Kozhikode, Mar 29 (PTI) People cannot ask for anything more when music maestro A R Rahman agrees to conduct his maiden musical extravaganza show in the city since receiving the Oscar award.
Such is the euphoria of the otherwise soccer-crazy people here that they feel overwhelmingly pride in welcoming Rahman on May three to perform in the most-deserving manner.
"I never thought he would opt to come here straight after winning the Oscar. Kollywood or Bollywood should have been his choice and therefore we are very lucky," says Sreekumar, a college student.
Describing the music wizard as a household name in Kerala, he says, "we see him as our boy next door as he started his musical career from this state before moving to Chennai." The 'Mozzard of Madras', as Rahman is popularly known, will be performing the show to raise funds for the treatment and rehabilitation of HIV positive orphaned children.
"That is what makes him special... He is very humble when it comes to commitment. Otherwise, we don't think a person of his stature will find time to come down here amid his busy schedule," says Parvathi, a school teacher.
Meanwhile, the district administration is arranging foolproof security at the Corporation stadium here, where the programme is scheduled to be held. Rahman would be heading a 107-member musical troop for the show. PTI
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A R Rahman to replace Beckham as Motorola’s global brand ambassador
31 Mar 2009
In probably the first of its kind where an Indian will represent a global brand in not only India abut across the globe, handset manufacturer, Motorola appointed music composer A R Rahman as its global brand ambassador.
Rahman replaces famous British football player, David Beckham as the company’s ambassador. Further Rahman’s association has reportedly come at a premium for Motorola which is reported to have paid Rs 28 crore to Rahman as compared to Rs 22 crore paid earlier to Bekham.
Rahman has attained more fame across the globe particularly after bagging two awards at the Oscars this year for Slumdog Millionaire.
In probably the first of its kind where an Indian will represent a global brand in not only India abut across the globe, handset manufacturer, Motorola appointed music composer A R Rahman as its global brand ambassador.
Rahman replaces famous British football player, David Beckham as the company’s ambassador. Further Rahman’s association has reportedly come at a premium for Motorola which is reported to have paid Rs 28 crore to Rahman as compared to Rs 22 crore paid earlier to Bekham.
Rahman has attained more fame across the globe particularly after bagging two awards at the Oscars this year for Slumdog Millionaire.
Alert along Kerala coast
Navy spots unidentified persons landing on Pallipuram coast
The men, numbering around 15, were found carrying something resembling rucksacks
Police warned that Bangladesh-based militants were bound for the Kerala coast
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Police on Monday sounded a State-wide alert after Navy personnel operating remote-controlled ‘drones’ reconnaissance aircraft reported that they spotted a group of unidentified persons landing on the Pallipuram coast in Alappuzha district on Monday afternoon.
Official sources said the operators of the Navy’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) reported that the men, numbering around 15, were found carrying something resembling “rucksacks” (similar to those used by the men involved in the Mumbai attack) while stepping off a fishing boat. The UAV, which was on a sortie off the Cherthala coast following intelligence reports of possible LTTE arrival, photographed suspicious activities at Pallippuram. There were also reports that a landing was spotted on the Ayirathai Beach, near Arthunkal.
The Navy rushed two helicopters, but the men seemed to have merged with the local population and their boat could not be identified from air, with scores of other similar vessels moored or moving in the bay area.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters at Patticaud, near Thrissur, that the security agencies had been put on full alert.
Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose has said combing operations were being carried out following credible information that a team of 10 or more persons carrying luggage got off near Arthunkal coast between 3.30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
He added that there is no need to panic as this could be a regular activity among the fisher folk. But the combing is being done because of the intelligence information. All borders of the district will remain sealed, he said. Mr. Punnoose camped at Cherthala on Monday to monitor the combing operations.
The Pallipuram coast is heavily populated and its fisherfolk are literate and politically active. State and Central Intelligence officials are talking to many of them, including their families. Officials said there could be a good chance that the men who landed on the beach were themselves fishermen. The Navy passed on its observations to the Central Intelligence Bureau which, in turn, informed the State police through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC).
The police have put on alert its commando units based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kannur and Kozhikode. Its Marine Enforcement and Vigilance Wing was coordinating closely with the Coast Guard and the Navy. The police have intensified patrolling in the coastal areas.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the police have put on alert its coastal stations at Varkala, Anchuthengu, Kadakavoor, Kadhinamkulam, Kazhakuttom, Pozhiyoor, Poovar, Kanjiramkulam and Parassala.
In Kochi, all entry points to the city are being closely monitored. “We resorted to two-pronged action immediately on getting the information of about 10-15 people landing near Cherthala. First, we verified the information on the ground. Along with that, we intensified combing along the north, south and east directions, on the assumption that the information was true. The combing operations are being led by Kochi City Police Commissioner and District Superintendents of Alappuzha and Kottayam,” said A. Hemachandran, Inspector-General of Police, Ernakulam Range.
Navy helicopters conducted low-flying search operations till late night. Naval ships and Coast Guard patrol crafts combed the coastal area.
The police have intensified checking on the roads leading to the beach in Alappuzha. The Coast Guard has anchored a vessel near the Arthunkal fish landing centre. Information Bureau officials, Customs (Preventive) officials and senior police officials led by District Superintendent of Police E. Divakaran are camping at the spot. Director-General of Police Jacob Punnoose visited the beach to oversee the operations.
A press release from the Indian Navy said the information on suspicious activity was duly passed on to the Kerala State civil authorities and the Kerala State police on Monday. “However, there is no confirmed information available at this stage and the Navy and Indian Coast Guard are still continuing the search operations in the area of interest,” the release said.
The MAC earlier informed the State police that members of a Bangladesh-based jehadist organisation, Jamaat Ul Mujahudeen, were bound for the Kerala coast from Sri Lanka.
The police sent the information as a circular to all Superintendents of Police, Law and Order, last week.
There are an estimated 10 lakh migrant workers in Kerala, many of them from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and insurgency-affected north eastern States.
The State special branch police conducted a random study last year to find out whether people claiming to be migrant labourers from these States were actually from their presumed home districts. Intelligence officials said they found that a section of migrant labourers claiming to be from West Bengal was actually from Bangladesh.
There was also a security angle to the exercise since anti-India terrorist organisations such as the Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami Bangladesh (Huji-BD) and a few insurgent outfits operating in the north east were known to have secret bases in Bangladesh.
The men, numbering around 15, were found carrying something resembling rucksacks
Police warned that Bangladesh-based militants were bound for the Kerala coast
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Police on Monday sounded a State-wide alert after Navy personnel operating remote-controlled ‘drones’ reconnaissance aircraft reported that they spotted a group of unidentified persons landing on the Pallipuram coast in Alappuzha district on Monday afternoon.
Official sources said the operators of the Navy’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) reported that the men, numbering around 15, were found carrying something resembling “rucksacks” (similar to those used by the men involved in the Mumbai attack) while stepping off a fishing boat. The UAV, which was on a sortie off the Cherthala coast following intelligence reports of possible LTTE arrival, photographed suspicious activities at Pallippuram. There were also reports that a landing was spotted on the Ayirathai Beach, near Arthunkal.
The Navy rushed two helicopters, but the men seemed to have merged with the local population and their boat could not be identified from air, with scores of other similar vessels moored or moving in the bay area.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters at Patticaud, near Thrissur, that the security agencies had been put on full alert.
Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose has said combing operations were being carried out following credible information that a team of 10 or more persons carrying luggage got off near Arthunkal coast between 3.30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
He added that there is no need to panic as this could be a regular activity among the fisher folk. But the combing is being done because of the intelligence information. All borders of the district will remain sealed, he said. Mr. Punnoose camped at Cherthala on Monday to monitor the combing operations.
The Pallipuram coast is heavily populated and its fisherfolk are literate and politically active. State and Central Intelligence officials are talking to many of them, including their families. Officials said there could be a good chance that the men who landed on the beach were themselves fishermen. The Navy passed on its observations to the Central Intelligence Bureau which, in turn, informed the State police through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC).
The police have put on alert its commando units based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kannur and Kozhikode. Its Marine Enforcement and Vigilance Wing was coordinating closely with the Coast Guard and the Navy. The police have intensified patrolling in the coastal areas.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the police have put on alert its coastal stations at Varkala, Anchuthengu, Kadakavoor, Kadhinamkulam, Kazhakuttom, Pozhiyoor, Poovar, Kanjiramkulam and Parassala.
In Kochi, all entry points to the city are being closely monitored. “We resorted to two-pronged action immediately on getting the information of about 10-15 people landing near Cherthala. First, we verified the information on the ground. Along with that, we intensified combing along the north, south and east directions, on the assumption that the information was true. The combing operations are being led by Kochi City Police Commissioner and District Superintendents of Alappuzha and Kottayam,” said A. Hemachandran, Inspector-General of Police, Ernakulam Range.
Navy helicopters conducted low-flying search operations till late night. Naval ships and Coast Guard patrol crafts combed the coastal area.
The police have intensified checking on the roads leading to the beach in Alappuzha. The Coast Guard has anchored a vessel near the Arthunkal fish landing centre. Information Bureau officials, Customs (Preventive) officials and senior police officials led by District Superintendent of Police E. Divakaran are camping at the spot. Director-General of Police Jacob Punnoose visited the beach to oversee the operations.
A press release from the Indian Navy said the information on suspicious activity was duly passed on to the Kerala State civil authorities and the Kerala State police on Monday. “However, there is no confirmed information available at this stage and the Navy and Indian Coast Guard are still continuing the search operations in the area of interest,” the release said.
The MAC earlier informed the State police that members of a Bangladesh-based jehadist organisation, Jamaat Ul Mujahudeen, were bound for the Kerala coast from Sri Lanka.
The police sent the information as a circular to all Superintendents of Police, Law and Order, last week.
There are an estimated 10 lakh migrant workers in Kerala, many of them from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and insurgency-affected north eastern States.
The State special branch police conducted a random study last year to find out whether people claiming to be migrant labourers from these States were actually from their presumed home districts. Intelligence officials said they found that a section of migrant labourers claiming to be from West Bengal was actually from Bangladesh.
There was also a security angle to the exercise since anti-India terrorist organisations such as the Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami Bangladesh (Huji-BD) and a few insurgent outfits operating in the north east were known to have secret bases in Bangladesh.
High alert in Kerala after reports of LTTE sneaking in
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 30 (PTI) A high alert has been sounded across Kerala today following reports of a group of suspected LTTE militants sneaking into the southern state with Police, Navy and Coastguard launching a joint intense search between Alappuzha and Kochi towns.
The alert had been sounded since intelligence agencies also corroborated the possibility of a militant group landing in Thyckal Beach near Cherthala, about 30 km South of Kochi, as claimed local fishermen, official sources said.
A large contingent of police, including armed commandos, has been deployed on the busy Cherthala-Kochi highway where all the vehicles were being searched.
The Navy has pressed two helicopters for aerial surveillance while the Coast Guard boats are searching the off-shore areas.
According to Navy sources, some "suspicious activity" had been noticed in Pallippuram area, south of Kochi.
Director General of Police Jacob Punnose said information gathered from various sources were being verified.
"Unless we come across something concrete, we cannot say whether the information is correct or not," Punnose told PTI.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said in Thrissur that all possible routes through which the suspected militant group could move had been put under high vigil. PTI
The alert had been sounded since intelligence agencies also corroborated the possibility of a militant group landing in Thyckal Beach near Cherthala, about 30 km South of Kochi, as claimed local fishermen, official sources said.
A large contingent of police, including armed commandos, has been deployed on the busy Cherthala-Kochi highway where all the vehicles were being searched.
The Navy has pressed two helicopters for aerial surveillance while the Coast Guard boats are searching the off-shore areas.
According to Navy sources, some "suspicious activity" had been noticed in Pallippuram area, south of Kochi.
Director General of Police Jacob Punnose said information gathered from various sources were being verified.
"Unless we come across something concrete, we cannot say whether the information is correct or not," Punnose told PTI.
Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said in Thrissur that all possible routes through which the suspected militant group could move had been put under high vigil. PTI
Dissension in Kerala unit not to affect Third Front: Gowda
1 Apr 2009
MANGALORE: Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda assured his Left friends that discord in the party unit in Kerala will not have any major bearing on the Third Front. There is no question of allying with the Congress-led United Democratic Front in that state, Gowda said and added he would request party leader M P Veerendra Kumar, who is sulking at being a denied party ticket, to reconsider his stand in larger national interest.
Addressing media persons here on Wednesday, Gowda urged Kumar not to take any decision that would have a bearing on the Third Front. "He has stood by JD (S) loyally for more than three decades, and whatever grouse he has, should be sorted out through discussions," Gowda said. The party's national general secretary will write an open letter to Veerendra Kumar in this regard and it will be released to the media as well, he noted.
The former Prime Minister was in a patronizing mood when he held out hope to party MP M Shivanna from Chamarajnagar, who recently switched allegiance to the Congress. Stating that he felt sorry for Shivanna, whom the Congress ditched by denying him a ticket to contest from Chamarajnagar parliamentary constituency, Gowda said, "I have first hand experience of Congress ditching people. It is a new experience for him."
The JD(S) has already announced its candidate from Chamarajnagar and has started his campaigning, Gowda said and added that he would try and accommodate Shivanna in the next assembly elections. Asked if he, as national president of JD(S) would welcome Shivanna back in to the party fold, Gowda said, "I will welcome anyone who swears by secular principles. Shivanna is our own man," he added.
On a reported statement by JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy that the party will not field a candidate in Bellary due to its inability to take on the financial might of mining barons there, he said, "A couple of them have volunteered to take up this onerous task. We will take a decision in this regard at the party level shortly," he said. The JD (S) will announce its list of candidates for the remaining seats in the next two days, he added.
MANGALORE: Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda assured his Left friends that discord in the party unit in Kerala will not have any major bearing on the Third Front. There is no question of allying with the Congress-led United Democratic Front in that state, Gowda said and added he would request party leader M P Veerendra Kumar, who is sulking at being a denied party ticket, to reconsider his stand in larger national interest.
Addressing media persons here on Wednesday, Gowda urged Kumar not to take any decision that would have a bearing on the Third Front. "He has stood by JD (S) loyally for more than three decades, and whatever grouse he has, should be sorted out through discussions," Gowda said. The party's national general secretary will write an open letter to Veerendra Kumar in this regard and it will be released to the media as well, he noted.
The former Prime Minister was in a patronizing mood when he held out hope to party MP M Shivanna from Chamarajnagar, who recently switched allegiance to the Congress. Stating that he felt sorry for Shivanna, whom the Congress ditched by denying him a ticket to contest from Chamarajnagar parliamentary constituency, Gowda said, "I have first hand experience of Congress ditching people. It is a new experience for him."
The JD(S) has already announced its candidate from Chamarajnagar and has started his campaigning, Gowda said and added that he would try and accommodate Shivanna in the next assembly elections. Asked if he, as national president of JD(S) would welcome Shivanna back in to the party fold, Gowda said, "I will welcome anyone who swears by secular principles. Shivanna is our own man," he added.
On a reported statement by JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy that the party will not field a candidate in Bellary due to its inability to take on the financial might of mining barons there, he said, "A couple of them have volunteered to take up this onerous task. We will take a decision in this regard at the party level shortly," he said. The JD (S) will announce its list of candidates for the remaining seats in the next two days, he added.
LDF, UDF promote communal forces: Krishnadas
31 March 2009
LDF, UDF promote communal forces: Krishnadas
Thiruvananthapuram: BJP Kerala unit president P K Krishnadas Monday alleged that both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) governments were encouraging communal forces to garner votes in the state.
Addressing meet-the-press programme, ''Janavidhi 2009'', organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists' Trust here, he alleged that while the LDF was promoting the PDP, founded by Abdul Nazir Maudhany, the Congress had made adjustments with the National Development Front (NDF), two fundamental organisations for votes in the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Promoting such organisations just for a few votes would be a real threat to the country's security, he said.
Expressing confidence that the BJP-led NDA would assume power after the elections, he said date of the UPA at the Centre and the LDF in Kerala had almost ''expired.'' Claiming that after the elections people would see a split in these two Fronts, Mr Krishnadas said the Congress-led UPA had already collapsed as many of its leading partners had left and decided to face the elections alone or with other partners.
On the BJP's future, he said except the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), no other partners had left the party and claimed that many other political parties in both south and north had expressed their willingness to associate with it.
He claimed that the voting percentage of the BJP was increasing after each elections in the state.
Though the party had no electoral alliance in the state, a third alternative would emerge after the elections, he said.
LDF, UDF promote communal forces: Krishnadas
Thiruvananthapuram: BJP Kerala unit president P K Krishnadas Monday alleged that both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) governments were encouraging communal forces to garner votes in the state.
Addressing meet-the-press programme, ''Janavidhi 2009'', organised by the Kesari Memorial Journalists' Trust here, he alleged that while the LDF was promoting the PDP, founded by Abdul Nazir Maudhany, the Congress had made adjustments with the National Development Front (NDF), two fundamental organisations for votes in the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Promoting such organisations just for a few votes would be a real threat to the country's security, he said.
Expressing confidence that the BJP-led NDA would assume power after the elections, he said date of the UPA at the Centre and the LDF in Kerala had almost ''expired.'' Claiming that after the elections people would see a split in these two Fronts, Mr Krishnadas said the Congress-led UPA had already collapsed as many of its leading partners had left and decided to face the elections alone or with other partners.
On the BJP's future, he said except the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), no other partners had left the party and claimed that many other political parties in both south and north had expressed their willingness to associate with it.
He claimed that the voting percentage of the BJP was increasing after each elections in the state.
Though the party had no electoral alliance in the state, a third alternative would emerge after the elections, he said.
Modi favourite to lead Gujarat again, survey shows
1 April 2009
New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular leader in the state and was likely to retain the post, an opinion poll said Tuesday.
"Narendra Modi emerges as the most popular candidate to be the next chief minister in Gujarat with 45 percent people in favour of him. Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela trails with 31 percent," the NDTV said in a release on the findings of the opinion poll.
The survey showed that the Modi government got a thumbs-up on development indicators such as 'bijli, sadak, paani' (power, road, water) with an overwhelming 79 percent surveyed saying it has done a good job.
According to the poll, 51 percent respondents said the government has done a good job on the front of communal harmony and over 85 percent stated that Muslims do feel safe in the state.
However, nearly 56 percent respondents said that Modi favours rich industrialists over the poor.
New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is the most popular leader in the state and was likely to retain the post, an opinion poll said Tuesday.
"Narendra Modi emerges as the most popular candidate to be the next chief minister in Gujarat with 45 percent people in favour of him. Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela trails with 31 percent," the NDTV said in a release on the findings of the opinion poll.
The survey showed that the Modi government got a thumbs-up on development indicators such as 'bijli, sadak, paani' (power, road, water) with an overwhelming 79 percent surveyed saying it has done a good job.
According to the poll, 51 percent respondents said the government has done a good job on the front of communal harmony and over 85 percent stated that Muslims do feel safe in the state.
However, nearly 56 percent respondents said that Modi favours rich industrialists over the poor.
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