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News -- Goa: To Have Big B or No Big B - That's the Question ! from Daijiworld News Network's special correspondent in Panaji Panaji, Nov 13: Following opposition from Congressmen to Amitabh Bachchan's name as chief guest for the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) inauguration, the organizers now say that even a non-filmi personality could be the choice as chief guest. The organizers said on Saturday that no names had yet been shortlisted for the inauguration of the event and it could be a non-filmi personality. "The honour normally goes to a film personality of great stature but don't be surprised if any neutral personality inaugurates the festival. We are awaiting communication from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry before disclosing the chief guest's name for the inauguration," Sanjith Rodrigues, Chief Executive Officer, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), local organiser of IFFI, told reporters here. Denying that a recently-held meeting in Delhi had opposed megastar Amitabh Bacchan's name for chief guest, as reported in a section of the press, Rodrigues said "No names were shortlisted, though there was general discussion on the chief guest. According to a memorandum of understanding, the union government has the mandate to decide on the chief guests and venues for the inaugural and concluding functions of the festival," he said. The recent media reports quoting Goa bureacrats had said that Bachchan's name was opposed as chief guest because of his affiliation to samajwadi party. The reports had said that information and broadcasting ministry was not keen on Big B while Goa government wanted Bachchan to inaugurate IFFI. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
