ANGALORE (TOI): The last laugh may be on Charlie Chaplin, cinema's funny man who mocked prejudice and fascism. The Left-leaning, suspected communist sympathizer was called many names during his eventful life, but `Christian' wasn't one of them. But the new tag comes courtesy BJP activists in Baindur, near Udupi. They have blocked installation of Chaplin’s statue saying it would hurt Hindu sentiment.
The statue was being put up by Karnataka film director Hemant Hegde for the shoot of his movie `Housefull' and was meant for a song sequence. On Friday, local BJP leader Suresh Batwadi stopped the film unit from going ahead with the project, claiming that the land on which the statue was to be erected belonged to the Someshwara temple and the crew lacked the requisite permissions.
Hegde said he had obtained all the clearances and had discussed the shoot with the officials. "I had apprised the gram panchayat and the Udupi deputy commissioner. The BJP activists questioned me as to why I was not installing Vivekananda's statue," he said. He said he planned to shift the shoot elsewhere.
While condemnation poured in from artistes, the local authorities said they couldn't do anything because there was "no complaint registered".
The government is backing the protesters. Home minister V S Acharya, who is in Udupi, told TOI that locals had every right to show their concern. He dismissed reports that BJP workers had objected because Chaplin was a "Christian and not Indian". "It is all fabrication, and a communal colour is being given to it. The local people have valid objections that a statue of 67 feet and of a permanent nature cannot be established." He also claimed permissions had not been obtained.
But the police chief had a different take. "As the location is near a temple, the local people are against installing a Chaplin statue and instead want one of Vivekananda. We will wait for the deputy commissioner's opinion and take suitable action based on that," said Gopal B Hosur, deputy inspector general of police.
Udupi's deputy commissioner of police Hemalatha admitted that Hegde and his team had discussed the shooting schedule and had sought permission for the statue. "I accorded oral permission for a permanent statue at the place where they were constructing on Friday. The official allotment of land was made at the lower level of the revenue department."
"In the last year, episodes of communal intolerance have been shameful events for Karnataka. It's not only because Chaplin's statue is being opposed, it's because these elements are unconstitutional. The constitution allows you the freedom to express your religion. Then how can these extra-constitutional bodies take over?" asked Girish Kasaravalli, noted Kannada film-maker.
Added Jayamala, actress and president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, "How can anyone discriminate against an artist on the basis of religion or caste? Chaplin belongs to all."
Rajeev Gowda, IIM-B professor and Congress politician, said, "These people must be crazy. Chaplin was an artiste who made movies against dictatorship, against the oppression of workers. He united workers and doesn't belong only to the West."
However, local BJP legislator K Lakshminarayana was unapologetic about supporting fellow partyman Suresh Batwadi's fatwa for the removal of the statue. "If the locals are against such a statue, I am also against it. Why should one bother so much about Charlie Chaplin, who was not even an Indian? Who is worried about the Guinness Book of Records for the statue? If we really need one, we can think of installing a Hanuman statue."
Hegde, fearing further trouble and vandalism, has decided to seek other sites now. He has gone to Uttara Kannada and is considering Om beach at Gokarna, or perhaps Karwar, as alternate locations. He has not approached the police, fearing that frequent trips to the police station and the courts would upset his shooting schedule.
Times View: Hindutva brigands attacking a statue of Charlie Chaplin on the grounds that he was a Christian and having his statue close to a temple was offensive to Hindu sentiments may appear too bizzare to be taken seriously. It is indeed ludicrous. But unless such groups are dealt with summarily and the nuisance nipped in the bud, what seems farcical today could become tragically real tomorrow. The state government must show that it will not allow such lumpen activity to go unpunished. It must crack down hard to deter potential imitators of such trends.
Source: The Times of India
NDA will make multi-purpose ID cards mandatory for citizens: Advani
New Delhi, March 14 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishan Advani on Saturday said that the National Democratic Alliance would enact multi-purpose national identity cards mandatory for citizens of the country, if voted to power. Citing security being the main concern behind the need to make national identity cards mandatory, Advani pointed out the increasing infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into the country, particularly in the northeast, as he unveiled the IT Vision Document of the party for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Advani said that there were an estimated two crore (20 million) Bangladeshi immigrants staying illegally in the country and stressed upon the necessity of having national identity cards for citizens.
National identity card is the key promise of the IT Vision Document, Advani said.
Advani noted that the Supreme Court had admonished the government for not taking enough steps for tackling the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. (ANI)
Otis' remarks degrade name of Mahatma: Gandhi's great-grandson
New Delhi, Mar 14 (PTI) As the owner of Mahatma Gandhi's memorabilia, which were auctioned last week, demanded that the items be returned to him, Tushar Gandhi today said such statements "degraded" the name of his great-grandfather.
"They are degrading the name of my great-grandfather by making all these dramatic statements," Tushar Gandhi told the CNN-IBN news channel.
James Otis, the US-based owner of the items, said he wanted these back from the auction house as he was unhappy over the "dispute" between liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who bought the articles for USD 1.8 million, and the Indian government over the memorabilia.
Otis said he would negotiate with India on the "two proposals he had submitted -- increase in the spending on the poor and fully paid exhibition of Gandhi's items in 78 countries to spread the apostle of peace's message of non-violence." Tushar Gandhi also questioned Otis' authority to deliver a moral judgement on India.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said she was not in a position to comment on the remarks of a private individual. PTI
263 players for IPL 2; KKR to have a jumbo squad
Mumbai, Mar 13 (PTI) The 45-day second season of the IPL, to be held from April 10-May 24, would see a total of 263 players, including 80 foreigners, in action, the organisers said today while releasing the players' list today.
Barring players from Pakistan, who have not been allowed to take part in the cash-rich Twenty20 league by their government, the other eight Test playing nations as well as ICC's full member Zimbabwe would be represented in the event, a media release said here.
Apart from the centrally contracted international players from the country, a host of additional Indian first class cricketers as well as under-22 and 19 players have been drafted into the different teams as per the statutory guidelines drawn up by the IPL.
King's XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians will have only 14 and 15 Indian players, respectively, on their roster, while Kolkata Knight Riders have as many as 46 which makes theirs a jumbo squad of 56, including 10 overseas players, it said.
Royal Challengers of Bangalore have 32 Indians in their ranks (squad strength 42), while last year's champions Rajasthan Royals and runners-up Chennai Super Kings have 25 and 19 Indian players in their respective rosters.
Commending the franchisees for investing in young Indian talent, IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said all the eight teams "seem to have struck a fine balance". PTI
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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The statue was being put up by Karnataka film director Hemant Hegde for the shoot of his movie `Housefull' and was meant for a song sequence. On Friday, local BJP leader Suresh Batwadi stopped the film unit from going ahead with the project, claiming that the land on which the statue was to be erected belonged to the Someshwara temple and the crew lacked the requisite permissions.
Hegde said he had obtained all the clearances and had discussed the shoot with the officials. "I had apprised the gram panchayat and the Udupi deputy commissioner. The BJP activists questioned me as to why I was not installing Vivekananda's statue," he said. He said he planned to shift the shoot elsewhere.
While condemnation poured in from artistes, the local authorities said they couldn't do anything because there was "no complaint registered".
The government is backing the protesters. Home minister V S Acharya, who is in Udupi, told TOI that locals had every right to show their concern. He dismissed reports that BJP workers had objected because Chaplin was a "Christian and not Indian". "It is all fabrication, and a communal colour is being given to it. The local people have valid objections that a statue of 67 feet and of a permanent nature cannot be established." He also claimed permissions had not been obtained.
But the police chief had a different take. "As the location is near a temple, the local people are against installing a Chaplin statue and instead want one of Vivekananda. We will wait for the deputy commissioner's opinion and take suitable action based on that," said Gopal B Hosur, deputy inspector general of police.
Udupi's deputy commissioner of police Hemalatha admitted that Hegde and his team had discussed the shooting schedule and had sought permission for the statue. "I accorded oral permission for a permanent statue at the place where they were constructing on Friday. The official allotment of land was made at the lower level of the revenue department."
"In the last year, episodes of communal intolerance have been shameful events for Karnataka. It's not only because Chaplin's statue is being opposed, it's because these elements are unconstitutional. The constitution allows you the freedom to express your religion. Then how can these extra-constitutional bodies take over?" asked Girish Kasaravalli, noted Kannada film-maker.
Added Jayamala, actress and president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, "How can anyone discriminate against an artist on the basis of religion or caste? Chaplin belongs to all."
Rajeev Gowda, IIM-B professor and Congress politician, said, "These people must be crazy. Chaplin was an artiste who made movies against dictatorship, against the oppression of workers. He united workers and doesn't belong only to the West."
However, local BJP legislator K Lakshminarayana was unapologetic about supporting fellow partyman Suresh Batwadi's fatwa for the removal of the statue. "If the locals are against such a statue, I am also against it. Why should one bother so much about Charlie Chaplin, who was not even an Indian? Who is worried about the Guinness Book of Records for the statue? If we really need one, we can think of installing a Hanuman statue."
Hegde, fearing further trouble and vandalism, has decided to seek other sites now. He has gone to Uttara Kannada and is considering Om beach at Gokarna, or perhaps Karwar, as alternate locations. He has not approached the police, fearing that frequent trips to the police station and the courts would upset his shooting schedule.
Times View: Hindutva brigands attacking a statue of Charlie Chaplin on the grounds that he was a Christian and having his statue close to a temple was offensive to Hindu sentiments may appear too bizzare to be taken seriously. It is indeed ludicrous. But unless such groups are dealt with summarily and the nuisance nipped in the bud, what seems farcical today could become tragically real tomorrow. The state government must show that it will not allow such lumpen activity to go unpunished. It must crack down hard to deter potential imitators of such trends.
Source: The Times of India
NDA will make multi-purpose ID cards mandatory for citizens: Advani
New Delhi, March 14 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishan Advani on Saturday said that the National Democratic Alliance would enact multi-purpose national identity cards mandatory for citizens of the country, if voted to power. Citing security being the main concern behind the need to make national identity cards mandatory, Advani pointed out the increasing infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into the country, particularly in the northeast, as he unveiled the IT Vision Document of the party for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Advani said that there were an estimated two crore (20 million) Bangladeshi immigrants staying illegally in the country and stressed upon the necessity of having national identity cards for citizens.
National identity card is the key promise of the IT Vision Document, Advani said.
Advani noted that the Supreme Court had admonished the government for not taking enough steps for tackling the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. (ANI)
Otis' remarks degrade name of Mahatma: Gandhi's great-grandson
New Delhi, Mar 14 (PTI) As the owner of Mahatma Gandhi's memorabilia, which were auctioned last week, demanded that the items be returned to him, Tushar Gandhi today said such statements "degraded" the name of his great-grandfather.
"They are degrading the name of my great-grandfather by making all these dramatic statements," Tushar Gandhi told the CNN-IBN news channel.
James Otis, the US-based owner of the items, said he wanted these back from the auction house as he was unhappy over the "dispute" between liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who bought the articles for USD 1.8 million, and the Indian government over the memorabilia.
Otis said he would negotiate with India on the "two proposals he had submitted -- increase in the spending on the poor and fully paid exhibition of Gandhi's items in 78 countries to spread the apostle of peace's message of non-violence." Tushar Gandhi also questioned Otis' authority to deliver a moral judgement on India.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said she was not in a position to comment on the remarks of a private individual. PTI
263 players for IPL 2; KKR to have a jumbo squad
Mumbai, Mar 13 (PTI) The 45-day second season of the IPL, to be held from April 10-May 24, would see a total of 263 players, including 80 foreigners, in action, the organisers said today while releasing the players' list today.
Barring players from Pakistan, who have not been allowed to take part in the cash-rich Twenty20 league by their government, the other eight Test playing nations as well as ICC's full member Zimbabwe would be represented in the event, a media release said here.
Apart from the centrally contracted international players from the country, a host of additional Indian first class cricketers as well as under-22 and 19 players have been drafted into the different teams as per the statutory guidelines drawn up by the IPL.
King's XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians will have only 14 and 15 Indian players, respectively, on their roster, while Kolkata Knight Riders have as many as 46 which makes theirs a jumbo squad of 56, including 10 overseas players, it said.
Royal Challengers of Bangalore have 32 Indians in their ranks (squad strength 42), while last year's champions Rajasthan Royals and runners-up Chennai Super Kings have 25 and 19 Indian players in their respective rosters.
Commending the franchisees for investing in young Indian talent, IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi said all the eight teams "seem to have struck a fine balance". PTI
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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