Shivakumar dismisses reports of dinner meet with MLAs
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday dismissed reports of having a political dinner meeting with MLAs, asserting that his visit was purely personal and driven by affection from party colleagues.
Speaking to reporters here, he said he often receives informal meal invitations from party workers and long-time associates, and attends them as a matter of courtesy rather than political intent.
"Friends from the region affectionately call me for lunch or dinner. How can I say no? It is not any dinner meet, but I have to go when I am invited."
When asked specifically about a supposed dinner with MLAs on the outskirts of Belagavi, Shivakumar said, "A boy from my constituency is working here; he said he will send 'mudde and upsaaru' for lunch. Can I say no? The day after, Asif Sait and Feroze Sait invited me."
He added that long-standing party leaders and friends had also extended invitations.
"Doddannavar is a former president of Belagavi district Congress and he is a friend too. He has been inviting me home for dinner for a long time. Can I forget my Congress family? Hence, I and a few others had gone there for dinner. It was not a dinner meet," Shivakumar said.
On the issue of permitting cricket matches at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, he said the government had acted to safeguard the city's reputation.
"We have taken necessary steps to protect the reputation of Bengaluru. We have permitted on the condition that adequate preventive measures would be in place," Shivakumar said.
He added that Home Minister G Parameshwara had been tasked with ensuring security arrangements.
"He has been given the responsibility to ensure adequate preventive measures during matches. KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad and his team will have a discussion with the police department," Shivakumar said.
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A R Rahman to receive Lakshminarayana International Award
Chennai (PTI): Music composer A R Rahman will be conferred with the Lakshminarayana International Award this year, the organisers of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival have announced.
The award, instituted to honour artists for their contributions to the field of arts, will be presented to Rahman at a special ceremony on December 15, according to a press release.
The event will serve as the curtain raiser to the 35th edition of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival and will be held at Rasika Ranjani Sabha here.
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Rahman, a two-time Academy Award winner and one of India’s most celebrated music composers, has been credited with transforming the soundscape of Indian cinema. With over 150 million records sold and more than 100 film soundtracks and albums to his name, his work spans landmark films such as "Roja", "Bombay", "Dil Se", "Taal", "Lagaan", "Slumdog Millionaire" and "127 Hours".
Trained in Western classical music at Trinity College, London, Rahman established the Panchathan Record Inn in Chennai, one of India’s most advanced recording studios. He made a historic debut with "Roja", which earned him the National Award — the first of seven, the highest number received by any Indian composer.
Rahman is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.
