NRI in Canada asked to pay alimony to estranged wife in India

NEW DELHI: A non-resident Indian has been asked by a Delhi court to pay an alimony of Rs 33,000 a month to his estranged wife living here.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ila Rawat ordered Puneet Arora, residing in Canada with his parents and sister, to pay maintenance to his wife from January 2010 when she had moved the court for the alimony.

The sessions court's order came on the woman's plea for modification of a magisterial court order, which had allowed her an alimony of Rs 33,000 a month but had slated the date of its payment from August 5, 2011, the day the trial court had given its ruling.

"The respondent no. 1 (Puneet) is directed to pay Rs 33,000 per month towards maintenance and for rent amount to his wife (the petitioner) from the date of filing the application," said ASJ Rawat, slating the 10th day of every month as the date for payment of the alimony.

In her plea, the woman had said she was married to Puneet on September 15, 2009 with her parent giving sufficient dowry to him as per his family's demand.

She said Puneet left for Canada after a fortnight of his marriage and when she joined him after five months after grant of visa, she was not treated properly and was not given the status of wife.

She said her in-laws and husband threatened, harassed, tortured, taunted and even beat her up despite receiving ample amount of dowry from her parents.

She also alleged that her husband was having an extra marital affair with a divorced woman in Canada and with whom she had seen him in objectionable position.

Ultimately, she was forced to leave Canada on December 7, 2009 and took shelter at her parental home in India without any monetary help from her husband for her maintenance and day to day expenses, she said.

Canada Day Fireworks in Edmonton 2012

Canada Day fireworks display in Edmonton as seen from the Legislature Grounds, Gallagher Park and Kinsmen Park where the fireworks are launched on July 1, 2012.

Canada Day fireworks above Kinsmen Park in Edmonton on July 1, 2012.

4-0: Spanish Armada flattens Italy

Spain beat Italy to win their third Euro Championship, clinch third big title in a row

Kiev, July 1
World champions Spain took their place among the game's greats when they thrashed Italy 4-0 to become the first team to win successive European Championship titles on Sunday. Goals from David Silva, Jordi Alba, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata gave the world champions an easy victory over an Italian team down to 10 men through injury for the last half-hour.
The diminutive Silva scored with a rare header after a Cesc Fabregas pull-back in the 14th minute before a superb sprint finish from left-back Alba following a pinpoint Xavi pass doubled their lead four minutes before halftime. Torres, who scored the winner in the final when they won the title in 2008, struck their third goal in the 84th minute before setting up fellow substitute Mata to add the final flourish in the 88th.
Italy had more possession than Spain in the opening half but when they did have a sniff of goal goalkeeper Iker Casillas maintained his astonishing record of not conceding a goal in the knockout stage of a tournament for the 10th successive match.
Spain have become the first European side to win three major tournaments following their success in Euro 2008 and the World Cup two years ago. The only other team to win three successive major titles was Argentina who lifted the Copa America in 1945, 1946 and 1947 when that tournament was held annually.
Spain, who started without a recognised striker, were all artistry and guile in midfield while Italy, whose own creator Andrea Pirlo failed to shine, were handicapped by having only 10 men from the hour mark after using up all three substitutes.
The third of them, Thiago Motta, only lasted four minutes after replacing Riccardo Montolivo in the 57th before limping off with a hamstring injury. Italy went close twice through second half substitute Antonio Di Natale but Mario Balotelli, the two-goal hero of their 2-1 semi-final win over Germany, rarely looked like scoring. The opening goal came when Andres Iniesta split the Italy defence with an incisive pass to Fabregas who outpaced Giorgio Chiellini to get to the byline where he pulled the ball back to Silva who flashed his header past the helpless Buffon.
The second came when Alba tore past the static Leonardo Bonucci and planted a perfect left foot shot past Gianluigi Buffon. Torres then ran through to score the third after another Xavi through ball before setting up Mata with a deft flick.
In the end, the game statistics were quite even, despite the unbalanced scoreline, which proves that Spain created goals out of nowhere. Spain had a 14-11 lead in shots at goal, and 6-4 lead in shots on target. They led 57%-43% on ball possession and 88%-83% on pass completion. These figures got skewed in Spain favour after Italy were reduced to 10 men.
As Spain celebrated, there were tears and grief in the Italian team. Mario Balotelli and Leonardo Bonucci looked particularly distraught. Andrea Pirlo, the influential 33-year-old playmaker, has in all probably bowed out of major championship football and was suitably downcast.
Former Italy star Gianluca Vialli commented after the end of the rout: "Spain are great to watch - unless you are on the receiving end. As for Italy, this is a great starting point to the next World Cup… A new team, a new manager."

HIGH FIVES AT SOCCER SUMMIT
16 teams, 30 games, 72 goals... Here's our pick of five goals that rocked Ukraine-Poland and the rest of the soccer world

1. Having the gall to softly chip a penalty over a diving 'keeper, rather than firing to his left or right, is such the height of cool that this technique is named after its pioneer, Antonin Panenka. He used it to win the 1976 European Championship for Czechoslovakia against West Germany in a penalty shootout. At Euro 2012, Andrea Pirlo did it in Italy's quarterfinal shootout victory over England, and Sergio Ramos performed a "panenka" to help defending champion Spain beat Portugal in their semifinal penalty shootout. Brave.

SPAIN'S SOLE LAPSE

2. Italy was the only team that managed to score against the world and defending European champions at Euro 2012. Antonio Di Natale's chip at speed past Iker Casillas in the 61st minute in their opening Group C match on June 10 wasn't the prettiest goal of Euro 2012, but it's a top five pick for its rarity.

SUBLIME SILVA

3. Controlling the ball 12 metres out, the nippy Spain midfielder faced a seemingly impenetrable wall of three Ireland defenders blocking his route to goal. So he improvised, dancing right then left before hitting the ball with pinpoint precision past one defender, through the legs of two others, and beyond 'keeper Shay Given. It was Spain's second goal in a 4-0 win Group C on June 14. Laser-like.

IBRAHIMOVIC'S FAREWELL

4. Sweden were already eliminated when they played France on June 19 in Group D, but their towering frontman was determined to go out with a bang. With a roundhouse kick Bruce Lee would have been proud of, Ibrahimovic met Sebastian Larsson's cross and threw himself nearly sideways in the air to volley the ball with his right boot past Hugo Lloris. Thumping.

WELBECK’S FLICK

5. The Manchester United forward scored only once for England at Euro 2012, but his goal was brilliant for its cunning and exquisite timing. With England and Sweden at 2-2 in the 78th minute of their June 15 group stage match, winger Theo Walcott sent in a cross. His back to the goal, Welbeck met the ball with his right leg and flicked it behind him with his heel, stunning Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. Welbeck's execution was astounding and the goal secured the win for England.

Chief Minsiter begins ``Green Punjab Mission`` from Fazilka

Parkash Singh Badal, CM, and Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani plant a sapling in Fazilka on Sunday.

Fazilka, July 1

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal chose to launch the “Green Punjab Mission” from Fazilka today as the district has a mere 1 per cent forest area against the recommended 33 per cent.

Accompanied by Forest Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, the Chief Minister launched the mission by planting a sapling near Puranpatti village on the Fazilka-Malout road, 7 km from the town.

Under the mission, the state government has set a target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years. On an average, five crore saplings are to be planted annually at a cost of Rs 180 crore.

The mission is aimed at enhancing the state’s forest cover from the existing 7 per cent to 15 per cent in the first phase of the mission.

“The people are suffering from different serious ailments, including cancer, diabetes and hypertension, mainly due to air, water and soil pollution. The main cause of pollution is dearth of trees,” said Badal while addressing a gathering at the local grain market.

Appealing to the people to usher in a new beginning, planting and protecting trees, he directed Forest Department officials to bring all government and private land under the mission.

Countering the allegations of CLP leader Sunil Jakhar that Punjab had gone bankrupt, the Chief Minister said the SAD-BJP government did not require a certificate from the Opposition party on the state’s fiscal condition. He held previous Congress governments, both in the state and at the Centre, responsible for Punjab’s ever-rising debt. “A major part of our debt pertains to the terrorism period….The Union Government has failed to provide any financial package for Punjab,” the Chief Minister said.

Badal denied there any differences between the SAD and the BJP over the selection of Mayor for the Amritsar Municipal Corporation. “The issue will be resolved amicably,” he claimed.

Jyani said both environment and the country’s ecology had been ruined by haphazard growth.

“Friendly animal species, including birds, have vanished due to the ecological imbalance. In such a scenario, growing trees is the only way out,” he said.

The Minister said the beats of forest guards had been reorganised to bring all Punjab villages under the forest cover.

Financial Commissioner (Forest) DS Bains said there was a need to establish large, modern nurseries at all district headquarters to disburse saplings among the people and NGOs.

Parliamentary Secretary (Forest) Nand Lal, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, Balluana MLA Gurtej Singh Ghuriana, Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Basant Garg and GS Dhillon, SSP, were present on the occasion.

PLANTATION DRIVE

• Under the Green Mission, the state government has set a target of planting 40 crore saplings across Punjab in eight years
• On an average, five crore saplings would be planted per year at a cost of Rs 180 crore
• The drive is aimed at enhancing the forest cover in the state from the present 7 per cent to 15 per cent
• Fazilka chosen as the starting point as the district has a mere 1 per cent forest cover against the recommended 33 per cent.

Surjeet Singh home after 30 years, says he was a spy

 
After more than 30 years of incarceration in Pakistan, Surjeet Singh returned home Thursday to a tumultuous and teary welcome from family and friends and promptly admitted that he had indeed been sent to spy for India. 

Held in Pakistan on spying charges in the early 1980s, Surjeet, 69, was released from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail early Thursday and made the road journey to Wagah, on the Pakistan side of the border, before entering his homeland. 

"I was a RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent. No one bothered about me after I got arrested. Don't ask me too much...," Surjeet told reporters soon after stepping on Indian soil.

He was garlanded and hugged by family members and fellow villagers from Phidde in Ferozepur district. Dozens of camera crews and media persons jostled with each other to capture the moment.

The crowds were so frenetic that Surjeet, who completed his life term in 2005, couldn't even meet his wife Harbans Kaur. They were taken to Amritsar, where the family offered prayers at Harmandar Sahib, the holiest of Sikh shrines, in separate vehicles.

Smiling and waving to family members, friends and supporters, a tired but beaming Surjeet thanked Pakistani border officials as he walked across the zero line at the international border. 

"I am very happy to return after 30 years and meet my children and family," he said. 

"Indian prisoners are treated well in Pakistan jails. Sarabjit Singh is also doing well there. I met him recently though I couldn't meet him today before leaving. He has sent no message with me. Leave it to me, I will get him released... Please don't ask anything more," Surjeet said, referring to Sarabjit Singh, also from Punjab who has been in Kot Lakhpat jail.

Downplaying the confusion over the release, he said: "In Urdu, the way they write Sarabjit and Surjeet is almost the same. This led to the confusion. Otherwise, everyone knew that the matter was regarding my release only.

"I will never return to Pakistan again," Surjeet, with a grey flowing beard, told reporters in Punjabi, his head and finger indicating a firm "no" gesture.

"I was arrested earlier for spying charges. If I return again, the security agencies might suspect that I have come for spying again." 

Surjeet said prisoners on both sides of the border should be released by the respective governments.

"I was treated well by prison officials and I am thankful to them," he said.

Dressed in a white kurta-pyjama and black turban and carrying two bags, Surjeet had been brought to the Wagah border on the Pakistan side in a prison van. 

Though he had been freed, his left hand was in handcuffs. The accompanying policemen got down with him but did not open the handcuffs immediately even as he smiled and hugged his lawyer. 

Once the formalities were completed, he crossed to the Attari side of the joint border checkpost, about 30 km from Amritsar, where his family and friends waited excitedly to meet him. 

His son Kulwinder, holding a box of sweets, couldn't hold back his tears. The family had given up hope of seeing him again, presuming him to be dead after he went missing near the border in Ferozepur sector in 1982. 

"I was only two-three years old when he went missing. This is the biggest day of my life," said Kulwinder.

Surjeet's release came in the midst of the controversy and flip-flop over the release of Sarabjit Singh. 

The Pakistan side was Tuesday widely reported to have announced that Sarabjit, who is facing death penalty on terrorism charges, would be released after his death sentence was commuted by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari. 

In an apparent flip, this was retracted later at night with the government clarifying that it was not Sarabjit but Surjeet who was being freed.