FLOP SHOW KERALA GOOF-UPS LAVE ANSARI FUMING - Article in Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 13Sep2013 Thiruvananthapuram: Vice-president Hamid Ansari’s visit to Kerala for an awards function on Wednesday turned out to be a comedy of errors and protocol violations that his office was anything but amused with. The compere’s attempts to praise the dignitary left everyone cringing. “Though Ansari was born on April 1, World Fools Day, he’s an intellectual,” said TV personality GS Pradeep, roped in at the last minute to host the show. Pradeep is a popular face on Malayalee House – a regional version of reality show Big Boss – and organisers had hoped to cash in on his celebrity. But it misfired. If the beginning was bad, the end was no better. When it was time for the national anthem – the way VVIP programmes usually end – no one seemed to know the words. One of the organisers stepped in to fill the vacuum but ended up making glaring mistakes instead. Those who tried to sing along were forced to cut short midway. Usually, at such events, a list of those who stand on the dais and speak is forwarded to the VVIP office and cleared. Rehearsals are also held to avoid glitches. Ansari’s office has sought an explanation from the state chief secretary. “It shouldn’t have happened” state culture minister KC Joseph said. “The chief secretary has sought a report from the protocol officer and general administration department.” The Sree Narayana Dharma Samiti, a social body, had held the event to honour MoS for HRD Shashi Tharoor for what it called his contribution to building a secular society.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 06:01:15 +0000
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