-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invitation to Amitabh Bachchan trashed RAJU NAYAK Updated: Friday, November 11, 2005 at 1511 hours IST
PANAJI, NOVEMBER 10: The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has leaned on the Goa government to cancel the invitation extended to Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate next month’s 36th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
According to sources, Information Minister Jaipal Reddy snubbed Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane for inviting Bachchan to inaugurate the festival.
‘‘We were told not to project Amitabh Bachchan since he was a Samajwadi Party leader,’’ said a bureaucrat from Goa who attended the meeting with I & B officials in Delhi.
Goa government officials were also told that Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi would be displeased with the decision to invite Bachchan to inaugurate the film festival. The I & B Ministry then decided that Sanjay Dutt and Shahrukh Khan would be brought in for the inauguration.
Both Dutt and Khan are known to be close to Sonia Gandhi’s family. Goa’s Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane is now faced with an embarassing situation since it was he who had personally persuaded Amitabh Bachchan to inaugurate the festival. Jaipal Reddy is also keen on more South Indian film personalities sharing the spotlight.
According to officials, the state government has been asked to woo Tamil actor Rajnikant to light the inaugural lamp.
Popular actresses from the Tamil and Telugu film industry too are being sought to participate in the film festival.
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