Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 1 A NUWAY MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION Trump Couple & Conflict Laws STORY

ON page 21 Published Weekly from New York Voice of South Asian Community Since March 2002 Vol. 14 Issue 30 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 $1 www.thesouthasian.info US Tightens H-1 B Guidelines Haley Eclipses Tillerson Warns Against Discrimination The U.N. ambassador’s perfor- mance is stoking speculation about her political future.

(Agencies) In Donald Trump’s first meeting with Nikki Haley, on Nov. 17, he asked her to serve as his secretary of state. Haley turned him STORY down, according to two sources former South Carolina familiar with the conversation, governor ended up instead as ON page telling the president-elect that 18 U.S. ambassador to the she lacked the requisite foreign United Nations policy experience for the job. The (Contd on page 18) We Need An Urgent Lesson In Whaling Season Begins Identifying Our Racism At Home. Minke quota raised to 999 as activists Are we in reality just wilfully blind to our racism? condemn 'brutal, bloody slaughter' (Agencies) Norway's sixth-month whaling season began on Saturday (1 April), with a quota raised from 880 last year to 999. The season begins shortly after a documentary was aired revealing that the vast majority of minke whales hunted along the Norwegian coast are pregnant females. An estimated 90% of the minke whales that will be hunted (Agencies) For too many Indi- it when it happens to us. For ex- in the coming months are ans racism is a one-way ample, when Indian students were pregnant females, according to street. We can be its victims attacked in Australia, then prime a recent documentary by but we are never the perpetra- minister Manmohan Singh said Norway's public broadcaster tors. We are quick to recognize he was (Contd on page 20) NRK. (Contd on page 19) Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 TRISTATE -COMMUNITY 2 Santino, Hempstead Town Host Pakistan Flag Raising on Steps of Town Hall (Insider Bureau ) In celebration of of its diverse family, and we are happy to Pakistan Republic Day and the Lahore celebrate the myriad of cultures and Resolution in Pakistan, Supervisor traditions that make Hempstead Town a Anthony J. Santino, Town Clerk Nasrin great place to live and raise a family,” Ahmad, Consul General to Pakistan said Santino. “Flying the Pakistani Flag in New York Raja Ali Ejaz, and alongside the American Flag is a members of the Pakistani American wonderful symbol of unity and inclusion.” Society of NY raised the Pakistani March 23 rd is a national holiday Flag in a ceremony on the steps of in Pakistan which celebrates both the Town Hall. This year marks the 77 th Lahore Resolution of 1940 and Republic anniversary of the resolution and the Day (1956). The Lahore Resolution called third flag raising by the town. for the creation of an independent state. “America’s largest township is proud This led to the creation of Pakistan. Hempstead Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmad presents a citation to members of the Pakistani American Society of NY during the Flag raising ceremony celebrating Pakistan Republic Day and the Lahore Resolution. Seen in Picture (From left to right) Rafi Fazli, Mohammad Bin Moghni, Dr. Safdar H. Chadda, Clerk Nasrin Ahmad, Magbool Malik and Fazluz Haq Syed. Diwali At Times Square Date Announced

(Press Release) will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sat- New York – EventGuru Inc. urday, October 7, 2017 in is delighted to announce Times Square! Diwali at Saturday, October 7, 2017 Times Square was estab- as the date for this year’s lished in 2013 by Neeta DIWALI AT TIMES Bhasin - a nationally recog- SQUARE celebration. Mark nized business leader spe- your calendars! Diwali is the cializing in multicultural mar- Festival of Lights is the one keting . She wanted to bring holiday that unifies the diver- the most vibrant, national sity of Indian regional festival of India to the “Cen- cultures.This annual celebra- ter of Universe” – New York’s tion is the largest celebration Times Square - to showcase of Diwali outside of India, India’s rich culture, heritage, and it brings the South Asian and arts to the world, while community together for a invoking a sense of pride fun-filled day showcasing among South Asians. This cultural dance and musical historic event is managed by performances, a Diwali ba- ASB Communications, a zaar, and mouth- watering New York-based Indian cuisine. multicultural marketing The celebration agency now celebrating its lights up Times Square with 20th anniversary which was interactive, traditional Diya founded by Ms. Bhasin. Ad- (lamp) lighting ceremonies, vertising and sponsorship op- and the world’s best digital portunities for Diwali at fireworks display. There will Times Square are available be a Bollywood celebrity for businesses and organiza- filled evening concert ,and tions looking to deepen re- opportunities to interact with lationships with the South your favorite stars. The fun Asian community. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 TRISTATE -COMMUNITY 3 Sixth Outstanding Women’s Acheivement Awards Gala Held

(Insider Bureau ) As Nassau orees and praised their ef- come. India Regional Manager- Jericho high School. Jiya is York State tournament. County District Attorney forts in achieving such Dr Binita R Shah has be- Americas, has been with Air very active in community Setu Mehta is a fun loving, Madeline Singas, Town of success.American Na- stowed upon the highest India for more than 22 years. projects such as Project caring and kind with a talent Hempstead Councilwoman tional Anthem sung by academic rank of distin- She hails from Allahabad, and Dignity aims to building for making others around Dorothy Goosby, Town of Inesha Singh and Indian guished Teaching Profes- most recently from Mumbai. She bathrooms in India, Jiya her smile, She is a senior Hempstead Clerk Nasreen National Anthem sung by sor of Emergency Medicine came to New York as Regional was placed third in the at Herricks High Scholl and Ahmed (Among many Roopam Maini... Master of and Pediatrician. manager – Americas 2015. Nassau County for Tennis is the Valedictorian of her other VIP’s) walked into Ceremonies Mr Anuj Rihal Mrs. Vandana Sharma, Air Jiya Singh, is a senior at and qualified to the New class. Antun’s of Hicksville on Fri- and Chanbir Kaur Sethi day March 24, they all very made the evening enjoy- well felt the pride and able. Chanbir Kaur, India rejects US offer to mediate achievement in the air. Roopam Maini and Inesha The Grand ball Singh coordinated a brief. room was full of so many A session with the honor- with Pakistan on Kashmir issue accomplished and elite, ees discussing and empha- (Agencies) New Delhi : India who’s who of the society sizing their accomplish- rejected the comments by US gathered for one singular ments. ambassador to the UN Nikki purpose, to be the part of In addition to Haley suggesting a proactive and celebrate 6 th Outstand- Madeline Singas who was role for America in India- ing Women’s Achieve- also Chief Guest and Key- Pakistan ties, saying the ments Gala, part of note speaker was pre- outstanding issues between the Women’s History Month sented with an award, 4 sub-continental neighbours and International Women’s other distinguished women should be sorted out bilaterally. Day CelebrationsIAF (In- who had excelled in their "The government's position dian American Forum) led profession and community by Indu Jaiswal, known for services were presented for bilateral redressal of all India- her strong commitment with Outstanding Women’s Pakistan issues in an and dedication to the com- achievements Awards. environment free of terror and munity cause was the or- Kalpana Patel is violence hasn't changed," the spokesperson Gopal Baglay. Pakistan, Afghanistan and ganizing force behind the President and Chief Execu- Indian government said. Haley's remarks caused Kashmir before dropping the "K gala. tive officer of Unique Comp India sought to underline that India to iterate that a third party word". Earlier, Bill Clinton called This year well Inc(UCI) an award winning international mediation, if at all, role in resolving India-Pakistan Kashmir one of the most known business woman information technology ser- must concentrate on getting issues is not acceptable. "...We dangerous places on earth Vandana Govil was the vices company providing IT Pakistan to act against terrorism are seeing tensions rise and before correcting what had been Chairperson of the Gala. Solutions and services to and enforce the rule of law in conflicts start to bubble up and a long standing pro-Pakistan tilt And of course the hall was Federal , NY State and NY keeping with international norms. so we want to see if we can be by asking Islamabad to respect beautifully decorated with City agencies. " We of course expect the a part of that...," she had said . the line of control in the Kargil Peacocks, and spring flow- Ranju Batra is a woman ers theme courtesy Sunita driven to success and serv- international community and Interestingly, the early days war. On the whole, Democratic Sadhnani of Glamorous ing public good by working organisations to enforce of US administrations have often administrations have tended to be Event Planners. Evening harder and always paying international mechanisms and seen some friction on issues like more preachy on India, Pakistan started with lighting of the attention to details. mandates concerning terrorism India-Pakistan and J&K before and J&K as compared to lamp. Indu Jaiswal Chairper- Her successful and historic emanating from Pakistan, which things settle down. At the start Republicans. India could hope that son of IAF in her remarks 7 years journey towards continues to be the single biggest of his first term, President its firm rebuff to Haley's statement welcomed all the guests Diwali Stamp is a matter of threat to peace and stability in our Barack Obama named Richard will result in more caution on the congratulated all the hon- Pride for generations to region and beyond," said MEA Holbrooke as a pointsman for part of the Trump administration. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 OP-ED 4 Political funding: Voters have the right to know how parties earn, spend debated the efficacy and authorities” as defined in as a public authority – voters over lack of implications of the the Right to Information “substantially financed, accountability and proposed electoral bonds, (RTI) Act and are, therefore, directly or indirectly, by transparency in the both have conveniently liable to information that funds provided by the actions of what they glossed over a key the public might seek from appropriate government”. perceive as public concern: Do voters have a them. This quasi-judicial Also, neither the Act nor institutions. Political right to know about the order was hailed by as a the CIC ruling offers any parties may not be bound finances of political victory for RTI activists, measurement of what by constitutional parties? Or how does the who saw it as an important qualifies as “substantially obligations, but, as one world’s largest democracy step toward bringing financed”. Hence, the analyst commented, they empower its voters with transparency in political CIC’s argument for bringing are “important information that they ought funding and strengthening political parties under the instrumentalities that Rajesh Mahapatra out black money, has once to have on the vote the nation’s democratic RTI Act becomes legally enable democratic Finance minister Arun again put the spotlight on seekers? fabric. Four years on, untenable, unless the law participation in the Jaitley’s decision to transparency in political In 2013, the Central however, political parties is amended to make way governance process.” introduce electoral bonds funding. While, over the Information Commission have refused to comply for a wider definition of Voters do have a right through this year’s budget, past week, Parliament and (CIC) ruled that political with the CIC order and the public authorities. to know how the political as a move to help weed the media have extensively parties are “public government has told the Political parties also parties are financed and Supreme Court – where a have a genuine concern governed. Many petition on this subject is when they say they might democracies in the world Heat waves will singe India soon being heard – that political not have the resources to have found a way to parties should be kept out cater to RTI queries, which empower their voters with of the purview of the RTI. will likely flood them if they that right. While some But most cities clueless about tackling it The resistance on the were to accept the CIC have taken the RTI route, very hot weather.Doing part of the political parties, ruling. It is also not clear others have brought laws to this important because a or the stand taken by the what is the nature of ensure that political heat wave directly affects government, is not entirely information the public can organisations make communities, undermin- unjustifiable. To begin with, seek if parties are brought adequate disclosures to ing their livelihoods the CIC equated a political under the RTI purview. the public. India would do through gradual, insidi- party with a “public Unless there is clarity, the well to learn from their ous changes in tempera- authority” because the provision is more likely to experiences. Whether ture and rainfall patterns, former performs public be misused by political through amendments to and resulting in increased duties, enjoys parties against each other the RTI Act, or through frequency and intensity of constitutional and legal and trigger a political war other laws applicable to hazards such as floods, rights and receives that does no good to organisations engaged in substantial government democracy. public activities, it is time ‘March is the new the worse, the National cyclones, droughts, funding. The RTI Act, Notwithstanding the government and the May: Northern and west- Disaster Management unseasonal rains and however, provides for only all that, the political class political parties stopped ern India reel due to Authority (NDMA) has al- hailstorms, causing ex- one of these three must reckon with the stonewalling on the issue scorching summer’. This ready directed states in tensive damage to crops conditions to deem a non- growing distrust and and found a resolution that headline, which appeared the country to brace for a and the agro-rural government organisation disillusionment among has been long overdue. in Hindustan Times on hot summer and has said economy. Thursday, sums up the that the ‘Heat Wave Ac- coming challenge: Sear- tion Plan’ must be imple- The mob’s bias: attack on Nigerian in ing heat waves are going mented. to singe India. The indi- Data shows that there cations are already there: has been an increasing Noida reflects our racial prejudices Vast swathes of northern trend of heat waves in In- and western India are dia over the past several The attack on a small group on charges of rioting in the African nationals who have effort to deepen ties with reeling under near heat- years. Heat wave killed of Africans in Greater wake of video footage of the taken up residence in cities the 54 countries of the wave conditions with ex- about 3,000 people in Noida, a suburb of the attack going viral, such around the country. Last African Union, this cannot perts expressing con- 1998 and more than 2000 national capital located in incidents of racial violence year, the murder of a be achieved without cerns over the sweltering in 2002. It caused over Uttar Pradesh, has once need a stronger response Congolese student in Delhi understanding and acting temperatures that have 2,000 deaths in 1998 in again thrown a spotlight on from the administration and compelled African Heads of upon the aspirations of shot past 40 degree Cel- Odisha and more than a disturbing trend in the civil society. That the Mission to threaten a nationals of these sius in the first few weeks 1,200 deaths in 2002 in country: mob violence, and attack was ostensibly boycott of Africa Day. The countries. In modern of summer. The searing southern India. More than specifically the targeting of triggered by accusations message was not lost on diplomacy, the quality of temperatures comes on 2,400 people died in the persons of African origin in that some African students anyone that the envoys people-to-people contact is the back of the hottest heat wave of 2015. Heat many of these instances. were linked to drug-dealing had been moved to a factor in determining the summer in a century last wave also caused death What is particularly and were somehow consider such an extreme overall strength of a year that killed 550 of cattle and wildlife be- disturbing and shameful is responsible for the death of step just months after New bilateral relationship. But people and left not sides affecting animals in that the attack took place a local student is no Delhi hosted the Third even as Indian diplomats enough food to eat or wa- various zoos in India. in a busy shopping mall justification for taking the law India-Africa Forum move to assure African ter to drink in parts of an Yet most Indian cities without a single bystander, into one’s hands, leave alone Summit, in October 2015, students in Greater Noida area that holds about are yet to implement the shopkeeper or security indulge in such violence. That where they had announced about their safety, with 25% of India’s 1.2 billion NDMA’s heat wave guide- guard intervening. This has, the law enforcement their resolve to “enhance External Affairs Minister people. Officials were lines that can help them understandably, touched machinery and the courts are Africa-India relations... Sushma Swaraj discussing forced to transport water prepare a management an anxious chord about the only places for seeking based on the principles of the matter with U.P. Chief in trains to towns and vil- plan by providing insight, their personal safety redress for any breaches of mutuality,Minister Yogi Adityanath, lages in the west earlier help in coordinating vari- among the thousands of law cannot be complementarity and true this issue is not about this month amid reports ous departments, indi- African nationals who live, overemphasised. That a sense of solidarity as well foreign affairs. It is a of children collapsing in viduals and communities work and study in and mere rumour can trigger as the promotion of people reminder of the latent the heat while fetching to aid and protect their around Delhi. While the such violence is truly to people interactions.” In racism in India, of the water, and of armed men neighbours, friends, rela- police have made some alarming.It is difficult to see the end, Africa Day went as terrible prejudices too many guarding wells and ponds tives, and themselves initial arrests and opened this incident in isolation planned, but the point had of us harbour, and of the to stop farmers from against avoidable health cases against several from other instances of been made, that even as need for a political and stealing water.Expecting problems during spells of hundred unnamed persons discrimination against India makes abundant social effort to overcome it. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 EDITORIAL 5 The Crisis of Trumpism Perverted privileges Tumpism is in crisis. This isn’t a function of poll numbers, or the Russia contro- At social gatherings, our honorable MPs behave versy, or any other melodrama of the past three months, but something more funda- mental: No officeholder in Washington seems to understand President Donald like best friends and not political opponents. Trump’s populism or have a cogent theory of how to effect it in practice, including the president himself.House Speaker Paul Ryan isn’t a populist and doesn’t want to be Why did it not shock me that instead of being appalled by the violent behaviour a populist. He has spent his adult life committed to a traditional limited-government of the slipper-wielding Shiv Sena MP, his Lok Sabha colleagues came to his agenda. He crafted his own platform during the campaign, the so-called Better Way defence? Perhaps because it is part of my job to lurk about the edges of political agenda, to differentiate congressional Republicans from Trump. circles in Delhi, and so I know that no matter how venomous the exchanges in Trump, for his part, has lacked the knowledge, focus or interest to translate his Parliament there is much bonhomie outside, and it crosses party lines. At so- populism into legislative form. He deferred to others on legislative priorities and strat- cial gatherings, our honorable MPs behave like best friends and not political egies at the outset of his administration, and his abiding passion in the health-care debate was, by all accounts, simply getting to a signing ceremony. opponents. So it did not surprise me at all to hear Congress MPs declare on In light of all this, the product of the Ryan-Trump partnership on health care was national television support for a man who belongs to a party they supposedly a bill bizarrely at odds with a national election Republicans had just won on the despise for ‘secular’ reasons. Shiv Sena MPs were of course fiercest in their strength of working-class voters. Under the GOP replacement, fewer people would defence of Ravindra Gaikwad. They went so far as to say that he was within his have had coverage, and workers further down the income scale would have been rights to take off his slipper and use it to attack a senior Air India official because particularly hard hit. For whatever reason, neither of these facts seemed to exercise airline companies behave like ‘mafia and goons’. They demanded that the Speaker the White House, at least not enough to try to do anything to fix them. of the Lok Sabha intervene on behalf of the MP from Osmanabad to enable him Maybe Ryan doesn’t “get” the new political reality created by Trump’s victory, as to fly again. It is not just Air India but every airline that has banned him, so he is the president’s boosters like to say. But what excuse does the president himself forced to travel by train. And it serves him right. Had he been an ordinary citizen have for evidently not “getting” it, either? and not an ‘honourable’ member of the Lok Sabha he would have been jailed for His energies were taken up trying to placate the conservative House Freedom what he did. It did not seem possible that the image of the ugly Indian politician Caucus. The supposed affinity between Trump and the Freedom Caucus is one of could be made uglier, but Gaikwad has managed. the great ideological misunderstandings of our time. Just because Trump and the conservative caucus are both “anti-establishment” doesn’t mean they have anything The upside is that it gives the Prime Minister a chance to re-examine the else in common. Trump is more naturally an ally of the moderate Tuesday Group, perks and privileges that our elected representatives enjoy, and put an end to except with a flame-throwing Twitter feed. some of them. Free air and rail travel, free telephone calls, free domestic and A President Trump acting more in keeping with his free-floating reflex to take garden services and almost free everything else come with the perks of repre- care of people, as expressed in speeches and interviews, would have pushed the senting the poorest, most wretched people who ever got the right to vote. But, health bill to the left. But Trump so far hasn’t followed the logic of his own politics in for me personally, the most undeserved perk of all is the right to live in Lutyens dealing with Congress. His path not taken in January would have been to give an Delhi, in flats whose commercial rent today is a minimum of Rs 2 lakh a month. eye-openingly unifying Inaugural Address with less carnage and more kumbaya. Those MPs who live in bungalows in this most exclusive enclave cost taxpayers Immediately invite Chuck Schumer to the White House and tell him, “Chuck, you’re a minimum of Rs 30 lakh a month just in rent. The reason why this column has not leaving this building until we agree on an infrastructure package.” Take the re- campaigned tirelessly against the ‘socialist’ practice of allowing our elected sulting big-spending proposal and dare the GOP leadership to defy him. Pass it with representatives to live like billionaires, is because I believe it deforms democ- a bipartisan coalition. And invite as many Democratic public works-supporting may- racy. It is wrong for many reasons. Of these the most important is that the lure ors as possible to the White House signing ceremony. Then, having staked his flag firmly in the center, he could have tried to mix-and- of a house in Lutyens Delhi is so great that too many people I know enter match his way to congressional coalitions for a heterodox agenda. politics only to be able to keep Daddy or Mummy’s house. When beloved parent Of course, there’s no guarantee this would have worked. Schumer and Demo- passes on or loses an election, an heir automatically appears just to hang on to crats might have balked at cooperating with Trump on anything. Even if Trump pulled the house. If the Lok Sabha becomes hard to get into, the adoring parent en- off an infrastructure gambit, it would have been a high-risk strategy, involving a true sures that he keeps the family home through the Rajya Sabha. MPs who be- declaration of independence from his own party. come chief ministers try to send a relative to Parliament to keep the house. Now that the initial health-care bill has gone down, there’s loose talk from the Tavleen Singh White House of wooing Democrats, but a lot has transpired in the course of the past few months that makes this much harder. Most importantly, the left-wing “resis- tance” to Trump is fully activated and prepared to exact punishment on any quis- lings. Trump’s style of politics is not well-suited to bipartisanship, regardless. Demo- crats tend to be fond of Republicans like John Kasich or Jon Huntsman, who are determinedly inoffensive and loath to touch hot-button issues. Trump is neither. He could propose a $2 trillion infrastructure bill funded by forced requisitions from Wall ISSN No. 1554 06X Street bankers and Democrats would probably say, “Hell, no.” Chairman: Karam Singh Thind (Honorary) In any case, the White House is moving on to tax reform. This, too, may end up Editor in Chief: Sharanjit Singh Thind running in well-worn GOP ruts. Trump executed a hostile takeover of a Republican Party that was obsessed with the 1980s and cutting marginal tax rates. Now, the Editor (Political Affairs-India) : Aruna Singh Republican Plan B is revisiting the tax reform of 1986 with ample cuts in marginal President : Bhupinder K. Thind Special Correspondent : tax rates. New boss, same as the old boss — but with much livelier speeches at political rallies. None of this is to suggest that Trump is completely empty-handed. Chief Photographer : Vijay Shah Gagandeep Singh (INDIA) The Gorsuch nomination was a home run. Deregulation, especially on energy, is a Editorial Intern: Amann Thind Web Coordinator : Jatinder Kumar natural point of overlap for populists and traditional Republicans. Trump has tight- ened up immigration enforcement considerably. But there are limits to how much he can do on his own authority; a fizzle on tax reform would render the first year a A Publication of NuWay Media Group LLC legislative nullity. If things continue to go badly, it’s easy to see Trump turning to the New York Democrats in his White House. This would entail less emphasis on trade REGD & MAILING OFFICE : and immigration and fights with the mainstream media, and more emphasis on a P.O Box 7005 Hicksville New York 11801 nonideological economic boosterism. The loose antecedent for this scenario is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who swept into office in California as a drain-the-swamp reformer after winning a populist crusade, and then recalibrated to accommodate TelFax : 516 342 1076 Cell : 917 612 3158 the system after suffering politically damaging setbacks. [email protected], [email protected] The range of possible outcomes of the Trump presidency is still wide. Unexpect- www.thesouthasianinsider.com edly, one of them is that his most die-hard populist supporters will eventually be able Disclaimer The South Asian Insider is a weekly newspaper published every week by The South Asian Insider. It's available in to say that Trumpism, like socialism, hasn’t failed, it’s just never been tried. community & religious centers, ethnic grocery stores and also available by mail, email & online to subscribers. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various writers, authors and forum participants in The South Asian Insider do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints By RICH LOWRY of the Editor. All advertisers advertising in The South Asian Insider assume responsibility for accuracy of their advertisements. The South Asian Insider and/or people associated with it are not responsible for any claims made by the advertisers and don't endorse any product or services advertised in The South Asian Insider. We strongly urge consulting your lawyer before buying/contracting /hiring through the ads published in the newspaper. We are in the business of selling space and claims made by the advertisers are not authenticated or confirmed by an independent source Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 OPINION 6 Trump's Muslim Ban And The 'Padmavati' Attack Show How Tough It Is To Hold On To Liberal Principles In A Crisis Sandip Roy for certain people. The translators stake. That's clear if we look Desperate times call for who worked with American troops closer to home at a different kind desperate measures. It's in Iraq, often at great risk to their of cultural brouhaha that's been perfectly understandable that own lives, now suddenly find the occupying our news space — the those facing the Donald Trump door to the US slammed shut in Padmavati controversy. executive order juggernaut would their faces even as Trump After activists from a fringe Rajput try and slow it down by whatever professes sympathy for Christian group vandalised the sets of permissions needed. That did not way for the creation, by sheer means possible. Thus one of the refugees from the region. That's Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film, it stop hooligans from vandalising muscle power, of mini-censor early responses to his travel ban Washington treating its own allies did not take long for the protests the sets on suspicion that boards all around the country. from seven predominantly Muslim as entirely disposable. against it to lose sight of the Mehta's script was anti-Hindu. Now we do not even have to wait countries was to tell the story of Permanent residents were principle at stake — artistic The shooting stopped and Water for a film to be made to figure out Steve Jobs. Jobs' father, Abdul incensed when initial statements freedom. Deepika Padukone was filmed years later in secret if it offends us, we can be Fattah Jandali, was born in Hons, from the White House suggested tweeted, "As Padmavati I can in Sri Lanka. But it remains a offended in advance. Those who Syria, now a hot-spot in the civil that even green-card holders from assure you there is absolutely no shameful reminder of how might stand up for Padmavati should war. Twitter was awash with those countries and dual- distortion of history", even as can be right and even the law is stand up for the right of a pictures reminding Donald Trump nationality citizens could be others claimed there is scant no protection against a mob. It filmmaker to make his film once that if his executive order had blocked. But we have to always historical record of Padmavati worked then and it works now as he has obtained the necessary been in place there would be no keep in mind that this is a ban herself. The real outrage is the Padmavati demonstrates. The clearances. If you do not like the Apple today. David Galbraith targeting entire countries. Carving violence and how in the name of CEO of Bhansali Productions has film, boycott it by all means, but posted a photograph of Jobs over out a Jobs exception or a green- Rajput pride a fringe group issued a letter saying there was vandalism should not be rewarded the caption "A Syrian migrant's card exception or an Iraqi- catapulted itself into the "no romantic dream sequence" or by giving thugs credibility. Was child". Walied Shater tweeted translator exception only creates headlines by disrupting a film that any "objectionable scenes" it not Narendra Modi who tweeted "@POTUS as U ban people, the illusion of mitigating had all the necessary clearances. between the lead stars and it "Art can't have any restrictions or remember if U banned Syrian something utterly reprehensible. It was a flashback to what stressed that it would not hurt the limits"? These are tough times for immigrants 50 years ago, there Nor would it be more palatable or happened to Deepa Mehta many sentiments of the people of liberal principles. That's why it's would be no Steve Jobs, no fair if the ban included countries years ago while shooting Water Mewar. But the protesters want all the more important to do our Apple."The sentiment is like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and in Varanasi. At that time too, the the film to be shown to Rajput best to not cede ground on them. understandable. At a time when Pakistan. That's not the point. script had been cleared by the organisations before release for That principle remains bigger Trump wants to scare the But in a time of crisis it's hard to Information and Broadcasting their version of extreme vetting. If than a Steve Jobs or a Padmavati bejesus out of his countrymen by hold onto the liberal principle at ministry and Mehta had all the that is allowed we are paving the dream sequence. raising the spectre of the "Islamic terrorist" knocking at its doors, this is a reminder of how much poorer America would be without Why Are Our Urban Aspirations So Captive To Our Colonial Past? the likes of Jobs. But it is a double-edged sword. In the list of tall political promises made favourite, and erecting more street tal region had hit such levels of toxicity in America has to figure out how it to the Indian public those involving first- lights.Now Arvind Kejriwal, CM of Delhi, has the first place. Such occurrences are not wants to respond to the world cities, especially London, occupy a followed Didi's example by expressing a the result of one season's traffic conges- desperation of the Syrian refugee station of eminence. "Give me your votes," similar wish to turn the national capital into tion but are decades in the making. because it is the humanitarian thunders a leader in the course of an in- London, if the electorate gives his Aam The aspiration to give Delhi the London thing to do, not because there spired speech, "and I'll transform makeover seems the most hollow might be a potential Steve Jobs your [pathetic excuse for a city] into when one compares the state of in its midst. The famous [a glittering first-world metropolis]." public safety in the two cities, es- inscription on the Statue of Liberty Insert suitable names. pecially for women. The AAP gov- reads "Give me your tired, your Of course, the phrases in paren- ernment may bring the world's fan- poor, your huddled masses thesis are never spoken aloud, but ciest high-street retailers to Delhi, yearning to breathe free, the you get the drift of the sentiment. but until its citizens, especially its wretched refuse of your teeming In 2011, fresh on the heels of her women, can walk on the road with- shore." It does not say give me outstanding victory over the de- out the fear of being attacked, ha- your Steve Jobs and Paula Abdul cades-old Left regime, West Ben- rassed, intimidated or threatened, and F Murray Abraham and keep gal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Delhi can never join the league of the rest. One should not need to made such a pledge to the citizens of Aadmi Party (AAP) its mandate in the world-class cities. Practical considerations be the father of the founder of a Kolkata. The Hooghly riverfront, she said, municipal polls that may be held in April.At aside, there is a certain oddity about the mega successful corporation or will be "beautified" after the Thames least, he has more credibility than Banerjee repeated invocation of London as the apo- a Nobel laureate to find shelter riverbank in Britain to draw investors to the to make such a claim. Delhi has, like Lon- theosis of a modern metropolis, especially from a civil war or just be allowed city. The seriousness of her vision was don, one of the best public transport sys- when one of our own politicians never to travel to the USA.The example quickly sealed by her desire to have a tems in the country in its metro railway wastes a moment to reprimand our colo- of Jobs packs a punch but it can Ferris Wheel installed in imitation of the network. Although Kolkata was the first nial masters. It's true, only a fool can grudge also backfire by whittling away at London Eye. Indian city to have introduced the subway, London its status of being one of the best the core principle behind it all. Banerjee's statement, though noble in the current state of its underground rail- cities in the world to live in, though for ur- While no one is entitled to enter its intent — who wouldn't want to live in a way brings to mind the dilapidation of ban planners and administrators in India any country, and every country city as gloriously beautiful and efficiently Stalinist Russia. Apart from frequent there are examples to draw from far closer can vet those wishing to come run as London? — is ironic, even if you glitches in the running of the trains, secu- home. Why not look East — to Hong into it, a blanket ban (and even ignore the implausibility and practical im- rity check at most stations is abysmal, if Kong, Singapore or Bangkok — to imbibe Trump is using that word now) on pediments of her grand vision. The city that at all.There are more reasons for Delhi to their lessons of planning, executing and the basis of nationality or religion was once called Calcutta by the British re- feel closer to London. The former even sur- managing civic projects and infrastruc- is egregious. The ban is worth christened itself in its pristine Bengali name passes the latter in at least one regard. In ture that ensure the smooth running of protesting against because it's a to shed its colonial baggage, only for its the winter of 2016, the pollution levels in a city? Or is it much too humiliating to blanket ban, not just because the chief minister to promise to make it look Delhi went higher than London's in 1952, learn from the examples of our immedi- father of a Steve Jobs would be like the former colonisers' capital. In the caused by the Great Smog, as a report ate neighbours who have surpassed us blocked by it. It would not end, Kolkata's London dreams have come pointed out. The Kejriwal government called and far easier to pay homage to our co- become more humane if there as close to reality as giving its public emergency meetings to discuss steps to lonial past from which, presumably, we was a Jobs exception. spaces a lick of fresh paint, in a combina- control the situation, but the fact remained still haven't recovered? Of course, the ban stings more tion of blue and white that is Banerjee's that air quality in the city and national capi- Somak Ghoshal Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 OPINION 7 the likes of Kuchibhotla from that hate when it spills over onto Main Indian-Americans Must Realize that their complacency Street America. The hate graffiti on the wall does not check visa status. Indian Americans would will not save them from hate in America any more do well to realise that they oc- cupy no special place despite Sandip Roy This violence was not freak or Many of those who voted for able. There will be condemnation. their median income. In fact It is not fair to lay the b lame unprecedented. Page was in- Trump did so believing that There will be an attempt to frame Trump's campaign against "ille- for the death of Srinivas volved with a white supremacist Trump would reverse or at least this story as a lone wolf story. gal immigrants" will also singe Kuchibhotla at Donald Trump's group and was an active mem- slow the demographic march to- There will be promises of strict South Asian Americans though door. The Indian American engi- ber of a skinhead group called the wards that date. The wall, the action. The Indian government will no one thinks of desis when they neer in Kansas city was enjoy- Northern Hammerskins. extreme vetting, the employment rush to render all assistance to think about immigrants slipping ing his Jameson whisky with his As Deepa Iyer writes in her timely visa rules are all part of that the affected families. There might across the US-Mexico border. colleague Alok Madasani when al- book We Too Sing America: project even if they are presented be a marked slowness, even re- But the fact is, thanks to visa leged attacker Adam Purinton South Asian, Arab, Muslim and as measures against crime and luctance to call this a hate crime overstays, South Asian Ameri- fired at them yelling "get out of Sikh Immigrants Shape our Mul- terrorism. in sharp contrast to the alacrity cans are one of the fastest grow- my country". Ian Grillot, also a tiracial Future, "America is a ra- Iyer writes that it's more accurate with which an attack that never ing "illegal" groups in the US. white American, was injured try- cial state. We are the inheritors to think of America transforming happened in Sweden will be de- The Times of India reports that ing to protect them. Purinton was of systems and institutions that into a multiracial nation with no scribed as terror. All of that is ut- some 300,000 Indians could be nabbed later having a drink at enable the denial of basic human single racial group occupying a terly predictable. affected by the administration's another bar to unwind from the rights to indigenous and Black majority, but conservative forces What Indian-Americans will do plans to deport first and ask ques- shooting. He is a navy veteran and Brown communities, from will see more potency in the term well to take away from the Kan- tions later. A Pew Center report with an inactive pilot license and colonization to slavery, from Jim "majority-minority" which carries sas city attack is that their com- says there were nearly half a mil- an air traffic controller certificate. Crow segregation to the Japanese with it a sense of an old white placency about being the model lion unauthorised Indian immi- He lives alone and had once American internment. The post- majority under siege in their own minority will not save them from grants in the US in 2014, a 43% worked for the Federal Aviation 9/11 treatment of South Asian, homeland. As Iyer writes, major- the hate. Trump may personally spike since 2009. Administration. Arab and Muslim communities by ity-minority does not mean mi- bear no ill-will against them, he It just goes to show that Indian It might emerge that the man had the US government continues nority populations "will gain power may have even made ads saying Americans do not exist in a mental problems. There are re- this shameful legacy." and influence due to their num- "Ab ki baar, Trump sarkar" and vacuum. They are part of the im- ports that he was alcoholic. This violence is not isolated, no bers", that sheer numbers will his daughter-in-law might wear a migrant story, and when the back- There's no direct line connecting matter how much authorities will "drive racial equality, economic bindi and go to a temple, but for lash happens, they will be part of him with the ascension of Trump try to "lone wolf" it. It exists in a equity, or political power." many of his angry buzzing sup- that story too, as the Kansas in- or his rhetoric. But there is a dot- continuum. It exists within the The vulnerability of the minority porters, Indian-Americans are just cident tragically illustrates. In- ted line. racial anxiety of the US which is will only increase as it is per- part of the browning of America dian-Americans must be a part In the name of making America projected to become a "majority- ceived as a threat to some that they resent. of the movement to resist the great again, Trump has enabled minority" nation by 2043 which people's idea of America, as we All the money that the Republi- forces unleashed in America to- the bullies. The fulminations means that no one ethnic group found in Kansas City. can Hindu Coalition raised for day, they cannot set themselves about terrorists, rapists, murder- will be the majority any more. What will happen now is predict- Trump will not be able to protect apart from it. ers, all brown, all the other, leave no one in doubt that this election was about white America taking How Modi’s ‘Kabristaan-Shamshan’ Statement Ended back the country, taking a stand against the browning of America. Thankfully not everyone sub- Up Bringing Dalits Into BJP’s Fold In Uttar Pradesh scribed to this as Grillot's cour- age showed. Jitendra Kumar on their own land or on the banks of a river. wards Muslims. Sample the following state- Kuchibhotla paid with his life but A lot has happened since BJPs unex- The caste system prevalent in India, has made ments. "There’s no water supply on Holi, while there have been many incidents pected rise to power in UttarPradesh. But in cremation a huge problem for the lower-caste during Ramzan, there is no dearth of water". of garden variety bullying and "go between reports of unabashed saffronisation OBCs and Dalits, who usually do not have Similarly, "there is no electricity supply on back to your country"-type ha- in the state, closure of slaughter houses, anti- their own land holdings. Modi found an op- Diwali, whereas on Eid, chances of a power rassment. And Trump's response Romeo squads (read moral policing) and ac- portunity here, and gave it such a twist that cut are one in a million." BJP’s baseless has been tepid, delayed and de- cusations of EVM tampering, lies an issue made people believe that the ‘sickular’ gov- rhetoric’s can be traced back to three de- liberately measured. He takes his that needs to be addressed --- an issue that ernments had provided burial grounds for cades. In the early 80s, BJP leaders in Bihar time to condemn anti-Semitic is an inherent part of the basic fabric of de- Muslims but had ignored Hindus (especially had parroted these statements over and over hate crime threats and bristles mocracy and individual freedom. The third the landless Hindus and Dalits). In reality, no again to brainwash villagers, who had neither when asked about it at a press phase of UP elections saw Prime Minister government has ever ‘built' a burial ground for electricity connection nor had access to tap conference.Trump will no doubt Modi giving a communal twist to his election Muslims. However, they might have built a water. As a child growing up in one such vil- condemn Kuchibhotla's death. strategy when he declared at a public rally, ‘if wall around it to keep away squatters. But in lage in Bihar, to me and my fellow villagers, Republican senator from Kansas, there is a Kabristaan (graveyard) for Muslims, the post-truth era, people believed what Modi they were distant tales of horror from towns Jerry Moran, has already said "I then there should be a Shamshaan (crema- said —Akhilesh is pro-Muslim and Mayawati like Darbhanga. Nothing whatsoever has strongly condemn violence of any tion ground) for Hindus as well’. History is no good either. And facts? They didn't mat- changed since the early 80s, as far as ac- kind especially if it is motivated seemed to have been repeating itself. BJP ter. One may speculate, that it was an irre- cessibility of electricity and water is con- by prejudice and xenophobia." leaders in Bihar had resorted to a similar tac- sponsible statement from a Prime Minister. cerned. (Contd on page 19) Trump will surely echo him as tic during the second phase of the Bihar As- A man in public life well. sembly elections when they talked about must act appropri- There are reports that Purinton ‘sending Muslims to Pakistan’ –this resulted ately, such risks can thought Kuchibhotla and in BJP’s failure. murder his public im- Madasani were Middle Eastern. After the debacle in Bihar, all of us be- age. The Prime Indian Americans would do well lieved that giving communal hues to their poll Minister’s statement not to think that this was a freak strategy will not work for the BJP. Alas we might be factually in- case of mistaken identity. After were wrong, BJP’s mothership, RSS has an correct, but it fits the 9/11 the first casualty was Balbir expertise in raking up old wounds as per their RSS narrative, which Singh Sodhi, a Sikh gas station convenience. The modus operandi of the ‘cul- has helped garner owner "mistaken" as an Arab tural organisation’ is simple: rake up old is- support from a major- because of his beard and turban. sues and keep parroting them until you achieve ity of Hindus over the In 2012 a peaceful gurdwara in your goal. BJP’s win in UP, despite its failure past century. Hindu Oak Creek, Wisconsin, became in Bihar, is a burning example of the success supporters of BJP the scene of a bloodbath when of this kind of strategy. have been made to Wade Michael Page opened his Modi’s ‘kabristaan-shamshan’ statement believe that succes- semiautomatic on its congrega- ended up bringing Dalits into BJP’s fold. A sive governments tion. majority of Hindus cremate their dead either have been biased to- Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 INDIA NEWS AYNSLIS 8 Why Yogi Adityanath needs to focus on the mandate recognise that when the communal subtext to this kets across the state are young men by the thou- BJP promised women se- campaign. In west UP in reeling under a crisis. What sands every year. It is a curity and such squads in particular, it ties in with do these two big priorities state that needs to focus its election manifesto, it the narrative of “love of the Yogi government over on imparting skills and cre- was responding to a real jihad”. Yogi Adityanath’s the last two weeks tell us? ating economic opportuni- problem of harassment of government must find While there is nothing ties for its young. That is women in society. HT has other ways of addressing wrong in addressing the is- what the mandate de- reported the disturbing, and the real problem of ha- sue of illegal slaughter- mands. That is what the rather disgusting, practice rassment instead of en- houses and harassment of new government must fo- of mobile recharge couraging prejudice- women, he should also cus on.Yogi Adityanath has “bhaiyas” selling phone laced vigilantism.Look at look at the many other a historic majority and a Given his track record, the campaign trail, when I numbers of women, based the other big priority of problems which beset the full five-year term to it would have been naive of asked voters what they on their ”looks”, to men who the government — the state. If not, the Yogi sarkar change UP for the better. the BJP not to expect a wanted most, the answer would then call and hound closure of illegal slaugh- might seem to be overlook- If he decides to stick to degree of criticism when was resounding, “naukri”. women. The poor law and terhouses. ing crucial issues that need a narrow cultural agenda, the party picked Yogi This promise of a better order situation under the Once again, the law to be addressed without it may thrill his base — Adityanath as the chief min- future was central to the previous government was a has to be implemented delay. but will alienate the sub- ister for Uttar Pradesh. election of “Modiji ki sarkar” major reason for the SP’s and if any enterprises are UP is a state desper- stantial incremental vote Make no mistake in Lucknow. And it is on this loss. Women must be pro- working outside its ambit, ately in need for adminis- that veered towards the though. The BJP won, and yardstick that the Yogi gov- tected by the law, but it is the government is fully trative reform. It is a state BJP in this election due it is entirely within its rights ernment must be judged. doubtful that anti-Romeo within its rights to crack that needs to improve its to the hopes for a better to pick anyone it wishes as If the first two weeks squads can provide a solu- down on such units. But if public school system and future. Alternatively, if he the leader of the legislative are any indication, the tion to this structural prob- this is indiscriminate, there health facilities: Visit any makes a distinction be- party and thus as the chief signs are not particularly lem. Instead, it runs the risk will be a direct effect on the primary government school tween majority consoli- minister. The Opposition encouraging though it is of descending into vigilan- dietary needs and prefer- or district hospital and you dation — and the gover- will have to live with the really too early to make any tism — with mobs target- ences of a substantial sec- will realise the extent of nance strategy, which decision. But critics too are definitive pronouncement. ing young adults. Individual tion of the population. It has deprivation. It is a state should be sabka saath, entitled to express their Yogi Adityanath began freedom is sacrosanct, and also happened in a way that where the university sys- sabka vikaas — Yogi views on this choice, point by deploying “anti-Romeo” consenting couples must has drastically affected the tem is collapsing: Colleges Adityanath can still make to his record and ask un- squads in various towns in be allowed to pursue their livelihoods, of both Hindus in smaller towns are pro- a difference. I will be watch- comfortable questions. And UP. It is important to lives. There is also a subtle and Muslims. Cattle mar- ducing unemployable ing closely. the BJP will have to live with that also. It would however be far Brexit is utter folly: Britain had the best of both worlds with EU more useful now to judge Yogi Adityanath and the be elsewhere? We are go- servative party manifesto benefit from that as a re- BJP government on their ing to waste six months of clearly stated that staying sult. That is now in jeopardy performance and those two years, all be- in the single market was a as well. We at Cobra Beer policies.UP threw up a his- cause Prime Minister priority. Now the Prime Min- manufacture in Britain and toric mandate, confounding Theresa May hopes the ister has very clearly stated Belgium, as well as in In- pundits and politicians negotiations are complete in her Lancaster House dia, and export to virtually alike. The mandate was a before her term comes to speech, and in Parliament every EU country. result of Prime Minister an end. I can guarantee that today, that we are not go- The Prime Minister’s letter Narendra Modi’s over- the British people will soon ing to be staying in the to the EU talks with bra- whelming popularity. It was become aware of this single market. Had the Brit- vado that we’re actually de- a result of astute social en- scheme. The emperor has ish people been told this by manding a fair negotiation, Had British businesses rope --be it our taxes, be it gineering, where the party no clothes. the Leave and Remain cam- when we in Britain are in been consulted, British our planning laws, be it stitched together an alli- Reading through the letter paigns, I can guarantee the very weakest position. business--small medium or business rates, be it tax ance of the most dominant that has been delivered to many people would not We are up against 27 large--unanimously would credits, be it benefits or castes with the most the European Union and lis- have voted to leave. countries, which are have said we appreciate welfare, be it healthcare. marginalised of castes. It tening to the Prime Had they been consulted, against just one. We are and benefit from the single We measure our roads in was a vindication of the Minister’s statement in British business--small, up against the European market, the free movement miles because we choose BJP’s “pro poor” turn, which Parliament today medium or large--unani- Commission and the Euro- of goods and services, the to, and I pour my beer in is how demonetisation was amounted to reading and mously would have said we pean Parliament. On top of movement of people, the pints because I choose to. portrayed. It was a result of listening to pure platitudes appreciate and benefit from that, the whole world does three million people from The triggering of Article 50 a degree of religious and, quite frankly, hot air. the single market, the free not want us to leave the the EU that work in the UK, is a self-imposed deadline polarisation. It stemmed This goes back to the hot movement of goods and European Union. Britain is who we need. by the Prime Minister for from the failures of both the air of ‘Brexit means Brexit’. services, the movement of one of the three largest re- Let alone getting our coun- purely political reasons. BSP and SP-Congress al- What the letter and the people, the three million cipients of inward invest- try back, we could be los- She wants to fix the two- liance to project their statement very clearly out- people from the EU that ment in the world. Our ing our country. Not only year process by 2019 well achievements. lined is how complex the work in the UK, who we economy depends on in- have we always had our in time to go into the elec- But distilled to its core, negotiations are going to need. We have an unem- ward investment. Since the country by being part of the tion in 2020 with the nego- the mandate reflected the be over the next two years. ployment rate of under 5%- referendum, the pound has European Union, but we tiations completed. There is desire of the UP voter to live In fact, they admit that it is -what would we do without fallen 20%. That is a clear have had the best of both nothing more or less to this a better life. UP remains unlikely that they are going these 3 million people? signal from the world, say- worlds. timing. People need to one of India’s most deprived to be able to conclude ne- This country is one of the ing, ‘We do not like this We are not in Schengen, wake up to this. Why else states. Its infrastructure is gotiations within the two- leaders in the world in finan- uncertainty.’The bravado we are not in the euro and would she trigger Article 50 in a shambles. It fares year period set aside. cial services, which ben- talk of the Brexiteers is we make the laws that af- before the French and Ger- poorly on education and That is not the only way in efits from being able to op- heaped with irony and fect our daily lives in man elections, when we health indicators. And it se- which the British people erate freely in the European short-sightedness. Westminster--not in Eu- know Europe’s attention will riously lacks jobs. Across have been misled. The Con- Union and our businesses (Contd on page 19) Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 9 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 10 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 INDIA NEWS AYNSLIS 11 Let’s Be Clear, Those chain status messages we’re asked to paste on our facebook wall are just emotional blackmail

(Agencies) There’s a crawlers to add you to lists copy-pasting that viral strength of a cancer peculiar phenomenon that can then be sold off. Facebook copyright notice survivor. When someone I much in vogue these days Whether that’s true or not, “under articles L.111, 112 know was going through – solidarity via Facebook. what it effectively does is and 113 of the code of the ravages of chemo, a Every day, somewhere on make each post a fresh intellectual property” is not friend’s suggestion of my timeline I see new post that’s not going to do anything extra books with recipes to something like this. “I’m dependent on the original to protect your data either. stimulate the taste buds even too much typing. It’s lives but to make going to say goodbye to poster’s privacy settings. The problem is not was helpful. The friend who even easier than writing judgements about people some of you...... now I’m There’s no “mother post” it solidarity. It is that we are brought a special kind of “Thinking of you. Hugs” on based on what they do NOT watching the ones who will can all be traced to which being pressured into dried kombu seaweed from someone’s wall. share? have the time to read this is wonderful for someone thinking of solidarity as a the US to add to chicken Why have we been fooled Ultimately it post until the end. This is trying to spread a hoax and copy and paste job. It is soup was a godsend. Even into thinking that this is a boils down to something a little test, just to see who remain undetected. If the that we are being made to the friend who sent a way we can show the world quite simple. If I need to reads and who shares original is deleted, all its think of a status update as simple “You’ll beat this” that we are good persons, copy and paste without reading! If you have shared spawn will not a litmus test of friendship, private message mattered. that we care? Who have something to prove that read everything, select vanish as well. But the real a word that has been Copy and paste statuses we become that we think I am paying attention, ‘like’ so I can put a thank problem is with the stretched thin by about cancer solidarity our friendships are so maybe our friendship was you on your profile! Cancer motivation, not the modus Facebook anyway. popping up like dandelions flimsy that unless they can not worth that much to is very invasive and operandi. Facebook has already all over Facebook were copy and paste for us, begin with. I would rather destructive to your body. Facebook has always been wrought havoc with the meaningless. friends will not be there for see a picture of your new After you have finished your prone to faux activism. We idea of activism, fooling “But it does not hurt,” a real emergency in our puppy. And if you are treatment, then, your body have all seen pictures of a many of us into thinking protest those who do it and lives? If someone on our feeling down, I will send wants to go to war with cancer-stricken child and that “liking” and sharing is encourage others to do it. friend list does not copy you a hug emoji. In the end yourself trying to been told that our likes and the same as marching and “And it does not take much and paste, will we not pick that’s personal. A copy- reconstruct all the damage shares will help him get organizing. Now it’s doing time.” Exactly. It does not up the phone to call them and-paste message, caused by radiation. It’s a some life-saving surgery. the same to the word take much time. Just like if some day we need their however well-intentioned, very long process. Please, Or that Mark Zuckerberg is “solidarity”, robbing it of all other kinds of faux help? Or will we not answer is not. Also just because in honour of someone who giving away $45 billion of genuine meaning and activism, this seduces us their call if they need us and someone did it does not died, or is fighting cancer, Facebook stock, 10% of it worth. into thinking that it’s we can help? What does it mean they did not do it or even had cancer, copy to ordinary people as long An obviously copied-and- worthwhile because it asks say about us that we are grudgingly. It’s a waste of and paste. They all say: ‘if as you copy and paste that pasted message really so little of us – not time, using social media not just time and honestly a you need anything, do not message. By the way, does nothing to bolster the not money, not sweat, not to share stuff about our waste of empathy. hesitate, I’m gonna be there for you’... so I’m going to make a bet that Watering holes along highways go high and dry following SC order less than 1/2 of my friends will put this on their walls. because of the ban. The category hotels serving li- to the Union Territory is You just have to copy (not state's Excise Minister quor in and around the city expected to be around Rs share)!!! I want to know who Chandrashekhar and around 250 elsewhere 60 crores. I can count on.... Write Bawankule has said that al- in Tamil Nadu would be af- In Karnataka, the ‘done’ in the comment ternative ways to increase fected, it is estimated. state's Wine Merchants when you do. To all those the revenue would be ex- Business has taken a Association is considering who are fighting... I am with plored. blow in Mahe enclave in meeting Karnataka chief you always!” The cause The visitors to three Puducherry where liquor is minister Siddaramaiah with varies — cancer, Trivandrum Club, cheaper than Kerala at- a representation to denotify depression, mental health, Trivandrum Tennis Club tracting tipplers from state highways. forgotten army veterans — and Sri Mulam Club in neighbouring districts. At "The Supreme Court or- but the pressure is the Thiruvanthapuram would least 32 shops come within der would impact about 60 same. At one time it was miss their drinks as the the 500 meters range in in to 70 per cent liquor li- just a request for solidarity bars in these places have Mahe. cences issued in the state," and support. Now it’s been shut. Puducherry PWD Min- the Association's General morphed into what feels (Agencies) New Delhi: not fall within the 500 Overall in Kerala, one of ister A Namassivayam said Secretary Honnagiri Gowda like emotional blackmail Thousands of watering metres range laid down by the highest liquor consum- that the overall revenue loss said. rather than just tugging at holes, iconic clubs and the apex court. ing states, 1,956 liquor bars the heart.”I’m going to swanky pubs went high and In neighbouring Noida, and toddy shops have been Introspect punjab polls result make a bet that less than dry as authorities went full the number of vends no affected. half my friends will put this steam to enforce a Su- longer serving drinks was These include outlets on my wall.” preme Court order banning 42 while out of total 292 run by the Beverages Cor- ,unfair to blame EVMs: EC to AAP “This is a test to see who liquor sale along highways bars in Gurugram, the Su- poration and Consumerfed, (Agencies) New Delhi : The Aam Admi Party (AAP)+ reads and who shares while states gauged rev- preme Court order would 11 bars in five star hotels, is free to file an election petition in the state high court without reading.” enue losses. impact 106, officials said. bars in 18 clubs, 586 beer if it wants to verify votes cast in Punjab polls with data It might be for a good In Delhi, 100 restau- In Maharashtra, the li- wine parlours and 1,132 of paper trail, the Election Commission said today.In cause and I do not in any rants, liquor vends and bars, quor ban on highways has toddy shops which have a strongly-worded letter, the EC also said it is for the way doubt the sincerity of including those in five star affected at least 1,000 star been told to stop serving li- AAP "to introspect as to why your party could not those who post it, but it’s hotels, along the six na- hotels, the Indian Hotel And quor. perform as per your expectations and it is unfair on passive aggressive tional highways passing Restaurant Association Kerala is looking at rev- your part to attribute unsatisfactory poll performance nonetheless.It has also enue losses as well as the through the state stopped (AHAR) president Adarsh of your party to the alleged tamperability of EVMS+ ." fuelled a whole new field of tourism industry being af- serving alcohol. Shetty said. The poll watchdog said after declaration of results only conspiracy theories and The state's excise de- These include the VIP fected. State Excise Min- alternative available to verify the data of votes cast is paranoia. Some think that partment is planning more Lounge in the city's domes- ister G Sudhakaran how- to file an Election Petition before the high court all this copy and paste action but is already tic airport, he claimed. ever has made it clear that concerned.The AAP alleged that poll authorities in renders a user more flooded with representa- Maharashtra govern- the apex court directions vulnerable to hacking, that tions from licence holders, ment expects it would lose would be followed. Punjab had refused to accept its demand to tally re- it’s a sneaky way for web who claim their outlets do an annual Rs 7,000 crore, In Chennai, over 35 star sults with paper trail audit. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS 12 ‘Muslims have realised Government will help judiciary reduce pendency of cases: Narendra Modi terrorism is attempt to de- (Agencies) Allahabad : Prime ebrations marking 150 years of ister lauded the steps being dependence, a target year to fame Islam’: Rajnath Singh Minister Narendra Modi on Sun- the Allahabad High Court. Not- taken by the chief justice to take the country to greater day assured Chief Justice JS ing that he felt that there was make use of technology in sim- heights. Earlier addressing the Khehar that his government will an element of "pain" in the plifying the working in the courts gathering, Justice Khehar make all efforts to back his re- speech of Justice Khehar, Modi and bring about qualitative raised the issue of pendency of solve to reduce burden on the said the government had done change. Modi also said video- cases+ in courts, including the judiciary and pendency of away with 1,200 old laws to find conferencing should be used Supreme Court, and said he cases. "I assure the chief jus- a way out of the maze of the for deposition made in courts was taking steps to reduce the tice that government will back statues and also help the judi- by those facing trial, the wit- burden on the judiciary. He his 'sankalp' (resolve) to bring ciary in modernising the sys- nesses and officials to prevent asked the judges to consider (Agencies) Home minister Rajnath down the burden on the judiciary tem. He asked the people work- wastage of time and money. He sitting in courts for five days Singh said on Sunday that the coun- and reduce pendency of ing on startups to bring about appealed to the judiciary, the during vacation to clear at least try is united against any kind of vio- cases," he said in his address innovations to strengthen the ju- government and the people to 10 cases each day and bring lence and Muslims have realised that at the sesquicentennial cel- dicial system. The Prime Min- make 2022, the 75th year of In- down the pendency. terrorism is an attempt to defame Is- lam. “The whole country is united YYYogi Adityanath has savvved UP from becom- against terrorism. The Muslims have Media owners being controlled by Modi realised that terrorism is an attempt ing another Pakistan, says Sadhvi Prachi to defame Islam,” he told reporters govt, stories getting killed: Chidambaram when asked about the violence per- (Agencies) Congress leader P Maybe the control was there petrated by militants in Jammu and Chidambaram on Saturday alleged during Emergency, but that was an Kashmir. He said the security forces that there was a “pervasive, aberration. We have admitted that were giving a befitting reply to mili- systematic and infringed control” aberration and also apologised,” he tants who are creating trouble in over the owners of media by the said.He claimed that it would be a Kashmir Valley. The home minister Narendra Modi government. straight fight between Congress had on Friday said that Pakistan was “Today, believe me, and BJP in the next round using social media to incite youths there is all pervasive, of elections as there were systematic infringed no major regional parties in Kashmir to storm encounter sites control over the in some states including and help holed-up militants. The owners of the media. Gujarat and Rajasthan. “In (Agencies) With Yogi prevented it from becoming strife-torn region had seen a “new You talk to any the next round of trend” of late in which youths from journalist in Delhi, elections, there will be a Adityanath becoming the another Pakistan,” Sadhvi nearby villages gather at the sites of they will tell you that. straight fight between BJP chief minster of Uttar Prachi told reporters in encounter between security forces Stories are simply and Congress in at least Pradesh, the state has UP’s Sambhal. Showering and terrorists and pelt stones to help killed. This is a seven or eight states like been “prevented” from turn- praises on Adityanath, she the militants escape, he had said. serious problem,” he said in an Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya ing into “another Pakistan”, said the way UP govern- interaction after the launch of his Pradesh and Chhattisgarh among controversial Hindutva ment is probing the works Man arrested for luring book ‘Fearless in opposition - others, as there are no major leader Sadhvi Prachi said of the previous regime, their Power and Accountability’ in regional parties in these states. “All on Sunday. reality will be exposed Uzbek woman to India, Bengaluru. The former Union regional parties were defeated in “By becoming the soon. “This is probably giv- minister said there may have been the last state elections including chief minister of UP, Yogi ing them (Samajwadi Party) control over media during Uttar Pradesh,” he said. Adityanath has not only sleepless nights,” she said. Emergency, but that was an Chidambaram, however, said he raping her over six months ushered in a feeling of hap- To a question, she said the “aberration”. “The control over did not mean it was the end of media today is unparalleled. regional parties. piness and enthusiasm UP government should also among the public, but also ban liquor in the state. Mehbooba thanks PM Modi for GADVASU doctors supporting her govt during ‘difficult time’ treat PM’s dog (Agencies) Ludhiana: From the team of (Agencies) A Mehrauli resident was (Agencies) Jammu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s secu- arrested on Sunday for allegedly raping Kashmir chief minister rity, a sniffer dog, black in colour, a 22-year-old woman from Uzbekistan Mehbooba Mufti thanked landed at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary for nearly six months. Police said the and Animal Sciences University here woman filed a complaint on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra on Friday to get treatment for intra accusing one Sonu alias Sumit of Modi on Sunday for sup- oral tumor. Black coloured Labrador duping her into coming to India for porting her government (9), who has been well trained to de- employment. He had allegedly during the “difficult time” tect various items such as explosives, contacted her through Facebook by last year. Mufti -- appar- and is generally taken to search the posing as a senior executive at a ently referring to the law places before PM’s visit, underwent a Gurgaon-based IT company. He and order situation in the surgery of mouth at the hospital of received the woman at the airport, and Kashmir Valley after the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Ani- offered her a place to stay at Mehrauli. July 8 killing of Hizbul the country at nearly 11 Jammu and Kashmir mal Sciences University. It took one “Sonu took her passport and Mujahideen terrorist km. government. She also and a half hour to remove the tumor money, claiming that he needed to Burhan Wani -- said My government would praised Modi for his “de- that had developed along a tooth as per keep them as security deposit. He then Modi ensured that the not have been able to termination”, saying he sources in the university, by the team led moved in with the woman and raped by Dr. Arun Anand, Associate Professor her for nearly half a year,” a police state government sur- handle it alone,” she delivers whatever he at GADVASU. The doctors informed that officer said. The accused was arrested vived the situation. Mufti said, and added that aims at. Mufti invited the tooth has also been removed. A de- after a medical examination of the was addressing a rally in Modi provided central Modi to the state, say- fense team comprising of four officers woman confirmed rape. Police have Udhampur after Modi in- assistance through ing he must visit Kash- brought the dog from Patiala in a gypsy. registered a case against him, and are augurated the state-of- Union home minister mir and give a message After the surgery ended, the dog was investigating if he is part of a larger the-art Chenani-Nashri Rajnath Singh, who was to the entire world that immediately taken to Patiala. human trafficking racket. tunnel, the longest in always there to help the it is safe for tourists. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 13 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 CURRENT AFFAIRS 14 No weekend party at Gurgaon’s CyberHub as curtains come down on pubs, bars

Sushant Lok 1, said, adding that would not allowed within 500 free Golf course road”, said Rahul he will now party at home or head meters starting Saturday and the Singh, head of National to Delhi. “Why only Cyber Hub licences of 143 pubs and bars, Restaurant Association of India’s or Sector 29? Accidents can including the 34 in Cyber Hub, Haryana chapter, adding that happen anywhere,” argued Teena will not be renewed. “We have not Cyber Hub was not within 500 (Agencies) The Supreme Chachra, a regular to Cyber Hub, Modi, a resident of DLF city received the Supreme Court order metres. The Supreme Court Court order banning sale of 500 said. “How can it be possible? phase 1. “Now people will start yet, but we will comply with its ruling is also likely to hurt pubs metres from highways has dealt Where will we go now?” drinking in car. This was the only orders,” said Aruna Singh, deputy and bars in Gurgaon’s several a heavy blow to Gurgaon’s Cyber Being within 500 metres from organised place in Gurgaon and excise and taxation five-star hotels located along the Hub, leaving revellers high and the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, the order is unfair. We are really commissioner, Gurgaon. Pub national highway and on Sohna dry on a weekend. a national highway—a claim sad and disheartened,” said and bar owners want the distance road. “This was a perfect place Local residents expressed refuted by restaurant owners— Vinita Johar, an entrepreneur to be measured by the city to party with friends and family. shock on hearing the news on Cyber Hub, which houses 34 residing in Gurgaon. People also municipal corporation, not the Everything was so organised: Friday night, even as some loyal pubs and bars, went dry from took to social media to vent their excise department, whose from parking to different customers were surprised by Saturday. ire. “This is less logic more measurement they do not trust. cuisines. It was the only hefty discounts offered by some “This is not fair as there ar opinion. Doesnt address drinking “Cyber Hub was always destination in Gurgaon,” said pubs—for “the last Friday night e not much decent places to at home and driving on accessible by an underpass near Vinni Madan, a Gurgaon party”. “I thought someone was party in Gurgaon. After the SC highways, or carrying booze with the building 9. Motorists have to businessman, frequenting Cyber playing an April fool prank on me order, there is not much left in you in car / lorry,” Sajith Pai take that U-turn to come towards Hub for last three years, adding but then we visited and were the city,” Mandeep Singh, an reasoned.The excise department Cyber Hub. This is part of the that he too would go to Delhi for shocked to know,” Jatin entrepreneur and a resident of officials said that liquor sale approved master plan of signal drinks. India steps up black money hunt; seeks Govt plans word limit for RTI, make information expensive (Agencies) The Modi Swiss bank details of 10 suspects government’s plan to change information law norms, including a 500-word limit for an application and higher fee, has activists worried who see it as an attempt to dilute the RTI. The changes proposed will make information expensive and take online the process of complaint for denying information, shutting out thousands of citizens who do bill. information officer, a job not have access to the Enacted in 2005, the RTI is which is the responsibility of (Agencies) Stepping up its notices concerning individuals internet or are not Net-savvy. the only law that empowers the official or the department hunt for black money stashed and companies with Indian links “The intention is clear. The citizens to question the concerned. abroad, India has approached were issued last week -- which government wants to make government, with over 10 If not done, the appeal Switzerland for banking details of could be the highest for a country getting information difficult as million applications filed with can be rejected. at least ten persons and entities within a week. the draft rules empower public the Centre in 2015-16. First appeal is filed within suspected to have kept untaxed The notices name two listed authorities more than The government has come the department and second money in Swiss banks. textile firms -- Neo Corporation These include two listed International and SEL citizens,” right to information out with a new format for non- is with the central textile companies, while others Manufacturing Company Ltd. (RTI) activist Lokesh Batra compliance of a citizen’s information commission. are associated with an art curator There are also some said. request that bars hand-written Information will also get and his carpet export business. companies incorporated in tax One of the new rules says appeals. pricier. Government Switzerland’s tax department havens like Panama and British an RTI application should not Appeals will have to be filed publications such as the issued notices to them last Virgin Islands. Most of the be more than 500 words but online, a move that will make economic survey and week to reply within 30 days to companies and individuals are exceeding the limit cannot be the process difficult for National Sample Survey appeal the decision about associated with a carpet export a ground for rejecting the hundreds of Indians, who are Office data will no longer be providing ‘administrative business and an art curator with request. poor and barely literate. available for the RTI fee of Rs assistance’ in information operations across several The department of Officials will be allowed to 10. requests from India. countries. personnel and training has file documents to counter Info seeker will either have Under its local rules, These are Abdul Rashid Mir, set April 15 deadline for claims of false information, to pay the market price of the Switzerland provides a final Amir Mir, Sabeha Mir, Mujeeb Mir chance to the concerned persons and Tabassum Mir. The comments on the proposed which will lengthen the publication or Rs 2 for and entities before sharing the companies named in these changes -- the first by the process. At present a citizen photocopy of each page, information about suspected notices include Cottage Modi government – that have can file an appeal within 30 double the present rate. The cases of tax crimes with any Industries Exposition, Modale been put up on its website. days if denied information. previous UPA government, foreign jurisdiction. These SA and Progress Ventures The proposed norms ask The period is 60 days for too, had tried to weaken the notices are made public through Group. Some of these names the applicant to bear the incomplete data. RTI but dropped the idea in gazette notifications if they are had figured in the leaked Panama postal charge for sending the New norms put on the face of stiff opposition from not reachable directly by the Papers too, but several of them information sought. As of applicant the onus of sending civil society and Congress concerned banks or the tax including the two listed firms have now, the government foots the a copy of the appeal to the president Sonia Gandhi. department. At least ten such denied any wrongdoing. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 15 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 16 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 17 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 CONTD. 18 US tightens H-1B guidelines for computer programmers, warns against discrimination The United States has raised the this programme.And on Monday, day one Nationality Act (INA) “prohibits workers on higher salaries. The same specialisation bar for H-1B visas for hiring of the opening of the 2018 cycle, the employers from discriminating against critics have targeted Indian IT companies computer programmers and, on Monday, justice department issued a stern warning US workers because of their citizenship such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services just around the time it began accepting to employers on using the high-skilled or national origin in hiring, firing and and Wipro accusing them of “gaming the petitions for 2018, warned employers visa programme to discriminate against recruiting”, and added, “Employers system” by cornering a large portion of the against using the visa programme to local workers. “The Justice Department violate the INA if they have a annual disbursement of H-1Bs with a large discriminate against American workers. will not tolerate employers misusing the discriminatory hiring preference that number of applications. Many of these The US Citizenship and Immigration H-1B visa process to discriminate against favors H-1B visa holders over US critics are now in the administration of Services (USCIS), which runs the H-1B US workers,” said Acting Assistant workers”. The DoJ threat came at President Trump, who has said the H-1B programme, changed guidelines over the Attorney General Tom Wheeler of the Civil around the same time Monday as the programme, which he used earlier in his weekend to prevent US firms or US-based Rights Division in a statement. “US USCIS threw open the process for businesses, is broken. There was even a units of multinationals from using these workers should not be placed in a accepting petitions for H-1B visas 2018, draft of an executive order that circulated visas to hire computer programmers. disfavored status, and the department is which will likely be over in just a few briefly but was never issued. One of the H- In a March 31 policy memorandum, wholeheartedly committed to days given the high demand. The 1B visa programme’s chief critics is the USCIS said a computer programmer investigating and vigorously prosecuting United States grants 85,000 H-1B visas Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whose with an ability to use IT skill will not be these claims,” he added. While the under an congressionally mandate cap department issued the Monday warning sufficient. A petitioner “must provide other justice department is known to have every year — 65,000 to foreigners hired with the threat of “investigating and evidence to establish that the particular investigated and prosecuted allegations outside the US and 20,000 to vigorously prosecuting these claims” of position is one in a specialty occupation”. of discrimination before, it could not be international students enrolled in Americans being displaced. Indian IT The intention was to push companies immediately confirmed if such a warning American colleges and universities.The companies, who admit to using this visa to hire only high-skilled workers from was ever issued around the time programme has come heightened programme heavily, have, however, abroad and leave low or medium level jobs employers began filing H-1B petitions. scrutiny in recent years, with critics vigorously contested allegations of using for Americans, as has been the stated The justice department said in a arguing it is being used by companies this programme to discriminate against position of some in the Trump statement that anti-discrimination to hire temporary foreigners workers on local workers, and have ramped up local administration, who have been critical of provision of the Immigration and low salaries to displace local American hirings in recent years.(Hindustan Times) Haley Eclipses Tillerson the first to enjoy Cabinet rank in a Week” and CBS’ “Face the Nation,” as well in New York, Haley has used her physical as John McCain’s campaign manager in 2008. Republican administration since Jeane as on Fox News. She sat down last month distance from the president and his aides, Haley’s newfound visibility has GOP Kirkpatrick during Ronald Reagan’s first term. with NBC’s Matt Lauer. and the vacuum created by Tillerson’s operatives sizing up her political prospects, with And with Rex Tillerson conducting his job Haley has seemingly gone out of her way absence on the public stage, to sound some musing she may become the next almost entirely out of public view, Haley has to make a splash. She has a knack for made- hardheaded notes on Russia even as a secretary of state and others speculating she’ll improbably eclipsed the secretary of state for-TV one-liners, like the one she delivered Kremlin-related scandal has dogged the challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in a as the country’s leading voice on foreign to a rapturous audience last week at the Trump presidency. Republican primary in 2020. affairs. American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s “She’s fortunate to be away from Yet some say she has made her political Indeed, Haley has essentially had free annual policy conference last week, when Washington so that the fights between the ambitions too obvious. One former State rein in the job, cutting an unusually she announced there was a “new sheriff in Republican regulars and the Trump White Department official went so far as to call her conspicuous media profile and avoiding the town” at the U.N. House don’t damage her,” said the former current post a “box-checking exercise” designed tense dealings that U.N. ambassadors often “I wear heels, and it’s not for a fashion Bush administration foreign policy aide. to bolster her résumé for a future presidential have with State. statement,” she said. “It’s because if I see “The president has not once called me bid. “I think in her mind, the key issue that something wrong, we’re gonna kick ’em every and said, ‘Don’t beat up on Russia,’ has Some of the most important members of would normally exist — her relationship with time.” not once called me and told me what to her political team joined her at the U.N., despite the secretary of state — does not exist. She That said, Haley’s tenure is otherwise say,” she told ABC’s Martha Raddatz in warnings from some longtime advisers that thinks she’s operating completely noteworthy for how utterly quotidian her an interview that aired Sunday. “I am bringing them along would send the wrong independently of him,” said a George W. pronouncements would be in the course of beating up on Russia.” message to her fellow diplomats. Her longtime Bush-era State Department official. any other Republican administration. She has Haley’s ability to walk the tightrope pollster and strategist, Jon Lerner, who had no Haley, 45, was seen as a rising star in made a point of reassuring traditional between mainstream Republican foreign formal experience in foreign policy but had long the Republican Party before Trump’s election, American allies like Britain and France, sitting policy and the topsy-turvy world of the maintained an interest in the subject, serves which was widely considered a rejection of down with their representatives in her first day president has proved mutually beneficial, as her deputy ambassador. the more diverse and inclusive version of the on the job, and of putting the nation’s giving the White House a safety valve, on How her relationship evolves with Tillerson, GOP she has championed. She was critical adversaries on warning. the one hand, and allowing her to win over especially if he decides to take on a more public of Trump during the Republican primary, when “For those that don’t have our backs, we’re Trump skeptics, on the other. In her first role, remains to be seen. Kirkpatrick, for she stumped for Marco Rubio. She also has taking names,” she said in her first public speech at the U.N. Security Council, she example, repeatedly clashed with Secretary of been out front when it comes to distancing appearance in the job, which her aides have blasted Russia’s incursion into Ukraine and State Alexander Haig and his assistant secretary her own views, particularly on Russia, from come to refer to as the “Taking Names” made clear that sanctions imposed after of state for international organization affairs, those of the president. speech. its annexation of Crimea would remain in Elliott Abrams. “Speaking from my own Her ability to navigate the treacherous Haley was an unlikely selection for the place. The White House pointed to those experience at the U.N., there can only be one waters of the Trump administration has role, and not only because of her scant foreign remarks as it struggled to combat the fallout secretary of state at a time,” said John Bolton, renewed speculation about her political future, policy credentials. from the resignation of short-lived national a longtime State Department official who served generating buzz among Republican As governor of South Carolina, she was security adviser Michael Flynn and defend as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations operatives that she may be Tillerson’s heir openly critical of Trump. She used her the president against charges that his aides during the George W. Bush administration. apparent and a future presidential candidate. response to President Barack Obama’s final were soft on Russia. “Otherwise, you end up with an Alexander Haig- The White House, through a spokeswoman, State of the Union address in February 2016 “His ambassador to the United Nations, Jeane Kirkpatrick relationship, which was, to denied that Haley was initially offered the to rebuke Trump, who was then the GOP Nikki Haley, stood before the U.N. Security be anodyne, stressful.” secretary of state job. front-runner. When Haley warned her fellow Council on her first day and strongly For now, Haley is taking obvious delight “She’s perfectly positioned to inherit the Republicans against the temptation to follow denounced the Russian occupation of in having a national profile, and with the State Department,” said a second Bush-era the “siren call of the angriest voices,” Trump Crimea,” press secretary Sean Spicer told Republican Party in chaos despite foreign policy hand. “She needs a year or responded in kind, tweeting, “The people of the White House press corps. widespread victories in 2016, she may be two at the U.N., and then she will get the South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki “She has handled herself with decorum one of the few long-term winners of the State Department.” Haley!” and dignity and maintained her credibility cycle. “She’s one of the few political She’s been more public in her first two If she has not been openly critical of Trump over the first 65 days of the administration. leaders,” Schmidt said, “who’s had months on the job than any of her immediate in her new job, she has not hesitated to Such is the state of the first 100 days that consistently good moments on the political predecessors, representing the administration distinguish her views from his, either. that is an achievement worthy of a gold stage over the past few years.” on major news shows, including ABC’s “This Based at the United Nations headquarters medal,” said Steve Schmidt, who served (Politico.com) Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 CONTD. 19 How the Sanctions Are Helping Putin

Restrictions on borrowing could States and China. ably way too high. for Putin and other members of death with the West. And for not hurt a country that was al- Ultimately, one major factor de- A much tougher Western sanc- the Russian elite to invest (or President Trump, any hint at this ready reducing its levels of for- termines the health of the Rus- tions regime could have inflicted hide their money) abroad. That, point of pro-Russian sentiment eign debt for several years before sian economy: the price of oil. As pain on Russia and made it in turn, has given the president would add more ammunition to 2014. From 2015 to 2016, Rus- oil prices have stabilized, the change course. The Russian elite tremendous leverage in control- Democrats who say he’s suspi- sian oil and gas production was Russian economy has mostly is heavily dependent on the West, ling his team. ciously close to Moscow. increasing faster than any of the recovered and switched into slow as its chief purchaser of oil and Meanwhile, a handful of Russian Having found itself in a lose-lose Gulf countries or even the U.S, recession mode. It’s no surprise gas, holder of its assets and edu- oligarchs and Kremlin-connected situation, the West will most regardless of the technology ban. then, that the World Bank cur- cator of its children. Targeted businessmen—chiefly those who probably do nothing—keeping And Russia still exports $14 bil- rently estimates that sanctions measures, such as a ban on the run state-owned firms—have suc- sanctions in place and freezing lion in weapons per year, making are shaving off no more than half sale and service of passenger or cessfully exploited sanctions to the situation. The Kremlin will be it the third-biggest arms exporter a percentage point of Russian cargo aircraft, could have brought get sweetheart deals and control happy. Russia won’t stop med- in the world after the United GDP. Even that estimate is prob- Russia to its knees in months. If over new monopolies for domes- dling in Ukraine or give up Crimea. gold and currency reserves had tic products that are unfailingly Die-hard supporters of the presi- been frozen, then Russia would inferior, over-priced and unreli- dent will keep walking the streets Norway whaling begins have been in deep trouble in about able. Billions of rubles started to of Moscow carrying banners saying, three to five years’ time. flee from the budget into pock- “Putin outplayed everybody again”— These minke whales are thought UK prepares to divorce itself from Sanctions do make a big impact ets of closest Putin’s cronies, and they will probably be right. to be part of a population that the EU, we'd like to see our in one area—Russian domestic who promised to quickly develop also lives in UK waters, according government taking a much firmer politics. The government-con- Russian facsimiles of Windows Brexit is utter folly: to the Humane Society line to condemn this slaughter," trolled media—which is most of software, iPhones, GPS, com- International. When the minke Bass said. it—blames Russia’s current eco- puters, civil aircraft, and so on. whales leave UK waters, they 'Dying industry' nomic decline on the United The Ministry of Defense has al- Britain had the best of could be hunted by Norwegian Despite the raised quota, the States and European Union. ready placed a sizable order for whalers. number of whales Norway has President Putin declared on Oct. “Russian iPads,” costing $6,000 both worlds with EU Claire Bass, director of HSI UK, actually killed has not reached 12, 2016, speaking at the VTB each. Gennadiy Timchenko, an- They say: “Look at this past said in a statement: "It is the previous lower quota due investment forum in Moscow: other old Putin friend, has mo- nine months, our economy has shocking to think that these to low demand for whale meat. “We often repeat that so-called nopolized the salmon trade, rais- not tanked.” There is a time in magnificent whales who swim Greenpeace has called sanctions do not have a signifi- ing prices by over 200 percent these situations; it takes usually safely in British waters, could fall whaling a "dying industry", as cant influence on us. They do, and turning his chronically a minimum of one-and-half years victim to a brutal and bloody consumers move away from and the major threat is the ban lossmaking fish company into a before cause leads to effect in a death simply to have their meat using the meat. The on technology transfer.” For Putin, super-lucrative business. recession. shrink-wrapped and sold for profit Norwegian government argues the sanctions are useful in help- Ultimately sanctions have be- The letter already talks of tran- in Norwegian and Japanese that whale is a traditional part ing him alienate the public from come a trap for the West. Keep- sitional deals beyond the three supermarkets." of the diet in the country. any Western-backed opposition ing them in place gives Putin an years. No country, no business The group called on the UK's The International Whaling leaders or from those who still additional source of popular sup- and no economy likes uncertainty minster for food and rural affairs Commission banned proclaim that the West is a model port and a ready-made excuse for such a prolonged period. This George Eustice to condemn commercial whaling in 1986. for Russia’s future development. for all his economic mistakes. letter not just prolongs but accen- Norway's whaling activity. Norway is able to continue Sanctions have also raised the Yet lifting them would be a clear "The EU's position on Norway's commercial whaling because tuates the uncertainty that the implied risks of holding assets sign to the Russian regime that commercial whaling has been it raised an objection to the UK is going to face in the com- offshore and limited the capacity it has prevailed in a battle-to-the- lamentably weak, so now that the moratorium at the time. ing years. It is Philip Hammond who said, “We cannot cherry pick, we How Modi’s ‘Kabristaan-Shamshan’ Statement Ended cannot have our cake and eat it too”. The irony is that we have Up Bringing Dalits Into BJP’s Fold In Uttar Pradesh had our cake and ate it. We have But people believed, even though every- he has the potential among opposition lead- and abolish casteism. had the best of both worlds. We one knew that the consumption of water on ers to oppose BJP and RSS on their own. Right before the UP elections, when have not been part of an EU su- Holi is much more than what is required on And he took them on reservation issue. Prime Minister Modi started creating a brou- per-state, let alone the EU army. Ramzan. This was probably the beginning The ‘Jumlanomics’ of ‘sabka saath haha over triple talaq and four marriages, The fact is, since the formation of the post-truth campaign of the BJP. In sabka vikas’ and ‘sushasan’ made us be- none of the prominent parties opposed it. of the EU, Britain has had the politics of hatred it is easy to influence per- lieve that BJP will never rake the issues of Even the Left parties, which have a very clear highest cumulative GDP growth ception, using religious sentiments as a Ram Janmabhoomi, uniform civil code or perspective on these issues decided to keep rate in the EU, of 62% versus tool. Unfortunately, in India, people are Article 370. But the RSS has never hesi- mum. The Hindu populace, once again was guided by these overwhelming religious tated to take up these issues again and made to believe that BJP is the lone party Germany at 35%. We have done sentiments. again. So during elections, these issues that capable of implementing some popula- well out of being part of the EU. Time and again Hindus are reminded of are always omnipresent in the BJP’s tion control measures. But the fact is that What we have embarked on the ‘historical injustices' meted out to them agenda. the BJP was successful in tagging all other is utter folly. Though the Prime by the rulers. It began with the Muslim rul- ‘Love Jihad’ is one such lie that the RSS parties as ‘biased’ towards Muslims. Simi- Minister said there is it no turn- ers, over 500 years ago, followed by the has perpetuated among Hindus. In the vil- larly, the rumours about Muslims storing ing back, if we come to our British and then continued by the secular lages of North India, its a mixed populace weapons and bombs in mosques, have been senses we will not leave the EU. governments since India’s Independence. of Hindus and Muslims and any inter-reli- featuring regularly in the propaganda against Article 50 is revocable. At any For instance, during the Bihar Assembly gious marriage or romantic relationship (be- Muslims. I have heard these stories since time from today we can decide elections, Prime Minister Modi said that res- tween a Hindu girl and Muslim boy) is childhood, but true to the nature of these we want to stay on. That is for ervation for backward classes are provided looked down upon as ‘love jihad’. The rumours, I never quite knew where they origi- the benefit of the British economy, to people belonging to a ‘special religion’. thought has been ingrained so deeply in nated from. But Hindus love to believe it. for keeping the United Kingdom It was taken for granted that the special the minds of Hindus that the ruling We live in extraordinary times. Our so- religion, he was talking about here was Samajwadi Party could not oppose it ei- ciety has taken to a saffron hue. There’s ‘United’, and for Europe as a Muslims. A subtle hint is enough to ther. This, despite the fact that socialist unfortunately, very little space for individual whole--let alone the global mobilise Hindus against Muslims accord- scion Ram Manohar Lohia had once freedom. What’s even more saddening is economy. (Karan Bilimoria is a mem- ing to the RSS. However, it failed in case of preached that inter-faith marriages were the the fact that this space is shrinking rapidly, ber of the House of Lords. The views Bihar, because of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Only best way to promote communal harmony and in future, there maybe no space at all. expressed are personal.) Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 CONTD. 20 Why Indians Need An Urgent Lesson In Identifying Their Racism At Home As They Come Under Attack Abroad "appalled by the senseless every dark skinned African fused to see a racist had eaten him. A mob burst in Jersey City in the reaction from mob misled violence and crime, some it can find, it's a culture angle anywhere. The min- into their house and in a 1980s because it wanted by rumours, these "unfor- of which are racist in na- clash?Nagendra Prasad istry of external affairs chilling echo of Dadri rum- to drive them out of town. tunate incidents" will keep ture." Singh's protestations feel said all criminal acts maged through their refrig- District Magistrate Singh happening, proving that in When two Indian techies like déjà vu. When a Tan- should not be seen as ra- erator. The Telegraph re- thinks foreigners need to our anxiety to project our- enjoying a drink in a bar in zanian student was at- cially motivated. ports these rumours are still be "initiated to the Indian selves as a race-blind so- Kansas City in the USA tacked in Bengaluru in Are law enforcement offi- rife at every paan shop and culture" to avoid such inci- ciety, we are in reality just were shot at by a man tell- 2016, the state's home cials, civil service offic- bus stand. "Our class- dents. Perhaps our district wilfully blind to our racism. ing them to go back to their minister G Parameshwara ers and ministers unable mates are saying that we magistrates, police officers Just a few days ago Indian country we understood the said "It was not a racial at- to see the blatant racism should keep a distance and honourable ministers Americans raised $100,000 xenophobia in that attack. tack but just a violent re- or just unwilling to do from these Africans be- need to be initiated in a for Ian Grillot, the American If it was not investigated as sponse to the accident so? cause they eat human course of Racism 101 first. who was wounded coming a hate crime we would have (where a Sudanese student Even if hypothetically flesh," Phil, a That needs to happen be- to the aid of those two In- been upset and justifiably allegedly mowed down a some local Nigerians northeasterner tells the fore the flag march that is dian engineers at that Kan- so.But when an India mob pedestrian)." were involved in the newspaper. To assume Af- happening now can be ef- sas City bar. "Ian Grillot is viciously sets upon a group In that incident an irate young student's death, to ricans are cannibalistic sav- fective. After the attack in a man who reminds us of of Nigerians in a mall in mob pulled every African it punish every African in ages - that's Bengaluru, then foreign min- the promise of America and Greater Noida, right near could find out of cars and the area for the crimes of racism.Posters and ban- istry spokesperson Vikas its greatness," said Jiten our own capital, when lurid beat them up. For being some is racism. Even if ners have appeared at Swarup assured "stringent Agarwal at the event in accusations of cannibalism Africans. It cannot get more there is a drugs and busy crossings calling punishment" but insisted it Houston. What does what are flung at Africans, we racist than that. crime problem with some for "Nigerian-Free Greater was an "isolated incident."If happened in Greater Noida refuse see a "hate crime", When a mob attacked Afri- African residents, to tar Noida" Wanting to drive we still see these as iso- tell us about the promise of we refuse to smell can residents of Rajpur all of them with the same a group of people, by lated incidents, if we still India and its greatness? "racism".Four Nigerians Khurd village in Chhatarpur brush? That's race or ethnicity, out of keep seeing one as only an That night in Noida, in that ended up in hospital after a with cricket bats, rods and racism.After the boy first the neighbourhood? That emotional reaction to an ac- baying mob of hundreds, mob held Nigerians respon- bricks, shouting "Go went missing and a is racism just as it was cident, another as only a how many homegrown Ian sible for the tragic death of back to Africa", Delhi po- rumour went around that racism when Dotbuster heated reaction to a boy's Grillots could we claim? a young student. They sus- lice chief Alok Verma re- his Nigerian neighbours gangs attacked Indians tragic death or a gross over- (www.huffingtonpost.in) pected he had been drugged by African nation- als. Some Nigerians were picked up by the police but Rumble Of A Scary Trundle released due to lack of evi- dence. A march by local The ominous footprints are no longer distant. We see them in Jharkhand’s paddy slopes, residents turned violent as they started assaulting any- Andaman’s coral reefs, Bangalore’s garment units, Punjab’s wheat fields... one who looked Nigerian with chairs, metal dustbins, Indian scientists who en- one of India’s poorest states, India to walk the climate talk, sticks and tools. gage in climate research and are now left battling strange for any positive impact of "They were kicking at us are grappling with possible intruders into their bucolic mitigation measures can and shouting at us," Pre- solutions say the footprints life: swarms of unknown take years to implement, cious Amalawa, one of the of changing climate condi- pests. Cities have been scientists say. victims tells Scoopwhoop tions in the country are now brought to a halt by cata- “It’s been good so far,” says News. "We kept asking visible—not just in copious strophic rains. Apple or- farmer Satyapal Singh. The what had we done. Even amounts of data, but to the chards of Himachal Pradesh wheat crop on his five-acre dogs are treated naked eye. This was pointed are shifting higher up in farm near Haryana’s better."Sushma Swaraj has out to Prime Minister search of cooler tempera- Kuru•kshetra University is said Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Narendra Modi over two tures. Rainfall in the West- gradually turning brown Adityanath has promised a years ago, when he first ern Ghats is declining, com- now—from an iridescent "fair and impartial investiga- chaired the recast PM’s pared to India’s eastern green a month ago. This for South Asia, which works perature during grain filling— tion". Uttar Pradesh health Council on Climate Change. coast. means the grains are ripen- closely with the agriculture a stage that is like the ado- minister Siddharth Nath The evidence lies strewn In the climate meeting Modi ing. Rising temperatures ministry. The national wheat lescent years—of the wheat Singh has said "Attack on across the length and chaired in January 2015, the over the Indo-Gangetic output wasn’t aff•ected much crop. Indian scientists have Nigerian students is a seri- breadth of India. While PM had said, according to a plains, however, worry because the loss in yields identified this increasingly ous issue". droughts and unseasonal person who attended it, Singh. The mercury has was made up for by a larger common weather pattern— But the district magistrate rains are seen as the more India’s traditions of prakriti quickened to 37 degree Cel- crop area. Farmers didn’t an- of sudden heat spells Nagendra Prasad Singh familiar markers, the deeper prem (love of nat•ure) means sius, an alarming four-degree ticipate the loss as the bet•ween March and April— says "It is absolutely not a trails have led to remote cor- it had a unique advantage in clip in just over a week. weather had been glitch-free as evidence of a changing hate crime, nor is it some ners upcountry, in the high dealing with climate. India, Singh’s farm is one among right up until harvest time, climate.Nearly two-thirds kind of anger against a seas and even on factory which is one of the world’s several across states that recalls Singh.Farmers like people of India’s 122-crore race." floors.Here’s a snapshot of largest greenhouse gas scientists are continuously Singh may have been caught population rely on livelihoods Let's pause here. the not-so-•hidden footprints emitters, has ratified the tracking as part of a high- unawares, but scientists had that are climate-dependent. When Adam Purinton of a changing clim•ate. The Paris global climate agree- tech climate study.Wheat is alre•ady predicted such a The Intergovernmental Panel shows up with a gun in that Indian Ocean, without which ment. This means the coun- now clearly India’s most vul- possibility. The Ind•ian Coun- on Climate Change (IPCC) bar in Kansas City and the country cannot get its try will have to ensure that nerable crop when it comes cil of Agricultural Research has concluded that climate says "Get out of my coun- summer monsoon, is 40 per cent of India’s elec- to climate effects. In 2010, a had concluded—six years changes will be felt more try" to two Indian men who “signi•ficantly” warmer now tricity will, by 2030, come sudden spike in temperature earlier—that grain yields acutely by the poor simply he thinks might be Iranian, than 50 years earlier. Maltos, from non-fossil renewable had cut wheat yields by 26 could fall between 3 per cent because they are less likely he is racist. When a mob an indi•genous community sources. per cent in Punjab, accord- and 4 per cent with every 1 to have the financial re- in Noida says the same to in the fore•sts of Jharkhand, However, it will take more for ing to the Borlaug Institute degree Cels•ius rise in tem- sources to adapt. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 SPECIAL FEATURE 21 Trump Couple, Now White House Employees, Can’t Escape Conflict Laws (Agencies) The husband-and- between any decision or action wife team of Jared Kushner and to be taken in the matter and any Ivanka Trump, now both senior expected effect of the matter on federal government officials, has the financial interest.” But Mr. been alongside President Trump Painter said that most adminis- as the White House has hosted trations had interpreted the law dozens of chief executives and a more broadly, so that officials who handful of world leaders in recent own stakes in individual industries weeks. It is a rarefied crowd, one do not participate in even broad that has included the top execu- policy decisions affecting that tives of some of the world’s larg- sector, unless they seek a for- est automobile, airline, chemical, mal ethics waiver, as certain offi- pharmaceutical and tech compa- cials did during the first George nies. Mr. Kushner will continue Bush administration, given that to keep such select company they owned energy industry now that he has helped create a stocks and were participating in new office that Mr. Trump is call- the decision to enter the war ing the White House Office of against Iraq over its invasion of American Innovation. Kuwait. But the financial disclosure re- Federal employees, under port released late Friday for Mr. ethics rules that Mr. Trump im- Kushner, which shows that he posed, are also prohibited, for at and his wife still benefit financially least two years after they arrive from a real estate and investment in the government, from working empire worth as much as $740 narrow and very manageable.” moves by some other top aides Israel Discount Bank. Kushner on particular matters that involve million, makes clear that this But real estate projects like to Mr. Trump, such as Secretary Companies has also taken out at former employers or clients, even most powerful Washington the Kushner Companies’ deals of State Rex W. Tillerson, the least four loans from Bank if these actions do not directly fi- couple is walking on perilous le- have become a magnet for former chief executive of Exxon Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank, nancially benefit the federal em- gal and ethical ground, accord- opaque foreign money — often Mobil, who before he was sworn though they are not disclosed in ployee. The disclosures by Mr. ing to several prominent experts from parts of the world that in agreed to liquidate all of his the filing. That firm is the subject Kushner and other White House on the subject. present thorny policy questions, stock holdings and his ownership of a Justice Department investi- officials released on Friday dem- Unlike Mr. Trump, who is ex- such as China, where Mr. stake in Exxon, putting his as- gation into whether it helped onstrate just how complicated it empt from conflict of interest Kushner’s company has actively sets mostly into Treasury bonds wealthy Americans evade taxes is going to be to police these laws, both Mr. Kushner and Ms. sought investors, as well as the and other permitted investments, with undeclared rules, given the vast and ex- Trump — who took a formal Middle East and Russia. As part such as diversified mutual funds, accounts.Another potential con- tremely complex financial assets White House position this past of his exceptionally broad portfo- which make formal financial con- flict rests in Ms. Trump’s contin- not only within the Trump family week — are forbidden under fed- lio in the White House, Mr. flicts unlikely. ued stake in the Trump Interna- but also among dozens of aides eral criminal and civil law to take Kushner has been a crucial fig- Mr. Kushner, by contrast, con- tional Hotel in Washington, a they have selected. any action that might benefit their ure in arranging the visit of the tinues to hold multimillion-dollar project that has drawn protests The National Economic Coun- particular financial holdings. Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, on lines of credit from institutions from ethics experts who worry cil director, Gary Cohn, as well “Donald Trump can evade legal Thursday in Florida. such as Citigroup and Deutsche that people representing special as the top White House aides responsibility even if the conflicts The mystery behind many real Bank, while companies he is still interests could stay there or host Christopher P. Liddell and Reed of interest remain,” said Noah estate investments involving for- a beneficiary of have billions of events there to gain influence with Cordish, collectively reported as- Bookbinder, executive director of eigners prompted the Treasury dollars in additional loans from the White House, which is just a sets with a maximum value of Citizens for Responsibility and Department last year to push for heavily regulated institutions. few blocks away. more than $1 billion. Stephen K. Ethics in Washington, a liberal additional disclosures as a way Richard W. Painter, who Ms. Trump has rolled her fash- Bannon, Mr. Trump’s chief strat- nonprofit group. “His daughter and to combat money laundering. served as a White House ethics ion brand into the Ivanka M. Trump egist, reported assets worth as son-in-law don’t have that escape While Mr. Kushner may face lawyer in the Bush administration, Business Trust, which is over- much as $53.9 million. Even Mr. hatch.” a potential ethical minefield, the said that Mr. Kushner’s financial seen by her brother-in-law, Josh Bannon’s aide Julia Hahn, who Mr. Kushner did resign from disclosure form makes it difficult holdings would complicate any Kushner, and sister-in-law, Nicole is 25, reported investments worth more than 200 positions in the to determine exactly where those interactions he might have with Meyer. The documents released between $1 million and $2.1 mil- partnerships and limited liability mines might be situated. The such banks. “The one thing Jared on Friday valued the trust at more lion, according to a tally by The companies that make up the fam- form, which runs 54 pages and really ought to stay completely than $50 million. Discussions New York Times, while Kellyanne ily-run multibillion-dollar real es- lists hundreds of entities, reveals away from is anything having to about changes in federal tax law Conway, counselor to the presi- tate business. But the financial few details about the underlying do with Dodd-Frank,” Mr. Painter — a major agenda item for Mr. dent, had assets worth between disclosure report shows that Mr. investments that make up the said, referring to the 2010 law that Trump that could affect issues $11 million and $44 million. Kushner will remain a beneficiary Kushner empire, such as the increased capital reserve require- such as depreciation on Mr. Some of those financial hold- of most of those same entities. addresses of buildings, sources ments and instituted many other Kushner’s buildings and clothing ings are already creating ques- Jamie Gorelick, who served of financing and names of part- regulatory changes that affected imported for Ms. Trump’s brand tions. Mr. Liddell, an assistant to as deputy attorney general at the ners. John Pudner, a conserva- the nation’s banks.Mr. Trump has — could also pose problems, or the president and the director of Justice Department during the tive who has helped elect Tea already said he hopes to roll back force them to recuse themselves strategic initiatives, has partici- Clinton administration and is now Party candidates to Congress the law, with the help of Congress from participating. “They are go- pated in White House meetings advising Mr. Kushner and Ms. and now runs a nonprofit group and his top aides. Several of the ing to have to walk a fine line be- since January that involved sev- Trump on government ethics is- called Take Back Our Republic, companies that are in business tween matters they are involved eral companies in which he con- sues, said that the couple could said that Mr. Kushner and Ms. with Kushner Companies have with financially and the policies tinued at least through February continue to hold on to so many Trump, if they wanted to serve in faced scrutiny by federal law en- they are helping create and leg- to own stock in, including Inter- of their assets because most of the White House, would have forcement. Deutsche Bank, for islation they may be advocating,” national Paper and General Mo- the value is tied up in buildings. been better off if they had taken example, reached a $7.2 billion said Scott H. Amey, general tors. Mr. Bannon disclosed more “The real estate assets that the difficult step of liquidating their settlement last year with the Jus- counsel at the Project on Gov- than $500,000 in income from Kushner is holding on to are un- holdings. tice Department over its sale of ernment Oversight, a nonprofit entities linked to the hedge fund likely to pose the kinds of con- “A win-win for the president’s toxic mortgage securities. group. manager Robert Mercer and his flicts that would trigger the need family and everyone else is if Mr. Kushner, who frequently The federal ethics regulations daughter, Rebekah Mercer, ma- to divest,” Ms. Gorelick, a part- there were no question anytime speaks with world leaders and is formally prohibit federal employ- jor Republican donors who were ner at WilmerHale, the law firm, a decision is made that it’s be- tasked with overseeing Middle ees from being involved in any crucial figures in Mr. Bannon’s said in a statement on Friday. ing done for the good of the coun- East peace negotiations, also “particular matter that will have a appointment as the Trump “The remaining conflicts, from a try,” he said. The actions by Mr. has an unsecured line of credit direct effect on a financial inter- campaign’s chief executive last practical perspective, are pretty Kushner stand in contrast to the worth as much as $5 million from est, if there is a close causal link year. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 SPECIAL FEATURE 22 II WasWas AA CareerCareer WomanWoman ToTo TheThe World,World, AndAnd AA BatteredBattered WifeWife AtAt HomeHome (Agencies) Relations don't go to our age difference (he is seven your mouth in front of me," he to make him agree to the terms, my passion because of marital sour overnight. I didn't wake up years older than me) and his would shout every time there was as he didn't mind living sepa- discord. Now, along with my full- one morning and decide that I small-town background, but they a squabble. But I was not brought rately without a divorce, but I time job, I am also taking orders couldn't live with a monster of a gave in for my sake. up to be subservient to a hus- wasn't ready for that. I wanted a for baked goods. Life is peaceful husband for whom I was just a We were two different person- band. I was raised to be an inde- legal end to my torture. Initially, and there is hope. I feel like a maid to take care of his physical alities, with neither of us willing pendent girl with opinions. Think- the counsellor tried to convince complete person. *Sujata Rajpal needs and suffer beatings with- to change. The main issue was ing he would mend his ways, I us to rethink for the sake of our is a corporate communications out a whimper. He expected me his temper. He needed no provo- decided to start a family, but af- two-year-old daughter, but when and PR professional turned full- to do all chores single-handedly. cation to start abusing and hit- ter our daughter was born, he was he started shouting at the coun- time author. Her debut novel The No servant would work in our ting me. It could start with some- back to his old ways. His nasty sellor, he gave up. He understood Other End of the Corridor is her house for long because of his bad thing as trivial as no salt in the temper was the deal breaker. How how difficult it must be for me to first work of fiction. She also temper. My day would start at dal. He wouldn't control his tem- much is too much in a marriage? live with such a man. writes columns and articles for 4.30am—clean the house, lay per and I wasn't ready to shed How much can a woman take? Now I live above my parents' online and print publications. She everything ready for him neatly on tears in silence. I would shout While I was still wondering how house, so I'm independent but stumbled upon her passion for the bed including his socks, wal- back whenever I thought he was much longer I could continue in have family support. It's been a writing when her cushy job let and clothes, make breakfast unreasonable. I couldn't hit him, such a relationship, I learnt that year since the divorce. I'm begin- stopped challenging her. When and lunch for three of us (those because he was physically stron- he was having an affair. ning to live my life the way I al- not writing, she indulges in long days his younger brother lived ger. He hated that I didn't want to Fortunately, the only big issue ways wanted. Before marriage, I walks, yoga, Toastmasters and with us) and then rush to office succumb. "Shut up, don't open in the divorce proceedings was loved baking but couldn't follow playing chess with her two sons. by 8.15. In the evening, it was the same routine. And if I frowned, I was a bad wife. Once when I How the Sanctions Are Helping Putin asked my brother-in-law to wash dishes after dinner, the complaint (Agencies) Donald Trump just can’t its part, does not show any eagerness to Putin’s longtime aide Igor Sechin; and well- reached my mother-in-law the seem to make up his mind about Russia. make progress on the issue and leaves the known defense behemoths. These busi- very next day. "How can you ask After hinting repeatedly during the campaign West alone in deciding how to proceed. nesses are no longer able to borrow on in- your brother-in-law to wash and transition that he might lift the interna- Western observers and Kremlin spokesmen ternational markets and are prohibited from dishes?" she shouted over the tional sanctions that were imposed after do agree on one thing, however—that the owning assets in Western countries. West- phone. Moscow annexed Crimea and invaded east- sanctions are the major cause of Russia’s ern sanctions also prevent a small group of Now when I look back at my ern Ukraine, as president, he’s started to deepening economic woes. But this over- Russians from traveling to those countries nine years of relationship with my show signs of doubt. or doing business with them, and for- ex-husband (seven years of mar- “It just simply all depends on bid the transfer to Russia of dual-use riage and two years of courtship) whether or not we see the kind of military technology and advanced oil I realise financial independence changes in posture by Russia,” Vice exploration equipment. We are talking is not the deciding factor to call President Pence told ABC News about not more than 10 percent of the it quits, it is actually what gives last month, saying the administra- Russian economy; but more impor- courage to do so. tion wanted to work with Moscow tantly, as the Russian banking system I worked as an HR executive “on common interests” such as the has excess liquidity, all sanctioned in a company, am more educated destruction of ISIS. Other officials, companies can easily borrow as much than him, earned more than him, such as U.N. ambassador Nikki as they need from Russian banks. but I stayed in an abusive mar- Haley, have taken a notably harder Russia responded to the Western riage believing one day it would line, declaring that “The United States looks one salient fact: The sanctions might sanctions by launching sanctions of its all be fine, the way it happens in stands with the people of Ukraine, who have not actually be hurting Russia all that much own, mainly banning food imports. This has Hindi movies. It took me seven suffered for nearly three years under Rus- if at all.The economic data is certainly so- deprived the Russian middle class of deli- years to gather the courage to sian occupation and military Proponents of bering. Russian per capita GDP has shrunk cacies such as parmesan, prosciutto, Nor- say enough is enough, I won't take the sanctions insist that they must stay in to 2007 levels. By the fall of 2016, Russia’s wegian salmon and Greek oranges. Yet it anymore. place until Russian President Vladimir Putin dollar-equivalent GDP was 40 percent be- sanctions do not stop Russia from being This relationship was doomed relinquishes his claim to Crimea and stops low the 2013 level—a 15-percent decline in an active global economic actor. It is still a even before it began, but I failed meddling in Ukraine, the demands for the real ruble prices. The trouble is that this member of the WTO and the Asia-Pacific to see the signs because I was latter laid out in the Minsk Agreement signed decline has had very little to do with West- Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Rus- madly in love with him. I believed in Belarus in September 2014, and updated ern sanctions, whose impact has been pri- sia keeps its reserves in the most liquid that my love for him would trans- in February 2015. They worry that Trump’s marily political, rather than economic. financial instruments and currencies. There form him. Once before marriage eagerness for a deal may allow Putin to get The truth is that Western sanctions fo- are no restrictions on its currency and for- when I was cooking for him, we the sanctions lifted in exchange for some cus on a limited number of Russian busi- eign trade transactions. Its sovereign debt had an argument and he got so other concession, possibly a new arms-con- ness such as construction giant yields are low, with no sign of potential rise angry with me that he grabbed trol treaty, as the U.S. president has Stroytransgaz and Bank SMP, which be- in the near future. Russia and Russian com- the tava and threw it at me. It just hinted—and that therefore Moscow will long to Putin’s judo trainer Arkady panies are not singled out for hostile eco- missed my foot. My parents were evade accountability for violating a clear Rotenberg; the state-owned energy firm nomic measures such as protectionism or not happy with the alliance due norm of international behaviour. Russia, for Rosneft, which is controlled by former anti-dumping tariffs. (Contd on page 19) Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 SPECIAL FEATURE 23

A grim search for the missing mentioning the catastrophe dur- resumed at dawn Sunday in ing his Angelus blessing Sunday southern Colombia after surging on a visit to the northern Italian rivers sent an avalanche of flood- region of Emilia Romagna, which waters, mud and debris through was struck by a pair of deadly a small city, killing at least 200 earthquakes five years ago.As people and leaving many more rescuers in Mocoa shifted wounded and homeless. through debris, many residents People pried through piles of were conducting their own rocks and wooden planks that searches for lost loved ones. entombed homes. Streets were Oscar Londono tried in vain covered in thick sand, mud and throughout the night to reach his tree limbs from the rivers and wife’s parents, whose home is rainforest that surround the city. right along one of the flooded riv- There was little drinking water and ers. He decided it was too dan- no power, which forced authori- gerous to try to reach them in the ties to suspend the search and dark. So he called over and over rescue effort during the night. by phone but got no answer. Once the sun began to rise he started walking toward their ‘There were bodies everywhere’ house but found all the streets he usually takes missing. As he tried to orient himself he Colombia mudslide, flooding kill more than 200 came across the body of a young woman dressed in a “Under the mud,” Granados The crisis is likely to be re- mini-skirt and black blouse. He said, “I am sure there are many membered as one of the worst checked her pulse but could more.”Santos blamed climate natural disasters in recent Co- not find one. “There were bod- change for triggering the ava- lombian history, though the ies all over,” he said.When he lanche, saying that the accumu- Andean nation has experienced finally reached the neighbor- lated rainfall in one night was al- even more destructive environ- hood where his in-laws live he most half the amount Mocoa nor- mental catastrophes. Nearly found “just mud and rocks.” mally receives in the entire month 25,000 people were killed in 1985 Rescue workers with the mili- of March. With the rainy season after the Nevado del Ruiz volcano tary oriented him toward the in much of Colombia just begin- erupted and triggered a deluge of mountain, where he found his ning, he said local and national mud and debris that buried the relatives camped with other authorities need to redouble their town of Armero. survivors. efforts to prevent a similar trag- The tragedy drew international “To know they were alive,” he edy. attention, with even Pope Francis said, “it was a reunion of tears.”

According to the Red Cross, Vargas and his family huddled Palestinian President to visit India 234 people were injured and more with about two dozen other resi- than 100 believed missing. Presi- dents as rocks, trees and dent Juan Manuel Santos de- wooden planks ripped through clared a state of emergency and their neighbourhood below. They a month before Modi’s Israel trip said the death toll will likely rise waited there until daylight, when Palestinian Authority (PA) President public. However, the Modi government hasn’t but warned against speculating members of the military helped Mahmoud Abbas is likely to visit India in May, been coy about scaling up its ties with Is- about how many are dead. them down. a month ahead of Prime Minister Narendra rael. President Pranab Mukherjee became “We don’t know how many When he reached the site of Modi’s proposed visit to Israel in June, the first Indian head of state to visit Israel. there are going to be,” he said of his home Saturday, nothing his sources have told HT. The President visited Palestine on October the fatalities when he arrived at family left behind remained. Modi’s will be the first visit by an Indian 12, 2015 before making a three-day trip to the disaster zone to oversee res- “Thank God we have our lives,” Prime Minister to Israel from the cue efforts. “We’re still he said.President Santos trav- Israel and he is set next day-- some- looking.”Authorities and residents elled to Mocoa and declared the to skip Palestine thing Modi is un- in the city tucked between moun- city a disaster zone Saturday. in a break from the likely to repeat. tains along Colombia’s southern The Air Force transported 19 pa- tradition of senior But govern- border spent Saturday tending to tients to a city farther north and Indian leaders ment official in- victims, trying to find homes on said 20 more would be evacuated clubbing two coun- sists that there streets reduced to masses of soon. Medicine and surgical sup- tries in the same is no change in rubble and engaged in a desper- plies were being sent to the city trip. India’s commit- ate search to locate loved ones as the area’s regional hospital “We are looking ment to the Pal- who disappeared in the dark of struggled to cope with the mag- at May for the visit estine cause night. Authorities expect the nitude of the crisis. of President Abbas to India. Discussions are and pointed out it was the Modi government death toll to rise. Herman Granados, an anes- underway to finalise the dates, most prob- which has done the “first ever India-Pales- Eduardo Vargas, 29, was thesiologist, said he worked ably for the second half of the month,” a tine joint commission”. The commission asleep with his wife and 7-month- throughout the night on victims. source told HT. Though the Modi government was co-chaired by minister of state for old baby when he was awoken He said the hospital didn’t have is trying to put an end to hyphenating Israel external affairs M J Akbar. “The visit of by the sound of neighbours bang- a blood bank large enough to deal with Palestine , historical legacy and India’s Palestine Authority President will be an- ing on his door. He quickly with the number of patients and close ties with the Arab world makes this a other opportunity for India to step up the grabbed his family and fled up a was quickly running out of its delicate process. India has been steadily in- ties between the two countries”, said another small mountain amid the cries of supply. creasing its defence and security ties with source. This year marks the 25th anniver- people in panic. Some of the hospital workers Israel since mid 1990s, but the successive sary of the establishment of diplomatic “There was no time for any- came to help even though their governments have kept the ties low profile in ties between India and Israel. thing,” he said. own relatives remained missing. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 BUSINESS & FINANCE 24 China Learns How to Get Trump’s Ear: Through Jared Kushner that was published on Sunday. Secretary of State Rex W. The architects of that policy “And if they do, that will be very Tillerson has taken the lead on — Stephen K. Bannon, the chief good for China, and if they don’t, policy and made many of the strategist, and Peter Navarro, the it won’t be good for anyone.” decisions on the choreography director of the National Trade The president said that he had and agenda of the meeting at Council — have said little pub- “great respect” for the Chinese Mar-a-Lago. licly about China since entering leader, but that he would warn In March, Mr. Tillerson made the White House. But on Thurs- him that “we cannot continue to his first trip to Beijing as secre- day, Mr. Trump predicted that the trade if we are going to have an tary of state, during which he meeting would be “very difficult” unfair deal like we have right and Mr. Xi discussed the plan- because, as he said on Twitter, now.” ning in a 30-minute meeting. He the United States would no Shortly after winning the elec- was criticized afterward for re- longer tolerate “massive trade tion, Mr. Trump said he might use peating the phrases “mutual re- deficits.” the “One China” policy, under spect” and “win-win solutions,” By inviting Mr. Xi to Mar-a- which the United States recog- which are drawn from the Chi- Lago, Mr. Trump’s “Southern (Agencies) Washington — thing in return: He plans to press nizes a single Chinese govern- nese diplomatic lexicon and White House,” the president is When President Trump wel- Mr. Xi to intensify economic ment in Beijing and has severed have been interpreted to assert conferring on him the same sta- comes President Xi Jinping of sanctions against North Korea its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a Chinese sphere of influence tus as Prime Minister Shinzo China to his palm-fringed Florida to pressure the country to shut as a bargaining chip for greater over the South China Sea and Abe of Japan, who spent two club for two days of meetings on down its nuclear weapons and Chinese cooperation on trade or other disputed areas. days in Florida, playing golf with Thursday, the studied informal- ballistic missile programs. He North Korea. A senior American official the president and responding to ity of the gathering will bear the has also vowed to protest the Mr. Trump had thrown that said that Mr. Tillerson applied his a crisis after North Korea tested handiwork of two people: China’s chronic trade imbalance between policy into doubt after taking a own meaning to those phrases a ballistic missile. Such a ges- ambassador to Washington and the United States and China, congratulatory phone call from — “win-win,” he said, was origi- ture is particularly valuable, ex- Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared which he railed against during his the president of Taiwan. That nally an American expression — perts said, given that China is Kushner. presidential campaign. caused consternation in Beijing, and was not accepting China’s not an ally like Japan. The Chinese ambassador, China’s courtship of Mr. and Mr. Xi refused to get on the definition. He said the secretary Mr. Xi does not play golf — Cui Tiankai, has established a Kushner, which has coincided phone with Mr. Trump until he had adopted a significantly as part of his anti-corruption busy back channel to Mr. with the marginalization of the reaffirmed the policy. tougher tone in private, particu- campaign, he cracked down on Kushner, according to several State Department in the Trump After the two leaders finally larly about China’s role in curb- Communist Party officials’ play- officials briefed on the relation- administration, reflects a Chi- spoke, the White House said in ing North Korea’s provocations. ing the sport — so he and Mr. ship. The two men agreed on the nese comfort with dynastic a statement that the men had Mr. Kushner has passed on Trump will have to find other ways club, Mar-a-Lago, as the site for links. Mr. Xi is himself a “prince- “discussed numerous topics, proposals he got from Mr. Cui to to fill the 25 hours that the Chi- the meeting, and the ambassa- ling”: His father was Xi and President Trump agreed, at Mr. Tillerson, who in turn has cir- nese president will be at the dor even sent Mr. Kushner drafts Zhongxun, a major figure in the the request of President Xi, to culated them among his staff in club. On Thursday evening, Mr. of a joint statement that China Communist revolution who was honor our One China policy.” Mr. the State Department, officials Trump and his wife, Melania, will and the United States could is- later purged by Mao Zedong. Trump insisted on that wording, said. But the department’s influ- host Mr. Xi and his wife, Peng sue afterward. Not only is Mr. Kushner mar- according to a person briefed on ence has been reduced as many Liyuan, for dinner. Mr. Kushner’s central role re- ried to the president’s daughter the process, because he wanted positions remain unfilled, includ- There are obvious parallels flects not only the peculiar na- Ivanka, but he is also one of his to make clear that he had made ing that of assistant secretary for between the Mar-a-Lago meet- ture of this first meeting between most influential advisers — a 36- a concession to Mr. Xi.Since that East Asian affairs. Though Mr. ing and the 2013 summit meet- Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi, but also of year-old with no previous govern- call, Mr. Cui has continued to Tillerson has kept a low profile, ing at Sunnylands in California, the broader relationship between ment experience but an excep- cultivate the Kushner family. officials said he was trying to Walter Annenberg’s 200-acre the United States and China in tionally broad portfolio under his Later in February, he invited develop his own relationship with estate, where President Barack the early days of the Trump ad- father-in-law. Ivanka and the couple’s daugh- Mr. Trump at regular lunches and Obama and Mr. Xi got acquainted ministration. It is at once highly “Since Kissinger, the Chi- ter, Arabella, to a reception at dinners. over long walks in the desert personal and bluntly transac- nese have been infatuated with the Chinese Embassy to cel- Mr. Kushner’s involvement in landscape and a dinner of grilled tional — a strategy that carries gaining and maintaining access ebrate the Lunar New Year. China policy prompted ques- porterhouse steaks and cherry significant risks, experts said, to the White House,” said Evan Inside the White House, the tions after reports that his com- pie. But there are important dif- given the economic and security S. Medeiros, a senior director for most visible sign of Mr. pany was negotiating with a po- ferences, too. issues that already divide the Asia in the Obama administra- Kushner’s influence on China litically connected Chinese firm By the time Mr. Obama met countries. tion. “Having access to the policy came in March at the be- to invest hundreds of millions of with Mr. Xi in California, they had While Chinese officials have president’s family and somebody ginning of a meeting of the Na- dollars in his family’s flagship already met once before, when found Mr. Trump a bewildering they see as a princeling is even tional Security Council’s “princi- property, 666 Fifth Avenue in Mr. Xi was vice president. Mr. Xi figure with a penchant for inflam- better.” pals committee” to discuss Manhattan. held extensive meetings with matory statements, they have Former American officials North Korea. On Wednesday, amid the Vice President Joseph R. Biden come to at least one clear judg- and China experts warned that He was seated at the table glare of negative publicity, Mr. Jr., traveling with him around the ment: In Mr. Trump’s Washing- the Chinese had prepared more in the Situation Room when Kushner’s company ended ne- United States. Some former of- ton, his son-in-law is the man to carefully for this visit than the Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the gotiations with the firm, the ficials said the Mar-a-Lago know. Mr. Kushner first made his White House, which is still de- chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Anbang Insurance Group. meeting might reveal the dis- influence felt in early February bating how harshly to confront Staff, walked in. Seeing no Another question hanging parity in experience between when he and Mr. Cui orches- Beijing, and which has yet to fill chairs open, General Dunford over the meeting is whether the the two leaders and their trated a fence-mending phone many important posts in the headed for the backbenches, hard-liners in the White House teams. call between Mr. Trump and Mr. State Department. Several said according to two people who will wield their influence. Mr. “Sunnylands was difficult Xi. During that exchange, Mr. that if Mr. Trump presented were there. Mr. Kushner, they Trump ran for the presidency on because Xi was new, while Trump pledged to abide by the China with an ultimatum on North said, quickly offered his chair to a stridently anti-China platform, Obama had his sea legs,” said four-decade-old “One China” Korea, it could backfire. General Dunford and took a seat accusing the Chinese, wrongly, Mr. Medeiros, the former policy on Taiwan, despite his “China will either decide to along the wall.While administra- of continuing to depress the Obama administration official. earlier suggestion that it was up help us with North Korea, or they tion officials confirm that Mr. value of their currency, and “What’s interesting is that the for negotiation. won’t,” Mr. Trump said in an in- Kushner is deeply involved in threatening to impose a 45 per- polarity here is reversed. Xi has Now Mr. Trump wants some- terview with The Financial Times China relations, they insist that cent tariff on Chinese imports. his sea legs; Trump does not.” Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 WORLD AFFAIRS 25 Ivanka Trump Keeping Stake In D.C. Hotel Despite White House Role, Filings Show Financial entanglements of the new senior White House aide heightens conflicts of interest concerns.

(Agencies) Ivanka Trump is while Ivanka Trump earned $10 Trump family’s continued busi- estimated to cost $60,000. investigating over allegations that keeping her stake in Trump In- million, NBC reported Saturday. ness holdings have raised seri- The information about Ivanka it helped Americans evade ternational Hotel Washington, The Trump International Ho- ous ethical concerns about how Trump’s holdings were part of a taxes, the Times reports. Being D.C., while she serves as an as- tel leases from the government the president, his elder daugh- large release Friday of docu- in debt to an Israeli bank could sistant to her father in the White a refurbished public building — ter and son-in-law can fairly serve ments about the holdings of also be seen to compromise House, financial filings show, ac- the old post office in Washing- the interests of the public as they some 180 senior Trump admin- Kushner’s objectivity when ne- cording to The New York Times. ton, D.C. According to govern- remain private business owners istration officials. Ivanka Trump gotiating peace between Israel Financial documents filed by ment rules concerning the prop- looking out for their own vast op- was named assistant to the and Palestinians, which is one her husband, Jared Kushner, erty, no federal official is allowed erations. president this week. of his many roles in the Trump who serves as senior adviser to to profit from property. However, Analysts believe the Trump As for Kushner, the docu- administration. President Donald Trump, reveal Donald Trump is now not only a International Hotel is of particu- ments also provide details about Trump’s administration is that she earned between $1 mil- tenant but also the landlord. lar concern because large his extensive real estate hold- considered the wealthiest in lion and $5 million from January The General Services Admin- amounts of money and time that ings. In addition, the filings re- American history, with members 2016 to March from the hotel, the istration ruled this month that the lobbyists or foreign countries veal Kushner’s personal lenders of the president’s senior staff and Times reports. The couple’s com- hotel isn’t violating its lease with could spend there as a way to — but not investors or lenders in cabinet worth some $12 billion, bined business assets are val- the government because the curry favor with its owners in re- his business projects. His busi- according to Bloomberg. White ued at $741 million, according president is not managing the gards to government business. nesses have borrowed money House Press Secretary Sean to Kushner’s 54-page document property and it’s now owned by The government of Kuwait, for ex- from international banks, includ- Spicer said Friday that a “lot of filed on Friday.Kushner earned a revocable trust — which ample, held a single-night fete ing the Israeli Bank Hapoalim, people” in Trump’s administration close to $180 million last year, Donald Trump controls.The at the hotel in February that was which the Justice Department is are “very blessed.” Trump Earns Majority Of Americans' Community rallies to free elephant Disapproval In Record Time herd trapped in muddy bomb crater

(Agencies) Eleven el- mud was so sticky,” ephants have been saved Jemma Bullock of Elephant from ghastly deaths in Livelihood Initiative Environ- Cambodia thanks to the col- ment told Cambodia Daily. (Agencies) President Donald Several challenges that plagued controversial trade bills and seen his laboration of local villagers She added that the el- Trump’s job approval ratings are low Trump when he was president-elect party cede Congress to the Republi- and wildlife conservation ephants would likely have in any context, but they look even may have swayed public opinion of cans. groups. soon died from exhaustion worse through a historical lens. him once he got into office. He faced President George H.W. Bush hit a People living near had people not intervened. the Keo Seima Wildlife The people who Gallup’s latest poll, issued Friday, sexual-assault allegations and con- low point in his presidency ? lower Sanctuary in the province saw the elephants con- shows 38 percent of American adults flict-of-interest questions over his than Trump so far ? at 29 percent in of Mondulkiri saw that the tacted the provincial envi- approve of the job Trump is doing as ties to the Trump foundation. Multiple August 1992. But he very quickly pachyderms were trapped ronmental department, president, and 56 percent disap- women accused him of sexual as- recovered up to 56 percent approval in a large pit that a U.S. which brought in represen- prove. sault. Now, several investigations are in his last month as president in B52 bomb had originally tatives from ELIE, the That’s comparable to some of the looking into possible links between 1993. As Gallup Editor-in-Chief Frank created, the Cambodia World Wildlife Fund, the ratings his predecessors saw. But the Trump campaign and Russia Newport notes, while historical com- Daily reported on Monday. Wildlife Conservation So- what’s different is the timing. It took during the 2016 election.At this point parisons do Trump no favors, there’s In more recent years, the ciety, and Wildlife Alli- far more than a year before presidents in George W. Bush’s presidency, his also historical precedent for a pos- local community has been ance Cambodia to help. from Ronald Reagan through Barack approval rating was around 53 per- sible recovery. “An encouraging sign using the crater to store Staff from those groups Obama earned the disapproval of a cent in Gallup’s average. It didn’t sink for Trump, perhaps, is that all presi- water. teamed up numerous majority of the public, according to to 40 percent until after Bush’s re- dents whose ratings fell below 36 The herd had ap- people from the local parently become stuck in community to dig into the Gallup. It took Trump just over a sponse to Hurricane Katrina.Obama [percent] ? with the exception of the muddy pit, unable to side of the crater and week. had a 61 percent approval rating on Nixon ? saw their ratings improve scale the steep sides, construct a makeshift Trump, barely two months into his day 68 of his presidency. The first thereafter,” Newport writes. “Clinton when they wandered in to ramp for the herd.Video presidency, is well within the “hon- time he reached 40 percent was on provides a particularly relevant ex- drink and bathe, according footage of the rescue eymoon period” that other presidents day 950 of his presidency, in August ample. His approval rating dropped to LiveScience. By the time (above) shows the el- have enjoyed. Despite a wave of high- of 2011. At no point did Obama re- to 37 [percent] in June 1993 but re- the local farmers spotted ephants making their way profile controversies and setbacks, ceive a rating of below 40 percent. covered to 56 [percent] by Septem- them on Sunday, it was up the ramp and walking including the failure of the Obamacare President Bill Clinton entered his ber of that year.” Gallup is just one clear they had been there free. While 10 of them es- repeal bill, his White House has yet third month in office with a 52 per- data point. Still, HuffPost Pollster, for some time.They obvi- caped this way, the final el- to face a recession, a major interna- cent approval rating. By the time he which aggregates all publicly avail- ously had been in there at ephant — a young one tional incident or any sort of crisis slipped to 39 percent, he’d faced a able polls, also puts Trump’s current least a couple of days … weakened by the ordeal, because the little baby was had to be lifted out using beyond the self-inflicted. sexual harassment lawsuit, signed disapproval rating at 54.7 percent. very exhausted and the ropes. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 SPECIAL FEATURE 26 Why concerns about an India-Pakistan nuclear war are highly exaggerated Modi’s political decision to not former strategic forces command adventurism. Thus, all nuclear initiate a formal revision of the (SFC) commander, particularly weapon states keep a part of their doctrine promised by the ruling his view that a democratically- strategic forces in ready state, party in its 2014 election mani- elected government cannot mor- there being no guarantees that festo. ally risk the decimation of the In- a confrontation or conflict with The second reference is to dian people by sticking literally another nuclear power will keep the former national security ad- to the NFU pledge. It was during to a sub-nuclear script. Having viser (NSA) Shivshankar Nagal’s tenure at the SFC, it the wherewithal for pre-emptive Menon’s observation in his re- may be recalled, when the then action and launch-on-warning cent book that the Indian nuclear NSA MK Narayanan publicly re- then is only a reasonable pre- strategy has “far greater flexibil- vealed that the military was not caution. ity than it gets credit for”. The in the know of nuclear arsenal Whatever their capabilities to doctrine drafters in the first Na- details and, by implication, that fight nuclear wars, the chances tional Security Advisory Board the SFC was not in the nuclear of either India or Pakistan initi- (Agencies) The latest edition other than extremely flimsy evi- (NSAB) intended and so shaped loop. It may therefore be ating a nuclear exchange for any of the Carnegie Nuclear Policy dence — three unrelated state- the doctrine, especially Section safely deduced that the views reason are remote for the very Conference in Washington that ments by separate persons. 4, to make it “elastic”, to enable Nagal has developed was out- good reason that western gov- just ended featured American Let’s examine and contextualise escaping the limitations of “mini- side the SFC ambit.However, ernments and analysts rarely and foreign nuclear specialists these statements in turn. The mum” deterrence imposed by the certain developments in the acknowledge, because most chasing, as usual, the elusive erstwhile defence minister prime minister in his suo moto nuclear weapons sphere do of them are unaware or wil- nuclear catastrophe they are Manohar Parrikar stated not long statement to Parliament on May indeed make possible an In- fully ignore the social context convinced is round the corner. after taking office that India 28, 1998, before the constitution dian first strike. Such as the of India-Pakistan tensions, There was also the obligatory would “not declare one way or of the NSAB. The NFU declara- ongoing process of namely, the fact, whether any- alarm raised about South Asia. another” if it would use or not use tion makes for fine rhetoric, dis- canisterising Agni missiles, in- body likes it or not, of these This year, the India-Pakistan nuclear weapons first. This was tancing India from the hair-trig- cluding presumably the 700- South Asian countries being “nuclear flashpoint” thesis was said expressly to inject ambigu- ger situation Pakistan strives for km range Agni I meant for the organically linked. tweaked to claim that India has ity of response that is crucial for the world to believe exists in the Pakistan and Tibet-Chengdu Divided communities, con- abandoned its No First Use the credibility of the Indian subcontinent. It is in Pakistan’s contingencies. It, in fact, pro- tinuing kith and kinship rela- (NFU) commitment and adopted nuclear posture. This credibility interest to talk up Hindu animus vides the country not only with a tions, shared religion and cul- a strategy, in case of an “immi- was lost in 1999 when the previ- and predatory India, because it capability for launch-on-warning ture, mean that the so-called nent” launch, of a pre-emptive ous BJP government of Atal justifies not just its nuclear ar- but also for striking pre-emptively India-Pakistan “wars” are less “comprehensive strike” against Bihari Vajpayee mindlessly senal but its emphasis on first should reliable intelligence reveal wars, more “riots” — short peri- Pakistan. Such a course is be- made the draft-nuclear doctrine use of tactical nuclear weapons. an adversary’s decision to mount ods of hostilities in geographi- ing contemplated, it was argued, public, and later compounded In the event, treating NFU as a a surprise attack. cally constrained spaces, hence to spare the country the “itera- the problem by replacing “propor- conditional constraint is what Nuclear missiles in hermeti- the famously apt description of tive tit-for-tat exchanges” and tional response” in the draft with Menon hints at. cally sealed canisters are ready- these by the late Major General prevent the “destruction” of In- “massive retaliation”. Inciden- The third piece of proof trot- to-fire weapons and signal an in- DK Palit, originally of the Baloch dian cities. This hair-raising con- tally, Parrikar’s avowal was in ted out is the views of retired stantaneous retaliatory punch to Regiment, as “communal riots with clusion was not supported by light of Prime Minister Narendra Lieutenant General BS Nagal, a strongly deter nuclear tanks”. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 LIFE STYLE 27 autism in the family in previous diagnoses also leads to delays generations. But it has been in therapy. World Autism Day established that in 10–15% of “The problem is now there is families with autistic children, ‘Dr Google’. Many parents there is history of behavioural google symptoms and say that HowHow toto spot,spot, andand problems,” she said. their child is not autistic. A higher age of the father at However, every autistic child treattreat signssigns ofof autismautism the time of conception has also shows different symptoms and been co-related to autism, parents are not willing to accept doctors say. the diagnosis,” he said. “It is a double whammy for the And even after children have women. Mostly, they are blamed been diagnosed, integrating for having an autistic child and them into the mainstream then they are designated as the education system can be a sole caregiver,” Dr Gulati says. challenge. “A very high percentage of the “Special educators are mothers of autistic children suffer needed and various resources are Parents of young children with autism often go into denial, from depression because they required to train the children in have to give up their career, they areas they face difficulty. refusing to believe the diagnosis, leading to delays in therapy to are tied to their home and do not However, there is a dearth of it in get to go out, they do not get India,” said Dr Mukta Vasal, chief help the child integrate into mainstream schooling. enough support in caring for the child and adolescent child,” she notes. psychologist and co-founder of (Agencies) As the world “Sometimes parents bring their The cause for autism Awareness, acceptance of ‘Mom’s Belief’. observes Autism Day on April 2, child when they are five years spectrum disorders is still diagnosis and receiving proper Mom’s Belief, through calls the awareness about the disorder old.” unknown, but it has been care at the right time can help and video chats, help parents (autism spectrum disorder – Early intervention can help observed that boys are 4.5 times ensure proper treatment of help their children. ASD) and measures to battle it autistic children lead normal more likely to get autism than children with autism spectrum “Usually, therapy for are quite low, especially in India. lives. girls. disorder. autistic children is one on According to a study by a top “Early diagnosis is the key. The risk also rises if there is “Awareness, even among one. But, we have way too child neurologist at All India That way, the children can learn an autistic child in the family. physicians, was very less 20 many autistic children and Institute of Medical Sciences age-appropriate activities with “The risk of a second child being years ago. Also, there were very few therapists. Also, there (AIIMS), at least one in 89 help from specialists and autistic increases by 7% if a several nomenclatures for the are many who would not have children aged between two and psychologists. The children couple has an autistic daughter, various conditions. This has access to the therapist. Here, nine years have been diagnosed might not be able to learn these and 4% if they have had an changed over time. Also, there it can be done virtually and we with autism in India. activities properly at an older autistic son. The chances of is no objective blood test or scan have found results are just as An extrapolation of the data age,” says Dr Krishan Chugh, having an autistic child increases to determine whether a child is good. Involving parents is the on 2011 census would mean that director of paediatrics at Fortis by 25-30% if two children are autistic. A specialist has to just best way to ensure that as many as 2.2 million children Memorial Research Institute, born with autism,” said Dr Gulati. observe the child and put two and whatever is taught in the and 13 million people in the Gurgaon. “This, however, does not mean two together,” said Dr Chugh. therapy is practiced in day to country live with the condition. Is it in the family? that there has to be a history of That parents refuse to believe day life,” said Dr Vasal. But, what is ASD? It is an umbrella term for persons living with developmental disorders that impair communication— Annoying habits that deserve a whack ! Which ones are you guilty of ? speaking, gesturing and (Agencies) Yaar, it’s getting hotter by the to the chair. With all due respect. Shake it if have more gas emanating from your body that listening—and make them have day. Yeah, I wish it was my life that I was you can’t help it but not so much that you you’d care to admit. Ha. limited interests or repetitive referring to, but it’s the good ’ol weather. become a human trigger for an earthquake. 3. Licking fingers while eating behaviour. Don’t know which part of the world are you There’s a guy in my office who moves his Mummy ke haath ka khana hai? Too Diagnosis is still sitting and reading this in, but unless it’s legs with so much speed and force during tasty nah? Kisi aur tarah se dikha lo khushi, misunderstood very much, North Pole, you have my sympathy. And official meetings that people are actually why do you insist of dipping your fingers into doctors say, and most parents what is more torturous than hot weather? ready to sacrifice tea and sandwiches and the food, and licking it, especially when you in India do not have the resources Stinking people coming too close to you. attend it over video conferencing. Now Indians are sharing the tiffin with someone. I’ve seen or the support to bring up autistic I’m sure it’s not just me who feels dizzy sacrificing free food is not minor, my friend. this happen in schools, colleges, children. and claustrophobic when some people come So you can imagine the discomfort that Mr offices…friends share frood from each “There is a stigma attached just too close to say something. What is Ready-to-shake-a-leg-anytime brings to others’ plates. Which is great, by the way. to the disorder. What people with the annoying habit that makes some those around him. Vaise jokes apart, it is Mujhe toh jhoothe vagarah ka bhi koi veham need to understand is that if it is people forget that they have a voice, which indeed a medical condition and there are nahi hai, so even that bit is fine and fun. diagnosed early and children shall duly convey their message through several lifestyle changes that can help What’s not is when someone digs into the receive adequate help, then they sound waves, even from a bearable prevent it. They include giving up alcohol, so food, licks the fingers and digs in it again. can contribute to the society in distance. It’s specially bad when you are I refuse to read about them, but you can find Now that exchange of bodily fluid via edible some way or the other, they do standing in a queue at the supermarket or them all over the net. stuff is not exactly my favourite. Is there not have to be dependent on something. 2. Cracking the knuckles anyone who feels the same way? Please others,” says Dr Shefali Gulati, The next time I feel someone breathing Wah kya muskurahat aayi hai aapke don’t blame me for questioning your love and chief of child neurology down my neck, I’ll ask them to share the chehre pe! Popping your finger knuckles one friendship. I’m just questioning etiquettes. department at AIIMS, who did the bill with me. You know, even Chaddha ji has by one to make that ‘tuck’ sound is so Pretty, please. study. more manners. The only problem is that he satisfying, right? And it’s also such a nice 4. Breaking wind in the lift Suspect autism? miscalculates the distance and stands so time pass. You can do it in various You know, even the World War II torture The easiest way to identify far while talking that I’m reminded of the permutation combinations. Like alternate chambers had more compassion. Seriously, symptoms is to notice if a child news bulletin for deaf and mute that comes fingers. Or both index fingers together. How what? Yes I know that 94% of living human “does not look at playthings on Doordarshan. does it matter that it is bugging the hell out beings fart that it is a natural bodily function. being shown, if they do not give 1. Shaking the leg while sitting of those looking at you playing with your But, Oh My God. Can you not wait for a few social smile, if they do not Haha…you do it, right? Trust me, it’s limbs with so much passion? But just to seconds or not take a lift when you know respond to their name, she says, worse if your boyfriend or girlfriend does it. enhance your knowledge and take revenge your rectum is going to explode into a ball adding that “Parents must Also called the restless leg syndrome, it is on behalf of all those who can’t stand it, let of gases that are not particularly consult their paediatrician and a recognised medical disorder and hence me inform you that even though it doesn’t harm …ummm..BREATHABLE? Smelly farts are get a proper diagnosis done.” we shall behave sensibly and not going to you in anyway, the pop sound comes from your a reality of life, but if I was interested in Noting that parents are poke fun at it. But please yaar, give me a finger knuckles because of the release of gas knowing what you ate last night, I’d much usually dismissive of such string and I want to tie some peoples’ feet from the joints. Achha laga nah sun kar? You rather have your mouth tell me, than your symptoms, Dr Gulati warned precious behind. them against waiting. Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 BOX OFFICE 28 Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 BOX OFFICE 29

Fathom Events is bringing the “Best of Bollywood” to U.S. movie theaters beginning in July from a prosti- the growth of Indian feature films tute, por- here in the U.S.,” said Fathom trayed by Events Vice President of Studio Dixit. The film Relations Tom Lucas. “We are (Insider Bureau) Fathom an- is set in the thrilled to be partnering with two nounced Monday — the opening early 1900s. of the most prestigious studios in day of CinemaCon — that it plans Fathom will this space to introduce a new and to screen at least two Bollywood also show exciting ‘Best of Bollywood Event films this year and as many as Yash Raj Series’ to the world of event cin- six next year as part of what it’s Films’ “Veer- ema.” Lucas told Variety that the touting as the first-ever Bollywood Zaara,” star- initiative will target U.S. residents classic film series presented in ring Shah of Indian descent — about 3 mil- North American cinemas. The Rukh Khan, lion people. “Eros International is event will kick off with the 2002 comedian Chonda Pierce. Preity Zinta, and Rani Mukerji, as very proud to partner with Fathom romantic drama “Devdas,” and in- The Bollywood series will be a part of this year’s series. The Events to bring the ‘Best of clude titles from prominent Indian achieved this special place in the shown at several hundred sites for 2004 movie, directed by Yash Bollywood Event Series’ to the sil- film studios Eros International and hearts of the people that really one night and include exclusive Chopra and set against the India- ver screen,” said Ken Naz, Eros Yash Raj Films. Fathom, which matter — the fans. Consequently, bonus content. Pakistan conflict, focuses on a International’s president of Ameri- specializes in presenting live it’s always been our endeavor to “Devdas,” from Eros International, wrongly imprisoned Indian Air cas operations. “We look forward events for theatrical chains, is co- reach out to as many fans of In- stars Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Force pilot and a Pakistani to showcasing some of the owned by AMC Entertainment, dian cinema as possible and re- Dixit, and Aishwarya Rai woman, who are separated for 22 3,000+ great Bollywood classics Cinemark Holdings, and Regal ciprocate the love through our Bachchan. Khan plays the title years. in our library, starting with Entertainment Group. “Batman: films. This partnership with Fathom character, a wealthy law graduate Tickets and participating theater ‘Devdas,’ throughout the country The Killing Joke,” “TCM Big Screen Events is yet another step in this di- who returns from his studies in locations will be available online on the big screen — the way they Classics,” and “Met Live” are rection by bringing one of Mr. Chopra’s London to marry his childhood later this spring. “For years were meant to be seen.” Vaibhav among its more prominent titles. personal favorites, ‘Veer-Zaara’ to the sweetheart, played by Rai. How- Fathom has successfully created Rajput, Yash Raj Films’ head of It’s also booked more than 700 ‘Best of Bollywood Event Series’ in ever, his family rejects the mar- a series of classic movie events, operations in the Americas, said, locations for the April 25 screen- North America and say ‘thank you’ riage, leading him to seek refuge while simultaneously monitoring “We feel immense pride having ings of “Enough” from Christian to the fans.” Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 BOX OFFICE 30 8 Short Films That Are Perfect For Binge-Watching After A Long Day's Work

(Agencies) The worst thing for a run on the beach when he The Most Beautiful Thing If you like supernatural movies, then this is one movie you about Mondays is that the next noticed birds fleeing from the It's amazing how this 10- then this is one short film you can't cannot miss. According to weekend just seems so darn far water, but returning between minute film can take you through miss! This short film was later made Jonas Rivera, the producer of away. Suddenly, five days feels waves to eat. That's what a myriad of emotions. From into a full-length feature film which this Pixar film, Dug's Special like a lifetime, and no matter how inspired him to make Piper. And happiness to sadness, from is considered one of the scariest Mission "is a little bit of the much you hope and pray, you here's a fun fact—even though hope to despair, you will feel horror movies ever made, but that backstory of what Dug was know time isn't going to hurry the film is only 6 minutes long, every human emotion possible. doesn't take away from the fact actually doing out there on this up for you. However, that doesn't it took him three years to create Not big on dialogues, the film is that this short film will send chills mysterious mission when we mean your countdown to the it! about how a boy finds love in the down your spine just as well. meet him in Up". weekend has to be dry and Half Ticket most unexpected way. Positive El'ayichi boring! So this evening, wrap up Love is complicated, but Interior Café Night Directed by Farhan Akhtar, Featuring Nimrat Kaur, your work, head home, cuddle sometimes all you need to do Watch how Naseeruddin Positive features Boman Iran and El'ayichi is a story about a wife in bed and start binge-watching is take a leap of faith! Half Ticket Shah brings the human Shabana Azmi in the lead roles. whose husband is dead but these awesome short films! is a refreshing story of two emotions of love, loss and The movie revolves around the lives on in her house as a Piper strangers from Mumbai falling in reunion to the fore in this strained relationship between a ghost. She's the only one who This Academy Award- love. The whole story is centred emotionally captivating 12- father and his son and how the can see and talk to him. Barely winning film revolves around the around a blind date at the derby, minute short film. A movie that family deals with the father's life- 5 minutes long, this short film story of a baby sandpiper (a which is a break-away from the everyone can relate to, this short threatening illness. portrays how Nimrat's character shore bird) learning to overcome regular date ideas. Rekindle film deals with love in a very Dug's Special Mission is fed up of her clingy husband, her fear of water. Writer and your faith in love with this realistic way. If you have seen Up and and how the ghost wants to director Alan Barillaro was out beautiful short film. Mama fallen instantly in love with Dug, leave her, but can't. Kapil Sharma gets one month's time Sunil Grover told me he will never return to put up his act together on The Kapil Sharma Show or face the axe on Kapil Sharma’s show: Raju Srivastava (Agencies) Not even in his dreams ace comedian Kapil Sharma must have imagined that his mid-air brawl with Actor Raju Srivastava, who has become a regular on The Kapil Sharma Show, co-actor+ from The Kapil Sharma Show could cost him dearly. His show, The Kapil Sharma says that actor Sunil Grover won’t return on it even if Kapil mends his ways. Show, which was up for renewal this Sunil Grover. not like I’m arrogant ya mujhe koi month and involved a whopping Rs Comedian Raju popularity ka nasha hua hai. But mere 106-crore deal, will apparently not be Srivastava, who saath bahut galat hua hai (I’ve been renewed is the latest buzz. And now, was trying to wronged). I’ll not come back on the the Timesofindia.com has learnt that mediate between show. Agar Kapil sudhar jaye, phir bhi The Kapil Sharma Show has got one the two, says Sunil main vapis nai aaunga (Even if Kapil month extension from the channel. is determined he mends his ways, I won’t return),’” shares Says a source, the channel has given will not collaborate Raju, who now features on Kapil’s comedy Kapil Sharma one month time to put up everything together, with Kapil show on television, The Kapil Sharma if he manages to do so the channel will think about again.“I?met Sunil Show. Kapil and Sunil had a spat on their continuing with the show. However, looking at the recently. He was return flight from Australia, mid-March. Kapil current situation and dwindling TRPs+ this seems shooting for Indian had allegedly slapped Sunil, who then highly impossible for Kapil as Sunil Grover, Chandan (Agencies) Looks like one should Idol right next to where we were ended ties with The Kapil Sharma Show. Prabhakar, Ali Asgar and Sugandha Mishra are not in give up all expectations of a patch-up shooting for our show. He told me, ‘Raju Although Kapil and Sunil were shooting in any mood to return. between comedians Kapil Sharma and Bhai, you know me since so long. It’s nearby locations for their respective shows, they didn’t meet. “I don’t think they met each other. At least, this did not happen in Meet Nidhi Goyal, India’s first blind stand up comedienne front of me,” adds Raju.Meanwhile, there are also reports of Kapil cancelling the shoot experiences,” says Nidhi.“After one such of his show in 10 minutes on Friday night Mining her personal life for catching-up session, my friend and fellow because he was not happy with the anecdotes, Nidhi Goyal, India’s first activist, Pramada Menon, gave me a six- content and the comic timing. “We month deadline to get a performance were shooting, but we felt that we could blind comedienne, is breaking ready. So, I sat and wrote incidents that write the content better and that is why stereotypes — one joke at a time were on the top of my mind and got a script we decided to shoot the next day. This together. Everything you hear and laugh happens on all shows. In fact, the (Agencies) Nidhi Goyal lost her eyesight about is based on a personal incident, a stand-up comedy portion of the show when she was 15 years old. Don’t be sad. gender justice at both the national and slice of my life or that of my friends. As an was shot on Friday itself,” says Raju. Now, 16 years later, at 31, Nidhi is one of international levels, Nidhi never planned activist, l interact with a lot of people with While there are rumours of the show the happiest, most positive people you’ll to be a comedian. But the jokes were disabilities. So the set is a collage of my shutting shop, Raju refutes these ever meet, which explains the latest always there, inspired by her personal story and theirs, stories that’ll make you claims. “We were shooting all night and addition to her already-impressive list of experiences, and meant for her friends’ see the hilarity in the myths and in fact,?I came home at five in the titles – that of being India’s first visually ears only. “My friends loved how I narrated assumptions surrounding disability and just morning. So obviously, the shooting is challenged stand-up comedian. my personal adventures and how far they are from the truth.” still on,” he says. An activist working on disability rights and Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 BOX OFFICE 31 2017 Could Be The Year That Exposes Bollywood To Global Entertainment The year ahead, in particular, appears to be one with the largest number of such international collaborations to date, with a whole host of examples of talent from the Hindi film fraternity taking the west by storm.The year ahead, in particular, appears to be one with the largest number of such international collaborations to date, with a whole host of examples of talent from the Hindi film fraternity taking the west by storm. what a Bollywood actor can seems to have got the ball in the Hollywood launch line achieve globally. rolling and started a looks to be Sonam Kapoor, What is especially movement of sorts, of who has been doing the sizeable and significant, encouraging about the actors looking to foray press rounds of late talking indicative of the fact that global achievements of abroad, which is no doubt about being signed by the these actors are being both of these actors is that now seen as a far more Los Angeles based-United recognised for their talent for the most part they have attainable feat than it was Talent Agency, the same and global appeal, rather avoided being confined to some years ago. This agency which represents than being confined to ‘eye- the typecast of playing recent movement is in every stars like Angelina Jolie and candy-focused’ roles as ‘Indian roles’ but are way one that has been Johnny Depp. has been seen time and instead playing characters championed by the female Moreover, Huma again in the past. who’s cultural background actors of the Hindi film Qureshi was recently Hindi cinema’s male has little or no bearing on fraternity who are setting an seen in Gurinder actors are equally (Agencies) In an that’ll be soon forgotten. their role in the narrative - example for the entire Chaddha’s much looking to dip their feet in interview with journalist However, despite these Chopra’s Alex Parrish in industry. Earlier, actors discussed colonial drama international waters with Rajeev Masand in late reputable performers paving Quantico being the best such as Aishwarya Rai Viceroy’s House about a number of examples 2016, Bollywood star the way for future example of this. proved that a Bollywood India’s last Viceroy from the year ahead. The Ranbir Kapoor admitted to generations, they have Perhaps as a result of actor could hold their own during British-rule. Also critically adored being approached to been largely limited to the success and reception in Hollywood films, having still to come from the Rajkummar Rao will be audition for a lead role in JJ supporting roles or smaller enjoyed by actors like featured in titles such as year is Richa Chaddha’s seen in Namrata Singh Abrams’ Star Wars: The films for the most Khan and Chopra, the year Provoked, Bride And international debut in Gujral’s Indo-American Force Awakens. This is as part.However, the last few ahead appears to indicate Prejudice and The Pink David Womark’s Love project 5 Weddings, about powerful a statement as years has certainly seen a that Hollywood is Panther 2. Sonia - an Indo-American an American journalist who any to indicate that talent shift toward Bollywood embracing actors and Deepika Padukone, production which sheds travels across India to write arising from the Hindi film actors being viewed more talent originating from who earlier turned down a light on the harsh a story on Bollywood industry is slowly but surely substantively, with the Bollywood like never before. role in Fast And Furious 7, realities of human weddings. The film also demanding the world’s potential to be leading stars Subsequently, the question already had her Hollywood trafficking. The cast also features Bo Derek and attention, especially in in larger mainstream films of the hour for Hindi-film debut earlier this year boasts of the likes of Nargis Fakhri - who herself terms of actors originating in the West. Looking at the actors and entertainment across Vin Diesel in XXX: Demi Moore, Frieda Pinto has been trying to make the from Bollywood making present day, Irrfan Khan is journalists alike seems to Return Of Xander Cage and and Anupam Kher as well leap over to the West for their mark overseas. considered nothing short of be: who will be next to turn although the film was as Lion’s young breakout some time now, so far only The year ahead, in a major international star, their gaze westward and painfully forgettable, few star Sunny Parwar. managing to bag a brief role particular, appears to be with many inspiring jump on the Hollywood would disagree that What’s certainly in the 2015 Melissa one with the largest number notches to his belt such as bandwagon? Padukone was one of the heartening is that the McCarthy-led action of such international Ang Lee’s Life Of Pi, Chopra’s success best things about it. Next majority of these roles are comedy Spy. collaborations to date, with Jurassic World and most a whole host of examples recently across Tom Hanks of talent from the Hindi film in Inferno, with some of the Badshah Breaks Silence, Says Honey fraternity taking the west by most prominent Hollywood storm. 2017 could well be filmmakers writing roles the year that blows the specifically with Khan in proverbial lid off uncovering mind. Khan certainly isn’t Singh is 'Away From The Scene' the potential of Indian talent showing any signs of (Agencies) Rapper Badshah is was before. "He is away from the reached a high. At the side-lines of in western cinema, with a slowing down and is next keeping very busy these days - scene; I do not want to say the event in Dubai, Honey Singh noticeable increase in the to be seen in Bangladeshi he just rapped for the new party anything now. I am only doing was asked if he considers Badshah number of Bollywood drama Doob: No Bed Of anthem Move Your Lakk as a probable competition actors to be seen in Roses which he is also from Sonakshi Sinha's and he said: "Rolls-Royce overseas projects, many in producing, as well as Salim Noor and also helped aur Nano main farq hota hai." leading roles.Historically, Khassa’s The Wicked revamp Tamma Tamma Honey Singh and this has been a charge led Path. from 1990's action film Badshah were part of the rap by actors such as the late Priyanka Chopra has Thanedaar for Alia Bhatt group titled Mafia Mundeer till Om Puri who – in a defining taken this to new heights and Varun Dhawan's they parted ways in 2012. moment - was even entirely by becoming a Badrinath Ki Dulhania. Honey Singh also made honoured at The Academy household name and talk- He has recently sung a headlines because of his Awards In Memoriam show regular in the US, rendition of a pahadi fallout with Raftaar, another tribute earlier this year. through her hit ABC show song with Jubin ex-member of Mafia Moreover, actors such as Quantico. She is also due Nautiyal, which went Mundeer. In June last year, Anupam Kher (Silver to be make her debut in a viral. Meanwhile, Raftaar "vouched" to never Linings Playbook), Tabu major Hollywood warring rapper Honey collaborate with Badshah (Life Of Pi), Shabana Azmi blockbuster in the Singh's last Bollywood after an exchange of oblique (The Reluctant upcoming Baywatch – the composition was for a song in what I enjoy," Mid-Day quoted and rude comments. Fundamentalist) and cinematic adaptation of the 2015's Bhaag Johnny. In a Badshah as saying. Earlier last year, Honey Singh Naseeruddin Shah (The popular 90s TV show – recent interview with Mid-Day, For the uninitiated, Honey Singh opened up about battling bipolar League Of Extraordinary starring across the likes of Badshah was asked about made a comeback after a gap of disorder and told news agency Gentlemen) have also had Dwayne Johnson and Zac Honey Singh's "Rolls-Royce and 18 months with a performance in IANS: "As an artiste, I believe that their fair share of roles Efron. Chopra’s pioneering Nano" comment and he said he's Dubai last year due to his struggle I am not my own property. I am the abroad. Even Amitabh trajectory and unperturbed by what the with bipolar disorder and property of my fans. So I thought Bachchan’s famed cameo achievements in the last Birthday Bash singer says as he alcoholism. This was the time when that they deserve to know about in Baz Luhrmann’s The two years have been set is not as prominent a star as he Badshah's career as a rapper what exactly happened to me." Great Gatsby is not one new standards altogether of Wednesday 5 April to 11 April , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 32