Bengaluru: President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said the erstwhile Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan died a “historic death” fighting the British and called him a “pioneer” in the development of Mysore rockets in warfare.

“Tipu Sultan died a historic death fighting the British. He was also a pioneer in the development of Mysore rockets,” Kovind said addressing the legislators in the Karnataka assembly at a joint session to mark the diamond jubilee celebrations of Vidhan Soudha, the state legislative building.

Recalling the contributions of former Mysore and Karnataka rulers, soldier, politicians and scientists in the growth of the state and the country on the whole, the President spoke of Tipu, leading to a majority of the legislators breaking into loud applause.

The President’s words on Tipu Sultan come just few days after Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, had called Tipu a “brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist”, ahead of the state’s Tipu Jayanti celebrations to mark the erstwhile ruler’s birth anniversary on November 10.

The ruling Congress in the state began celebrating Tipu’s birth anniversary since 2015, which led to violent protests by the right-wing organisations in the Mysore region and other parts of the state. The BJP in the state has been opposing the celebrations calling Tipu “anti-Hindu and anti-Kannada”.

Known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’, Tipu Sultan ruled the Mysore kingdom from 1782-1799 succeeding his father Haider Ali.

(IANS)

Bengaluru: CM Siddaramaiah today warned people voicing their opinion against Tipu Jayanti that strict action would be taken against them.

“The BJP leaders are trying to divide the society. Yeddyurappa had praised Tipu Sultan when he was in the KJP. This shows his double standards,” he told reporters on seeking his reaction to the BJP threatening to launch a protest against the government’s decision to organise the Jayanti.

Tipu was born in Devanahalli near Bengaluru. He died while fighting against British forces. The BJP should not try to twist history, he added.

Tipu the ruler of Mysore Kingdom was born on 20 November 1750.

(Agencies)

New Delhi: Opposition parties on Tuesday said they would observe November 8 as Black Day to protest against the “ill-conceived” decision of the government to spike Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, a year ago.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters that the opposition parties have worked out a joint strategy and would register their protest against the November 8, 2016, demonetisation decision.

“Demonetisation was an ill-conceived and hasty decision of the government. It is unprecedented, perhaps in the entire world, that a government had to alter its policy 135 times within a month,” Azad said, recalling how the government kept changing its rules in the aftermath of the note ban last year.

The decision to mark November 8 as the black day was taken at a coordination meeting on Monday that was attended by JD-U rebel leader Sharad Yadav, CPI MP D. Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, BSP’s Satish Mishra and Trinamool Congress’ Derek O’Brien.

(IANS)

by Faizan Rizwan & Shaheen Raaj

The international business & communications consultancy, Sterling Media, has been shortlisted for “Media Agency Of The Year” at the prestigious Asian Media Awards 2017. Taking place at the Manchester Hilton Deansgate on 25th Oct, 2017, the Asian Media Award recognizes the strength & the breadth of Asian talent within UK’s media industry.

This marks the 3rd consecutive year in a row that Sterling Media has been recognized for an Asian Media Award, after previously winning the “Media Professional Of The Year” in 2015 & the “Creative Media Award” in 2016.

Sterling Media is an international business & communications consultancy established in 1995 to represent countries, corporates, consumer brands, celebrities, charities, Governments & thought leaders. The company is recognized for being at the nexus of convening Government, corporate, media, NGO’s & celebrity to help develop incisive business & communications strategies to bring clients closer to their purpose and ultimately the people they wish to reach. As a result, its campaigns have helped empower audiences, shape perceptions, create trends, drive innovation & shift zeitgeist to inspire lasting positive action and ultimately turn purpose into profit.

Over the course of 22 years, Sterling has been recognised for spearheading several compelling campaigns including launching iconic brands like Aston Martin in India, raising the international profile of companies such as Harrods internationally, playing a pivotal role in the wider recognition of Indian cinema globally, launching Viacom 18 including the launch of Colors TV worldwide & MTV India in Middle East, being appointed by US Government to direct the launch of Global Open Data on Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN) initiative to end hunger and tackle global food security, being appointed India Director for UN’s Global Goals campaign, Africa & India Director for Jamie Oliver Food Foundations’ Food Revolution Day campaign and representing Hollywood stars such as Al Pacino & Salma Hayek to Bollywood talent such as Akshay Kumar & the Bachchans.

Speaking about the company’s recognition at the Asian Media Awards, Natasha Mudhar, CEO & MD of Sterling Media averred, “Thank you to everyone at the Asian Media Awards. We are honored & humbled to have been nominated for “Agency Of The Year” alongside such great industry talent. Over the past 2 decades, we have seen UK Asian Media industry flourish & develop into the diverse landscape we see today, with companies spearheading international campaigns with a real impact. The work of Asian professionals in UK is amongst the best in the world, with experienced creatives pushing the boundaries of their respective fields, Our very best to all the nominees!”

Incidentally speaking Sterling Group is a multi -disciplinary corporate organization consisting of Sterling 2 Ent, Sterling Realty & Sterling Media with interests in property development, automotives, entertainment management & brand marketing. The group was established 19 years ago by Teji Singh, amongst the 1st women of an ethnic origin to set up an international agency in UK, with footprints in the territories including Middle East, Brazil, USA, Canada, UK & Pan – Europe, South Africa, India & Far East and regarded as a successful business, media & property entrepreneur today.

Sterling Media is an international business & communications consultancy with international footprints, working with corporates, financial institutions, Governments, thought leaders, private clients, celebrities, NGO’s, consumer & luxury brands. Through delivering effective communication strategies to address business & communication challenges, Sterling Media helps bring a brand’s purpose closer to stakeholders in more meaningful ways. It is uniquely positioned within the communications industry as being at an intersection point between Governments, corporates, media & celebrity and it also excels in launching thought leadership strategies for a range of clients, from business leaders to organisations. Sterling was established in 1995 one of the 1st women from an Ethnic background to venture into full service communications, Ms. Teji Singh. From its inception, Sterling Media always embraced challenges, focusing efforts on identifying and tapping new markets, breaking boundaries and pioneering several industry 1sts. Besides Sterling Media is recognized for its own brand heritage and has the reputation of being an established market leader. At the same time it remains “current” and embrace zeitgeist as it balances delivering today with the need to create tomorrow. Its futuristic, disruptive & incisive approach to delivering thought provoking & relevant campaigns globally has helped create a compelling profile for Sterling and an enviable roster of clients.

Visakhapatnam: A 28-year-old woman was raped by a man, who was allegedly drunk, on the footpath of Vishakhapatnam in broad daylight on Sunday. The passers-by did not come to the aide of the woman, instead, an autorickshaw driver recorded the crime on his mobile phone.

The accused was identified as 23-year-old Ganji Siva, a truck driver, according to The Indian Express. Police arrested him on Sunday night after the autorickshaw driver gave them the video of the incident.

The incident took place between Railway New Colony and Railway Station at 2 pm. The woman was sitting under a tree when Siva sexually assaulted her. She has been admitted to King George Hospital, police said.

Siva made threatening gestures at passers-by, which discouraged them from helping the woman, police said.

“The woman had left her home in Vepagunta near Pendurthi on the outskirts of Vizag after a tiff with her husband and had arrived in Vizag on a bus early Sunday. She took shelter under a tree on the pavement when Siva assaulted her. He is an alcoholic and drug addict,” Inspector Ramana told the IE.

“The video shows several people passing by but no one stopped to help the woman. Her husband is a labourer and they fought Sunday morning after which she left home and took shelter on the pavement. She has been admitted to KGH,” he added.

(Agencies)