The Indian Panorama

02/03/2024

New Delhi (TIP)- The Parliament did a “half-hearted” job in amending the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Act in 1981, the Supreme Court remarked on Thursday, February 1, pointing out though the amendments sought to include the Muslim voice in the administration of the institution, it fell short of conferring the “complete minority character” on AMU. As the seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud reserved its judgment in the case relating to minority status of AMU, the court observed that the amendments made in 1981 changed the definition of the term “university” under the AMU Act to state that it was established by Muslims and made some other changes....

02/03/2024

New Delhi (TIP)-The Supreme Court on Friday, February 2, refused to entertain a plea filed by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on money laundering allegations minutes after he resigned as chief minister of the state on January 31. Asking Soren to rather approach the high court concerned, the top court also declined to set down a deadline for the Jharkhand high court to hear and decide his petition that seeks his arrest be declared unconstitutional....

02/03/2024

New Delhi (TIP)- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, Feb 1, approved the signing and ratification of the Bilateral Investment Treaty between India and UAE. The government said that the treaty is expected to improve investor confidence and increase foreign investments and Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) opportunities. “The approval is expected to increase investments in India and is likely to help in realizing the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat by encouraging domestic manufacturing, reducing import dependence, increasing exports etc, ” an official statement by the Cabinet said....

02/03/2024

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal skipped the Enforcement Directorate's summons for the fifth time in connection with the money-laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy case. The fresh summons to the Delhi CM followed the fourth summons, which he had skipped on January 18. While skipping the fifth summons, the party called it "unlawful". "Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will not appear before the ED today as well....

02/03/2024

Varanasi (TIP)- Members of a Hindu priests' family started praying at a cellar in the basement of Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque after a district court February 1 ordered the administration to unseal the premises, 30 years after it was sealed on the orders of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, shortly after the Babri Masjid demolition. "Hindu side allowed to offer prayers......

02/03/2024

The Supreme Court on Friday, Feb 2, agreed to consider an AAP councillor's request seeking urgent hearing of his plea challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh. The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for councillor Kuldeep Kumar, a candidate for the mayor's post....

02/03/2024

QUEENS, NY (TIP): It was pretty evident from the enthusiasm and energy exhibited at the recent gathering of the Indian Americans in the Santoor Restaurant in Floral Park, Queens, New York, that they are excited to have Tom Suozzi back in the political arena again. "The Indian Community has always admired Mr. Suozzi for standing up for issues that our community has cared for, and this gathering strongly reflects those feelings' Said Mr....

02/03/2024

H-1B visa application submission process for fiscal year 2025 to begin from March 6 WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The H-1B visa application submission process for the fiscal year 2025 would start from March 6, a US federal agency said on Tuesday, January 30, as it announced a major overhaul of its annual lottery for this specialty occupation visa. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise....

02/03/2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): On Wednesday, January 24th, 2024, Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission released the following statement, opening up inquiries concerning ways the Indian Government may have been tampering with Canadian elections: “Pursuant to its Terms of Reference, the Foreign Interference Commission has requested that the Government of Canada’s collection and production of document relating to paragraphs clause (a)(i)(A) and (a)(i)(B) of its Terms of Reference include information and documents relating to alleged interference by India related to the 2019 and 2021 elections.”...

United States | WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): On Wednesday, January 24th, 2024, Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission released the following statement, opening up inquiries

02/03/2024

Yogesh K Pancholi from Northville was also found guilty of wire fraud conspiracy, engaging in money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering MICHIGAN (TIP): A 43-year-old Indian national in the US state of Michigan has been sentenced to nine years in prison for orchestrating a nearly $2.8 million healthcare fraud. Yogesh K Pancholi from Northville was also found guilty of wire fraud conspiracy, engaging in money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering....

02/03/2024

TORONTO (TIP): Three Indian-origin men have been arrested in Canada and will be extradited for trial in the US for their alleged links with a network trafficking drugs between Mexico and the North American nations. A joint operation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) dubbed "Operation Dead Hand" saw 19 people charged in two US federal indictments for their alleged roles in the organized crime ring....

02/03/2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Three former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees, including two Indian Americans, have been sentenced for a conspiracy to steal proprietary US government software and sensitive law-enforcement databases for use in a commercial venture. Sonal Patel, 49, of Sterling, Virginia, was sentenced to two years of probation in a Washington, DC, court on January 26, according to a Justice Department press release....

02/03/2024

TORONTO (TIP): An Indian-origin teenager has been arrested in connection with the death of another Indian-origin youth in a Canadian city and the police are on the lookout for any information or video footage to support the active investigation. Nishan Thind, 18, of Brampton, a city in the Canadian province of Ontario, was admitted to a local hospital there on December 19 last year....

Indian Americans, Indian Origin, Indians Abroad | TORONTO (TIP): An Indian-origin teenager has been arrested in connection with the death of another Indian-origin youth in a Canadian city and the police

02/03/2024

CHICAGO (TIP): Neel Acharya, an Indian student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, who was reported missing on social media by his mother Sunday, January 28, has been confirmed dead. In an email written to the university’s computer science department Monday, interim CS head Chris Clifton informed students and faculty of Acharya’s death, according to a local newspaper. “It is with great sadness that I inform you that one of our students, Neel Acharya, has passed away,” Clifton wrote....

02/03/2024

ATLANTA (TIP): Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old Indian student from Haryana, who had come to the US to do his master’s in business administration was killed by a homeless man inside a store in Lithonia, Georgia. The incident occurred on Jan 16, a local channel reported. Witnesses cited by the channel said Saini was brutally attacked with a hammer by the homeless man late at night after he asked him to leave the store....

Indian Americans, Indian Origin, Indians Abroad | ATLANTA (TIP): Vivek Saini, a 25-year-old Indian student from Haryana, who had come to the US to do his master’s in business administration was killed by

02/03/2024

LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin couple in the UK, whose extradition was sought by India, has been convicted of exporting more than half a ton of co***ne to Australia after an investigation found that they were behind a front company that had sent the drugs by plane under a cover load of metal toolboxes. Arti Dhir, 59, and Kavaljitsinh Raijada, 35, from Hanwell in Ealing were identified by the National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators after Australian Border Force intercepted the co***ne worth 57 million pounds upon its arrival in Sydney in May 2021, the agency said in a statement on Monday....

02/03/2024

CHICAGO (TIP): Indian American jurist Amrith Kaur Aakre has become the new director of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Chicago District, the federal agency announced, January 31. Aakre, who most recently served as the legal director for the Sikh Coalition, began her new role on Jan 29, 2024. She took her oath on the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib....

Indian Americans, Indian Origin, Indians Abroad | CHICAGO (TIP): Indian American jurist Amrith Kaur Aakre has become the new director of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Chicago

02/02/2024

Mr. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan took over as Consul General of India at New York on January 15, 2024. He is a career diplomat of the 2002 batch of the Indian Foreign Service. He speaks English, Russian, Hindi, and Odiya languages. His diplomatic career includes senior roles in Indian Embassies in Moscow, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan from 2004 to 2012. During 2012-14, he managed India's relations with Afghanistan and Iran at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi....

02/02/2024

NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The 75th Republic Day of India was celebrated in Consulate General of India, New York with a flag hoisting ceremony on Thursday, January 26th 2024. Consul General Mr. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan unfurled the national flag. Over 150 members of Indian American community and friends of India joined as the national anthem was sung. Consul General then read out the Address of the President of India which she had delivered on the eve of India’s Republic Day....

02/02/2024

Pilip offers up the same old NRA talking points and will stand in the way of preventing gun safety laws GLEN COVE, NY(TIP): Former Congressman Tom Suozzi held a press conference on February 1, highlighting his bipartisan record and platform to prevent crime and gun violence, which was first laid out in his 10-point plan. While Suozzi is putting forth common sense solutions to address tough problems impacting New York’s Third Congressional District, his opponent, Mazi Pilip, is not only hiding from the voters but even worse – she’s hiding where she stands on critical issues like gun safety and the need to keep Nassau County and Queens safe....

NY/NJ/CT | Pilip offers up the same old NRA talking points and will stand in the way of preventing gun safety laws GLEN COVE, NY(TIP): Former Congressman Tom Suozzi

02/02/2024

CHICAGO, IL (TIP): The Federation of Indian Associations, Chicago (FIA), elevated the celebration of India's Republic Day to new heights on January 28th, at the prestigious Matrix Club in Chicago. This momentous occasion, dedicated to honoring the adoption of the Constitution of India, transcended expectations through a symphony of grand celebrations, patriotic fervor, and a vibrant tapestry showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the nation....

02/02/2024

RANCHI/NEW DELHI/NEW YORK (TIP): Jharkhand Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan invited Champai Soren to form the government late on February 1. Mr. Champai was elected as the new leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Legislature Party following Hemant Soren’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after he met the Governor and submitted his resignation as Chief Minister....

02/02/2024

NEW YORK (TIP): Gov. Kathy Hochul has approved a proposal to reform New York's workforce, including allowing asylum seekers to get temporary jobs in state government. The initiative is open to anyone in New York who has legal work authorization from the federal government, including American citizens, Green Card holders and migrants. It only applies to temporary positions. The governor says there are currently 40,000 jobs listed on New York state's migrant work portal. The governor’s action is likely to invite criticism and opposition from Republicans.

02/02/2024

On February 1, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the Parliament. The budget comes at a critical juncture for the nation, grappling with the economic aftermath of the global pandemic and the imperative to foster inclusive growth. Sitharaman's budget attempts to strike a balance between various sectors, addressing the needs of the poor, and outlining a vision for India's future....

Breaking News, Comments, Frontpage News | On February 1, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the Parliament. The budget comes at a

02/02/2024

February 2 New York & Dallas E – Edition

E-Edition |

02/02/2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. / NEW DELHI (TIP): The US State Department has approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India. These are to be made by General Atomics and are in use across several forces of the world. The project includes ammunition, surveillance, repairs and spare engines, and will cost an estimated $3.99 billion (around Rs 32,000 crore). The Defiance Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying US Congress of this possible sale on February 1, the DSCA said....

Breaking News, Frontpage News | WASHINGTON, D.C. / NEW DELHI (TIP): The US State Department has approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India. These are to be made by General

02/02/2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US has announced a steep increase in fees for various categories of non-immigrant visas like the H-1B, L-1 and EB-5, the most popular among Indians. The fee hike, first after 2016, will come into force from April 1. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise....

Breaking News, Frontpage News | WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US has announced a steep increase in fees for various categories of non-immigrant visas like the H-1B, L-1 and EB-5, the most

02/02/2024

By Mabel Pais The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation (Dodge Foundation), the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka on January 24, 2024 announced plans for the 2024 Dodge Poetry initiative – a new collaboration that celebrates poetry as a catalyst for communities to advance social change. Guest speakers featured John Schreiber, CEO of NJPAC; Tanuja Dehne, President and CEO of the Geraldine R....

02/02/2024

By Mabel Pais The Morristown Performing Arts Center (MPAC) this winter in February continues to offer a great lineup from comics to classic sounds to eye-popping, finger-popping shows. Ticketed MPAC events: Forever Motown Friday, February 2 at 8 pm All of your favorite Motown hits on one stage in one night! Featuring G.C. Cameron, former lead singer of The Spinners, Glenn Leonard, former lead singer of ‘The Temptations’ and Traci Robinson, former lead singer of ‘The Marvelettes.’...

ARTS, NJ Events | By Mabel Pais The Morristown Performing Arts Center (MPAC) this winter in February continues to offer a great lineup from comics to classic sounds to

02/02/2024

By Chirag Daruwalla – Son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla Aries Ganesha says Aries sign people will get the fame and name they deserve this week. You have reached this level only because of your communication skills. So don't let anything fall in your way, keep up your efforts, and don't let your ego get in your way. This will keep people respecting you....