British award for actor Darshan: How PR agencies in Karnataka fooled media

coastaldigest.com news network
October 20, 2017

Bengaluru, Oct 20: Kannada film actor Darshan Thoogudeepa hit the headlines during Diwali thanks to an award presented to him in the United Kingdom.

Many television channels and daily news papers in Karnataka reported that the Sandalwood star was officially honoured by the British parliament. Some Kannada TV news channels went on to claim that he was the fourth Indian and first South Indian to be honoured by the British parliament.

An invitation sent by the Indian born British Labour Party MP Veerendra Sharma to Darshan inviting him to the British parliament also went viral on social media. “It’s a great honour and privilege to host you at the House of Commons, on October 19. We’ve decided to felicitate you, for the hard efforts you’ve put in through your movies to promote Karnataka's art and culture,” the MP wrote.

Darshan, who was busy shooting for his upcoming film 'Kurukshetra' in Hyderabad, flew to London on Wednesday and received an award inside the British Parliament.  However, it was not an official award by the British government or parliament.

The event was in fact organised by the Karnataka Business Chamber, a London based NRI group which is striving to promote the art and culture relationships between United Kingdom and Karnataka. It had asked the MP to write to Darshan and invite him.

Shocked by media reports, Virendra Sharma issued press release stating that he had invited the actor in his "personal capacity" to receive an honour in London. “I would like to make it clear that the invitation was issued by me, in a personal capacity,” he clarified.

In a mail to coastaldigest.com, the British MP also said: “Many members of the local community and Kannada diaspora requested that I invite Mr Darshan Thoogadeepa to Parliament.”

Meanwhile, a London based Kannadiga, told coastldigest.com that Darshan was invited for a private event and not a public event sponsored by the British government or parliament. The official awards given by the British government are MBE, OBE, Knighthood and Victoria Cross.

According to him, Public Relations (PR) agencies might have deliberately misled the media in Karnataka. “This was not only paid news but also made news,” he opined.

Unlike Indian parliament, the British parliament’s banquet halls can be hired for a private event for a fee and the host can award his/her guest with an award to please them, he said. 

Comments

Aravind
 - 
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2017

Congrats Darshan,

 

whatever the media said, it is a commendable achievement. Thanks Darshan for making every Kannadiga proud of himself by your achievement

Aravind
 - 
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2017

Darshan Kudos, no information whatsoever could deny Darshan's credibility as a great Actor. Congratulations

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News Network
April 24,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 24: Karnataka is likely to start Convalescent Plasma Therapy for COVID-19 patients, who are critical, from tomorrow, Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said here on on Friday. "We have already got approval for Convalescent Plasma Therapy.

There is no need for any special permission for it....when I was in BMC (Bangalore Medical College) I spoke to We may probably start it for the first patient from tomorrow itself. The donor has also agreed," Sudhakar said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the convalescent Plasma Therapy was only for patients who are critical, in Intensive Care Units or on ventilator. According to the latest update, five COVID-19 patients are in ICUs in the state.

After attending video conferencing by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan with health and medical education Ministers of all states, Sudhakar said the Minister lauded the good practices adopted by Karnataka in its fight against COVID-19 and asked to share the same with other states.

Responding to a question, he made it clear that COVID-19 is something that was not going to end by May 3 or by May end and like other viruses, would continue to exist. Sudhakar, who is leading the government's efforts against COVID-19 in Bengaluru and is in charge of the state war room, said many people are treating corona as a social stigma, which was not right.

There was no reason to get frightened about it as the infection can be cured, he said. "We have to take precautions so that it doesn't spread further....like fever, cold and cough- corona also can be cured... 97% people it can be cured, those with comorbidity and those above 60 years have to take some precautions. We have to bring in certain changes in our lifestyle and maintain social distancing," he added.

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News Network
January 24,2020

Newsroom, Jan 24: BJP leader and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje has been booked by Kerala police over a misleading and communally provocative social media post.

Karandlaje had tweeted that that Hindus from a colony in Kuttipuram in Malappuram district were denied water supply as they supported the the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). 

"Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir. Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram was denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019. #SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since. Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!?," she tweeted. 

A case has been booked under section 153(A) of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race etc). Karandlaje took to Twitter to slam the Kerala government, and said it had lodged a complaint against her instead of acting against the discrimination faced by dalit families of Cherukunnu. 

"It is high time the society unites against these pressure tactics of a non-performing, biased left government," she said. 

Karandlaje claimed that the CAA had been accepted by both houses of Parliament and people supporting the Act were facing boycott in business and were being denied basic amenities and jobs. "The CPI(M) government is blind to all these incidents across Kerala, but files a case against me for speaking the truth!" she retorted.

According to reportage from multiple outlets, the colony in Malappuram district's Kuttippuram was dependent on a private individual for water; then came accusations that they were denied the water for attending BJP's pro-CAA rally. 

A resident of the colony was quoted by a newspaper, “We were denied drinking water because our husbands participated in a meeting organised to gather support for the CAA. Some people told the family that they should not give drinking water to us because CAA is a threat to the people in their community.” 

However, the individual in question denied the accusation, claiming a lack of water because of technical issues.

The case was registered after a complaint by lawyer Subhash Chandran, a resident of Malappuram. Aravindan E.A., SI of Kuttippuram police, said, "From a private person's borewell, water was being provided to the people of the colony. This motor had taken for agricultural work and he was recently issued a warning by State Electricity Board. He was told that if he uses the motor for any other purpose, power supply would be disconnected. He then had stopped using the pump following the crisis worsened.”

Comments

Vishwas
 - 
Friday, 24 Jan 2020

This is BJP's usual drama. If your bloody seva bharathi people denied water, there is strong govt and youths to provide water. and other facilities

Yashwantha
 - 
Friday, 24 Jan 2020

Sobhakka's adhika prasanga wont work in kerala. She should visit kerala and experience. She can only boast via social media

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coastaldigest.com news network
February 5,2020

Tumakuru, Feb 5: Former Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde has questioned the integrity of the B S Yediyurappa led BJP government as it has not taken an action to abolish the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to re-establish the Lokayukta in Karnataka.

Speaking after felicitating the retired scientist of NASA Gopal Iyengar at the Karnataka Public School at Kadaba in Gubbi taluk he reminded that the BJP had promised to establish the Lokayukta.

"No party will like to strengthen the Lokayukta and now BSY is also tightlipped and even put an end by appreciating that ACB has been doing a good job", he regretted.

In fact, the Lokayakuta had the power to prosecute even the top brass of officials and now the ACB cannot without the government's permission, he clarified.

He denied any remarks on the CAA and NRC but observed that the youths of the country have been misguided by the politicians as they lost their focus on education by involving in protest rallies.

"I suggest they to straight away take a political plunge instead of getting misused at the hands of the politicians with selfish motives", he said.

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