Journalists wear black ribbons to inauguration of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Art Gallery; camerapersons keep NCP leader out of frame to protest against incident in Nanded
Journalists wear black ribbons to inauguration of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Art Gallery; camerapersons keep NCP leader out of frame to protest against incident in Nanded
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| Looking the other way: Cameramen at the function listen to the speech, keeping their lenses trained away from Ajit Pawar.
Pic/Jignesh Mistry |
Media persons in the city registered strong protest against deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. He was in the city to inaugurate the Pandit Joshi Art Gallery in the city. As a mark of protests journalists and camerapersons wore black ribbons. The camerapersons also put down their cameras as Pawar entered the gallery.u00a0
Pawar was ignored by the media at Vasant Bagul Udyan, where the inaugural function of the art gallery was organised. It may be recalled that in a public speech at Nanded last week, Pawar had said that the media should be banned from covering government functions sparking off protests across the state. In response to this statement, the media boycotted him by wearing black ribbons.
Pawar also explained why he couldn't attend Pandit Bhimsen Joshi's funeral on January 24. "I could not come for the funeral as the distance between Pune and Gadhinglaj was huge for me to reach in time," he stated in the speech. Aaba Bagul, the local corporator and leader of opposition in PMC house, also defended Suresh Kalmadi's absence. Bagul said, "He (Kalmadi) has to go to Ranchi for conducting a Olympic meeting. He was planning to come to Pune but he had to go Ranchi and had sent his apologies."
On behalf of the state, Chavan announced a scholarship in the name of Pt Joshi for those who want to study classical music. He also announced that the government is planning a life time achievement award of Rs 1 lakh and a memento in the name of Pandit Joshi. PMC's mayor Datta Gaikwad also announced an opening of a drama theatre with an art gallery at Aundh.
