Showing posts with label Mahesh Sharma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mahesh Sharma. Show all posts
Sonu Nigam is 'intolerant' about in-flight singing controversy
7:59 AM
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; February 6, 2016)
Sonu Nigam was the toast of
trolls on Thursday after a video of the singer crooning on a flight
mid-air using the aircraft's address system went viral recently. The
video sparked a debate after the aviation safety regulator asked the
airline to suspend the air hostesses onboard. The in-flight concert took
place during a chartered flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai in the first week
of January.
When contacted, the singer sounded upset and said, “This lack of common sense is real intolerance for me.“ He further explained, “I have witnessed an elaborate fashion show in an aircraft. I also know of concerts happening inside planes. I have seen pilots and crew members cracking jokes to loosen up passengers in other countries, which is so cool. To suspend crew members for asking me to sing on the address system, when the seat belt signs were off, and no announcements were to be made, is nothing less than punishing someone for spreading happiness."
---------------------------
Aditya Anand (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 6, 2016)
When
Sonu Nigam sang two songs from Veer-Zara and Refugee on a flight from
Jodhpur to Mumbai on January 4, the video uploaded by passengers
instantly went viral invoking the Directorate General of Civil
Aviation's (DGCA) displeasure. On Monday, senior Jet Airways officials
were summoned to the DGCA headquarters in Delhi and met Joint Director
General Lalit Gupta and Deputy Director (air safety) Maneesh Kumar.
DGCA officials revealed that Gupta made it clear that the action of the crew indicated the airline wasn't serious about passenger safety. While the DGCA does not have a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) about the use of the in-flight public address system making it compulsory for airlines to follow, the airlines have their own manuals that outline the rules, and Jet's only permits the cabin crew to use the public address system.
While DGCA has not issued any directives specifying what was required of Jet in writing, the airline grounded five cabin crew members after being pulled up verbally. The flight was chartered by the Nariman Point-based GeeCee Ventures Ltd for a private function hosted by its chairman Ashwin Kumar Kothari at Jodhpur's Umaid Bhavan Palace.
In a text message to this correspondent, Sonu said, "Hope next time someone doesn't dread going the extra mile to spread happiness amongst unsuspecting people."
In a separate statement issued by his office, Sonu had earlier said, "I have witnessed an elaborate fashion show in an aircraft. I have heard of small concerts happening too. I have seen pilots and crew members cracking jokes to lighten up passengers in other countries, which is so cool. To suspend crew members for asking me to sing on the address system, when the seat belt signs were off, and no announcements were to be made, is nothing less than punishing someone for spreading happiness. This act of lack of common sense, according to me, is real intolerance."
But Minister of state for civil aviation, Mahesh Sharma, backed DGCA. "The mic system should be used by authorised staff or captain of the plane only. I'm happy with Jet's initiatives," he said. Former DGCA chief Kanu Gohain opined that there was a way of using the public address system. "I don't remember such an incident in the past. There has to be a penalty imposed on the crew," Sharma said.
DGCA officials revealed that Gupta made it clear that the action of the crew indicated the airline wasn't serious about passenger safety. While the DGCA does not have a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) about the use of the in-flight public address system making it compulsory for airlines to follow, the airlines have their own manuals that outline the rules, and Jet's only permits the cabin crew to use the public address system.
While DGCA has not issued any directives specifying what was required of Jet in writing, the airline grounded five cabin crew members after being pulled up verbally. The flight was chartered by the Nariman Point-based GeeCee Ventures Ltd for a private function hosted by its chairman Ashwin Kumar Kothari at Jodhpur's Umaid Bhavan Palace.
In a text message to this correspondent, Sonu said, "Hope next time someone doesn't dread going the extra mile to spread happiness amongst unsuspecting people."
In a separate statement issued by his office, Sonu had earlier said, "I have witnessed an elaborate fashion show in an aircraft. I have heard of small concerts happening too. I have seen pilots and crew members cracking jokes to lighten up passengers in other countries, which is so cool. To suspend crew members for asking me to sing on the address system, when the seat belt signs were off, and no announcements were to be made, is nothing less than punishing someone for spreading happiness. This act of lack of common sense, according to me, is real intolerance."
But Minister of state for civil aviation, Mahesh Sharma, backed DGCA. "The mic system should be used by authorised staff or captain of the plane only. I'm happy with Jet's initiatives," he said. Former DGCA chief Kanu Gohain opined that there was a way of using the public address system. "I don't remember such an incident in the past. There has to be a penalty imposed on the crew," Sharma said.
Aamir Khan's 'Incredible India' run ends
7:56 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (January 7, 2016)
The government's contract
with a creative agency for the 'Incredible India' promotion that
featured Aamir Khan has come to an end and a decision will be taken on
whether it is to be renewed, culture minister Mahesh Sharma said.
The minister told TOI that a payment of Rs 2.96 lakh has been made to the agency and a board will take a decision on the future dealings. “Tourism ministry did not have an agreement with actor Aamir Khan. The ministry's agreement was with a firm to make a film. The project is completed and the ministry has paid the fees of Rs 2.96 lakh,“ Sharma said. Asked about what happens next, Sharma said, “There is a proper process to further finalize the name. A proposal will be tabled before a board and the board will finalize the name of the agency and person. In the fresh agreement, the board can finalize Aamir Khan or any other person.“
Speculation over the Bollywood star's continuance in the 'Incredible India' campaign generated controversy in the social media as he had recently joined the debate over “rising intolerance“ saying his wife had wondered whether they should leave the country as she feared for the safety of the family in a climate of insecurity.
Congress jumped into the fray, with its spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, saying, “Non-renewal of 'Incredibile India' brand ambassador contract of Aamir Khan reflects the petty mindset, parochial approach and intemperate attitude of the Modi government. Dissent and difference of opinion have become anathema to the Modi regime, be it of artists, thinkers, writers, scientists or political activists,“ Surjewala said.
Sharma, however, said it had been creative agency McCann Worldwide's decision to feature the Bollywood icon. The minister's statement seemed intended to clear up confusion created by an earlier statement that said: “In response to certain news reports appearing in the media, about Shri Aamir Khan, the Ministry of Tourism clarifies that there is no change in the stand of the ministry in this matter. The Ministry further clarifies that at present it has a contractual agreement with creative agency Mc Cann Worldwide to produce social awareness campaign and the said campaign featured Shri Aamir Khan.“
The government's contract
with a creative agency for the 'Incredible India' promotion that
featured Aamir Khan has come to an end and a decision will be taken on
whether it is to be renewed, culture minister Mahesh Sharma said.The minister told TOI that a payment of Rs 2.96 lakh has been made to the agency and a board will take a decision on the future dealings. “Tourism ministry did not have an agreement with actor Aamir Khan. The ministry's agreement was with a firm to make a film. The project is completed and the ministry has paid the fees of Rs 2.96 lakh,“ Sharma said. Asked about what happens next, Sharma said, “There is a proper process to further finalize the name. A proposal will be tabled before a board and the board will finalize the name of the agency and person. In the fresh agreement, the board can finalize Aamir Khan or any other person.“
Speculation over the Bollywood star's continuance in the 'Incredible India' campaign generated controversy in the social media as he had recently joined the debate over “rising intolerance“ saying his wife had wondered whether they should leave the country as she feared for the safety of the family in a climate of insecurity.
Congress jumped into the fray, with its spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, saying, “Non-renewal of 'Incredibile India' brand ambassador contract of Aamir Khan reflects the petty mindset, parochial approach and intemperate attitude of the Modi government. Dissent and difference of opinion have become anathema to the Modi regime, be it of artists, thinkers, writers, scientists or political activists,“ Surjewala said.
Sharma, however, said it had been creative agency McCann Worldwide's decision to feature the Bollywood icon. The minister's statement seemed intended to clear up confusion created by an earlier statement that said: “In response to certain news reports appearing in the media, about Shri Aamir Khan, the Ministry of Tourism clarifies that there is no change in the stand of the ministry in this matter. The Ministry further clarifies that at present it has a contractual agreement with creative agency Mc Cann Worldwide to produce social awareness campaign and the said campaign featured Shri Aamir Khan.“
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