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VOL 25 No. 2
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Happy
Festive
Season!
Ritu Ghai from New Delhi on
global trends in Indian fashion
- Page 16
Sydney dresses up for festivities
- Page 17
Prime Minister Julia Gillard visits
India from October 15 for a 3-
day visit followed by NSW
Premier Barry OFarrell in India
from October 27.
- Page 9
02 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER September - October 2012
October - November 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 03
04 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2012
October 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 05
06 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2012
Editor's Letter
October - November 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 7
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N
ever having tuned in to
Alan Jones, except dur-
ing occasional flicking
between stations, (to exercise
freedom of choice) an opinion
on his programme may be based
on hearsay. But with an abun-
dance of opinions available
about this controversial charac-
ter it is rather easy to comment,
especially when he shows little
restraint to denigrate someone
who is unable to defend himself,
disrespects someone who is not
alive, that too, father of a per-
son who at least demands some
level of dignity being at the
helm of the nation.
The people have voiced their
opinion of disgust; his masters
have listened and now he calls it
bullying when the tables have
turned, when he receives his
own dose of medicine he has put
down the throat of his gullible
listeners unrestrained. For
decades he has incited hatred
with his toxic rhetoric; his
involvement to spread commu-
nal hatred during Cronulla riots
of 2005 is on record; he has
been biased in his analysis and
has no misgivings to promote
products and services he gets
recompensed without public dis-
closure. He is no intellectual,
not a man of wisdom, as Mike
Carlton points out in his week-
end column in the SMH: The
claim on the 2GB website that
Jones is an Oxford graduate is a
typical piece of deceit. He did a
short teaching diploma there,
not PPE at Balliol. He (Jones)
is a crackpot muddle of preju-
dice and ignorance, Carlton
says.
So why not simply switch
him off.
Freedom of speech and
expression comes with a lot of
responsibilities. It is very easy
to damage a society, to create
disharmony, but difficult to con-
struct a social fabric that is con-
ducive to mutual understanding
and tolerance for our individual
differences. A recent case in
point was when a small Islamic
group protested in Sydney to
voice their opinion against a
third rate film made in the US
that denigrated Prophet
Mohammad. It was their right to
protest as it hurt their sensitivi-
ties. There has been a similar
protest by the Indian community
when Daily Telegraph published
a cartoon of Lord Ganesha that
they thought was disrespectful.
These idols and symbols mean a
lot to the people who have been
brought up in a culture of
extreme respect for their beliefs.
There should be understanding,
respect and tolerance for their
beliefs.
While voicing an opinion is
an individuals right, if the
protest follows up with violence,
disrespectful of the laws of the
land, it is transgression of the
bounds of freedom.
Tolerance is not a one-way
street. Those who demand this
must also offer it to others when
there is need. In 2001, the
Buddhas of Bamiyan that were
built in the sixth century were
destroyed in Afghanistan by
extremist Taliban in a violent
expression of intolerant rage.
The statues were pieces of art, a
heritage that has now been
destroyed forever by some igno-
rant individuals who have no
real understanding of the con-
cept of God, that its first and
foremost teaching is universal
love.
U
niversal love is a crying
need in Indian politics,
too. The situation is in a
state of flux riddled by episodes
of corruption all around.
Everyday a new story emerges.
There were rumours of a split in
the Anna team, mainly between
Kejriwal and Anna in their quest
for reckoning as a significant
political force. Their rallies have
been lacklustre of late, the origi-
nal enthusiasm having subsided
as rightly predicted by the
Congress and other major par-
ties.
Kejriwal has launched a new
party and Anna has given his
blessing to the venture. This
may have benefit as it provides
multi-cornered alternatives to the
Anna team. On the other hand,
the political party may not gain
significant seats in the election
whereas, as individuals, they
may have had more clout to
influence results of their choice.
Kejriwal, right at the start,
has chosen a soft target of Sonia
Gandhis son-in-law Robert
Vadra alleging nthat he had been
unduly handed land and property
deals worth crores of rupees by
real estate developer DLF.
Kejriwal has promised to bring
to light more issues of corrup-
tion at regular intervals. Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh has
stated that 'Mindless negativity'
over corruption charges dam-
ages the countrys image. But
that is the ostrich position.
Corruption charges and end-
less stream of scams have con-
siderably dented the image of
the Manmohan Singh govern-
ment. Now the new crisis is that
after his governments move to
open India to multi-retail FDI,
opening up the insurance sector
and removing subsidies on
petroleum products, Mamata
Banerjees Trinamool party
withdrew its support in protest,
putting majority of the UPA
coalition in jeopardy. Congress,
the major partner, is scrambling
to secure support of Mayawati
now.
Overall, the political situa-
tion in India is dire and one
would wish a swift end to it by
an early general election.
Social media registers its clout
For decades Alan Jones has incited hatred with his toxic rhet-
oric, but the radio host reached his nadir when he made the
preposterous remark that PM Gillards father died of shame
because she was a liar. Widespread protests against the
unwarranted comment have made him apologise.
Anna Hazares right hand man for long,
Arvind Kejriwal has launched his own political
party and promised to expose corruption
scams, starting with one involving Vadra.
Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhis
businessman husband,
has been put in the dock by
Arvind Kejriwal.
8 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2012
Analysis
By Dilip Mahanty
O
f late there has been a huge hue and
cry about the benefits or otherwise
of major international retail chains
bringing in their millions and setting up
shops in India. The Indian Government is
actively pursuing this and has allowed 49
per cent ownership of such ventures to be in
the hands of overseas retailers. It is also
talking up the benefits of such investments
to the Indian economy in terms of growth to
the GDP and employment opportunities for
hundreds of thousands Indians.
The Government seems to be in a real
hurry for this to happen. There are many
proponents of this idea being touted as a
panacea to solve many of Indias economic
woes, apart from providing quality branded
products to increasing number of brand con-
scious middle and upper class consumers
with considerable disposable income.
On the other side of the spectrum the
critics of the Government and the small
traders have registered strident opposition to
this initiative stating that this will affect the
business of small kirana shops throughout
India, who currently provide livelihood to
millions of people. They also see in this
Government initiative a smoke screen
designed to take away public attention from
the myriad of scams the current Government
is mired in and divert public discussion in a
different direction.
The arguments put forth by both sides
about the pros and cons tend to gloss over
various issues and do not adequately articu-
late if Indian retail industry is really ready
for such an image makeover given its exist-
ing facilities and infrastructure.
Here is a SWOT analysis to consider the
whole issue of FDI in retail:
STRENGTHS
Quality - well packaged international
brands will be available to Indian consumers
in major cities of the country (cities with
population of 1 million or more).
Retail service quality overall will be
raised to international levels.
Many new job opportunities, especially
for the youth, will be created in urban areas
Will uplift the standard of products,
packaging and services of local retailers to
remain competitive and in business.
There will be up skilling of employees
through use of latest technologies from pro-
curement of goods to point of sale in multi-
national retail outlets.
Resources available will be efficiently
employed and not wasted.
Overseas tourists will spend more in
India through availability of known brands
at cheaper prices.
Economic growth will be enhanced.
A feel good sense will be generated
among the consumers.
WEAKNESSES
Only cities with one million people or
more will be serviced by such outlets.
Thousands of kirana stores in such
cities could be forced to close down, unable
to match the quality and price offered
through bulk purchases. Many of these
stores hire local employees and provide
livelihood to them. Re-employing them in
similar business would be a problem.
Many of the manufactured products
come from China and these will be import-
ed and supplied by the retailers to their out-
lets in India. Local manufacturers may not
be able to match the prices as Chinese man-
ufacturers have known to flaunt anti-dump-
ing laws of importing countries through
sheer arm twisting, resulting out of huge
trade volumes with them.
In the area of fresh food supply there are
a lot of weaknesses:
Indian farm holdings are tiny compared
to countries like US, Canada, Russia and
Australia. Individual supply contracts are
not feasible because of this and the retailer
has to depend on consolidators to purchase
from myriads of small farmers and supply in
bulk to it. Due to this the poor farmers are
hardly likely to get reasonable farm gate
price for their toil - as advocated by the
Government. Most of the benefits will pass
on to these consolidators.
Supply contract with a consolidator
could be legally binding and the farmers
would not have freedom to supply to any
other buyer even if the off take is inadequate
due to low demand or there is over supply
due to bumper crops.
Current Indian infrastructure, especially
storage facilities and road/rail transport, is
woefully inadequate. Big retailers transport
goods in huge quantities using semi trailers
to cart 40ft containers from ports to various
outlets. Who will build these infrastruc-
tures, especially wide roads for this?
Certainly not the retailers. Imagine big con-
tainers going through narrow dusty roads to
smaller cities where the outlets have been
established.
There has been a hue and cry in Europe
that GM seeds (produced by Monsanto)
used for edible crops could be a source of
cancer. Many of the fruit /vegetables /eggs
/chicken /meat sourced from overseas could
have been produced through utilisation of
GM seeds to grow either the plants or used
as stock feed for animals. There will be no
control over this once they come into India.
Big retailers chemically treat fruit and
vegetables to increase shelf life. Wax coated
fruit and veggies abound overseas and these
do not scrub off easily. People often peel off
the skins of certain fruits like apple before
eating them. Chemical preservatives can
never be healthy for the consumer. Is India
ready to embrace this in the name of eco-
nomic progress?
OPPORTUNITIES
India is a vast market with a large mid-
dle class, almost the size of US population.
This class is growing rapidly. Since they are
educated, upwardly mobile and have size-
able disposable income it craves for finer
things in life among which are international-
ly recognised brands stretching from
clothes, watches, toiletries, electronic prod-
ucts to packaged food and drink. This large
market is eyed by every international retail-
er as it is assured of large volume of sale.
Profitability from such retail outlets
promises to be higher due to lower local
costs of operation and availability of skilled
local labour.
The vast market ensures the supplying
country of regular manufacturing growth
with accompanying benefits and offers a
buttress against market fluctuations in other
parts of the world.
Since India has already established a
reputation in IT and ITES including call
centres, BPOs, KPOs etc, the retailers can
set up international service centres here to
develop various systems and service their
clients in other countries.
THREATS
a) Things are not as simple as they are
reflected in political statements. While the
big retailers might be charting out exciting
growth trajectories based on Government
pronouncements, things on the ground
maybe different. There are problems galore
everywhere from acquiring land to building
huge storage warehouses, getting basic
amenities, establishing communication net-
works, transport logistics, getting State and
Central Government clearances on various
restrictive rules etc.
b) Since most big retailers plan in
advance and project their costs/profitability
based on fixed time lines, establishing their
outlets in India within those time lines may
not be feasible given the lackadaisical atti-
tudes of people entrusted with clearing these
projects. Considerable cost blowouts have
been experienced in the past by other over-
seas based businesses in India, necessitating
much lower margins of profit than previous-
ly anticipated.
c) Local Indian businesses are very
canny when faced with competition. They
try every trick in the book to create obsta-
cles so that their businesses dont go down.
With their ability to mobilise popular and
political opposition to overseas ventures
they can delay projects indefinitely and cre-
ate frustration among overseas investors.
With the current political system in a filthy
quagmire this aspect assumes great signifi-
cance.
d) It is not necessary that once the retail
chains are established, large volumes of
sales will automatically follow. Initially the
curiosity factor will lead customers to these
stores. Once a few purchases are made the
customers will assess the cost/benefit aspect
before they step into such stores again.
Indian consumers, especially the older gen-
eration, are generally frugal given that they
have had to make sacrifices in the past to
establish themselves financially and they are
not about to throw money around if they can
find a better deal elsewhere. Though the
younger generation is more liberal in spend-
ing, it still ensures saving a percentage of its
income for the rainy day unlike the West
where the safety net of the Governments
supports the unemployed. Net savvy
younger generation also searches for good
deals around the world to make online pur-
chases.
e) Some local retailers like Reliance
Stores, Big Bazaar etc started off with a
bang and had customers rushing in droves
initially. But over time customer numbers
have started dwindling as they are seeking
alternative supply sources which offer better
prices and facilities.
f) Retailers have to be extremely flexible
to cater to Indian buyers and cannot take
them for granted. There is the case of KFC
rushing into India with big plans to expand
and grow because it thought it had a unique
product and customers exposed to its prod-
ucts would frequent the established outlets.
However, it soon discovered that the hum-
ble tandoori chicken offered a better and
healthier option. The KFC stores in India
can be found in only a handful of cities far
removed from what KFC had anticipated in
the beginning. MacDonalds, which has a
bigger base in India than KFC, had to make
considerable alteration to its standard prod-
ucts by introducing lamb patties in the ham-
burgers (instead of beef) and also create a
vegie burger in its menu as many Indians are
vegetarians. Now it has a number of other
vegetarian options in its menu unheard of in
the West.
The purpose of making this analysis is
to counter the gloss being projected by the
Government that FDI in retail will get rid of
many of Indias economic woes. With things
in shambles, as these are currently, invest-
ment in retail will only come in gradually.
The projected growth with creation of mil-
lions of jobs as the Government of India is
propagating through these investments will
not happen in a hurry.
Similarly the dire prediction of the
Opposition that all the kirana shops will
close with the cancerous tentacles of big
retailers grabbing every opportunity avail-
able around them is also an exaggeration.
Setting shop in India is a long and painful
process, with millions of by-laws involving
Central and State Governments, and would
need a lot of patience and perseverance on
the part of the investors. Do these investors,
used to quick decisions in more pragmatic
markets, have the stomach for a long drawn
out battle?
FDI has got India divided
The pros and cons suggested by both sides tend to gloss over various issues
and do not adequately articulate if Indian retail industry is ready for such a
sea change given its existing facilities and infrastructure.
October - November 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 9
Julia Gillard on the comeback trail
By Rekha Bhattacharjee
J
ulia Gillard is on a recovery road and
is firmly in the saddle with mid-
September News poll showing lead
over her Coalition counterpart in most of
the survey findings. This is a scenario not
many political pundits and commentators
had envisaged even a few months back.
Many of the Australian political lumi-
naries had, in fact, suggested the demise
of the Labor Government when the
toxic Carbon Tax unleashed the doom
scenario post July 1 as predicted by a cho-
rus of doomsayers led by Tony Abbott.
Once again, we have been reminded
that it may be tempting to predict in poli-
tics but it is fraught with danger of ending
up with egg on the face.
It has been three months since Carbon
Tax was introduced on July 1 but Whyalla
is not, as predicted by Tony Abbott,
showing any signs of turning into a ghost
town. Whyalla has stoically defied the
Mad Monk negativity and has, thus, come
to symbolise the shallowness of the
Coalitions political strategy and a lack of
ethics as well.
Julia Gillard has ducked another of the
Opposition Leaders maneuvers to grab
the keys of the Lodge by any means.
The above-mentioned survey in mid-
September has shown a sharp decline in
the Coalition's primary vote, a correspon-
ding increase in Labor's, a personal lead
for Julia Gillard over Tony Abbott as the
preferred Prime Minister and, even, a
restoration of the Green support for
Labor.
The turnaround has come after Labor
returning the fire from the coalition ranks.
Julia Gillard and her comrades seem to
have taken a leaf out of the pugilistic
politicians book of no-holds-barred brawl-
ing as they attack the Opposition leader
and his (lack of) policies relentlessly.
Murdoch Press columnists like Dennis
Shanahan may attribute the Julia Gillard
recovery to a ruthless political brutality
displayed by the Prime Minister and her
team but there is much more to it.
Above all, of the reasons responsible
for Julia Gillards comeback, as many
political pundits would argue, is the
admirable resilience shown by the Federal
Member for Labor in Victoria.
There were many media commentators
and Labor luminaries who had advised our
first woman Prime Minister to capitulate,
like Kevin Rudd, on Carbon Tax. As the
News poll and other media sample surveys
gave the Labor supporters demoralising
findings of the voters sentiments, there
were calls for Julia Gillard to resign and
hand over the baton back to Kevin Rudd.
The media savvy Labor veteran
Graham Richardson was leading the
charge of skeptics from within the party
ranks as he wrote "the carbon tax is a
deeply unpopular tax" and it ought to be
dropped.
"The debate", Richo wrote, "has
already been lost."
"She is now so deeply unpopular that
the electorate's trust in her will never be
restored," Graham Richardson pro-
claimed.
It would be interesting to find out what
the Labor guru thinks about the scenario
where our Julia is gaining momentum
with every move she makes, both domesti-
cally and on the international diplomacy
circuit as well.
Graham Richardson was not alone in
his opposition of the Carbon Tax as a sec-
tion of the Australian media almost made
it a cornerstone of their editorial policy to
savage everything Labor under Julia
Gillard did.
Julia Gillard decided to stick to her
guns and adopted whatever it takes
approach in the introduction of carbon and
mining Tax.
It is ironical to note that the same sec-
tion of media is now in a mode to pro-
tect the Liberal leader Tony Abbott who
is known for his no-holds-barred attacks
on Julia Gillard and her Labor team.
After all, Tony Abbott has never made
even a faint attempt to camouflage his
brand of politics which is loaded, like his
approach to so many other politico-social
issues, with negativity.
Julia Gillard decided to stick to her
guns and adopted whatever it takes
approach in the introduction of carbon and
mining Tax.
Her resolve is not only yielding posi-
tive voter sentiment for Labor but also
exposed the bankruptcy of policies on the
other side of the political fence.
Judging from some recent statements
by Tony Abbott, the Liberals have
realised the futility of bagging carbon Tax
and are also moving away from the debate
on the toxic issue.
Though it is not a prediction, the
resurgence in Gillard fortunes also means
curtains for the aspirations Kevin Rudd
may have to get the tenancy rights of the
Lodge once more.
If Gillard successfully leads the Labor
in the 2012 elections for the Federal
Parliament, she would most likely pass on
the baton to the union poster boy Bill
Shorten who is being seen as PM material.
The voters also seem to be sick of
Tony Abbott and co. savaging Gillard
Government ad nauseam. The fact that
Australia is currently enjoying an econom-
ic boom at a time when OECD countries
like Greece and Spain are surviving to
maintain economic sovereignty is slowly
dawning on the Australian battlers. The
question Tony Abbott needs to answer is
how would he improve the best economy
in the world. If he has no answer to this
query and he cannot show from where he
would generate revenue when he manages
to repeal carbon and mining taxes, the
Mad Monk would have to concede defeat
in this bout for the Australian Government
power reins.
The turnaround has come after
Labor returning the fire from the
Coalition ranks. Julia Gillard and
her comrades have taken a leaf out of the
pugilistic politicians book of
no-holds-barred brawling as they
attack the Opposition leader Tony Abbott
and his (lack of) policies relentlessly.
If Gillard successfully leads the Labor in the
2012 elections for the Federal Parliament,
she would most likely pass on the baton to
the union poster boy Bill Shorten who is
being seen as PM material.
The Third Eye by Rekha Bhattacharjee
Analysis
PM Julia Gillard to
visit India
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is
scheduled to pay a 3-day visit to
India from 15 October. India and
Australia are likely to strengthen
bilateral ties further by discussing
a uranium safeguards agreement.
The pact, which would have
requirements on the safe use of
the uranium, would pave way for
the supply of nuclear fuel to India.
10 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2012
India
Reforms will boost private investment in India: US
New Delhi: The economic
reforms announced by the Indian
government recently are "very
significant" and would boost pri-
vate investment and growth in the
country, US Treasury Secretary
Timothy Geithner said Oct 9.
"India has achieved remark-
able economic achievement in the
last 15 years... The reforms out-
lined by the government of India
recently offer a very promising
path to improving growth,"
Geithner said while addressing a
joint press conference with Indian
Finance Minister P.
Chidambaram here.
The Manmohan Singh-led
government recently announced a
series of reform measures,
including allowing foreign direct
investments in multi-brand retail
and cutting subsidies on petrole-
um products.
The federal cabinet has also
approved the proposal to hike
FDI limit in insurance sector.
Geithner, who is on a two-day
official visit to India, said such
measures would boost private
investment and overall economic
growth in India.
The two leaders addressed the
media after the third meeting of
Indo-US Economic and Financial
Partnership.
Giethner said during the meet-
ing India and US discussed the
ways to lower trade and invest-
ment barriers.
"Both countries are committed
to pursuing close cooperation,"
said Chidambaram.
Chidambaram said the crisis
in Eurozone and US was affect-
ing emerging economies like
India.
"We have a deep interest in
Eurozone crisis being resolved
because it has affected our econo-
my. The crisis is affecting all
emerging markets, including
India," he said.
Indias Finance Minister P. Chidambaram speaking with US
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner who was on India visit.
'Mindless negativity' over graft
damages nation's image: PM
BJP likely to win Gujarat poll
New Delhi: Indirectly rapping the anti-cor-
ruption movement in the country, Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh said Oct 10 that
"mindless negativity" would do no good and
weaken executive morale, even as he prom-
ised to include corporate failure to prevent
bribery within the ambit of existing the anti-
graft law.
"Mindless atmosphere of negativity and
pessimism that is sought to be created over
the issue of corruption can do us no good. It
can only damage the nation's image and hit
the morale of the executive," Singh said at
the 19th conference of the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) and State Anti-
Corruption Bureau here.
He said the "government stands firm in
its commitment to do everything possible to
ensure probity, transparency and accounta-
bility in the work of public authorities".
The remarks come against the backdrop
of the government's image taking a beating
in recent years over corruption charges in
2G spectrum allocation, Commonwealth
Games and the allotment of coal blocks.
The latest salvo against the Manmohan
Singh government came from India Against
Corruption member Arvind Kejriwal, who
has suggested a quid pro quo in business
deals between Congress president Sonia
Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra and a pri-
vate realty major.The prime minister said
experience had also shown that big ticket
corruption was mostly related to operations
by commercial entities.
"It is, therefore, proposed to include cor-
porate failure to prevent bribery as a new
offence on the supply side," he said.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) is expect-
ed to sweep 50 percent of all
votes and win 133 of the
182 seats in the upcoming
elections in Gujarat, a sur-
vey of voters released early
October said.
In contrast, the Congress
would maintain its 38 per-
cent vote share but get only
43 seats, a drop of 16 from
its 2007 tally, the
LensOnNews survey said.
The findings follow a survey of 7,294
voters across 52 constituencies across the
state. The BJP's projected seats would be a
gain of one percent in vote share but would
give it 16 more seats as compared to 2007,
it said.
The Congress is slated to maintain its 38
percent vote share but get only 43 seats.
It said the phenomenon of a small swing
of vote share resulting in a disproportionate
benefit to the BJP in terms of seats was
dominantly due to the delimitation exercise.
Of the 16 more seats
projected to be gained by
the BJP since 2007, a
substantial number of 10
seats are to be attributed
to an increase in the
number of urban seats, it
said.
The Congress, the
survey said, was handi-
capped as it lacked a state
leader to match the
stature of Chief Minister
Narendra Modi.
"This has played into Modi's hands, and
he has converted the election into a battle
between the 'six crore people of Gujarat'
and the 'Delhi Sultanate' of Sonia and Rahul
Gandhi."
It said former BJP chief minister
Keshubhai Patel's attempts to rally his Leuva
Patel community to undercut Modi had
failed to make a dent in the BJP's vote
share. The LenOnNews Poll was conducted
between Sep 2 and 28. The results are sub-
ject to a margin of error of 3 percent.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modis charisma still working
Congress distances itself from
Vadra put in dock by Kejriwal
New Delhi: After social activist
Arvind Kejriwals frontal attack
on Congress president Sonia
Gandhis son-in-law on
Tuesday televised live on
most channels the party has
decided to distance itself from
the matter, reversing an earlier
decision of full-throated
defence of Robert Vadra. Even
though this was the second ver-
bal assault on Mr. Vadra in
five days, party members at the
Congress headquarters were
taken by surprise at the ferocity
of Mr. Kejriwals accusations
that forced even the principal
opposition party, the Bharatiya
Janata Party to shed its ambiva-
lence on the issue.
Party spokesperson Rashid
Alvis responses to questions posed by jour-
nalists were feeble: questioning the veracity
of the documents that Mr. Kejriwal had pro-
duced, he sought to dismiss him as a public-
ity-seeker. Mr. Alvi once again repeated
that he could always go to court if he had
anything substantial against Mr. Vadra.
Asked whether a defamation suit was in the
offing, he dodged the question, instead say-
ing that if any questions needed to be
responded to, the Haryana government
would do so: on Tuesday, Mr. Kejriwal had
focussed on the nexus between the Haryana
government and real estate giant DLF and
the business dealings between the realty
major and Mr. Vadra.
For the Congress, the attack on Mr.
Vadra is of great concern: a party func-
tionary said, When the first charges of cor-
ruption came in two years ago, we said
those responsible were our allies. When
Coalgate happened, we said it was the gov-
ernment. Now this has brought the charges
right to 10, Janpath. He said it mattered
very little whether the charges against Mr.
Vadra were ever proved: In politics, it is
not legality, it is perception.
In fact, there was a sense on Tuesday at
the party headquarters that Congress leaders
should not have gone out on a limb for Mr.
Vadra last Friday, when a host of Ministers
and party spokespersons outdid each other
defending him.
Indeed, as the Congress hunted for a
way out, party sources said the focus could
shift to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder
Hooda, already under fire for the deteriorat-
ing law and order situation in the State. Of
course, the Haryana government was quick
to respond to Mr. Kejriwals accusations,
saying no favour was granted to DLF.
All permissions have been given
according to rules. No land has been
released in the last 10 years. No favour has
been granted to DLF, a State government
spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Union Corporate Affairs
Minister M. Veerappa Moily sought to give
a clean chit to the business deals between
Mr. Vadra and DLF: We have verified the
accounts of the six companies [where Mr
Vadra has a stake], and no violations or
irregularities are found under the Companies
Act, he told journalists after the Economic
Editors Conference here, adding that there
was no question of an investigation as
there was no violation.
Arvind Kejriwal with his team members Manish Sisodia
(left) and Kumar Vishwas (right) on their way to hold a
press meet in New Delhi on Oct 9 on his allegations
agains Robert Vadra, Priynaka Gandhis husband.
UPA anti-people, but will
support it for now: Mayawati
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP) chief Mayawati
Wednesday once again rapped
the Manmohan Singh-led UPA 2
but stopped short of spelling out
whether she is snapping her rela-
tions with the union government.
After a two-hour long meet-
ing of her party's Parliamentary
Party Board preceded by the
extensive national executive
meet late Tuesday, the BSP
supremo labelled the UPA gov-
ernment "anti-poor, anti-farmer
and pro-corporate".
Addressing a press confer-
ence at the state party headquar-
ters, the former Uttar Pradesh
chief minister avoided saying
whether she is withdrawing sup-
port to such a government, but
added the party's two top bodies
have authorised her to take a
decision and that she would soon
take an appropriate decision.
She also told the media that
the UPA government was unsta-
ble and its future uncertain. She
repeated that she was of the
view that snap polls for the Lok
Sabha could take place anytime
now. She made it amply clear
that her party's patience was
running out.
The BSP has 21 members in
the Lok Sabha.
Mayawati said the party
would emerge as "a balance of
power" as and when the next
parliamentary elections are held.
October - November 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 11
India does not figure in foreign
policy of Obama challenger
Washington: While President Barack
Obama has described US-India relationship
as one of the defining partnerships of the
21st century, his Republican challenger
Mitt Romney made no reference to India
in a major foreign policy speech.
Accusing Obama of failing to provide
global leadership expected by the rest of
the world, especially key allies such as
Israel, Romney Monday promised to
restore US foreign policy to its post world
war role based on exerting global influ-
ence through military and economic
power.
In an address at the Virginia Military
Institute, he cited recent protests and vio-
lence in Arab countries, including the
attack on the US consulate Benghazi in
Libya that killed the American ambassador
Christopher Stevens and three others, as
examples of failure of Obama's foreign
policy.
"It is our responsibility and the respon-
sibility of our president to use America's
great power to shape history - not to lead
from behind, leaving our destiny at the
mercy of events," Romney said,
"Unfortunately, this president's policies
have not been equal to our best examples
of world leadership and nowhere is this
more evident than in the Middle East," he
said noting, "Hope is not a strategy".
"There is a longing for American lead-
ership in the Middle East-and it is not
unique to that region," Romney said. "It is
broadly felt by America's friends and
allies in other parts of the world as well,"
he said listing world's various troubled
spots. Romney, however, grudgingly
acknowledged Obama administration's suc-
cess in hunting down Osama bin Laden in
his hideout in Pakistan "America can take
pride in the blows that our military and
intelligence professionals have inflicted on
Al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan,
including the killing of Osama bin Laden.
These are real achievements won at a high
cost," he said.
On Afghanistan, Romney said he
wouldn't let politics dictate policy but said
he would also "pursue a real and success-
ful transition to Afghan security forces by
the end of 2014", the same deadline
Obama has given.
On Iran, Romney said he would contin-
ue and escalate the Obama administration's
economic sanctions and pledged to move
two carrier groups within striking distance
should Tehran develop a nuclear weapon
anew.
Mitt Romney, who has caught up with
Obama in US presidential race
Australia, India likely to ink uranium
deal during Julia Gillard's visit
Melbourne: Australia is close to
finalise a uranium safeguards agreement
with India that would allow it to sell
the yellowcake to the Asian giant,
Foreign Minister Bob Carr said
recently.
His comments came ahead of Prime
Minister Julia Gillard's maiden visit to
India in mid October.
"Yes we are, and the Indians are
happy with the progress on this. And
we always - where there's a sale of
Australian uranium, we always have a
treaty that governs it and puts in place
all the safeguards we'd require, IAEA
and the rest, non-proliferation refer-
ences," Carr said when asked to com-
ment whether Canberra was close to
ink a deal with New Delhi on the sale
of uranium.
"The relationship's in good working
order and the thing the Indians wanted
out of us most was a decision to sell
them uranium for the peaceful develop-
ment of nuclear power which is a major
strategic goal for them and I think an
environmental plus for the planet," the
minister told a local TV channel.
However, he refrained to comment
if the deal was part of Gillard's visit
due on October 15.
"I'm not in a position to announce
what the Prime Minister's going to
announce. But the relationship is in
quite good working order," he said,
adding "The Prime Minister's headed
there, let's leave it to that."
Indian High Commissioner to
Australia Biren Nanda also said, "I can
confirm that a civil nuclear cooperation
deal was on the agenda of cooperation
between the two sides."
India
Asha Bhosles daughter commits suicide
Mumbai: The last rites of legendary play-
back singer Asha Bhosle`s daughter Varsha,
who committed suicide, were performed on
Oct 9. The 56-year-old singer and columnist,
who was reportedly suffering from depres-
sion, ended her life yesterday by shooting
herself in the temple at her residence on posh
Peddar Road in South Mumbai.
Asha, who was away in Singapore to
attend the closing ceremony of the Marathi
International Film and Theatre Awards
(MIFTA), rushed back to India for the cre-
mation.
Varsha Bhosle with her mother
and legendary singer Asha Bhosle.
12 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2012
Travel
October - November 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 13
By Vijay Badhwar
O
h, the sight of shimmering luxury
liners in the Sydney Harbour, the
bridge in the background and in
view of the adjacent Opera House sails that
alluringly replicate the open seas beyond,
the excited passengers tugging their bags
behind them on the shores in a hurry. You
wish!
And then it happens. It needed some ini-
tiative and persuasion by an old friend
Sharvan Sehgal to ready everyone together
for a ten-day vacation along the east coast of
Australia that we all had heard about and
always longed to reconnoitre but for the
long distances involved.
Sharvan had been on a cruise earlier and
had been so infatuated with the time spent
on board that he made sure that he booked
for another before he had even left the ship.
But we were not so sure and needed a lot of
convincing and cajoling that we wont be
sea sick all the time and the ship will not be
transporting some captives stuck in the dun-
geons in the folds of the sea where even the
light did not penetrate.
Its been several weeks now that we
came back from our holidays along the
coast. But all ten of us who went on that
vacation havent stopped talking about it, so
memorable was the experience.
P&Os Pacific Pearl was anchored at
Barangaroo for boarding (a late change of
plan) and it looked massive, all of its 14
storeyes in gleaming white, although par-
tially hidden from view by temporary mar-
quees serving as huge departure lounges.
The check-in was easy as it was only a pre-
tend international travel (with the ship
entering into international waters but not
stopping).
Sydney Harbour must be among the
most beautiful in the world. Everyone says
that about their own lands. But this fact is
without exaggeration as one passes in the
distance, one by one, the city landmarks
Centrepoint Tower, Harry Siedlers
Grosvenor Place, Sir Norman Fosters
Deutsche Bank, Renzo Pianos Aurora
Place and, of course, the best in the world
Utzons Opera House. Everyone raised
their champagne glasses, and the cameras,
as the ship took sail around the sails before
entering the open seas.
It took some time to get used to the long
corridors to find your own room. A little
card unlocked the doors to open a neat and
tidy place with a comfortable bed, TV,
chairs, a desk and an en suite. The move-
ment in the ship was next to negligible; it
even seemed still most of the time.
The little P&O card became the lifeline
on the ship as it not only allowed entry to
your room, but it also enabled any purchase
on board and an identification (with an
embedded photo) when leaving or entering a
port. There was no need for cheques or cash
as everything got charged to the card to be
billed at the end.
We just sat at the deck all day, from
watching the rising sun until the evening,
indoor or outdoor depending on the winds,
but in view of the open seas, watching the
whirling waters the ship left in its wake or
the blue waves in the distance, and, of
course, an occasional whale when big
crowds stood on one little corner of the deck
enamoured by the giants showing-off their
antics, aware that they were being watched.
All ten of us - Sehgals, Kanwars,
Aroras, Guptas (Haldiram fame) and us
Badhwars have been friends for decades but
have never known each other like we got to
on the cruise as there was so much idle time
and nothing else to deflect our attention
away from one another. The phones did not
work, neither did Internet. No body spent
more time in their rooms than necessary
without attracting sardonic glances from the
rest; even a book or a magazine turned out
to be an unwelcome distraction.
Nearly four days at the sea before we
reached the first port of call at Whitsundays
Island was a long stretch of free time we
ever had in our busy lifestyles. There was
no cooking required, nor washing, cleaning
and whatever else. Even the beds were
made twice a day, an attendant never far
away if we needed anything.
There was a huge choice of dishes for
breakfast, lunch and dinner several types
of hot and cold selections for breakfast, var-
ious meats and salads for lunch and dinner
that we felt guilty of being gluttonous and
decadent. But then, we can leave the noble
thoughts for some other time.
Besides the buffet bar at the deck level,
there were several fine dining restaurants
for a la carte choices. This we availed at
Continued on page 36....
Its ok to indulge when on a cruise
Aboard P&Os Pacific Pearl-- Standing: Kamal Kanwar, Mukesh Gupta, Vijay Badhwar, Shravan Sehgal and Rajesh arora.
Sitting: Kuki Kanwar, Lata Gupta, Neena Badhwar, Kusum Sehgal and Renu Arora
Pacfic Pearl passing the Sydney Harbour.
Joe Andrews, head chef with his team at the Plantation Restaurant on Deck 12. Says
Joe, a Keralite, All what we offer are our own recipes which the team laboriously
cooks in the galley including baking variety of breads. There are no short cuts to the
gourmet dishes which are rotated every 7 days or so.
14 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER October - November 2012
Bollywood
By Neena Badhwar
P
arramasala, South Asian Arts
Festival, with its third edition
to be held from November 8 -
11, is action packed as it will start
with a Bollywood night Party and
end with free open air screening of
the classic hit Sholay. It is just
before Diwali which falls on
November 13 so it is time when
people want to get out, eat, enjoy,
dress and see the lighted Townhall
Square and Chruch Street Mall full
of activities, foodstalls and Indian
wares.
TIDU talks to Phillip Rolfe,
Parramasalas Artistic Director.
Says he, This year it is a very con-
centrated festival over four days
designed for people to take part in
events and shows with bigger
Masala markets, lot more well cho-
sen food stalls, fashion, art and
craft with amazing performances
lined up live on outdoor stage.
How has the three-year journey
been in terms of his own evolution,
has Phillip been able to achieve
what he set out to achieve and dis-
cover new artists, new ideas for
himself? Replies Phillip, There
are ticketed events at Riverside
Theatre and Jubilee Hall.
Parramasala has become very much
a permanent feature with great
response as he sees now large
crowds who make up a happy and
an enthusiastic audience.
Most important is that we have
made sure that it is of highest qual-
ity as this year we have classical
artist Hari Prasad Chaurasia and
our Film in Focus has some new
films from different parts of
Australia, New Zealand, South Asia
showing content by new independ-
ent film makers who provide an
interesting perspective and depth of
film making.
It has been a great pleasure to
continually discover things that are
never ending and you need to
refresh yourself every time and
present it to the public. I am still
discovering just how many good
artists are out there working so
many music and dance groups exist.
We are always in constant search of
finding new ways, new artists just
in the South Asian art. Parramasala
is concentrated on this region and
now with Burma opening up to the
world I would like to explore and
present art forms from there too and
the Burmese diaspora.
What about theatre, literature?
Phillip says, It will really be good
to have literature, visual art and the-
atre as we grow. This years
Parramasala is all indication of a
bigger and better festival and a
promise of a permanent fixture of
Parramatta region though we have
taken care in adding artists and pro-
grams that have broader appeal for
wider Sydney audience.
Phillip invites all from the
Indian community to join in the fun
come out in groups, families,
children and explore possibilities of
multicultural art from the region
which provides them with a unique
opportunity of what human beings
happen to create. I think everyone
should come and participate and
witness what is available free as
well as ticketed , as he invites the
local Indian subcontinent communi-
ty to become a part of Parramasala
starting with the great Bollywood
night party for the opening night on
November 8. TIDU is sure as many
have already been exchanging
emails and talking of meeting to see
Sholay, which will be screened free
outdoor on November 11. Do visit:
www.parramasala.com to check out
programs and activities.
Some
Parramasala
highlights:
Masala Markets: Nov 8 -11:
Parramatta Town Hall Square with
over 30 stalls and free entertainment
The Bombay Royale will take its
place as Parramasalas house band,
performing a totally unique brand of
intoxicating rhythms and seductive
lyrics over three flamboyant festival
nights. Pakistans reigning prince of
qawwali music, Asif Ali Khan will
inspire audiences with sufi vocals
and energetic rhythms accompanied
by his nine member ensemble from
Lahore. On other days and nights,
artist and performers include
Sydneys premiere Sri Lankan
dance and music group Sankha
Ridma, multi-talented electronica
group Tablatronics, Melbournes
Fine Blue Thread, Sydneys
Mahmood Khan, Western Sydneys
emerging hip hop star El Fresh and
cross-cultural music collaborators
Nafas. Closing night sees a screen-
ing on the Outdoor Stage of Sholay,
one of Indias most famous and
most popular Bollywood action
films from the 1970s.
November 8: A Bollywood
Block Party featuring special guest
MC, the legendary Australian
music icon Kamahl, kicks off the
Parramasala festival, taking over
Town Hall Square on 8 November.
With inspired beats, mass choreo-
graphed dance and adrenaline-
charged drumming it will be a
colourful spectacle for all ages.
Performance: Pt Hari Prasad
Chaurasia 6pm, 11 November,
Riverside Theatre. Tickets $45 - $55.
South Asian Film In Focus
9-11 November, Riverside
Theatres, Parramatta. It is curat-
ed by Ravi Kambhoj. Parramasala
presents a feast of dynamic South
Asian cinema as part of an inde-
pendent film program showcasing
the incredible generation of new
filmmakers of South Asia.
Held over three days, eight film
sessions are full of eye-opening,
moving, inspirational and cutting
edge experiences. Each feature is an
Australian film premiere, contains
English subtitles (where necessary)
and is screened with a short film.
Sunshine and Shade: Indian
Students in Australia - the full
story: Director - Ana Tiwary.
Country Australia. 9 November
8.15pm OPENING NIGHT
FILM.
This world premiere documen-
tary explores the myriad issues fac-
ing Indian students in Australia, not
just good and bad or black and
white, but the many shades of grey.
This screening is preceded by a per-
formance from slam poet Amna
Bilgrami and is followed by an
expert panel discussion.
Mr Singh Wants PR :
Director - Fahad Sher Hussain.
Country - New Zealand. 10
November 2pm. Bollywood meets
Kiwiland! This is a black comedy
about a struggling international stu-
dent who falls in love and makes his
money selling cannabis jalebis.
Bardsongs: Director - Sander
Francken. Countries -
India/Mali/The Netherlands.
Language
Hindi/Ladakhi/Bambara. 10
November 5pm. Three dramatic
interwoven stories set within a
frame of war, rural life and a jour-
ney across the Himalayas.
Noor: Directors - Cagla
Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti.
Country Pakistan. Language -
Urdu/Punjabi. 10 November 8pm.
Noor breaks away from Pakistans
transgender community, the khus-
ras. He wants to be accepted as a
man and his quest for love drasti-
cally changes his life.
Shuttlecock Boys Director -
Hemant Gaba. Country India.
Language Hindi Sunday 11
November 3pm. Shuttlecock Boys
revolves around the lives, successes
and failures of four friends who hail
from lower middle class back-
grounds in Delhi. The one thing that
unites them is their common love
for badminton.
Act of Dishonour: Director -
Nelofer Pazira. Country
Afghanistan. Language Farsi. 11
November 8pm. Mena, a young,
beautiful bride-to-be, lives in a
remote village in northern
Afghanistan. Respecting the deeply
conservative local customs, she and
her future husband have little con-
tact yet cherish a special bond. Her
developing friendship with a mem-
ber of a Canadian film crew briefly
opens a door to a new world for
Mena, but should she step away
from convention and into a tantalis-
ing and dangerous world?
Lennox at Riverside Theatres:
Opening night film $20. All other
films $10. Special price: $50 for
all sessions apart from the
Opening night film.
Parramasala screens Sholay outdoors
Artistic Director Phillip Rolfe with singer Kamahl at the
Parramasala launch party.
Sholay, one of Indias most popular Bollywood action films from the 1970s,
will be screened outdoors free.
Famous flautist Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia will perform at the
South Asian Arts Festival.
Music
October - November 2012 THE INDIAN DOWN UNDER 15
By Neeru Saluja