Showing posts with label Mahinda Rajapaksa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mahinda Rajapaksa. Show all posts
Pro-Tamil activists protests outside Salman Khan's house for supporting Sri Lankan president
8:06 AM
MID-DAY (January 5, 2015)
Salman Khan’s recent visit to Sri Lanka to participate in an electoral campaign has enraged pro-Tamil activists, who staged a protest outside his Bandra home on Sunday morning. Sources close to the actor say he had gone there for a social cause while the demonstrators said they were hurt by Salman’s decision to canvass for Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Around 10 protestors were taken into police custody.
K Ayyanathan, international committee member, Naam Tamilar Party, says, “We are requesting Salman Khan to respect the sentiments of Tamil people and not go to Lanka again. He is a citizen of India and cannot participate in the election process of another country.”
The actor after his return from Lanka, where he had gone with his Kick co-star Jacqueline Fernandez, had tweeted that he had organised health camps during the shoot of Ready (2011) there and it was on Jacky’s request that he did so again. “… v did a camp this week and i kept my promise and went to jacqueline’s restaurant (sic),” his post read.
The protestors do not, however, intend to call for a ban on his upcoming films. “We are not planning any ban and just wanted to urge him not to go to Lanka again,” says Ayyanathan. An industy insider comments, “Even if there is a boycott, the (Tamilian) market is not even worth Rs 1 crore for the actor to worry.”
In 2010, a Tamil group had objected to Bollywood organisng an award function in Lanka. While South filmmakers stayed away from the event, the Hindi film industry defended its decision saying it did not wish to be dragged into politics.
The actor was not available for comment.
Maine Pyar Kiya’s silver jubilee bash called off as Salman Khan campaigns for Sri Lankan president?
7:57 AM
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; January 2, 2015)
The Salman Khan-starrer Maine Pyar Kiya recently completed 25 years and if the latest buzz is to be believed, a big bash had been planned by the makers to mark the occasion. However, the actor’s unavailability led the party to be called off at the last minute, says an insider.
Salman left for Sri Lanka on December 29 itself along with his Kick co-star Jacqueline Fernandez, who originally hails from Lanka.
Salman is beating the drum for incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and happens to be the first Indian actor to be roped in for a poll campaign in the island country. “The film was a milestone in Salman’s career and after it released, he became popular as Prem the loverboy. But then he chose to give the party a miss and instead, flew down to Sri Lanka to campaign for the President Mahinda Rajpaksa. Eventually, the party had to be cancelled,” the source adds.
Maine Pyar Kiya, helmed by Sooraj Barjatya, released on December 29, 1989 and festured Salman as Prem and Bhagyashree as Suman.
Another source close to Rajshri Productions, which made the film, confirms the buzz. “A small party was indeed supposed to be held to celebrate the silver jubilee of Maine Pyar Kiya but it was called off because Salman was not in the country. The film was one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of Hindi cinema and even now people love to watch the chemistry between Prem and Suman.”
If Salman wants to support Rajapaksa that's his choice; nobody can question it-Jacqueline Fernandez
7:43 AM
Jacqueline Fernandez on the duo's controversial Sri Lanka visit during which her Kick co-star campaigned for the country's incumbent President and was branded a 'traitor' by Tamil leader Vaiko back home
Ankur Pathak (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 31, 2014)
On Monday evening, pictures
of Salman Khan and his Kick leading lady, Jacqueline Fernandez with
incumbent Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa went viral
online. Across the border this was seen as a last-ditch
effort by the President to boost his prospects in the upcoming elections
scheduled for January 8.
The superstar's public endorsement of Rajapaksa has invited the ire of Tamil parties, DMK and MDMK, back home. A controversial figure, the Lankan President was at the helm of affairs in 2009 when civilian casualties in the Tamil-dominated areas in Sri Lanka's Northeast reportedly peaked during the final leg of conflict between Lankan army and the LTTE. MDMK chief Vaiko has dubbed Salman a “betrayer“ and a “traitor“ following Monday's 'special appearance'.
Taking up for the actor, Jacqueline said that it was she who insisted that Salman extend the efforts of his Being Human charity to parts of her home country too. “That was the main purpose of this visit. Salman donated 200 lenses to facilitate cataract operations in certain under-privileged areas. He also donated money. It bothers me that people can't see the good in any initiative. All they want to do is identify an ulterior agenda behind every good cause,“ the former Miss Sri Lanka groused.
When it was pointed out that rather than a charity endeavour, the trip seemed to be an attempt to bolster Rajapaksa's chances in the upcoming the elections, with Salman adding star power to his campaign, Jacqueline retorted, “Salman is an individual in his own right who knows both Rajapaksa and his son Namal well. If he wants to drum up support for Rajapaksa that's his choice and nobody can question it.“
However, she was quick to point out that her participation was limited to volunteering for the charity. “My political views are personal and I'd like them to remain so,“ she said.
When asked if she's worried about the backlash in India, she said, “I'd rather focus on the awareness we've spread rather than this silly circus.“
The superstar's public endorsement of Rajapaksa has invited the ire of Tamil parties, DMK and MDMK, back home. A controversial figure, the Lankan President was at the helm of affairs in 2009 when civilian casualties in the Tamil-dominated areas in Sri Lanka's Northeast reportedly peaked during the final leg of conflict between Lankan army and the LTTE. MDMK chief Vaiko has dubbed Salman a “betrayer“ and a “traitor“ following Monday's 'special appearance'.
Taking up for the actor, Jacqueline said that it was she who insisted that Salman extend the efforts of his Being Human charity to parts of her home country too. “That was the main purpose of this visit. Salman donated 200 lenses to facilitate cataract operations in certain under-privileged areas. He also donated money. It bothers me that people can't see the good in any initiative. All they want to do is identify an ulterior agenda behind every good cause,“ the former Miss Sri Lanka groused.
When it was pointed out that rather than a charity endeavour, the trip seemed to be an attempt to bolster Rajapaksa's chances in the upcoming the elections, with Salman adding star power to his campaign, Jacqueline retorted, “Salman is an individual in his own right who knows both Rajapaksa and his son Namal well. If he wants to drum up support for Rajapaksa that's his choice and nobody can question it.“
However, she was quick to point out that her participation was limited to volunteering for the charity. “My political views are personal and I'd like them to remain so,“ she said.
When asked if she's worried about the backlash in India, she said, “I'd rather focus on the awareness we've spread rather than this silly circus.“
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