NAGPUR: A fraud involving a sum of over Rs 1.35 crore has come to light in the city's main branch ofState Bank of India (SBI), officials said saturday. A seniorSBI official at the bank's Kingsway branch allegedly siphoned off the money from accounts of Non-Resident Indians (NRI) and moved it to an account operated by him. The Government bank recently filed a complaint with CBI naming Anup Rajurkar, who heads the NRI section at the branch, as the main accused. The complaint also names some unknown persons, probably officials from the same branch. SBI Kingsway branch Deputy General Manager (Operations & Credit Network) Dilipkumar Poddar confirmed the development, and said Rajurkar was suspended after the scam came to light. "We've approached the CBI to inquire into the matter since the embezzled amount is over Rs 1 crore. Simultaneously, bank's parallel inquiry was also underway," he said. Since the siphoning of funds had been going on for many years, it was not possible to specify the exact amount and the number of officials involved. As of now the embezzled amount is around Rs 1.35 crore, Poddar said. Interestingly, the bank opted to file a complaint with CBI, and has not yet lodged an FIR against Rajurkar with the local police. CBI Anti-Corruption Branch S P Thomas John told PTI that the possibility of involvement of other bank employees can't be ruled out. Though the misappropriation was detected much earlier, the complaint was filed only in April. "We're probing all aspects. SBI officials estimated the misappropriated funds at Rs 1.35 crore, but the amount may go up as many NRIs had accounts in the bank," he said.
Indian American groups seek relief on foreign bank accounts
WASHINGTON: Several Indian American civic and professional groups have sought President Barack Obama's intervention in a joint campaign seeking relief on penalties stipulated by US tax rules on foreign bank accounts. The July 19 letter to Obama by the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), National Federation of Indian American Association (NFIA), American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) follows a similar plea from GOPIO to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The letter expresses the community's concern that new US immigrants of Indian origin "are facing unfair and unprecedented penalties for failure to disclose and do tax filing of foreign bank accounts by August 31. Copies of the letter were also sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Geithner. The joint letter affirmed the community's recognition of the necessity for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to take needed actions and enact rules to track money flowing to terrorists, drug transaction and money laundering in safe havens outside the United States. However, the groups urged the IRS to review and reconsider the rules towards "more practical and prudent application." The IRS announced Feb 8 a special voluntary disclosure initiative designed to bring offshore money back into the US tax system that will be available through August. Among other things, the Indian community has requested that stipulated 25 percent Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) penalty on assets of law abiding citizens be eliminated and the IRS deadline for voluntary disclosure be extended to Dec 31, 2012. The groups have also asked the government to publicise the amnesty programme in ethnic newspapers and other community media in multiple languages, as well through print, radio and television media interviews.
NRI IT professionals move back to India: Survey
NEW DELHI: With declining wages abroad, an increasing number of non-resident Indian IT professionals are moving back to their home country, says a survey. IT and IT-enabled firms in India hired 28 percent more non-resident Indian (NRI) professionals in the first quarter of 2011-12, according to the survey conduced by recruitment consulting firm MyHiringClub.com.
Among 11 surveyed industries, IT and IT-enabled services registered highest growth, with 28 percent increase year-on-year in the first quarter of the current fiscal. It is followed by pharma and healthcare, up by 20 percent, automobile and manufacturing, up by 18 percent, telecom, up by 14 percent, banking and financial services, up by 10 percent and FMCG, up by six percent. "The high economic growth in India with many good opportunities has fuelled the NRI thought process to head back. In addition to that, many US companies are opening their offices in India and hiring more to target the growing market in Asia," Rajesh Kumar, CEO of MyHiringClub.com, said in the survey report. He said an increasing number of high value NRI professional recruitment is likely to take place in the coming years as wage gaps have declined sharply. "Increasing number of people are now returning because now the advantages of returning back to India outweigh the disadvantages by far," said Kumar. The highest number of NRIs who returned home found jobs in Bangalore, followed by Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. The NRI professional hiring trend survey was conducted online between July 1-15. Senior human resource professionals and top management of 237 firms and 690 recruitment consultants participated in the survey.
Among 11 surveyed industries, IT and IT-enabled services registered highest growth, with 28 percent increase year-on-year in the first quarter of the current fiscal. It is followed by pharma and healthcare, up by 20 percent, automobile and manufacturing, up by 18 percent, telecom, up by 14 percent, banking and financial services, up by 10 percent and FMCG, up by six percent. "The high economic growth in India with many good opportunities has fuelled the NRI thought process to head back. In addition to that, many US companies are opening their offices in India and hiring more to target the growing market in Asia," Rajesh Kumar, CEO of MyHiringClub.com, said in the survey report. He said an increasing number of high value NRI professional recruitment is likely to take place in the coming years as wage gaps have declined sharply. "Increasing number of people are now returning because now the advantages of returning back to India outweigh the disadvantages by far," said Kumar. The highest number of NRIs who returned home found jobs in Bangalore, followed by Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. The NRI professional hiring trend survey was conducted online between July 1-15. Senior human resource professionals and top management of 237 firms and 690 recruitment consultants participated in the survey.
NRI seeks Rs 5000 crore compensation from CBI
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has asked the CBI to respond to an NRI's plea seeking compensation of Rs 5,000 crore for implicating him in a criminal case for 25 years. Justice Ajit Bharihoke issued notice to the CBI and sought the reply by September 27 on N S Hoon's plea, which also seeks action against the erring officials of the investigating agency for harassing him for such a long time. Seeking a compensation of Rs 5,000 crore, Hoon, who had acquired British citizenship, said the then senior officers of the probe agency had acted against him at the instance of some influential persons and they should be prosecuted as per law. Hoon claimed he has undergone mental agony and physical sufferings in the past 25 years and he should be financially compensated. "I was arrested on May 14, 1987, despite an anticipatory bail order in my favour from Delhi high court and they seized my passport for such a long time causing huge losses to my business abroad," Hoon said. He said the trial court had acquitted him from all the charges under the Foreigners Act in January. According to CBI, Hoon had concealed his identity as a British citizen during his stay in two different hotels, during 1986-1987, which constituted an offence under the act. The CBI alleged during his stay in Delhi's Ambassador Hotel, the petitioner had paid the hotel tariff of Rs 400, which he should have paid in British pounds for being the citizen of the UK. Similarly, he had stayed at Hakman's hotel in Jaipur and cleared the hotel bills to the tune of Rs 8,000 in Indian rupees which constituted an offence under the Foreigners Act, according to the prosecution.
Beware of predatory visa fraud rings: US to Indian students
WASHINGTON: US has cautioned Indian students, who are planning to come to America, to be alert to the existence of predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors.
The statement gains significance in the wake of raid on yet another US university on the alleged charges of visa fraud.
"We caution them to be alert to the existence of these so-called predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.
Toner said the US is looking into the issue of raid by federal authorities at University of Northern Virginia ( UNVA)).
"We are following the case closely, and we're in communication with the Government of India officials on it," he said.
American Embassy in New Delhi has briefed the Ministry of External Affairs as well and the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have been in contact with the Indian Embassy here, he said.
"This is an investigation that's ongoing, so I'm limited in what I can give in terms of details. But it's important to note that a hundred thousand Indians are receiving a good education at certified US institutions each year, and we certainly welcome the contribution of Indian students wishing to study in the United States," Toner said.
The statement gains significance in the wake of raid on yet another US university on the alleged charges of visa fraud.
"We caution them to be alert to the existence of these so-called predatory visa fraud rings and fraudulent document vendors," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.
Toner said the US is looking into the issue of raid by federal authorities at University of Northern Virginia ( UNVA)).
"We are following the case closely, and we're in communication with the Government of India officials on it," he said.
American Embassy in New Delhi has briefed the Ministry of External Affairs as well and the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have been in contact with the Indian Embassy here, he said.
"This is an investigation that's ongoing, so I'm limited in what I can give in terms of details. But it's important to note that a hundred thousand Indians are receiving a good education at certified US institutions each year, and we certainly welcome the contribution of Indian students wishing to study in the United States," Toner said.
Why Hindu Gods are revered in West?
New Delhi: One of my fellow faculty members has a Ganesha deity on his table, which he had collected from India during a trip several years ago. Ganesha sits there with a deep sense of tranquility close to a computer in all his majesty and mystery displayed in an American office room. Another of my colleagues, who is an expert in world mythology, had her lovely daughter named Kali, the fearful and ferocious Hindu Goddess. In both cases, they ended up telling me that they simply like it and gracefully skipped the religious and philosophical jargons one could attach with these symbols and names. But, that made me wonder why Hindu Gods and Goddesses are getting much attention in western culture though many of them are still unaware of it. Is it simply the curiosity that drives such affinity?
We all know that planets are named after Greek gods. It's explicable given the Greek connection to early astronomy and the European inheritance of the ancient knowledge gained by Greeks. But, often the names simply deceive. For example, the Venus is named after the goddess of beauty though now we know that the so-called beautiful planet's atmosphere is full carbon dioxide with floating mist of sulfuric acid that can corrode any born flesh. What a strange beauty!!! Of course, beauty can be deceiving and dangerous. Obviously, ancient notions about planets and stars were skewed though they laid the foundation of modern Astronomy.
Sanskrit and the Indian philosophy always had a broad appeal to philosophers and scientists. From Niles Bohr to Robert Oppenheimer, many of them had a deep interest in Vedas and Upanishads. It has been widely written about Oppenheimer's remark from Bhagavad Gita, "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds", which came to his mind after he observed the first experimental detonation of atomic bomb in New Mexico desert.
Furthermore, the Hindu Gods easily blend into human psyche. Many of them engaged in activities that we are used to. They, like us, loved, hated, killed and procreated. They enlightened their followers with words and deeds, explained material success and failure to the devotees making it easier for them to overcome the delusion of both.
Another reason is the association Hindu Gods with deeper philosophical nuance and its linkage it to science. Theoretical physicist Fritjof Capra's "The Tao of Physics" was an international best seller in which he explores and relates the depiction of Nataraja posture with the continuous creation and destruction of particles and their different manifestations in the universe.
The strongest symbolic acknowledgment of this work is reflected in the Nataraja statue outside CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which has built the world's largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the France-Switzerland border. The Indian government gifted a 6 feet Nataraja statue to CERN in 2004. It portrays Shiva's dance of creation and destruction, much like the dance of fundamental particles that generates and destructs matter and energy in the universe in various forms.
A plaque next to the Shiva statue captures the contemporary connotation of the metaphor of Shiva's cosmic dance from Fritjof Capra's book "Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter and for the modern physicists, then, Shiva's dance is the dance of subatomic matter. The metaphor of the cosmic dance thus unifies ancient mythology, religious art and modern physics."
It is a plain irony, partly driven by capitalist market forces, that the customer service representatives, working for US companies from their outsourced locations fake their name to better suit the English audiences, while many in the west finding traditional Hindu names more and more attractive. But there is no reason to be disappointed even as Gods are subjected to the laws of nature. In this modern age, they might even consider a fitting name for their avatars that guarantees existence.
Again, I learned that my colleague who is expecting soon will have her daughter named Maya, the ultimate illusion. And, if anyone seeks my opinion for a boy's name, my choice is clear- Vishnu, another name that is vanishing form Indian demographic landscape as virtual Bobs and Joes flourish and survive along with Pepsi and McBurger. We cannot foresee how future generations will perceive the world. They might not be interested in any illusion, as in years from now they may have transformed into beings without any name and desire to know anything. Then the great Maya will dissolve in Brahman.
We all know that planets are named after Greek gods. It's explicable given the Greek connection to early astronomy and the European inheritance of the ancient knowledge gained by Greeks. But, often the names simply deceive. For example, the Venus is named after the goddess of beauty though now we know that the so-called beautiful planet's atmosphere is full carbon dioxide with floating mist of sulfuric acid that can corrode any born flesh. What a strange beauty!!! Of course, beauty can be deceiving and dangerous. Obviously, ancient notions about planets and stars were skewed though they laid the foundation of modern Astronomy.
Sanskrit and the Indian philosophy always had a broad appeal to philosophers and scientists. From Niles Bohr to Robert Oppenheimer, many of them had a deep interest in Vedas and Upanishads. It has been widely written about Oppenheimer's remark from Bhagavad Gita, "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds", which came to his mind after he observed the first experimental detonation of atomic bomb in New Mexico desert.
Furthermore, the Hindu Gods easily blend into human psyche. Many of them engaged in activities that we are used to. They, like us, loved, hated, killed and procreated. They enlightened their followers with words and deeds, explained material success and failure to the devotees making it easier for them to overcome the delusion of both.
Another reason is the association Hindu Gods with deeper philosophical nuance and its linkage it to science. Theoretical physicist Fritjof Capra's "The Tao of Physics" was an international best seller in which he explores and relates the depiction of Nataraja posture with the continuous creation and destruction of particles and their different manifestations in the universe.
The strongest symbolic acknowledgment of this work is reflected in the Nataraja statue outside CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, which has built the world's largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the France-Switzerland border. The Indian government gifted a 6 feet Nataraja statue to CERN in 2004. It portrays Shiva's dance of creation and destruction, much like the dance of fundamental particles that generates and destructs matter and energy in the universe in various forms.
A plaque next to the Shiva statue captures the contemporary connotation of the metaphor of Shiva's cosmic dance from Fritjof Capra's book "Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter and for the modern physicists, then, Shiva's dance is the dance of subatomic matter. The metaphor of the cosmic dance thus unifies ancient mythology, religious art and modern physics."
It is a plain irony, partly driven by capitalist market forces, that the customer service representatives, working for US companies from their outsourced locations fake their name to better suit the English audiences, while many in the west finding traditional Hindu names more and more attractive. But there is no reason to be disappointed even as Gods are subjected to the laws of nature. In this modern age, they might even consider a fitting name for their avatars that guarantees existence.
Again, I learned that my colleague who is expecting soon will have her daughter named Maya, the ultimate illusion. And, if anyone seeks my opinion for a boy's name, my choice is clear- Vishnu, another name that is vanishing form Indian demographic landscape as virtual Bobs and Joes flourish and survive along with Pepsi and McBurger. We cannot foresee how future generations will perceive the world. They might not be interested in any illusion, as in years from now they may have transformed into beings without any name and desire to know anything. Then the great Maya will dissolve in Brahman.
Lessons on global competition from India
New Delhi/Texas: Even with the deepening of global business relationships and the influx of immigrants coming into the US, many American professionals still don't realize how globally competitive markets really are. The past few years in the US, we've felt the pain of a tight job market. And I'm not convinced that my generation is prepared for the next wave of competition from abroad.
In the small town I grew up, it seemed we all deserved to be handed jobs once we graduated high school. If someone lost their job, it was NEVER their fault. And if someone's job was outsourced, uh oh! Not fair!
Like my mom always used to tell me "Jessica, the world is not fair. Get used to it."
But maybe the world is more fair than we think...
With the global nature of markets and the ease of communication between East and West, maybe we should seek to learn from our peers across the world who are putting in extra study time, specializing from a young age and sacrificing greatly to get ahead.
Expectations
When I lived in India, I noticed a few major differences in the way that middle class children are raised in comparison to American kids. Especially regarding the expectations that their parents have for their academic performance.
In America, we want our kids to be involved in activities which they enjoy. Allow them to explore their creative and athletic abilities.
There are no extra-curricular activities in India. After school kids go to 'tuition'- which are extra study sessions.
In America we want our kids to be 'well-rounded'.
In India, parents want their kids to be specialized in a steady field which guarantees employment in the future.
In America we want our kids to be in at least one competitive sport, and some parents push their kids to perform and compete. Parents participate in the support of athletic events and show 'team spirit'.
Indian kids don't really play sports unless its cricket (typically only boys). Girls and boys also play some light badminton on the roof of their house. They stay in their neighborhood within yelling distance of their mother. The only 'team spirit' that they feel is for Indian Cricket.
In America, the ranking and division of the sports teams are a major sway factor and reason for fame of a particular school.
In India, schools are known only for their academic quality and ranked accordingly.
Indian kids and American kids are happy. It all depends on cultural norms and the way the parents formulate and communicate expectations.
Desire for Security
One of the possible explanations for this Indian focus on academia is the desire for security. In America, many middle class families have grown up with a sense of financial security for generations. Our grandparents remember what it was like to live a life of uncertainty (due to the Depression), but our parents may have never been directly affected by severely tough times.
In India, the possibility of poverty is not a distant reality. It is right here, right now. Indians are forced to face this every day as beggars and slums confront them on every time they cross the street. Striving for financial security is a must and a driving factor for most middle class Indian families.
So what can we take away from this?
The world will only become more competitive.
I think we will start seeing trends of American families who give their children a bit more guidance in academia. Clearly setting expectations of which fields they hope their children will go into. Parents will creatively find fun ways where kids can be involved in academia outside of school. Parents will allow time for sports and video games, but will set more stringent boundaries on the child's free time.
We need to make sure that kids who grew up in America are ready for the wave of competition that is about to come. Instead of feeling entitled to a job, American kids need to be prepared to compete with peers like most middle class Indians, who started doing computer programming in 3rd grade.
In the small town I grew up, it seemed we all deserved to be handed jobs once we graduated high school. If someone lost their job, it was NEVER their fault. And if someone's job was outsourced, uh oh! Not fair!
Like my mom always used to tell me "Jessica, the world is not fair. Get used to it."
But maybe the world is more fair than we think...
With the global nature of markets and the ease of communication between East and West, maybe we should seek to learn from our peers across the world who are putting in extra study time, specializing from a young age and sacrificing greatly to get ahead.
Expectations
When I lived in India, I noticed a few major differences in the way that middle class children are raised in comparison to American kids. Especially regarding the expectations that their parents have for their academic performance.
In America, we want our kids to be involved in activities which they enjoy. Allow them to explore their creative and athletic abilities.
There are no extra-curricular activities in India. After school kids go to 'tuition'- which are extra study sessions.
In America we want our kids to be 'well-rounded'.
In India, parents want their kids to be specialized in a steady field which guarantees employment in the future.
In America we want our kids to be in at least one competitive sport, and some parents push their kids to perform and compete. Parents participate in the support of athletic events and show 'team spirit'.
Indian kids don't really play sports unless its cricket (typically only boys). Girls and boys also play some light badminton on the roof of their house. They stay in their neighborhood within yelling distance of their mother. The only 'team spirit' that they feel is for Indian Cricket.
In America, the ranking and division of the sports teams are a major sway factor and reason for fame of a particular school.
In India, schools are known only for their academic quality and ranked accordingly.
Indian kids and American kids are happy. It all depends on cultural norms and the way the parents formulate and communicate expectations.
Desire for Security
One of the possible explanations for this Indian focus on academia is the desire for security. In America, many middle class families have grown up with a sense of financial security for generations. Our grandparents remember what it was like to live a life of uncertainty (due to the Depression), but our parents may have never been directly affected by severely tough times.
In India, the possibility of poverty is not a distant reality. It is right here, right now. Indians are forced to face this every day as beggars and slums confront them on every time they cross the street. Striving for financial security is a must and a driving factor for most middle class Indian families.
So what can we take away from this?
The world will only become more competitive.
I think we will start seeing trends of American families who give their children a bit more guidance in academia. Clearly setting expectations of which fields they hope their children will go into. Parents will creatively find fun ways where kids can be involved in academia outside of school. Parents will allow time for sports and video games, but will set more stringent boundaries on the child's free time.
We need to make sure that kids who grew up in America are ready for the wave of competition that is about to come. Instead of feeling entitled to a job, American kids need to be prepared to compete with peers like most middle class Indians, who started doing computer programming in 3rd grade.
Indo-Canadian woman killed by husband
VANCOUVER: An Indo-Canadian woman working at a Punjabi-English newspaper in Surrey on the outskirts of Vancouver was stabbed to death allegedly by her husband Thursday. Twenty-four-old Ravinder Bhangu, who had married her alleged assailant in 2009, worked at the weekly English/Punjabi Sach Di Awaaz, where she was attacked. The police, who arrested the 26-year-old assailant, said the attack was related to marital problems between the couple. "The suspect and the victim had been married since 2009," police said. "Investigators are conducting interviews with witnesses and will be canvassing the areas to speak with any additional witnesses." The victim came to Canada three years ago. Friends of the victim were quoted as saying that she had moved in with her aunt two or three months ago because of marital problems. Surrey is home to the largest concentration of the Indian community in Canada.
Indian Americans seek relief from US tax rules for foreign accounts
NEW DELHI: Major Indian American civic and professional organizations in the United States with a substantial membership have joined together to campaign with the US administration seeking relief on penalties stipulated by US tax rules on foreign bank accounts. Following a letter from GOPIO delivered on June 27 to Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the US Department of Treasury, representatives of four major Indian American community groups; the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), National Federation of Indian American Association (NFIA), American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) under the aegis of a National Coordinating Council sent a letter on July 19 to US President Barak Obama seeking his assistance in this matter of urgent concern to the new US immigrants of Indian origin who are facing unfair and unprecedented penalties for failure to disclose and do tax filing of foreign bank accounts by August 31, 2011. Copies of the letter were also sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. The joint letter affirmed the community's recognition of the necessity for the IRS to take needed actions and enact rules to track money flowing to terrorists, drug transaction and money laundering in safe havens outside the United States. The groups have requested that the IRS review and reconsider the rules towards more practical and prudent application. The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on February 8, 2011 a special voluntary disclosure initiative (Ref IRS News Bulletin IR-2011-14, Feb. 8, 2011) designed to bring offshore money back into the U.S. tax system and help people with undisclosed income from hidden offshore accounts get current with their taxes. The new voluntary disclosure initiative will be available through August 31, 2011. "The IRS decision to open a second special disclosure initiative follows continuing interest from taxpayers with foreign accounts. The first special voluntary disclosure program closed with 15,000 voluntary disclosures on Oct. 15, 2009. Since that time, more than 3,000 taxpayers have come forward to the IRS with bank accounts from around the world. These taxpayers will also be eligible to take advantage of the special provisions of the new initiative". "For the 2011 initiative, there is a new penalty framework that requires individuals to pay a penalty of 25 percent of the amount in the foreign bank accounts in the year with the highest aggregate account balance covering the 2003 to 2010 time period. Participants also must pay back-taxes and interest for up to eight years as well as paying accuracy-related and/or delinquency penalties of 2 percent". While the United States has a rapidly increasing population of Indians and persons of Indian origin who are contributing significantly in all areas of the US economy and society, many in the Indian American community were not aware of the first voluntary disclosure program which ended in 2009. The Indian American media also was not aware of 2009 voluntary disclosure program. Many people holding foreign bank accounts were unaware of these rules simply because these rules were never publicized by the IRS to the general public. Even most accountants preparing and filing the annual individual tax returns did not inform or alert their clients about this requirement. It also appears that certain communities have been singled out for investigation which is highly damaging to the multi-ethnic ethos of our country. The appeal is for universal application of the law on an equitable basis, on the principle of fairness and in good conscience without undue burden to the US taxpayer. The request further stated that strict application of compliance with the law on hard working Americans who are not aware of the law can lead to undue and irreparable distress, as well as unforeseeable consequences for a large number of innocent citizens who did not consciously or knowingly violate the rules. The letter further states that the community is becoming aware of the new regulations on foreign accounts and is in full agreement that all citizens must be in compliance and pay all taxes due to the US government. The Indian community in the USA, by and large, consists of very progressive, hard working and law abiding citizens who do not deliberately or intentionally violate any US laws or IRS rules governing taxes due. In many cases, people had transferred money to have a retirement income or home in the foreign country, or to provide support for extended family in the foreign countries. There was no deliberate intent to avoid taxes on interest earned during the process of acquiring homes or supporting family or saving for children's education. It was not planned to be unjustifiable enrichment. Now that the groups have become aware of this IRS initiative, the impending deadlines, and potential consequences, they have offered to use their networks to inform and urge full compliance. However, the groups have requested that the remedies fully described in the July 19, 2011 letter to President Obama be considered and enacted.
These include:
·Request that penalties of 25% Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) penalty on assets of law abiding citizens be eliminated, that presumption of guilt is not a fair and equitable application of law; that penalty on the highest value of the assets is immoral and unfair; that penalties on assets as stated in the rules on foreign accounts should not be levied on law abiding citizens who missed declarations or filing deadlines due to lack of information or timely notification.
·Request that the IRS deadline be extended to December 31, 2012 to allow more persons who were not previously aware to fully comply. GOPIO is urging organizations, institutions and individuals to fully comply and pay any taxes due in an expeditious manner before the deadline.
·Request that the 20% accuracy penalty on undeclared taxes be substantially reduced for those who did not knowingly miss the filing deadlines.
·Request that the US Government should publicize the Voluntary Disclosure Amnesty Program in ethnic newspapers and other community media in multiple languages, as well as IRS representatives be interviewed by print, radio and television media to bring about more awareness resulting in compliance by more tax payers.
The joint letter was sent by GOPIO Chairman Inder Singh, NFIA President Lal K. Motwani, AAPI President Dr. Sunita Kanumuri and AAHOA Chairman Hemant D. Patel. Since sending out the letter, Federation of Indian Community associations of Cleveland (FICA) and Federation of Indian American Associations (NY, NJ and CT) have joined the effort along with Lueva Patidar Samaj. The groups are reaching out to all Indian community groups to join this effort.
These include:
·Request that penalties of 25% Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) penalty on assets of law abiding citizens be eliminated, that presumption of guilt is not a fair and equitable application of law; that penalty on the highest value of the assets is immoral and unfair; that penalties on assets as stated in the rules on foreign accounts should not be levied on law abiding citizens who missed declarations or filing deadlines due to lack of information or timely notification.
·Request that the IRS deadline be extended to December 31, 2012 to allow more persons who were not previously aware to fully comply. GOPIO is urging organizations, institutions and individuals to fully comply and pay any taxes due in an expeditious manner before the deadline.
·Request that the 20% accuracy penalty on undeclared taxes be substantially reduced for those who did not knowingly miss the filing deadlines.
·Request that the US Government should publicize the Voluntary Disclosure Amnesty Program in ethnic newspapers and other community media in multiple languages, as well as IRS representatives be interviewed by print, radio and television media to bring about more awareness resulting in compliance by more tax payers.
The joint letter was sent by GOPIO Chairman Inder Singh, NFIA President Lal K. Motwani, AAPI President Dr. Sunita Kanumuri and AAHOA Chairman Hemant D. Patel. Since sending out the letter, Federation of Indian Community associations of Cleveland (FICA) and Federation of Indian American Associations (NY, NJ and CT) have joined the effort along with Lueva Patidar Samaj. The groups are reaching out to all Indian community groups to join this effort.
Jagan takes safe stance on Telangana issue
IDUPULAPAYA/HYDERABAD: Barely an hour after Y S Jagan Mohan spelled out his stance on the Telangana issue at his party’s plenary in Kadapa district on Saturday, hundreds of miles away, an Osmania University student supplied his judgement of it. “If Chandrababu Naidu’s stance is two-eyed, Jagan’s policy is blind.” Among Telangana delegates packing the YSR family estate in Idupulapaya, disappointment was palpable as Jagan stepped away from the lectern. The young party president’s declaration was an exercise in safespeak: “We respect the sentiment of the Telangana people but we are neither in a position to grant statehood or block it. It is for the central government to take a nice decision that will not harm the interests of the people of any region.’’ In other words, the serpent shall not be killed nor the stick broken.
On day two of the plenary, there were signals that the Telangana delegates were restive. Several of the speakers from the region signed off their speeches with Jai Telangana. Separatist slogans and placards animated the audience, to which delegates from coastal Andhra replied in kind. After the president’s valedictory address, the placards proclaiming Jai Jagan and Jai Telangana sounded contradictory.
After the plenary, the Telangana delegates gathered round seniors and were consoled. “At least we raised Jai Telangana slogans in the heart of Rayalaseema,’’ one leader from Warangal told his troupe. “If we don’t spread that message, Telangana supporters will brand us as Samaikyandhra people.”Following the example of Chandrababu Naidu, Jagan too lined up his party behind the Congress in a bid to escape the flak that might result if his party took a stance either way. He blamed the Congress for creating bad blood among people of the state’s three regions and said it was for the Union government to take a decision on bifurcating the state. As per the Constitution was it not the prerogative of the Centre to divide a state?
And as has been Naidu’s experience, that kind of stance is likely to go down as veiled support for a united AP. As proof, Telangana delegates pointed to the stress in Jagan’s speech that any decision on bufircation have to protect the interests of all regions. Many of them had hoped to take away something from this speech that would help them generate enthusiasm for the party in Telangana and exorcise the image of Jagan grabbing a flag of Samaikya Andhra placard from a TDP MP and waving it in the Lok Sabha the day after P Chidambaram made that statement of intent on Telangana on Dec. 9, 2009. After the speech, YSRC leaders from Telangana tried to put a spin to it. Warangalite Konda Surekha said the YSR sentiment was strong in Telangana. All the same, she urged her party president to understand the intensity of the T sentiment. A leader from Mahbubnagar said it was true that support for Jagan in the troubled region counted for little in the face of the Telangana sentiment. But it was not something that could not be overcome by whipping up fervour for the memory of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
That’s the line the YSRC is bound to take in Telangana in the days to come. The party aims to create space for the party in Telangana by harping on the legacy of the late chief minister. As the plenary closed, the YSRC’s mind was still occupied by legacy. It adopted a resolution demanding a fresh probe by a sitting judge into the helicopter crash that killed YSR. Not surprisingly, the Telangana parties slammed Jagan in Hyderabad. The TJAC and TRS said he was only paying lip sympathy to the T cause. “He may not have the power to stall or deliver Telangana. But he has the power to seek Telanagana. Why doesn’t he do it?” asked TJAC chairman M Kodandaram.
Indian-American part of team to flag questions for Obama
WASHINGTON: Indian-American professor Raman Chadha was among the eight-member team which helped flag questions for US President Barack Obama, as he held the first ever Twitter Town Hall at the White House. During the period when Obama held the Twitter Town Hall at the White House yesterday, Chadha along with seven others was busy retweeting interesting questions and flagging them for the US President.
Most of his retweets were on economy and job. "Honor to be involved, I learned a lot, and had fun," tweeted Chadha, who works at the prestigious DePaul University's Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, after the conclusion of the town hall. "After an uncomfortable career in the corporate world and getting an MBA in entrepreneurship, Raman found his life's calling," says a bio of him posted on the website of the DePaul University. In 1995, he started a consulting firm focused on strategic planning and growth management, working with over 200 clients from start-up to USD 15 million in revenues. He joined DePaul in 2002 as an adjunct professor, and then helped launch the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center a year later. Since then, he has helped guide the Center's strategic direction, develop its programs, and build the spokes of its community.
He continues to teach in DePaul's highly-ranked entrepreneurship program, bringing his experience, energy, and enthusiasm to the classroom. Chadha earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Outside of entrepreneurship and his family, Chadha's interests include baseball, beer brewing, the outdoors, southern BBQ and indie rock.
Most of his retweets were on economy and job. "Honor to be involved, I learned a lot, and had fun," tweeted Chadha, who works at the prestigious DePaul University's Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, after the conclusion of the town hall. "After an uncomfortable career in the corporate world and getting an MBA in entrepreneurship, Raman found his life's calling," says a bio of him posted on the website of the DePaul University. In 1995, he started a consulting firm focused on strategic planning and growth management, working with over 200 clients from start-up to USD 15 million in revenues. He joined DePaul in 2002 as an adjunct professor, and then helped launch the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center a year later. Since then, he has helped guide the Center's strategic direction, develop its programs, and build the spokes of its community.
He continues to teach in DePaul's highly-ranked entrepreneurship program, bringing his experience, energy, and enthusiasm to the classroom. Chadha earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Outside of entrepreneurship and his family, Chadha's interests include baseball, beer brewing, the outdoors, southern BBQ and indie rock.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's dream merchant
But Dhoni is, and he defies all logic.
Woodwick's cricketing hero makes you relate to the common man's idea of following an idol. The forest officer is no great cricket buff himself and, therefore, he doesn't really enjoy the subtle nuances of the game. He sees Dhoni as a successful captain who came from nowhere, with no exceptional talent, but led a bunch of world class cricketers to World Cup victory and world's No. 1 Test status. Dhoni gives the less-confident, average, small-town enthusiasts a lot to dream.
You have to be a born genius to become a Tendulkar or a Gavaskar; come from a big city like Kolkata to be a Ganguly and for fans to adore you. But not Dhoni... From Woodwick, you come to the conclusion how common men like to see their heroes in the same skin. The same evening, after meeting with Woodwick, one arrives at the Indian team's training session in Dominica's Windsor Park stadium where Dhoni is busy talking to coach Duncan Fletcher. The two of them are busy animatedly discussing a cricketing shot -- something that resembles an off-side drive. You're quickly reminded of his last two dismissals in the Barbados Test, both times caught while trying to awkwardly drive and twice to the same bowler and fielder.
The Indian skipper has managed just 23 runs in four innings in this series and has been left thoroughly exposed for lack of technique.
How can Woodwick pick Dhoni for a favourite?
Dhoni's got other pressures to handle too. If his team doesn't complete its quota of overs in stipulated time in this Test, he'll find himself banned from the game at Lord's. Despite his frailties, Dhoni is successful -- a cricketer who fights many of his own little battles in between leading India into many significant wars. Dhoni's gracious to admit that he is what he is "because of a great team". The shorter formats are less demanding but when it comes to Tests, he's lacking. Unlike Tendulkar, he's not blessed and unlike Dravid, he's not troubling the West Indies here with the bat either. He makes up a bit for this lack of talent by way of some audacious leadership qualities.
33 killed, 35 injured as train rams into bus in UP
NEW DELHI: At least 33 people were killed and 35 others injured when a train rammed into a bus at an unmanned crossing near here in Uttar Pradesh in the wee hours on Thursday.The accident occurred at around 2.20 AM when the train on its way from Mathura to Chapra in Bihar rammed into the bus carrying a marriage party from Adupura village at the crossing in Dariyawganj area in this district.
Additional superintendent of police Daddan Prasad said the bus was carrying around 68 passengers."33 people have been killed and 35 others injured in the mishap," he said.Shailaja Kumari, district magistrate, Etah, said the injured have been admitted to various hospitals in Etah and Farukkhabad districts."The injured have been taken care of and they are now in various hospitals. Everybody is out of danger," she said.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed extreme grief at the loss of life and announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of each person killed, Rs 50,000 each for seriously injured and Rs 10,000 each for those with simple injuries.
Singh, who holds the railway portfolio, also ordered a high-level inquiry by the commissioner of rail safety into the mishap.A railways spokesman said the inquiry will go into the causes of the accident.Minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa and railway board chairman Vinay Mittal have rushed to the mishap site to oversee the rescue operations.
Additional superintendent of police Daddan Prasad said the bus was carrying around 68 passengers."33 people have been killed and 35 others injured in the mishap," he said.Shailaja Kumari, district magistrate, Etah, said the injured have been admitted to various hospitals in Etah and Farukkhabad districts."The injured have been taken care of and they are now in various hospitals. Everybody is out of danger," she said.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed extreme grief at the loss of life and announced ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of each person killed, Rs 50,000 each for seriously injured and Rs 10,000 each for those with simple injuries.
Singh, who holds the railway portfolio, also ordered a high-level inquiry by the commissioner of rail safety into the mishap.A railways spokesman said the inquiry will go into the causes of the accident.Minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa and railway board chairman Vinay Mittal have rushed to the mishap site to oversee the rescue operations.
Kerala temple treasure will be filmed, says Supreme Court
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that unearthing process of Rs 1 lakh crore treasure trove inside Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala should be filmed and photographed.It expressed serious concern on the fight that has begun over the treasure trove. The apex court proposed appointment of a curator of a museum to preserve the treasure being unearthed from the temple.The court said that it will pass orders relating to conservation of the artefacts after taking opinion of experts on Friday.It would also decide which item should be displayed in the museum and others to be kept in safe vaults.The court warned of serious consequences if any party starts claiming ownership over the treasure.The statues, some made in gold, and a jaw-dropping array of jewels have been discovered at the 16th-century Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram.The vaults of the temple, sealed for close to 150 year according to some estimates, have been opened on the instructions of the Supreme Court after a city lawyer alleged poor security and mismanagement by the trust that handles the temple.
శ్రీ అనంతపద్మనాభ స్వామీ ఆరో నేలమాళిగ మిస్టరీ
తిరువనంతపురం: శ్రీ అనంత పద్మనాభుడి ఆలయంలోని ఆరో నేలమాళిగను ఇప్పటివరకు తెరవలేదు. దీంట్లో ఏదో రహస్య దాగి ఉందనే ప్రచారం జరుగుతోంది. రాచకుటుంబం అంత:పుర రహస్యాలు దాగి ఉండవచ్చునని కూడా అంటున్నారు. దానితో పాటు అపారమైన సంపద కూడా ఉండవచ్చుననే ఊహాగానాలు చెలరేగుతున్నాయి. ఇప్పటి వరకు లక్ష కోట్లకు పైగానే సంపద బయటపడినట్లు అంచనాలు వేశారు. ఆరో నేలమాళిగను తెరిస్తే కచ్చితమైన లెక్క తేలుతుందని అంటున్నారు. పురాతన కాలానికి చెందిన ఆభరణాలు, వజ్ర వైఢూర్యాలు, మరకత మాణిక్యాలు, కిరీటాలు - ఇవన్నీ ఉండటంతో వాటి విలువ అపారంగా ఉంటుందని చెబుతున్నారు. అయితే.. ఆరో నేలమాళిగకు 'నాగబంధం' ఉంది. అందువల్ల దీన్ని తెరిస్తే అరిష్టం తప్పదని భక్తులు నమ్ముతున్నారు.సంపద లెక్కతేలుస్తున్న కమిటీ సభ్యులలో ఒకరికి కాలు విరిగిపోగా, మరొకరి తల్లి దీర్ఘకాలంగా అనారోగ్యంతో బాధపడుతూ తాజాగా మరణించారు. ఈ విషయాలన్నింటినీ అందుకు నిదర్శనంగానే భక్తులు చెబుతున్నారు. నాగబంధాన్ని తెరవడం అంత సులభమూ కాదు, మంచిదీ కాదని వారంటున్నారు. పైగా దాని తాళం చెవి లభించడం లేదని కూడా చెబుతున్నారు. అనంత పద్మనాభస్వామి వేయి పడగల శేషనాగు మీద శయనిస్తారు కాబట్టి.. ఆ ముద్రలో ఉన్న స్వామి ఆలయంలో మాళిగలను - అందునా నాగబంధం ఉన్న మాళిగలను తెరవడం ఏమాత్రం సరికాదని వారు చెబుతున్నారు. దాదాపు శతాబ్దం క్రితం ఒకసారి కేరళలో విపరీతమైన కరువు వచ్చినప్పుడు కూడా ఈ మాళిగలను తెరుద్దామన్న ప్రయత్నం చేసినా, నీళ్లు ప్రవహిస్తున్న శబ్దాలు రావడంతో మానుకున్నారన్న కథనాలు కూడా ప్రచారంలోకి వస్తున్నాయి.
మొత్తం సంపద ఎంతుందో, ఏవేం ఉన్నాయో చూసి జాబితా సిద్ధం చేసేందుకు సుప్రీంకోర్టు ఏడుగురు సభ్యులతో కూడిన కమిటీని నియమించింది. ఇందులో కేరళ హైకోర్టు మాజీ న్యాయమూర్తులు ఇద్దరు కూడా ఉన్నారు. వీరంతా కలిసి ఆరు నేలమాళిగల్లో ఉన్న అపార సంపదను లెక్కిస్తూ, దాని జాబితాను సిద్ధం చేస్తున్నారు. ఈ ప్రక్రియలో రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వ ప్రతినిధులు, రాజకుటుంబానికి చెందిన ఇద్దరు కూడా ఉంటున్నారు.
ఇప్పటివరకు తెలిసిన వివరాల ప్రకారం బయటపడ్డ సంపద వివరాలు ఈ విధంగా ఉన్నాయి -
- నాటి రాజకుటుంబానికి చెందిన కిరీటాలు
- 17 కిలోల బంగారు నాణేలు
-2.5 కిలోల బరువు, 18 అడుగుల పొడవు ఉన్న షరపోలి మాల
-బంగారు తాళ్లు
- ఒక బస్తా నిండా వజ్రాలు
- వేల సంఖ్యలో పురాతన నగలు
- బంగారు పాత్రలు
- వివిధ రాజకుటుంబాలు, యాత్రికులు, వర్తకులు చేసిన దానాలు
- పలు శతాబ్దాల క్రితం నాటి అత్యంత అరుదైన, విలువైన మాణిక్యాలు
- పురాతన బంగారు ఆభరణాలు
- వజ్రాలు, నవరత్నాలతో పాటు బెల్జియన్ రత్నాలు
- రోమ్నుంచి వచ్చిన పురాతన నాణేలు
- ఈస్టిండియా కంపెనీకి చెందిన బంగారు నాణేలు
- విలువైన రత్నాలు, బంగారంతో తయారుచేసిన విష్ణుమూర్తి విగ్రహం
- బంగారు గింజలు
- బంగారు పతకాలు
- బంగారు రాజదండాలు
శ్రీ అనంత పద్మనాభస్వామి ఆలయంలో బయటపడిన అపార సంపదను జాగ్రత్త చేయాలని తాము భావిస్తున్నా, తుది నిర్ణయాన్ని సుప్రీంకోర్టుకే వదిలిపెడుతున్నట్లు కేరళ ప్రభుత్వం వెల్లడించింది. ప్రభుత్వంతో పాటు చాలామంది ప్రజలు, హిందూ సంస్థలు కూడా ఈ అపార సంపదను ఆలయంలోనే ఉంచాలని భావిస్తున్నట్లు కేరళ ముఖ్యమంత్రి ఊమెన్ చాందీ మంత్రివర్గ సమావేశానంతరం మీడియాకు తెలిపారు.
ప్రస్తుతం ఆలయం వద్ద ఏర్పాటు చేసిన భద్రత తాత్కాలికమని, ఆలయ సంప్రదాయాలకు భంగం వాటిల్లకుండా ఆధునిక సాంకేతిక వ్యవస్థతో కూడిన శాశ్వత భద్రతా వ్యవస్థను ఏర్పాటుచేసేందుకు ప్రభుత్వం యోచిస్తోందని ఆయన చెప్పారు. అయితే, ఇది భక్తుల దర్శనానికి ఏమాత్రం ఆటంకం కాబోదన్నారు. ఈ ఏర్పాట్లకు కోర్టు ఆమోదం కూడా కావాల్సి ఉంటుందన్నారు.
Australia hotel apologises for sending out turbaned Sikh
MELBOURN: The Australian hotel, which ejected a Sikh man from its premises because he was wearing a turban, on Tuesday apologised to him while admitting that its policy of 'no headwear' should be applied with sensitivity to religious and cultural beliefs.The Sikh man was asked to leave the Royal English Hotel in suburban Brisbane on Sunday because his turban contravened its "no headwear" policy.
Coles subsidiary Spirit Hotels, which owns the venue, apologised to the unnamed man.
"The general manager of the hotel contacted the man last night and offered an apology on behalf of the hotel and of the broader Spirit Group," a Coles spokesman was quoted as saying by media reports."Our policy of no headwear is to be applied with sensitivity and due respect to religious and cultural beliefs."Our understanding is he has accepted that offer and will not be taking it any further," he said.One of the staff members of the hotel had asked the man to remove his turban yesterday following which he left the place.The Sikh man, who had only been in the hotel for a few minutes when he was asked to leave, confirmed he had been offered an apology and indicated he had no plans to take up the issue further."The bartender came over to me and said 'we have a no hat policy' and asked me to leave," he told ABC Radio."I said 'it's not a hat, it's a turban' and she said 'it doesn't matter, you can't have anything on your head'. I said 'that's fine I'll go'," he said.
.
Coles subsidiary Spirit Hotels, which owns the venue, apologised to the unnamed man.
"The general manager of the hotel contacted the man last night and offered an apology on behalf of the hotel and of the broader Spirit Group," a Coles spokesman was quoted as saying by media reports."Our policy of no headwear is to be applied with sensitivity and due respect to religious and cultural beliefs."Our understanding is he has accepted that offer and will not be taking it any further," he said.One of the staff members of the hotel had asked the man to remove his turban yesterday following which he left the place.The Sikh man, who had only been in the hotel for a few minutes when he was asked to leave, confirmed he had been offered an apology and indicated he had no plans to take up the issue further."The bartender came over to me and said 'we have a no hat policy' and asked me to leave," he told ABC Radio."I said 'it's not a hat, it's a turban' and she said 'it doesn't matter, you can't have anything on your head'. I said 'that's fine I'll go'," he said.
.
Terrorists may implant bombs in humans, US warns airlines
WASHINGTON: The US government has warned domestic and international airlines that some terrorists are considering surgically implanting explosives into humans to carry out attacks, the Associated Press has learned.
There is no intelligence pointing to a specific plot, but the US shared its concerns last week with executives at domestic and international carriers.
People traveling to the US from overseas may experience additional screening at airports because of the threat, according to the Transportation Security Administration."These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same activity at every international airport," TSA spokesman Nick Kimball said. "Measures may include interaction with passengers, in addition to the use of other screening methods such as pat-downs and the use of enhanced tools and technologies."
Placing explosives and explosive components inside humans to hide bombs and evade security measures is not a new idea. But there is new intelligence pointing to a fresh interest in using this tactic, a US security official told the AP. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security information.
When the US government receives information suggesting terror tactics that could threaten commercial aviation, the TSA alerts companies domestically and abroad. Last December, the US received intelligence that al-Qaida's Yemen branch was considering hiding explosives inside insulated beverage containers to carry them on airplanes. That warning was shared with domestic and foreign airlines so that security could be on the lookout, even though there was no specific plot.
Airport security has increased markedly since the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks. But terrorists remain interested in attacking aviation and continue to adapt to the new security measures by trying to develop ways to circumvent them.
There is no intelligence pointing to a specific plot, but the US shared its concerns last week with executives at domestic and international carriers.
People traveling to the US from overseas may experience additional screening at airports because of the threat, according to the Transportation Security Administration."These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same activity at every international airport," TSA spokesman Nick Kimball said. "Measures may include interaction with passengers, in addition to the use of other screening methods such as pat-downs and the use of enhanced tools and technologies."
Placing explosives and explosive components inside humans to hide bombs and evade security measures is not a new idea. But there is new intelligence pointing to a fresh interest in using this tactic, a US security official told the AP. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security information.
When the US government receives information suggesting terror tactics that could threaten commercial aviation, the TSA alerts companies domestically and abroad. Last December, the US received intelligence that al-Qaida's Yemen branch was considering hiding explosives inside insulated beverage containers to carry them on airplanes. That warning was shared with domestic and foreign airlines so that security could be on the lookout, even though there was no specific plot.
Airport security has increased markedly since the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks. But terrorists remain interested in attacking aviation and continue to adapt to the new security measures by trying to develop ways to circumvent them.
I fear for my life in India, says sacked Ukrainian coach Ogorodnik
PATIALA: Sacked athletics coach Yuri Ogorodnik expressed fear for his life in India and defended himself by claiming that he did not play any role in the doping scandal that resulted in six of his trainees testing positive for banned substances.
The Ukrainian, who was sacked by sports minister Ajay Maken on Tuesday for his alleged role in the doping fiasco, said he wants to leave the country soon and claimed that he has been set-up to tarnish his reputation.
"I want to go home. If I stay here I will die. I don't want to die in India. Want to die in my country. I have always faced many problems here. I have not been eating or sleeping well," said Ogorodnik while speaking to electronic media.
"I cannot believe the girls tested positive for the same anabolic steroid. I have never given any anabolic steroid to any athlete. I am not to blame for it. The athletes have taken only food supplements and that could be contaminated.
"We have given many dope tests before. Before Commonwealth Games, during and after CWG before and after the Asian Games. We never faced a problem earlier," he added.
Ogorodnik said he will not meet any of the SAI officials and would fly out to his country in two-three days."I am flying out directly. Not completing formalities. Not meeting anyone. I have a very bad experience in India."
The Ukrainian, who was sacked by sports minister Ajay Maken on Tuesday for his alleged role in the doping fiasco, said he wants to leave the country soon and claimed that he has been set-up to tarnish his reputation.
"I want to go home. If I stay here I will die. I don't want to die in India. Want to die in my country. I have always faced many problems here. I have not been eating or sleeping well," said Ogorodnik while speaking to electronic media.
"I cannot believe the girls tested positive for the same anabolic steroid. I have never given any anabolic steroid to any athlete. I am not to blame for it. The athletes have taken only food supplements and that could be contaminated.
"We have given many dope tests before. Before Commonwealth Games, during and after CWG before and after the Asian Games. We never faced a problem earlier," he added.
Ogorodnik said he will not meet any of the SAI officials and would fly out to his country in two-three days."I am flying out directly. Not completing formalities. Not meeting anyone. I have a very bad experience in India."
Vikram Buddhi held beyond jail term, father seeks PM's intervention
MUMBAI: The father of jailed Indian researcher and lecturer Vikram Buddhi has sought prime minister Manmohan Singh's urgent intervention, seeking justice for his son who has been jailed in the US despite completing his 57-month jail term on May 6. Buddhi was jailed for allegedly threatening to kill former president George W Bush.In his latest letter to the PMO and also the ministry of external affairs, Vikram's distraught father Captain B K Subbarao has pointed out several glaring instances of deliberate discrimination during the court trial of Vikram. "Indian graduate student and PhD mathematics scholar Vikram Buddhi has already served the full 57-month jail term, but he is still held behind bars by the immigration department which has the power to deport him. I have urged our prime minister to at least now provide him with legal assistance in the US so that he can appeal against this unfair court verdict and clear his name,'' said Captain Subbarao, former naval officer and now a Supreme Court advocate.
Pointing at the recent case of handcuffing of 18-year-old Krittika Biswas, daughter of an Indian diplomat in New York, Subbarao noted: "Krittika was pushed into a US police lock-up and forced to confess about sending obscene emails to her school teacher in New York. However, it was all the more surprising how top MEA officials worked through the night to intervene in the case of Krittika who was jailed for one day. But, in Vikram's case there was no sincere help or intervention from the Indian government in the last four-and-half years.''
Also, while in Krittika's case the actual email offender was later found to be a male student of Chinese origin, the real author of the threatening Internet messages in Vikram's case was never properly confirmed, he said. "I have written to the PM solely because it is a matter of grave concern to all Indians settled in America. The bias and unfair trial that Vikram had to suffer for nearly five years can be faced by any other Indian as well. If our leaders don't stand up to this now, then god save us in the American system,'' said Subbarao.
Firstly, he stated, that the very indictment (charge) against Vikram is faulty as it simply does not mention the term 'internet messages', which were supposedly first noticed by the US Secret Service (USSS) police. This, he added, was deliberately done because an internet message usually constitutes protected speech under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. "As the indictment (charge) against Vikram was defective, it should have fallen on its own during trial, and as such he would have been freed. Secondly, the trial judge had conducted another illegality by attempting to cure an already invalid indictment by allowing the government to bring in the alleged internet messages later on during the court trial,'' said Subbarao. The judge also came down heavily on the lawyer of Vikram by saying that he would be "embarrassed'' in the court if he tried to link the case to the First Amendment (as mentioned in the trial transcript volume IV, June 28, 2007 , pages 4-6), he said.
"It shows the defence attorney was prevented from defending Vikram fully and properly. All these factors clearly show that Vikram was discriminated against as the proper justice process was not followed during his trial,'' he added.
Apart from the glaring invalid indictment which he has repeatedly brought to the notice of top US officials, including the US Attorney General Eric Holder, Subbarao has also questioned why Vikram had to be put in prison for over 57 months despite the US Secret Service Police having formally reported that Vikram was "not a threat'' to any of the US leaders of that time.
Vikram, a National Science Talent Scholar in India, is an MSc in mathematics from IIT-B. He worked for a year at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at Mumbai and then joined the mathematics department of Purdue University in the US in 1996. At Purdue he received the MS degree in mathematics and had been pursuing PhD degrees simultaneously in pure and applied mathematics. At Purdue University Vikram received two times Best Teaching Award from the Department of Mathematics.
Pointing at the recent case of handcuffing of 18-year-old Krittika Biswas, daughter of an Indian diplomat in New York, Subbarao noted: "Krittika was pushed into a US police lock-up and forced to confess about sending obscene emails to her school teacher in New York. However, it was all the more surprising how top MEA officials worked through the night to intervene in the case of Krittika who was jailed for one day. But, in Vikram's case there was no sincere help or intervention from the Indian government in the last four-and-half years.''
Also, while in Krittika's case the actual email offender was later found to be a male student of Chinese origin, the real author of the threatening Internet messages in Vikram's case was never properly confirmed, he said. "I have written to the PM solely because it is a matter of grave concern to all Indians settled in America. The bias and unfair trial that Vikram had to suffer for nearly five years can be faced by any other Indian as well. If our leaders don't stand up to this now, then god save us in the American system,'' said Subbarao.
Firstly, he stated, that the very indictment (charge) against Vikram is faulty as it simply does not mention the term 'internet messages', which were supposedly first noticed by the US Secret Service (USSS) police. This, he added, was deliberately done because an internet message usually constitutes protected speech under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. "As the indictment (charge) against Vikram was defective, it should have fallen on its own during trial, and as such he would have been freed. Secondly, the trial judge had conducted another illegality by attempting to cure an already invalid indictment by allowing the government to bring in the alleged internet messages later on during the court trial,'' said Subbarao. The judge also came down heavily on the lawyer of Vikram by saying that he would be "embarrassed'' in the court if he tried to link the case to the First Amendment (as mentioned in the trial transcript volume IV, June 28, 2007 , pages 4-6), he said.
"It shows the defence attorney was prevented from defending Vikram fully and properly. All these factors clearly show that Vikram was discriminated against as the proper justice process was not followed during his trial,'' he added.
Apart from the glaring invalid indictment which he has repeatedly brought to the notice of top US officials, including the US Attorney General Eric Holder, Subbarao has also questioned why Vikram had to be put in prison for over 57 months despite the US Secret Service Police having formally reported that Vikram was "not a threat'' to any of the US leaders of that time.
Vikram, a National Science Talent Scholar in India, is an MSc in mathematics from IIT-B. He worked for a year at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research at Mumbai and then joined the mathematics department of Purdue University in the US in 1996. At Purdue he received the MS degree in mathematics and had been pursuing PhD degrees simultaneously in pure and applied mathematics. At Purdue University Vikram received two times Best Teaching Award from the Department of Mathematics.
Lord's riches worth more than Rs 1 lakh cr
NEW DELHI: The Kerala temple treasure find keeps getting bigger. It has already captured the imagination of the country and has stirred a debate about the value and how it should be deployed.While a final word is yet to emerge about the exact valuation, reports that have appeared peg it at around Rs 1 lakh crore. The staggering amount can help the cash-strapped Kerala state fund several of its programmes and transform its economy.The amount that is being bandied around could also meet the cost of rolling out the Food Security Act (around Rs 70,000 crore) and the rural job guarantee scheme spending of Rs 40,000 crore.If deployed for economic benefits, it could meet the Centre's education budget for two-and-a-half years and is Rs 82,000 crore more than what the government hopes to collect this year. It can help meet the central government interest and debt payment liability for over four months and is equivalent to seven month's defence spending.Experts say the value of the treasure trove could be more if the antique value is taken into account. An independent evaluation by international experts could push up the valuation significantly while it may fetch a premium from investors if it is auctioned because of the religious sentiments and heritage value.The value so far is more than the budget of three states — Delhi, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand and at least 50% higher than Posco's proposed investment of $12 billion (Rs 54,000 crore) in India. It equals BP's investment plans of $20 billion (Rs 90,000 crore) in India, including acquisition of a stake in Reliance Industries' oil and gas acreages. The value is equal to nearly one-third the market value of India's top firm, Reliance Industries Ltd, and almost equal to software giant Wipro's market capitalization of Rs 1.04 lakh crore.
Govt relaxes rules for surrender of Indian passport
NEW DELHI: The external affairs ministry (MEA) has finally agreed to eliminate the surrender certificate from those who have became naturalized citizens more than 10 years ago and also an OCI application need not be accompanied by an original US passport.When the new rules regarding the surrender of Indian passports upon acquisition of US citizenship were introduced by the MEA in May 2010, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) expressed strong objections.GOPIO had also objected to Indian Consulates charging $175 fee for surrender of old Indian passports and additional penalties for various "violations". Based on the persistence and objections raised by GOPIO, on June 1, 2010, a partial relaxation of the rules was achieved and the fee reduced to $20. However, the removal of burdensome procedures and fees on Indians who became citizens of other countries was not addressed in a coherent, consistent and equitable way.As a result, during the last one year alone, there have been demonstrations, hunger strikes and thousands of emails to the Indian consulates, GOPIO and the government, yet the issue never got the full attention for a comprehensive solution as promised.
On January 6, 2011, GOPIO held a conference session on this subject at its annual convention in New Delhi. A high ranking representative of the MEA attended the session and became aware of the continuing problem. In May 2011, a high level delegation from the MEA headed by secretary Dr Ajai Choudhry along with additional secretary BK Gupta and under secretary Cherian Thomas visited the US to look into complaints of the people regarding visa issue.
"We compliment the MEA high level delegation in accepting some GOPIO's recommendations and MEA issuing the directives accordingly. The elimination of surrender certificate requirement from people who have obtained foreign citizenship more than ten years ago, will not only stop the decline of goodwill in the Indian community for the government of India but can also reduce workload at the consulates," said Inder Singh, GOPIO International chairman.
"Now that the work load will be less, Indian missions in western countries and Travisa should finish off all the backlogs soon and make the process of getting an OCI card and entry visa to India easier for the Indian community," said Dr Thomas Abraham, former chairman of GOPIO International, who has been involved in this issue from the beginning.
"Finally, MEA has taken some steps to remove the difficulties faced by many who became citizens of other countries and desirous of visiting India or applying for OCI cards. This is a welcome action that removes an undue burden on former citizens of India and improves goodwill towards India", said Ashook Ramsaran, executive vice president of GOPIO International.
Indian wins BMW in first Dubai Summer Surprises draw
DUBAI: A 30-year old Indian national has won a brand new 2012 model BMW 3-series as the first lucky winner of a local promotion here.Fahd Abdullah, a resident of UAE, won the Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG) promotion, which gives 10 lucky winners the chance to win BMW cars during Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) and 'Ramadan-in-Dubai', a DSMG statement said.Abdullah's winning raffle coupon was the result of buying a camera from a store which gave him the lucky coupon.Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE) said that nine more chances to win BMW cars beckon shoppers every week at 14 participating malls.The next draw will take place on July 7. The 10-week city-wide promotion runs concurrently across 14 participating malls in Dubai with the last draw set to be held on August 31 to coincide with the last date of the Ramadan-in-Dubai festival, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
More Indian students opting for Australia
MELBOURNE: After two years of tumbling fortunes, the tide seems to be turning in favour of Australian universities, as more and more Indian students are opting to study Down Under.The Australian immigration department has recorded a 21% rise in student visa applications from India in the first six months this year.
Over 3,700 Indian students have applied for Australian visa in 2011, The Age reported.Education providers down under experienced troubled times after Indian students dumped Australia following a spate of assaults on South Asian students in Melbourne and Sydney.Aggressive coverage by Indian media pushed even bilateral relations, besides student enrolments, into a downward spiral.Matters turned worse for Australian universities and vocational colleges, as plummeting numbers coincided with the Australian government making immigration laws more stringent.
With Australia once again relaxing the visa regulations from April 1 this year and a significant drop in assaults on international students, more and more Indian students are anticipated to opt for Australia."The number of student visa applications is rebounding, that category is up significantly," the newspaper quoted Peter Speldewinde, assistant secretary in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, as saying."People are generally positive about Australia," said Speldewinde, adding: "The student issue has come up from time to time, but no one's really pushed it very hard."The Australian government is reportedly advertising in Indian media to attract Indian professionals to settle in Australia.
India is the third-largest provider of permanent skilled migrants to Australia. Over 15,000 Indians decided to make Australia their home last fiscal. Only China and Britain provide more skilled migrants to the Australian economy.
Why bar women from working at night: HC
MUMBAI: "If a woman works up to 1am it is the society's responsibility to ensure that she is not hassled," the Bombay high court observed on Monday while striking a blow for working women. Hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the law restricting women from working beyond 9.30pm, a division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Ranjit More asked the state to explain the "rationale" behind the rule.Though the petition filed by the Womanist Party of India and other organizations specifically takes up the issue of waitresses in bars who are banned from working after 9.30pm, the law is in fact even applicable to women working in shops and other establishments that are not given special exemptions.
"When it comes to women, the argument is mostly about morality. Conditions are imposed upon women saying it is immoral," said Justice Desai. The court inquired "whether the state can impose such a condition".
The petitions have challenged the rules under the Shops and Establishment Act of 1948, the Public Entertainment Act and the Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules.
Arguing against the state bar on women working after 9.30pm, advocate Veena Thadani, counsel for the petitioners, told the Bombay HC, "The rule violates the fundamental rights of 50% of the population."
"In the name of security and safety laws cannot be made that are against women. At the workplace it is the duty of the employer to protect women and outside it is the state's responsibility to ensure their safety whether it is a lawyer, call centre employee or a waitress."The advocate further said that while the 9.30pm ban applied to all firms with a shops and establishment licence, it was only the waitresses who were being targeted. "The waitress in bars are at the receiving end as they come from the lower strata of the society," said Thadani, adding, "Post-9.30pm a woman customer can visit a bar, a singer can sing in the bar, and a lady owner can sit there, but the rules restrict a woman from being employed as a waitress."
"What the logic is we don't understand," said the judges, while asking the state to answer the questions raised in the petition.The state's lawyer said the petition would have to be thrown out at the threshold on a single point-"There is no fundamental right to operate a bar, and a similar right could not be claimed to seek employment in a place where liquor is served." He further argued that the rules allow the government to place restrictions on the age and sex of persons who are employed in public places that serve liquor.This is not the first time that the state government is coming in for flak from the high court over these rules. "Are we living in Nazi Germany?" another bench of the HC had asked during an earlier hearing of the case."What kind of mentality is this that considers women like some commodity who have to be treated differently? Can you tell a citizen of this country that she cannot work at a place because she is a woman or is uneducated?" the court had asked.In an earlier affidavit, the state government justified the ban on the grounds of sexual exploitation of women in such establishments. "The women (who work in bars) come from the poor strata of the society and are prone to illegal exploitation at the hands of male customers and employees,'' the affidavit said. It further contended that women who work in bars could not be equated with "educated women like air hostesses and lady staff working in the hospitality industry.'' The hearing in the case will continue on Tuesday.Laws against working women: There are many rules that discriminate against working women. The Factories Act (1948) bars women from working in factories between 10pm and 6am. Many high courts have held that the ban is unconstitutional. The Bombay Shops and Establishment Act prohibits women from working in restaurants, bars and shops after 9.30pm.Advocate Veena Thadani calls the rules "romantic paternalism", which implies that women are the weaker sex and require protection. According to the advocate, a female CEO of a firm coming under the shops and establishment act or a woman CA would be banned from working in her own office after 9.30pm if the rules are applied.
India fires Ukrainian coach amid doping scandal
NEW DELHI: India's sports minister announced Tuesday that he had sacked the Ukrainian coach of the country's female 400m runners after eight of them tested positive for steroids in a growing doping scandal.
"I have asked for his removal. He has already been removed," Ajay Maken told a news conference in New Delhi, referring to Yuri Ogrodnik, who coached three of the six to Commonwealth and Asian Games gold last year.Late Monday, one of India's brightest female track stars, Ashwini Akkunji, joined her fellow 400m runners in failing a drugs test.Akkunji was a member of the country's Commonwealth and Asian Games-winning women's 4x400m relay team and the winner of the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games with a personal best of 56.16 seconds.Three out of the four runners in the 400m relay team -- Akkunji, Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose -- have now tested positive for banned steroids.They are among eight athletes in total -- six female 400m runners, a female shotputter and a male long-jumper -- who have now failed drugs tests, casting a cloud over Indian athletics and denting the country's Olympic ambitions.All have been provisionally suspended pending the testing of their "B" samples later this week, the National Anti-Doping Agency told AFP on Tuesday.
Maken told reporters that he has asked the Sports Authority of India, NADA and Athletics Federation of India for detailed reports into the circumstances leading to the positive tests.He has also ordered an inquiry to be headed by a retired high court judge."We will catch coaches and officials who were involved, not just athletes," Maken said, adding: "We can't be lenient..."The coach says he didn't know that the athletes were taking banned substances then I think he's all the more responsible for what's happened. The coach is supposed to know what they're taking and and tell them what to take."The tests were carried out either at a national training camp in Patiala, in the northern state of Punjab, in the last two months or after a track meeting in the southern city of Bangalore in late June.
The athletes have all protested their innocence and blamed contaminated food supplements for the results.
"I have asked for his removal. He has already been removed," Ajay Maken told a news conference in New Delhi, referring to Yuri Ogrodnik, who coached three of the six to Commonwealth and Asian Games gold last year.Late Monday, one of India's brightest female track stars, Ashwini Akkunji, joined her fellow 400m runners in failing a drugs test.Akkunji was a member of the country's Commonwealth and Asian Games-winning women's 4x400m relay team and the winner of the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games with a personal best of 56.16 seconds.Three out of the four runners in the 400m relay team -- Akkunji, Mandeep Kaur and Sini Jose -- have now tested positive for banned steroids.They are among eight athletes in total -- six female 400m runners, a female shotputter and a male long-jumper -- who have now failed drugs tests, casting a cloud over Indian athletics and denting the country's Olympic ambitions.All have been provisionally suspended pending the testing of their "B" samples later this week, the National Anti-Doping Agency told AFP on Tuesday.
Maken told reporters that he has asked the Sports Authority of India, NADA and Athletics Federation of India for detailed reports into the circumstances leading to the positive tests.He has also ordered an inquiry to be headed by a retired high court judge."We will catch coaches and officials who were involved, not just athletes," Maken said, adding: "We can't be lenient..."The coach says he didn't know that the athletes were taking banned substances then I think he's all the more responsible for what's happened. The coach is supposed to know what they're taking and and tell them what to take."The tests were carried out either at a national training camp in Patiala, in the northern state of Punjab, in the last two months or after a track meeting in the southern city of Bangalore in late June.
The athletes have all protested their innocence and blamed contaminated food supplements for the results.
Venturing off beaten track, Chennai's karate kids make the grade in US
CHENNAI: If you thought the young boys in the city, like their counterparts elsewhere, take to cricket and tennis as sports to excel, here is an exception. Two 13-year-old boys from Chennai who took karate as their sport of choice have just returned from Indianapolis in the US after bagging a silver medal each in the world championship in their age-group.Karthik Manoj and Kaushik Saikumar were invited to the 2011 World Karate Association tournament held in the last week of June. And when they returned they had more than made their parents, schools and karate instructor proud. They showed other children that there is a world beyond the popular sports disciplines to enter and excel.Karthik, a class 9 student of Don Bosco School, is the son of former state snooker champion MC Manoj. He won the second place in the 'kata' category (one of the three categories in karate which deals with imaginary fights without weapons). Kaushik, a class 8 student of Lady Andal School, bagged the silver medal in the 'kobudo' category (which uses a weapon called 'bo', a wooden stick, but without contact).Interestingly, their coach Ayyappan Mani, who runs karate schools in Kilpauk and Thiruvanmiyur, had won the third place in 2009 and the second place this year in the third category, 'kumite', which involves a direct fight without weapons, in the 18-29 age-group for advanced black belts.
"We were the only participants from India in the competition which is held once in two years," says Mani, who feels with properencouragement, Indian children could make their grade in the sport. "We had to make our own arrangements for the trip as karate is not a priority sport in the government list." In all, 27 countries participated in the tournament.Karthik and Kaushik got hooked to karate only last year but theirdedication and disciplined training helped them make good strides. Their sessions wih Mani start as early as five in the morning and end late in the evening."Their achievements are significant because they fought with older and much bigger boys from the US, Germany, Mexico and Japan," says Mani. "I have been training intensively for this tournament," says Karthik, who takes part in inter-school swimming competitions too but vows that karate is his main sport.
Andhra crisis: Telangana MPs, MLAs quit
IANS
Last Updated : 04 Jul 2011 07:55:13 PM IST
NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: The movement for separate statehood to Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh entered a crucial phase on Monday with the mass resignations of MPs, state ministers and legislators of the Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) while the Joint Action Committee (JAC) spearheading the movement called for a 48-hour shutdown beginning Tuesday.
Congress MPs from Telangana region raise slogans in front of Parliament House after submitting their resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, against the Centre's “delay” in the formation of a separate Telangana state, in New Delhi on Monday.
On a day of fast-paced developments, seven MPs of the Congress party from the region submitted their resignations to Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar while Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao gave his resignation to house chairman Hamid Ansari.
In an attempt to build pressure on the party-led United Progressive Alliance government to concede their demand for creation of a separate Telangana state, seven out of 12 Lok Sabha members of Congress submitted their resignations while both members of TDP said they would also put in their papers.
Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar told reporters that two other Lok Sabha members, Madhu Goud Yaskhi and Suresh Shetkar, have faxed their resignations.
Another MP Sarvey Satyanarayana has refused to resign saying he would do so only after Union Petroleum Minister S. Jaipal Reddy quits.
MP from Secunderabad Anjan Kumar Yadav is also reluctant to resign.
In Hyderabad, 79 members of the assembly including 11 ministers submitted their resignations, plunging the state into a crisis.
Four rebel TDP legislators had quit Sunday.
Those who resigned Monday include all 33 of TDP, 40 of Congress and two of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).
Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha and three other ministers have not resigned. The ministers who submitted their resignations include Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy.
While five ministers personally submitted their resignations to deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, six others including the home minister sent their papers.
In all, 10 legislators of the Congress party from Telangana are yet to submit their resignations.
Speaker N. Manohar, who is in the US, will take a decision on the resignations after his return. The resignations, if accepted, may reduce the Congress government to minority.
In the 294-member assembly, Congress has 174 members, including 18 from the PRP, which merged with the ruling party recently.
Telangana accounts for 119 legislators in the 294-member assembly. The Congress has 52 members (including two of PRP), TDP 37 and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) 11.
Senior Minister K. Jana Reddy told reporters that their resignations were not aimed at creating a constitutional or political crisis but to achieve a separate state in tune with the aspirations of the people.
"Today is United States' Independence Day and we hope today will also become Telangana's Independence Day," the minister said outside the assembly building.
Jana Reddy, who later left for Delhi for talks with the central leadership, claimed that their fight was for self-rule and self-respect of the Telangana region.
Twelve Congress members of the legislative council and three of TDP have also submitted their resignations to council chairperson K. Chakrapani.
The legislators said the resignations were aimed at pressurising the central government to carve out a separate Telangana state as promised by it on Dec 9, 2009.
The Congress leaders resigned despite the efforts of the central and state leadership of the party over last three days to dissuade them.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi that a final decision on the "extremely sensitive and complex" issue was yet to be taken.
"The central government's view will be made known after the consultation process is over. We have to bring everyone on board. There is a strong view of a large number of people. We are yet to take a final decision," Chidambaram told reporters.
"This is an extremely sensitive and complex issue. We will try to expedite... One should have understanding and patience. Especially, the media should have understanding and patience," Chidambaram said.
Chidambaram said the government would convene an all-party meeting immediately after the views of all parties are known. Two of the parties have not yet finalised their views on the separate statehood issue, he said.
However, his statement evoked sharp reaction not just from TRS but also from his own party ranks. MP Manda Jagannatham termed his remarks incomprehensible.
Alleging that the centre is making light of the mass resignations, the JAC, which is spearheading the Telangana movement, called for a 48-hour Telangana shutdown beginning Tuesday.TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao criticized Chidambaram for reacting to the resignations in a casual manner.He announced that the protest in the region would continue till the central government agrees to initiate the process for formation of separate state.JAC also called for rail blockade in Telangana on July 8 and 9 and cook-and-eat protest on roads on July 10.
Last Updated : 04 Jul 2011 07:55:13 PM IST
NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: The movement for separate statehood to Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh entered a crucial phase on Monday with the mass resignations of MPs, state ministers and legislators of the Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) while the Joint Action Committee (JAC) spearheading the movement called for a 48-hour shutdown beginning Tuesday.
On a day of fast-paced developments, seven MPs of the Congress party from the region submitted their resignations to Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar while Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao gave his resignation to house chairman Hamid Ansari.
In an attempt to build pressure on the party-led United Progressive Alliance government to concede their demand for creation of a separate Telangana state, seven out of 12 Lok Sabha members of Congress submitted their resignations while both members of TDP said they would also put in their papers.
Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar told reporters that two other Lok Sabha members, Madhu Goud Yaskhi and Suresh Shetkar, have faxed their resignations.
Another MP Sarvey Satyanarayana has refused to resign saying he would do so only after Union Petroleum Minister S. Jaipal Reddy quits.
MP from Secunderabad Anjan Kumar Yadav is also reluctant to resign.
In Hyderabad, 79 members of the assembly including 11 ministers submitted their resignations, plunging the state into a crisis.
Four rebel TDP legislators had quit Sunday.
Those who resigned Monday include all 33 of TDP, 40 of Congress and two of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).
Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha and three other ministers have not resigned. The ministers who submitted their resignations include Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy.
While five ministers personally submitted their resignations to deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, six others including the home minister sent their papers.
In all, 10 legislators of the Congress party from Telangana are yet to submit their resignations.
Speaker N. Manohar, who is in the US, will take a decision on the resignations after his return. The resignations, if accepted, may reduce the Congress government to minority.
In the 294-member assembly, Congress has 174 members, including 18 from the PRP, which merged with the ruling party recently.
Telangana accounts for 119 legislators in the 294-member assembly. The Congress has 52 members (including two of PRP), TDP 37 and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) 11.
Senior Minister K. Jana Reddy told reporters that their resignations were not aimed at creating a constitutional or political crisis but to achieve a separate state in tune with the aspirations of the people.
"Today is United States' Independence Day and we hope today will also become Telangana's Independence Day," the minister said outside the assembly building.
Jana Reddy, who later left for Delhi for talks with the central leadership, claimed that their fight was for self-rule and self-respect of the Telangana region.
Twelve Congress members of the legislative council and three of TDP have also submitted their resignations to council chairperson K. Chakrapani.
The legislators said the resignations were aimed at pressurising the central government to carve out a separate Telangana state as promised by it on Dec 9, 2009.
The Congress leaders resigned despite the efforts of the central and state leadership of the party over last three days to dissuade them.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi that a final decision on the "extremely sensitive and complex" issue was yet to be taken.
"The central government's view will be made known after the consultation process is over. We have to bring everyone on board. There is a strong view of a large number of people. We are yet to take a final decision," Chidambaram told reporters.
"This is an extremely sensitive and complex issue. We will try to expedite... One should have understanding and patience. Especially, the media should have understanding and patience," Chidambaram said.
Chidambaram said the government would convene an all-party meeting immediately after the views of all parties are known. Two of the parties have not yet finalised their views on the separate statehood issue, he said.
However, his statement evoked sharp reaction not just from TRS but also from his own party ranks. MP Manda Jagannatham termed his remarks incomprehensible.
Alleging that the centre is making light of the mass resignations, the JAC, which is spearheading the Telangana movement, called for a 48-hour Telangana shutdown beginning Tuesday.TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao criticized Chidambaram for reacting to the resignations in a casual manner.He announced that the protest in the region would continue till the central government agrees to initiate the process for formation of separate state.JAC also called for rail blockade in Telangana on July 8 and 9 and cook-and-eat protest on roads on July 10.
YSR Congress to declare Telangana at Plenary
RAJAHMUNDRY: YSR Congress official spokesperson Ambati Rambabu has said that the party would announce its decision on the issues including Telangana and SC classification during party's plenary session, scheduled to be held on July 8 and 9 at Idupulapaya.
Speaking to the media here on Sunday, Ambati said the party would pass its resolutions on issues of separate statehood to Telangana and SC classification after in-depth discussions in its plenary session.
With the Congress-led Union government delaying its decision on the separate statehood to Telangana, he said, the state has been put into unstability and deep trouble.
The YSR leader also said that there was no strong leader in the Congress party in state after the demise of YS Rajasekhara Reddy. It is evident from many Congress leaders are leaving the party and joining YSR Congress, he said.
Answering to a question on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) coming to power again, he said that there was no future of the TDP in the state.
MLA Pilli Subashchandra Bose, party district convener Kudipudi Chittabbayi, city convener Bommana Rajkumar, governing board member Jakkampudi Vijaya Lakshmi, TKV Reddy and others were also present in the media conference.
Centre yet to take final view on Telangana: Chidambaram
NewDelhi,July4: On a day when Congress lawmakers from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh tendered their resignation, the Centre on Monday said it has not taken a final decision on the “extremely sensitive and complex” issue of carving out a separate State of Telangana.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram appealed to the Congress MLAs, a Rajya Sabha MP and Andhra Pradesh Ministers from Telangana to be patient and allow the consultation process to continue.
“The Central government’s view will be made known after the consultation process is over. We have to bring everyone on board. There is a strong view of a large number of people. We are yet to take a final decision,” Mr. Chidambaram told journalists at a press conference here.
“This is an extremely sensitive and complex issue. One should have understanding and patience,” he said.
The Home Minister said the December 9, 2009 statement made by him was “not made by an individual but made on behalf of the Government of India.” It had stated that the Centre would initiate the process for the formation of a separate Telangana State. However, the Centre made another statement on December 23 which stressed that more consultations are needed on the issue.
“When you refer to my statement on December 9, 2009, you should also refer to the December 23, 2009 statement,” Mr. Chidambaram said while replying to a query.
“The MPs and MLAs had forewarned us on the issue that they would be obliged to offer their resignation on July 4. It is not that alarming. The Congress general secretary in-charge is talking to the MPs. He is in touch with the MLAs,” he said.
Replying to a question as to when the all-party meeting on the issue would be held, Mr. Chidambaram said that two of the parties have not yet finalised their views on the issue. He said the meeting would be called after the views of all parties became known. However, he did not name the two parties. “There are only eight recognised political parties,” he added.
On the other hand, the Congress said the party was not against the creation of smaller States including Telangana and that efforts were on by the Government to evolve a consensus on it. Responding to questions on the resignation of party MPs and MLAs on the issue, party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said Telangana is both “sensitive and emotional” and hoped that an appropriate decision would be taken at an appropriate time.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram appealed to the Congress MLAs, a Rajya Sabha MP and Andhra Pradesh Ministers from Telangana to be patient and allow the consultation process to continue.
“The Central government’s view will be made known after the consultation process is over. We have to bring everyone on board. There is a strong view of a large number of people. We are yet to take a final decision,” Mr. Chidambaram told journalists at a press conference here.
“This is an extremely sensitive and complex issue. One should have understanding and patience,” he said.
The Home Minister said the December 9, 2009 statement made by him was “not made by an individual but made on behalf of the Government of India.” It had stated that the Centre would initiate the process for the formation of a separate Telangana State. However, the Centre made another statement on December 23 which stressed that more consultations are needed on the issue.
“When you refer to my statement on December 9, 2009, you should also refer to the December 23, 2009 statement,” Mr. Chidambaram said while replying to a query.
“The MPs and MLAs had forewarned us on the issue that they would be obliged to offer their resignation on July 4. It is not that alarming. The Congress general secretary in-charge is talking to the MPs. He is in touch with the MLAs,” he said.
Replying to a question as to when the all-party meeting on the issue would be held, Mr. Chidambaram said that two of the parties have not yet finalised their views on the issue. He said the meeting would be called after the views of all parties became known. However, he did not name the two parties. “There are only eight recognised political parties,” he added.
On the other hand, the Congress said the party was not against the creation of smaller States including Telangana and that efforts were on by the Government to evolve a consensus on it. Responding to questions on the resignation of party MPs and MLAs on the issue, party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said Telangana is both “sensitive and emotional” and hoped that an appropriate decision would be taken at an appropriate time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)