New Delhi: Sunanda Pushkar, who has been linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL) Kochi team controversy, Wednesday blasted her critics and denied acting as a proxy for her friend and Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor.
In a hard-hitting statement made available to IANS, Pushkar accused the media of ignoring her professional background and international business experience and focussing 'obsessively on my personal life as if a woman cannot be capable of professional or financial success.
'My own business interests and assets are substantial, and efforts to besmirch Tharoor by presenting me as a proxy for him are personally insulting for me as a woman and as a friend.
'I have built up a respectable and successful career while coping with widowhood and raising a child as a single mother. Yet I have been reduced to a caricature in the media, portrayed with inaccuracies and falsehoods,' she said.
Pushkar said she was issuing the statement 'to set the record straight about my role in the public controversy surrounding the Kerala IPL Team franchise'.
The controversy erupted after Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi revealed the ownership pattern of Kochi IPL, stating that Pushkar, a friend of Tharoor, owned free equity in Rendezvous Sports, which is a part owner of IPL Kochi team.
Modi also accused Tharoor of asking him not to reveal the ownership details -- a charge denied by the minister.
Pushkar said she was approached last year by Rendezvous 'inviting me to associate myself with them as a consultant in their various sporting activities and particularly in their potential bid to acquire the franchise of an IPL team.
'I had previously been approached by Karim Morani of Kolkata Knight Riders to join them in a similar capacity and had regretted that the timing was not convenient for me.
'In view of my extensive international experience as a business executive, marketing manager and entrepreneur, I was invited to assist Rendezvous particularly in the areas of fund-raising, networking, elsewhere; event management; and brand building.
'Because this is a start-up effort, I was told that in lieu of a salary they would grant me minor equity in Rendezvous in return for my efforts - which is a common practice across the world for start-ups and projects of this nature.
'I should stress that I have accepted no salary or expenses and am conscious that the equity remains only on paper for the foreseeable future.
'However, with the equity comes an opportunity to participate in the management and promotion of Rendezvous and in particular of its IPL team, a challenge I welcome.'
She said she had 'lived a life of integrity and committed no crime, yet I am treated in a humiliating manner. My parents, friends and family members have been hounded by intrusive journalists.
'My personal life is nobody else's business and if I have a marriage to announce, I will do it myself, rather than leave it to strangers. I would request the media to respect my privacy.'
Friday, April 16, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Paleri Manikyam Best film: Mammooty Actor, Swetha Actress
Thiruvananthapuram, April 6 (IANS) Malayalam superstar Mammooty and his films dominate the Kerala State Film Awards 2009 which were announced by State Minister for Culture M.A. Baby Tuesday.
Mammooty is named the best actor for his roles in 'Paleri Manikam Oru Pathirakolapathakam', while his film 'Pazhassi Raja' won the best director award for Hariharan.
Together both the films bagged 12 awards, with 'Pazhassi Raja' winning eight and 'Paleri Manikam...' four, including the best film award.
''Pazhassi Raja' really merited all these awards because it was a technical masterpiece and was breath-taking evoking a bygone era,' said Sai Paranjape who headed the jury that saw 36 feature films, two children's film and two documentaries.
Mammooty, who is on a month-long holiday, was not available for comments. But Renjith said that it is great moment for him because his efforts have been appreciated well.
Swetha, who was declared the best actress for her performance in 'Paleri Manikam...', said initially she was apprehensive about the role because the character was slightly older than her age.
'Renjith was adamant that I should do it because it was a character that had lot of potential. Just because he insisted, I took it and I am so happy that I have won an award,' she said.
Another Malayalam superstar Mohanlal's film 'Ividae Swarghamanu' was named the best popular film.
But Paranjape feels that the quality of Malayalam films has come down.
'Of all the films which we saw, it was just under 10 films that had the required quality. I hope this situation would improve,' she said.
Mammooty is named the best actor for his roles in 'Paleri Manikam Oru Pathirakolapathakam', while his film 'Pazhassi Raja' won the best director award for Hariharan.
Together both the films bagged 12 awards, with 'Pazhassi Raja' winning eight and 'Paleri Manikam...' four, including the best film award.
''Pazhassi Raja' really merited all these awards because it was a technical masterpiece and was breath-taking evoking a bygone era,' said Sai Paranjape who headed the jury that saw 36 feature films, two children's film and two documentaries.
Mammooty, who is on a month-long holiday, was not available for comments. But Renjith said that it is great moment for him because his efforts have been appreciated well.
Swetha, who was declared the best actress for her performance in 'Paleri Manikam...', said initially she was apprehensive about the role because the character was slightly older than her age.
'Renjith was adamant that I should do it because it was a character that had lot of potential. Just because he insisted, I took it and I am so happy that I have won an award,' she said.
Another Malayalam superstar Mohanlal's film 'Ividae Swarghamanu' was named the best popular film.
But Paranjape feels that the quality of Malayalam films has come down.
'Of all the films which we saw, it was just under 10 films that had the required quality. I hope this situation would improve,' she said.
Kerala's appam and karimeen on American channel
Apr 6, 2010,
Kerala's appam and karimeen on American channel Kerala's culinary specialities have won over master US chef Anthony Bourdain who will showcase food like appam, puttu and karimeen curry on the popular American travel and food show No Reservations on the Travel Channel.
The sixth season of Travel channel's culinary programme hosted by Bourdain will telecast the specialities of Kerala cuisine in July.
Bourdain has already shot the episode in Kerala for No Reservations which is in its sixth season.
"By showcasing authentic Kerala food in the homes of ordinary people, Anthony Bourdain is also reaffirming that delicious food and hospitality is not just special to upscale restaurants and hotels but is something that is customary throughout the state," said Kerala Tourism secretary V. Venu.
"It was wonderful to have such a high profile television host championing street and home cooked food," he said.
"When it comes to spices and variety, Kerala is right up there in my alley," the release said quoting Bourdain, 53, the author of A Cook's Tour-In Search of the Perfect Meal .
For the Kerala episode, the master chef landed in Kochi at the fag end of March and travelled to Alappuzha to savour the backwaters cuisine. He stayed in a houseboat where he tried mussels and kappa (tapioca), a Kerala sadya (feast) and the spicy karimeen or pearl spot fish, the release said.
"I am also very impressed with the high standard of food in Kerala, especially the street food," says the chef, who earlier hit the streets in Kochi to taste the varieties.
Bourdain also enjoyed home cooked puttu (a steamed rice powder preparation), meen curry (fish cooked in coconut milk) and some other vegetarian dishes (made with coconut) with Malayalam celluloid icon Mammootty, when he visited the superstar during the shooting of his forthcoming film ‘Pokkiri Raja’, the release said.
Kerala's appam and karimeen on American channel Kerala's culinary specialities have won over master US chef Anthony Bourdain who will showcase food like appam, puttu and karimeen curry on the popular American travel and food show No Reservations on the Travel Channel.
The sixth season of Travel channel's culinary programme hosted by Bourdain will telecast the specialities of Kerala cuisine in July.
Bourdain has already shot the episode in Kerala for No Reservations which is in its sixth season.
"By showcasing authentic Kerala food in the homes of ordinary people, Anthony Bourdain is also reaffirming that delicious food and hospitality is not just special to upscale restaurants and hotels but is something that is customary throughout the state," said Kerala Tourism secretary V. Venu.
"It was wonderful to have such a high profile television host championing street and home cooked food," he said.
"When it comes to spices and variety, Kerala is right up there in my alley," the release said quoting Bourdain, 53, the author of A Cook's Tour-In Search of the Perfect Meal .
For the Kerala episode, the master chef landed in Kochi at the fag end of March and travelled to Alappuzha to savour the backwaters cuisine. He stayed in a houseboat where he tried mussels and kappa (tapioca), a Kerala sadya (feast) and the spicy karimeen or pearl spot fish, the release said.
"I am also very impressed with the high standard of food in Kerala, especially the street food," says the chef, who earlier hit the streets in Kochi to taste the varieties.
Bourdain also enjoyed home cooked puttu (a steamed rice powder preparation), meen curry (fish cooked in coconut milk) and some other vegetarian dishes (made with coconut) with Malayalam celluloid icon Mammootty, when he visited the superstar during the shooting of his forthcoming film ‘Pokkiri Raja’, the release said.
I was a victim of CPI-M's conspiracy: Rajmohan Unnithan
Thiruvananthapuram: Days after his party revoked his suspension, senior Congress leader Rajmohan Unnithan Monday lashed out at the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for 'spreading canards' about him on his alleged involvement with a woman and termed the Left leaders as a bunch of 'pseudo moralists'.
Unnithan vented his anger at the CPI-M, its feeder organization, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI, the youth wing) and the Janadipathiya Mahila Association (JMA, the women's wing), saying he was trapped by them after he was held with a woman, said to be a Congress Seva Dal worker, at a house in Malappuram district Dec 20.
On March 31, the Congress revoked the suspension of Unnithan, former general secretary of the party in Kerala, absolving him of charges of immoral trafficking. He insists he was trapped by the ruling Left party activists and their allies.
'I was a victim of a conspiracy hatched by the CPI-M and DYFI and I was trapped by them. I have now been exonerated by my party which conducted an inquiry and I was given instant bail by a court (in Malappuram), because I did no wrong,' Unnithan told reporters Monday.
He said the DYFI is gripped with an 'Oedipus complex' and the JMA 'which claims to safeguard the rights of women did the worst thing when they printed my picture and of the lady who was with me and pasted it all across the state'.
'The JMA forgot that the lady who was with me has a family and the CPI-M should also not forget the personal side of leaders like Karl Marx, Lenin and Chairman Mao and it is no different with some CPI-M leaders here. I have been exonerated but the damage that has been done to me and the lady is irreparable,' Unnithan, an All India Congress Committee member member.
Unnithan vented his anger at the CPI-M, its feeder organization, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI, the youth wing) and the Janadipathiya Mahila Association (JMA, the women's wing), saying he was trapped by them after he was held with a woman, said to be a Congress Seva Dal worker, at a house in Malappuram district Dec 20.
On March 31, the Congress revoked the suspension of Unnithan, former general secretary of the party in Kerala, absolving him of charges of immoral trafficking. He insists he was trapped by the ruling Left party activists and their allies.
'I was a victim of a conspiracy hatched by the CPI-M and DYFI and I was trapped by them. I have now been exonerated by my party which conducted an inquiry and I was given instant bail by a court (in Malappuram), because I did no wrong,' Unnithan told reporters Monday.
He said the DYFI is gripped with an 'Oedipus complex' and the JMA 'which claims to safeguard the rights of women did the worst thing when they printed my picture and of the lady who was with me and pasted it all across the state'.
'The JMA forgot that the lady who was with me has a family and the CPI-M should also not forget the personal side of leaders like Karl Marx, Lenin and Chairman Mao and it is no different with some CPI-M leaders here. I have been exonerated but the damage that has been done to me and the lady is irreparable,' Unnithan, an All India Congress Committee member member.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Jubilant BJP govt doles out Rs 22,500 crore bonanza for Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 5 (PTI)
Buoyed by the victory of Karnataka's ruling BJP in city corporation election, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said government would spend Rs 22,500 crore for boosting infrastructure in Bangalore.
He termed BJP's capturing the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as a "fitting reply" to opposition Congress and JD(S) and said the verdict has "silenced critics".
"We had already prepared an action plan for over Rs 22,500 crore to be implemented over the next three years. This will substantially improve infrastructure in Bangalore", he told reporters.
According to state officials, out of the total 198 wards in BBMP, BJP won in 110, Congress in 61, JD(S) in 14 and others in seven, with six more results being awaited.The Chief Minister said the mandate was for developmental initiatives of his government in the last 22 months for Bangalore as well as the entire state.
Government would make efforts to put in place the Bangalore Governance Act to ensure better coordination and enable empowering ward-level committees."It will also bring increased accountability and efficiency in planning and execution of works. In the next 2-3 years, we will take up comprehensive improvements of all water bodies in BBMP areas", he said.
"In order to ease the traffic-related problems, we have already written to Ministry of Railways for a circular train in Bangalore and we have agreed to share the cost of this project. We have also decided to build modern multi-level car parking facilities in at least ten important areas in Bangalore this year", Yeddyurappa said
BJP captures Bangalore City Corporation bagging 112 out of the 189
B.J.P Makes History
Bangalore, April 5, 2010: The BJP captured power in the 198-member Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) by bagging 112 out of the 189 wards, whose results have been declared. The people voted for the development works taken up by the B S Yeddyurappa government in the City, claimed leaders and Ministers in the BJP government.
P R Ramesh of the Congress, who fought legal battle to hold elections, lost against the BJP candidate Anil Kumar. The former MLA Chandrashekar of the Congress won the elections.
The Opposition Congress has won in 65 wards while the JD (S) has emerged victorious in 13 wards. Independents and others have been declared elected in 6 wards. The BJP required only 95 seats to capture power in the BBMP. But it already won one hundred seats.
Counting of votes for the BBMP elections held on March 28 began at 8 am in 28 different counting centers in the City. The counting of votes in about 38 wards was yet to begin. The process of counting in one station will be taken up only around 2 pm to facilitate the completion of SSLC examination that is underway.
Minister for Labour B N Bache Gowda said the voters of the city taught a fitting lesson to the JD (S) which launched the NICE campaign against the BJP Government. The Congress too won less than the expected seats on account of its poor leadership.
The BJP’s efforts to rule the civic body will be further bolstered by the voting rights enjoyed by as many as 32 non-BBMP councillers - MPs, MLAs and MLCs residing in Bangalore. Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bangalore that he was glad with BJP's performance in the BBMP polls.
Prominent among the winners include former Congress Mayors K. Chandrashekar, also a former MLA, and M. Narayanaswamy and former leader of the Opposition in the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Mr. Ganghabhyraiah, BJP.
BJP candidate from Vasanth Nagar Mr. Katta Jagadish Naidu, who is also son of Minister for Information Technology Mr. Katta Subramanya Naidu, has registered a victory. Similiarly, Rajarajeshwarinagar BJP MLA M. Srinivas’ son Venkatesh Babu has won the elections. However, Mahalakshmi Layout assembly segment’s Congress MLA N. L. Narendra Babu’s brother N. L. Ravishankar was among the losers.
Reacting to the results, Karantaka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said the victory of the BJP candidates had once again proved the saffron party's strength and the support of the people has increased the responsibility of the state government to fulfill their aspirations.
''The verdict is a reflection of the good work done by the BJP government in the state during the last two years,'' he said. He said the focus of the new civic body would lay on improving infrastructure facilities, housing for slum dwellers, improving drinking water and power supply.
However, the Congress party alleged that the success of the BJP candidates was due to electoral malpractices.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Christians in Kerala celebrate Easter
PTI, Apr 4, 2010,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Christians in Kerala on Sunday celebrated Easter with traditional piety, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion on Good Friday.
The faithful congregated in large numbers for mid-night Easter mass in churches across the state, where senior prelates and vicars gave out the message of hope and promise as symbolised by the sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of God's creations.
Easter also marked the end of the season of Lent, when the devout abstain from material comforts to gain spiritual strength.
Since the Palm Sunday last week, churches and Christian homes has been reverberating with prayers, recalling the final days of Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem to crucifixion on Calvary.
In the state capital, head of Syro Malankara Church Catholicos Baselius Mar Cleemis led the prayers in St Mary's Cathedral and Archbishop Soosai Packyam led the special service at St Joseph's Cathedral.
Special Easter services were held in churches of other congregations like Orthox and Jacobite. Kerala Governor R S Gavai and Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan greeted people on the occasion.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Christians in Kerala on Sunday celebrated Easter with traditional piety, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion on Good Friday.
The faithful congregated in large numbers for mid-night Easter mass in churches across the state, where senior prelates and vicars gave out the message of hope and promise as symbolised by the sacrifice of Christ for the redemption of God's creations.
Easter also marked the end of the season of Lent, when the devout abstain from material comforts to gain spiritual strength.
Since the Palm Sunday last week, churches and Christian homes has been reverberating with prayers, recalling the final days of Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem to crucifixion on Calvary.
In the state capital, head of Syro Malankara Church Catholicos Baselius Mar Cleemis led the prayers in St Mary's Cathedral and Archbishop Soosai Packyam led the special service at St Joseph's Cathedral.
Special Easter services were held in churches of other congregations like Orthox and Jacobite. Kerala Governor R S Gavai and Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan greeted people on the occasion.
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