Friday, February 12 2016 | Vol. 35, No. 07
$1
Indo American erican News
www.indoamerican-news.com Published weekly from Houston, TX
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India House on Mission ! P5
On Target !
India House held its annual Gala last Saturday, February 6 and Pandit Jasraj was the featured guest performer. From Left: Col. Vipin Kumar, Brij Agrawal, Durga Agrawal, Hari Agrawal, Bal Sareen, Pandit Jasraj, Dr. Virendra Mathur, Pandita Tripti Mukherjee, Pandit Suman Ghosh and his team. Top right corner: Keynote Speaker Dr. Renu Khator.
Movie Review
P23
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February 12, 2016
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COMMUNITY
February 12, 2016
When Marathon Calls, Running on Impulse is a Case of Mind Over Pain
Dr. Randeep Suneja broke his previous record, finishing in 2:29:08 at the Katy Half Marathon last Saturday, February 6
friend on Facebook who ran the Houston Marathon two weeks earlier, I felt really nostalgic,” recalled Dr. Randeep Suneja, 55 as he paused briefly between patients at his busy clinic in Katy, “and felt I was missing out. I really got inspired by all their stories.” A cardiologist with a busy practice, he trots rather than walks around his clinic, zipping between patients, and hardly had the time to commit to the strenuous demands of regular long distance running. Still, Suneja called Alain Ducante, a former marine who had started the group called Gotta Run Katy (gottarunkaty.com) a few years as a way to form kinship
ning 3 to 4 times a week, starting at 5 am and Suneja progressed well and at a fast pace. He registered two weeks before the race and ran for the Katy ISD Foundation, a non-profit that raises money for classroom projects in Katy schools. In an act of solidarity, on the spur of the moment, his two partners in the clinic Dr. Ramamanohara Pai, 46 and Dr. Kamalakannan Desikan, 42 decided to run too, though they had scarcely prepared for the race (they each finished in 2:20). It was a breezy, sunny morning last Saturday, February 6 when Suneja took to the starting gun and he had mentally committed to breaking his
After the race, Suneja posed with fellow runners and Board members of the Katy ISD Foundation which raises money for school projects.
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
KATY: He hadn’t really planned
for it since his all-consuming work schedule really didn’t allow for him to take off for the routine training it would take to run the 13.1 miles in a half marathon. But the call of marathon running was too great for him to pass up; the exhilarating high of the long distance run, the connection with other runners, pushing back the pain in the legs and rhythmic gulps for breaths of air was an exciting experience he could not push away. “It had been a year since I had run (see IAN dated Dec 19, 2014) and after reading the posts from
among marathoners and exercise too. The group has grown to 150 people who meet three times a week for an hour and Suneja had joined two years ago, but had been an infrequent participant. “I called Alain and asked him if he could train me one-on-one to run in the Katy Half Marathon slated for February 6. With 19 days to prepare, Alain was skeptical that I could be ready, but I was doggedly persistent,” smiled Suneja, “and determined to do it.” Alain cautiously agreed, concerned about any running injuries that might occur with ambitious training, and the two worked out a rigorous training schedule, run-
previous record of 2 hours and 33 minutes and went all out beating it by nearly 4 minutes, coming in at 2:29:08 and was elated. “Remarkably, I didn’t ache or feel sore afterwards at all,” said Suneja, still grinning after his achievement. To top it off, by Tuesday, February 9, Suneja found out that he had become the second highest fundraiser among the marathoners, and first from the Katy ISD heart foundation runners, to raise $6,500 for the KISD Education Foundation. Dr. Randeep Suneja is based at Cardiology Center of Houston in Katy; 281-646-9000, houstoncardiology.com
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Dr. A. P. Raghuthaman 1944 - 2016
Dr.
Ayyam Raghuthaman, renowned Houston area gastroenterologist passed away suddenly on Feb 8, 2016 during a brief visit to Coimbatore, India to attend a reunion of his Madras Medical College graduate colleagues. He died of an apparent massive heart attack and had no known prior symptoms. His last rites will be done in Palakkad in Kerala. He was only 71 years old and seemingly in good health, leading an active life both professionally and socially. A graduate of the Madras Medical College, Dr. Raghuthaman practiced medicine in Tamil Nadu, India in several rural areas before proceeding to Birmingham and later Wakefield in the UK for higher education and training. He later migrated to the US for internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical College in Youngstown. He then completed a two-year Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Texas at Houston in 1978, spending a year each at Memorial Herrmann and MD Anderson. An icon in his profession, he was a pioneer among Indian American doctors as independent practitioners and entrepreneurs in the Houston area, paving the way for many to follow suit. He was also a Clinical Assistant Professor in Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. He held numerous posi-
tions including Chairman of Credentials Committee, Chief of Staff, Chief of Quality Review among others. He was active in the Harris County Medical Society. He was a founding member and Medical Director of the Physicians Endoscopy Center. Raghuthaman believed that patients should be actively involved in the healing process. An outspoken person himself, he encouraged open and frank discussions with his patients so that they will make informed decisions. Dr. Raghuthaman, “Raghu” as he was popularly known, was a community leader and a philanthropist. His father, Mr. CP Kelu Erady was an Indian Administrative Services officer, serving as district Collector in Tamil Nadu and a strong role model. Raghuthaman is a native of Kerala but was well immersed in the Tamil culture. He was at ease speaking both Malayalam and Tamil that he later reflected in his life in Houston. He was a life member of the Tamil-based Bharathi Kalai Manram as well as cultural organizations with Kerala leanings. His greatest contributions to the community came through the Meenakshi Temple Society (MTS) in Pearland. He was part of the Steering Committee that established MTS almost 40 years ago! He was a member of the very first Board of Directors of MTS and later served on several boards including as Chairman for two terms. He was also active at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston as a patron and supporter of Indian and other Asian arts. A devoted family man, Dr. Raghuthaman is survived by his wife Shantha, son Ramesh and his fiancé Lisa, daughter Thara and her husband Vikram Bala. The Raghuthamans have four grandchildren Sabrina, Isabella, Meghana and Rohan. Dr. Raghuthaman will be missed by his family, friends and the community. May his soul rest in peace.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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February 12, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
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February 12, 2016
On Mission! On Target! India House Gala Celebrates a Busy Year
Photos: Bijay Dixit
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
SUGAR LAND: As it was heap-
ing platitudes on its achievements in the past year, India House could easily have added one more overlooked statistic: the first community fundraising Gala of the new year! After adding in the amounts raised at the auction and raffle held at the Gala on Saturday, February 6 at the Sugar Land Marriott Hotel, India House netted a comfortable amount (still untallied) from the Gala, all slated to fund its Mission and its programs. And though the focus was on what India House did, the night was carried away by the amaz-
ing performance of the acclaimed classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj who was the headliner entertainer, accompanied by Houston’s own vocalist and musician Pandit Suman Ghosh, who also performed a long solo piece. Ghosh’s daughters Amiya and Apurva provided vocal accompaniment to both entertainers and Anuraag Shah, son of noted local table maestro Shanti Lal Shah, and himself showing growing prowess in his musical skills. Pandit Jasraj’s performance was spellbinding as he led into his usual ragas and bhajans of rising and falling vocal notes. Jasraj has been a frequent visitor to Houston, last coming here May 2015 for the Manch Pravesh of Amiya and Apurva (see IAN dated June 12, 2015), and had performed
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the night before at a private dinner in India House. Before performing, he took the mic and spoke briefly in Hindi of his trips to the Bayou City. “I have been visiting Houston since 1984, but only in 2002 started to feel that my home is here because of Suman Ghosh ji,” he said, adding, “his home is an ashram.” In further tribute to Ghosh he noted that just as Marathi actor Dinanath Mangeshkar became better known after his daughter Lata and noted poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan after his
son Amitabh, “for me, I needed to have Suman Ghosh.” Mesmerized by Jasraj’s performance, US Congressman Al Green asked for the audience of over 300 people to join together to sing Happy Birthday for him, as Jasraj had turned 86 the week before on January 28. Green offered a certificate of special recognition to India House and was followed by Daniel Espinoza, representing US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee who offered similar salutations. The event started with a social hour with generous appetizers by Bombay Brasserie (who also catered the sit down dinner, with dishes served at the tables) and couples and group pictures by Bijay Dixit, the official photographer of India House. The décor of the ballroom, including India House logo and graphics splashed on the sidewalls, was by Prashe Décor and the sound and stage lights was by Darshak and Mona Thacker of
Krishna Sounds. The emcee for the evening, Pooja Lodhia, a news reporter for KTRK TV who guided the program through its steps. India House President Dr. Manish Rungta gave a brief outline of the events that are offered at the facility and the program that have been held there through the past year. Vipin Kumar, who has been the dynamo behind the splurge of activity at India House, joked about being elevated from General Manager to Executive Director, and drove deeper with a video showing the activities held throughout the year. Inside, off to one side of the stage, in a move that has been played out in three other events recently, rising local Indian artist, Gopaal Seyn slowly produced a colorful painting that was ultimately auctioned off for over $2,000. An auction for several items was held later and the raffle for a necklace donated by Karat 22
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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February 12, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
February 12, 2016
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COMMUNITY
February 12, 2016
Census Launches a Pilot Survey to Count Houston’s Diversity
Rogene Calvert (center) of Outreach Strategists with Census Bureau Regional Specialist Graydon Chiapetta (left) and Partnership Specialist Angeles Ortgea at the media outreach held on January 26.
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Sarita Mehta is the Recruiting Assistant for the US Census Bureau.
BY JAWAHAR MALHOTRA
HOUSTON: Just how important it is to
know the make-up of the US population got a head start with the launch of a test program by the United States Census Bureau, starting in Houston in the beginning of April. As part of its American Community Survey of 250,000 households it chooses
every month at random, the Bureau will be testing out a new internet response option allowing people to respond in English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean. In Houston, the enumeration will be done in the following zip codes on the west side: 77024, 77036, 77040, 77041, 77042, 77043, 77055, 77056, 77057, 77063, 77077, 77079, 77080, 77082 and 77092. For the past few months the Census Bureau has been sending out its Recruiting Assistants to find members from different communities to fill approximately 500 Field Interviewers positions for the fifteen targeted zip codes in the Houston area. The field staff must live in one of 45 zip codes in Houston for these temporary jobs which will pay from $16.75 to $25.25 per hour plus $0.54 per mile. One of the Recruiting Assistants is Sarita Mehta, a well-known figure among the Indian community, especially among Hindi lovers as she has participated in several Hindi poetry gatherings in the last few years. Mehta has worked with the Bureau for the past few months to help recruit more interviewers and has set up testing centers in various places in the 45 zip codes. She has been successful in having India House (in 77031) designated as a testing center and just last week was able to arrange for the Sri Govind Guriya Matha Mandir on 16628 Keith Harrow Blvd., in 77084 become another accepted testing cenCONTINUED ON PAGE
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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
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COMMUNITY
February 12, 2016
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Sewa International: Yuva for Sewa Summer Service Internship in India
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Mrs. Das smiled widely at her beautiful baby girl. She held on tightly to her husband’s hand as the nurse gently placed the newborn into her welcoming arms, and all of the onlookers – two OBGYNs, three nurses, and two Yuva for Sewa interns – could see the happiness radiating from this family. For the first time in my life, I witnessed what is oftentimes called the miracle of life – the birth of a child. I observed the entire procedure, from the time that the mother-to-be entered the active phase of labor to the health checkup of the newborn baby to the introduction of the baby to the rest of the family; each step is breathtakingly beautiful in its own way. My Yuva for Sewa internship has been an absolutely enriching experience, and I am grateful to Sewa International for giving me the opportunity to serve in India. During the first week, we were introduced to various areas in Bangalore where we were able to serve the rural population of India. As an Indian-American, I unfortunately take excellent public schooling for granted, while here in India, gov-
ernment schools are oftentimes only subpar and the upper middle class can afford to send their children to private schools. I came to understand that many of India’s problems as a developing nation could be solved if public schooling improved. I witnessed how volunteers from all over the globe are working together to educate the Indian youth. The teachers at Seva Bharti, the volunteers at the Nele orphanage, and the tutors at the Hosakerehalli school all work toward the common goal of giving Indian children the opportunity to experience a bright future. After witnessing their fervor and drive, I began to appreciate the notion of Sewa even more and to become wholly invested in my projects. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our time as interns at Rangadore Memorial Hospital. We learned so much by shadowing the OBGYNs and we are also grateful that we can give back by serving their patients. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to intern and serve at such a welcoming hospi-
tal in India, and I look forward to engaging in future service projects across the globe. Sewa International and Yuva for Sewa has emphasized that just one person can make a drastic difference in the lives of many, and I intend to lead my life with this inspiring approach. Please read my blog to know more about my experiences: http://goo.gl/9SZi5V. To know more about the Yuva for Sewa program, log on to http://www.sewausa.org/YFS interested candidates apply online at http://www.sewausa.org/yuvasewa-2016. Admissions are on a rolling basis and YFS is currently recruiting. The final deadline is March 31st 2016. Sewa International (www. sewausa.org) is a Hindu-faith based, US based nonprofit that promotes selfless service to communities around the world regardless of race, color, nationality, religion, or gender. To volunteer, contact info@sewausa.org.
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Census Launches a Pilot Survey to Count Houston’s Diversity CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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ter. “We would like to have people from all different backgrounds test to become Field Interviewers,” explained Mehta as she quickly set up for a test one Sunday at India House. The tests will be held there every Wednesday and Sunday through the end of March. “Bi-lingual speakers are encouraged to apply, including speakers of Hindi and Urdu,” she added. Two weeks ago, the Bureau held a media event, organized by long-time community activist Rogene Calvert at her office at Outreach Strategists on Richmond Avenue on Tuesday, January 26 to explain the objectives of the new test run. Regional Specialist Graydon Chiapetta and Part-
nership Specialist Angeles Ortgea were on hand to explain the use of mobile devices to capture the data, which it expects to use for the next decennial census in 2020. The use of technology is part of the Bureau’s plan to become more accurate while saving money on printing the census forms and mailing them to each household. In 2010, the ACS form cost $96 per household and it is expected to cost much more by 2020. Those interested in taking the 30-minute test for the Field Interviewer position can contact Sarita Mehta at 1-800-3616891.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
10 February 12, 2016
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COMMUNITY
February 12, 2016
11
Selfie To Die For
GAURI SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE
For Any Ceremony Contact Pradip Pandya 832 466 9868 Email: pradippandya2000@yahoo.com
Deepak Gandhi
BY VANSHIKA VIPIN
MUMBAI (INDIA): With the
ease of access to smart phones, the selfie has become a mainstay on several mediums we interact with on a daily basis. People who were once ‘selfie-shy’ followed suit, seeing their friends get good number of ‘Likes’ or ‘Followers’ on the social media. Selfies have in some way become a medium to increase social interaction in real life. Selfies have truly graced the internet but it definitely has its own spinoffs. It may be hard to imagine your smart phone evoking the kind of terror associated with Jaws, but you most certainly have more reasons to be afraid of taking a selfie than of encountering a Great White. Stats mention that selfies have caused more deaths than sharks. The selfies that storm into your life can be the cause of shattering your life. The cool selfie that you envisage will get you several likes could fetch you ‘RIP’s’ instead. Selfies can KILL! Yes, they definitely can. And this is precisely why Deepak Gandhi, a resident of Mumbai, India, has started a
movement called Selfie To Die For, the objective being to create awareness on the life hazards of taking adventurous & risky selfies. "Usage of smartphones are increasing each day and an average of about 14 selfies are being taken per day by the youth. That’s about 5000+ selfies in an year. Even if a fraction of these selfies are taken in a life threatening way, it is big enough a number to be concerned”, says Deepak. In a temporary moment of achieving ‘Carpe Diem’, we risk our lives to click that one extraordinary photo not realising how dangerous it may be. Selfies taken on adventurous trail and in bizarre situations, in a bid to capture the thrilling moments, can lead to accidents or prove fatal. From climbing high-rise buildings to hanging off cliffs, young adults are willing to go to any lengths for that killer selfie. And a killer, it certainly is for several selfie related deaths and accidents that have happened all over the world. More than half of the selfie deaths in 2015 happened in India. Atleast 4 people have already died in 2016. SelfieToDieFor.org is a website aimed at creating awareness about this very problem. Through infographic representation about the deadly outcomes of life threatening selfies, this website encourages vis-
itors to pledge to selfie responsibly. On doing so, they get a ‘digital badge’ which mentions ‘ I Pledge to Selfie Responsibly’, which can later be shared on Facebook/Twitter. This creates a viral effect and top-of-the-mind recall. On being asked what prompted Deepak to start this movement he said, “I had seen people using a selfie stick while riding bikes. I looked up for incidents like these and found out that there were several selfie accidents around the world, some of them fatal. And there was no awareness drive that could help people understand the ghastly outcomes of selfies. That’s when I took it up as my responsibility and decided to create awareness on this issue, globally". Visit SelfieToDieFor.org and pledge to selfie responsibly. Be a Responsible Selfie Citizen. F a c e book: https:// www.facebook. com/selfietodieforTwitter: https:// twitter.com/selfietodiefor
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On Mission! On Target! India House Gala Celebrates a Busy Year CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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Jewelers was won by none other than Renu Khator, the Keynote speaker, who promptly turned around and donated it back for auction. A special presentation was made by Dr. Stephen J. Spann, a Special Assistant to the President and Planning Dean for a possible medical school at the University of Houston. He is a dedicated physician and seasoned healthcare administrator with experience at Baylor College of Medicine, UTMB and Johns Hopkins and has been working with UH for the past few months. He applauded India House, which has a free medical clinic as well as a Harris Health Clinic, for their ability to provide primary health care. “When you don’t have ac-
cess to healthcare, things are just difficult,” Spann remarked, and added that places with a higher primary care physician to population ratio usually have healthier populations. Renu Khator, the Chancellor of the University of Houston System and President of the flagship campus was the Keynote speaker, ‘reluctantly recruited,” she quipped, “because you can’t turn down Dr. Durga Agrawal”, an IH Trustee. Honored to be in his presence, she remembered when Pandit Jasraj taught a course at the University of South Florida when she was still there. Instead of focusing on UH, Khator dwelt on what it meant to be an Indian American and how this identity evolves the longer the new immigrant stays in the US. She used her own experience from
a 19 year-old to now, 42 years later, to illustrate the mental, cultural and professional changes that occur for new immigrants and stressed being engaged in your surroundings. “Being Indo American is an asset, not a liability,” she concluded, counselling, “do everything possible for India but expand your heart to include the US.”
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
Contact: Gopal Aggarwal
832-539-1589
12 February 12, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
DIASPORA
February 12, 2016
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How an Indian-Origin MP in Canada is Helping Syrian Refugees
Arif Virani (extreme right) welcomes Syrian refugees coming into Canada at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.
BY ANIRUDH BHATTACHARYYA
T
ORONTO: On December 10 last year, as the first planeload of Syrian refugees arrived at Toronto’s Pearson Airport and was greeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the official welcoming party that accompanied him featured someone who himself had landed in Canada 43 years earlier as a refugee. That’s Arif Virani, freshman member of Parliament from the Toronto constituency of ParkdaleHigh Park, who was appointed parliamentary secretary to the minister for citizenship, immigration
and refugees in November, and is now assisting his senior cabinet colleague in what is the most highprofile undertaking of the Trudeau regime - resettling 25,000 refugees by the end of February. “What’s nice about the specific portfolio that’s been given to me is that I’m now the parliamentary secretary to the minister while we’re in the middle of one of the biggest refugee resettlement projects that we’ve undertaken in the country’s history. I’m squarely integrated in that role and I’m sort of working with the minister directly,” Virani said in an interview at his office in Toronto. 1972 was the year Ugandan dic-
tator Idi Amin banished those of Asian origin, mostly Indians, from the African country, and Virani’s parents, along with his then fouryear-old sister and the toddler arrived at Montreal’s Dorval airport. He said of his recent experience at the airport (and he’s returned since to greet more batches at the arrival hall): “It was significant for me to see so many kids, eight-monthsold, ten-months-old, a year, the exact same age I was when I arrived, and thinking about what the future holds for them. That gave me some cause to reflect on my journey.” It’s also an assignment that is “very very significant” to his refugee parents.
“They’re extremely proud that I’m working on this project and all of my understanding of what transpired when we arrived in Montreal in 1972 has been told to me - the reception we received, the hospitality of the people of Quebec.” There’s also the recollection of having been housed at YMCA in Montreal, one that resonates in the current context of the Canadian government scrambling for temporary lodgings for the new immigrants. The logistics have been challenging, most particularly when it comes to security screening of the incoming immigrants, given the anxiety over infiltration by Islamic State elements that has been rife (and accentuated since the Paris terror attacks). Unlike those that entered Europe, the security vetting is being undertaken at the “frontend”, in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. Virani said of that multi-stage system: “We’ve ensured all of the requisite security qualifications and screens are met. People are screened initially, they then go through a 45-minute to one-hour interview. Fingerprint analysis, iris scans and full biometric data is compiled on the individual. “We then run all of that data through a Canadian and American database, which has more than assuaged any of the concerns of our
American allies. When they board the plane, they are checked once again. When they arrive, they are verified once more.” It’s a fairly onerous task as 500 federal personnel have been deployed in places like Amman and Beirut and process nearly 800 daily claims. There is hope that such measures are allaying any residual fears. “We’re making sure that security threats are not being accepted into the country,” Virani asserted. Virani’s roots are in Ahmedabad, though he was born in Kampala. This human rights lawyer has had the opportunity to work both in that city and New Delhi. And in recent years, those ties have strengthened since his wife is from Kanpur. “My first son, when he was born, we took him there when he was nine-months-old and he first learnt to crawl in Kanpur at his nanima’s childhood home,” Virani said. A cricket fan, he watched some Delhi Daredevils games at the Ferozshah Kotla in 2008, the inaugural year of the Indian Premier League. While he tended to his two sons over the holiday season, on December 31, his elder son’s fifth birthday, Virani took his child along to the airport as another group of Syrian immigrants arrived. He wanted that to be an experience and a “life lesson”. -HindustanTimes
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
14 February 12, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
February 12, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
15
16 February 12, 2016
COMMUNITY
A Dinner to Give Children Happy and Healthy Childhoods CRY America to host its First Annual Gala Dinner in Houston on Sunday, February 28, 2016 for the cause of underprivileged children.
HOUSTON: CRY, Child Rights and You
America Inc (CRY America), a 501c3 nonprofit that works to restore the rights of underprivileged children, especially in India, will host its First Houston Gala Dinner on Sunday, February 28, at the Stafford Civic Center in Stafford, TX. The Dinner will be attended by celebrity guests Pooja Batra, former Miss India, Supermodel and Actress; Dan Nainan, Master of Ceremonies and Comedian; Houston Texans Cheerleaders and performances by Malika Ghei and Bollywood Shake Kids. Be part of CRY America’s unforgettable evening of dinner, silent and live auction, music and dancing and enable better childhoods for thousands of children deprived of education, healthcare and protection. The evening will include an exclusive auction with a Guitar autographed by Sir Paul McCartney (Beatles), Baseball autographed by President Barack Obama and Apollo 11 Photograph autographed by NASA Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael
Collins. Event Sponsors include Dharam Bali of Vantive Inc. and Amir Dodhiya of New York Life. Event Management by Bollywood Shake, Dinner Service by Chef Sunil Srivastava of Great W’kana Café, Decorations and Center Pieces by Deco Art Event Planners, and Photography by Murali Santhana. Media by Masala Radio, Meena Datt and Indo American News. Proceeds from the dinner will go towards ensuring thousands of underprivileged children are ensured their basic rights to live, learn, grow and play. To purchase dinner tickets, tables, or sponsorships visit http://america.cry.org/site/microsite/ Dinner2016/cry-america-houston-dinner. html About CRY America: CRY, Child Rights and You America Inc (CRY America) is a 501c3 non-profit driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. With the support of over 20,885 donors and 2,000 volunteers, CRY America has impacted the lives of 450,832 children living across 2,642 villages and slums through support to 70 Projects in India and USA. For more information: visit http:// america.cry.org or write to support@cryamerica.org For more information: visit http:// america.cry.org or write to support@cryamerica.org
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
VALENTINES DAY o
February 12, 2016
17
12 Romantic Gift ideas for Wife or Girlfriend on Valentines Day
rigin of Valentine’s Day:
The first Valentine was posted around 1806. Almost one billion Valentine's Day cards are sent each year on or near February 14 with females purchasing 85% of the cards. This is second only to the number of Christmas cards sent. The history is somewhat murky as to how Valentine's Day has come to be what we now know and celebrate. Saint Valentine served in third-century Rome. Emperor Claudius decided that single men made better soldiers. Therefore, Claudius banned soldiers from being married. One version of the story is that Valentine continued to perform the weddings of young soldiers who were in love, and Claudius had Valentine imprisoned. While imprisoned, Valentine reportedly fell in love with the jailer's daughter. Valentine sent her a card and signed it, "Love, your Valentine." Another version is that Valentine defied Claudius by helping Christians escape the torture of the Romans. Valentine died in approximately A.D. 270. Others claim the church may have decided to celebrate in mid February to "Christianize" the pagan Roman celebration Lupercalia. The first Valentine sent in the United States was in the 1840's by Esther Howgald. Most of us enjoy "spoiling" a loved one on Valentine's Day. Sending gifts and cards conveys love, affection, and friendship. www.gotquestions.org
Top Romantic Gift Ideas for Women on Valentines Day
Majority of Women love 3 types of Gifts. Gifts that are Sexy, Sentimental or Surprise do not fail to impress most Women. A man who understands that already have made a place in her heart. Undivided attention is the best gift you can give to your women on a Valentines Day. Try spending the entire day with your love. One good thing about gifts for committed women is that any gift that proclaims your love to the woman is a good bet. What Women really want from their Men on Valentines Day is still a mystery with many men. Here are some ideas or tips men can use to woo their loved ones. Lingerie: Lingerie is an all time favorite gift with majority of women. Women like silk especially and love the feel of it against the skin.If you are intimate with your partner you can buy her sexy lingerie and she would love it. More than as a gift for her it would be something you are gifting yourself as you would be watching her dressed up in the lingerie. Flowers: Most Women love flowers. Flowers can convey a lot without actually saying the words. Different flowers have different
meanings and significance. Most probably your florist is likely to know it but make sure you do your homework before buying flowers for the lady. Otherwise you would end up getting the negative effect in place of the results you expected. However, flowers does not stand much a chance as a stand alone gift or a gift of value as it can go to the vase for 2-3 days and then have to be thrown away. When you are giving flowers to a lady make sure you add a card and a hand written note. Chocolates: Most women love Chocolates. But if your woman is a fitness freak and watch her calories it can be a bad idea as a Gift. In that case buy her healthy chocolates. Romantic Songs, Movies or Books: Most Women love romantic movies compared to action packed or horror movies. Majority of girls grow up reading the Mills and Boons Romance Series of books and most continue filling the voids in their life reading it even after they are married. Finding out what she likes and giving her exactly want she wants can help score some brownie points with her. A customized music CD is a great idea as Gift. You can even write a love poem for her or a love letter. I am sure most women would love such a gesture from her man. Candlelight Dinner: Treat her with a romantic candle light dinner at her favorite restaurant along with Wine or Champagne and she would love it. Hand feed her at a candle lit table to some great music on a lovely night and say words of love. Nothing can move a woman more than words of love from the man she loves. But make sure you team it up with some alternate gifts too like Flowers or even a Chocolate you can share Jewelry: Jewelry wins the race with any women as Romantic Gifts. There are hardly any women who cannot resist gold or gemstone jewelry. Silver or Platinum jewelry are welcome too as gifts. When you give jewelry try not to go for fakes. If you cannot afford a 22 caret go for 14 caret jewelry rather than gifting fakes. You can find affordable jewelry in Online Stores like Amazon. Heart Pendants and Rings are huge hits with women
on Valentines Day. Birthstone Jewelry is also an instant hit with most women. A Night out: Women like to spend quality time along with their partner or like others to see you two as a couple. Take her for a Movie or Play she wanted to watch. You could also take her for a Valentines Day Party where you could dance together to the music. Propose to her on Valentines Day: If you are going steady with your girlfriend and want to marry her nothing can be more romantic than proposing marriage and proclaiming your love and commitment to her by putting a ring on her finger?Buy her a Diamond Ring and propose marriage to her on Valentines Day. Diamond is the best gift you can give any women as a gift which is priceless and compliment to her strength and beauty. Buy her a piece of Moon or name a Star after her: Lunar Real Estates now have made it possible to buy land in the moon. Another option available is naming a star after the love of your life. These are unique and most romantic gifts you can ever give a Girlfriend or Wife. Digital Photoframe: Most women are sentimental creatures. Arrange your special moments together in a Digital Photo frame and give it to her as a gift. You can get her a set of mugs with your snap together. Do not forget to cover your Gift with a nice gift wrapper and place a tag with your name and a peck with your lipstick on. She would love it. Perfumes: Perfumes make excellent romantic gifts if chosen wisely. If your woman is brand conscious make sure that you don’t pick up a cheap perfume for her from the street shop. Check out Top 10 Sensual Perfumes for Women. Pamper her with a Gift Voucher to her favorite Spa: Most women like luxury spa items that help her to relax and unwind. Aromatherapy Products is a great gift idea with women. All women like pampering. You can pamper her with a nice massage if she is willing. -Hubpages.com
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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
18 February 12, 2016
EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY That Elusive Name Game
Loos the Plot
The news report that 90 village households in UP have de-
molished the indoor toilets the sarkar built for them in their homes could give a new fillip to the 10-year-old National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (NREGS), which was running into problems. The chief of these problems was that of boredom. Giving people a guarantee of at least 100 days of employment a year was all very fine. But what form was this employment to take? Building schools, hospitals and roads took money for raw materials like bricks, and cement, and tarmac and other stuff. But by the time the sarkar had paid for all these things, there’d be no money left to pay for the labour to build these schools, and hospitals, and roads, no money left to make good on the governmental guarantee of employment. The best – indeed the only – way to ensure that all the NREGS funds went towards paying for employment, and not for anything else, was to get people to dig a hole, and then get people – either the same people, or different people – to fill up the hole that had been dug. This was a sure-fine method of paying for employment, and employment alone. But it was also very boring for all those involved, resulting in many people found literally sleeping on the job. Now, thanks to the laudable enterprise shown by the UP villagers who’d demolished their loos, a new avenue of gainful – and at the same time nonboring and entertaining – employment has been opened up. The breaking of government-provided loos could give rise to a reborn NREGS: a scheme for National Recreation, Entertainment and Golmal Scheme. This new NREGS might not be in keeping with the Swachh Bharat initiative. But it would reflect the reality of the true Bharat, or Sachh Bharat. Jug Suraiya in Times of India.
T
BY BIKRAM VOHRA
hese search engines have taken away all the wonderful stress and tension and misery of not being able to recollect the name of someone’s wife, some shop, some author, anything at all. There was a time one would lie there at night racking one’s brains because there was no way you’d get that elusive gush of relief and peace of mind till that final piece of the puzzle got off the tip of your tongue and leaped into your mind. A trivial pursuit became an obsession. I remember years ago having that chain of thought from a desert drive to race horses to meeting Hema Malini at a studio and suddenly there was this overwhelming need to know what her name was as the gabby girl in Sholay. So there I am tossing in bed thinking, Chambeli, Veena, Paro, a scatter of names and it is uncanny but in this self-inflicted sport we all engage in you know immediately when you have the right one and now it is two in the morning and I cannot sleep, is it Bindu, Vidya, Charu, so I shake
I tossed and turned in bed. What was the name of that gabby girl in Sholay? The mental torture of trying to remember before we had Google. my wife awake and say, what was Hema Malini’s name in Sholay? It’s two in the morning? I know the time, I have a watch, but I need to know the name. Have you finally lost it, go to sleep or leave the room. Pyaari, Neelu, Lekha, none of them fit the bill. My friend Mani is an aviation
doctor and he is also a movie buff and lives in Bengaluru so I call him and I say hi, sorry to wake you up but what was Hema Malini’s name in Sholay the movie, you know the girl who talks too much. Who is that? It’s me, Mani, give me the name. Do you know it is nearly three in the morning? Why does everyone keep telling me the time, just give me the answer. Have you gone completely bananas, even Hema Malini doesn’t care, but for old times’ sake it is Bayanti, now beat it. Some friend, right. Phew. But something is not right. It isn’t Bayanti, it is like Bayanti but I am not getting that happy feeling of accomplishment when it is right on. Now it has gotten worse. The sun is carving itself on the edge of the window and the first rays are dripping into the room and old bleary eyed sleepy man has still not got it solved. Come on, Veeru, help. These days, hit the button, put in the question and presto, you get 99,976 hits saying, Basanti. Not quite the same thing. Bikram Vohra is a humor writer for the Times of India..
Chandy’s Sunburn
Not for nothing do they call her
‘solar Saritha’. Saritha Nair’s allegation that Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy and members of his cabinet took bribes to help her and her partner set up a solar panel business empire have turned the state’s politics upside down. Chandy has vehemently denied the charges and got temporary relief from the Kerala high court, which put a two-month stay on a vigilance court order for an investigation against him and his cabinet colleague Aryadan Mohammed. Yet, with barely three months to go for assembly elections in Kerala, the solar scam case is turning into apolitical nightmare for the ruling Congress-led UDF government. To compound matters Saritha has alleged before a judicial commis-sion probing the scam that the
chief minister’s son Chandy Oommen was also involved, and the judge whose decision on the FIR was over-ruled by the high court has offered to resign. There are rumblings within the state Congress as well, with the chief minister’s inter-nal rivals sharpening their knives. Chandy says he will file criminal defamation charges against Nair who claims that she paid him Rs 1.9 crore in bribes, along with Rs 40 lakh to cabinet minister Mohammed, for benefits to her solar power venture. Chandy has also offered to quit public life if charges are proved. But a leaked audio tape allegedly shows a Congress spokesperson telling Nair to “play safe” in her judicial deposition. Chandy has become the first Kerala chief minister to be ques-
tioned by a judicial commission and the chief minister is clearly on the political defensive. Kerala’s local body election results in November 2015 were a clear warning signal. The opposition LDF demonstrated its resurgence when it won more than half of the 1,199 three-tier local governing bodies. The ruling UDF, which had bagged 70% of local governing bodies in 2010, declined sharply, even as BJP made new inroads in Hindu patches across Kerala. Though UDF managed to retain most traditional strongholds in central Kerala, the Left’s improvements in south and north Kerala as well as BJP’s gains in Thiruvananthapu-ram Corporation demonstrated how political winds are shifting. Times of India
Indo American News FOUNDER: DR. K.L. SINDWANI PUBLISHER: JAWAHAR MALHOTRA EDITOR: PRAMOD KULKARNI BUSINESS & PRODUCTION MANAGER: VANSHIKA VIPIN GRAPHIC DESIGN: BHUMI PARMAR CORRESPONDENTS
HOUSTON: MALAY VYAS CHICAGO: NAND KAPOOR INDIA: RAJ KANWAR, ASEEM KULKARNI ®All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the written consent of the publisher. The deadline for advertising and articles is 4 pm on Monday of each week. Please include self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of all unsolicited material. Published at 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, Texas 77036. Tel: 713-789-NEWS or 6397 Fax: 713-789-6399, email: indoamericannews@yahoo.com, website: indoamerican-news.com
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY W
February 12, 2016
19
The Four Best Tricks to Help Your Child Memorize Information
hether young or old, our brains can sometimes have trouble retaining certain information. As we celebrate this year’s President’s Day on February 15, consider the long list of U.S. Presidents as a challenge—although George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are easily remembered, what about naming the other 42 presidents in chronological order? Fortunately, there are a couple of tricks to give your child’s memory a little extra oomph. While it’s easy to do a Google search to find out that Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president, there’s immense value in having your children know it for themselves. Why? Because it exercises the brain, teaching it how to better remember, recall, and recite bigger chunks of factual information. Here are a few popular methods to try with your kids to help them memorize information in no time: Try “Chunking” the Information In 1956, a psychologist named George A. Miller came up with a theory—our brains can’t handle memorizing things in amounts bigger than seven to nine items. So, in order to remember a long list of names, it’s better to instead break them down into chunks. Have your child begin by memorizing a list of the first eight presidents. Ask them to repeat the list in their heads, or have them write it down on a piece of paper a few times. Once they can write the entire list easily by memory, move on to the next eight presidents.
Utilize the Power of Music No matter how much we try to resist it, songs always have a way of getting stuck in our heads. Before you know it, you’re humming an infectious melody over and over again. This same method can be used for memorizing important information. Find an existing song that your child already enjoys; then, create your own rendition by ordering the presidents based around a melody, by singing a mnemonic device, or by even singing phrases with the presidents’ names inserted. Get Creative with Mnemonic Devices This is probably one of the more popular methods to memorize information. Mnemonic devices allow you to create a phrase, sentence, or even a word made up of parts of the presidents’ names. Do this by first grouping presidents into small groups (similar to “chunking” information). Then, take the first letter of their last name and create a fun phrase that your kids can easily recall. For example, “Wally’s Alligators Just
Made Matt And Julie Vanish” for George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Martin Van Buren. Go Visual Make a bulletin board containing pictures of each president, along with separate, removable flashcards containing a unique fact and their first and last names mounted under each photo. After reviewing the names with the faces several times, remove the flashcards and mix them up. Then, see how many names your child can correctly match to the right president (it may be helpful to break these up into chunks, too). To help your student exceed his or her academics goals, a local resource, Best in Class, offers a variety of customized, supplemental enrichment courses and tutoring options to ensure your students are equipped with the tools they need this school year. For more information about Best in Class services for your student, or about current franchising opportunities, visit www.bestinclasseducation.com or call toll free at 1.888.683.8108. Best in Class is targeting the addition of 20 more units in 2016. The state of Texas has been identified as a key state for growth. The current team behind Best in Class is looking for passionate and dedicated individuals to join this premier franchise family and ensure our youth will excel academically.
Perception is Reality for Sikhs in Americas
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MEXICO: On the morning of
February 8, the actor, model, fashion and jewelry designer, and all around 21st century Renaissance man Waris Ahluwalia, was denied entry into an Aeromexico plane because of his turban. According to Ahluwalia, he arrived at the gate to board his flight from Mexico City to New York and was told to step aside and be subjected to a very thorough pat down. Ahluwalia agreed to it for the sake of necessary security measures, until they asked him to remove his turban. Being a follower of Sikhism, removing one’s turban is deeply personal as it represents commitment and accountability to Sikh Gurus as well as a symbol of being a servant to the diving presence. He stated that the turban was a symbol of his faith, that he always wore it in public, that it’s similar to asking someone to get naked, and that he would not take it off. He was told that he would be denied access to his flight and would have to book another one. The actor then took to social media and posted pictures on Insta-
ALEXANDER P. MATHEWS, CPA
(281) 564-9500
Actor Waris Ahluwalia with his Aeromexico boarding pass (left) and his appearance in an ad for Gap.
gram including his boarding pass and another with him in front of an Aeromexico customer service kiosk. In a statement, Aero Mexico said Ahluwalia “was asked to submit to screening and inspection before boarding, in strict compliance with TSA protocol,” and that the airline offered him alternatives to fly home. Aero Mexico did not apologize but said, “We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by this incident.” Unfortunately for AeroMexico, Waris Ahluwalia, who has starred in films such as Inside Man, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Darjeeling Limited, as well as the Gap ad campaign Make Love, also happens to be one of the leading Sikh American
advocates and social activists. Waris Ahluwalia’s incident with Aeromexico simply points to the continued ignorance turbanwearing Sikhs face in the West. It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re a taxi driver to Ajaypal Singh Banga, the president and CEO of Mastercard, wearing a turban guarantees you a life of frequent humiliation. Whether it be a “random” search by TSA before boarding a flight, vandalism and violent attacks on gurdwaras such as the attack on Oak Creek Wisconsin killing 6 , or the subtle and not so subtle taunts about “wearing a rag”, there is a long way to go for respecting and protecting the freedom of religious expression.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
20 February 12, 2016
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
HEALTH
February 12, 2016
Benefits of Suryanamaskar
R
BY POOJA MAKHIJA
T
he Suryanmaskar has many benefits and if done regularly can not only help you lose flab but can also help you combat diseases. The Suryanmaskar has many benefits and if done regularly can not only help you lose flab but can also help you combat diseases. Here are a few benefits of this asana... - Suryanamaskar, or Sun Salutations, ideally done facing the early morning sun, helps our body to soak in its benefits -Sun rays are a rich source of vitamin D and helps to strengthen our bones and also helps to clear our vision. - This asana, apart from improving one's posture, also gives a proper workout to the body and so helps in losing unwanted flab. - Regular practice of this asana can also help you loose the excess belly fat. - The postures in Suryanamaskar
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stretches our muscles and makes our body very flexible. - The moves and postures of the asana help all our internal organs function better — the various poses regulates our blood flow, benefits the digestive system and makes it more efficient. - It helps combat insomnia as it relaxes the body and calms the mind. - It helps regulate menstrual cycles
and makes childbirth easier. - This asana is known to facilitate blood circulation and thereby help hair growth and prevent hair problems. - It reduces anxiety and restlessness and enhances our strength and vitality. - Suryanamaskar benefits not just adults, but kids as well. -TimesofIndia
P/T Graphic Artist
ABC-13/KTRK-TV, the ABC/Disney owned station in Houston, TX, has a part-time position for an experienced Graphic Artist. The ideal candidate will have a degree in graphic design, web, marketing or related field; demonstrable expertise in graphic design, and 2-3 years professional experience using Adobe Creative Suite, to create content and graphics for broadcast TV, interactive or multimedia projects, and social media. Experience producing broadcast graphics and 3-d experience is a plus. We offer a collaborative and creative work environment. To be considered for the position you must apply online at disneycareers.com, ref job #344477BR Please upload a cover letter, resume, link to online portfolio, and list of references. No Telephone Calls
Honey Can Destroy Harmful Fungus and Save Lives!
esearchers from Britain have identified the effect of honey used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases, on pathogenic fungi that can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people. Researchers from the University of Manchester in Britain discovered a powerful link between Surgihoney -- a medicinal type of honey and the destruction of Fusarium -- a fungus that can cause blindness or even death. The researchers used different concentrations of Surgihoney, a biologically engineered honey that produces chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen, to test how effective it could be in destroying the fungus Fusarium, which is found on plants and in soil. Even the lowest concentrations had a significant effect in breaking down the cell wall of the fungus, demonstrating its potential as a future treatment for patients, the study
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21
revealed. Chronic infections, such as those found in longlasting wounds comprise about 60-80 percent of infectious diseases in humans and the way fungi invades wounds is associated with the use of broadspectrum antibiotics. Latest Comment The beneficial effects of honey finds mention in the holy Qur’an. In fact honey & honey bees have special references.Biofilms -- thin layers of micro organisms, which group together -- contribute to the severity and delayed healing of such chronic wounds, the researchers said. “Through my research I wanted to show the potential for honey as a healing agent to break through these biofilms and in doing so increase the process of healing. What I found amazing is that honey actually works better than some antifungals,” Zain Habib Alhindi, research student at the Manchester University said in an official statement. - TOI
PROMOTIONS PRODUCER
KTRK-TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, TX, is seeking a MultiPlatform Promotions Producer/Writer/Editor for the Creative Services department. We are looking for a creative genius who can write, shoot, produce and edit news and programming promotions as well as create digital ads, social videos, and original content that keeps audiences engaged in our local news products. The ideal candidate will be a team player with a strong understanding of local news branding, journalism, and digital marketing trends with at least 3 years of experience producing promotions. In-depth knowledge of Final Cut Pro and Adobe Creative Suite as well as basic After Effects skills are necessary. Extensive experience working alongside a large news staff to turn daily news stories into compelling promotions is necessary as is the ability to work in fast-pasted, creative environment. To be considered all interested applicants must apply on-line at www.disneycareers. com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please Reference Job ID: 344471BR No Telephone Calls
KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
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TEMPORARY NEWS REPORTER
KTRK-TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, TX, has an opening for a full time temporary News Reporter. Candidates should have experience in general assignment reporting, including live breaking news. Applicants must be able to develop contacts, enterprise good, hard news stories, and respond well to spot news. Candidates must have outstanding writing skills for both broadcast and digital platforms. Must be willing to work evenings and weekends. All interested applicants must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Interested applicants should also send video tape samples of your news related work to: Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. Please Reference Job ID: 344755BR on all materials submitted.
KTRK-TV is an Equal Opportunity Employer Female/Minority/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
Job Posting:
WEB PRODUCER
Are you a Digital Content Guru? Someone obsessed with major news and top trending stories of the day? Do you have a knack for producing creative digital content that generates high engagement? KTRK TV, the ABC owned station located in Houston, Texas is looking for a Full-time Digital Producer to be part of the station team leading the charge to take our digital efforts to the next level. Ideal candidate must have: Gift for Recognizing and Creating Impactful, Innovative and Distinctive Digital Content. Extensive Newsroom Digital Background (Supervisory Skills a Plus).Unerring News Judgement. Knack for Writing Powerful and Accurate copy and headlines. Proven Social Media Expertise in both content creation and strategic optimizing. Working knowledge of Digital enhancement and publishing tools. Working knowledge of Digital Analytics and how to use them to optimize station’s brand recognition. Ability to Excel in fast-paced news station environment and willing to work under deadlines. Flexibility with Work Schedule depending on station needs and projects. Strong Leadership, Organizational and Communication skills To be considered interested applicants apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file, cover letter and list of references. Please reference Job Requisition # 344583BR.
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INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
22 February 12, 2016
SUDOKU
Place a Number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine. Send us the correct answer before February 17 , 2016. Email us at indoamericannews@yahoo.com or mail to 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 262, Houston, TX 77036. Send us your solved Sudoku for your name to be published (for first three entrees only & 1 submission per month).
PUZZLES/RECIPES
Mama’s Punjabi Recipes
Aaloo Puriyan (Potatoes & Deep Fried Puff Bread)
Solution Next Week
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his is a dish that could be eaten for breakfast or as a snack or served after poojas (religious services) for the langar or communal feast. It is actually a very simple but satisfying dish and the flavors of the hot fried puris (fried puff bread) and the slightly crushed aaloo (potatoes) in their own spicy curry complement each other. It is a comfort food that many all across India can relate to. Puris can be eaten for breakfast (with aloo sabzi), lunch (with kale channe), dinner (with different sabzis) and even dessert (with halva). They are wonderfully light, golden brown puffed, round pieces of fried bread that taste best hot, straight off the frying kadai (wok). Although puris can be wrapped in aluminum foil and kept for 4 or 5 days, the taste of freshly made, hot puris cannot be duplicated. Aaloo (potatoes) are commonly used in Indian cuisine and can be found in many dishes. When made alone in this semi-curry style, though it looks easy, simple and quick to make, the skill of the cook can be seen in the type of spices used and the way the potatoes are sliced and just slightly crushed. The whole dish rests on the spices, texture of the potatoes and most importantly, serving it hot with hot puris. And also the consistency of the turri (curry), which should not be too thick and especially not thin like water. It tastes best when served with a couple of slices of green mango pickles with the saunf (fennel seed) masala in sarson (mustard) seed oil. Ingredients for Puris: : 250 gm atta (wheat flour) 1 measure of pani (water) to make the dough soft Vegetable oil to fry in Directions for Puris: 1. Slowly add water to the flour and knead the dough in a bowl till it has is semisoft. Cover with a light cloth and place aside for 30 minutes to let it ferment a little. 2. Grease your palms with some oil so that the dough won’t stick
and then break the dough into several 1-inch pieces. Roll them into balls and set aside. 3. In a kadai (deep skillet or wok), heat the oil up till it is very hot. 4. Roll the dough with a walan (rolling pin) till you form a 4-inch round patty. Roll all the patties out and keep to the side for frying. 5. Carefully slide the patty into the hot oil and then see if the patty starts to puff up and then turn slightly brown. 6. Repeat the steps and cook all the dough. As the puris come out, place them on paper towels on an inclined plate to soak up and drain the excess oil. Keep the heat on high until you are done with cooking. Ingredients for Aaloo: 2 lbs medium size aloo (potatoes) – yellow is better than Russet 1 cup dahin (plain yogurt) 2 tbsp tael (oil) - vegetable or olive Spices (to taste): namak (salt), mirch (red pepper), haldi (turmeric), jeera (cumin seed), garam masala Directions for Aaloo: 1. Boil the potatoes in a pot till semi-soft. Drain the water, peel them and slice into 1 inch quarters. Take a quarter potato, mash it by hand and keep to the side.
2. In a medium saucepan warm the oil over medium heat. When nicely hot, throw in the jeera (cumin seed), turmeric, red pepper, salt and stir. 3. Throw in the mashed potato and mix thoroughly with a ladle. Now throw in the rest of the potatoes and stir well, cooking for 5 minutes. 4. Add the yogurt into the pot, stir well and bring to a boil to bring out the flavors. The turri should be slightly bitter. If you want to make it more bitter, add more yogurt. Do not stir hard as the potatoes should be solid, not smashed. 5. When the flavor is soaked into the potatoes turn the heat off and cover the pot. Before serving, sprinkle with garam masala. Shakuntla Malhotra is a skilled cook of Punjabi dishes made in the old-fashioned style that she learnt as a young woman in her ancestral home in Lyallpur, India before it became part of Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. People have often admired her cooking for its simplicity and taste that comes with each mouthful. Even in her mid-eighties, she continues to cook daily and agreed to share some of her delectable Punjabi recipes.
MAMA’S TIP OF THE WE EK FOR B
EST RESULTS, T AKE ITEMS OU T OF FRIDGE TO W A As you learn to be R M U P come a better cook
, you understand th tance of the right tem e imporperature for differe nt parts of the dish preparing. Most pe you are ople are too impatie nt and in their need things up, will sim to speed ply turn up the heat while cooking. Inste may simply overco ad, they ok the dish, or even have it stick to the pot. The secret to good dishes is in the right temperature contro the ingredients have l so that a chance to soak to gether and allow th to seep in. This re e flavors quires patience, an d allowing the ite slowly, and then co ms to cook oling down in their own turri (curry). from taking the item It all starts s out of the fridge a good 30 minutes be them, so that they fore using come to room tem perature.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
February 12, 2016
ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS ENTERTAINMENT:REVIEWS/NEWS
BY RENUKA VYAVAHARE
NEW DELHI: A sequel
to one of our most iconic revenge dramas Ghayal (1990), the film marks an action-packed comeback of Sunny paaji and his Dhai kilo ka haath.After teaching Balwant Rai and his kuttey a lesson, 26 years later, vigilante Ajay Mehra (Sunny Deol) returns to fight the
corrupt system and bring a shrewd businessman Bansal (Narendra Jha) and his accomplices to justice. Ajay runs an investigative newspaper that seeks truth not business. Which is why four college kids strive to handover a murder footage to him, accidentally recorded by them. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds since influential people are involved. Deol fairly manages to retain the essence of Santoshi’s blockbuster, while giving it a contemporary twist. While the good-old dia-
loguebaazi and hand-to-hand combat scenes are in place, digitalisation in today’s world (computer hacking, phone tapping etc) has been highlighted too. Though not as emotionally engaging as the original, the sequel delivers what it promises on the action front. Skilfully shot, elaborate nailbiting chase sequences across the city leave you glued to your seats, gasping for breath. Heavy-duty fist fights are equally gripping. Soha Ali Khan acts well and so do the teenagers. However, a few things do bother. The trademark Ghayal background score is slightly altered, making it sound like Mission Impossible. Dialogues like “Paid mercenaries can never match up to the missionaries of truth,” etc sound too preachy. Flashback scenes look juvenile and the father daughter scenes, soppy. . Despite the flaws, Sunny’s idealistic film exudes the sincerity and unbreakable spirit of a common man. If you mess with us, “We will find you and we will punch you.” Watch it.
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Shah Rukh Khan and Son AbRam Get Mobbed in Bhuj
son AbRam, recently got a taste of his father’s stardom and lived a star moment while the father-son duo were spending some time with each other in Gujarat. Shah Rukh Khan, who arrived in Bhuj with his youngest son AbRam for the second schedule of his upcoming film Raees, often takes out time from his busy schedule to spend some quality time with his son.
When SRK made an apperance with AbRam at a toy store, they were mobbed by his fans who had gathered in large numbers to catch a sight of the superstar with his son. While AbRam had no idea what was happening at that moment, the doting father SRK protectively held him and made his way through the crowd waving his fans amid tight security.SRK had recently arrived in Gujarat after wrapping up the Mumbai schedule of Raees directed by Rahul Dholakia. -Indiatimes.com
Randhir Kapoor February 15, 1947
Sajid Nadiadwala February 18, 1966
BY PRAMOD GAIKWAD
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s little
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
24 February 12, 2016
1st T20: Sri Lanka Seamers Topple India on Green Track BY ANDREW FERNANDO
PUNE (ESPN Cricinfo): India 3
for 200 PUNE (ESPN Cricinfo): Sri Lanka 105 for 5 (Chandimal 35, Nehra 2-21) beat India 101 (Ashwin 31, Rajitha 3-29, Shanaka 3-16) by five wickets Kasun Rajitha, Dushmantha Chameera and Dasun Shanaka - Sri Lanka’s lanky seam-bowling labor force - came upon a thoroughly surprising green Pune deck, and wound up delivering their team a surprisingly thorough victory. The three quicks took eight wickets for 59 between them, to blow India away for 101. Sri Lanka’s inexperienced batsmen were rarely at ease in pursuit, but did well enough to get to the target with five wickets in hand and two overs to spare. Chameera had provided glimpses at his penetrative potential during the recent tour of New Zealand, but Rajitha and Shanaka had gone unheralded until today. If Binura Fernando - the left-arm quick - had not injured a hamstring ahead of this match, Rajitha might not even have debuted. Instead, he claimed two wickets in a tone-setting first over and finished with 3 for 29. Shanaka is in the team largely for his batting, but bowled magic deliveries through the middle overs, uprooting Suresh Raina’s leg stump with an in-dipper, and bouncing MS Dhoni second ball. He took 3 for 16. Fresh from Australian run-gluts, India’s route to defeat was paved with over-ambition. Even after the pitch had proved itself spicy, big shots continued to be attempted. Edges kept being collected. Wickets continued to tumble. The biggest stand of their innings was between R Ashwin and Ashish Nehra, who put on 28 for the eighth wicket. Without Ashwin’s 31 not out, their total might have been closer to 80. Sri Lanka’s innings appeared to be heading in the same direction at 23 for 2 in the fifth over, but Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedera combined for 39 tension-relieving runs. Three late wickets fell, but the target was so small, even this scratchy bat-
Milinda Siriwardana and Seekkuge Prasanna celebrate after taking Sri Lanka to victory, India v Sri Lanka, 1st T20, Pune, February 9, 2016.
ting performance was more than good enough. The victory puts Sri Lanka back on top of the ICC T20 rankings. It was Rajitha who first put the fire in a young Sri Lanka team. Barely heard of before he took five wickets in a tour match against the Indians in August last year, he delivered an immaculate first international over, seaming the ball sharply away from right-handers, and generating fine pace and carry. His first wicket came second ball. The length delivery stopped a little on Rohit Sharma, who hit aerially down the ground. Chameera moved across from mid-off to help a stick-thin fast-bowling brother out, diving feet off the ground to pouch that catch. Clearly excited by that scalp, Rajitha ended the over with a seaming short ball at Ajinkya Rahane, whose leading edge carried to an advancing cover. He had a catch dropped off Raina’s inside edge in between, but Rajitha soon had a third wicket, in the fifth over. Then Shanaka took over, bowling slower, but just as accurately. The Raina-Dhoni
double blow in his first over put India at 51 for 5. It also doubled Shanaka’s wicket-tally in all T20s. He had played in 26 matches before this, and was called upon to bowl in less than a quarter of those games. Chameera troubled the middle order with raw pace until Ashwin picked India off the floor with a sensible approach and excellent timing. He smoked Chameera through the leg side for four first ball, but largely awaited the bad deliveries to play his big shots. In the end, Ashwin just ran out of partners - Nehra succumbing to Chameera’s pace and Jasprit Bumrah running himself out, in the 19th over. Nehra dismissed Sri Lanka’s openers, who were also guilty of attempting too many boundaries while the ball was still zipping around. Chandimal and Kapugedera were streaky but smart, looking for singles and twos, with the required rate always under a runa-ball. Chandimal top-scored with 35, Kapugedera hit 25. MS Dhoni banked on spin through the middle overs, and
the slow bowlers did remove Kapugedara, Chandimal and, later, Shanaka. But Sri Lanka had stacked their side with allrounders again, and batted deep. Milinda Siriwardana was on hand to apply the finish, hitting 21 not out from 14. Ashwin was the best of India’s bowlers as well, picking up 2 for 13 from his three overs. Andrew Fidel Fernando is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo.
Saina Remains No. 2 , Srikanth at 9 in World
NEW DELHI: Despite clinching the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold men’s title, India’s Kidambi Srikanth remained static at World No. 9 while P V Sindhu dropped a place to be No. 12 in the latest BWF rankings released on Thursday. The women’s singles’ ranking list had Saina Nehwal holding on to her World No. 2. place despite skipping the Lucknow event, where she was the defending champion. Runners-up in men’s doubles event at Syed Modi, Indian pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar improved two places to be at World No. 34.
SPORTS
Mithali, Shikha Combine to Beat Australia in ODI
HOBART:
Mithali Raj and Shikha Pandey were the architects of India’s consolation win in the third and final ODI in Hobart to round off their limited-overs tour of Australia just like how they started it. Pandey’s three wickets, including that of the well-set Ellyse Perry (50) and Alex Blackwell (60) helped India restrict the world champions to 231 for 7. Mithali Raj, the captain, then built on a firm base laid by Smriti Mandhana (55) to stroke 89 as India cruised home by five wickets, with three overs to spare. Australia, who opted to bat, made slow progress, but were lifted by the belligerence of Perry and Blackwell. The pair’s 100-run stand for the third wicket set them up for a 250 plus score before Pandey dealt vital blows to shift the momentum back in India’s favour. Cameos from Jess Jonassen (32 not out), Alyssa Healy (21) and Rene Farrell (29 not out) helped Australia cross 230. India were driven by a succession of partnerships. Raj’s stands of 58 and 71 with Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur (22) respectively help allay fears of a middle order meltdown. Raj was on her way to a sixth ODI century but was runout for 89. But by then, she had taken India to within 35 runs of the target, which was polished off by Pandey, Punam Raut and Jhulan Goswami. With three wins in 12 matches, India are currently placed seventh in the Women’s World Championship. While the top four secure a direct entry into the 2017 Women’s World Cup, the bottom four will play a qualifying tournament with four associates to determine the remaining four spots.
Mithali Raj hit 12 fours in her 113-ball 89 as India won by five wickets in Hobart.
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
February 12, 2016
Apple Said to be on Course for Approval to Open Stores in India
Battling Doctor Shortage, Indian Hospitals Offer Intensive Care from Afar BY ADITYA KALRA
NEW DELHI: A doctor at a hospi-
BY SUNIL JAGTIANI
NEW DELHI: Apple Inc. is on
course to win clearance to open its first retail stores in India, a person with knowledge of the matter said, as chief executive officer Tim Cook seeks growth opportunities in a nation of 1.3 billion people. The Indian government plans to push through Apple’s application to set up outlets, the person said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public. The company is resubmitting the request as it wasn’t in the right format, the person said, without giving a time-frame for final approval. Apple should qualify as a provider of cutting-edge technology, the person said. That would exempt the maker of iPhones and iPads from a rule forcing foreign businesses that retail a single brand in India to procure 30% of a product’s inputs locally. The company makes most of its devices in China. Cook is hunting for fresh sources of growth after Apple last month forecast a sales decline for the first time in more than a decade. India now has the world’s fastest-growing major economy and about 220 million smartphone users. The challenge is that Indian consumers tend to prefer cheaper devices, leaving Apple with only about 2% of the market. “Most of the growth in India will
come from new users coming into the Apple ecosystem, unlike in the West where growth is mainly from existing users upgrading,” said Tarun Pathak, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, based near New Delhi. “You can expect the stores to focus mostly on iPhones.” Apple uses re-sellers in India for its products. Domestic distributor Redington India Ltd has dropped about 5% since Apple in January confirmed it had applied to open stores in Asia’s third-largest economy. Business environment The stores, estimated by some analysts to produce the highest revenueper-square-foot in the US brick-andmortar retail industry, also promote the brand by holding workshops for customers. The Cupertino, California-based company currently has at least 24 stores in China as part of a global network of more than 460. Cook said last month after Apple’s earnings statement that he’s optimistic India’s business environment will improve and that he’s looking to step up investment there. The Foreign Investment Promotion Board, housed in the Finance Ministry, processes applications such as Apple’s based on guidance from India’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Commerce Ministry. Rajinder Chaudhry, a spokesman in the commerce ministry, and D.S. Malik, his counterpart in the finance ministry, said they couldn’t immediately
comment as they need to check the status of Apple’s application. Alan Hely, a spokesman for the company, didn’t respond to an e-mail sent over the weekend seeking comment. Make in India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to cut red tape and open up the economy since taking power in May 2014. But India remains a comparatively difficult place to do business, according to World Bank rankings, and the path to permits can be long and winding. The local smartphone sector is dominated by Samsung Electronics Co., Micromax Informatics Ltd and Intex Technologies India Ltd, which together control about half the market, according to Counterpoint. Apple had about a 2% share of smartphones sold last year, but was the third-biggest brand by revenue because of higher product prices. About 50 mobile-phone factories were set up in India in the past 10 months, and total national production capacity is now 9 million units monthly, the person familiar with the matter said. A six-day so-called “Make in India” expo in Mumbai from 13 February is designed to trumpet manufacturing potential, the person said. The budget speech at the end of February will take steps to spur local production, and the nation retains the goal of seeing Apple products made locally, the person said. -Livemint.com
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tal in India’s capital, New Delhi, was recently tracking a wall of monitors displaying the vital signs of intensive care patients admitted hundreds of miles away when red-and-yellow alerts rang out. The oxygen flow to a 67-year-old patient had stopped when no critical care doctors were present in a hospital in Amritsar. But the doctor in the New Delhi centre run by Fortis Healthcare quickly issued a set of instructions and stopped the patient from suffering brain damage or death, the Indian hospital chain said in an account of the episode. India’s top private hospitals, seizing on a shortage of critical-care doctors, are expanding into the remote management of intensive care units around the country and, starting this month, in neighbouring Bangladesh too. India has seven doctors for every 10,000 people, half the global average, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Data from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) shows the country needs more than 50,000 critical care specialists, but has just 8,350. Such a shortage of doctors means small facilities in India’s $55 billion private hospital market are ill equipped to provide critical care even as numbers seeking private healthcare rise because the public health system is in even worse shape. India’s largest healthcare chain, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, and Fortis will this year expand their network of electronic intensive care units (eICUs), scaling up operations thanks to advances in communications technology.
“We want to leverage (doctors) using technology,” said K. Hari Prasad, head of hospitals business at Apollo that employs more than 700 critical care doctors. Apollo, which monitors 200 patients in six states from its only eICU in Hyderabad city, will open three new centres to track 1,000 more patients. Prasad said he is also in talks to extend the service to government hospitals. Fortis will start remote monitoring of intensive care patients in the Bangladeshi city of Khulna this week, its first such cross-border operation. The hospital chain tracks 350 patients from its New Delhi centre but will start two more eICUs by mid-2017. Jayant Singh, director of healthcare at Frost and Sullivan India, a consultancy, estimates that eICUs are boosting industry revenues by $220 million a year by giving smaller hospitals the ability to treat critical patients at the hands of top flight intensive-care specialists, even if they are in another city. India’s eICU beds will expand by 15-20% each year from about 3,000 now, Singh said. Saving lives With multiple computer screens inside these high-tech eICUs, doctors suggest treatment procedures after assessing medical history and real-time heart rate charts of patients fighting for their lives in distant facilities. Doctors recently saved a 30-yearold pregnant woman in a hospital in Warangal after her heart stopped beating, assisting a resident doctor not specialised in intensive care to carry out chest compressions through a video link. “We save about 25 lives a month,” said Shamit Gupta, medical director at Fortis’ eICU unit. -Livemint.com
INDO-AMERICAN NEWS • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 • ONLINE EDITION: WWW.INDOAMERICAN-NEWS.COM
26 February 12, 2016
Headley Reveals He Changed Name, Visited India 8 Times Prior to 26/11
Headley told the court that he was a US national and changed his named to Sayeed Daood Gilani primarily to join and help the LeT after he was advised to do so by Siraj Mir, an LeT commander.
BY KANCHAN CHAUDHARI
MUMBAI: Lashkar-e-Taiba op-
erative David Coleman Headley told a Mumbai court on Monday that he changed his name from Sayeed Dawood Gilani to David Headley to help the dreaded terror outfit carry out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Headley, a United States national, is deposing before a sessions court from an American jail via video conferencing in connection to his role in the 26/11 terror strikes. Headley said he was asked by the LeT to take several videos of Mumbai to prepare for the coordinated terror strikes that left 166 people dead and was advised by Siraj Mir, an LeT commander, to change his name He came to India eight times before the 26/11 attacks, and came directly from Pakistan on seven of those occasions, Headley said. He also told the court that he applied for a visa in the US for India twice and gave wrong information in the form on most occasions. The deposition started around 7.15 am, after another LeT operative, Abu Jundal alias Zabiuddin Ansari, who is facing trial in the 26/11 case, told the court that he wanted a new lawyer and asked the court to adjourn the hearing for 15 days. But session judge GA Sanap rejected the plea and began deposing Headley. Headley was produced before the Mumbai court for the first time on
December 10, when he said he was ready to depose and turn approver in the 26/11 Mumbai trial if he was pardoned. The court then granted a pardon to Headley and accepted him as a prosecution witness. While giving the order the court had observed, “The entire conspiracy could be unearthed and proved if one of the conspirators comes to court with the request of pardon.” “The conspiracy of the 26/11 Mumbai attack was hatched outside India. Abu Jundal alias Zabiuddin Ansari is facing charges in the Mumbai attack as a co-conspirator. No direct evidence is there so far for the offence of criminal conspiracy. In this case fortunately for the prosecution David Coleman Headley has willingly decided to unfold the conspiracy which was hatched outside India,” observed the judge. Headley along with his partner Pakistan-born businessman Tahawwur Rana, had played a key role in the strikes. In 2010, Headley pleaded guilty in 26/11 attacks, admitting he had carried out a reconnaissance of the targets for the LeT before a US court. Headley had allegedly provided videos of various locations to LeT, where terrorist attacks were carried out. He had also provided useful information about the safe landing places which the attackers had used on the night of November 26, 2008. -HindustanTimes
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J&K Govt Formation: to BJP or Not to BJP, the Ifs and Buts
BJP President Amit Shah and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti .
BY BASHAARAT MASOOD & MIR EHSAN
In a state where the turnout at fu-
nerals is viewed as a measure of popularity, less than 4,000 people attended Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s funeral at Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium. And when the deceased chief minister’s coffin passed through his hometown Bijbehara, people didn’t even down the shutters of their shops. Many in the Kashmir Valley, from where Mufti’s PDP won 26 of its 28 seats, have read this as a message that the people have not forgiven the party for joining hands with the BJP. And this message, PDP leaders admit, has been the hurdle in forming a government. CM-designate Mehbooba Mufti made this clear when she told PDP legislators that her father “took a courageous but unpopular decision” and called for assurances from the BJP for implementation of the “agenda of alliance”, the common minimum programme drafted by the two coalition partners. “When we tied up with the BJP, the decision did not go down well with our voters,” said Mohammad Shafi, PDP block president for Baramulla. “Our leadership took this risky decision with the hope that the agenda of alliance would be fulfilled. Unfortunately, we got nothing but
controversies… In the next elections, we will suffer huge losses in every part of the Valley.” A party leader explained the compulsions leading to the tie-up: “Kashmir had just gone through floods. We needed funds.; there was no point aligning with the Congress as the Centre could have choked us financially. Then there was the issue of Jammu. It voted totally in favour of BJP and we could not have ignored their aspirations. Mufti Sahib wanted to take all three regions along.” “It was a very risky decision. Mufti Sahib took it with the hope that he would turn the tide by bringing development and peace. He had a vision and faith in New Delhi,” said Raja Ajaz Ali, PDP coordinator in north Kashmir. “Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The return of power projects (from the Centre to the state) is a key point in the agenda of alliance. But when Power Minister Piyush Goel, in Srinagar, refused to fulfil this commitment, many PDP leaders felt betrayed.” The agenda of alliance included dialogue with Pakistan, but PM Narendra Modi’s moves towards friendship with Pakistan were was stalled by the Pathankot attack. The restricted father In a speech in Srinagar, Mufti talked about the need to extend the hand of friendship towards Pakistan and address internal dimensions of the
Kashmir issue. From the same stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he doesn’t need anyone’s advice on Kashmir. “It is difficult for party leaders to forget how Mufti Sahib was snubbed in public by Modi,” said a PDP minister in Mufti’s government. “This dented the image of Mufti Sahib and our party in the Valley and Mehbooba Mufti is conscious of this. That is why she is demanding confidencebuilding measures.” Mufti’s coalition of nine months with the BJP contrasts sharply with his earlier regime of three years (2002-05) with the Congress. Then, his three slogans — “Healing touch”, “Goli nahin boli se” (not with gun but with dialogue) and “Battle of ideas” — had been followed by movement: the Centre started a dialogue with Pakistan as well as moderate separatists, the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was opened for travel and trade; the police’s Special Operations Group was dissolved. This time, Mufti started on the same lines and ordered the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam. Within a month, not only was the government forced to rearrest Alam, there was a stricter watch on separatists with the Public Safety Act invoked against more and more separatists and even minor protesters. “Mufti Sahib was like a caged leader this time. His every move was scrutinised by the Centre, there was interference — he was not the Mufti Sahib we knew,” said a PDP leader. “Mufti Sahib had faith in New Delhi. But probably New Delhi didn’t have faith in him”. The agenda of alliance said the partners would not rake up controversial issues — such as Article 370, and a separate state flag for Jammu and Kashmir. BJP leader Farooq Khan, in fact, challenged a J&K High Court decision that all constitutional authorities must respect and hoist the state flag. After the Mufti government issued a circular asking constitutional authorities to hoist the state flag on official cars and buildings, it had to retract within 24 hours. -IE
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