LUCKNOW: UP govt spared from embarrassment
The government saved itself from a major embarrassment by removing the name of Rotomac owner Vikram Kothari from the list of top 100 key invitees to the mega UP investor summit just two days ahead of the event. Kothari’s name was removed from the list soon after his company’s loan defaults became public. Barely a week before being taken into the CBI custody, Kothari’s name figured on the invitee list at the 88th spot, followed by his brother and Pan Parag group owner Deepak Kothari. The list, which began with Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani, comprised 113 top industrialists and corporate heads. However, in the final list released just two days before the summit, Kothari’s name was dropped.
Man on a mission
Estranged All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member and Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema dean Salman Husaaini Nadwi is preparing to take his ideas and thoughts to the next level by setting up a Human Welfare Board. The Board will engage leaders and intellectuals across religious lines as a part of his endeavour to bring up an institution that can settle religious disputes with mutual dialogue. The idea is to solve matters without judicial intervention. Nadwi lost AIMPLB membership and faced expulsion from the high-profile Muslim body for favouring a temple at disputed site in Ayodhya. He had met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to find an out-of-court settlement.
Tinsel town in making
The UP Investors’ Summit drew Bollywood actors who arrived in Lucknow to sell dreams of making it big. The state government had a lot to offer to Indian and foreign film-makers to encourage them to shoot films in Uttar Pradesh. Actor Ravi Kishen signed a H1,000-crore MoU for a film city project close to Lucknow. On the lines of Ramoji Film City of Hyderabad, the project will come close to the Chaudhary Charan Singh airport on a 250 acre land. The state government has decorated the platter for film-makers with financial assistance, if they choose UP for shooting. The sops will be also extended to film-makers from Mauritius, Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago who have their origin in the state.
Back to disorder
With the end of the industry summit, cleanliness and orderliness of the City of Nawabs also concluded leaving much to be desired. While street vendors and encroachments returned to the major streets jeopardising the traffic once again, the venue Indira Gandhi Pratisthan (IGP) is yet to be cleared of trash and garbage. In the run-up to the summit, all major arteries, crossings and dividers had been decorated with more than 50,000 earthen pots, flowers and greenery. However, as soon as it got over, the entire stuff was removed. The welcome gate and decoration at the venue turned into dumps of leftover food stuff and garbage littered all over. Even the traffic blues are back for the commuters.
Our correspondent in Uttar Pradesh
namita.bajpai@newindianexpress