THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017 www.theindianpanorama.com VOL 11 ISSUE 25 ● NEW YORK ● JUNE 23 - JUNE 29, 2017 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 ● PRICE 40 CENTS Tete-a-tete with Trump: Modi's Sting journalism is Yoga enthusiasts EID AL-FITR upcoming US visit will make clear not investigative across world 8 India's place on priority list 9 journalism 21 celebrate Yoga Day 30 Fillip to Trade and Investment to be focus of Modi's visit to US: MEA Uniting the World through Yoga: Third International Day of Yoga celebrated at the UN and the Indian Consulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to discuss his wish list with President Trump when he meets the latter in Washington on June 26 NEW YORK (TIP): Deepening bilateral trade and economic ties will be one of the key focus areas of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the US where he will hold talks with President Donald Trump on June 26 in their first meeting. A number of key issues, including ways to step up cooperation for contd on Page 32 US will be replaced if it disengages from world: UN chief UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Secretary- United Nations Building in NY is lit up with Yoga sign. Bollywood actor Anupam Kher pressing the button to light the Yoga sign on UN General Antonio building on 18th June 2017. India's Ambassador to UN Syed Akbaruddin is seen at left. Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia Guterres is warning More pictures on Page 2 the Trump administration that if NEW YORK CITY (TIP): A large Consul General Riva Ganguly Das led the on Yoga Day was played before practitioners the United States number of people from the Indian Yoga Day celebrations at the Consulate led the gathering through the two-hour yoga UN Secretary-General disengages from community participated in special yoga premises on Monday, June 19 and and meditation sessions. "Our message is to Antonio Guterres expressed many world issues it sessions organized by the Indian Consulate participated in the yoga and Art of Living take yoga to the world. New York is the his concern, June 21, over US will be replaced and here to commemorate the third (AOL) sessions. crossroads of the world and in its fast-paced engagement with world contd on Page 32 International Yoga Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message contd on Page 2 issues KIDNEY DONATION AVAILABLE ● Kenneth Juster to be the US Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj inaugurates A person aged 27 is on his death bed. His last Ambassador to India Page 3 AAPI's 35th annual convention in Atlantic City wish is to donate his kidneys. His blood group ● India’s Presidential election Page 3 is ‘AB+ve’. Someone somewhere may require. ● ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (TIP): With We may save a life. The Supreme Court Defends the ribbon cutting and lighting of the CONTACT MOB: 7339681726 Integrity of U.S. Citizenship Page 6 traditional lamp Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj officially inaugurated the 35th annual convention of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) at the Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City in New Jersey on June 22, 2017. Pt. Jasraj led the more than 1.000 delegates at the Convention Centre at the prestigious Harrah's Resort to a prayer song, moving everyone's heart seeking God's bountiful blessings. Pandit Jasraj, officially inaugurating the 35th annual In his opening remarks, Pandit convention of American Association of Physicians of Jasraj shared with the audience his Indian Origin (AAPI) with ribbon cutting. AAPI heartfelt gratitude for inviting him and President Ajay Lodha and Convention Chair Raj Bhayani are seen to the left of Pandit Ji. contd on Page 4 104-02, 120th Street, S. Richmond Hill, NY 11419 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 2 NEW YORK FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017 Uniting the World through Yoga: Third International Day of Yoga celebrated at the UN and the Indian Consulate CONTD FROM PAGE 1 The Permanent Mission of India to the UN organized on life, we feel that yoga has much to contribute," Das said on June 20 a 'Yoga Session with Yoga Masters' at the world body's the occasion. headquarters led by Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, India and Swami Sivadasananda of Sivananda Yoga Retreat, Austria. Chef de Cabinet of the UN Secretary general Maria Luiza Ribeiro and President of the General Assembly Ambassador Peter Thomson were special guests on the occasion. The mission organized 'Conversation on Yoga for Health' at the UN on Wednesday, June 21, in association with the Department of Public Information and World Health Organization. Speakers at the event includedBollywood actor Anupam Kher, World Health Organization Executive Director Nata Menabde, Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, former NFL athlete turned yogi Keith Mitchell, Bluechip Marketing Worldwide CEO Stanton Kawer Yoga day celebrations at Times Square, New York City and Swami Sivadasananda. Surya Namaskar at the yoga day celebrations at the Indian Consulate. Consul General Riva Ganguly Das joined the yoga exercises International Day of Yoga at the United Nations. Diplomats and UN Secretary General joined Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin at the celebrations attended by more than a thousand yoga enthusiasts. The Consulate had planned a flagship event for the day at the city's historic and popular Battery Park where hundreds of people were expected to participate in the Yoga Day celebrations. However, due to inclement weather, the event had to be relocated at the Consulate premises. Doing an asana A large number of people attended the yoga sessions at the Consulate and performed the 'Surya Namaskar', 'Pranayam', AOL sessions and other yoga exercises. Yet another asana Das said resonance for the Yoga Day has grown in three years since the day was first marked in 2015. "With the focus on one particular day, it helps promote the message," she said, adding that lot of people who normally would not have done yoga are also getting interested and participating in the Yoga Day events. "People realize the benefits of yoga, and India's name is intrinsically associated with the day," she said. Das also attended yoga celebrations at various other locations in New York. She attended one on June 10 at the Queens Museum. On June 21, she attended a yoga session at the Times Square where thousands of people descended on one of the most iconic American destinations and practiced yoga. In commemoration of the day, the UN headquarters were lit up for the second year in a row with images of yoga postures. THE INDIAN PANORAMA FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017 MISCELLANY 3 Presidential Election in India: Kovind and Meira Kumar fight an ideological battle BJP Fields Ram Nath Kovind as NDA'S Presidential Candidate; Opposition's Presidential nominee Meira Kumar is a diplomat-turned-politician NEW DELHI (TIP): BJP has picked Bihar India-Mauritius Joint Commission. Governor Ram Nath Kovind as the NDA In the party organization, she rose steadily nominee for the top constitutional post. The from being an All India Congress Committee selection of the 71-year-old Dalit leader and a general secretary for two years from 1990 and two-term BJP Rajya Sabha MP, has come as a again between 1996-1998. surprise to many. She became a member of the Congress The BJP government has been under fire Working Committee in 1990 and continued for from opposition for a number of attacks on 10 years till 2000. After a gap of two years, she Dalits across India. However, naming Kovind was re-inducted in the CWC in 2002 and as a presidential candidate may let them off remained its member till 2004. the hook. As an MP,she served, among other positions, See also Page 14 as a member of the Consultative Committee attached to the External Affairs Ministry, BJP President Amit Shah made the Ram Nath Kovind and Meira Kumar: an ideological battle Public Accounts Committee, Committee on announcement following an over two-hour long Home Affairs and its Sub-Committee on meeting of the party's parliamentary board, the rough and tumble of politics began when became an MP for the fifth time in 2009. Personnel Policy of Central Para- Military which was attended by Prime Minister she quit her cushy Indian Foreign Service (IFS) In between, she had quit Congress for two Forces and Joint Committee on Empowerment Narendra Modi and senior party leaders. job and decided to fight the Lok Sabha polls in years from 2000 citing differences with the of Women. Seeking support from opposition parties, 1985, a year before her father's death. party leadership. She rejoined the party in She was also a member of Committees on Shah said Modi spoke to Congress President She was elected to Lok Sabha for the first 2002. Food and Consumer Affairs and Environment Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister time from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh in 1985, In UPA's first term, she was inducted into the and Forests. Manmohan Singh and sought their support. defeating top Dalit leaders Mayawati and Ram Union Cabinet. She handled the Social Justice Born in Bihar's Arrah district on March 31, Top BJP leaders also spoke to various Vilas Paswan. and Empowerment and Water Resources 1945, Kumar studied in Indraprastha College opposition parties and got in touch with their From being a foreign service officer to a five- portfolios. and Miranda House in Delhi University. She allies. term MP and then a Cabinet minister, Kumar Subsequently, after UPA's return to power in holds medals for rifle shooting too. Meanwhile, the opposition has selected has traversed a long way and a varied course 2009, she was elected unopposed as the first Armed with a law degree, Kumar became a Meira Kumar as its presidential candidate.