Lok Sabha Elections: Social Media Platforms Much in Demand Among Indians Abroad to Propel Support March 18, 2019 10:56
As Indian general election is scheduled to take place next month, not only country’s residents, but also Indians living out of the country are making an effort to make their favored party triumph in the elections. Indians living in the United States are using social media platforms to reach out back home. The Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party USA (OFBJP USA), a volunteer group, has been organizing ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ meets across the United States. Krishna Reddy, president of the OFBJP USA said the places where meets have been planned include Tampa, Washington, D.C., Sacramento, Boston, New Jersey, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York. The preliminary meets began Friday and were to continue over the next few days. According to Reddy, volunteers are reaching out to their friends and relatives back home asking for support for the BJP and using their WhatsApp groups to share content in favor of the political party. “We understand the power of technology. Each volunteer can reach out to at least 200 people in their network and spread the message in favor of the Modi government,” said Reddy. On Friday, the OFBJP held a meet at Tampa, Florida, for which around 350 people turned up to show their support. A similar meet was held on Saturday night in Washington, D.C. with claims of about 300 people in attendance. Adapa Prasad, vice-president of the group, who was at the helm at the Washington meeting, spoke about the heavy participation of the Telugu community. He said, “While we have over 600 volunteers in the Washington, D.C. area, about 250-300 would be Telugus.” Not just the OFBJP, but the wider campaign ‘Nris4Modi2019’ of which the group is also a part, is seeing volunteers take up several unique initiatives. (Image source from: Facebook/BJPOFUSA) In Charlotte, North Carolina, Aravind Modini the social media in-charge for ‘Nris4Modi2019’ said volunteers were heading to local Indian grocery stores to offer a cup of tea and speak to the people there about why the BJP deserves their as well as their family’s vote. In fact, Telangana Rashtra Samithi is also striving. Arvind Thakkalapalli, secretary TRS USA, says WhatsApp groups have been formed for each parliamentary constituency with Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) supporters specific to that region “We have had conference calls with a few MP candidates during the process of forming campaign groups. These groups will comprise a local Telangana team as well as TRS activists who will reach out to voters with the help of local cadre,” said Thakkalapalli. Besides this, he said digital pamphlets are being circulated at the village level and content is being spread via social media. “Our NRI team will be visiting India for campaigning, the way we did for the Assembly election,” he said. The Indian general election is scheduled to be held in 7 phases from 11 April 2019 to 19 May 2019 to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha. The counting of votes will be conducted on 23 May 2019 and on the same day the results will be declared. By Sowmya Sangam
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Tollywood Comedian Surya Prasad, Two More Arrested in NRI Chigurupati Jayaram Murder Case March 15, 2019 12:13
Telugu film industry comedian Surya Prasad, including two others, were arrested on Thursday for involving in the murder of Florida-based Non-Resident Indian (NRI) entrepreneur Chigurupati Jayaram, police said. Besides Prasad, the police also took Kishore and Anji Reddy into custody. Deputy Commissioner of Police A.R. Srinivas told reporters that they have almost completed the investigations into the case and it has been confirmed that Jayaram's niece Shikha Chowdary had no role in the murder, investigations revealed. According to police, main accused Rakesh Reddy had hatched a conspiracy to extort money from Jayaram. Surya Prasad and Kishore brought Jayaram to his house in Jubilee Hills, where Jayaram was murdered. Anji Reddy reached Rakesh Reddy's house after the murder but did not inform the police. On allegations that Rakesh Reddy spoke to few police officers after the murder, the DCP said they were conducting investigations. He said while Rakesh Reddy had relations with politicians, there was no evidence of any political involvement in the crime. The body of Jayaram, 55, who was director of Coastal Bank, was found on the back seat of his car off the national highway near Nandiagama close to Vijayawada on January 31. Jayaram, also a Managing Director of Express TV, a now inoperative Telugu channel, had come to Hyderabad from the United States a few days earlier before his murder. The crime was first investigated by the Andhra Pradesh Police, which arrested Rakesh Reddy and his security guard, though later the case was transferred to Telangana after it was revealed that Jayaram was murdered at a house in Hyderabad and his body was dumped in Andhra Pradesh. Jayaram's wife Padmashri has also demanded a probe against Shikha, who was allegedly in a relationship with Rakesh Reddy. She had said that after the murder, Shikha barged into their house in Jubilee Hills and that some key documents and valuables were found lacking subsequently. By Sowmya Sangam
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Lok Sabha Elections 2019: 92% of India’s Overseas Registered Voters Are Keralites March 14, 2019 15:57
Amid confusion over NRI voting in India’s Lok Sabha elections that are scheduled to take place next month, 92 percent of Kerala descents staying overseas registered themselves as NRI voters, making it literal that Malayali’s are obsessed with politics and ones who are active in voting ardently. There’s a saying that if you take put Malayali’s out of the country, they will still turn up to vote. The state has witnessed an increase in the number of overseas elector’s i.e from 12,653 in 2014 to 66,584 as of January 30, 2019. The increase is recorded to be fivefold regardless of the fact the number is small inn fraction compared to the country’s total NRI population of 1.3 crores. The majority of 71,735 overseas electors registered in the country hail from Kerala and that evidence shows enthusiasm among non-resident Keralites to take part in the polling.Statistic data further reveals that of the total 66,584 overseas electors from the state, 3729 are women and eight third gender persons have registered.The expat organization has conducted mass online voter enrolment drives, especially after Lok Sabha passed a bill in August 2018 to allow NRIs to appoint proxy voters who can vote for them.Till now, NRIs can vote in their hometown after getting registered as an overseas voter. As of now, there is no provision for online voting despite the fact that many are keen to do so.As of now, in order to cast their votes, overseas Indians have to register as voters, come to India, go to their constituency with the original passport issued to them when they had gone abroad.An expert committee of the Election Commission of India had said no to e-voting for NRIs but approved proxy voting. Recently, a bill to extend proxy voting to NRIs was passed in the Lok Sabha, but it is pending in the Rajya Sabha. It is set to lapse on the dissolution of the present Lok Sabha on June 3.By Sowmya Sangam
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Hindu Man in New Zealand Eats Beef Mislabeled Lamb, Reaches Store to Fund Purification Trip to India March 13, 2019 12:18
An Indian origin Hindu man in New Zealand is fighting a David vs Goliath battle against a local supermarket after he ended up eating beef because of a mistake made by the store. Jaswinder Paul, who moved to New Zealand two decades ago, had asked the store to fork up round-trip airfare to India so that he can purify his damaged inner being. Jaswinder Paul says Hinduism mandates that he now come back home and "do sacred things for four to six weeks, and be purified by priests". "It's a long process," Paul told Stuff.co.nz, a local news website. Paul's fight with the grocery store dates back to September earlier this year when he bought a package of "roast lamb". According to Stuff.co.nz, Paul, who runs a barbershop, cooked the meat and ate it before realizing it was actually beef and not lamb, that the label on it claimed. And ever since, Paul said, his family has turned down to talk to him. Paul realized that he must cleanse his soul in order to "continue on (his) religious path". And so, Paul approached the supermarket - Countdown in New Zealand's Blenheim town - and asked them to fund his 'yatra' back home. The supermarket apologized for mislabeling and consequently offered Paul a gift voucher, according to a spokesperson for the supermarket who spoke to Stuff.co.nz. But Paul declined, in hope that the supermarket would come to its senses and pay up the money required for a cleansing trip back home. However, the supermarket did no such thing. And now, according to Stuff.co.nz, Paul is considering knocking on a court's door, even though he does not want to. "I don't want to go to court against a big corporation. I just want to go home," Paul said, adding that it may look like a "simple matter" but for him, it is "very hard". "I know my society back from my home will not accept me with this breach of the religion's conditions." By Sowmya Sangam
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No Online Voting, NRIs Should Be Present Physically with Passport and Cast Vote: Election Commission March 13, 2019 11:37
As General Elections 2019 in India is imminent, the Chief Electoral Officer of Goa has asked the police to investigate misinformation regarding online voting of Non-Resident Indians being forwarded on social media platforms. Elections for Goa's two Lok Sabha seats, with 11.31 lakh voters, and bypolls for three Assembly seats will be held on April 23. In a press statement issued Tuesday, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer has made it clear that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had not made any such online voting provision for NRIs. "It is observed that some people are spreading fake news through social media using the logo of Election Commission of India, creating confusion among the general public," the CEO statement said. "Taking cognizance of such fake news and complaint received about the same, the office of Chief Electoral Officer has referred the matter to the police department to investigate," the statement informed. As of now, in order to cast their votes, overseas Indians have to register as voters, come to India, go to their constituency with the original passport issued to them when they had gone abroad. An expert committee of the ECI had said no to e-voting for NRIs but approved proxy voting. Recently, a bill to extend proxy voting to NRIs was passed in the Lok Sabha, but it is pending in the Rajya Sabha. It is set to lapse on the dissolution of the present Lok Sabha on June 3. Earlier on February 22 this year, the ECI had filed a complaint with Delhi police, asking it to track down those spreading "fake news" that NRIs can cast their vote online in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. By Sowmya Sangam
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Group Lotus Indian Origin Director Uday Senapati Banned for Drink-Driving March 09, 2019 10:10
An Indian origin director of British sportscar company Group Lotus has been banned from driving for a year after being caught drink-driving on the roads of Norwich in the East Anglia region of England. Uday Senapati, who appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court charged with driving while over the legal alcohol limit earlier this month. He is the product strategy and managing director for the Norfolk-headquartered sports car company behind models like Evora and Elise. "You cannot see someone who works for a world famous motor company not being able to drive. They [Lotus] seem to be able to make arrangements to keep him on," his attorney Simon Nicholls told the court. The court heard that Senapati had been on a night out with friends which had gone on later than planned. Before getting a taxi home, he decided to move his car to a car park to avoid a parking ticket the next day. He was stopped by police as he tried to drive his black Volvo XC60 into the car park and was arrested after failing a breath test and taken to Wymondham police station in Norwich. "He had the best intentions - it's good mitigation but it's not a defense. It was more than just a few feet," Nicholls said. Senapati was found to have 63 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35, during the incident on February 15. The 40-year-old admitted drink driving and was banned from driving for 12 months and fined 1,850 pounds. He has also been directed to pay 85 pounds towards legal costs and 170 pounds surcharge, besides undertaking a compulsory course for drink drivers. As part of his job, Senapati is responsible for signing off on new car models. He took charge at the British sportscar maker earlier this year and is a qualified automotive engineer, specializing in automotive refinement, aerodynamics and vehicle engineering. By Sowmya Sangam
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Australian Investigators Striving to Determine Final Movements of Murder Indian Origin Dentist March 07, 2019 16:14
A day after body of Indian origin woman dentist’s was found stuffed in a suitcase in Sydney, the only suspect behind the murder traveled 400 kilometers with the sole purpose of seeing her in spite of knowing that she was dating another man, police have said as they struggled to find out what happened in a gap of several hours yet to be accounted for on the day of her death.The man suspected of murdering the 32-year-old Preethi Reddy, whose body was found with numerous stab wounds, in her car parked in an eastern Sydney street, New South Wales, is another Indian-origin dentist and her ex-boyfriend Harsh Narde.Narde died on Monday night after his BMW car collided with a truck on the New England Highway, a day after his ex-girlfriend was reported missing, New South Wales Police (NSW) said.The head-on collision, around 340 kilometers from where Reddy's body was found, is believed to have been intentional, they said.Police reportedly believe Narde traveled 400km from Tamworth to Sydney for the continuing education course with the sole purpose of seeing his ex-girlfriend despite her telling him: "I've moved on, you need to do the same", The Daily Telegraph reported."Preethi told him she had met someone else and that it was serious and she was moving to Melbourne," an anonymous source told the newspaper.A colleague of Reddy and Narde said he last saw the pair chatting animatedly in the hotel lobby following the event on Saturday night.Narde had no history of violence, according to sources."They looked happy and stayed back to chat after the conference ended at 7 p.m.," he said. "I knew they (had previously been) in a long-term relationship, many of us did. The bizarre thing I noticed that night was that he took down his Facebook shortly after the conference. It made me wonder why."A few hours later, Reddy was captured on CCTV inside McDonald's at the Strand Arcade in Sydney about 2.15 a.m. on Sunday.CCTV footage shows Reddy standing at the counter before she appeared to leave alone and walk south on Market St. Further surveillance footage shows her entering the Swissotel foyer about five minutes later.An NSW Police spokesperson said Reddy stayed in the hotel with "a man known to her" all-night.At around 11 a.m. on Sunday, she spoke to her family over the phone and told them she would have a late breakfast then head home to Penrith. But when she failed to return that night, her family reported her missing to Nepean Police Area Command and created a Facebook page to help find her.Narde was captured on the hotel's CCTV camera getting help from a hotel porter to lift a large and heavy suitcase into the boot of a car on Sunday afternoon, according to The Daily Telegraph.The bag contained Reddy's body, which was discovered in the boot of her car on a laneway in Sydney's eastern suburbs around 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday. She had been stabbed numerous times.While Reddy was still the subject of a missing person's inquiry on Sunday night, Narde sent a series of text messages, to one of her concerned friends.Friends of Reddy asked Narde about his ex-girlfriend's whereabouts, questioning him via text message at 9.24 p.m. Sunday.In text messages obtained by the Daily Mail, one friend asked if he'd seen or heard from her."Hey, I spoke to her in person on Saturday evening. She said (she was going) home," he replied in the text messages.When the friend suggested Reddy was maybe sleeping somewhere, he replied: Maybe.And when the friend admitted they were scared Reddy had been missing for so long, Narde said he was too. "I feel disturbed as well am sitting at one place for the last 30 minutes," he wrote.Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate revealed officers grilled Narde while Reddy was still the subject of a missing person's inquiry.In a shocking twist, Narde died about 10 p.m. on Monday night, a day after Reddy was reported missing in a head-on collision with a truck near Tamworth in what police believe was a deliberate act.A New South Wales (NSW) Police spokeswoman told news.com.au authorities were not looking for any other suspects in relation to Reddy's murder.Police have since appealed to the public to help them trace Reddy's final movements. But Dengate cautioned against speculation as to what happened.“We're looking at the timeline of when they met up,” he said. “We're still making inquiries. It is very difficult now, with what's happened, to get that. At this stage we know they met up in Sydney, now we're looking at all the movements between those two to establish exactly what happened," Dengate told reporters on Wednesday.By Sowmya Sangam
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NRI Video Blogger Charged for Posting Fake Clip Conversation Between Rajnath Singh, Amith Shah March 06, 2019 16:23
The New Delhi Police has filed a case against a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) video blogger in connection with a video featuring a fake, edited and doctored audio clip of a conversation between Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, police said Tuesday.NRI Avi Dandiya posted the doctored audio clip on social media with an intention to generate mistrust among the citizens against the defense forces and the top executives and defame them, they added.However, the audio clip was later removed from social media.In the video, it could be heard that three people discussing a plot for the terror attack which claimed the lives of 44 Central Reserve Police Force personnel on February 14. "He presented an audio clip of a fake conversation between Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president Amit Shah to support his claim. An unidentified woman was also heard in the clip. The audio clip was edited to make it seem like the politicians were 'hatching' a conspiracy to arouse nationalistic sentiments through the deaths of Indian soldiers," said a senior police official.In the course investigation, it was revealed that the audio clip presented by Dandiya was fake and produced by picking up different portions of old interviews given by the BJP leaders, the official said, adding that further investigation is afoot. -Sowmya Sangam
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TRS Keen to Open 100 NRI Units Abroad, Says MP Kavitha March 06, 2019 14:38
Telangana’s ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi Non-Resident Indian (NRI) wing is keen on establishing its units in at the minimum 100 countries across the world before the party’s plenary meeting likely to be held on April 27 in a mark of TRS foundation day.Currently, TRS party has its subdivisions in about 40 countries and TRS NRI wing is in a bid to garner support from Telangana NRIs in several other countries.On the occasion, Kavitha asked TRS NRI wing to take initiative and increase the presence of TRS in different countries for helping Telangana NRIs create a platform and beef up its presence for the welfare of all Telangana people in respective countries. Kavitha further pointed out that the entire nation had its eyes on Telangana State which was being developed as a role model for others. She appreciated TRS NRI wing members for their involvement and gathering support for TRS across the world, during the Assembly elections. She asked them to join the party’s mission in the upcoming Parliamentary elections and ensure its victory in 16 Lok Sabha divisions.-Sowmya Sangam
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Body of Missing Indian Origin Dentist’s Found in Suitcase in Sydney, Suspect Dies in Car Crash March 06, 2019 10:03
The body of 32-year-old missing Indian origin dentist’s in Sydney has found stuffed inside a suitcase.Preethi Reddy has been reported missing by her family on Sunday after she did not come home from a dental convention in St Leonards, a suburb of Sydney.She was last captured on CCTV inside McDonald's at the Strand Arcade in central Sydney around 2.15 a.m. on Sunday and appeared to leave alone, CNN affiliate 7 News Australia reported.Police were told she last made contact with her family at about 11 a.m. on Sunday, saying she planned to head home after having a late breakfast in Sydney.On Tuesday, police located her car parked on a street in Kingsford, south of the city center. A search of the vehicle located Reddy's body in a suitcase. She had been stabbed "numerous times," police said."Further inquiries have established that Preethi stayed at a hotel on Market Street, Sydney CBD, on Sunday with a man known to her," according to a statement by police. However, a key suspect in the murder has reportedly been identified as her ex-boyfriend Harsh Narde, who was killed in a fiery car crash on Monday night. Image source: www.sbs.com.au Investigations into the circumstances surrounding Dr. Reddy's murder are continuing with the assistance of the Homicide Squad, a police spokesperson said in a statement. The Glenbrook dental surgery where Dr. Reddy worked was closed on Wednesday with a sign on the door that said: "Due to tragedy concerning our beloved colleague, the surgery will be closed for the time being. We appreciate your understanding during this delicate time".Numerous patients of Reddy's posted messages of condolences for her family on the surgeon’s Facebook page.-Sowmya Sangam
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NRI Based in UK Arrested from IGI Airport for Raping Woman He Met on Matrimonial Site March 02, 2019 11:36
A Non-Resident Indian on Friday was arrested from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi for allegedly raping a woman he had met on a matrimonial site in 2017, according to police. The accused has been identified as Ravinder Singh, a native of Jalandhar district in Punjab and was living in the United Kingdom. According to police, the woman filed a case on March 27, 2018, stating that she came in contact with Singh through the matrimonial website. On December 12, 2017, Singh reportedly intoxicated the victim and raped her. He later convinced her that he would marry her soon, but instead left Delhi. Following that, the victim got to know that Singh was already married and was living in the UK, where he used to work as a security guard, police said. As part of the investigation, raids were conducted in the accused’s village in Punjab, but he did not join the probe, police said, adding a lookout circular was also issued against him. On Thursday, ultimately Singh was apprehended from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here while he was returning from the UK to visit his family in Jalandhar. -Sowmya Sangam
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Indian National Congress to Include Recommendations from NRIs in Its Manifesto February 27, 2019 13:15
The Indian National Congress (INC) for the first time ever will take in the recommendations from the non-resident Indian community in the party’s 2019 election manifesto - a document that reflects “the voice and aspirations of the people”. The meeting was held in Dubai at the Steigenberger Hotel on February 22nd and 23rd. Senior members from the Congress party led by Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC), Rajeev Gowda, member of Rajya Sabha and convenor of the manifesto committee, Himanshu Vyas, Secretary to the All India Congress Committee - heard recommendations from delegates around the globe. Sam Pitroda assured that all recommendations will be heard by the manifesto committee. However, not all will be included in the document. The recommendation given was not data-driven, he said. “Our purpose is to study the NRI vision for India. The suggestions were not backed by surveys that were not the purpose. Party decided to take recommendations from NRIs for 3 reasons. We wanted to understand what Congress can do for the NRIs and what NRIs can do for India, and learn about the various areas of improvements in Indian governance.” George Abraham requested the party to include a provision that will strengthen the integrity and independence of the Institutions that are under attack by the ruling party in India today. “They are weaponizing the agencies such as BI, RBI and Enforcement Directorate etc. and targeting oppositions, minorities and their Institutions”. He further requested that the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card is made a true identity card for the Overseas Indian Citizens conducting their business or related activities when they visit India. Rajeev Gowda, Convenor of the Manifesto committee said the move is historic one. “It is not possible to include all of them, we will choose the most essential ideas”. Himanshu Vyas, Secretary of the AICC said all election-manifesto related document will be finalized in the next two weeks. -Sowmya Sangam
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