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B.C. EVENTS

 

(These are FREE listings. Email: [email protected])

 

 

Sonu Nigam Concert: Klose To My Soul

 

Sonu Nigam performs at Vancouver’s PNE Coliseum on Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. organized by KVP Entertainers & Kamal’s Video Palace. Singing classics from Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar, Talat and ghazal legends like Jagjit Singh and Mehdi Hassan, Sonu promises an unforgettable experience of 3.5 hours. Tickets at $35, $45, $55, $65, $75 & $100 can be purchased from Kamal’s Video Palace at (604) 592-9777 or (604) 833-1977 or bought online at www.ticketleader.

 

South Asian Mental Health Community Forum

 

Saturday, May 24 at 9 a.m. to Sunday, May 25 at 3:15 p.m. at Princess Margaret Secondary, 12870 72 Avenue, Surrey. Doors open at 9 a.m. Featuring: Workshops on wellness: – Meditation and Mindfulness – Yoga – Myths & Medication – Counselling & Therapy – Nutrition & Exercise. Presentations on the most prevalent mental illnesses: – Depression & Bipolar Disorder – Anxiety Disorder – Substance Use / Addiction / Alcoholism – ADHD and more. Resources and information in English, Punjabi, Hindi & Urdu. Free event, open to the whole family. Lunch and refreshments provided. Speakers include Dr. Gulzar Cheema, Dr. Dharm Hayre, Dr. Jas Bhopal, Dr. Ramanjot Mangat, Dr. Bali Sohi, Tejinder Gill, Karol Ghuman, Manpreet K. Kohli, Gary Thandi, Rodrick Lal & Deshpal Grewal.

 

BC Quran Memorization Competition

 

The Muslim Association of Canada invites you to attend the 12th Annual BC Quran Memorization Competition final phases and the award ceremony and reception on Saturday, May 24, 10 .am.-8 p.m. Award ceremony & reception at 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the event. This year a total of 182 registrations was received in 9 categories from all over the Greater Vancouver Area. Location: Islamic Information Center, 3127 Kingsway, Vancouver.

 

Akal Academy Surrey

 

Invites you to the Akal University Fundraising Dinner on Saturday, May 24, 6-9 p.m., at Grand Taj Banquet Hall, 8388 128th Street, Surrey. For tickets & more info: 604-780-7200. www.akalacademy.ca

 

Surrey International Children’s Festival

 

The Surrey International Children’s Festival is celebrating their 10th Anniversary. Saturday, May 24. 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Surrey Art’s Centre box office. The Arts Centre Box Office can be contacted at 604-501-5566.

 

Help Hunger Disappear

 

Save-On-Foods and Campbell Canada kick off seventh annual Help Hunger Disappear program in support of local food banks. On Saturday, May 24, Surrey residents are invited to visit the South Point Save-On-Foods, 3033-152 Street, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., to fill donation bins with non-perishable foods in support of the Surrey Food Bank and Sources Food Bank. The event will feature: * a large-scale display featuring a fork and spoon built from more than 1,500 Campbell’s soup cans * Cram the van food drive – Help us fill a van with non-perishable food items in support of the Surrey Food Bank. * Spin the wheel for a chance to win prizes in support of the Surrey Food Bank.

 

Support Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society

 

Vancouver Whitecaps FC are partnering with Purolator and the Purolator Tackle Hunger program to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (GVFBS) who provide accessible, healthy, and sustainable food for individuals in our communities. By bringing a non-perishable food item or by making a cash donation at the match on Saturday, May 24, ‘Caps fans will be able to help people in need within our community. Last year they raised 6,200 pounds of food. Purolator will be donating 250 pounds of food for every corner kick taken during the match, and the first 400 fans to make a donation will receive an autographed ‘Caps banner.

 

GVHBA Spring Home Renovation Show

 

Planning a home renovation? Head over to VanDusen Gardens, 5251 Oak Street in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association’s (GVHBA) free Spring Home Renovation Show. First 50 people to attend receive free ticket to VanDusen Gardens. * Book a free, one-on-one appointment with an “Ask-a-Pro” consultant and review your renovation plans * Sit in on free, 15-minute seminars, presented by award-winning industry leaders. Speakers will be on hand after each seminar for Q&A. * Renovators and suppliers will be available in the expo area to provide ideas and expert advice.  Admission to the GVHBA Spring Renovation Show is free (Garden entry is $10.75 + GST.) Public transit is nearby and there is ample onsite parking. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

 

Indo Caribbean Arrival Day Dinner & Dance

 

The Indo Caribbean Canadian Cultural Society of British Columbia holds a celebration of Indian culture in the Caribbean on Saturday, May 24 at 6 p.m. at Canadian Auto Workers Hall, 707 – 12th Street, New Westminster. Tickets: $16 per person. Children under five years: Free. Children from 6 to 12 years: $8. Authentic and delicious Indo Caribbean food; dancing; music and songs; and special guest speakers; 50/50 draw / door prizes / open dance floor after dinner – dance to DJ music  after dinner. For tickets and information, contact: James Prasad at 604-278-1704 / 604-644-3751, Annette Bacchus:  604-529-9079, Ram Ramsaroop:  604-581 -590 / 604-722-5892, Sheila Omaid:  604-438-9158, Hari Singh:  604-731-4354 / 604-790-0920,            Shama Ramnarine:  604-936-3194, Molly Sharma: 604-434-3807.

 

World Partnership Walk

 

Sunday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at Lumbermen’s Arch, Stanley Park, Vancouver. The World Partnership Walk is Canada’s largest annual event dedicated to raising funds and increasing awareness to fight global poverty. It is a family and dog-friendly event with an easy 5 km walk, live multicultural entertainment, fun activities, kids world, great food and lots more.

Registration is free. Get involved at www.worldpartnershipwalk.com. Participants can follow the Walk on Twitter at @WPWVancouver and #WPWalk and on Facebook at facebook.com/wpwalk. Initiative of Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC), an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network.

 

Book Launch

 

“Personal Storytelling – Discover the Extraordinary in the Ordinary.” At Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (SFU Woodwards Campus), 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, on May 27. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Event runs 6:30-8:30 p.m., followed by a reception. Tickets: $20 – Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/here-2-there-tickets-7147587627. Sam Thiara has written and published a book about personal storytelling and the individual journey. What does a book about personal storytelling and a documentary about an expedition deep into the Himalayas of Nepal have anything to do with each other?  It is the journey about two individuals who embraced and took their dreams from here to there and how each discovered the extraordinary in the ordinary.

 

The Dance Centre

 

Presents Discover Dance! Flamenco Rosario + Mandala Arts and Culture on Thursday, May 29 at 12 noon at Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street (at Granville), Vancouver. Tickets $12 / $10 students, seniors and children from Tickets Tonight at 604-684-2787 www.ticketstonight.ca Info: 604-606-6400. www.thedancecentre.ca. Presented as part of explorASIAN – Vancouver Asian Heritage Month. www.mandalarts.ca. www.flamencorosario.org

 

Blood Donation in Memory of Sri Lankan Deaths

 

In May of 2009, thousands of innocent civilians were needlessly killed in the last days of the civil conflict in Sri Lanka. To honour the memories of those lives lost a blood donation camp is being organized Friday, May 30 & Saturday, May 31, 12:30-4 p.m. at 4750 Oak Street, Vancouver. If you are between the ages of 16 and 70, you can book an appointment to donate. Contact: Piriya at 604-724-3561 or [email protected].

 

Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation

 

Presents the Gundecha Brothers, India’s leading performers of the ancient classical style of Dhrupad, the oldest and most serene form of Indian classical music, on Saturday May 31 at 7 p.m. at Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre, Douglas College, New Westminster. General Admission: $28. Free underground parking. Tickets: PJSOM Office: 14 East Broadway 604- 879-8319; Kamal’s Video (Surrey): 604- 592-9777; Zubeida Rattansi (North Vancouver): 604-988-1708. Contact us by Email: [email protected] or [email protected]. Stay updated on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pjsomf

 

Doors Open Richmond 2014

 

The seventh annual Doors Open offers Richmond residents and visitors exclusive access to numerous arts, culture and heritage sites in the city free of cost on Saturday, June 7 & Sunday, June 8 at over 40 sites in Richmond, with an opening celebration on Friday evening, June 6 at 7 p.m. Places of interest include religious and spiritual temples, artist studios, civic facilities and more. Many of the sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days and visitors are highly encouraged to check the brochures and the website to confirm the hours of each site. During the weekend, the themes of nature, faith, family and history are explored through four bus trips that will visit various Doors Open sites. Seats are $5 per person and buses will leave at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from the Richmond Cultural Centre (7700 Minoru Gate). As space is limited to 20 people per bus trip, those interested are recommended to register at 604-276-4300 or www.richmond.ca/register before Sunday, June 1. Use the following program numbers for tour registration: Nature: #643308, Faith: #643208, Family: #643258 and History: #643358. Doors Open map brochures are available at City facilities, including pools, arenas, community centres, and heritage sites, Richmond Nature Park, Richmond Cultural Centre and Richmond City Hall. A PDF map and complete listing of participating sites can also be downloaded at www.richmond.ca/doorsopen.

 

Subsidized Housing Workshop

 

Free workshop at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, 6470 Victoria Drive, Vancouver. Contents: Affordable housing or rent supplement for low income families, seniors, or persons with disabilities. Rental Assistance Program. Who is eligible to apply? How to apply. On June 10 (Tuesday), 1-2:30 p.m. in English and Punjabi. Bus tickets (for eligible clients only), free child minding and refreshment will be provided at the workshop. Bring your PR card number with you. For more information and registration, call: 604-324-6212 ext. 134.

 

Special: BC Victims of Homicide

 

Are you living with the traumatic loss of a loved one? Are you in need of support? The BC Victims of Homicide, an initiative of the BC Bereavement Helpline, is hosting an eight week traumatic loss grief support group for the South Asian community in Surrey in partnership with Valley View Funeral Home. When: Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., from now until June 25. Cost: Free – but registration is required. Space is limited. Languages: Punjabi, Hindi and English. Facilitators: Jas Cheema and Manjeet Singh. To register or for more information, contact Jas Cheema by phone at 604-561-2700 or by email at: [email protected]. Please refer this group to your network or to anyone who may benefit from it.

 

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

 

Richmond Public Library will be hosting the six-week program “Chronic Disease Self-Management” in English on Mondays from now until June 16 from 1-3:30 p.m. The program will take place at the Brighouse (Main) Branch in the 2nd floor community place, 7700 Minoru Gate. To register, visit any branch of Richmond Public Library, call 604-231-6413 or register online at www.yourlibrary.ca/events. This workshop is designed for people with one or more chronic conditions. It will teach you to better manage your health, discover useful tips to maintain an active lifestyle, and communicate effectively with your health care team. Family members and friends can also attend.

 

7th Uganda Medical Mission

 

Indo-Africa Charitable Society (Canada). Venue: Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited – Lugazi: medical, dental & eye camp from August 4-15 to provide primary examinations and treatments to needy Ugandans. Donation: US$650 (non-refundable) or equivalent in other currencies per person. Register by May 31 by contacting Vasant Lakhaniv (H) (604) 987-1925, [email protected], www.indoafricacharity.com,www.vasantlakhani.com. All participants arrive by August 3 committed fully till the end of the mission.

 

Samarpan Meditation

 

You can heal your life with meditation. Free of charge. www.samarpanmeditation.org. June 5-12, 7-9 p.m. daily. Call 604-812-7628, 604-505-2100 or 778-882-5448 and register to confirm your spot. Inside Laxmi Narayan Temple Plaza in Shanti Niketan Hall, 8321 140th Street, Surrey.

 

Canada India Education Council

 

Presents “The Business of Education” dinner event at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, on Friday, June 6, 5-9 p.m. Learn about BC’s new education quality assurance standards (EQA) and examine the confluence of ‘business’ with education.  How do we measure ‘ROI’? BC is committed to increasing international students by 50% by 2016. Interesting in attending / sponsoring?  To view the agenda / speaker profiles, visit: http://canadaindiaeducation.com/bc/

 

Chinese Cultural Centre Museum

 

Opening Reception of Exhibition: Rare Historical Artifacts of Overseas Chinese & Historical Figures of the Ing Clan. Opening reception: Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m. (Free event). Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, 555 Columbia Street, Vancouver. Exhibition dates: June 14 – July 14, 2014, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed on Mondays and holidays. Free admission on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Admission on Wednesday, Thursday: $3/adult, $2/senior (65+), student. Inquiries:  eventbrite.com, 1 (604) 658-8880, [email protected], www.cccvan.com

 

Indo-Africa Chairtable Society

 

Invites all to Shivpuran Katha by Shree Giri Bapu in Hindi at All Saints Parish Church, 1405 Como Lake, Coquitlam, from June 30 to July 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. Pooja: 6:30 p.m. by Shree Sharadbhai Shastri. Maha Shivpuran Katha: 7 p.m. Priti Bhojan from 5:30 to 7 p.m.Shri Mukeshgiribapu is known as ‘Giribapu’ among his followers. Along his Shivkatha, Shri Giribapu inspires and motivates for free plantation, literacy, giving up addiction, preventing dowry, preventing infanticide, protecting animals and birds, and being vegetarian. For more info, contact Vasant Lakhani, President, Indo-Africa Charitable Society, at (604) 987-1925.

INDIA: Arun Jaitley gets finance and defence, Sushma Swaraj gets external affairs

INDIA ARUN JAITLEY

 

This is the list of ministers as given by some Indian media:

Sushma Swaraj — Ministry of external affairs

Ananth Kumar — Parliamentary affairs and additional charge of chemicals and fertilizers

Nitin Gadkari — Surface transport ministry and shipping ministry

Sadanand Gowda — Railways ministry

Venkaiah Naidu — Urban development ministry and parliamentary affairs

Ravi Shankar Prasad — Telecom ministry, law and justice ministry

Maneka Gandhi — Women and child development ministry

Najma Heptulla — Ministry of minorities

Smriti Irani – Human resource development ministry

Radha Mohan Singh — Agriculture ministry

Nirmala Sitharaman — Ministry of state for commerce

Piyush Goel – Minister of state power (independent)

Prakash Javadekar — Minister of state information & broadcasting

Ram Vilas Paswan — Food and civil supplies ministry

Rajnath Singh — Minister for home affairs

Arun Jaitley — Finance ministry and additional charge of the defence ministry (see photo)

Uma Bharati — Union minister for water resources and Ganga

Jual Oram — Cabinet minister for tribal affairs.

Modi becomes PM in history-making transition in India

MODI SWEARING IN smallNew Delhi (IANS): Narendra Modi, India’s 14th prime minister, took oath Monday at a ceremony held in the open at Rashtrapati Bhavan and attended by the Who’s Who of the nation – including political leaders, business honchos, celebrities and leaders of religious faiths – as well as leaders of neighbouring countries.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered in Hindi to Modi by President Pranab Mukherjee.

There was a certain poignancy to the momentous occasion as the inauguration of a new prime minister happened exactly 50 years after the death of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Present on the occasion of the change of guard was the outgoing prime minister Manmohan Singh, who remained 10 years at the helm when the general election left the Congress battered and reduced to its lowest tally of 44 seats in the Lok Sabha.

A council of ministers, numbering around 45, also took oath.

Among the foreign leaders who attended the ceremony at the forecourt of the presidential palace were Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Also present were Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan and Bangladesh parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi and former presidents A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil were among the over 4,000 people who gathered on the occasion.

Najma Heptulla is the oldest member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s council of ministers, while Smriti Irani is the youngest.

The 74-year-old Heptulla is a former deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Irani, 38, is a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat. She contested the Lok Sabha election from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh but lost to incumbent MP and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

The four most prominent faces in the union cabinet are above 60 years of age.

They are Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj, both 62 years, and Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu who are 61 and 64, respectively.

Another leader who is above 70 years of age is Kalraj Mishra. The former president of the Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party unit is 72 years old.

B.C. teachers begin rotating strikes

TEACHERS began rotating strikes on Monday, May 26 to protest what they say is the unwillingness of the provincial government and the BC Public School Employers’ Association to offer any improvements to class size, class composition, and other important learning conditions for students, as well as the employer’s unfair wage demands,

The rotating strikes will continue May 27, 28, and 29. All school districts will be impacted on one of those days. All schools will be open on Friday, May 30. Any extension of the rotating job action will depend on events at the bargaining table.

The rotating closures are part of a two-stage strike plan voted on by teachers in March. During that vote, teachers gave their bargaining team an overwhelming mandate to begin low-level job action and then move to rotating strikes if meaningful progress was not made in negotiations. In all, 29,301 teachers cast ballots—89% voted in favour of the two-stage job action plan.

The planned schedule of school closures (by school district name) is as follows:

Monday, May 26: Vancouver, New Westminster

Tuesday, May 27: Langley, Richmond, Maple Ridge

Wednesday, May 28: Abbotsford, Delta, Coquitlam

Thursday May, 29: Surrey, Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver

 

MEANWHILE Minister of Education Peter Fassbender released the following statement:

“It is unfortunate that the BCTF leadership is shutting down schools with their rotating strikes – it is always students and parents who bear the greatest brunt when the BCTF orders teachers to walk out.

“This is the BCTF’s next stage in a strike they started a month ago.  Since April 23, teachers have been directed by the BCTF leadership to withdraw their full duties and to limit their time at the work site to no more than 60 minutes before and after their normal class time.

“Students, parents, teachers, and government want this strike resolved.  That is why on May 16, the government and BCPSEA tabled some significant incentives, such as a $1,200 signing bonus and moving to a six year term, to help reach an agreement by the end of June.

“When BCPSEA tabled those incentives, they asked the BCTF if they were willing to put on hold their stage 1 strike.  The BCTF refused.  When it was made clear that if the union continued with its partial withdrawal of services, BCPSEA would need to respond with a corresponding reduction in teachers’ pay.

“Not only did the union refuse to stand down from its stage 1 strike, a few days later they dismissed the significant moves that BCPSEA made at the table, and informed students and parents that they would shut down schools through rotating strikes.

“We want to see a negotiated settlement and BCPSEA is ready to bargain 24/7, anytime, anywhere.  BCPSEA has a fair offer on the table.  However, the BCTF leadership is asking for a pay increase and other benefits that are more than four times what other public sector unions have recently settled for and their total demands are well beyond what taxpayers can afford.  That remains a key stumbling block to meaningful bargaining.

“It is truly puzzling that BCTF leadership continues to express such great and unwarranted concern that BCPSEA’s response somehow puts at risk extracurricular activities.   The true disruption to student learning comes from the BCTF leadership’s decision to turn students away from their classrooms.

“Parents and students don’t deserve this disruption.  We should be resolving this dispute at the negotiating table, not in the classroom or on the picket line.”

 

 

 

 

Small, compact Modi cabinet shaping up

Narendra Modi 

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) A small and compact cabinet under Narendra Modi appeared to be taking final shape Sunday, with BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, and Sushma Swaraj likely to get the top posts, according to party sources.

The cabinet is expected to be compact, said party sources. Restructuring is expected in the government and some ministries are likely to be merged.

BJP president Rajnath Singh appears set to be the next home minister, but internal security may be taken away from the home ministry and kept with the prime minister’s office.

Talks are on over Rajnath Singh’s replacement in the party, with general secretary and former Himachal Pradesh minister J.P. Nadda among the contenders for the post.

While Arun Jaitley is likely to get finance ministry, Sushma Swaraj may get external affairs or defence ministry.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Najma Heptulla, Sumitra Mahajan and Ananth Kumar are also likely to find place in the cabinet, as are representatives from allies Shiv Sena, and Telugu Desam Party, whose chief N. Chandrababu Naidu also met Modi Sunday.

However, coming out of the meeting, Naidu said that a ministerial post is not important.

“I did not ask for any representation,” he said.

“We are an ally of the NDA, power is not important, national development is important. Both in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana there are problems. Under his (Modi’s) leadership, we want a solution to these problems,” Naidu told TV news channel CNN IBN.

However, TDP sources in Hyderabad said Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju is likely to be the lone face from the TDP to be inducted into the union cabinet Monday.

This was believed to have been decided at the meeting Naidu had with Modi.

Ally Shiv Sena, however, said it expected “proper” representation in the cabinet.

“Shiv Sena is expecting good positions in the central government. The BJP has assured us that would happen,” said senior Sena leader Subhash Desai.

“We are confident. We are not at all bothered or worried about Shiv Sena not getting a proper share,” Desai told TV news channel NDTV.

Sources said the Apna Dal, which won two seats in Uttar Pradesh, is also trying to find a place in the new cabinet.

Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, met several party leaders, including Maneka Gandhi, Udit Raj, and Vijay Goel as well as Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh leader Suresh Soni during the day.

 

MEANWHILE, 7 Race Course Road will get its newest occupant Monday night when Narendra Modi will shift to his new official residence barely hours after taking oath as India’s 14th prime minister.

Sources told IANS that Modi will move to the house after he attends a banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee Monday night at Rashtrapati Bhavan, located some three km away.

The dinner will begin soon after the swearing-in ceremony concludes at the presidential palace.

Outgoing prime minister Manmohan Singh, who has been occupying 7 Race Course Road for the past decade as head of two successive governments, will move out of the house earlier Monday. He will shift to his new residence, at 3 Motilal Nehru Place, Monday afternoon, the sources added.

According to the sources, 7 Race Course Road houses five bungalows spread over about 12 acres.

6,000 men, air defence to secure Rashtrapati Bhavan Monday

Narendra Modi

New Delhi (IANS): An ‘impregnable’ air defence system in the sky and about 6,000 security personnel, from paramilitary commandos to police sharpshooters, on the ground will be deployed to guard heads of state and government who will be present at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, Monday evening to attend the open air oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as India’s new prime minister.

President Pranab Mukherjee will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Modi. Around 3,000 guests including foreign dignitaries and diplomats will be present on the occasion.

The 6,000 security personnel will cover a two-km periphery around the presidential palace.

They will be drawn from Delhi Police, paramilitary forces, the National Security Guard (NSG) and armed forces.

The security unit of Delhi Police and the prime minister’s security unit have drawn up a multi-layered security plan to provide ground-to-air security.

Delhi Police will be in charge of the security of the hotels where the dignitaries, including from Pakistan and Sri Lanka, will be staying, as well as their travel routes.

Delhi Police said a security ring will be thrown around Raisina Hill on which Rashtrapati Bhavan stands.

All offices around it will be shut down five hours ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, slated for 6 p.m. Monday in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will put in place a defence system to secure the skies, including air surveillance.

Snipers, including NSG sharpshooters with telescopic guns, will be deployed on the top of all high-rise buildings around the area.

All roads leading to Raisina Hill will be barricaded, while mobile security teams will patrol the area.

Paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos would also be deployed to secure the area.

Dog squads and bomb disposal squads will sanitise the venue in advance.

The dignitaries who would be present are Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Bangladesh will be represented by Speaker Shirin Chaudhury while Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will also be present.

The security agencies are on high alert especially in the wake of the terror attack on the Indian Consulate in Afghanistan’s Herat province Friday morning.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC 2 – SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 2: Hurtado strikes again, but Seattle salvage point with late penalty

WFC-003-fulltime_620x350

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4W-2L-5D) gave first-place Seattle Sounders FC (8W-3L-2D) all they could handle but ended up settling for a 2-2 draw in an exciting Cascadia derby Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at BC Place.

Erik Hurtado scored in his third straight match, including the Amway Canadian Championship, and Budweiser Man of the Match Gershon Koffie netted his first goal of the season in a match that saw Whitecaps FC outshoot their Pacific Northwest rivals by a 24-8 margin. But the visiting Sounders managed to salvage a point thanks to a late controversial penalty.

It was a disappointing result for Whitecaps FC, but not by any means a disappointing performance against the top team in the league. The ‘Caps are now undefeated in five straight MLS contests – they’ve also sold out each of their six MLS home matches this season.  

Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson fielded an almost identical starting lineup from Vancouver’s last MLS outing – a 1-0 win over Columbus Crew on May 10. The only change saw Nigel Reo-Coker draw into the squad at right back in place of Steven Beitashour, who is away on international duty at Iran’s World Cup camp. It was Reo-Coker’s first MLS start in over two months.

In the build up to Saturday’s match, the ‘Caps promised to go right at the Sounders from the opening whistle. And that’s exactly what they did.

Vancouver got off to an absolutely electric start, launching eight shots towards the goal in the first 10 minutes alone.  Several different ‘Caps players looked lively early on, including Kekuta Manneh, who made his career-high fourth straight start.

But the liveliest of the bunch was easily Koffie, who was absolutely dominant in midfield. In the sixth minute, after Sebastian Fernandez had his attempt blocked, Koffie sent a long-distance first time strike just wide of the post.

Less than two minutes later, the Ghanaian made a surging run down the middle of the park, blowing by his counterpart Osvaldo Alonso, before seeing his left-footed strike ring off the crossbar.

Seattle began to find their feet around the 15-minute mark after weathering the early storm. The ‘Caps still looked to be in control, but Seattle started to cause some problems on the counter.

And in the 36th minute, they struck first when Chad Barrett headed a perfect Kenny Cooper cross into the bottom left corner of the goal.

It took Vancouver just three minutes to answer.

Hurtado showed great poise to get the ‘Caps on the board, turning two Sounders defenders inside out before cutting back to his right foot and drilling it in from close-range.

Chilean Pedro Morales picked up his third assist of the season on the play, which puts him in a tie with Darren Mattocks for the team lead.

Despite outshooting the Sounders 14-4 and coming close on several occasions, the ‘Caps had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the half.

There wasn’t much between the Pacific Northwest rivals in the early stages of the second half. Neither side managed to generate any sustained pressure, but the ‘Caps still had their chances.

In the 61st minute, Fernandez released Manneh into the right side of the box, but the 19-year-old couldn’t beat a sprawling Stefan Frei.

The Sounders keeper came up big on that occasion, but a blunder just a few minutes later resulted in Vancouver’s go-ahead marker. In the 66th minute, Frei left his net to prevent a throw-in, but Koffie chested down his clearance and sent a left-footed half volley into the vacated net from 40 yards to give Whitecaps FC a 2-1 lead.

From that point on, the ‘Caps seemed to be in control. They looked comfortable in possession and continued pushing forward.

The match turned in the 81st minute, however, when Jay DeMerit was called for a penalty when he out jumped Seattle’s Cam Weaver and headed away a cross from danger. Sounders FC midfielder Gonzalo Pineda calmly chipped in the ensuing penalty to level the score at 2-2.

Seattle had a chance to take the lead just a few minutes later, as Obafemi Martins broke into the box before sending a low left-footed effort off the far post.

Whitecaps FC dominated the six minutes of stoppage time – Koffie came within inches on two separate occasions and Morales was buzzing in the final third. But Seattle held on in the end, as the match ended in a hard-fought 2-2 draw.

The ‘Caps won’t have to wait long for their next Cascadia derby, as they meet Portland Timbers next Sunday, June 1 at Providence Park. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT, live on TSN2 and TEAM 1410 radio.

It’s not too late to participate in the best sporting experience in Vancouver. Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including half-season tickets ($244), 5-packs ($149), student season tickets, and a youth soccer half-season ticket. Single-match tickets start at $22, subject to applicable fees. For more information on all Whitecaps FC ticket options, call 604.669.9283 ext. 2 or visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.

Stat of the Game 
Koffie had eight shots, and three on target, Saturday against Sounders FC. Both are career-highs. 

MATCH DETAILS

Budweiser Man of the Match: Gershon Koffie
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Attendance: 21,000

Scoring Summary:
36’ – SEA – Chad Barrett (Kenny Cooper) 
39’ – VAN – Erik Hurtado (Pedro Morales)
66’ – VAN – Gershon Koffie
82’ – SEA – Gonzalo Pineda (penalty kick)

Match Stats:
Shots:  Vancouver 24 – Seattle 8
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 6 – Seattle 2
Saves: Vancouver 0 – Seattle 4
Fouls: Vancouver 16 – Seattle 11
Offsides: Vancouver 0 – Seattle 0
Corners: Vancouver 7 – Seattle 2 

Cautions:
41’ – VAN – Gershon Koffie
44’ – VAN – Matías Laba
68’ – VAN – Sebastián Fernández
90’+1’ – SEA – Marco Pappa

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 
1.David Ousted; 20.Nigel Reo-Coker, 40.Andy O’Brien, 6.Jay DeMerit, 2.Jordan Harvey; 28.Gershon Koffie, 15.Matías Laba; 7.Sebastián Fernández (29.Nicolás Mezquida 71’), 77.Pedro Morales, 23.Kekuta Manneh (31.Russell Teibert 79’); 19.Erik Hurtado

Substitutes not used:
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 11.Darren Mattocks, 16.Johnny Leverón, 17.Omar Salgado, 24.Carlyle Mitchell

Seattle Sounders FC 
24.Stefan Frei; 4.Jalil Anibaba, 20.Zach Scott, 18.Djimi Traore (3.Brad Evans 56’), 12.Leonardo Gonzalez; 19.Chad Barrett (23.Cam Weaver 79’), 6.Osvaldo Alonso, 8.Gonzalo Pineda, 10.Marco Pappa; 33.Kenny Cooper (42.Micheal Azira 71’), 9.Obafemi Martins

Substitutes not used:
1.Marcus Hahnemann, 5.Andy Rose, 7.Tristan Bowen, 15.Dylan Remick

Former Sikh militant arrested for allegedly robbing diamond merchant in Delhi

New Delhi (IANS): A former Sikh militant and elder brother of a convict in Punjab chief minister Beant Singh’s assassination was arrested here for robbing a diamond merchant, police said Friday.

Police said Avtar Singh, 47, was a member of a robbers’ gang who used to target jewellers in Delhi. Five members of the gang have already been arrested.

They had robbed jewelery worth Rs.2 crore from a Mumbai-based diamond merchant in central Delhi.

Apart from Avtar Singh, Gurjit Singh, Anil Luthra and Amit Kapoor were arrested from central Delhi Thursday evening. Singh was involved in over 15 criminal cases, including terrorist activities in Punjab.

“He has been involved in cases of TADA in Punjab and Delhi, and also is a former member of All India Sikh Student Federation and Bhindrawala Tiger Force,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar.

Singh’s younger brother Paramjeet, 42, was arrested in 1997 in the Beant Singh assassination case along with his associate Jagtar Singh Hawara.

In 2004, Paramjeet escaped from Budheil Jail in Chandigarh but was re-arrested in 2006.

Fascism in India? Goa Facebooker’s likely arrest snowballs into major controversy

Narendra Modi

 

Panaji, May 24 (IANS) Goa Police’s attempt to arrest a Facebooker for making anti-Narendra Modi comment is snowballing into a major controversy here.

Civil society activists have now jumped into the fray claiming that such heightened police interest in a Facebook post is draconian.

A protest will be held Saturday outside the police headquarters in Panaji. Chodankar was booked under various sections of the IPC, the Representation of the People Act and the Information Technology Act. Some of the sections are non-bailable.

“We will raise slogans, hold placards protesting against application of draconian laws to curb free speech. Today it is Devu Chodankar, tomorrow it could be any of us,” Samir Kelekar, an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay alumnus, told IANS.

The Congress has now claimed that the “active” police cyber cell in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Goa refused to probe a complaint against BJP leader and MP Meenakshi Lekhi in December.

The avalanche of comments on social media as well by opposition and civil society activists has now forced the complainant, city industrialist Atul Pai Kane, to claim that he is being intimidated and forced to backdown.

Congress spokesman Sunil Kawthankar said his complaint under section 228 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Lekhi was not even registered in December by the cyber cell which functions under the Crime Branch.

“They simply refused to register an FIR claiming the tweets were not made in Goa. Till date I’m wondering how they came to the conclusion without investigating the case,” Kawthankar told IANS.

Lekhi was accused in the complaint after she allegedly leaked the name of the Tehelka rape victim in one of her tweets. The New Delhi MP claimed that her Twitter account was hacked and misused.

On Thursday, Devu Chodankar’s anticipatory bail application was rejected, clearing ground for his arrest by Goa police which suspected that the 31-year-old shipbuilding professional of having a “larger game plan to promote communal and social disharmony in the state”.

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha 2014 election campaign, Chodankar, who is from Mumbai, had in a post on Goa+, a popular Facebook group with nearly half a lakh members, claimed that a holocaust would follow and Christians in the state would lose their identity.

“There is imminent threat of Holocaust as it happened in Gujarat through the garb of cunning government policies of Parrikar (sic),” Chodankar said before deleting the post.

Subsequently, in Goa Speaks, another Facebook group well known for discussions on state-related issues, Chodankar apologised for his choice of words but not the sum of his argument.

But Atul Pai Kane, who regularly defends the BJP and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on social media, lodged an FIR against the shipbuilder. Kane said in his complaint that Chodandkar threatened Facebook users against voting for the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.

Kane now claims on his Facebook post, that some “lawyers” and “some IITians” are forcing him to withdraw the case.

“Instead of spending time in correcting a wayward youth, people are spending time trying to convince me (read intimidate) to withdraw the case,” he said.

Later, the Congress too joined the chorus against Chodankar’s arrest, claiming the cyber cell was a virtually dead unit of Goa police which has now been specially revived for the purpose of harassing the Modi-baiter.

“We will protest tooth and nail against this harassment by police… During Tarun Tejpal case too we tried to complain against Madhu Kishwar for revealing the rape victim’s name, we were told that the cyber cell was not functional,” said party spokesperson Durgadas Kamat.

Nawaz Sharif to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony

Nawaz-Sharif-2

New Delhi/Islamabad (IANS): After keeping both countries guessing for two days, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday accepted the invite to watch Narendra Modi take oath as India’s next prime minister, a grand event being attended by seven other neighbours and a few thousand guests. It will be yet another occasion for the leaders of the two wary nations to talk, even though informally, and marks a new phase in neighbourhood diplomacy by India’s new head of government.

The two prime ministers will be meeting face to face eight months after the New York meeting between outgoing prime minister Manmohan Singh and Sharif on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.

Sharif Saturday confirmed he will attend the oath-taking ceremony Monday evening, an event to be attended by leaders of six other South Asian nations as well as Mauritius, that has a large ethnic Indian population.

Accompanying Sharif will be Sartaj Aziz, adviser on national security and foreign affairs, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.

Sharif would be holding a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi on the morning of May 27. He would then call on President Pranab Mukherjee, and fly back the same afternoon.

The Pakistani prime minister’s acceptance of the invite came a day after his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met Pakistani army chief General Raheel Sharif. Shahbaz Sharif, who visited India earlier this year and is an important figure in the Pakistani government, is believed to have explained to the general the positive outcome of the visit and the importance of maintaining good ties with India.

On Friday, the Pakistan Foreign Office had urged Sharif to attend the ceremony, saying that the bitterness towards Pakistan shown during the election campaign in India would subside after the formation of a new government in New Delhi.

The acceptance of the invite was lauded, especially on social media. Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who had a day ago tweeted “I personally think cordial relations with new Indian government should be cultivated. It will help remove psychological barriers, fear and misgivings”, welcomed the move with a tweet. So did many other Pakistani journalists and former diplomats. “ Former Pakistani envoy to the US Sherry Rehman posted: “Good news, moving on from stalemate.”

Narendra Modi had invited the leaders of all the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the swearing-in ceremony – in a first such event.

Modi and Sharif will hold a short bilateral meeting the following morning, being termed only a “courtesy call” and not any structured talks. With Aziz and the two other Pakistani officials in tow, the meeting is likely to have all the trappings of a bilateral meeting.

“It is a good step forward that he (Modi) has taken so early in the term. It is a significant move,” a senior Indian envoy who has been closely following India-Pakistani diplomatic moves, told IANS.

However, the envoy who declined to be named, said that Pakistan had still to show major forward movement in the trial of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks case. “Trial is still going on, it has still to be concluded.. There is also the issue of respect for the sanctity of the Line of Control, and also the issue of non-state actors (acting out of Pakistani territory),” he added.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Kashmiri opposition leader, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, have welcomed Sharif’s decision to attend the oath taking ceremony.

“Very glad to hear Pakistan’s prime minister has accepted the invite, it shows that he can prevail over forces inimical to good relations with India,” Omar tweeted.

“I hope that this will mark a new beginning in ties between the two countries. The people of Jammu and Kashmir will be watching it closely,” he wrote on Twitter.

Leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti told reporters: “The SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) relations have always been hostaged by India-Pakistan acrimony.”

“We are hopeful as the decision to invite Pakistan prime minister by Modi and its acceptance by Sharif is a positive development,” said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief.

Besides Sharif, the dignitaries who will attend include Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, and Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam is also attending the ceremony.

After outgoing prime minister Manmohan Singh skipped the Commonwealth summit in Colombo last November, this will be an occasion for Modi to meet Rajapaksa and come to grips with the Tamil issue. The invite to the Sri Lankan leader has already been criticised by Tamil parties, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be in Tokyo on a prior scheduled visit.

It is the first time in India’s history that leaders from neighbouring countries have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of an Indian prime minister.

Modi, who will be sworn in at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Monday evening, will hold brief bilateral talks with each leader the following day.

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