and
thereafter, every few years there
were bursts of creativity. Through
all this she was always supported
and enthusiastically encouraged
by her husband. He would loving‑
ly create canvas frames so she
could paint. After her beloved
husband's recent death, Indira
continued to paint as homage to
54 years of togetherness. Her
work is a testament to her
strength of character and sheer
will to go on.
Last week, she held her solo,
debut exhibition titled “75/32” at
the prestigious India Habitat
Center in New Delhi. It not only
showcased some of her work, but
also serves as an inspiration: In
the journey of life, there are ups
and downs but our contentment
and how we cope is limited in our
mind only by our imagination. Let
the spirit fly free.
Indira Govil, was born to
Krishna Murari and Sarla Agarwal
in 1944, in Khatauli (District
Muzaf farnagar, Uttar Pradesh).
After a nomadic life, having stud‑
ied in 13 schools across Uttar
Pradesh, a 15 year old Indira
came to Allahabad University and
finished her M.Sc in Botany. With
her marriage to Ashok Kumar
Govil, she finally found stability.

Iowa based artist Indira Govil held her first solo show Indira Govilʼs displayed paintings included those of Marine Drive, Mumbai,
from July 1‑4 at India Habitat Center in Delhi. and the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History.
 16 July 13-19, 2019
Dr. Suresh Reddy takes over as
President at AAPI’s meet in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA: Dr. Suresh Reddy, a
young and dynamic Neuro‑
Interventional Radiologist by
profession, assumed charge as
the President of the American
Asso ciat ion of Physicians of
Indian Origin (AAPI) for the year
2019‑20 at their 37th annual
convention held last weekend.
“I promise to align all the ener‑
gies to make AAPI an enormous
force,” Dr. Reddy declared after
assuming charge of the largest
ethnic medical association in the
country.
Over 2,000 de legates from
across the country attended the
meet at the fabulous Omni
Atlanta at CNN Center and
Georgia World Congress Center.
Dr. Reddy received the gavel
from Dr. Naresh Parikh, the out‑
going President. Dr. Vinod Shah,
former President of AAPI, admin‑
istered the transfer of office.
Dr. Suresh Reddyʼs team
includes Dr. Seema Arora, Chair
of BOT; Dr. Sud hakar
Jonnalagadda, President‑Elect;
Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, Vice
President; Dr. Vijay Kolli,
Tirlok Malik launches Happy Life Yoga,
a new educational platform
By SATimes team
New York: In honor of
International Day of Yoga 2019,
Happy Life Yoga was launched on
June 29. The curtain raiser event
for this educational platform was
inaugurated by Deputy Consul
General of India Shatrughna Sinha
and Manhattan Boroug h
President Gale A. Brewer in a
packed auditorium at the Goddard
Riversideʼs Bernie Wohl Center in
Manhattan. Many other VIPs were
in attendance as well.
Happy Life Yoga is the creation
of Tirlok Malik and the Ayurveda
Cafe team. Malik is a restaurateur,
happy lifestyle speaker, New York
Emmy Nominated Filmmaker, and
a proud Upper Westsider.
Speaking on the occasion, DCG
Shatrughna Sinha promised that
the Consulate will include Happy
Life Yoga as a partner in the
International Day of Yoga celebra‑
tions in 2020.
Brewer who has known for
Tirlok for a couple of decades also
spoke in support of his intitiaive.
The interactive and entertaining
event included a panel discussion
moderated by Malik on topics
such as how to use Ayurveda in
NATIONAL COMMUNITY TheSouthAsianTimes.info
CMEs, Women’s Forum, CEO Forum, Obesity
Awareness Walk, Entertainment, Mehfil,
Research Contest, Spiritual & Political
Discourses, Fashion Parade, Speech Contests,
AAPI Has Got Talent, Networking, Fellowship
were highlights of the convention
t ing‑edge research throug h recent years.
CMEs, promoting personal, pro‑ In her address, Consul General
fessional and business relation‑ of India in Atlanta, Dr. Swati
ships. Vijay Kulkarni, praised the many
Dr. Suresh Reddy (holding the gavel) with his executive team: Dr. Shri Sadhguru, renowned for contributions of AAPI members
Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President‑Elect; Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, his pioneering efforts to nurture in the US and India.
Vice President; Dr. Vijay Kolli, Secretary; and Dr. Raj Bhayani, Treasurer.
global harmony, inaugurated the Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthy
Secretary; Dr. Raj Bhayani, national closer to local chapters convent ion w ith his w isdom urged AAPI leaders to take an
Treasurer; Dr. Stella Gandhi, and bonding through the 10 city filled spiritual discourse on July active role in local and national
President of Young Physician Jai Ho Musical Tour by 4. Said he, “The moment we learn politics in order to be able to
section; and, Dr. Anubhav Jain, Sukhvinder Singh.” to see things as they are, we will shape the destiny of the nation.
President of Medical student and Dr. Reddy aims to “Make AAPI be peaceful. No one can make me The crowd cheered loudly as
Resident section. In his farewell financially robust and increase happy or angry. I do it to myself Shankar Mahadevan performed
address, Dr. Parikh enumerated our endowments enormously so by choice. You need to treat the before a packed audience.
his several achievements, espe‑ we can focus on our mission of lifestyle illness. What happens Golf with cricket star Kapil Dev
cially his “success in making E, M, R (education, mentoring, within you is your choice 100 and an address by Bollywood
AAPI financially sound, cleaning research) and service.” percent.” Dr Patricia Harris, actor Gulshan Grover and signing
up of AAPIʼs Voters List, obtain‑ The four‑day annual event was President, American Medical of their books by the two legends
ing and using $9 M from USAID packed with activities offering an Asso ciat ion, in her address and donating the sale proceeds
to eradicate TB from several intimate setting that facilitated referred to some of the key ini‑ to AAPI were other highlights of
cities of India; bringing AAPI sharing of knowledge about cut‑ t iat ives AMA is pursuing in the convention.
Happy Life Yoga is the creation of Tirlok
Malik, a happy lifestyle speaker, Emmy
Nominated Filmmaker, who runs an
Deputy Consul General of India Shatrughna Sinha and Manhattan Borough President
Gale A. Brewer, who inaugurated the educational platform, praised Tirlok Malikʼs initiative. Ayurveda restaurant on Upper Westside.
everyday life, the place of western pressures and ultimately guides eating alone will not make us organizations of Indian Americans
medicine in holistic wellness, and you towards a happier life. happy. “Indian Philosophy says we on Long Island, and Prof. Indrajit
the benefits of Yoga. Panelists Tirlok Malik believes India has can have it all, but Kama, the Saluja, publisher‑editor of the
were Dr. Bhupendra Pate l, always been a spiritual teacher of world of all our desires, can be a Indian Panorama, are on board to
Ayurvedic Dr. Bhaswat i the world and that Indian double‑edged sword and we must spread the message of Happy Life
Bhattacharya, and Long Island Philosophy provides the blueprint understand and manage this part Yoga.
yoga teacher Ranju Narang. of how to live a happy life by of the four aims of human life to Happy Life Yoga will provide
Happy Life Yoga offers a unique practicing balance in all four aims be healthier and happier. So fix workshops, excursions, events
holistic approach to health and of human life: Artha, Dharma, your Kama, and be happier!” he and more. A unique mix of tools
happiness using tools from Kama and Moksha. asserted. and exercises are used in its work‑
Ayurveda, Indian Philosophy and An animated Malik, who is The event was hosted by The shops to apply these philosophical
Yoga to help better manage mod‑ blessed with a powerful voice an Indian Panorama and Indian concepts in everyday life.
ern day challenges such as work, personality, argued that just the American Forum (IAF). Indu For more info: www.hap‑
finances, relationships, social asana‑yoga practice and healthy Jaiswal of IAF, one of the oldest pylifeyoga.org
TheSouthAsianTimes.info US AFFAIRS July 13-19, 2019 17

Trump celebrates US might at

July 4 celebration, skips politics
Washington: President Donald
Trump sang the praises of the US
military and American heroes of
the past two and a half centuries
last Thursday as he skirted poli‑
tics in a rousing Independence
Day speech in Washington.
"What a great country," Trump
exclaimed in an address saturated
with patriotism and exceptional‑
ism. "For Americans, nothing is
impossible."
As combat aircraft, including the
rarely seen B2 stealth bomber
flew overhead, Trump scrolled
through myriad events of US his‑
tory, from groundbreaking inven‑
tions to battlefield victories, draw‑
ing cheers of "USA! USA!" from an
enthusiastic rain‑soaked audience A flypast, marching military bands, fireworks and a rousing speech by President Trump's were highlights of
of tens of thousands on the "Salute to America" event. Truimp plans to make it an annual event. (Photo courtesy AP)
National Mall in Washington.
In front of a massive statue of a
seated Abraham Lincoln, the hero‑
ic 19th century president, Trump
used the traditionally politics‑free
holiday to deliver shoutouts to
each arm of the military, as well
as singling out first responders
and the controversial Border
Patrol and ICE agencies that have
been criticized for their treatment
of migrants.
But he disappointed critics who
had warned that Trump, the first
president in decades to make a
keynote speech on the July 4 holi‑
day, was hijacking the celebration
to bolster his own political stand‑ President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike
ing and attack Democratic rivals. Pence, and acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper watch as the
President Trump speaking at the "Salute to America" speech at the US Navy Blue Angels flyover in front of the Lincoln Memorial
Instead, in a trickling rain, he
Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, July 4. (Photo courtesy AP) in Washington. (Photo courtesy Reuters)
repeatedly ascribed a singular
greatness to the country, declar‑ heroes who proudly defend our Surrounded by the top officers of polls show ing his potent ial Blue Angels flying team. It was a
ing it "the most exceptional nation flag ‑‑ the brave men and women the Pentagon, and a panoply of Democratic rivals holding a signif‑ military show that has been
in the history of the world." of the United States military!" he invited Republican of ficials and icant edge over him. absent from the US capital for
"Today, we come together as one said. VIP donors, the event allowed Trump orig inally wanted a decades, and Trump's foes blasted
nat ion w ith this very special "Our nation is stronger today Trump to stake a strong claim to grand military parade for the holi‑ it ahead of time as a show of mili‑
Salute to America. We celebrate than it ever was before. It is its patriotic fervor 16 months ahead day, ostensibly inspired by tarism. "W hat, I wonder, w ill
our history, our people, and the strongest now," he said. of a presidential election with France's rollout of its military Donald Trump say this evening
might on its own national day. But when he speaks to the nation at
instead, he got a scaled‑back ver‑ an event designed more to stroke
sion, with some US armored vehi‑ his ego than celebrate American
cles parked for display and a fly‑ ideals?" said leading Democratic
over by the president's own Air White House contender Joe Biden
Force One jet, the B2 bomber, in a speech in Iowa earlier
The District of attack helicopters, and the Navy's Thursday.
Columbia put
on its usual
fun‑filled and
quirky
Independence
Day parade
Thursday
ahead of
President
Trump's
"Salute To
America"

US Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps participate in "America's Independence
Day Parade" as part of the "Salute to America". (Photo : Shutterstock)
 18 July 13-19, 2019
Ranveer unveils his 'Malaal': Strong performances
Kapil Dev look from '83' elevate this love story
O
n his 34th birthday, actor Ranveer
Singh unveiled his look from the
upcoming film "'83" in which he will
be seen playing the iconic cricketer Kapil Dev.
Ranveer took to Twitter to share his look. In
the image, the "Padmaavat" star is seen sport‑
ing a bushy moustache and hairdo. He can be
seen flipping a leather ball in his hand.
The actor captioned the image: "On my spe‑
cial day, here's presenting the Haryana
Hurricane Kapil Dev."
The movie will trace India's historic victory
at the 1983 cricket World Cup. Ranveer will
be playing the role of former Indian skipper
Kapil Dev and actress Deepika Padukone will
essay his wife Romi.
This will be the first time Ranveer and
Deepika will be seen featuring together in a
film after their wedding. The star couple has
previously worked in films like "Padmaavat",
"Bajirao Mastani" and "Goliyon Ki Rasleela
Ram‑Leela". The rest of the cast, includes
Saqib Saleem, Adinath Kothare, Chirag Patil,
Harddy Sandhu, Ammy Virk, Jatin Sarna,
Pankaj Tripathi, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Dinker
Sharma, Jiiva, Sahil Khattar, Dhairya Karwa,
Nishant Dahhiya and R Badree.
"83" is being presented by Reliance
Entertainment, and will release on April 10,
2020, in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Would be fun to make movie out
of 'Stranger Things': Shawn Levy
S NAFISA ALI TAKES SOCIAL MEDIA
tranger Things" is more than
just a supernatural thriller. It has
become a pop culture phenome‑
non over the years. Now, director‑pro‑
ducer Shawn Levy wants to take the
nostalgia‑inducing blend of horror and
thrill to the big screen.
But he is not in a hurry.
Back in 2016, The Duffer Brothers
brought the science‑fiction horror
drama alive, with a bonanza of nostalgic
1970s and 1980s references. The third
season of the Netflix show went live ear‑
lier this month.
"For me, the thrilling part of Season 3
is that it truly feels like a movie. The
scope of the action and spectacle, while
still keeping the emotional depth of
each character, is highly cinematic,"
Levy told IANS.
"Perhaps it would be fun to make a
movie out of 'Stranger Things' one day,
but we are in no rush as essentially
Netflix is allowing to make mini movies
with every episode," he said in an email
interview.
Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, the
horror show is set in the fictional town
of Hawkins. It follows the story of four
friends Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn
Wolf hard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo),
Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) as they form
an unlikely alliance with Eleven (Millie
Bobby Brown) to save their town from
alien invasion.
The show has grown big with time.
But for Levy, who has played an integral
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Troy Ribeiro
A
ll through the screening of this
film, just one question would ran‑
kle your mind and that is:
REVIEW
Despite her heart and mind
at tangent, why would a girl
like Astha Tripathi (Sharmin
Segal) who is studying to be a
CA, fall in love with a guy like Shiva More
(Meezaan Jaaferi)?
Well, you should resign to the fact that
love seeks no reason.
Set in 1998 in Mumbai, Astha comes
from an upper middle‑class family. They
have just shifted to the chawl after her
father had a bad run‑up at the stock
exchange. Shiva is the son‑of‑the‑soil,
aggressive, wayward boy who is easily
influenced by the local politician to fur‑
ther their interest. Despite being good Debutants Meezaan Jaaferi
and Sharmin Segal are
with numbers (calculations), he is sort of a
charming and talented.
local "Dada", (goon).
Their paths intersect a few times, till mesh seamlessly into the narrative. The
Shiva realises that he has "feelings" for adroitly choreographed songs further
her. Their love story blossoms as the nar‑ highlight the culture of its cinematic uni‑
rative meanders. In the second half the verse. The plot resorts to a couple of deux‑
pace slackens and you realize that their de‑machinas, though lazy, it is more than
ʻ83ʼ starring actor Ranveer Singh
story is just oscillating from a full blown pardonable. The last half hour wraps the
will release on April 10, 2020.
love story to a maybe‑maybe‑not, love story astutely and then your heart
romance. bleeds. Debutants Meezaan and Sharmin
Based on an original tale by K Segal are charming and talented. As Shiva
Selvaraghavan, the story is sweet with all
the trappings of a sweet romance. The
and Astha, they do full justice to their
characters. Together, on screen they make
screenplay by the director and Sanjay a cute pair. Overall, "Malaal" which means
Leela Bhansali ensures that the songs regret, is a typical Mills & Boon romance.
ROUTE TO ASK FOR WORK
V
eteran actress Nafisa Ali Sodhi, a photograph of her ‑‑ in which she is seen
"cancer warrior", is looking for a embracing her new bald look with confi‑
"perfect script as a senior actor", dence.
and says she would like to play an "ele‑ "Warrior me at 62.I am ready to work as
gant role in Indian cinema". I am now a cancer warrior," she wrote on
Almost two years after Neena Gupta Facebook.
took to social media asking for work, On Instagram, she posted: "I am Nafisa
Nafisa, who revealed about her battle with Ali Sodhi and I would like an elegant role
ovarian cancer last year, took the same to portray in Indian cinema. So looking
route. The former beauty queen took to for a perfect script as a senior actor.
Instagram and Facebook to express her "I need to work to express my emotions.
desire to work, and shared a portfolio I will not be dictated to," added the
Director‑producer Shawn Levy Veteran actress
got global success with his Nafisa Ali Sodhi is
a cancer warrior.
ʻNight at the Museumʼ franchise.
role in "Stranger Things" as a producer
and sometimes as a director, he says his
biggest fear is getting complacent.
"Our biggest fear is complacency. The
Duffers and I go into every new season
determined not to repeat ourselves and
to be true to the DNA of our show, while
also taking our audience to a level they
haven't yet been.”
Levy got global success with his
"Night at the Museum" franchise, "Date
Night", "Cheaper by the Dozen" and
"Real Steel".
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Bollywood B.O.: What to expect in 2019's second half
A
fter a first half that saw
small wonders like "Uri ‑
The Surgical Strike" and
"Luka Chuppi" win over the audi‑
ences, Bollywood has an exciting
slate lined up for the second half
of 2019. The festival seasons of
Diwali and Christmas are expect‑
ed to light up the box office with
big ticket films like "Housefull 4"
and "Dabangg 3".
The last part of the year looks
more exciting, says Shibasish
Sarkar, Group CEO, Reliance
Entertainment.
"This year, unconventional sto‑
ries have come and broken out,"
Sarkar told IANS, pointing out
that perhaps the only two box
office disappointments were
"Student Of The Year 2" and
"Kalank".
In the conventional sense, both
were 'biggies' in the Bollywood
circuit.
But now the year looks more
promising.
The slate includes Hrithik
Roshan‑starrer "Super 30",
Kangana Ranaut‑Rajkummar Rao
starrer "Judgemental Hai Kya",
Diljit Dosanjh's "Arjun Patiala",
Richa Chadha's "Section 375",
Sonakshi Sinha‑starrer
He is flawed, so are we all:
Shahid on 'Kabir Singh'
H W
e started out by
playing a Actor Shahid
chocolate boy
in "Ishq Vishk", but spent 16 years
then with films like in the industry.
"Kaminey", "Haider"
and "Udta Punjab",
Shahid Kapoor proved
his versatility and tal‑
ent in carrying off
flawed characters with
finesse. And with his
latest film "Kabir
Singh", the actor is sur‑
prised to see how his
most flawed character
on‑screen has become
his most loved.
The role he plays in
the movie has been
condemned by a sec‑
tion of critics who have tagged
it misogynistic and one which
perpetuates toxic masculinity.
But the film, a remake of the
Telugu blockbuster "Arjun
Reddy", has still scored Rs 200
crore and more at the box
office.
Shahid, who has spent 16
years in the industry, thanked
his fans for their love, with an
Instagram post in which he
broke down the character.
He wrote: "Your love is so
overwhelming, words will
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Hrithik Roshan‑starrer ʻSuper 30ʼ and Kangana Ranautʼs ʻJudgemental Hai Kyaʼ will release this year.
"Khandaani Shafakhana",
Sidharth Malhotra‑Parineeti
Chopra starrer "Jabariya Jodi" in
July.
August will witness the release
of John Abraham's much‑awaited
"Batla House", followed by
Akshay Kumar‑starrer "Mission
Mangal" and "Saaho", which stars
Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor.
Come September, the slate
includes the franchise film
"Commando 3", Saif Ali Khan's
"Laal Kaptaan", Ayushmann
Khurrana‑Nushrat Bharucha star‑
rer "Dream Girl", Amitabh
Bachchan‑starrer "Jhund", Sonam
K. Ahuja's "The Zoya Factor" and
Kapoor has
always fall short. Thank you for
understanding him forgiving
him and loving him with all
your heart. We all fall apart.
And we all must strive to rise
from our faults. To be
better...To be wiser and to be
kinder.
"He is flawed. So are we all.
You didn't judge him you expe‑
rienced him. You understood
him. I have never ever felt so
thankful. The most flawed char‑
acter I have ever played has
become my most loved."
"Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas", which will
mark the acting debut of Sunny
Deol's son Karan.
The October‑December period
will be dotted by Bollywood
entertainers like "The Sky Is
Pink", "Housefull 4", "Saand Ki
Aankh", "Pagalpanti", "Bhoot ‑
Part One: The Haunted Ship",
"Bala", "Jawaani Jaaneman",
"Panipat", "Pati, Patni Aur Woh"
and "Dabangg 3". The year will
end with "Good News".
With such an eclectic mix of
movies, film and trade expert
Girish Johar said he is betting big
only on "content". "The perform‑
ance of recent films like 'Badla'
When Dimple Kapadia abused
'Angrezi Medium' director
hen Dimple Kapadia
abused 'Angrezi
Medium' director
Veteran actress Dimple Kapadia
has begun shooting "Angrezi
Medium", and an update from
director Homi Adajania shows she
is enjoying it to the hilt.
Homi shared a photograph on
Instagram in which one of
Dimple's feet is on Homi's shoul‑
der. "When the muse decides to
abuse," Homi joked, tagging
Dimple's daughter Twinkle
Khanna, asking her to "help" him.
Known for her wit and humor,
'Gully Boy' wins big in South Korea
F
ilmmaker Zoya Akhtar's
directorial "Gully Boy" has
won the Network for the
Promotion of Asian Cinema (NET‑
PAC) Award at the 23rd Bucheon
International Fantastic Film
Festival (BIFAN) in South Korea.
NETPAC Jury Committee, com‑
prised of NETPAC members and
film professionals, select the best
Asian Film from World Fantastic
Blue section, which features newer
genres and varied stories of come‑
dy, fantasy and drama, read a state‑
ment. "Gully Boy", which features
actors Ranveer Singh and Alia
Bhatt, is based on the lives of street
and 'Uri...' have shown that the
audience is coming to theatres
irrespective of who is headlining
the films, and the success of
'Bharat' and 'Total Dhamaal' indi‑
cates that the audience also
wants to see a good cast," he told
IANS.
The past six months have been
especially great for smaller films.
"Indians are high on films this
year. So far the year has been
quite good for Hindi, regional and
international films in terms of the
box office as well as the content,
but full of surprises.
"We have seen hits to block‑
busters like 'Uri...', 'Gully Boy',
Twinkle had a hilarious response.
She commented: "You love
being tortured ‑‑ at least she isn't
making you push heavy pieces of
furniture around."
Produced by Dinesh Vijan,
"Angrezi Medium" is a sequel to
the 2017 entertainer "Hindi
Medium".
The sequel features Irrfan Khan
and Kareena Kapoor Khan in piv‑
otal roles. The cast is currently
shooting in London.
Actress Dimple Kapadia
ʻtorturingʼ diector Homi Adajania.
rappers. The film has performed
well in the Indian and overseas
market. It will also be screened at
the 2019 Indian Film Festival of
Melbourne.
Apart from bagging the award at
July 13-19, 2019 19
'Total Dhamaal', 'Luka Chuppi',
'Badla', 'Kesari', 'De De Pyaar De',
'Bharat' and more recently 'Kabir
Singh' (still getting good footfalls)
in Bollywood where 'Avengers:
Endgame' crossed every Indian
film and became the highest
grosser of 2019 so far," Mohan
Umrotkar, CEO, Carnival
Cinemas, told IANS.
He said Vivek Agnihotri's "The
Tashkent Files" turned out to be a
sleeper hit this year.
Distributor Rajesh Thadani said
the first half of 2019 fared better
for Bollywood than it did in the
past one or two years, both in
terms of occupancy and business.
Hrithik Roshan‑
starrer ʻSuper 30ʼ
and Kangana
Ranautʼs
ʻJudgemental
Hai Kyaʼ will
release this year.
BIFAN, Akhtar has recently made
the Indian film industry proud by
joining the list of new members of
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences that organizes the
annual Oscar awards.
 20 July 13-19, 2019
Hafiz Saeed, 12 other JuD leaders
booked for terror financing
Lahore: Top 13 leaders of the
banned Jamaat‑ud Dawa ( JuD),
including its chief and Mumbai ter‑
ror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed,
have been booked in nearly two
dozen cases of terror financing and
money laundering, days ahead of
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran
Khan's visit to the US.
T he Counter‑Terrorism
Department (CTD), which registered
the cases under the Anti‑Terrorism
Act, 1997 in five cities of Punjab,
declared that the JuD was financing
terrorism from the massive funds
collected through non‑profit organ‑
izations and trusts, including Al‑
Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust
and Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, the Dawn
reported.
Twenty‑three FIRs were regis‑
tered against JuD leaders at the
CTD police stations of Lahore,
Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad and
Sargodha.
Besides Saeed, his brother‑in‑law
Naib Emir Abdul Rehman Makki,
Malik Zafar Iqbal, Ameer Hamza,
Mohammad Yahya Aziz,
Mohammad Naeem, Mohsin Bilal,
Abdul Raqee b, Ahmad Daud,
Pakistani anchor Nepal declines permission for Dalai
confuses Apple Inc Lama's birthday celebration
with fruit, gets trolled
Netizens were left in splits after the TV anchorʼs goof‑up.
Islamabad: A Pakistani TV
anchor confused Apple Inc with
the fruit during the live pro‑
gramme recently and became a
laughing stock on social media.
A video clip of the incident
went viral after Pakistani jour‑
nalist Naila Inayat posted it on
Twitter. In the July 4 incident,
the anchor can be seen chatting
with a panelist who was talking
about the American tech giant,
but former thought the latter
was re ferring to an apple
(fruit).
In the clip, while talking
about Pakistan's financial con‑
ditions, the panelist said: "Alone
Apple's business amounts to
more than the whole of
Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
Muhammad Ayub, Abdullah Ubaid,
Mohammad Ali and Abdul Ghaffar
were also booked.
The move comes ahead of Imran
Khan's upcoming five‑day visit to
the US from July 20, during which
he will hold talks with US President
Donald Trump. "Formal investiga‑
tions on a large scale have been
launched against the top leadership
of the JuD for terror financing after
the registration of FIRs against
Pakistan's annual budget."
Assuming that the panelist
was talking about the fruit, the
TV anchor said: "Yes, I have
heard that even one apple is
very expensive." At this point,
the startled panelist corrected
the anchor, saying: "We are
talking about Apple phones
here, not the fruit."
As the faux pas went viral on
social media, the Twitterati had
hilarious reactions.
"Poor anchor still thinking
about g ro cery after show,"
tweeted one user.
Another user said "that is why
people say an apple a day keeps
the doctor away but they don't
say psychiatrist away".
SUBCONTINENT
them during the last two days," said
a spokesperson for the CTD,
Punjab.
According to the official, substan‑
tial and irreversible punitive/legal
action has been taken against them
by the state, making these organisa‑
tions "fully dysfunctional".
He said action was taken against
them in connection with implemen‑
tation of UN sanctions imposed on
the JuD, Lashkar‑i‑Taiba and Falah‑
Kathmandu: T he Dalai Lama's
birthday celebrations in Nepal were
cancelled after the government
refused permission for the event to
go ahead, officials said.
The move is seen as a sign of the
growing influence of Beijing over
Kathmandu.
China is among the top develop‑
ment partners for impoverished
Nepal, infusing in nearly USD 60
million in the last fiscal year into
hydroelectricity, roads and other
infrastructure projects.
"Permission was not issued
Bangladesh sentences nine to death
for 1994 attack on Sheikh Hasina
Dhaka: A Bangladesh court sen‑
tenced nine members of the main
opposition party to death and
handed life terms to another 25 for
attempting to kill Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina 25 years ago, a
Hindustan Times report said.
Thirteen people were also jailed
for 10 years for their part in the
attack on a train carrying Hasina in
1994, prosecutor Aminul Islam
said.
At that time, Hasina was opposi‑
tion leader and her arch rival,
Khaleda Zia, was prime minister.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Who are you fooling?
India asks Pakistan
New Delhi: India slammed
Pakistan's crackdown against
Mumbai terror attacks master‑
mind and Jamaat‑ud‑Dawa chief
Hafiz Saeed and his aides as "cos‑
metic steps".
Ministry of External Af fairs
spokesperson Raveesh Kumar
said India has seen such actions
by Pakistan earlier too.
"Let us not get fooled by these
cosmetic steps. We have seen the
course of such actions in the past.
We have seen where it goes,
where it is headed. Pakistan's sin‑
i‑Insaniyat Foundation (FiF) besides
their designated entities and lead‑
ership as directed by the National
Security Committee (NSC) in
January under the National Action
Plan.
The CTD took some months to
collect evidence against the banned
organisations regarding terror
because there might be a problem
in peace and security," said Krishna
Bahadur Katuwal, assistant chief
district officer of Kathmandu.
Nepal is home to around 20,000
exiled Tibetans, but under pressure
from Beijing, the current commu‑
nist government has taken an
increasingly hardline stance on
their activities.
Thousands of Tibetan refugees
fled over the border into Nepal
after the March 10, 1959 uprising
against Chinese rule, which forced
the Dalai Lama into exile.
Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina.
Now Zia and her Bang ladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP) are the
opposition.
“The accused threw bombs and
cerity to take action against ter‑
rorists and terror groups will be
judged on the basis of their abili‑
ty to demonstrate verifiable, cred‑
ible and irreversible action on
terror and terrorist groups oper‑
ating from their soil, and not on
the basis of half‑hearted meas‑
ures that they undertake to hood‑
wink the international communi‑
ty," the spokesperson said.
He said what India is asking is
"very simple. We want a normal
relationship in an environment
free from terror."
financing. "These assets/non‑profit
organizations have already been
taken over by the government in
compliance with UN sanctions," he
added. The spokesperson said the
suspects had committed multiple
of fences of terror financing and
money laundering and would be
prosecuted in anti‑terrorism courts.
Tibetan spiritual leader
the Dalai Lama.
fired on the coach of the train, tar‑
geting Hasina to kill her,” Islam told
reporters outside the court in the
town of Pabna, where the attack
happened, 160 km northwest of the
capital, Dhaka.
Hasinaʼs administration has been
accused of suppressing dissent and
jailing critics, including supporters
of the BNP. Zia is in jail on corrup‑
tion charges that she said were
polit ically mot ivated. Rivalry
between Hasina and Zia, both rela‑
tives of former rulers, has dominat‑
ed politics in Bangladesh for years.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info INTERNATIONAL July 13-19, 2019 21

Iran raises uranium enrichment level

Tehran: Iran announced it would
raise its uranium enrichment level
beyond the 3.67 per cent level,
beyond limits of the 2015 land‑
mark nuclear deal.
The spokesman for the Atomic
Energ y Org anizat ion of Iran,
Behrouz Kamalvandi, confirmed
the move during a joint press con‑
ference with Iran's Deputy Foreign
Minister Abbas Araghchi, saying
the enrichment levels would stand
at 5 per cent for now, reports Efe
news.
"At this phase, Iran's moves will
be meant to supply power sources
and research needs," Kamalvandi
said, according to state‑run IRNA
news agency. Ali Rabiee, the
spokesman for Iranian govern‑
ment, said in a televised state‑
Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization
of Iran, Behrouz Kamalvandi.
ment: "Today, we will start enrich‑
ing uranium beyond 3.67 per cent,
and its level of purity depends on
our needs. This will happen of fi‑
cially," Ali Rabiee, the spokesman
for Iranian government, said in a
televised statement.
According to the state‑run Press
TV, Iran needs 5 per cent uranium
enrichment for its Bushehr
Nuclear Power Plant and 20 per
cent enrichment for Tehran
research reactor. Earlier this week,
Iran had exceeded the limit of 300
kg on its low‑enriched uranium
reserve set in the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action
(JCPOA).
US President Donald Trump, last
year abandoned the pact it had
signed w ith Iran along w ith
Russia, China, France and the UK
as co‑signatories and beg an
imposing strict sanct ions on
Tehran.
T he remaining powers then
attempted to keep the JCPOA alive
by establishing the Instex in
January to facilitate trading with
the Islamic republic without vio‑
lating US sanctions.
Washington criticized the trade
mechanism and demanded the EU
withdraw from the agreement,
considering Iran a threat to peace
in the Middle East.
Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani on May 8 warned his
country would begin to withdraw
from key aspects of the agreement
if global powers failed to keep
their commitments within the next
60 days. With Washington tough‑
ening its sanctions on the Islamic
republic, Rouhani issued a 60‑day
moratorium for the rest of the sig‑
natories of the pact to fulfil Iran's
demands and save the country's
banking system and oil trade from
international sanctions.

Trump administration inept and insecure: UK Ambassador

London: In leaked emails, the UK's
Ambassador to Washington Kim
Darro ch labe lled American
President Donald Trump's admin‑
istration as "inept, insecure and
incompetent", a media report said.
In the leak of the memos to the
Mail, Darroch said: "We don't real‑
ly believe this administration is
going to become substantially
more normal; less dysfunctional;
less unpredictable; less faction‑
riven; less diplomatically clumsy
and inept," the BBC reported.
He quest ioned whether the
White House "will ever look com‑
petent", adding that it was
"unique ly dysfunct ional" and
"divided" under Trump.
He also warned that the US
President should not be written
off. Although Darroch said Trump
was "dazzled" by his state visit to
the UK in June, the ambassador
warned that his administration
will remain self‑interested, adding:
"This is still the land of America
First". Differences between the US
and the UK on climate change,
media freedoms and the death
penalty might come to the fore as
the countries seek to improve
trading relations after Brexit, the
memos showed.
To get through to the President,
"you need to make your points
simple, even blunt", the ambassa‑
dor added.
In response to the leaked
memos, the Foreign Office it was
"mischievous" but did not deny
their accuracy, reports the BBC.
The UK embassy in Washington
has "strong relations" with the
White House and these would con‑
tinue despite "mischievous behav‑
ior" such as this leak, a spokesman
said. UK's Ambassador to Washington, Kim Darroch.

Conservatives win Greek More protests in Hong Kong

snap general elections, against extradition bill
marks Syriza era end
Hong Kong: Tens of thousands of protesters
gathered in Hong Kong's famous Kowloon
tourist hotspot and participated in a first
Athens: The conservative march after the storming of the parliament
New Demo cracy party building to demand the abolition of a contro‑
was the clear winner in versial extradition law and the resignation of
the snap general elections Chief Executive Carrie Lam.
in Greece, signaling an The July 7 march was the latest major
end to the rule of the left‑ protest calling for the full withdrawal of the
wing Syriza coalition that legislation, which would have allowed the
has helmed the govern‑ transfer of fugitives to mainland China and
ment since 2015. other jurisdictions with which the city had
Greek Prime Minister no extradition agreement, reports the South
Alexis Tsipras acknowl‑ China Morning Post.
edged his defeat and con‑ Shortly be fore the march, org anizer
gratulated the winner, Ventus Lau Wing‑hong said he believed
New Democracy leader Protesters are demanding Chief
more people had joined in solidarity with Executive Carrie Lamʼs resignation.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, protesters who had stormed the legislature
New Democracy leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
reports Efe news. on July 1. Hong Kong student leaders last week reject‑
Mitsotakis is set to be sworn in before the the new parliament. "I believe the residents who came out ed Lam's of fer of a private meeting about
nation's President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, at He promised that his government would today want to tell the government that they the recent protests over the now‑suspended
a ceremony scheduled for 1 pm. be guided by the principles of transparency are united and won't be split," he added. extradition bill, calling it "too little, too late",
When his victorious vote‑count was in, and meritocracy, and announced that the To avoid any potential disruption, police the South China Morning Post reported.
Mitsotakis promised to work for growth Hellenic Parliament would be in session all stepped up their presence around West The government's of fer came after hun‑
and employment in the country. summer "because the future cannot wait". Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui, and some offi‑ dreds of mostly young protesters stormed
"I asked for a strong mandate and you New Democracy won 39.8 per cent of the cers carried pepper spray as they patrolled the city's legislature on the night of July 1,
have been generous in giving it to me. I will vote and 158 seats in a legislature of 300, Salisbury Road near the Hong Kong Cultural writing slogans on the wall, defacing Hong
not disappoint you," said Mitsotakis, whose seven more than the number of lawmakers Centre. Kong's official emblem and smashing equip‑
party has gained an absolute majority in needed for an absolute majority. The protest march comes after a group of ment, furniture and work areas.
 22 July 13-19, 2019
Budget to fire all engines
to rev up investment
New Delhi: The first Budget of the
Modi 2.0 government sought to fire
all engines to revive private invest‑
ment and boost consumption offer‑
ing a slew of tax concessions to
companies, raise public spending
for infrastructure and ensure credit
flow for business expansion.
Presenting her maiden Budget in
Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman noted the role
of private sector in the growth story
and termed India Inc as job‑creators
and also the nation's wealth‑cre‑
ators. The statement seemed to be
aimed at bridging the trust deficit
between the government and the
private sector.
In line with prescriptions given in
the Economic Survey, the Minister
stressed on private sector‑led
investment, jobs, exports and con‑
sumption. Infrastructure would con‑
tinue to be the key focus area with
the government intending to invest
Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure
in next 5 years.
Besides proposing to relax vari‑
ous rules for foreign and NRI invest‑
ment into the country, Sitharaman
came out with out‑of‑the‑box idea to
create a 'Social Stock Exchange' for
listing social enterprises and volun‑
tary organization. T he move is
expected to help social firms raise
funds and promote governance.
The Budget has also proposed to
open FDI flood‑gates in aviation,
insurance intermediary, animation
and media. India's FDI inflows in
2018‑19 remained strong at
$64.375 billion marking a 6 per
cent growth over the previous year.
Sitharaman said that FDI inflows
into India have remained robust
despite global headwinds. Further,
India's first Sovereign Bond to float in Oct-Mar period
New Delhi: The government is
targeting the second half of the
fiscal year to raise funds
through overseas bond sales,
Finance Secretary Subhash
Chandra Garg said.
"We will target the second
half," Garg told IANS in an inter‑
view on being asked if this will
happen this fiscal.
T he quantum, t iming and
number as well as market will
be decided including the
appointment of merchant
bankers which is likely next
month, he added.
"The policy announcement has
been made that India will be
issuing sovereign bonds and the
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses a press
conference in New Delhi on July 5, 2019. (Photo: Amlan Paliwal/IANS)
the Union Budget has attempted to
keep consumption level robust by
taking much‑needed step to tackle
crisis in the shadow banking sector.
The Budget 2019‑20 proposed that
government will give one‑time six
month credit guarantee for the pur‑
chase of assets of high rated NBFCs
up to one lakh crore. The move is
set to ensure flow of capital for
well‑performing NBFCs.
In order to boost credit, the
Finance Minister proposed to pro‑
vide Rs 70,000 crore to public sec‑
tor banks.
In a major tax relief for compa‑
nies with annual turnover of upto
Rs 400 crore, Sitharaman proposed
to lower corporate tax for them to
25 per cent from 30 per cent now.
Currently, the lower corporate tax is
paid by companies with annual rev‑
enue of Rs 250 crore.
Further, the start‑ups and their
investors who file requisite declara‑
tions and provide information in
pro cess w ill start soon," he
noted. This will take place when
the Centre's second quarter bor‑
rowing program is finalized.
The Finance Secretary said in
2013, if such bonds had been
thought of then it would have
been the most inappropriate
time to go for it with depleting
foreign reserves. "In 2013 for‑
eign currency reserves were
depleted.
That type of situation cannot
be dealt w ith by sovereign
bonds. That time was the most
inappropriate time to think of a
sovereign bond when there was
a crisis of confidence in the
rupee," Garg said.
BUSINESS
their returns will not be subjected
to any kind of scrutiny in respect of
valuations of share premiums.
The housing sector, one of the key
job creators, also stand to gain from
the Budget. Joint development and
concession mechanisms would be
used for public infrastructure and
affordable housing on land parcels
held by the Central Government
and CPSEs.
Additional deduction up to Rs 1.5
lakhs for interest paid on loans bor‑
rowed up to 31st March, 2020 for
purchase of house valued up to Rs
45 lakh. This will result in overall
benefit of around Rs 7 lakh over
loan period of 15 years," the
Minister said.
The Finance Minister exuded con‑
fidence that Indian economy will
grow to become a US$3 trillion
economy in the current year and
will reach the vision of Prime
Minister to become US$5 trillion
economy in the next five years.
Finance Secretary
Subhash Chandra Garg.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Aadhaar card for NRIs without
waiting for 180 days
New Delhi: Non‑Resident
Indians (NRIs) having Indian
passports can now get Aadhaar
card without waiting for 180
days, Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman said. As of now, the
NRIs get Aadhaar card after
staying in India for a minimum
of 180 days.
"I propose to consider issuing
Aadhaar card for NRIs with
Indian passports after their
arrival in India without waiting
for 180 days," Sitharaman told
Parliament while presenting the
Budget 2019.
According to the Aad haar
Foreign investors to soon
invest in NBFC debt securities
New Delhi: In a move to attract
more foreign funds into the
Indian market, Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman proposed
to allow foreign institutional
investors (FIIs) and foreign
portfolio investors (FPIs) to
invest in debt securities issued
by non‑banking finance compa‑
nies (NBFCs). Proposing a series
of reforms of the capital market
while presenting her maiden
Union Budget, Sitharaman also
proposed merging the Non‑resi‑
dent Indian (NRI) portfolio
route w ith the FP I route to
increase more NRI fund flows
Sensex logs heaviest
fall in 7 months
Mumbai: Disappointment over the
Budget proposals and muted
global markets led the Sensex to
log the heaviest fall in seven
months on Monday. Both the key
equity indices ‑‑ Sensex and Nifty ‑
‑ fell over 2 per cent. Global mar‑
kets traded lower after US report‑
ed strong job data, which faded
hopes of an aggressive rate cut by
the Federal Reserve.
"Equity markets were expecting
some kind of fiscal stimulus from
the budget but there has been a
(Targeted Delivery of Financial
and Other Subsidies, Benefits
and Services) Act, 2016, an NRI
who has resided in India for
182 days or more in 12 months
and w ith an Indian address
could apply for Aadhaar.
However, as per the Aadhaar
Act, NRIs are fully exempt from
producing Aadhaar for any veri‑
fication.
The Minister said the govern‑
ment also intended to provide
better and more accessible pub‑
lic services to Indians abroad by
opening embassies in more
countries.
into the country.
The government proposes to
allow FII and FPI investment in
debt securities issued by NBFCs,
she said, adding that it will
work with exchanges to allow
'AA' rated bonds to be used as
collateral.
Allow ing FIIs and FP Is to
invest in debt securities issued
by the NBFCs will permit avail‑
ability of funds for cash‑
strapped NBFCs who have been
facing a crisis following defaults
by IL&FS last year, which made
banks wary of lending to these
shadow bankers.
big disappointment," said Rusmik
Oza, Head of Research, Kotak
Securities. Oza added that hous‑
ing was the only segment to get
some kind of a stimulus and that
the budget had been taken posi‑
tively by the bond market due to
curtailment of the Fiscal Deficit.
T he 30‑scrip Sensex closed
792.82 points or 2.01 per cent
lower at 38,720.57 and the
broader Nifty50 declined by
252.55 points or 2.14 per cent to
11,558.60.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SPORTS July 13-19, 2019 23

Australia will find it difficult

Birmingham: England's Joe Root
is feeling confident that both
recent and distant history have
the tournament hosts ready for
revenge in the rematch against
Australia in the second semi‑final
of the ongoing World Cup.
England were downed in con‑
vincing fashion by their fiercest
rivals at Lord's last month and
looked in serious danger of miss‑
ing out on the semi‑finals at their
home tournament.
However, back‑to‑back wins
over India and New Zealand
to beat England: Root
turned the tables and have put
England in world on a collision
course w ith Australia at
Edgbaston in the second semi‑
final on Thursday.
England have lost their last two
clashes with Australia including a
warm‑up game before the World
Cup began, but before that Root
and co had the edge with a series
win Down Under and a 5‑0 white‑
wash on home soil.
"If you look at the past 11
games against them we have won
nine," Root was quoted as saying
by the ICC.
"These guys and this group over
the last four years, their experi‑
ence against Australia have been
very positive and they have got a
lot of success in the bank.
"I don't see that as a big worry
for this group, we will be drawing
on that confidence that over a
long period of time now we have
been successful against Australia
and we should take that into
Thursday."
Add to that the fact that England
have found their best form ‑ with
Jason Roy back firing fit at the top
of the order ‑ and the mood is
clearly buoyant.
"I feel we are in a good place
coming into it, I feel like the last
two days have almost been like
knockout cricket for us.
"We have been playing in a
high‑pressure environment for a
while now and hopefully that will
hold us in good stead going into
this game”. England's Joe Root in action.

US women's soccer team wins its 4th World Cup

Lyon (France): The United States
won its record fourth Women's
World Cup title and second in a
row, beating the Netherlands 2‑0
Sunday night when Megan Rapinoe
converted a penalty kick in the sec‑
ond half and Rose Lavelle added a
goal.
Rapinoe, the pink‑haired U.S. cap‑
tain who grabbed world‑wide atten‑
tion on and off the field, scored in
the 61st minute after a video
review determined Stefanie van der
Gragt had fouled Alex Morgan with
a kick to the shoulder in the penal‑
ty area.
Two days past her 34th birthday,
Rapinoe slotted the ball past goal‑
keeper Sari van Veenendaal for her
50th international goal, her sixth of
up‑and‑coming star, added a goal
on an 18‑foot left‑footed shot in the
69th after a solo run up the center
of the field.
Fans, many dressed in red, white
and blue, chanted "Equal Pay!" at
the final whistle, a reminder players
sued the U.S. Soccer Federation in
March claiming gender discrimina‑
tion. Rapinoe drew the ire of U.S.
President Donald Trump during the
tournament by saying she and
teammates would refuse to visit the
The US team celebrates after winning the 2019 FIFA Women's White House, part of the team's
World Cup final against the Netherlands in Lyon, France. wider push for gender equity. New
(Xinhua/Ding Xu/IANS) York City Mayor Bill de Blasio need‑
ed just a few seconds after the final
the tournament to win the Golden Cup final, she struck a familiar vic‑ whistle to invite the team to a tick‑
Ball as scoring leader. The oldest torious pose w ith arms out‑ er‑tape parade up the Canyon on
player to score in a Women's World stretched. Lavelle, at 24 the team's Heroes in Manhattan. T he
Americans never trailed in the tour‑
nament and set records with 26
goals and a 12‑game World Cup
winning streak dating to 2015. U.S.
coach Jill Ellis became the first
coach to lead a team to two
Women's World Cup titles, and the
U.S. joined Germany in 2003 and
2007 as the only repeat champions.
With confidence and brashness
that some called even arrogant trig‑
gering a backlash that the angry
response was sexist ‑ this American
team established a standard of
excellence that will be a goal for
other U.S. teams and the rest of the
world to match. Former American
players joined the current genera‑
tion on the field for the post‑game
celebration.

WEIGHTLIFTER CHANU
BAGS GOLD AT
COMMONWEALTH MEET
Apia (Samoa): Former world champion
Mirabai Chanu bagged a gold medal on the
opening day of the Commonwealth
Weightlifting Championship here on
Tuesday. The Indian contingent won a total
of 13 medals, which included eight gold,
three silver and two bronze medals in senior,
junior and youth categories. In the senior
women's 49 kg event, Mirabai lifted a total of
191 kg (84kg + 107 kg) in the Olympic qual‑
ifying event. Jhilli Dalabehra also clinched
the first place on the podium with a lift of
154 kg (70kg + 94kg) in the senior women's
45 kg event. However, it wasn't an Olympic
weight category. Soroikhaibam Bindyarani
Devi and Matsa Santoshi won the gold and
silver medals respectively in the senior
women's 55 kg event. In the senior men's 55
kg event, Rishikanta Singh also clinched gold
with a total lift of 235 kg (105kg + 130kg).
Nadal beats Sousa, breaks Borg's Wimbledon record
London: Rafael Nadal on Monday pre‑ all win on grass, and the 36th this sea‑
vailed over Joao Sousa with a 6‑2, 6‑2, son on all surfaces. Swiss tennis icon
6‑2 win to extend his victory record at Roger Federer is expected to equal the
Wimbledon to 52 matches, one more Spaniard's record this season if he
than the legendary Bjorn Borg. World defeats Matteo Berrettini of Italy later
No. 2 Nadal took an hour and 45 min‑ in the day. In the quarterfinal, Nadal is
utes to reach the quarterfinals at the pending the w inner of the all‑
All England Club for the seventh time American duel pitting Sam Querrey
in his career as a pro. against Tennys Sandgren.
Following the traditional Sunday rest The Spaniard has a 4‑1 head‑to‑
day, Nadal returned to the central court head victory record against Querrey,
to show off how speedy his legs were but it would be their first meeting on
and how ef fective his service was, g rass. Nadal has never played
which he held successfully, not allow‑ Sandgren before.
ing Sousa to create a single break point Querrey's only win over Nadal came
Rafael Nadal of Spain plays against Joao Sousa of
in the whole match, Efe news reported. when he stunned the Spaniard in the
Portugal. (Xinhua/Lu Yang/IANS)
T he 33‑year‑old Spanish star thus final of the 2017 Mexico Open. Spain's
extended his head‑to‑head record against Wilfried Tsonga), but the rest was very posi‑ Roberto Bautista Agut made it to the quar‑
Sousa to 3‑0, in which Nadal lost just one set tive," third seed Nadal said after the match. terfinals with a 6‑3, 7‑5, 6‑2 win over
in the 2016 Madrid Masters quarterfinals. "I'm happy to be where I am, the body is Frenchman Benoit Paire. Next up, Bautista
"It was a solid match...The second serve did‑ holding well and I'm playing some good ten‑ will face either Guido Pella of Argentina or
n't work as well as two days ago (against Jo‑ nis," he added. It became Nadal's 70th over‑ Canada's Milos Raonic.
 24 July 13-19, 2019
Jaipur named Unesco World Heritage Site
Jaipur: 'Pink City' Jaipur has
made an official entry in the list
of the UNESCO World Heritage
sites and Indian leaders across
the political spectrum welcomed
the signal honor to the historical
city.
T he UNESCO shared the
announcement on Twitter. "Just
inscribed as @UNESCO
#WorldHeritage Site: Jaipur City
in Rajasthan, #India. Bravo," the
UN body posted on Saturday.
The decision was taken at the
43rd session of the Unesco World
Heritage Committee, which took
place in Azerbaijan.
The Archaeological Survey of
India had in 2015 submitted a
proposal to Unesco for the status.
Ahmedabad had earlier bagged
the tag of becoming the first
World Heritage City from India.
We lcoming the Unesco
announcement, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi tweeted: "Jaipur
is a city associated with culture
and valor. Elegant and energetic,
Jaipur's hospitality draws people
from all over. Glad that this city
has been inscribed as a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO."
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok
Naradmunis or Gaslighters - both are obnoxious
‘Gandhipedia’ being By Vishnu Makhijani
developed as social media
portal: Culture Ministry
New Delhi: The ʻGandhipediaʼ is
being developed as a social media
portal that will contain original
works related to the Father of the
Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, a
Culture Ministry official told
IANS.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman had mentioned about
Gandhipedia during her Budget
speech in the Parliament on
Friday.
Gandhipedia is one of a slew of
measures to celebrate the 150th
birth anniversary of Mahatma
Gandhi which falls on October 2.
Gandhipedia is being developed
by the National Council for
Science Museums (NCSM) to sen‑
sitize the youth and the society at
large about Gandhian values,
Sitharaman had said in her
speech. It will be jointly imple‑
mented by IIT‑Kharagpur and IIT‑
Gandhinagar.
“The portal will function on
artificial intelligence (AI) and
machine running. It will be a
repository of knowledge on
Mahatma Gandhi. The portal will
contain original photographs,
visuals, speeches and the 100 col‑
lected works of Gandhiji. Books
by Gandhiji will also be available
Jaipur was planned considering astronomy, planetary movement and Vastu Shastra to ensure that the
city gets the best location and the people are happy, prosperous and safe here.
Gehlot termed it a proud moment
for the state and a development
which will boost tourism.
Jaipur princess Diya Kumari,
who is an MP, told IANS: "I am
really feeling proud and happy
about this development. Maharaj
Jai Singh II, the founder of the
city, was one of my ancestors. He
invited the best craftsmen and
on the portal apart from books
that have been written on him,”
said an official of the Culture
Ministry on Sunday.
The Gandhipedia will be free for
access to everybody.
The Sabarmati Ashram
Preservation and Memorial Trust
has been maintaining the Gandhi
Heritage Portal (www.gandhiher‑
itageportal.org) which is also a
repository of knowledge on
Mahatma Gandhi. This portal,
which contains Gandhian works
in portable document format
(pdf), will continue to run too.
The works being uploaded on
the Gandhipedia are based on
optical character recognition plus
technology. It will be in search‑
able format.
CULTURE
architects from all over the coun‑
try to ensure they built the most
beautiful and well‑planned city of
the world. T hey considered
astronomy, planetary movement
and Vastu Shastra to ensure that
the city gets the best location and
the people are happy, prosperous
and safe here. "Once the UNESCO
tags a city as a heritage city, it
New Delhi: In large parts of India,
they are termed Naradmunis ‑
known for whipping up tensions
among people by spicing up facts.
In the West, they are termed
Gaslighters ‑ "master controllers
and manipulators, often challeng‑
ing your very sense of reality".
"You know the gaslighter. He's
the charmer ‑ the witty, confident,
but overly controlling date. She's
the woman on your team who
always manages to take credit for
your good work. He's the neighbor
who swears you've been putting
garbage into his trash cans, the
politician who can never admit to a
mistake, the harasser who says you
asked for it," writes Dr. Stephanie
Moulton Sarkis, a bestse lling
author and therapist who is with
the American Mental Health
Counse lors Asso ciat ion, in
"Gaslig ht ing" (Orion
Spring/Hatchette).
Noting that they can be found
everywhere ‑ international political
figures, celebrities, your boss, your
sibling or a friend, your co‑worker ‑
Sarkis writes: "Gaslighters will con‑
vince us that we are crazy, that we
are abusive, that we are a huge
bundle of problems and no one else
will want us, that we are terrible
employees who haven't been fired
just yet by the grace of God, that
we are terrible parents who should‑
n't have had children, that we have
no ideas how to manage our own
TheSouthAsianTimes.info
ensures that its originality is
retained. Hence now, many
unwanted structures and
encroachments and buildings
coming up in the walled city shall
have no place in here."
Thakur Randhir Vikram Singh,
General Secretary, Indian
Heritage Hotels Association said:
"Jaipur is the most well‑planned
life, that we are a burden to others."
One size may not fit all but give
or take a little, doesn't all this
sound pretty familiar to an Indian?
But, don't people just manipulate
others sometimes?
What's the dif ference between
someone who manipulates for a
particular benefit and a gaslighter?
It's a fine line, says Sarkis.
"Whereas manipulation (or influ‑
ence) is an essential part of some
jobs, such as sales, it's a pattern of
behavior with gaslighters ‑ their
default mode. That is, when most
people lie, it's for a specific out‑
come ‑ to avoid confrontation, get
ahead or curry favor with someone.
But with gaslighters, there is no
particular reason to lie and yet they
do it over and over again, often in
an escalating fashion as they feel
city which has the best drainage
system. In fact, Jai Singh, the
founder, looked for the safest
location for the people where
earthquake can never make its
impact due to geographical loca‑
tion of plates. Hence the city
deserved this honor."
Jaipur was founded in year
1727 under Sawai Jai Singh II.
The city was proposed to be
nominated for its value of being
an exemplary development in
town planning and architecture
that demonstrates an amalgama‑
tion and important exchange of
ideas in the late medieval period,
Unesco had said.
"In town planning, it shows an
interchange of ancient Hindu,
Mug hal and contemporary
Western ideas that resulted in the
form of the city."
Jaipur City is also an exception‑
al example of a late medieval
trade town in South Asia and
defined new concepts for a thriv‑
ing trade and commercial hub. In
addition, the city is associated
with living traditions in the form
of crafts that have national and
internat ional recognit ion, it
added.
the ef fects of their power. This is
done just for the sake of doing it ‑
to con, gain control and confuse
you," Sarkis writes. She then leads
the reader through topics like
gaslighting in intimate relation‑
ships; gaslighters in the workplace;
gaslighters in politics, society and
the social media; false Messiahs,
extremist groups, closed communi‑
ties, cults and gaslighting; what do
when you are the gaslighter; and
counselling and other ways to get
help. It is in this last chapter that
Indian readers might find them‑
selves at sea but take heart: coun‑
selling of various types is available
across this country ‑ online, clinical‑
ly and through organizations like
Sanjivini.
But before going in for coun‑
selling, consider these two points:
8 Be Aware When You Are
Getting "Wound Up": "Part of tak‑
ing good care of yourself is know‑
ing when your stress level is start‑
ing to feel out of control. When you
have been gaslighted, you may
have dif ficulty regulating your
emotions. You tend to stay more on
an even keel emotionally and have
less mood swings when you can
regulate how you are fee ling,"
Sarkis points out.
8 Meditation: "Meditating is
another powerful tool for working
with your gaslighting experiences,
thoughts and behaviors. It has been
found to improve our positive feel‑
ings towards others and ourselves,"
Sarkis writes.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info July 13-19, 2019
 26 July 13-19, 2019
Second-hand
drinking as bad as
second-hand smoke
J
ust like second‑hand
smoking, society needs to
combat the second‑hand
ef fects of drinking as millions
of people are suf fering alco‑
holʼs harm because of someone
elseʼs drinking, warn a study
led by an Indian‑origin scien‑
tist.
An analysis of US national
survey data showed that some
21% of women and 23% of men
– an est imated 53 million
adults – experienced harm
because of someone e lseʼs
drinking in the last 12 months.
These harms could be threats
or harassment, ruined property
or vandalism, physical aggres‑
sion, harms related to driving
or financial or family problems.
The most common harm was
threats or harassment, reported
by 16% of survey respondents,
said researchers led by
Madhabika B. Nayak of the
Alcohol Research Group, a pro‑
g ram of the Public Health
Institute in Oakland, California.
The specific types of harm
experienced differed by gender.
Women were more likely to
report financial and family
problems, whereas ruined prop‑
erty, vandalism and physical
aggression were more likely to
Kim Kardashian changes Kimono
name for shapewear after
cultural appropriation outcry Self-driving cars can be a game-changer for seniors
B S
owing to pressure, Kim
Kardashian West will change
the name of her Kimono
Solutionwear line, the reality star‑
turned‑entrepreneur announced
last week.
She was accused of cultural
appropriation of the name.
“I am always listening, learning
and growing ̶ I so appreciate the
passion and varied perspectives
that people bring to me,” she wrote
on Instagram.
Itʼs unclear whether one of the
voices she listened to was that of
the mayor of Kyoto, Japan, who sent
her a letter, that in part described
kimono as “a fruit of craftsmanship
… [that] truly symbolizes sense of
beauty, spirits and values of
Japanese.”
Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa also
specifically asked Kardashian West
to reconsider using the word
kimono in her trademark.
“We are currently undertaking
initiatives nationally to make
ʻKimono Culture,ʼ symbol of our cul‑
ture and spirits, registered to
LIFESTYLE TheSouthAsianTimes.info
In evolving world of fashion,
salwars are forever
O
f f screen, Janhvi Kapoor
and Sara Ali Khan slay the
be reported by men.
salwar kameez look, setting
There is “considerable risk for
a fashion statement that the new
women from heavy, often male,
generation may otherwise consider
drinkers in the household and,
ʻbygoneʼ. Patialas and Palazzos may
for men, from drinkers outside
come and go, but thereʼs something
their family,” wrote the authors
evergreen about salwars, say style
in a paper published in Journal
experts.
of Studies on Alcohol and
Mansi Gupta, Co‑founder, Tjori,
Drugs.
says the salwar has been tweaked
Additional factors, including
over generations to suit the needs
age and the personʼs own
of women.
drinking, were also important.
“The simple salwar was first made
People younger than age 25
into the Patiala salwar, later they
had a higher risk of experienc‑
were made as dhoti salwar and then
ing harm from someone elseʼs
harem salwar or palazzo
drinking.
salwar…all these modifications to
Further, almost half of men
stay in the latest fashion trend. But
and women who themselves
it is a dynamically structured gar‑
were heavy drinkers said they
ment that shall never go out of fash‑
had been harmed by someone
ion.
elseʼs drinking.
“Ask the average Indian women
Even people who drank but
what would be their go to outfit
not heavily were at two to three
when they have to go out or stay
times the risk of harassment,
home, I can assure most of them
threats and driving‑re lated
will say a simple salwar kameez.
harm compared with abstain‑
The salwar is one of the very few
ers.
Indian garments that hasnʼt lost its
“Control policies, such as
ethnic value, and is forever,” Gupta
alcohol pricing, taxat ion,
told IANS.
reduced availability, and Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan slay the salwar kameez look
In a latest on‑screen stint, Sayani
restricting advertising, may be
Gupta has been seen sporting sal‑ can already see it becoming a hot refreshing change to the tight‑fitted
the most e f fect ive ways to
wars in “Article 15”. As Bollywood favorite with designers and in the churidar. It also has its pros and
reduce not only alcohol con‑
celebrities have quite an influence new age, the salwar will take a cons and an extremely comfortable
sumption but also alcoholʼs
on driving the mass fashion narra‑ renewed form. We will see varia‑ silhouette.” She, however, feels that
harm to persons other than the
tive in the country, who knows the tions and innovations in that silhou‑ unlike a churidar which makes one
drinker,” said Nayak.
classic salwar may begin to be seen ette. “Like in every fashion cycle – look slim and tall, this silhouette is
more frequently. Sreyashee Halder, silhouettes and trends come back – not as flattering. And so, “salwars
Design Head, W, said: “The come‑
back of salwars is inevitable – we
this trend has also begun its jour‑
ney back as it is going to be a
will be back but may not stay for
eternity”, she said.
elf‑driving cars can be a eat, even talk on the phone,” said teers, divided into two age groups
potential game‑changer for Shuo Li from the Newcastle (20‑35 and 60‑81), and studied the
older adults aged above 60 University in the UK. time it takes for older drivers to
and can help in minimizing the risk “But, unlike level four or five, take back control of an automated
of accidents, say researchers. there are still some situations car in different scenarios and also
“T here are several leve ls of where the car would ask the driver the quality of their driving in these
automation, ranging from zero to take back control and at that different situations.
where the driver has complete con‑ point, they need to be back in driv‑ They experienced automated driv‑
trol, through to level five where the ing mode within a few seconds,” Li ing for a short period and were then
car is in charge… this will allow the said. For the study published in the asked to take back control of a
driver to be completely disengaged, journal Transportation Research, highly automated car and avoid a
they can sit back and watch a film, the researchers examined 76 volun‑ stationary vehicle.
Kim Kardashian West
UNESCOʼs Intangible Cultural
Heritage list. We think that the
names for ʻKimonoʼ are the asset
shared with all humanity who love
Kimono and its culture therefore
they should not be monopolized,”
Kadokawa wrote before inviting
Kardashian West to visit the city
and deepen her understanding.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info SCI-TECH July 13-19, 2019 27

ICC partnership has been Unlike Netflix, Apple TV+ to

phenomenal for us: GoDaddy have only a few top shows
Birmingham: The idea to partner
with International Cricket Council
(ICC) as the official sponsor of the
12th Cricket World Cup 2019 has
been a phenomenal decision, a top
executive of Internet names and
registrations management major
GoDaddy Inc has said.
The web‑hosting provider has
on‑g round presence that
includes the perimeter of the
ground, side‑screen and LEDs at
the stadiums under the partner‑
ship.
According to Nikhil Arora, MD,
GoDaddy India, cricket is a
favorite sport which is viewed in
every nook and corner of the
country. "Sports as a platform has
been a great avenue for us to con‑
nect with the masses. The pres‑
ence of brand visibility to 750 mil‑
lion fans in India and beyond at
the ICC World Cup has been a
great experience so far," Arora
said.
"In smaller towns, everyone is
watching cricket on smartphones.
Our organic reach has been phe‑
nomenal, especially the India‑
Pakistan game that happened to
be a great experience for us,"
Arora added.
This is the company's first spon‑
sorship deal with the global sports
event.
"Two‑thirds of the world, includ‑
ing India, watch cricket and
through this collaboration, we are
receiving a huge visibility," Arora
noted. GoDaddy, which started its
operations in India in 2012, offers
an integrated suite of products for
small business owners and entre‑
preneurs that range from domain
names, hosting, website building,
email marketing, security and e‑
commerce.
GoDaddy has signed MS
Dhoni who portrays a
supreme mentor and guide as
the "Bijness Bhai" (business
mentor) for the small and
medium businesses in the country.
The companyʼs new Internet solu‑
tion for small business owners and
entrepreneurs called "Online
Starter Bundle", comes with a
choice of domain extensions
between .in and co.in for business‑
San Francisco: Unlike Netflix's con‑
tent quantity, Apple has indicated
that its TV+ service would only
focus more on a handful of top‑tier
shows.
According to Eddy Cue, Apple's
Senior Vice President of Internet
software and services, Apple
would not create the most number
of shows, but create the best of
them, Eng adget reported on
Monday.
Eddy did not think that Netflix's
emphasis on quantity was bad, but
he said it was just not Apple's
intended model.
As part of its TV services, the
iPhone‑maker is planning to
release new movies and shows
every month, with the first one
most likely to be Jennifer Aniston
and Reese Witherspoon starrer
"The Morning Show", the report
added. Other shows would include
Steven Spie lberg's "Amazing
Stories" and the "Little America"
series from Big Sick creators
Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon.
Earlier in March, it was
announced that Apple's on‑
demand subscription service will
start in over 100 countries this
fall.
Later in May, the Apple TV serv‑
ice began rolling out in over 100
countries, including India which
comes bundled with Apple TV+,
the company's original video sub‑
scription service.

Libra offers economic empowerment to billions: Facebook

F
acebook is joining the cryp‑
tocurrency craze. Should we
be concerned? The social
network site on June 18 said itʼs
launching a new cryptocurrency
called Libra with the help of 27
partners, including MasterCard,
Visa, ebay, and Uber.
In simple terms, Libra is meant to
replace the paper bills in your wal‑
let with a digital equivalent. But
unlike other cryptocurrencies like
Bitcoin, Libra will be directly
backed by assets.
The white paper describing the
vision for this new currency is
filled with laudable goals such as
creating economic opportunity and
advancing financial inclusion. But
it will take time to completely
understand the ramifications of
Libra, which Facebook hopes to
launch in 2020.
Existing cryptocurrencies are not
tied to physical assets. This makes
them immune to the whims of
national governments but also
makes them prone to speculative
bubbles and flash crashes.
Libra, on the other hand, is going
to be 100 percent backed by
assets. Every unit of Libra currency
will be backed by an equivalent
basket of bank deposits and short‑
Unlike other cryptocurrencies
like Bitcoin, Libra will be directly
backed by assets.
term government securities in vari‑
ous major currencies.
As a result, Libra will not suffer
wild price fluctuations. And since it
will be backed by a collection of
international currencies and assets,
it wonʼt be tied to the fortunes and
policies of one country either. A
second economic benefit of Libra is
that it will likely reduce the cost of
transferring money around the
world because the marginal cost of
using it will be so low and
Facebook is so prevalent, with
about 2.4 billion users. Travelers
and migrants often pay excessive
fees to move money from one
country to another. Another effect
of being backed by assets is that it
may help lower the risk of high
inflation in countries across the
world. Nobel Prize‑winning econo‑
mist Friedrich Hayek made this
very point in his book “T he
Denationaliztion of Money.” Hayek
believed everyone would be better
off if people could pick among dif‑
ferent types of private money, like
Libra, instead of using government‑
issued money. Hayek believed issu‑
ing private money would banish
inflation from the world since peo‑
ple would only use the currency
most stable in value. In a testament
to the expected impact of Libra on
the average cost of sending money,
Facebookʼs announcement sent the
stock of Western Union, a major
mover of money internationally,
plummeting.

IMMIGRATION

Entering USA after deportation, what are my options?

I VISA
f a noncitizen was deported or removed but voluntarily left the relative. Qualifying relatives are: to Removal or Deportation.
removed from the U.S. to country, or have entered the U.S. spouse, child, or parent who are Individuals or people with family
another country they may be unlawfully after a prior removal either U.S. citizens or permanent that have been removed may

barred from reentering the U.S.
for either five, ten, or 20 years, or
permanently. The length of time
depends on the the reasons why
the individual was removed and
whether they were convicted of a
crime.
A foreign national who had pre‑
viously been deported or
removed from the U.S. may
request to reenter before waiting
the required number of years if
they have a new valid basis for
which a green card or a visa
should be granted. This would
require Form I‑212, Permission
to Reapply For Admission into
the U.S. After Deportation or
Removal, to be completed and
submitted to USCIS. This form is
known as a waiver request which
TALK
asks immigration to forgive the
individualʼs inadmissibility and
give them a second chance. Every
I‑212 that is filed is looked at
individually and is decided case
by case.
Some factors that are looked at
when deciding an I‑212 are: the
reason for deportation, how
much time has passed since
deportation, the length of time
the individual had lived in the
U.S., and moral character. Not
everybody is eligible to apply for
a waiver through Form I‑212.
Individuals who were previously
removed from the U.S. or ordered
order or deportation or were
present in the U.S. for at least one
year without first obtaining per‑
mission from immigration offi‑
cers are not allowed to file Form
I‑121.
If the individualʼs Form I‑212 is
granted they then may apply for
an immigrant visa. In some cases,
individuals may need to file a
separate waiver of the grounds of
inadmissibility if the individual
was deported for reasons such as
being unlawfully present in the
U.S. or for committing a serious
crime. This separate waiver will
require Form I‑601 to be filed
with USCIS and the individual will
need to show immigration that
their denial of entry would cause
extreme hardship to a qualifying
residents. The I‑212 request can have options available to them
be a very useful tool for individu‑ and should contact an experi‑
als who have some time related enced Immigration Attorney to
bar from entering the US related find out what their options are.
Dev Banad Viswanath is the Principal Attorney
of The Banad Law Offices PC
in the United States,
and Banad Immigration in India for which
Attorney Michael Phulwani is also affiliated as
Of Counsel. With Offices in Manhattan, Queens,
Bangalore, and Mumbai, the firm is able to
assist clients with all facets of the immigration
process, including Employment Visas, Consular
Visa Assistance, Student Visas, Removal &
Deportation, US Citizenship and Green Card
Applications based on Family or Employment.
Dev B. Viswanath can be reached at
Dev@Banadlaw.com and 718‑361‑5999.
Dev is in India till July 25th for any friends
or family who may want to schedule
personal appointments with him.
 28 July 13-19, 2019 HUMOR TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Funny Side by Nury Vittachi

THE SAFEST PLACES IN THE WORLD

F
ive years ago I lived in a housing estate
that was so safe that I didn't even own a
front door key. Our only line of defense
against evil was a deeply confused dog which
barked at family members and gave strangers
a friendly licking.
(My wife tells me to be kind since dogs have
brains the size of walnuts, but I argue that wal‑
nut would be cheaper and more effective since
you can throw it at people and it never needs
its poop picked up. But whatever.)
Safe places to live were on my mind after a
reader sent in a news report about what is
being called "the safest place in the world."
Eibenthal is a village with a little church in the
mountains of Romania. Inhabitants hang
money in bags on lampposts. The baker passes
by takes the money and leaves food behind.
But there are super‑safe places everywhere
if you know where to look. India has Shani
Shingnapur, a famously low‑crime town of
3,000 people in Maharashtra where most
houses don't even have doors, let alone locks.
This columnist wrote about it a few years
ago when a bank was built there. Townsfolk
ordered executives at UCO Bank to follow tra‑
dition and have no locks on its doors. The
bankers thought this was a bit unusual for a
bank but were willing to cooperate. You could
imagine the discussion:
Townsfolk: "You must follow our tradition
and not lock the doors of your bank."
Bankers: "Well, okay. It's your money."
Townsfolk: "Wait. Maybe we need to talk
about this a bit more."
The only grumble came from local police,
but they could have taken inspiration from
Sark, an island near England which maintained
a tiny security presence.
In the 1970s it was invaded by France. The
invasion fleet consisted of one Frenchman. The
defending army consisted of a part‑time police‑
man, who arrested the Frenchman without
harming him. As wars go, it was rather sweet.
(You can't say that about a lot of wars.)
Even the United States, which the media
paints as a land of guns, has super‑safe places.
Wikipedia says top of the list is Irvine,
California, which had 0.8 of murder in the most
recent year counted. How can you have 0.8 of
a murder? Did the guy's hair survive or some‑
thing?
Now here's the thing: You can create individ‑
ual safe spots. Over the years, this column has
received dozens of news reports about armed
robbers who failed because their would‑be
crimes didn't fit the ambiance.
Example: In 2012, a masked man entered a
bar in the Netherlands and leveled a gun at
people inside. Lost in the usual fog of drink and
chatter you find in European bars, they ignored
him. The whole thing is on YouTube, including
the deflated robber's sad exit.
At a bank in Kowloon, Hong Kong, staff told
a raider than they were far too busy to be
robbed. He nodded and left the counter. The
whole thing was marvelously civil.
Now I am not saying that our generation is
creating a crime‑free world. Given the propen‑
sity of snacks to disappear in this columnist's
house, I can't even create a crime‑free apart‑
ment. Who took my walnut?

Laughter is the Best Medicine

BEST
RATE
FOR
INDIA
AND
PAKISTAN
New York Head Quarter
422‑S Broadway
HICKSVILLE
NY 11801
By Mahendra Shah
516‑827‑1010
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession,
artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording
the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his
cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info ASTROLOGY July 13-19, 2019 29

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899
psharma@premastrologer.com; w.premastrologer.com

JULY 13‑19, 2019

Aries: A bright and happening week
is foreseen. Those who love a good
challenge will have something lined
up outdoors. A senior is likely to put in a
good word for you to the authorities. .
Your surprise gift to spouse or a family
member will be immensely appreciated.
Good memory will help some in surmount‑
ing a tough competition. A financial pro‑
posal is likely to fit your needs.
Taurus: A relative may come bearing
good news. Planning and a system‑
atic approach to your strategies and
actions will bring success and recognition
to you. You will be drawn towards religion
and philosophy, but will not follow it blind‑
ly. Good preparation by students will find
their confidence return. You just cannot
cater to the moods of all, so stop trying
and be your own self.
Gemini: Parents may nag you over
an issue and may not even listen to
your side of the story. You will be
able to give your best shot to a task at
hand. A letter of appreciation for a job well
done will make you feel immensely proud.
Getting the house painted can be on the
cards for some, but may prove most fatigu‑
ing for them. A bad case of allergy or body
ache threatens to make you miserable.
Cancer: You will be firm in your
thoughts and actions, in the coming
week. A do at a friendʼs place will
give you a chance to let your hair down.
Your romantic feelings will be readily recip‑
rocated by lover. A good job opportunity
can be yours if you are quick enough.
Those stepping out of the house should
take special care of their belongings. A
minor ailment may warrant a health check.
Leo: A festival is likely to be cele‑
brated at home with much gaiety.
Positive feelings will keep you in a
buoyant mood. Learning more skills will
add to your income and prestige. Your
dynamism will make you venture into new
projects, which will be outstanding and dif‑
ferent from the ordinary. You may be
sweet‑talked into buying something expen‑
sive you donʼt need.
Virgo: Opting for a healthy dietary
option will be a step in the right
direction. Your decisions at work‑
place are likely to hit the mark and boost
your reputation. Tensions prevailing on
the work front simply vanish into thin air.
Romantic front appears most happening as
an ex‑lover is likely to come back into your
life. A commitment you are scared of mak‑
ing will seem no more threatening.
Libra: Your fitness will keep you
active and energetic the whole
week. Love blooms as the one you
admire makes the move. Those wanting to
dispose of property are likely to get the
asked‑for price. Your request for salary hike
may be considered sympathetically. Praise
for a family member from teachers or sen‑
iors are likely to make you feel proud.
Hitting the jackpot is a distinct possibility.
Scorpio: A delay in submitting an
assignment can g ive you tense
moments, but you succeed.
Apprehensions and unanswered questions
become history as you get a chance to meet
your new love. Your attempts of selling a
property may not immediately get a good
response. Delegating duties will help meet
an important deadline. Walking, jogging or
cycling can help you get back into shape.
Sagittarius: Promising times lie
ahead for those planning to study
abroad. A minor issue can turn ugly
and vitiate the domestic environment. An
unfinished task or project can be resumed
on the work front. Help sought by some
will be forthcoming and will save much
running around. Those bored of the daily
grind may seek an outlet on the romantic
front.
Capricorn: A new hobby may help
some in employing their time con‑
structively. Opinion of the one you
secretly admire may not be as high as you
had imagined it to be. So, be a realist and
plant your feet firmly on the ground
before you proceed further. A good control
over expenditure is likely to help your sav‑
ings grow in these inflationary times.
Overeating or not eating right should be
guarded against.
Aquarius: Paucity of time may
restrict meeting lover. A hunch
about someone may prove correct.
Students will get a golden opportunity to
clear their doubts they have been reluctant
to ask in class. You may find a demand of
someone close unreasonable. Those earn‑
ing big bucks are likely to splurge on their
favourite stuff. You will be more than will‑
ing to try out a new health recipe.
Pisces: You get your way this week
on the professional front. A financial
tip may prove profitable. Your effer‑
vescent nature and communication skills
will floor all those around you. Those going
through a lean patch will get the support of
their well‑wishers. Donʼt discuss your
financial matters in the open and especially
in front of people you donʼt really know.

July 13, 2019 knowledge. Reading and research

Governed by the number 4, you
are also governed by the planet
Uranus, and dominated by the
planet Mercury. Your dynamic
personality makes you the centre
of attraction in any social gather‑
ing. In the year ahead of you, you
will be able to impress the oppo‑
site sex with your style of dress‑
ing and also impress them with
your conversation skills. In love
matters, it will be a good year for
you. Those of you, who are single,
can expect to find your life part‑
ner. Those of you in your 40th
year can expect to attain success.
In fact, you will reach newer
heights of excellence, and can
expect to reach the top hierarchy,
at work. You will have to be care‑
ful about respiratory infections.
But care and precaution, will help
you to overcome your health ail‑
ments, without much difficulty.
Your lucky jewels are emerald,
pearl and diamond and you
should wear these to attain hap‑
piness and prosperity. T he
months of July, October and
January will be very significant.
July 14, 2019
You are governed by the num‑
ber 5 and ruled by the planet
Mercury. You are co operative by
nature and will go all out to main‑
tain peace and harmony at work,
as well as the domestic front.
Since you do not like to annoy
anyone, and are always adjusting
to others demands, you have a lot
of friends around you. Your keen
power of observation and your
sharp mind will bring success to
ANNUAL PREDICTIONS: FOR THOSE BORN IN THIS WEEK
you in your business pursuits, in
the year ahead of you. You are a
reserved person and do not easily
show your emotions. This will be
an added asset to you. Those of
you, who are single, can expect to
find their life partner, in the year
ahead of you. Also, marriage will
bring you happiness as well as
prosperity. You will be tempted to
play high stakes in gambling, and
you should be careful where to
draw the line. T he months of
May, September and January will
be very eventful.
July 15, 2019
You are governed by the num‑
ber 6 and the planet Venus. You
are also dominated by the planet
Mercury. You are born with intel‑
ligence and communication skills.
Most of you do well as lawyers,
because you have the ability to
put forward your arguments.
Honour, prestige and dignity, will
be all yours, in the year ahead of
you. You will enjoy your work
and go to the depth of any project
that you undertake. The domestic
front will be full of happiness and
peace. You will have well wishers
and family around you and they
will be ever ready to help you,
when and if the need arises. But
you will have to be careful of not
taking hasty decisions. Be calm,
take your time, weigh the pros
and cons, before jumping to any
decision or conclusion. Use your
sharp memory to your advantage.
You w ill be drawn towards
research and studies, in the com‑
ing year. The months of June,
October and December will be
very significant.
July 16, 2019
You are dominated by the plan‑
et Neptune and governed by the
planet Mercury. You are also
dominated by the number 7. You
are humble and modest by nature
and do not like to exert your
authority. But, at the same time,
you do not like people interfering
in your personal life. You like to
be left alone and enjoy privacy.
Your love for reading and your
search for knowledge, will be
your assets, in the coming year.
Your sharp power of observation,
will allow you to notice minute
happenings around you, and you
will be able to make the best of
this. Your humble and modest
nature will draw the attention of
your friends, who will flock to
you for advice and help. But, you
tend to get restless at times and
in the bargain you take hasty
decisions. T his only leads to
unpleasantness. Your children
will bring you fame and happi‑
ness, in the year ahead of you.
The months of July, September
and November will be very event‑
ful.
July 17, 2019
You are governed by the num‑
ber 8 and the planet Saturn. You
are also dominated by the planet
Mercury. You are ambitious by
nature and will always aim to
reach the top. You desire to
achieve the best and nothing but
the best, for yourself in life. Your
creative ideas and hard work will
bring success to you, in your pro‑
fessional front, in the year ahead
of you. You can expect to see
plans and projects, being fulfilled
to perfection. You will not accept
traditional customs and conven‑
tions, and keep away from those
who have orthodox views in life.
Although a believer of religion,
you will not follow the routine
track. Your pleasing personality
and your deep knowledge of vari‑
ous issue, will make you the cen‑
tre of attraction at social gather‑
ings. But you will be cold towards
sentiments and emotions of oth‑
ers. You are not led away by tears
or emotions. The months of June,
September and February will be
very important.
July 18, 2019
You are governed by the num‑
ber 9 and dominated by the plan‑
et Mars. You are also influenced
by the planet Mercury.
Generosity and courtesy, are two
distinct qualities of your nature.
In the coming year, you will leave
no stone unturned, in fulfilling
your responsibilities. You will be
able to do this to the satisfaction
of your loved ones. Your honesty
will bring you prestige and recog‑
nition in whatever you undertake,
in the year ahead of you. You will
be able to pursue your quest for
will bring you pleasure and satis‑
faction. Your communication
skills will draw the attention of
your bosses and you will be able
to impress them with your views
and knowledge of various sub‑
jects and issues. Your lucky
colours are shades of yellow, red
and white, and you should keep
these in mind, while buy ing
clothes or painting your house.
The months of May, October and
November will be very eventful.
July 19, 2019
Governed by the number 1 and
the Sun, you are also dominated
by the planet Mercury. You are
intelligent by nature, and like to
go deep into the study of any sub‑
ject. Research and studies, are
your passion. With your methodi‑
cal approach to work, coupled
with your sincerity, you will be
able to achieve success in your
professional career. Those of you,
who are pursuing your studies,
you are advised to try and put in
your full concentration in what‑
ever you are doing. T his will
bring out the best in you and you
w ill be rewarded w ith fly ing
colours. You are full of life and
energy. Your enthusiasm in any‑
thing that you do makes you a
centre of attraction at any social
gathering. In the year ahead of
you, you will make many friends
and enjoy a life full of activity,
fun and laughter. Your lucky
colours are gold, ye llow and
g reen. T he months of July,
September and November will be
very eventful.
 30 July 13-19, 2019
By Sant Rajinder Singh
Ji Maharaj
W
e have witnessed more
scientific and techno‑
logical advances in the
past four decades than in all pre‑
vious recorded history. Scientists
have uncovered many of the laws
which govern nature itself. The
more they learn about the mys‑
teries of nature, the more they
marvel at the perfection of the
universe.
Many now proclaim that the
universe cannot be haphazard,
but must be the design of some
higher power.
There is a perfect balance in
nature. Our world, our environ‑
ment, and nature itself form a liv‑
ing, interdependent system. The
perfect balance of nature which
has maintained life on our planet
for millions of years is being
threatened by the very technolo‑
gy that has transformed the mod‑
ern world.
Every day the media report
new threats to the environment.
The air we breathe, the water we
drink, and the land from which
we derive our food are all pro‑
gressively polluted. T he very
atmosphere protecting the earth
is endangered. The concern for
the ecology of our planet is not
limited to any one country or
part of the world. We face a glob‑
al problem.
Concern for the ecology has
become one of the main preoccu‑
pations of the world. If we look
into the etymology of the word
"ecology" we find that it comes
from the Greek language. The
Greek word oikos means "house"
or "dwelling place." The element
"logy" means "the study of”.
There is another way of under‑
standing the word ecology. Saints
and mystics refer to our home or
dwelling place as the physical
body which God Himse lf has
made. T he indwe ller of this
house is the soul.
The scriptures tell us that we
have a responsibility to maintain
and preserve the purity and
beauty of the soul and its
dwelling place. Unfortunately, we
have largely ignored our spiritual
side and have sacrificed its purity
for the sake of the transitory
world. We can learn how to
restore nature and our own self
to their original beauty. And we
can put into practice methods to
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Like all other natural cycles,
there is a cycle of soul
preserve our spiritual purity.
All life forms one perfect tapes‑
try. Fundamental laws and cycles
underlie existence. The life cycle
in nature is an example of per‑
fect interconnectedness. Water
from the seas evaporates and
turns into water vapor. In this
process, impurities and minerals
are left behind. The vapor forms
into clouds, which are blown
across the land. As the clouds
meet cool air, the water condens‑
es into water droplets, and these
pour down as rain or snow which
nourishes life. For countless ages
this cycle has brought water
from the abundant oceans to the
land so that animals and people
can have fresh water to drink
and green plants can flourish.
With all our advances, we have
not devised a technology that can
duplicate the method by which
green plants convert sunlight,
carbon dioxide, and water into
food and oxygen. Through this
simple process the earth receives
a fresh supply of oxygen, neces‑
sary for all life, and an inex‑
Let us devote our time to the spiritual practices
haustible store of food is avail‑
able. so we can recover our innate God‐given
There is a perfect design in
nature. Even death helps to bring beauty. Once we develop it, we will reflect that
forth life. When plants and ani‑
mals die, their decomposed bod‑
ies provide essential minerals for
radiance to all those with whom we come in
crops. After millions of years the
decomposed material forms into
contact. We will, in fact, shower that love on
energy‑producing fossil fuels.
The ecological system which God
all living things and on our planet earth.
created on our earth is so unique
that ours is the only habitable power which keeps the universe simply moves from one life to to the temptations of the world.
planet in our solar system. running in perfect symmetry and another. The knowledge of our true self
Like other natural cycles ‑ such harmony, holding planets in their God, while separating souls lies buried in the deepest recess‑
as the water cycle, the plant orbit and the stars in the heav‑ from Himself, has also provided a es of our innermost soul. Like a
cycle, and the fossil‑fuel cycle ‑ ens. way for souls to return to Him. diamond buried deep within the
there is also a cycle of the soul. The soul is a spark of that cre‑ This way back to Him is through earth, or the layers of rich oil
The soul's journey began with ative principle. It is the enliven‑ the current of Naam or Word. lying far below the earth's sur‑
the creation of the universes, and ing force within us. As long as But, in the scheme of creation, it face, our most precious treasure,
it has been in motion ever since. the soul inhabits the body, the has been so ordained that the the soul, lies buried beneath lay‑
The scriptures tell us that in body is alive. At the time of phys‑ soul does not remember its past ers of mind, matter, and illusion.
the beginning, God was all alone. ical death, the soul departs that existence until it has achieved We need to tap into it during our
He was an ocean of all blissful body for good. spiritual evolution. If we were to present life span to uncover our
consciousness. Then He decided When God created the univers‑ recall each previous birth, our greatest resource.
to become many from One. This es, He separated souls from present life would be so compli‑ Let us devote our time to the
thought set in motion a vibra‑ Himself to inhabit the worlds. cated with memories of former spiritual practices so we can
tion, which resulted in two pri‑ Thus began the cycle of the soul. ties, it would be difficult to func‑ recover our innate God‑given
mal manifestations: Light and For eons it has been inhabiting tion within our existing relation‑ beauty. Once we develop it, we
Sound. All scriptures speak of the various planes of creation, ships. We would be seeking out will reflect that radiance to all
this Light and Sound by various taking up residence in one life our parents, spouses, and chil‑ those with whom we come in
names. This Word or Naam was form or another. When life in dren from previous births. Thus, contact. We will, in fact, shower
the God‑into‑expression power. It one body or life form ends, the a cloud of forgetfulness covers that love on all living things and
created various planes of exis‑ soul returns to inhabit another. each soul when it enters a new on our planet earth.
tence: the purely spiritual plane As a plant dies in the winter to birth. It has also forgotten its By restoring the ecological
of Sach Khand, the supracausal regenerate in the spring, so does true nature as soul, a drop of health of our soul, we will be
plane, the causal plane, the astral the soul transmigrate. When one God. In its successive births, the purifying and uplifting all cre‑
plane, and the material realms of life is over, it begins another, in a soul, in its state of ignorance, at ion. T hen, this world w ill
this physical plane. It created new form. Nothing is lost in identifies with the mind and return to the divine stage of
human beings and all other nature. The soul, being a spark of body. Instead of seeking the way godly bliss and ecstasy for which
species of life. It is this creative the immortal God, never dies. It back to its Source, it is attracted we were created.
TheSouthAsianTimes.info July 13-19, 2019
TheSouthAsianTimes.info July 13-19, 2019