Showing posts with label Ram Kadam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ram Kadam. Show all posts
Mangeshkar family opposed to Lata memorial at Shivaji Park, says brother Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar
8:35 AM
Ambarish Mishra (THE TIMES OF INDIA; February 12, 2022)
Mumbai: Lata Mangeshkar’s family is not in favour of a memorial to the legendary singer at Shivaji Park. In a statement, her brother and noted music director, Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, said the family was opposed to any memorial on the ground and urged ‘netas’ not to drag his sister into an unsavoury row.
In another development on Friday, a local resident filed a PIL before the Bombay high court, seeking directions to the state to not construct any further memorials at Shivaji Park or use the ground as a cremation site. The petition sought that the state be directed to issue “guidelines on public funerals and erection of memorials at alternate place and making necessary arrangements in advance’’.
Observers said Pandit Hridaynath’s statement opposing the proposal for a memorial at the park will offer some comfort to Shivaji Park residents, who plan to start a signature campaign to stall any such move.
The memorial issue has assumed political overtones, much to the discomfiture of the Mangeshkars. The BJP has been vocal about a Lata memorial in the park, where the singer was cremated with full state honours last Sunday.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam, who floated the idea, has written to Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray.
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Mumbai: Even as political heat builds up over the proposal to construct a memorial to the late Lata Mangeshkar at Shivaji Park, her family has made it clear that they are opposed to the idea. In a statement, Lata Mangeshkar’s brother and music director, Pandit Hridaynath, expressed the family’s discomfort over politicians dragging his sister’s name into contro versy and said they did not want any memorial on the park grounds.
While the BJP floated the idea, the Congress party, too, is said to be amenable to the proposal. However, the MNS and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) have opposed the proposal. MNS’s Sandip Deshpande, in a recent tweet, urged civic authorities to ensure that the ground was not sacrificed for “petty party politics ”.
“Shivaji Park shouldn’t be turned into a cremation ground,” said VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar, a dding, “ Let it retain its distinct identity and remain an open ground.”
The Maidan Bachao Samiti has been distributing pamphlets in the area about the issue. “The park is not the place to erect memorials. There are hardly any open grounds where children can play and senior citizens can take a walk. There shouldn’t be any encroachment on the park,” said Eknath Mane, Samiti chief.
Many residents are miffed with political parties for raking up a controversy in the name of the iconic singer. “It appears that there is an attempt to appropriate memories of the singer, who was beyond religious, creed and credo differences,” said a local.
Political analysts said the BJP could well be tapping the Lata legend to take on Sena, with Shivaji Park as the political proscenium, ahead of the BMC elections. Meanwhile, Sena MLA from Thane, Pratap Sarnaik, has requested allocation of Rs 5 crore for a state-of-the-art music academy and museum in memory of the late singer. The 1,700 sqm plot was initially earmarked for an electric crematorium, which has been shelved, he said.
For memorial to Lata Mangeshkar, let’s first talk to kin-Aaditya Thackeray
7:55 AM
Chaitanya Marpakwar (THE TIMES OF INDIA; February 9, 2022)
Mumbai: Amid demands from the BJP that a memorial for late singer Lata Mangeshkar be set up at Dadar’s Shivaji Park, environment minister Aaditya Thackeray has said a decision should be taken after adiscussion with her family.
“Demands are being made (for a memorial) but it is important to note that she was such a towering figure. Let four-five days pass, then after discussing with the family...a memorial must be made to suit her stature. This must not happen in a hurry but should be fitting to her stature. After one or two days, we can discuss with the family and see what they want,” Aaditya said.
The MNS on Tuesday said the historic Shivaji Park should not be sacrificed for party politics. Taking to Twitter, MNS functionary Sandeep Deshpande said: “Dadar residents have fought long and hard to protect the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park from encroachment. The residents want the park to remain an open playground. It is my humble appeal that Shivaji Park should not be sacrificed for petty party politics.”
Prakash Ambedkar, president of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), also demanded that the park’s identity should be retained. “They must not turn Shivaji Park into a cremation ground. Let Shivaji Park retain its distinct identity and remain an open ground,” Ambedkar said.
BJP MLA and spokesperson Ram Kadam in a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had demanded a memorial be built in Mangeshkar’s memory at the very place where she was cremated. “This request is from her fans, music lovers and her well-wishers,” he said in his letter.
BJP and Congress demand a Lata Mangeshkar memorial at Shivaji Park; Shiv Sena says don’t politicize the issue
8:37 AM
Dharmendra Jore (MID-DAY; February 8, 2022)
A day after Lata Mangeshkar’s death, there was a debate over where a memorial dedicated to her should be constructed. While a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and the state Congress chief demanded a memorial at the iconic Shivaji Park, where the legendary singer was cremated on Sunday, the Shiv Sena has asked that the issue not be politicized.
BJP’s local MLA Ram Kadam said in a video statement on Monday that he has written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, requesting him to build a memorial for Mangeshkar at Shivaji Park. “It is a popular demand from Lata didi’s fans, music lovers and well-wishers of the Mangeshkar family to have a memorial where she was cremated. The memorial will inspire the entire world. The CM should announce the decision immediately,” he said.
Currently, Shivaji Park has the late Balasaheb Thackeray’s make-shift memorial which was created after he was cremated there nine years ago. The new memorial will be housed in a neighbouring bungalow (the Mayor’s residence). The state government is building it.
The Sena slammed the politics in the demand raised by the rival party MLA. The party’s chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the demand was unwarranted and there shouldn’t be politics over the memorial. “I know, some people have demanded it, but there is no need to raise such a demand now. Lata didi is a global icon. The state and Central governments will definitely have a memorial of international standards. She wasn’t a political leader. She was our country’s precious treasure,” Raut said, adding that building a memorial for her wasn’t an easy task.
Congress endorses BJP demand
State Congress president Nana Patole also said the memorial should be at Shivaji Park. “There must be a memorial for Lata didi at Shivaji Park. The Congress expects it to be big and at par with international cultural and tourism destinations,” he added.
Patole had previously, in the press conference, said the memorial should be either at Shivaji Park or another appropriate place. However, he revised his statement at the end of the interaction and insisted on Shivaji Park as the memorial site.
Sources in the government said that the issue could be discussed in the forthcoming weekly cabinet meeting. “There could be an informal or formal discussion on how to go about it. It will also be interesting to see what the union government decides. But there will definitely be a decision, sooner or later, to have a memorial as a mark of respect for the Bharat Ratna awardee. The site could be anywhere. Like for Balasaheb, there could be a make-shift one for Lata didi,” said a leader.
Mixed reaction on social media
Social media was overflowing with reactions to the development. Most of the people wanted a memorial, but the opinion was split about the site and the format of the memorial. Some suggested that the memorial shouldn’t be a conventional one, but like an institute that should work for the betterment of talent in the music world.
A Facebook post by Ruhita Kamble said Shivaji Park’s sports culture should not be disturbed with land for the memorial, and instead, suggested building a hospital or a school in the memory of Lata Mangeshkar.
“Memorials don’t serve any purpose. Don’t use Shivaji Park, instead use other land for a museum-like memorial which can also work as an institute to help the poor and needy artistes hone their skills,” wrote another Facebook user, Mohan Vaje.
A twitter handle @That Marine Guy requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce the highest music award in the name of Mangeshkar and also build a memorial where all the memories related to her life, all her songs could be displayed.
A Twitter post by @ThulaseedharanS said a music academy should be formed under the society’s act. “The government must not have a role in it, except granting adequate land free of cost. The academy should be governed and administered by experts from the field of music,” it added.
Tandav makers considering to snip the scene as the last resort?
8:30 AM
After web shows are brought under I&B ministry's ambit, Tandav becomes the first series to be summoned for 'hurting religious sentiments'; Amazon Prime tenders apology
Mohar Basu, Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; January 19, 2021)
Two months after the government brought video-streaming platforms under the ambit of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, its effect can be felt. On Sunday, the I&B Ministry summoned Amazon Prime Video India officials after BJP leader Ram Kadam wrote a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, alleging that Tandav "hurts Hindu religious sentiments". BJP leader Manoj Kotak expressed similar concerns as he stated in his letter to Javadekar that the makers "have mocked Hindu gods", and urged for a ban on the series. Both leaders cited the scene where Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub can be seen holding a Trishul and a damru while acting in a college play.
Taking cognisance of the grievances, the top brass of Amazon India had a preliminary discussion with the I&B Ministry on Monday. A source from the show's creative team revealed, "The team offered to tender an apology, which appeared to satisfy the ministry for the time being. Soon after, the head honchos of the platform had another meeting with the key players of Amazon US, and drafted the official statement in consultation with them and creative stakeholders, including director Ali Abbas Zafar and producer Himanshu Kishan Sharma."
The statement, issued on Monday evening, read, "The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or insult any institution, political party or person... The [team] unconditionally apologizes if it has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments. (sic)"
Even as it hopes this will be the end of the chapter, the platform's team is pre-emptively charting out a plan of action in case the agitation continues. "They are considering snipping the scene as the last resort. An internal discussion has begun about rechristening the show Dilli, thus avoiding any reference to Lord Shiva."
mid-day texted Amazon Prime officials and Zafar, who remained unavailable. Multiple calls to Ayyub went unanswered.
Mid-Day Reveals: How politician fill Censor Board with Chamchas
8:14 AM
(Clockwise from top) BJP MLA Ram Kadam; BJP leader Prakash Mehta; CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani and BJP MLA Ashish Shelar
Data obtained via Right to Information shows how leaders from across parties populate the film watchdog with know-nothings from their constituencies
Laxman Singh (MID-DAY; March 7, 2017)
Netas, it seems, want a stronger hold over your entertainment. Reply to an RTI query has revealed that politicians have been recommending party workers and loyalists for posts on various committees in the Information and Broadcast (I&B) Ministry, including the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). BJP MLA Ashish Shelar, BJP MPs Upendra Kushwaha and Udit Raj, former Congress MPs P L Punia and Oscar Fernandes, and even the Prime Minister’s Office during Manmohan Singh’s tenure have written letters stating that their loyalists be given posts on the I& B Ministry committees.
As per information received from the censor board office in Mumbai, it’s clear that party loyalists are calling the shots on censorship, instead of veteran filmmakers or people from an artistic background. “If political party workers are appointed to these posts, they are bound to force their political agenda on artists. Besides, no filmmaker ties a person to a chair and forces him to watch a film, it’s a matter of choice,” said activist Jeetendra Ghadge, who had filed the application. “The censor board should be scrapped altogether, and instead, an independent commission for certification should be established with constitutional authority, like the election commission.”
Putting in a word
According to the RTI documents, on May 13, 2016, BJP worker Amol Mahurkar from Ghatkopar had written to CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani to appoint him as a board member. MLA Ram Kadam and minister Prakash Mehta had also written to state party president Raosaheb Danve in 2015 to appoint Mahurkar as a member of mahamandal (state-run boards).
For requesting posts on censor board and mahamandal, Maharukar as well as party leaders, instead of education qualifications and expertise in the field, highlighted his dedication to the party and how he contributed in increasing the number of BJP members.
Bottom to top tier
In another case, a letter was written on July 4, 2016, by city BJP chief Shelar to Nihalani for appointing Pravin Kshirsagar on the board’s advisory committee. The letter states, “Kshirsagar lives in my constituency and I know him personally, so please consider his name for ‘censor board advisory committee’.”
Similarly, BJP MP from Allahabad Upendra Kushwaha had written a letter on May 5, 2016, to I&B minister Arun Jaitley for appointing Ajay Kumar as a member on the advisory committee of Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity.
Even the director of PMO, Dheeraj Gupta, wrote a letter on December 28, 2011, to the ministry to appoint J K Tiwari as deputy chairman of CBFC. PMO’s action came after BJP leader Jaswant Singh had written to it on December 12, 2011, to recommend Tiwari for the post.
BMC files case; netas threaten to sue Kapil Sharma
8:14 AM
Kapil Sharma's whiny tweet to the PM about BMC corruption leads to an expose of his own blatant flouting of the law
Yogesh Naik and Munish Pandey (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 13, 2016)
The city administration on Monday filed a police complaint against
Kapil Sharma for carrying out unauthorised alterations at his Oshiwara
apartment, even as state officials concluded that he had illegally
extended his Versova bungalow, destroying mangroves.The developments were followed by a legal notice from a corporator who threatened to sue Sharma for defamation if he didn't reveal the name of a BMC officer who allegedly sought a bribe to regularise Sharma's Andheri office — again embroiled in a construction controversy.
It's all getting beyond a joke for the comedian whose sarcastic tweets on corruption in the BMC last week have brought his own apparent disregard for rules under scrutiny.
The Oshiwara police said they would call him for questioning over the BMC's complaint that alleges illegal alterations at his ninth-floor apartment in DLH Enclave on New Link Road. The complaint was filed by BMC engineer Abhay Dinkar Jagtap under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, and it also names actor Irrfan Khan, who owns a flat in the same complex.
"The case has been registered by BMC officials who have found that the two Bollywood personalities violated the MRTP Act," Satya Narayan Chaudhary, deputy police commissioner (Zone 9), told Mirror.
But there was some confusion over whether Sharma was still owned the ninth-floor flat. The developer claimed Sharma had sold the property six months ago. But BMC officials said unauthorised additions were made when Sharma was still the owner.
Earlier on Monday, officials from the mangrove protection cell and the state revenue department conducted a survey of plots 70 and 71 along Versova Creek, where Sharma and many others own bungalows and rowhouses. They concluded that the comedian and other owners had illegally extended their gardens and compounds, dumped debris and destroyed mangroves.
The inspection came after Mirror reported that activists had submitted photographic evidence of encroachment in the mangrove area to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority.
"Most bungalow owners filled the area behind their houses with debris, extended the compounds and killed mangroves. We have reviewed previous and current satellite imagery and taken GPS readings," said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, mangrove protection cell.
"This is mangrove patch, but not a forest reserve otherwise we would have taken action earlier. But the joint survey with the revenue department has now confirmed that mangroves were destroyed and there is a clear violation of the Environment Protection Act."
Ghodke has asked Prashant Deshmukh, range forest officer of western suburbs, to issue a notice to Sharma and other property owners in the area.
Forest guard S J Salve, who measured the extended portion of Sharma's bungalow, said the compound had been broadened by over 10 metres. Other bungalow owners had reclaimed up to 15 metres of the mangrove area. "No construction can be done within 50 metres of mangroves," another official said.
Naib tahsildar Shivaji Chaure said a report had been sent to the collector, who will decide when a first information report should be filed against the owners.
A team of forest officers had visited the area last week, but returned saying no mangroves had been damaged. But after Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation shared images showing mangrove destruction, chief conservator of forest (mangrove protection cell) N Vasudevan asked Ghodke to conduct a fresh inspection.
Meanwhile, political parties ramped up pressure on Sharma over his allegation of corruption in the BMC. The MNS filed a police complaint against him for being party to a crime and not reporting it, while Samajwadi corporator Rais Shaikh sent a legal notice to the comedian seeking the name of the BMC officer who allegedly demanded a bribe. "If he is ready to name the corrupt official, he will have our full support. But he has not done that yet. That is why we have been forced to take this route," Shaikh said.
BJP leader Ram Kadam tried to lead a morcha to Sharma's residence, but was stopped by the Oshiwara police. "Why hasn't he revealed the name of the officer who demanded a bribe?" Kadam asked.
City Congress president Sanjay Nirupam wrote to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao demanding an inquiry into Sharma's bribery claim.
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