Dara Singh Not Dead But Still Critical; Dharmendra Asks People to Pray for Him

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Mumbai, 11 July 2012 - Dara Singh, a wrestler-turned-actor, is still in critical condition after suffering from a severe cardiac arrest on Saturday.

Several Bollywood celebrities including director and choreographer Farah Khan, actors Om Puri, Raza Murad and Dharmendra paid a visit to the hospital to meet Singh's family.

"I didn't want to see him lying down in a stateless. I want to remember Dara uncle as a robust fighter, healthy and strong. So, I didn't go inside to see him but I met his family and came back," Farah Khan told reporters outside the hospital.

Dharmendra, who met the ailing Singh on Wednesday, asked everyone to pray for his health and a quick recovery.
"He is my darling brother ...please pray for him. Doctors are trying their best, but let's all pray for him," Dharmendra told the media.
Tina Ambani, actress and Chairperson of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital, also met Singh's family on Monday, and assured Vindu that the doctors are trying their best to help Singh battle with his condition.
Meanwhile, some media channels reported that the ailing actor passed away on Monday. News of his alleged death quickly hit the social media, with people posting condolence messages on Twitter and Facebook.
Shocked by the false report of his father's death, Vindu thrashed the rumor and said, "There is slight improvement in his condition and please it's a request till the time he is alive please don't kill him and pray for him. We can see that he is fighting from inside."
Dr Ram Narain, COO of the hospital, also refuted the rumor that Singh is dead.
"Dara Singh is not dead. These are all rumors. He is on ventilator and needs high dosage of oxygen. His kidneys are not working," Narain told an entertainment website.
"Dara's entire family is here. Vindu has accepted the fact that his father is 84. He knows his condition and has understood the situation. We just hope that he gets better with passing time," he added.
Dara Singh Not Dead But Still Critical; Dharmendra Asks People to Pray for Him

Low GDP, Still Congress raises Rs 1,662 crore in 5 years for his coffer

NEW DELHI: India's GDP growth rate may have dropped in the past few years but that has had little impact on the bottomlines of the country's leading political parties. The coffers of the main parties have been swelling, with the richest amongst them, the ruling Congress, having made a cool Rs 1,662 crore in the last five years till 2011-12

Not surprisingly, the highest income for these parties came in 2009, when parliamentary elections were held. According to Income Tax returns of these parties, Congress's annual income went up from Rs 220 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 497 crore in 2009-10. In the next two years, the party raked in almost Rs 400 crore per year.

Similarly, BJP's income swelled to Rs 220 crore in 2009-10, up from Rs 124 crore a year earlier. It touched Rs 258 crore in 2010-11.

Last year (2011-12), when economic growth slowed down again - the GDP plummeting to 6.9% from a high of 8.4% in the previous two years - both parties registered a dip in collections. While the Congress made Rs 307 crore, down from Rs 468 crore the previous year, the BJP's collection saw a Rs 90 crore drop, settling at Rs 168 crore.

All major parties continue to source most of their funds from unidentified donors, according to the I-T returns. The donors' lists and returns of the Congress, BJP, NCP and BSP show that these parties have not disclosed the names of entities who account for a major chunk of their funding.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which has been campaigning for transparency in funding of political parties and has obtained these I-T returns, has written to the Central Board of Direct Taxes demanding a probe into undisclosed contributions to parties, which constitute up to 90% of their total collections.

"It has been more than a year and the CBDT has not yet responded to our request though they had promised to look into the matter," said Anil Bairwal, coordinator of ADR. He said the sources and flow of such donations needed to be tracked to curb black money infiltrating into the coffers of political parties.

BSP, the party led by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Dalit icon Mayawati, stands third in the list of parties with the highest collections. Its income went up from Rs 70 crore in 2008-09 to Rs 182 crore in the election year 2009.

In five years till 2011-12, Mayawati's party received more than Rs 425 crore, mostly through cash donations. It has revealed little about its contributors claiming most donations were below Rs 20,000 and thus exempt under election rules from mandatory disclosure. Some time ago, the party had subverted I-T department's moves to unearth its donors, successfully arguing that all its cash contributions were made by poor supporters out of love and affection for the party leader.

Bairwal said the Congress, which claimed to have collected at least Rs 978 crore through sale of coupons in the five years till 2008-09, did not provided any contributors' list for this collection. It provided details of contributors who together accounted for a paltry Rs 85 crore during this period.

Surprisingly, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has left behind the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party in generating funds. CPM stood fourth in the list, having collected Rs 335 crore in the five years up to 2011-12. SP made only Rs 200 crore during this period and NCP was far behind with Rs 140 crore.

Avtar Henry is British citizen, Union Home Secretary informs HC lawyer

July 10, 2012 05:16 PM

Case of Arvind Khanna's British citizenship adjourned to July 12
CHANDIGARH: The Union Home Ministry has confirned that Avtrar Henry former Congress minister and four time MLAS from Jalandhar is a foreign national and he has obtained the citizenship of United Kingdom.

Arora said that real name of Avtar Henry is Avtar Singh Sanghera and his father name in Indian records is Lakhbir Singh. However in his british passport, the name of his father is mentioned as Joginder Singh.

This was stated by H.C.Arora lawyer pf petitioner Ajay Sehgal who filed petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging Indian citizenship of Henry. Arora said that he was informed about the status of Henry's citizenship by Secretary in Union Home Ministry.

Arora in his petition has told the court that Henry who was four time MLA and remained cabinet minister in Punjab government was not an Indian citizen. He informed the court that Henry had voluntarily obtained british citizenship in January 1968. Hew got british passport on May 1, 1968 and he also travelled on this passport to India.

Arora said that real name of Avtar Henry is Avtar Singh Sanghera and his father name in Indian records is Lakhbir Singh. However in his british passport, the name of his father is mentioned as Joginder Singh.

The High Court had directed the Union Home Ministry and Foreign affairs minsitry to give report on status of citizenship of Avtar Henry.

Meanwhile, Punjab and Haryana High Court has adjourned till July 12 another similar petition filed against Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna. His election has been challenged in the High Court by Gobind Singh Kanjhla defeated candidate of SAD. Kanjhla has claimed in the petition that Arvind Khanna is not an Indian Citizen and he holds British passport. He has demanded to cancel the election and order repoll in Dhuri.

Lakhwinder Singh Sidhu lawyer of petitioner said that judge Gurmit Singh Sandhawalia has adjourned the hearing to July 12.

दोहरी नागरिकता मामले में हेनरी दिल्ली तलब

जालंधर. सीनियर कांग्रेसी व राज्य के पूर्व कैबिनेट मंत्री अवतार सिंह हैनरी उर्फ अवतार सिंह संघेड़ा को दोहरी नागरिकता के मामले में गृह विभाग ने दिल्ली तलब किया है। हैनरी को 10 जुलाई को नई दिल्ली की जय सिंह रोड स्थित एनडीसीसी -2 बिल्डिंग स्थित डायरेक्टर (आईएंडसी) मिनिस्ट्री ऑफ होम अफेयर्स के दफ्तर में कमरा नंबर ए-107 में सुबह 11 बजे पेश होने को कहा गया है।

दिल्ली में उनसे दोहरी नागरिकता को लेकर सवाल-जबाव किए जाएंगे। गौर हो कि हैनरी के दो अवतारों की जांच क्राइम ब्रांच कर रही है। हैनरी की पहली पत्नी सुरिंदर कौर के बेटे गुरजीत सिंह संघेड़ा ने आरोप लगाया था कि उनके पिता की दोहरी नागरिकता है। गुरजीत सिंह ने आरोप लगाया था कि उनके पिता ब्रिटिश नागरिक हैं। हैनरी पर यह भी आरोप है कि उन्होंने बिना तलाक दिए दूसरी शादी की है। इस मामले की जांच क्राइम ब्रांच कर रही है।

यह है मामला
अवतार हैनरी की पहली पत्नी के पुत्र गुरजीत सिंह संघेड़ा ने नवंबर २क्क्९ में दोहरी नागरिकता और बिना तलाक दूसरी शादी का आरोप लगाया था। २क्११ में यह फाइल बंद हो गई। उसके बाद अजय सहगल नामक शख्स ने यह मामला फिर से उठाया।

ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਵਿਚ ਕਰਜ਼ਾ ਲੈਣਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਔਖਾ

ਟੋਰਾਂਟੋ, 10 ਜੁਲਾਈ - ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਤ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਜਿੰਮ ਫਲਾਹਰਟੀ ਵਲੋਂ ਬੀਤੀ 21 ਜੂਨ ਨੂੰ ਘਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਾਰਗੇਜ ਬਾਰੇ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਸਖਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ, ਜੋ ਬੀਤੀ 9 ਜੁਲਾਈ ਤੋਂ ਦੇਸ਼ ਭਰ ਵਿਚ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪਰ ਇਕ ਰਿਪੋਰਟ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਬਹੁ-ਗਿਣਤੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਅਜੇ ਤੱਕ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਪਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ। ਹੁਣ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਕੀਮਤ ਦੇ 80 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਤੋਂ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਕਰਜ਼ਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਿਆ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ, ਜੋ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ 85 ਫੀਸਦੀ ਸੀ। ਕਰਜ਼ਾ ਵਾਪਸ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਵੱਧ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਸਮਾਂ 30 ਸਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਘਟਾ ਕੇ 25 ਸਾਲ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਬੈਂਕ ਆਫ ਮਾਂਟਰੀਅਲ ਦੇ ਸਰਵੇਖਣ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਅਜੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੇ ਮਸਾਂ 50 ਕੁ ਫੀਸਦੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਖਤ ਹੋਏ ਇਕ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਪਤਾ ਲੱਗਾ ਹੈ।

ਅਲਬਰਟਾ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਕੱਪ 14 ਨੂੰ

ਕਲੱਬ ਵੱਲੋਂ 'ਮੇਲਾ ਮੁਟਿਆਰਾਂ ਦਾ' ਵੀ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ
ਅਲਬਰਟਾ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਪੋਰਟਸ ਕਲੱਬ ਦੇ ਅਹੁਦੇਦਾਰ ਇਕ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਦੌਰਾਨ।

ਐਡਮਿੰਟਨ, 10 ਜੁਲਾਈ (ਵਤਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ)-ਅਲਬਰਟਾ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਪੋਰਟਸ ਕਲੱਬ ਐਂਡ ਕਲਚਰਲ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਵੱਲੋਂ 'ਅਲਬਰਟਾ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਕੱਪ 2012', 14 ਜੁਲਾਈ ਨੂੰ ਸਥਾਨਿਕ ਐਮ. ਵੀ. ਲੇਜ਼ਰਟ ਹਾਈ ਸਕੂਲ, ਲੰਡਨ ਡਾਇਰੀ, ਰਿੱਕ ਸੈਂਟਰ ਦੇ ਮੈਦਾਨਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਦਿੰਦਿਆਂ ਕਲੱਬ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਬਲਦੇਵ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਪ-ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਲਖਵੀਰ ਔਜਲਾ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਟੂਰਨਾਮੈਂਟ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਵੈਸਟ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ (ਬ੍ਰਿਟ੍ਰਿਸ਼ ਕੋਲੰਬੀਆ) ਅਤੇ ਵੈਸਟਰਨ ਕਬੱਡੀ ਪਲੇਅਰ ਐਂਡ ਕਲਚਰਲ ਐਸੋ: ਬੀ. ਸੀ. ਦੀਆਂ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਭਾਗ ਲੈਣਗੀਆਂ। ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਪਾਲ ਬੋਪਾਰਾਏ ਅਤੇ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਜਗਦੀਸ਼ ਰਾਏ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਖੇਡ ਮੇਲੇ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਕਬੱਡੀ, ਰੱਸਾਕਸ਼ੀ, ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਤੇ ਬੁਜ਼ਰਗਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਦੌੜਾਂ ਆਦਿ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਦਿਲਚਸਪ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਦੇਖਣ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲਣਗੇ। ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਕਲੱਬ ਦੇ ਸਰਪ੍ਰਸਤ ਰਾਣਾ ਧਾਲੀਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੁਪਹਿਰ 2 ਵਜੇ ਤੋਂ ਸ਼ਾਮੀਂ 5 ਵਜੇ ਤੱਕ 'ਮੇਲਾ ਮੁਟਿਆਰਾਂ ਦਾ' ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰਕ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਕੇਵਲ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਦੇ ਮਨੋਰੰਜਨ ਲਈ ਹੀ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ, ਜਿਸ ਵਿਚ ਗਿੱਧਾ, ਭੰਗੜਾ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਗੀਤ ਸੰਗੀਤ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।

Kuldeep Nayar's book ,"Beyond the Lines: An Autography",kicks up controversy

New Delhi - Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar is no stranger to controvers and once again he has stirred a hornet's nest. The veteran journalist and author Kuldip Nayar has courted a fresh controversy by alleging that Sikh Student’s Federation president Bhai Amrik Singh, who died during Operation Blue Star in June 1984, was “IB agent”. Stirring a hornets’ nest, Nayar has written that it was an open secret that Amrik Singh, president of Sikh Students Union (read Federation) was IB’s agent. In his latest book "Beyond the Lines: An Autography", the veteran journalist claims that former President Giani Zail Singh 'blessed the Sikh radical organisation Dal Khalsa to take on the Akalis'. These claims have been rubbished by Dal Khalsa as completely baseles, but Kuldip Nayar stands by his revelation claiming he was told by none other than the former President of India himself. 


In his recently published autobiography Kuldip Nayar has also alluded to the role of Dal Khalsa while writing about the genesis of the Punjab problem. Nayar in his 16 page Punjab chapter titled “Punjab in flames”, has alleged that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was creation of the then Congress.

The Sikh radical group Dal Khalsa is up in arms against the Nayar, calling his allegations as senseless and baseless. Party head H S Dhami interacting with the media said the great Sikh personalities and the Dal Khalsa continue to bear the burden of the sophisticated malign

campaign of the Indian authors and writers. 


Notably, Nayar has claimed that the formation of Dal Khalsa was engineered by Gaini Zail Singh to “needle the Akalis”.  “As far as Dal Khalsa is concerned there was no iota of truth in Nayar’s accusation”.


He said the avowed agenda of the Dal Khalsa was to confront and curtail the anti-Sikh policies of the state. The organization defied the mainstream political parties including the Akalis. Therefore, by virtue of its nature, its formation simultaneously created two

adversaries- the Indian state and the traditional Akalis.

Interestingly, Tarlochan Singh, the former Personal Assistant to Gaini Zail Singh has refuted Kuldip Nayar’s contention saying that his mentor was not behind the creation of radical Sikh outfit.

“Nayar has not only passed derogatory remarks against Sikh leadership of that time but had also attempted to do character assassination of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale and Bhai Amrik Singh, said he and added that no sensible person can believe in Nayar’s senseless accusations”.

Sounding a warning, he said how long the Sikhs would tolerate the insult to their martyrs.

In his book, Nayar has quoted an MP Kamal Nath who claimed that they provided “money to Santji off and on to challenge the Akali government”.

Kamal Nath is alive and minister in UPA government. He must speak out when he interviewed Santji as written by Nayar, and who others were present during that time and the amount he gave to Santji , he asked. Dhami challenged Nath to provide a single concrete evidence to prove his baseless allegation.

Govt buys Gandhi’s archive for $1.28 million

Contains documents of his controversial relatioship with architect Hermann Kallenbach

Mahatma Gandhi’s prized documents and photographs, including those on his controversial relationship with architect Hermann Kallenbach, were saved from going under the hammer as India bought the treasure trove for a whopping $1.28 million.

The archive, which belonged to Kallenbach, Gandhi’s close friend and German Jewish bodybuilder, was to be auctioned at Sotheby’s today but it was cancelled after the back-channel talks by the Indian Government with the auction house and the family members of Kallenbach helped India take possession of the rare documents.

The documents will now be housed at the National Archives of India in New Delhi.

An agreement was finalised in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs and National Archives of India and was signed by the three parties — Government of India, Sotheby’s and the family of Isa Sarid, the grandniece of Kallenbach.

“The acquired material would be housed in the National Archives of India,” Culture Minister Kumari Selja said in a statement in New Delhi.

 Though the Sarid family, which owns the treasure trove, quoted $5 million as price for the archives, finally an amount of $1.28 million was paid.

“The payment of £8,25,250 ($1.28 million) has been released to Sotheby’s and the lot has been withdrawn from auction and sold to the Government of India,” the statement said.

 The archive, which is likely to be a rich source of information on Gandhiji for researchers and historians, was recently examined by a team of experts from the Ministry of Culture, who described it as “very well preserved and of inestimable value.”

 The archive includes several letters that throw fresh light on the controversial relationship between Gandhiji and Kallenbach, one of the foremost associates and friends of Gandhiji during his time in South Africa.

The auctioneer’s Catalogue Note on the archive said that it “is richly informative of the important (and occasionally misunderstood) friendship between the two men, and is a key biographical source for Gandhi.”

The archive includes “poignant letters” by the deeply troubled Harilal, Gandhi’s first son, and reveals Kallenbach’s deep friendship in particular with Gandhi’s second son Manilal, who remained on Phoenix Settlement in South Africa, and his third son Ramdas.

In the statement in New Delhi, Ms. Selja said the Government of India attaches the highest importance to the archival materials and artefacts relating to the leaders of national movement.

A five member Committee led by Prof Mushirul Hasan, Director General, National Archives, was earlier deputed to London to examine the archival material for authenticity and historical value.

The Committee had recommended that in view of the historical importance of the material, the entire archive may be acquired as a matter of highest priority.

In London, Sotheby’s said the deal was concluded in a “private transaction.” However, it did not disclose the amount the Indian government paid for the documents.

No service tax to be levied on NRI remittances: FinMin

New Delhi, July 10

The Finance Ministry today clarified that no service tax would be levied on NRI remittances from overseas.

The clarification by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), which functions under the Finance Ministry, follows concerns over reports that there was a move to levy 12 per cent tax on money sent back home by Indians abroad under the changed service tax regime from July 1.

The CBEC said in a circular “that the matter has been examined and it is clarified that there is no service tax per se on the amount of foreign currency remitted to India from overseas”. In the negative list regime, “service” excludes transaction in money. As the amount of remittance comprises money, the activity does not comprise a “service” and is not subjected to service tax, the circular clarifies.

It further added that “in case any fee or conversion charges are levied for sending such money, they are also not liable to service tax as the person sending the money and the company conducting the remittance are located outside India. Such services are deemed to be provided outside India and thus not liable to service tax”.

It has been further clarified that even the Indian counterpart bank or financial institution which charges the foreign bank for the services provided at the receiving end, is not liable to service tax as the place of provision of such service is outside India.

The clarification will alleviate concerns of NRIs as India is one of the top recipient of remittances ($64 billion in 2011), according to the World Bank data. Given the dire need for dollar at a time when current account deficit is high and Rupee is under pressure, any move to levy service tax on NRI remittances would have been disastrous.

CMs of Punjab and Kerala, which are among the states receiving the largest remittances from NRIs, had taken up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

M Rafeeque Ahmed, president, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), said that towards addressing the trade deficit, remittances were the single largest source of unconditional flow of foreign exchange into India, according to estimates by the World Bank. Given the slowdown and declining levels of foreign exchange, service tax could only act as a deterrent to precious incoming foreign exchange, he added.

He said the waiver of service tax on the same would ensure that this stable source of foreign exchange would continue to maintain the delicate balance of payments position of India at this moment of global crisis. 

WHY THE CLARIFICATION  Concerns were being expressed over reports that there was a move to levy 12% tax on money sent back home by Indians abroad under the changed service tax regime from July 1 THE FINAL WORD  The matter has been examined and it is clarified that there is no service tax per se on the amount of foreign currency remitted to India from overseas  As the amount of remittance comprises money, the activity does not comprise a “service” and is not subject to service tax  In case any fee or conversion charges are levied for sending such money, they are also not liable to service tax as the person sending the money and the company conducting the remittance are located outside India

Pray for Dara Singh, says Dharmendra

Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Actor Dharmendra, who visited hospitalised wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh whose condition is very critical, asked people to pray for his recovery.
"He is my darling brother. Let's pray for him. Doctors are trying their best. Please pray for him," Dharmendra told reporters after his visit.
Dara Singh, who was hospitalised at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Saturday, continues to be very critical and is now undergoing dialysis, a doctor had said Monday.
"He is still very critical. His condition has not deteriorated and he is holding up, but he requires a high dose of medication.The problem he came up with during hospitalization has now affected hiskidneys. His kidneys are not functioning the way they should, so we have to put him on dialysis," hospital COO Ram Narain told IANS.
Dara Singh, who won the title of Rustam-e-Hind for his wrestling prowess, entered the film world in the 1960s.
He appeared in various films like "Watan Se Door", "Rustom-e-Baghdad", "Sher Dil", "Sikandare- Azam", "Ham Sab Ustaad Hai", "Raaka", "Mera Naam Joker" and "Dharam Karam". He was last seen in a 2007 release "Jab We Met".
He has also done TV serials and is best known for his portrayal of Hanuman in various film and TV adaptions of the Ramayan.